“Round” 2: witnesses Arsidi will soon also appear before the judges in Paris “Round” 2: witnesses “Arsidi scandal”: trial resumes today Arsidi will soon also appear before the judges in Paris TIRANA - The “Arsidi” trial resumes. And it will once again be Judge Andi Çeliku presiding over an ongoing case, picking up where they left off in the trial of France’s most famous scandal: that of “Arsidi,” before the Paris Court of Appeal’s Second Division. “Arsidi” — now definitively, the investigation photographs? New judges, now to be distinguished by the Judicial Council? 3? Dhoten? Gjyqësiaballa? aquafër? to question publicly the accused Silajun, Tartarion, Hotin, Xhaverin and Ahmetin. “The trial will resume where it stopped on 22 January ’95,” Andi Çeliku, head of the trial panel, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “and under the conditions set by the Court of Appeal on 27 February this year.” Not wishing to comment on the relevant selections, Çeliku brought the investigative experts to court. The decision? The Appeal Court will overturn the decision of the intervening? Tirana judges — no further appeal could be made by them, since the Court of Cassation cannot review final decisions, assur-

ring as it is the Court of Appeal’s decision. Thus — also bearing in mind the independence of the experts mentioned during the witness-questioning stage — today’s proceedings remain for the High Court and an entirely Sidofotë story to be seen. Since if the Trial Panel undertakes the examination as character witnesses, there is so much missing? — it is easy to say Arsidi, Simon Çelia; then the trial will bring in other investigators. It is to be hoped that the names are chosen for the trial of Saljut, Tartarion, Hotin, Xhaverin and Ahmetin — the lawyers’ request for a change of the Trial Panel may be easy to make, a wish characteristic of the defendants’ campaign decisions. But while the date of the second “round” of the “Arsidi” trial is being set in the Albanian courts, the same is said to have happened in the French courts for the other protagonist of this scandal. Arsidi will soon appear before the judges in Paris, who will charge him with fraud. (Ed.La)

The Government TIRANA - Free medicines for carriers of infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection proposed that this matter be discussed at a Government meeting. The decision has been made. To prevent infectious diseases, medicines taken by patients, vaccinations and medical treatments will be provided free of charge. Cholera, plague, yellow fever, malaria, leprosy and AIDS, endemic dermatophytosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, scabies and typhoid fever — all these diseases are also called “convention diseases” — will soon be covered by treatment programs, and the type of medication will be determined by the Ministry of Health. Under this decision, free vaccinations will also be provided to all persons required, under the legal provisions in force, to receive mandatory vaccinations and those indicated for epidemiological reasons. Meanwhile, laboratory tests to verify any suspected cases of people with infectious diseases, and treatment with disinfectant preparations in infected areas, will be arranged by the Epidemiological Service and funded by the health institution itself within the Ministry of Health’s budget. To prevent, diagnose and treat highly dangerous diseases, it has again been decided that a more than necessary reserve of D.D.D. substances should be maintained. These preparations will be supplied by the Capital’s Directorate of Hygiene and Epidemiology. All these measures are being taken because the warm season is approaching and the spread of epidemics is naturally possible. Arlinda Causholli

