Changes in Albanian diplomacy. Possible changes in Paris and Vienna Belgrade, Sofia, Rome: order to return arrives The return begins tomorrow. One of the diplomats: “We don’t know the reasons. We were told that we would remain attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” TIRANA - Albanian diplomacy has been swept up in a broad wave of movements. The study phase has now been completed, and the letters requesting the return of ambassadors in some of Europe’s most important capitals have arrived at Albanian missions. “Within ten days you must hand over the post you currently hold and return to your homeland”: this was the content of the letter that several envoys of Albanian diplomacy, appointed ambassadors three years ago, received from their directors. Albania’s representatives in Belgrade, Rome and Sofia—it also concerns the Albanian ambassadors in Vienna and Paris, although the news has not been officially confirmed—have been informed that they should make final preparations to return. Handing over their posts must include notifying the authorities of the respective countries with whom they have worked over the past three years. The names of the new ambassadors who will travel to the European capitals have not yet been made known, but it seems the appointments are in their final stages. Tomorrow appears to be the final deadline for the former ambassadors’ return; at least, that is the deadline given to Edmond Dule, until now the Albanian Ambassador in Rome, whose recall request arrived in Italy nine days ago. The decision has also been communicated to the Farnesina, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. None of those being recalled wanted to comment on their departure, reserving their remarks until after returning to their homeland. “The letter ordering my return to my homeland—apart from this transfer, it gave no reason—” one of them said on the telephone yesterday, “but in our contacts with the department we were told that this is part of a broad reform. Now we’ll see; even after returning, we remain under the Ministry.” All the returning ambassadors belong to the group of diplomats appointed during the period of major purges in Albanian diplomacy. It is as though they had all emerged from the generation of intellectuals active in the democratic movements. A review of movements within Albanian diplomacy has been under discussion for some time. Its own leaders had justified the need for changes as necessary to improve the efficiency of Albania’s diplomatic corps. Minister Sereqi and Deputy Minister Starova had mentioned the need to review the work of the personnel under their authority, now that three years have passed and an accurate assessment can be made of many of them. The new Albanian representatives in the important European capitals will now be announced, and this will be the second phase of the reform in the department responsible for carrying out the country’s foreign policy. Following the normalization of Albanian-Greek relations, the Albanian head of state has called for the direct intervention of Greek diplomacy—traditionally on friendly terms with Belgrade—to avert the bloody conflict in Kosovo. “Tension in this province constitutes a threat to the entire Balkans,” Berisha is quoted as saying in an interview. “The Albanian government wants no change of borders, but a democratic solution to the problem of the Albanians.” The Albanian President went on to add that he is completely convinced that cooperation between Serbs and Albanians will be proven in the future. Berisha also recalled once again the major progress in Albania’s relations with its southern neighbour, describing the recent improvement as “spectacular.” Fatos Bahaku, p. re. On page 3

TIRANA - Berisha asks Greek diplomacy for help with the Kosovo issue. “Athens, which maintains privileged relations with Belgrade,” the Albanian President said in an interview with the official Greek news agency, which was relayed by other major foreign news agencies, “can encourage Serbian President Slobodan Milosheviç to begin a dialogue with Ibrahim Rugova, leader of the Kosovo Albanian community.”

Football, Week XXIV “Teuta” demolishes “Tirana” Football, Week XXIV The champions return “Teuta” demolishes “Tirana” TIRANA—The champions return. Although only by two points, “Teuta” managed to demolish “Tirana,” precisely on the eve of its coronation. Nevertheless, the moral triumph of last season’s champions has left the “white-and-blues” still nine points ahead of second place, which is once again occupied by a different team than a week ago. “Partizani,” with its hard-fought win against “Tirise”—now definitively in Category II—has climbed back to the top of the UEFA zone, with the newcomers from Patozi and Pegini clearly below it. Yesterday’s Saturday fixtures—with seven home wins and one goalless draw—shook up no fewer than 10 teams once again. The only away goal at these grounds belongs to Deliu of “Tirise,” and thus became a consolation goal for all the teams that played away yesterday. But this return of the champions was also accompanied by the return of red cards, two of them, in addition to all the other yellow cards. A total of 15 goals, none scored by the elite goal-getters Fortuzi, Shehu and Vuthi. (e.l) Results Besa-Vllaznia 1-0 Besëlidhja-Apolonia 2-0 Elbasani-Dinamo 0-0 Flamurtari-Shkumbini 1-0 Laçi-Albpetrol 3-0 Partizani-Iliria 2-1 Teuta-Tirana 3-0 Tomori-Shqiponja 2-0 May deadline Lists for privatization vouchers begin On page 3

Jonesco’s play TIRANA - Nude in the name of art. For the first time on the Albanian theatre stage, an actor appears before the audience fully dressed, while two others—a young man and a young woman—artistically enact an act of rape. It is a bold decision—quite normal, nevertheless, in modern art today—which the Albanian audience is encountering for the first time with much applause. “It was an extraordinary audience,” Arben Kumbaro, director of “Victims of Duty,” told the Albanian Gazette immediately after the first performance, given on Friday afternoon in the hall of the Academy of Fine Arts. And he credits the entire success to the fourth-year directing students who act in it. But although nearly everyone has now focused their attention on the two “unusual” scenes in this production for Albanian theatre, Kumbaro rightly insists: “I don’t want people to talk only about them. The appearance of the nude actor is only a small element in the whole play. It is a very special monologue. His undressing is life in its pure, naked form, and the actor’s monologue unfolds as something perfect, divine. My students and I often say—we want to be something new. And Jonesco, with his works, is very close to Albanian realism.” “Victims of Duty” is a powerful pseudo-play by the Romanian writer. Here, Jonesco speaks about theatre—what it should be—and its history. A history akin to the lives of Albanians: the violence, dictatorship, subjugation and humiliation inflicted on them by that system. At the center is a character wanted by the police. Against the Academy of Fine Arts’ modern black-and-white set, this figure is played by two actors who appear one after the other to show the two sides of life, its duality. The premiere of “Victims of Duty” was performed on Friday and then again on Saturday evening. Today, in the Academy of Fine Arts hall, the acting students will stage it for the third time. Ar. Me.

