TIRANA - The press in Albania—after four years of democracy—is once again at risk: this time not because of the law, but because of the market. As of yesterday, the production costs of the leading newspapers have risen by 35% because of the announced worldwide increase in the price of paper, the raw material that Albania is forced to import. Clearly, the fault does not lie with the printing houses, which have kept their profit margins unchanged, but with an international situation that no one—individually—is able to regulate. The first effect of this price rise will be an unavoidable increase in newspaper prices, but that will not be enough: because higher prices will inevitably reduce sales, and revenues will fall... A regrettable outcome after 45 years of dictatorship. Today we must take responsibility for protecting that hard-won achievement of democracy, an achievement now at economic risk, and make sure it does not fail. How? In the only way the current situation suggests: reduce taxes on newspapers. An economically insignificant sacrifice for the State budget, but one that would mean survival for newspapers. Let us do some simple calculations. Newspapers today are required to pay a 15 percent turnover tax, from which books and magazines have rightly been exempted. But how much does the State collect from newspapers? Last year, less than 12 million lekë. If we consider that, for 1995, the State estimates the total volume of all [taxable activity?] at around 36 billion lekë, this means that the turnover tax on newspapers accounts for 0.03 percent. An insignificant amount, the removal of which would not change the public budget, but would change the newspapers’ budgets. Eliminating the turnover tax would be the first step toward saving the free press in Albania. Then there is the tax on advertising: another 15 percent, just as insignificant for the State budget, so much so that ... newspapers (pallavërishting[?] t’razë) is also yuar[?]terë- ballojë wages, ele[?] ra, telephone, electricity, taxes. Shtim[?]u electrifies thus[?] provoking a second effect: the closure of smaller newspapers. And it is precisely at this moment that freedom of the press is called for. Democracy of information is the result of conditions: the presence in the market of as many “voices” (newspapers) as possible, and their financial independence. Few newspapers, and even more so those in deficit, are the most concrete threat to press freedom that a dëré state can experience. A newspaper in deficit that has no possibility of reducing its costs has only two ways to survive: accept financing or close down. This means the alternative is always the closure of independence and the loss of the newspaper. In this difficult economic situation, the best position belongs to those of the parties that have strong funding; or to titles linked to economic powers and very secretive groups. This risks endangering a pre-democratic condition, one that exists only in the press of the powerful, while the independent press dies out (and the reasons for this këtepi[?] are not of much consequence). What can we do? Freedom of information is a right and a duty guaranteed by law in Albania too. It is before[?] the Government and Parliament—the highest expression of this law—to support the right and duty to address this problem. Freedom of the press is not a private matter for investors or newspapers; it is a matter for all society. A democratic government has only one guarantee[?]: newspapers in line with infor[?]

“Money, weapons and passports have disappeared” ARMAND MERO TIRANA - A dossier accuses the Tirana Court. Whereas just two days ago the chief judges of this institution resigned and attacked Minister Frashëri, now an inspection report carried out by the Ministry of Justice nearly a month ago reverses the roles: the Tirana Court itself is now the accused. Several pages of findings paint an extremely bleak picture of all its activities. It is a record of material evidence—counterfeit money, passports and even weapons—whose whereabouts are unknown. Dozens of court rulings have not been registered; expert reports appear and disappear; cases have been suspended and left gathering dust for a year. An explosive document has reached the highest levels of the Albanian justice system and has already led, just days ago, to the removal—by decision of the High Council—of two judges of the Tirana Court. The existence of the document is confirmed by one of the specialists who prepared it: “There is real organizational chaos in this Court,” Fitim Hoxhati, a specialist at the Ministry of Justice and member of the inspection team, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “and there are serious shortcomings in administration.” But beyond the bureaucratic criticisms identified by the inspection, the most serious accusation in the document concerns the handling of material evidence sent to the Court by the Prosecutor’s Office. The required procedures for transferring it from the judges’ secretariat to the judges, and then back from the judges to the secretariat, have not been followed. Much evidence has gone missing after the proceedings. “Let me give you the example of the 800 counterfeit dollars,” Hoxhati confirms. “Under the court ruling, these dollars should have been destroyed. But in fact there is no document proving this. Ultimately, the dollars disappeared without leaving a trace. The same applies to the German passports seized during the investigation and also to the weapons: none of the items that the Court was supposed to safeguard can now be found.” The failure to review certain suspended rulings for years has also been deemed “unjustifiable.” The files relating to these cases have been forgotten or left unsecured. “One case was adjourned for a psychiatric evaluation,” Hoxhati gives as an example. “The response arrived a month later, but the case had still not been reviewed even three years afterward.” The same situation applies to the bureaucratic process of registering rulings. Only 3 percent, the Ministry specialist says, were registered within the required time, a few days later, while the rest were registered after varying delays, in some cases as long as eight months. “This situation shows a serious administrative failure,” Hoxhati concludes. But does it call the administration of justice at this Court into question? “I cannot say that,” he replies. “The consequences are serious and the rulings lose their effectiveness.” A wave of dismissals among judges On page 3 The Tirana Court

