Berisha: “A friendly meeting” Berisha and Iliesku during yesterday’s meeting (photo: P. Omeri) TIRANA - The Vlachs and the Dacians, Mihal Trimi and Kosovo, the Aromanians and the colony of Albanians who emigrated long ago. The foreign ministers and railway volunteers, the second round of talks between the two Presidents—Albania’s Berisha and Romania’s Iliesku—have turned out as expected: positive. In fact, for as long as anyone can remember, Romanians and Albanians have been among the few peoples in the Balkans who have had no problems with one another. Iliesku’s return to an Albania he barely knew has therefore been an easy success. Two agreements—one on economic cooperation and another on cooperation in education—as well as Iliesku’s promise that he will support [term?] have been linked in the same way as those of the Albanians—but he has expressed satisfaction with the Albanian experience he went through back then, and his eyes shone with emotion as he recalled those days. The two presidents, who have been at the center of attention of the large group of Albanian and Romanian officials gathered here in recent days, have spoken at length together in private official talks. Both have issued statements to the press expressing satisfaction with the results of the relations achieved. It is no small thing to have one more friend in the Balkans today. Berisha proposed a meeting of the foreign ministers and won Iliesku’s support; the latter proposed a meeting of the Presidents of the Black Sea initiative. …between one another. Iliescu’s visit to a country he barely knew was thus easily successful. Two agreements — one on economic cooperation and another on cooperation in education — as well as Iliescu’s promise to support the initiative proposed by Berisha for a meeting with the foreign ministers of Europe’s most troubled region: these seem to have been the most important concrete results of the talks between the two. Iliescu’s Albanian pilgrimage began on Sunday. Personally accompanied by Berisha, Iliescu travelled through the Albanian-inhabited areas of the Middle region, where he had worked for thirty years, 48 years ago, with the enthusiasm of a young internationalist communist. Times have changed now; Iliescu is no longer the same as before and no longer accepts being called a communist, despite the insistence of the Romanian opposition, which continues to regard him as one — the Romanians’ experience with this …of the agreements reached. foreign ministers and found Iliescu’s support; Iliescu, in turn, initiative, and the Albanian leader’s answer was certainly positive. Iliescu was also received by Arbnori and Meksi. While the talks with the former focused more on political aspects, those with the Prime Minister were more concrete. “Why not establish an air route Bucharest–Sofia–Skopje–Tirana?” he asked. The two then went on to discuss how economic relations between the two countries could be increased. The modest five million dollars — the level of trade during the previous year — should be expanded, but that is mainly in the hands of businesspeople. At a meeting with Romanian businesspeople at the Ministry of Trade, this point must have been discussed more concretely. As for the Head of the Delegation, in May? [unclear pronunciation]…