A tragic story in the capital A 15-year-old jumps from the fifth floor with the book of God in her hands TIRANA - A 15-year-old girl from Tirana, who had problems with [fluaturanga?], threw herself from the fifth floor of an apartment building, holding the Quran in her hands. Yet this time God was not only unable to stop the teenager from her deadly act, but did not help the doctors bring her back to life either. Nevertheless, an investigation into this very rare and mysterious incident began immediately, although a scarf tied around her head and the Quran—hours after the young believer’s tragic death—remained the only witnesses. (e.l.)

SHKODËR - Within two hours, the lives and deaths of six people—including two newborns—clashed dozens of times. Another almost unbelievable adventure, though involving real people, has miraculously ended with life triumphant. The odyssey connected the Coka family, thread by thread, from Upper Koplik in the district of Malësia e Madhe, and began precisely when the head of the household—Muhamet—set off in his car to take his wife, who was expecting to give birth at any moment, to the maternity hospital. The adventure began in the car, where Mira Coka became a mother before reaching the Koplik maternity hospital. Nevertheless, a quick examination of the newborn and his mother led the doctors to believe that another baby might soon be born as well. The young father’s car was then joined in turn by his wife and the baby, a female relative of the Coka family, and the midwife, who was to accompany them to Shkodër Hospital. Only two kilometres of road had passed amid the anguish of birth and death when the adventure went off course: the car overturned, skidded across the road’s asphalt and plunged into a body of water—an artificial lake—submerging everyone. Perhaps a maintenance van helped Muhamet Coka quickly and safely pull everyone from the water: the “bunch,” the mother and the son born just minutes earlier. And here, none of their lives “has any intention of surrendering to death.” Another baby—this time a girl—joined her brother a little later, thus giving the Coka family back two lives, as well as a miraculous, courageous blessing from above, in keeping with the custom of Malësia. (Na.Me.)

Vlora, 2 police officers disciplined VLORA — They brought food into the detention cells for the detainees and have now been dismissed from their posts. This was the measure imposed by the Chief of the Vlora Police Commissariat on two of his employees. The decision even caused a conflict between him and the commander of the two police officers, who strongly opposed his superior’s decision. It was a surprise inspection that caught the two police officers helping the people held in the commissariat’s cells, where regulations strictly prohibit bringing in food. The two police officers, now dismissed, had brought in various goods, including alcoholic beverages such as raki. But in addition to the food brought by the detainees’ families, the officers also supplied them with magazines and newspapers; the most popular was the publication containing erotic material, “Eros”. Its installation was made possible by an Albanian private investor who was angered by the Savings Bank. The bank gave him a loan of 600 thousand dollars to buy the modern medical equipment for medical diagnosis, manufactured in February 1995. St. Ma.

TIRANA — A new device for diagnosing illnesses was installed yesterday in Tirana, at the “M.D.C” medical center. — A new device for diagnosing illnesses was installed yesterday in Tirana, at the “M.D.C” medical center. The scanner—as this modern piece of equipment is called—is the third to be installed in the capital, and now we can practically say that Albanians will no longer need to go abroad to find out what they are suffering from. modern medical equipment, manufactured in February 1995.

DURRËS — An international award for an Albanian alcoholic-beverage winery. — An international award for an Albanian alcoholic-beverage winery. This time, fortune has smiled on the Durrës winery, “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu”, which has received the “Gold Medal” distinction. The award is presented by the International Academy of Economic and Social Sciences in Rome. This is the 30th distinction issued by the Academy, and the first time it has reached Albania, awarding it to the Durrës winery, according to its representative, at the ceremony—which also took place—for the outstanding results it has achieved over the past two years.

GJIROKASTËR — Concern about the bunkers and other anti-aircraft facilities has once again come to the fore. — Concern about the bunkers and other anti-aircraft facilities has once again come to the fore. The Army Section at the Prefecture of Gjirokastër recently made these facilities the subject of an organized inspection, specifically the concrete structures, now almost forgotten. A report from the official agency in Gjirokastër says that the section is concerned about the condition found. The new construction plans have not taken the service facilities into account; moreover, many of them have turned into rubbish dumps, including cases where they have been converted into [?] for various citizens.

Meeting of young Albanian Catholics A meeting of young Albanian Catholics titled “You will be my witnesses” will be held this afternoon in the capital, in Skënderbej Square near the Palace of Culture. It will be attended by Monsignor Renato Boccardo, head of the Youth Section of the Pontificium Consilium pro Laicis, and Bishop Monsignor Rrok Mirdita. Korçë, concert by German guitarist After Marinela, another foreign artist has arrived in Korçë. He is the German guitarist Stefan Bershei, who, together with the string orchestra of the music school, gave a concert featuring selected pieces by local and foreign composers. Bershei performed Vivaldi’s Concerto in D major and 5 suites by Villa Lobos.