The only detainees, Xhelili and Xhuvani, are free Prosecutor’s Office decides after Parliament The only detainees, Xhelili and Xhuvani, are free “Walnut scandal” investigation closed: Ruli and Uka are spared, as is Hoxha Prosecutor’s Office decides after Parliament TIRANA - The final chapter of the “Walnut scandal” has closed. In a statement released through the mass media, the Dregoshi General Prosecutor’s Office announced its decision to close the criminal case. The other three accused — including former Minister Artan Hoxha — have once again been spared by the latest decision of the General Prosecutor’s Office. Parliament’s latest decision has once again raised a concern that had arisen during the vote on the immunity of Court of Cassation President Zef Brozi: is the justice system entirely free to act according to its own laws, or does it remain subject to the prolonged shadow of politics and the conflicts of interest woven around it? Naturally, the news that the investigation into the “Walnut scandal” has closed has itself caused a stir, especially among the protagonists of this story, who have insisted on their innocence to the very end. But beyond the satisfaction brought by this news — more innocent people means more people free — the question remains: were there guilty parties in the walnut case? If so, someone must answer for it; if not, why was an investigation opened? TIRANA - The current positions of Uka and Ruli have spared another former minister accused by the General Prosecutor’s Office of abuse of office. The case against Artan Hoxha — the former minister who, together with Ruli and Uka, had signed the order authorizing the transport of walnut wood — will not proceed on the charges brought by the General Prosecutor’s Office, which had nevertheless insisted on his guilt. This was announced yesterday by Prosecutor General Alush Dragoshi himself. The news of the Prosecutor’s Office’s action came immediately after the majority of MPs decided to reject the request to lift the immunity of MPs Ruli and Uka. This apparently forms the basis of the entire turn in the “walnut wood” case. “Since Parliament decided to reject the request to lift the immunity of MPs Ruli and Uka,” the statement broadcast yesterday through the mass media said, “the investigation team was ordered to discontinue the investigation of the case.” Fortune has smiled on the only two detainees in this case, former Director General of Forestry Mahmut Xhelili and former director of the “Tatalb” company, Gazment Xhuvani. They faced charges of “abuse of office” and “personal responsibility” as principal collaborators. The Prosecutor’s Office had previously sought [unclear] — while stressing that “the criminal offense against them has been proven” — but nevertheless called for the suspension of the case against both and ordered their immediate release from detention. Considered guilty by the Prosecutor’s Office, but now free and no longer bearing the heavy burden of the investigation, Xhelili and Xhuvani have left the cells. “The responsibility of these two defendants is less than that of the other defendants,” the Prosecutor’s Office said, also noting their remorse. One of the best-known accused in the “Walnut scandal,” Artan Hoxha, was mentioned at the end of Prosecutor General Dragoshi’s statement. Here too, the Prosecutor’s Office does not conceal that no serious charges were ever sought. According to it, “it has been fully established that former Minister Artan Hoxha, acting in cooperation, committed criminal acts of abuse of office,” but it has not presented “any of the grounds for sentencing,” where the investigation of other accused persons “with whom he did not ...”

An appeal from Berat BERAT - A woman and mother from the city of Berat is appealing to people to help find her husband, who disappeared three years ago. “We lived in perfect harmony, and I feel that one day he will return,” says E. Mira, who lives with little three-year-old Greta on the second floor of a building in the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” neighborhood. Many theories about her husband’s route reach her from all directions. The geography is very broad, stretching from Greece and Italy all the way to Stockholm, Sweden. But concrete evidence? Nothing certain about the fate of Ilo Xheladini, Mira’s husband. Two months after Greta’s birth, Mira was forced to return from Greece — where the family had emigrated — while her husband Ilo continued working for a Greek employer. Later he got a job in a warehouse belonging to the Olympia traders. He last spoke with his family by telephone from number 6222249, on 25 September 1991. And then there was no sign. In June 1992 the owners of the Olympia company said that Ilo had gone with Italian traders some months earlier. This is one theory, which is contradicted by another, based on what Ilo’s relatives said? I went to Greece to look for him. As a result [unclear], the trail should be sought in Saudi Arabia, where Ilo went to work with the crew of an oil expedition. Meanwhile, reports have arrived through a kind woman and her daughter, who is the same age as her own daughter, concerning his disappearance. These theories point in a different direction, to distant Stockholm. A fellow townsman of Mira brought her a report? They had written about a man from Berat who had settled in Stockholm, Sweden. “He has the same features as my husband,” Mira says, “as well as the same profession and the foreign languages he spoke.” Unfortunately, however, a photograph of Ilo has not yet reached the hands of the unknown Kosovar. These are all accounts and theories that only raise hope of finding him, but so far have not been verified. So where is he, and in what condition is the man who disappeared three years ago? What is keeping him from contacting the people dearest to him? “He is not an adventurer but a seeker of himself?,” Mira says. “It was perhaps the desire to live at home, like so many others,” she adds, “that caused us this tragedy.” Desperate, Mira sought help as early as May 1993 — through the “Omonia” association — from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Interpol authorities in Tirana. But to this day there has been no response. And Mira is appealing to the public for help. Anyone who can provide any news about this missing person?

