In Parliament, the PD and PS have submitted their bills Security files to be opened The past of senior officials under scrutiny The majority and the Socialist opposition agree on vetting the integrity of officials. A special body will examine the Security files on the secret agents TIRANA - “Yes, our view is that the files of former Security collaborators should be opened. But this must be regulated by special legal measures. Our group has submitted a separate bill for this purpose, which is now being revised by the Government.” Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the Democratic Party and one of the members of the party’s new collective leadership, explained yesterday to Gazeta Shqiptare his party’s position on one of the most delicate issues in today’s Albanian society. The same demand has also been made, through a bill submitted to Parliament, by the PD’s political rivals, the Socialists. Yesterday Shehu spoke only about the overall content of the bill being drafted. “The technical details have not yet been decided; legal experts are working on them. But our long-standing position, reflected in this bill, is that the contents of the files should be disclosed only for public figures who hold power; the files cannot be opened for all collaborators without exception. In this regard, we should learn from the bitter experience of a country that went through this before us. Germany, for example, opened all the files, but was forced to close them again quickly because of the serious social problems that arose. Creating such a situation in our country would be harmful to all Albanians without exception.” So, specifically whose files will be opened? “I cannot say at this point what the technical criteria for this issue will be, but our position has been that they should be opened for politicians, including the highest-ranking officials in central government: ministers, MPs, other senior officials, those in local government, diplomats in foreign missions, and so on, as well as those who are candidates for these positions,” Shehu replies. The Socialists completed work on their bill on the files two and a half years ago. Their parliamentary group submitted a bill to the Presidency of the Assembly, asking Parliament to set up a special commission to verify the integrity of public figures. The Socialists have called the body that will take on this delicate task the “Temporary Parliamentary Verification Commission.” It is to investigate, using documents from the secret archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, whether the President of the Republic, MPs, members of the Government, heads of central institutions, and mayors and heads of districts and municipalities were compromised by the State Security service and served the dictatorship “to the detriment of people’s interests, freedoms and human rights.” Under the PS proposal, the verification commission will present the results of its investigation at a special session of Parliament: former agents must leave their posts. The solution to one of the most debated issues of recent years is now within reach. The majority and the opposition agree that the issue should be regulated as soon as possible by law and that the files should be opened on the basis of the various documents examined in the parties’ proposals. Perhaps some politicians and local leaders will be forced to leave office, this time for very serious reasons. The others, the “small fry,” the informers who have not been able, or have not chosen, to climb the ladder of power, can sleep easy: their files will remain closed. The PD bill is being revised by the Government. The Socialists submitted theirs long ago. [unclear] remain closed. Photos Baxhaku The Front for the Liberation of Northern Epirus, briefly called MAVI, which has declared the union of the South with [unclear] as its platform, planned [unclear] to plant a bomb in the car of the Albanian ambassador in Athens in 1991 [Photograph: a man and a building]

“He had MAVI brochures” From Athens, the Foreign Ministry confirms the accusations TIRANA - Criminal proceedings will be initiated against the official of the Greek Embassy in Tirana, who was summoned to Athens on Wednesday to provide information about some documents found in Albania. According to statements made yesterday in Athens by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Bikas, cipher clerk Panajotis Mulieris possessed “brochures with nationalist content.” Bikas added that Mulieris had been summoned by the Ministry’s Central Administrative Service and that criminal proceedings had been initiated against him. According to Greek press reports, also received in Albania and denied by the diplomatic authorities in Tirana, Mulieris was found with brochures of the MAVI Terrorist Movement two days before the visit to Tirana by Greek Minister Papulias. This is the same group, seven of whose members were arrested near the border with Albania. Yesterday in Athens, one of those arrested, 34-year-old former army officer Jorgos Anastasoulis, told investigators that he had found the weapons and intended to hand them over to the police when he was stopped during a routine check. Anastasoulis claims that the other detainees also knew about an automatic “Kalashnikov,” two Russian pistols, around 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a camera, camouflage equipment, knives, and other military gear. Also yesterday, six others, including four Greek nationals of Albanian ethnicity, told the Ioannina investigator that they knew nothing about the illegal weapons in the cars they were driving. MAVI, which has declared the union of southern Albania with Greece as its platform, has claimed responsibility for several terrorist acts. In April last year, this organization claimed responsibility for a bloody attack on an Albanian army barracks, during which two Albanian conscripts were killed. There is suspicion that the weapons found by police in the vehicles of the seven detainees had been stolen from the Peshkëpi barracks, where the massacre took place last April. It was also MAVI that claimed responsibility for planting Athens in 1991. A crossing point on the Albanian-Greek border

