Investigations deepen into 400 thousand dollars Ten days after the complaint by the State Control Commission Qeleshi: “The case has not begun against Dokle, but over the ‘ZP’ printing house” EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA - “Yes, the criminal case has just begun.” This is the sensational statement—confirmed yesterday to Gazeta Shqiptare by Tirana Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi—about what has been dubbed the ‘Dokle File’. Thus, only about ten days of investigations were needed to make use of the complaint materials submitted by the State Control Commission and decide to open criminal proceedings. The turn of events—which is by no means insignificant—is described by the Prosecutor’s Office merely as the legal beginning of investigations to verify everything in the documents and allegations presented by the State Control Commission. In any case, the basis for opening criminal proceedings is not currently being commented on by the investigative authorities, and their silence leaves open the question of the incrimination of particular individuals. “The criminal case has not been opened against MP Dokle,” chief prosecutor Qeleshi said yesterday, “but over the story of the printing house that was bought in Canada by ‘ZP’.” This is the only statement made so far by the capital’s Prosecutor’s Office, which also denies any current initiative to hold criminally responsible people who may have been mentioned in the complaint by the State Control Commission. Nevertheless, since the beginning of last week—when the voluminous file was transferred from the institutions of Celes to the Prosecutor’s Office—the opening of a criminal case has been another step in a story that for days has dominated the official and private media in Albania. Yesterday’s initiative by the investigative authorities may also be the last chance to intervene in the mystery of the “ZP” printing house, a story reported some time ago by the State Control Commission, which seeks to establish guilt and genuine responsibility on the part of the PS. It is a story involving mutual accusations and, however it ends after passing through the labyrinths of Justice, it will ultimately have to be brought to a close. Perhaps this investigation will also have a different fate from the one conducted by the State Control Commission on 15 November 1993, when it was returned “for supplementary materials” or ... In any case, the criminal case has just begun. The “war” of documents, arguments, and truth is now in the hands of the investigators. must be sent to Canada at their own expense. city Prosecutor’s Office, where the court almost denies any other current insinuation, in order to You are also aware of how he goes about enlightening the press minister about the “ZP” chronicle, a historian denounced by the State Control Commission at the time. Namik Dokle

Dokle: “Nothing has been lost” TIRANA - “Nothing has been lost.” This is the latest public statement by the Deputy Chairman of the PS and Chairman of the left-wing Parliamentary Group, Namik Dokle, following the allegations by the State Control Commission that he was implicated in the disappearance of 400 thousand dollars intended for the purchase of a printing house in Canada. Dokle, who does not wish to return to this subject, stands by his statement during the televised debate with the Chairman of the State Control Commission, Blërim Çela. According to Dokle, the sum of 400 thousand dollars cannot be considered lost, since the Canadian company—apart from the initial 150 thousand dollars—is also awaiting the remaining installments, amounting to 250 thousand dollars. But this is precisely where the mystery remains. Dokle argued, reiterating once again that resolving this problem requires verbal authorization from the State so that the blocked printing house—together with the funds allocated for it—can ultimately be handed over to “ZP”. This suggests that the only mystery in the story is essentially ownership: of the 400 thousand dollars and, consequently, of the printing house. Çela disputed this argument, since, according to him, the printing house belongs to the Albanian state because the 400 thousand dollars came from the “Solidarity Fund” of the former PPSH. Meanwhile, Dokle considered it reasonable for “ZP” to receive the printing house because the newspaper’s revenue had been reserved for the coffers of the Central Committee of the former PPSH. A still-mysterious story, reported by the State Control Commission and declared a criminal case yesterday by the Prosecutor’s Office. In any case, the statement “Nothing has been lost” offers another chance to solve this mystery.

Diplomats seek a solution Calm at the Paris mission in Tirana TIRANA - The French writer, who has been inside the French Embassy in Tirana since Wednesday, will soon be in France. It thus appears to be moving toward a favorable resolution, what at first seemed an unusual incident. News of a resolution to the Cizia Zykë case was given by well-informed Albanian diplomatic sources in Tirana, but has not yet been officially confirmed. It is still not known how the legal obstacles arising from the charge hanging over the French-Albanian citizen will be overcome, but this seems to be the aim of both countries. The incident involving the writer, who had taken refuge in the French territory of the Embassy on “Skënderbeg” Street, immediately set the diplomatic machinery in both countries in motion. The highest Albanian state authorities themselves appear to have taken a direct interest in resolving the matter. Yesterday, too, the Embassy continued to insist on remaining silent and giving no further details beyond those provided by the authorities of the Quai d’Orsay. “We are sticking solely to the contents of the statement distributed to the press by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Paris; we have nothing to add,” the press attaché at the Embassy in Tirana said yesterday.

Proceedings against the former MP: now only the verdict remains TIRANA - “A dirty deal was made using me. My isolation was used as a bargaining chip in the red-and-blue balance of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.” These are serious accusations made yesterday by former MP Arben Lika during the trial against him and three other people on charges of smuggling. More than a defense, Lika’s statement—which lasted no more than 10 minutes—was a protest against the Prosecutor’s Office and “those who stand behind it”. He described the prosecution’s closing arguments and the prosecutor’s presentation of the case—“the one who was sentenced to 10 years”—as an independence that even the person who wrote it believes in less than anyone else. The former MP defended himself by accusing them of imposing “an unjust, unconsidered and fabricated sentence”. According to him, this was for a number of reasons, including his views and his early positions against corruption. Lika also stated—as he had done on previous occasions in Parliament, but without referring to any specific facts—that he had “accurate documents shedding light on millions of dollars being reinvested to launder money in Albania”. Lika’s lawyer, Marku, took the same line. In defending his client, Marku emphasized, referring to the facts, that Lika’s implication had been something premeditated and deliberate. “The prosecution necessarily wants Lika to be guilty,” Marku said, “but there is no evidence to show that he was involved in the goods that were in the car.” With the defense heard, the trial has now come to an end. Everything will be decided once and for all when the verdict is delivered on 21 April. Lika’s defense (photo: H. Pustina) Lika’s defense