After Saturday’s incident, the injured young man speaks Investigation into the newspaper that spread the false report Police vigilance around the US mission in Tirana has increased. And from the hospital, one of the protagonists describes that night’s adventure: “I did it because I’m unemployed” TIRANA—The first assault on the American embassy took place in the early hours of Sunday. After several separate attempts on the previous two nights, the day before yesterday at 2:00 a.m. more than 300 young people attacked the headquarters of US diplomats in Tirana. Having hidden for a long time in the forest and hills of the Lake Park, they appeared from two different directions. The security forces tried to drive them back by calling on them to leave. But the groups came close to the railings, and some even managed to climb up and get over them. TIRANA - Unemployed and lured by the desire to find state-owned enterprises, he was among the first to leap over the railings of the American embassy. But one of the protagonists of the incident, injured during Saturday’s attack, remained in hospital. He recounts how they hid in the Lake Park forest and then attacked the embassy. Dream with broken legs ARMAND MERO Ylber Hoxha, the 19-year-old who was injured during Saturday’s attack on the American Embassy in Tirana. “I would do it again,” he said. (photo: H. Pustina) The police officers’ shots into the air hit one of them—Ylber Hoxha from Tirana—wounding him in both legs. Hoxha was then detained by other security forces who intervened to calm the situation and was taken to hospital. Police checks throughout the area around the American embassy continued last night as well: there were no similar attempts at the other embassies. Numerous cars are patrolling the surrounding streets and the forest near the Lake Park hills. On Sunday evening, a statement from the Ministry of the Interior, broadcast during the television news program, accused the former communist secret police of responsibility for the incident. Meanwhile, investigations have begun into the newspaper “Meteor,” an anonymous publication that had spread the false report that the US embassy was opening its doors to Albanians. ar.me TIRANA - the incident, injured during Saturday’s attack, remained in hospital. [Visible text cut off: ...] How many people were there? “More than 300, together. They were all young, and most had come from the districts, mainly from the North. At 2:00 in the morning we approached the...” TIRANA — Unemployed and deceived by the desire to find a future abroad, he was among the first to climb over the railings of the American embassy. But a police bullet, as officers tried to stop the surge of people, struck Ylber Hoxha, 19, from Tirana, passing through both his legs. Now confined to a bed in room 8 of the trauma ward at the military hospital, he tells Gazeta Shqiptare about his adventure as he set off in search of “paradise.” “I have no income at all,” he says, his face dejected. “There are seven of us at home, and we try to get by on whatever little things we can sell. That’s why I decided to leave… Who deceived you into thinking the American embassy would open? “Just a chance encounter. On Saturday morning I was walking past the embassy on my way to Sauk when the police stopped me. They held me and asked me lots of questions — they suspected I wanted to get in — but then they let me go. Later I found out that many people had organised themselves to get into the embassy. At around 19:30 I returned, and we gathered at the Lake Park woods; there we were cold, and late into the night…” Ylber Hoxha, the 19-year-old who was injured during Saturday’s attack on the American Embassy in Tirana. “I would do it again,” he said. (photo: H. Pustina) Dream with broken legs

“Euro ’96” tomorrow at 15:30 Bajko waiting “Euro ’96” tomorrow at 15:30 Albania, a few hours before the challenge Bajko waiting On page 3 All the Serie B results in Italy On page 4 A week of other sports around the world On page 5

TIRANA - “All claims that the Embassy will provide asylum or special visas are false and contrary to reality.” After three days of crowds of unknown people at the fences of its headquarters, the American embassy in Tirana made this known, explaining in detail—in a press release—all the circumstances in which it might admit Albanians seeking asylum in the US to its premises. “The Embassy is concerned about certain individuals who appear to be spreading unfounded information that it will open its doors to those seeking asylum, or issue special work visas,” its statement says. US diplomats in Tirana explain, meanwhile, that “the laws of the United States do not allow American embassies to grant asylum in this way. At the same time,” the statement continues, “the Embassy has no authority to issue special visas.” How many people were there? “I believe there were more than 300. we approached the embassy. There were only two police officers, who were shouting at us not to come closer and began firing into the air. Some others and I reached the railings and climbed up. That was exactly where the bullet hit me. I fell to the ground and couldn’t feel my legs. My friends picked me up and we went down as far as near the center.” What happened then? “They caught us here in a police car. Some managed to escape, while they shoved me and four others into a van and then took us to the police station. I felt ill and they took me to Hospital No. 1. They gave me first aid there and brought me here.” But did what you did serve any purpose? Would you do it again? “I had a dream and wanted to make it come true. And if they open [the embassy], I’ll try again.”

Totofutboll, no big winners: only 55 tickets remain, each worth 33,122 lekë TIRANA - There were no lucky winners who scored 13 points this time in Totofutboll ticket number 28, for which 1,821,717 lekë were available to the winners. The Italian league’s Serie B has thus proved much more puzzling than Serie A. Meanwhile, the Central Commission has declared 55 tickets winners, each earning 33,122 lekë, provided there are no possible claims. Despite the little interest shown this time by Totofutboll fans, because Serie A matches were absent—nearly half the revenue collected during Totofutboll’s record run was raised—the 13-point winners failed to appear.

