Tartari in the prison hospital: “The hearing cannot be held” TIRANA - The “Arsidi” trial, scheduled to begin yesterday, is at a crossroads; the second “round” was blocked again, but this time for reasons not previously anticipated. It was the doctors at the prison hospital in the capital—where Agim Tartari has been staying for days—who, with their “decision,” blocked the trial of the year in Albania for another seven days. Thus Tartari’s state of health—quite unexpectedly—has been added to the already mysterious factors behind the crossroads at which the “Arsidi” trial has been forced to remain for days. But even if the doctors’ hope—that Tartari’s health will return to normal—is realized very soon, no one on the “staff” of participants in this trial can now predict how it will proceed; it remains unpredictable for next Saturday. The Prosecutor’s Office’s victory on appeal—which overturned the interim ruling of the Tirana Court—may well give the capital’s prosecutors, Qeleshi and Gjokutaj, the authority to request a change in the Trial Panel. Meanwhile, in the other camp, that of the lawyers—even though everything continues to be kept under wraps—the request to replace the judges who had opened the trial on 30 December ’94 is now more than a hypothesis. “If such a thing is requested—the removal of Andi Çeliku and his assistants from the conduct of this trial,” the jurists say, “then everything will have to start from the beginning.” After that, it will have to be seen which course it takes. (e.l) If Tartari is removed everything will have to start from the beginning.” As is also envisaged by existing Albanian laws, a change in the Trial Panel would inevitably require the new judges to start the trial from the beginning, without even counting the time they would need to “familiarize” themselves with the rather voluminous case file. In any event, the trial is currently at a crossroads. This time, it is Tartari’s state of health; and after a week... It is still not known which course it will take. (e.l) week... ... entirely in Albania and in the Vlora region. ... as soon as they pass through the last airport door at Rinas, against ... ... at a risk of ... and Kurds ... ... residents, usually of Vlora ... frequent the most luxurious venues. ... We lead memos takfadha ... the landing on the Italian shores is the only risk left to the Kurds. After ... ... “we have encountered no obstacles here,” says a Kurd just moments before departure. Stavri Marko Besa-Shkumbini 1-0 Besëlidhja-Tirana 1-1 Elbasani-Shqiponja 3-1 Flamurtari-Dinamo 1-0 Laçi-Apolonia 2-1 Partizani-Tomori 1-2 Teuta-Iliria 2-0 Vllaznia-Albpetrol 3-3

Kurdish clandestine migrants recount their route From Ankara to Rinas: “In Albania it’s easy for us” VLORA - There are hundreds of Kurds who have so far used the Vlora coast to cross over to Italy. Having come from far away, the Albanian coastal city is the last gateway the Asians must pass through to finally reach Europe. Their entire route is not only long but also expensive. According to a Kurd’s account to the Albanian Gazette, the journey from their country to the final destination costs about 8 million lire: just to travel by speedboat from Vlora to the shores of Puglia they have to pay more than 1,500,000 Italian lire. The route the Kurds must follow to realize their European dream is exhausting. It begins with waiting outside the gates of the Albanian Embassy in Ankara. For them, this is the easiest stage: visas for Albania are obtained without any difficulty. Using “tourism” as their stated purpose, they secure legal entry for a stay of several days. Travel agencies also arrange the plan for their “tour” of Albania, which includes “visits” to Durrës and Vlora. They travel mainly by plane—at first they came on several merchant ships that docked in Durrës, but patrols by the embargo ships made this route impossible—and as soon as they pass through the last door at Rinas airport, the Kurds are met by designated people who immediately send them to Vlora in minibuses. They usually arrive in the coastal city late at night and quickly check into hotels: those who are lucky manage to board a speedboat that is ready to depart straight away. If they have to wait their turn or for the weather to improve, the Kurds do not hesitate to take the opportunity to tour the Albanian city. Dressed without any particular concern for elegance, the Asians—now ordinary residents of Vlora—frequent the most luxurious venues. And while the Kurds wait with their suitcases ready to board, the Albanian speedboat owners know who these passengers are: the fare they have to pay is twice as high as that paid by an Albanian clandestine migrant. But besides this, those involved in this trafficking are also encouraged by the fact that, even if they are caught by the Italian police, the Kurds are not sent back: under a rule of the Italian authorities, they are destined to stay for at least 15 days. The speedboat trip and landing on the Italian coast are the only risks left for the Kurdish travelers. Once they get past this obstacle, they hurry on to their predetermined destinations. Some stay in Italy—seeking to settle in the developed areas of the North—while others continue their journey to eventually reach Switzerland, Germany, or France. Albania remains only a distant memory, or a route they describe to their compatriots who want to reach Europe. “Albania is a very favorable country. We haven’t encountered any obstacles here,” says a Kurd just moments before departure. Stavi Marko Map showing the route to Rinas, Turkey, and Vlora.