Football: the top shifts TIRANA - A quake in the standings. “Albetrol” and Shehu of “Shqiponja” toppled the championship leaders on Wednesday, after 23 weeks. And at the end, [they took over] the places “owned” by the UEFA zone and the title of Albania’s “goalador.” The only ones who can calmly wait for a few more hours are the footballers of “Tirana,” who, although they play “Elbasani” today, have definitively secured an eight-point lead over second place. It is undoubtedly the most unusual Championship. Week XXIII in particular gave it sensational color, sending the Albanian “Freiburg” into second place, even though the team from Potosi still has a negative goal difference. The defeats of “Partizani” and the champions yesterday gave “Shqiponja” the chance to move away from the freezing zone of Category II, while Shehu overtook the talent of “Tirana” and the Albanian national team, Fortuzi. A pleasure that may end today, but will remain on record for at least 24 hours. Yesterday was also a dream come true for the debutants from Peqin. Yesterday’s victory over “Laci” brought “Shkumbini” level on points with the Reds of Lices, perhaps in the deepest crisis of this season. Thus, seven matches of Week XXIII have concluded, with many surprises but few goals. Just eight, while “Tirana” and “Elbasani” can change this week’s record only in the low goal tally.

The parents’ appeal TIRANA - A tragic anniversary for the Hoxha family in Tirana. Three years after little Juljetë disappeared, her poor parents continue their painful appeal: “Help us just to find out where our daughter is.” In this way, through the Albanian and foreign mass media, they had moved public opinion for a long time; the episode of 12 March ’92 grows more deeply shrouded in mystery with every passing day. Nevertheless, in memory of that tragic “anniversary,” and also because the Hoxha family’s hope can never be extinguished, especially for those who have heard about the case and might be able to do something to shed light on the abduction and widely reported disappearance of the child in Albania. “I am ready to give everything to anyone who can give me even a single piece of news about Juljeta,” her father, Ganiu Hoxha, tells Gazeta Shqiptare. “Although I have no wealth, my brothers and I could give up our homes in exchange for what we have been waiting for over three years.” The mystery of Juljeta’s abduction—by motives and people still unknown—becomes even darker when one remembers that the Hoxha family lives in almost absolute poverty. Her father, Ganiu, who occasionally works privately with his body-repair cart, and Juljeta’s mother, who is on welfare, do not suggest a kidnapping for money. Nor could it have been revenge, because the two spouses remember having wronged no one. Nevertheless, after thousands of hours of anguish, accompanied by investigations by the specialized authorities and many newspapers, Juljeta’s abduction increasingly seems above all connected with adoptions. It was on 12 March—the day former President Alia decreed a ban on the adoption of Albanian children by foreigners—that little Juljeta disappeared. These were the final days before the elections of 22 March ’92, days when Tirana was living amid gunfire and robberies of every kind, days when a dark hand had not spared Juljeta, the daughter of an extremely poor couple. In this tragic “appropriation,” three years after the disappearance of a little Albanian girl, anything may happen, except that she be forgotten. This March offers another chance for civic solidarity with a family worn down by hope, and also an opportunity for the specialized authorities: by reopening the investigation, they might have the satisfaction of solving an old crime. For the Hoxha family, it would be a miracle. (e.l)

TRIANE - Arsidi delays the trial. Andi Çeliku, the presiding judge in the high-profile trial that resumed yesterday in Tirana, has chosen to postpone the proceedings in the hope that the French witnesses will agree to testify in Tirana. Sanxhaku, Saliu’s lawyer, was absent from yesterday’s hearing; in recent days he has been dealing with the case of another well-known client of his, Fatos Nanos. The next hearing is on 22 April, three weeks from now. 22 April is the date set for the appearance of the French witnesses. Yesterday, Albania’s ambassador in Paris, Besnik Mustafaj, spoke to Gazeta Shqiptare. He is the person who conveyed the Albanians’ request for testimony from Arsidi and the lawyer Simon to the French authorities. “I have sent a request for the documents,” Ambassador Mustafaj said, “to the office of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and two letters addressed personally to Simon and Arsidi at their personal addresses. So far, I have received no official confirmation that they will come to Albania. In any case, I think it is still early; the date for their appearance is 22 April...” The Arsidi trial

