Trial The presiding judge orders the French negotiator to appear in court “We want Arsidi in Tirana” And Hoti declares “war” over documents The defense lawyers’ request to call Meksi, Çela and Bendo as witnesses as well is rejected TIRANA - Arsidi is being summoned to Tirana. Along with him, the two people—Simon and lawyer Piazzuoli—who were always at his side during his activities in Albania. This decision was made yesterday morning during the trial concerning the scandal over the disappearance of 1.6 million dollars, following a request submitted by all five defense lawyers. “We consider this request justified,” said Andi Çeliku, presiding judge, “as we consider questioning them to be of great value.” But while Çeliku decided to summon Arsidi, Simon and Piazzuoli as witnesses, he rejected the request to call the list of other prominent figures sought by the defense: Prime Minister Meksi, Çela, Bendo, and Cardero, the lawyer for the Albanian side in the trial of this case in Paris. However, granting the request to summon Arsidi and his associates to Tirana to testify in court does not mean that they will definitely come. “I will contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that a request can be made to the French authorities,” presiding judge Çeliku stated in court. The notice will be sent to the French Ministry of Justice and then directly to the people summoned. Ultimately, it is up to them alone to decide whether they agree to testify in Albania. Meanwhile, the request may also be rejected by the French Ministry of Justice, since Arsidi, in Paris too, is in the position of a defendant in this case. But can they be compelled to come to Tirana? “No,” Çeliku replied to Gazeta Shqiptare after yesterday’s session ended. “There is no agreement between our two countries that would oblige them to come to Tirana to testify.” As Tirana awaits Arsidi, the most important figure in the 1.6-million-dollar scandal, another scenario seems to be taking shape that could bring surprises to the trial. Yesterday, while making his requests concerning three witnesses, Hoti, from the dock, gave the first signals of a “war” over documents and papers. “Some of the documents submitted by the Albanian and French investigators have been tampered with,” declared the former governor of the Bank of Albania, insisting that a document had been stripped of Arsidi’s signature and Xhyeri’s countersignature. “I have the original of this document, which I will submit when I present my defense,” said Hoti, who then also cast doubt on the investigations carried out in France regarding the movement of money through French banks. Hoti’s statement was subsequently backed by his lawyer, Haxhia, who told the court that he possessed several original documents which, he said, would overturn the case in court. Yesterday’s trial had begun with a request by Sanxhaku[t], Saliu’s lawyer, to replace the panel of judges. According to Sanxhaku[t], after the Court of Appeal rejected the request to return the case for further investigations and to charge other people as well, the panel chaired by Çeliku could no longer hear the case. His request was rejected, with the explanation that this panel would itself carry out some of the tasks assigned by the Court of Appeal during the trial. The defendants in the Arsidi trial leaving the Court yesterday (photo: H.Pustina)

Hoti’s lawyer TIRANA - A “war” over documents seems set to begin during the Arsidi trial. Maksim Haxhia, lawyer for Ilir Hoti, the former governor of the Bank of Albania accused of involvement in the notorious financial scandal, gave this warning during yesterday’s hearings. “I have several original documents that are being seen for the first time and that have great value for comparison,” Haxhia told the court, without giving any further explanation about their nature or importance, but suggesting that they would work in favor of his client’s position. But what do these documents contain? “I can’t say anything. I will make them known during the trial,” Haxhia told Gazeta Shqiptare. Do you have many of them? “They are all original documents that are not known about so far. I can’t say any more.” a.m.

TIRANA - Albania’s national team takes to the field. Yesterday afternoon, the “Selman Stërmasi” stadium hosted Bajko’s selected players for nearly two hours, including four Albanian footballers who play abroad. But while the first training session has begun, the hours of anxiety have also begun, as always, for the Albanian national team’s coaching staff. Apart from Abazi, Vata, Kusha and Kaca[j], eight players from the lineup—the one expected to take on Moldova on Wednesday—are due to arrive at any moment. In particular, so far—with the exception of Dema and Pano, who will be absent this time because they are not in good physical condition—all the others have confirmed their arrival with considerable certainty. Until then, many rooms at the “Dajti” Hotel will remain empty... Yesterday, the national team’s first training session (photo: H.Pustina)

Implementation begins VLORË - The coastal city of Vlorë approves its “constitution.” . Vlorë, the city’s “constitution” is ready VLORE - The coastal city of Vlorë approves its “constitution.” Starting this week, Vlorë—which has long faced a series of serious problems—will operate according to a regulation recently approved by the Municipal Council. It was the council’s most recent meeting that produced the approved document—the regulation governing economic and urban life in Vlorë—which makes the decision binding on all natural and legal persons. The “constitution” of the city of Vlorë is divided into three separate chapters, setting out within them all the specific measures for its implementation. These include protecting urban areas and the natural landscape from pollution—both within and on the outskirts of the city—as well as managing waste, parks and even beaches. The provisions also cover protection from pollution caused by various enterprises and by unauthorized construction carried out by industrial, construction, social and even military entities, as well as by transport vehicles. A separate section is also devoted to public order and quiet in the city.