Military airfield without lights TIRANA - The military airfield at Kuçovë has fallen victim to an ordinary theft that has temporarily put it out of service. The theft of 350 metres of electrical cable by Arben Hajdari, Ilir Hajdari and Faredin Plaku has made it impossible for the runway floodlights to function, causing considerable problems for flights. According to specialists, this is a special type of cable that is difficult to find in domestic markets. The swift action of area inspector Ndrim Kryeziu, followed by the police forces, led to the thieves being identified. Arben, 26, and Ilir, 23 — the stolen cable was found during a search of one of their homes — were detained by police, while Faredin has left for Greece. Ha.Ta.

“I will report all those responsible” TIRANA - A ruling and an accusation. This was the situation involving the President of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi, who yesterday morning — under the chairmanship of the presiding judge — acquitted and ordered the release from prison of Kosovo citizen Ismet Kryeziu. Along with Kryeziu, who had been convicted of “illegal possession of a firearm,” former police employee Lin Meshi also benefited. But in overturning the decisions of the Tirana Court and the Court of Appeal, Brozi accompanied his ruling with an accusation: “As a member of the judicial panel, I will report the people responsible, police officers and employees of other bodies, for abuse of office and flagrant violations of citizens’ rights.” Thus, the trial that ended with the immediate release of Kryeziu and Meshi may well be followed by another, this time with different protagonists: precisely those whom Brozi believes wrongly imprisoned the two citizens. “They are innocent,” the ruling issued yesterday concluded, while on 21 December of ’94 of that same year, the Tirana Court and the Court of Appeal had sentenced Kryeziu and Meshi to 8 and 2.5 years in prison, respectively. Ismet Kryeziu, from Prizren in Kosovo, was arrested again 22 months ago, while [unclear] on suspicion of arms smuggling; his first trial had concluded with a conviction only for “illegal possession of a firearm.” Kryeziu’s adventure with Justice thus ends with an accusation from Justice itself, this time in his favor.

The adventure of three missing children TIRANA - They had disappeared without a trace a week ago, but yesterday they were found by the Laç Police. Immediately after the Gashi family’s report about the disappearance of their three children a week earlier was broadcast on television in the afternoon news, a phone call from colleagues in Laç informed Police Station No. 2 in Tirana that the little ones were with them. It is not yet known what route the three children—9-year-old Rabia, 8-year-old Sosja and 4-year-old Rovenа—took from Tirana to Laç. “We don’t even know how to explain it,” Gëzim Gashi, the children’s father, told Gazeta Shqiptare just after hearing the news. “Generally, they don’t go far from home; they play around here. Besides, we don’t have any relatives in Laç,” he concluded, preparing to set out and collect the three little ones, who were waiting for him at the police station in that town. a.m.

A policeman accused of murder ELBASAN - Three policemen are accused of killing a person. This is the case on which the Elbasan Military Court will now have to rule in the trial that began yesterday. ELBASAN - Three policemen accused of killing a person. This is the case on which the Elbasan Military Court will now have to rule in the trial that began yesterday. The three accused are former policemen from the Peqin Police Station. One of them, I. Sina—who has been under arrest for some time—will defend himself against the charge that he is the killer of 45-year-old I. Malja from Pajova, in September of last year. His two colleagues, G. Dudia and A. Hernia, both being tried while free, face charges of complicity. Last September, a police patrol made up of the three men had pursued a car carrying a group of thieves, or so, at least, Police sources had stated. The car, driven by the victim, did not respond to the police order to stop. The pursuit continued from Peqin towards the village of Bradhashе-sh, where the patrol fired at the pursued men from its vehicle. The passengers fled quickly, while Malja—who, according to the Police, had previously been stopped on other occasions for theft—was killed. The rapid investigation immediately led to I. Sina’s arrest, while his two colleagues, accused of complicity with him, were investigated while free. Only the trial that has just begun will show whether all three are guilty or innocent. me.ki.