Dies on his newly bought motorcycle He was travelling home on a “Cagiva” motorcycle, which he had just bought, but lost control near the village of Fushë-Krujë and went flying in a tragic crash. Passers-by found his body 30 metres from the motorcycle; there was no hope for him. The police then had great difficulty identifying the victim’s body, until they finally discovered who it was: 26-year-old A.M., from the village of Sahat in Shkodër. The mark of the motorcycle purchase remained on his body; his passion for it had brought about his tragic end. Krujë, police: “Call us” The police in Krujë continue — at last, the opportunity has been created — to communicate more with citizens. A fixed telephone number — 222 — has been installed in every telephone office. Through it, all citizens can call to raise the alarm in the event of an accident, or any kind of need they may have, whenever they consider police assistance necessary.

There are 133 charges for ’94 TIRANA — “Smuggling is an extremely dangerous crime under current conditions.” Alush Dragoshi, the Prosecutor General, described this type of crime in these terms in a review of the work of the institution he heads for last year. There were arrests last year. Cases involving 1.5 million dollars in contraband seizures in nine districts of the country were brought to trial. Sixty percent of all criminal proceedings examined by the prosecution — 133 in total — ended in prison sentences for this crime; they were conducted around Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Devoll, Dibër and Malësia e Madhe. Meanwhile, 20 percent of the proceedings were suspended, while another 20 percent were dismissed as criminal cases.

The ’95 budget TIRANA — The draft budget for 1995 has once again returned to discussions between government officials and parliamentarians. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Government’s Economic Group and the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and the Economy, the committee’s chair, Genc Ruli, again asked Budget specialists for detailed information on various budget issues. The forthcoming replacement of turnover tax with value-added tax, and the possibility of removing numerous tax exemptions for materials used in investment, will need to be taken into account when setting this year’s revenue. Discussions will continue today in the Parliamentary Committee, and within this week the draft budget will be submitted to the deputies for the final word.

BERAT — An ordinary argument in a city café ended in tragedy. — An ordinary argument in a city café ended in tragedy. Xhevair Tafa, from the village of Veledisht, very close to Berat, was stabbed at midday on Saturday by Shefiq Muhameti, 32, from Bistravica, a village 30 kilometres away. The two had argued a few hours earlier at Berat market over trivial matters, but Muhameti later went to Tafa’s home, together with a cousin, supposedly to clear things up. Instead, he unexpectedly stabbed him in the heart. Tafa, 29, the father of two young children, was taken to hospital, but died there. Muhameti fled in an unknown direction and is being sought. The police have arrested his cousin, Avdy[l] Muhameti, 41, who was present at the time of the crime. He is now accused of complicity in the murder.

He has celebrated his birthday and now wants a home; he has lived in hospital for 15 years GJIROKASTËR — He celebrated his 15th birthday in the very hospital where he had grown up for fifteen years straight. The doctors and nurses — who had been like parents to him — organised a ceremony that, for Julian Erindi, became an especially emotional farewell to the paediatrics ward. He is now too old to remain among the little children admitted to the ward. Erindi himself finds it difficult to leave his “home.” Abandoned at birth, the baby remained in the hospital because no one remembered him. But even now, it has been difficult for anyone to remember him and think about the boy’s future. He has left school, and that is one of the reasons why the Children’s Home in Sarandë, where he spent his past, will not accept him. The paediatrics doctors have taken the matter to court several times for a decision, and the lawyers have deemed him an orphan. “Now I want to have a home of my own too,” says Juliani. “I don’t know my mother, and I don’t want to meet my father. He says I’m not his. A life without a family, 15 years in a hospital — where will it end now?” …possibly outside the hospital. “— life without a family, 15 years in a hospital — where will it end now?’”

“Here’s why I write rarely”

For Gjergj, poet of “Autumn”? “Here’s why I write rarely” On the cultural page

Currency | Banka Tregtare: Buying, Selling | Albankredi shpk: Buying, Selling | Free market: Buying, Selling Dollars 92.30 95.00 94.00 95.00 94.70 94.90 Marks 63.30 68.85 68.80 69.50 66.10 66.40 Lire 56.10 58.50 65.60 66.20 65.90 66.00 Drachmas 29.66 40.15 39.90 40.50 39.50 40.10