Football 21 goals yesterday Tirana extends its lead; second place remains a mystery Kola, the “new” player for the Whites and Blues TIRANA - Another assured draw for Tirana on its way to making the title a formality. This time, a false step by Partizani has helped it; Partizani failed to make use of home advantage to secure second place. Unable to beat Kiqi Miles’s Berat side at Selman Stërmasi, the Reds will apparently continue to look toward Albpetrol, which is also aiming for second place. In fact, if this week’s matches had lasted only 45 minutes, the dream of the footballers from Potosi would have come true. Shkumbini’s inexplicable run also ended yesterday. Having been accustomed to positive results since last November 26, the Peqin side are upset only by the defeat, because they are still a surprise, still in fourth place in the standings. Vllaznia, Teuta, Elbasani, and Tomori have also moved up the table. The latter has so far proved unbeatable in the capital this season. Laçi has likewise proved unbeatable on its own ground. If Thuqi had not missed that penalty, the Laçi players would have been level with Tirana in the “goalscorers” [sic]. However, the Whites and Blues do not score only through Fortuzi: there is also the “newcomer” Kola. gje pj. Here are the results Partizani-Tomori 1-2 Teuta-Iliria 2-0 Vllaznia-Albpetrol 3-2 Footballer kicking a ball on the pitch.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA A drastic decline in the number of private traders in the Has district. From 245 such people in 1993 and 137 in 1994, their number has now fallen to 30. But according to local authorities, this number does not reflect reality and is false, since the failure to register many of those who continue to trade is linked to evasion of tax obligations. This phenomenon has left the state “coffers” short by about 2.6 million lekë.

“Surely this is no more than journalists’ speculation,” said Pjetër Arbnori, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, at his meeting yesterday afternoon with the intellectuals of the city of Shkodër. In a conversation lasting more than an hour, Arbnori gave his opinions on everything the distinguished Shkodër audience was interested in. Speaking about the current situation within his party, Arbnori refused to call the latest changes “either tragic or dramatic,” since in a democracy, unlike what Albanians experienced in the past, change demonstrates everyone’s voice.

“Fundamentalism? It has no basis in Albania” TIRANA — “In Albania, there is no social basis for fundamentalism, nor for fanaticism,” Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi said in response to one of the most delicate questions concerning Albanian foreign policy: Albania’s relations with the Islamic Conference. Speaking yesterday at a press conference that appeared intended to put a polish on the three years of work of his ministry, Serreqi once again stressed that membership in the Islamic Conference is considered to be in Albania’s political interest, without any prejudice. Earlier—during the same conference—Serreqi had stressed that Europe remains the orientation of Albanian foreign policy. “The priority of integrating Albania as quickly as possible into all European structures is not a circumstantial orientation, but a defined one, determined not only by Albania’s geographical position, but also by what I consider the conditions of a populist Albanian psychomental constitution.” p.re.

“Accuario was fishing without a permit” VLORË — The trial of the crew of the Italian fishing trawler “Accuario” has begun in Vlorë. The Italian owner of the trawler was present in the courtroom of the Vlorë Court, where the first hearing in the trial was held. The charges against the Italian crew were drawn up by the Financial Police of the port city. The next hearing will take place on Tuesday, and the crew is optimistic that the ship will be released from the seizure order imposed back in November of last year. The Italian trawler had been caught in the act by the Albanian coast guard while it had its nets out inside Albanian territorial waters. The Vlorë Financial Police subsequently took up the matter as well. “Illegal fishing in Albanian territorial waters, fishing inside the zone where fishing with heavy equipment is prohibited, fishing at depths of less than 50 metres”—these were the charges brought against the Italian vessel, which had been forced to pay a “hefty” fine of nearly 900,000 lekë to the Financial Police and 5,500 dollars for violating Albania’s territorial waters. The trawler was then seized and had been detained in the Port of Vlorë since November. s.m.

— Fier has been left without a meteorological station. The only facility that dealt with weather forecasting and other necessary measurements now virtually no longer exists. There was only one employee there—the director—as well as the equipment, which, although it survived the destruction, is unable to do anything. The station has been “stripped bare” and a great deal of material has disappeared: more than 400 linear metres of wire have been stolen, along with 4 electric poles. At the municipality, the director’s request to improve the situation has fallen on deaf ears. En. My.

Berat: police intervene. Six injured BERAT — Six people were taken to hospital on Saturday with injuries and then five of them were detained by police for several hours. This is the outcome of the “election campaign” for choosing the village council and the village head in Gjeroven, located 7 kilometres south of the city of Berat. The Shani and Shehu clans were at the centre of the clash, but many other fellow villagers did not hesitate to get involved either. It was the day when the voters, assembled in a gathering, were to elect the village head after having elected the elders of the neighbourhoods. But the residents of one neighbourhood—precisely the one where the families in question live—had not yet managed to elect their elders. Their disagreements—which appear to have stemmed from sympathies for different political forces—spilled over into the village assembly, and did so in the harshest form: a clash with stones and sticks. Initially, the Shehajs emerged victorious, driving the members of the Shani clan away. But it was not long before the latter returned with reinforcements, retaliating against the Shehajs in kind. It was the intervention of the police itself that put an end to this conflict, which could gradually have taken on dangerous proportions. Six of the injured ended up in hospital. Ha.Ta.

Sarandë: Revenge? SARANDË — Two attacks against local government employees within the space of a few days. They took place several days ago, but the news was reported only now by the official news agency. Fortunately, the explosions caused only fear and damage to the homes of the two officials. Their family members miraculously escaped unharmed. The police are now investigating to identify the perpetrators of the attacks. The theory being given the most consideration is that they were acts of revenge by unknown persons for reasons connected with the duties of the two officials; both are senior district directors. The first is Theodori Koci, head of the Urban Planning Office in Sarandë, and the second, Thanas Dajko, Mayor of Lukovë Municipality. The phenomenon is quite widespread in Sarandë. According to the same source, at least eight such cases have occurred here over the last two years.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA A law Serreqi’s balance sheet for 3 years “Acquario was fishing without a license” Today: newspaper TV Fier

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ALBANIAN TV GUIDE With Renzo and Nilla in America ALBANIAN TV GUIDE RAIUNO Grand Music: Më erdhi, 23 Jan, Raiuno at 20:40 With Renzo and Nilla in America