Saranda, dynamite gang detained: 3 in custody SARANDE - The pursuit of the Saranda night bombers lasted only one day. Three people were detained yesterday by the police station in the city on the Ionian coast, suspected of the attack on Vasil Çako, Chairman of the District Council. The three, including a merchant and a former convict, ended up in custody following a lightning-fast operation by Saranda police. The phenomenon of dynamite attacks had begun to take on worrying proportions in Saranda. Over the past two years, such attacks had repeatedly targeted the apartments and homes of several officials and well-known people in the district. Çako himself had linked the explosion in the attack to a [one?], immediately after the initial shock caused by the blast, which had spread panic throughout his apartment building, and to possible revenge connected with the issue of illegal construction in the district. P.re.

Gjinushi: “For early elections” TIRANE - “The Albanian Social Democratic Party is expanding and reaching beyond its current boundaries.” This was noted at a meeting of the PSDSh Steering Council, convened to determine the party’s position up to its Second Congress, which will be held at the end of October. The chairman, Skënder Gjinushi, also stressed that PSDSh supports early elections “as a lawful political solution to the impasse.”

POGRADEC - Attack on the home of the PD Chairman in Pogradec. It is almost the same act as the one that took place a month ago at the home of the PD Chairman in Pogradec. A door marked 2.00 was broken, precisely at 2.00 at night—exactly at 2.00, when all the family members had gone to sleep with the Chairman’s father ... The Chairman ... PD and then ... (ed.?)

On Tuesday, special trains for the faithful TIRANE - The pilgrimage to the holy place of Albania’s Catholics is beginning again. A crowd of thousands will set out on Tuesday for the Church of Shna Ndou, the place of miracles renowned far and wide. On Wednesday, all the faithful from villages and cities, together with their followers, or simply believers who wish to pay homage to the saint who left behind a reputation as the eternal helper of people in need during hard times, will gather. This is a message that comes to us today, in modern times, not merely as a religious message, but above all as a communication of humanity and hope. In the now-rebuilt complex of Shna Ndou, the welcoming gate that receives travellers at all times has been restored. Yet only a few years ago, people would take the [magjen?] of help, at the entrance to the holy place, just to touch one of the heavy objects left by the saint and to be bloodied. This is preserved in the words, in the laws and in the prayers for help. The traditional procession, which will take place every Tuesday from the first event in April until June, will follow these roads; other [magjautet?] will travel to pray. The official news agency has announced that several special trains will be made available to travellers heading to Laç on the Tirana–Shkodër line, to reach the place where the famous church stands. Shna Ndou (Saint Anthony) is one of the most notable religious events for Albania’s Catholic population. People have venerated this place since time immemorial; according to local Christian tradition, it healed the disabled and brought happiness to people who came from far away with strong hopes for healing, physical or spiritual. It is a kind of “Albanian Lourdes,” suitably [adapted?]. P.re.

On page 3

ELBASAN – The Gjinart tragedy has come before the court. The two drivers who were detained by law-enforcement authorities as responsible for the Gjinart accident have been ordered to appear in the dock. The fatal incident occurred in December of last year, when a shkodë[?] in whose cab the drivers M. Hilla and T. Lici were travelling—with 30 passengers in its body—tragically overturned in the grëm[?], causing serious injuries to 20 people. Nevertheless, the Trial Panel has suspended proceedings against the two drivers who survived the accident in order to conduct further investigations. me.ki

A Ministry inspection report denounces...

Alpetrol-Besa 1-0 Apolonia-Flamurtari 1-0 Dinamo-Besëlidhja 0-0 Iliria-Tomori 3-0 Shqiponja-Teuta (today) Tirana-Elbasani 1-0 Vllaznia-Partizani 0-0 (today) Tirana-Elbasani 3-0 Vllaznia-Partizani 1-0

Arsidi “pushes” the proceedings The assassination attempt against the Chairman PSD, Council Gazeta TV

On page 3

The Octopus 7, the final act