Italic Reality GJIROKASTËR - After 51 years, she has come from Athens to Gjirokastër to reclaim her parents’ home. This is the unusual adventure of an elderly woman from the Greek minority, who has made the journey to Gjirokastër. The woman has been involved in a court dispute with the current owner of the house, a resident of a nearby village in the Gjirokastër area, who is also unwilling to give up easily the house where he and his family have lived for a long time. Both sides are standing firmly by their claims, each of course considering its own to be justified. “My parents left the house to me,” the woman insists. “What fault is it of mine?” the villager retorts. “The cooperative gave me the house; I can’t just live on the street now with four children.” Both sides in this dispute are seeking justice over the rural house at the center of the case. At its heart, this is one of many disputes that have filled court files and reduced the issue to the legal restoration of property rights. The truth of this story lies precisely in the woman’s determination to return to her parents’ home after spending a full 51 years away from it. ra.ko. [Photograph of a street with houses in Gjirokastër]

Vlorë, “Aquario” fined only The Italian fishing vessel “Aquario” escaped imprisonment, but not a fine. Caught on January 10 of this year while fishing in Albania’s territorial waters, “Aquario” had been confiscated by the Financial Police in Vlorë for 700 thousand dollars—together with 8 quintals of fish found on board. In addition, the Financial Police had imposed a fine of 9 million lire, the only measure that also withstood further proceedings before the Vlorë Court. Gjirokastër, influx of returning emigrants Dozens of emigrants have been sent back in just the last few hours from the Kakavijë border crossing. The number of those turned back has exceeded what is now considered normal—around 200 a day—and on Wednesday more than 500 Albanian emigrants were sent back. As the official press agency has also reported, the emigrants had visas, but among them were also people who had arrived without proper documents. Many of those most recently turned back also recounted their days in Greece before the mass deportation to Albania. Prison, a heavy “burden” A heavy “burden” has fallen on emigrants from several residents of Krujë, who had apparently heard in some way that the United States embassy had opened in Tirana. Indeed, the absurd news prompted around 150 people to make their way to the Albanian capital, carrying bags of bread with them. However, their excitement lasted only a few moments, and they were disappointed when they told their companions about the absurd incident.

The new Hotel Tirana will be inaugurated today TIRANA - After fifteen months of work, Hotel Tirana opens this morning. The structure, long a symbol of the capital’s architecture, has been upgraded and from today can certainly be considered Albania’s largest and most modern hotel. Among those attending the inauguration ceremony will be Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, the Minister of Tourism, representatives of the DI Vincenzo company, which carried out the work, and representatives of “Turin Hotels”, which will manage the hotel together with the Albanian Ministry of Tourism. Today Hotel Tirana has become a luxury center with 161 modern rooms, all equipped with every convenience: private bathrooms, air conditioning, telephone, satellite television, radio and a small bar. The restaurant has 200 seats and a terrace. Five meeting rooms and a conference hall with 260 seats have been built. A hair salon and several shops will operate inside the hotel, in addition to a fully equipped business center. Services for organizing meetings and exchanging currency will be available, as will a modern discotheque. “Turin Hotels” is part of an important Italian hotel chain based in Turin, which manages nine major hotels (Demontet in Rapallo, (Genova), which will soon be converted in Tirana; Hotel Beach Hotel in Hurgada, on the Red Sea). Hotel “Tirana International”

Kryeziu is acquitted and released From Tirana to Laç Elbasan: had he killed a 45-year-old man while in pursuit?

TIRANA - Four arrests following the attack on a Commercial Bank vehicle. This is the initial epilogue to the violent story that took place in Skuraj of Rrëshen, where masked robbers had managed to take millions of lekë from the van transporting the cash. The urgent investigations have so far revealed nothing more, apart from the fact that four people, initially accused of responsibility in this incident, have been transferred to the capital and placed under arrest. The fact that this criminal case is being handled by the Military Prosecutor’s Office leads one to think that they are police officers, possibly including those who were inside the robbed vehicle at the time of the attack. (e.l)

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