Court ruling TIRANA - A man has ended up in the dock for attempted murder by setting several people on fire and will serve a 15-year prison sentence. According to a report from the Official News Agency, Spiro Londo has officially been convicted after the trial panel of the Tirana Court found the charge proven. The incident took place around 8 November last year. Londo fired a pistol that he was carrying at his female friend’s home. He then poured some petrol over her home and set it on fire. His friend and the other members of her family lived in an apartment on the first floor of a building. As a result of the flames, four people were unable to escape the fire, three of whom suffered very serious burns. Their home was completely destroyed.

Tel’s press conference TIRANA - “There are 1,220 school buildings repaired, 420 renovated, and 80 new schools built, compared with the 1,520 school buildings recorded as damaged at the beginning of the reform.” This is part of the assessment presented by Education Minister Tel at a press conference. Tel also cited the drafting of new school legislation, restructuring of curricula and teaching programs, and the organization of systems for training teaching staff as achievements in education over the past three years. According to Tel, similar progress has been made in providing textbooks at all levels. Thus, for this school year, textbook needs have been met to 94 percent for vocational secondary education, 88 percent for general secondary education, and 97 percent for eight-year schooling.

GJIROKASTËR - A major robbery at Gjirokastër’s coffee warehouse. Forty-five sacks, or 2 tons, of coffee and a considerable quantity of shoes have disappeared from the warehouse of S.M., a trader in various goods, after a wall was broken through from the outside. The theft occurred last night, at around 01:20. The way the thieves entered shows that the operation had been prepared and organized according to a very precise plan. The group of [unclear] people approached one of the warehouse walls and demolished part of it, making a hole that allowed them to move freely while removing the goods. After entering the warehouse, they carried off the sacks without anyone noticing, even though the warehouse was guarded. The goods were worth 12 million lekë. S.M. was well known because he also traded in rice and other food products. Meanwhile, the police have completed [unclear] — in just 12 hours — the guard of the premises. R. Ka.

Now she is accused of giving false testimony But she recants in court “No, we made love” Now she is accused of giving false testimony “He raped me” But she recants in court “No, we made love” ELBASAN - The accuser has suddenly found herself accused. This was the very unusual conclusion of a court proceeding held on Thursday at the Elbasan Court, where a girl had reported 30-year-old T.V., a resident of Elbasan, for rape. But during the trial, the 17-year-old witness (N.J.), also a resident of Elbasan, clearly stated in her testimony that she and T.V. had had sexual relations with her consent. The court case had begun on the basis of the prosecutor’s accusation, according to which the girl had reported that she had been raped. T.V. was charged in connection with this, and the prosecutor had sought a prison sentence of [number unclear] years. During the trial, the girl testified in contradiction to her complaint, saying that she had not been raped but that they had made love. Thus the accused [unclear] became the accused [unclear]? by the trial panel. The 17-year-old N.J. is now facing a charge of false testimony. me.Ki.

KRUJË - A new automatic telephone exchange will be installed in Krujë. Two thousand numbers will be made available to the telephone network, giving subscribers the opportunity to connect by telephone lines to the whole world. The project is included in the Government and World Bank enterprise master plan, which also covers eight other districts of the country. Technical preparations for installing the exchange have meanwhile begun at the district Telecom office, and the long-awaited exchange will be installed shortly. Mu. Ar.

TIRANA - The second German course on the radio is starting. The German Embassy is making an announcement to everyone who attended the first course using the relevant method, “Deutsch, varun mitche”. Those wishing to continue their lessons can go to the Embassy from 20 to 24 March, between 14:00 and 15:00, to collect the second book in the course, and then follow the radio course, which begins on 25 March.

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INSIDE Football today and tomorrow in Albanian and Italian stadiums On page 3 Bajko travels to Greece On page 2