Gjirokastër, kills himself because he has no money He killed himself because he had no money to support his children. This appears to be the reason for the suicide of 47-year-old official H. Puci in Gjirokastër, who took an overdose of a drug that subsequently caused his death. Married with two children, his income came from his wife, who is in Greece, and a few days ago he asked her for money. His wife did not fulfill his request because she was unemployed. In such a situation, Puci decided to take his own life.

He was walking peacefully on the pavement opposite the “Durrësi” hotel when, suddenly, a piece of concrete broke loose from the upper floors and fell on his head. J.P., in his 60s, ended up in hospital in very serious condition. He was taken to Tirana.

She was run over by an unidentified car and, after being taken to Elbasan hospital, died yesterday. E. Hanasllari was riding a motorbike with her husband—near the Metalurgjiku market in the city—when a car came from behind and hit them. Seriously injured, the two of them were taken to hospital by passers-by after the car disappeared. But there was no hope for the woman.

“Our police authorities in connection with the MAVI group” TIRANA - Greek secret services involved in the Peshkëpi massacre? The still-unresolved mystery begins precisely in Athens, where senior officials have made sensational allegations in recent hours. “The involvement of the Greek secret services in the activities of the extremist group Front for the Liberation of Northern Epirus cannot be ruled out,” Greek Minister of Public Order Stelios Papathemelis said. But that is not all: the same senior Greek government official, in an interview with the daily “Kathimerini”, also did not rule out possible funding by the Greek secret services in support of the ultranationalists who claimed responsibility for the Peshkëpi massacre in April last year. “At that time,” Papathemelis continued, “both the Greek police and the secret services had provided me with information about MAVI.” Meanwhile, intensive investigations—launched immediately after reports of another ultranationalist attack in January, and evidence of another such attack emerging soon afterwards—have also put Greek citizens behind bars: Kokavesis, in whose yard seven “Kalashnikovs” were discovered, are thought to have been stolen from the Peshkëpi barracks. Four members of the Greek minority and three other Greek citizens have also been arrested. (p.r.e.)

Korçë without RTSH KORÇË - The TVSH signal has once again been disrupted ; it should have reached the districts of Korçë. This time the thieves targeted the relay transmitter located in the village of Moglicë, about 20 kilometres from the city of Korçë. A few minutes later—after the incident that took place the day before yesterday at around 14:00—the service worker, who had been away for a few moments, noticed that the place where the transmitter had previously been installed had been robbed. The latest “hunt” for relay transmitters has brought the number stolen to eight in just the last three or four months. And it is precisely this “hunt” that has seriously disrupted the TVSH signal across the Korçë district. One need only recall the figures for other towns that have long been unable to receive even a single station from their own state broadcaster. The most unfortunate example remains Maliqi. (El.Ko.)

Godo: “This law must not be passed” TIRANA - “Without resolving the land problem, the state cannot take root.” The first to express this view was the Republican Party and its representative, Sabri Godo, who are reacting sharply to land-related problems. This time Godo’s statement, made in front of the media, concerned the “Law on the Sale and Purchase of Land”, which may be submitted to the Albanian Parliament after being prepared by the Government. “We will fight with all our strength to ensure that the MPs do not approve it,” Godo said yesterday. “We will fight to the end over this.” According to the PR chairman, passing this law would lead to further social upheaval, and quite serious upheaval at that. In any case, Godo’s latest remarks do not concern only the “Law on the Sale and Purchase of Land”, but also the law passed four years ago that had allowed land to be distributed per capita. “This law belongs to the communist philosophy of expropriating the individual,” Godo said, also recalling that nothing has been considered since January 1995, when the PR had called for one proposal to be replaced with another. Acknowledging that he was making his latest statement on behalf of the party he leads, Godo has often appeared in connection with the Albanian Right-Wing Alliance—which the PR also belongs to—and it would support him. (p.r.e.)

PS MP on political tour in the South GJIROKASTËR - Namik Dokle “reappears”. Considered by some press sources to have gone to Canada to evade investigations that might arise over tens of thousands of dollars connected with the exploitation of “Zëri i Popullit” while he was its editor-in-chief, Dokle had in fact merely left Tirana. The reason? He was making a political “tour” of southern Albania. The day before yesterday he appeared in Gjirokastër at around 13:00, where he stopped at the PS headquarters in the city. From there, the Socialist MP immediately set off for Ksamil. After a meeting at around 16:00, Dokle ended up in Sarandë. And in the morning, at 9:00, he attended another expanded meeting—with his supporters and party members—which had been scheduled in advance. Dokle’s political pilgrimage continued on to the towns along the Ionian coast. At 14:00 he left the city of Sarandë to arrive in Himarë. Another meeting had been set for 16:00 there. Ra.Ko. the most important figures in the $1.6 million scandal; in Tirana, it seems that

GAZETA TV Enrica, a heart of gold

BRIEFLY FROM THE DISTRICT Gjirokastër, kills himself Greek Minister of Public Order’s accusation Wages without RISHT Godo: “This law must not be approved” Athens: Albanian concerns

Here is who will benefit most from the privatization bonds On page 7 Only 15% in revenue for the state treasury from the land tax On page 7