TIRANA - He robbed a handbag and was sentenced to years in prison. This is the decision reached by the Tirana Court for the young man A. Kamberi, rejecting the prosecutor’s request, which had proposed up to 7 years. - He robbed a handbag and was sentenced to years in prison. This is the decision reached by the Tirana Court for the young man A. Kamberi, rejecting the prosecutor’s request, which had proposed up to 7 years. The incident that brought the young man from Tirana before the court took place in a shop on the street in his neighborhood. While returning home, Kamberi and a friend went into a shop, where they robbed a woman of her handbag. The presence of a police officer nearby, who intervened quickly, saved the woman and led to Kamberi being taken to the police station and then to prison.

After the discovery of thousands of fake poor people; Mass purges in 10 districts TIRANA - The purge of the local administration apparatus that distributes social assistance funded from the “fake poor” funds has begun. This time it was the Ministry of Labor itself that threatened to dismiss welfare inspectors in ten of the country’s main municipalities, including the capital, and in five communes spread across the country. The severe administrative measure was taken after the State Control Commission had previously reported thousands of cases of people improperly receiving economic assistance. The news was confirmed to the capital’s newspaper by a statement from the State Control Commission, which said that the damage caused to the state budget by irregularities and fraud had reached 2 million 298 thousand lekë. Many social assistance employees in the municipalities of Tiranë, Durrës, Shkodër, Elbasan, Vlorë, Lushnje, Peshkopi, Lezhë, Pato and Bulqizë, as well as several others in various communes, will now lose their jobs because of the losses caused by so many people exploiting poverty. Just a few days ago, the State Control Commission had published a report giving concrete figures on the number of abusers identified in almost the entire country. A report from Tropoja had made clear that the matter was not as insignificant as it seemed at first glance. In this district, the Commission had referred 21 people for criminal prosecution, accused of illegally receiving much larger sums of money. According to the source information, matters had gone so far that social benefits were being claimed for nonexistent people, and forged stamps were also being used. the preparation of a report presenting the entire country. A report from Tropoja had made it seemed at first glance. In that district, the Control having unlawfully obtained sums of money far greater than they were entitled to. According to the same source, they had gone so far as to claim all the social benefits for nonexistent people, or even to use forged stamps.

For the damage of July 2 TIRANA - The German Embassy has asked not to pay rent for one year for its building in the capital. The period in question is July 1990–August 1991, during which its headquarters was not operational because of the extensive damage caused when Albanian refugees forced their way in on July 2, 1990. According to the German side, repairs to the building cost 1.2 million marks, but after talks with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this amount was reduced to around 600,000 marks. In compensation, the Germans have asked not to pay rent for the 13-month period during which repairs to the embassy headquarters were carried out. The Albanian government has now drafted a decision—set to be considered at one of its next meetings—which will recognize the expenses incurred by the German side to repair the embassy building, in the amount of 600,000 marks. In compensation, the German side will not pay rent for its building for precisely the period during which it did not conduct its diplomatic activities. gje.pi.

The blank page is withdrawn TIRANA - In keeping with the commitments announced, the Committee for the Protection of the Printed Press was received today at the Ministry of Finance and held talks with officials from the ministry. The Committee also presented a number of serious concerns raised by the press as a result of high taxes and fees. It also submitted a proposal to amend the fiscal legislation provisions that penalize newspapers. The Committee is pleased to note that the talks took place in a spirit of goodwill and understanding on the part of the Ministry of Finance, with a view to finding a necessary solution as soon as possible. The ministry promised to make efforts so that, during this year, the smaller ones are not harmed and a fair solution is reached. The planned protest by 14 newspapers, which were to publish blank pages tomorrow, Saturday, has been withdrawn. Believing that dialogue produces results, the Committee will seek meetings next week with all the political forces represented in parliament, which will be invited to support our proposals in order to reach an understanding on readiness.

For the licensing TIRANA - Peace between the Ministry of Justice and the lawyers. Following protests and several closed-door meetings by a number of Bar Associations around the country—which opposed the directive requiring them to sit a qualification test—a meeting with Minister Frashëri appears to have calmed tempers. The talks between the Minister of Justice and representatives of the Albanian lawyers—the chairman of the Governing Council of the National Bar Association and the chairman and secretary of the Tirana Bar Association—were held yesterday in Tirana. After extensive discussions, it was agreed that the exam dates would be postponed and the exams would begin on 14 May 1995, allowing more time for the lawyers to prepare. At the same time, both parties also reached agreement on how the questions would be formulated: an issue that had sparked considerable controversy in recent days. The syllabus will be reviewed jointly by the Legal Profession Department at the Ministry of Justice, the National Bar Association and the Tirana Bar Association, with the aim of improving its quality. The meeting between representatives of the Albanian legal profession and Minister Frashëri was organized following a wave of protests that had begun in many cities. The first to protest were the Bar Associations of Korçë and Elbasan, followed just a few days later by their colleagues in Vlorë, Tirana and other districts.

Lika’s defense (photo: H.Pustina)

TIRANA - Peace between the Ministry of Justice and the lawyers.

Tirana After the discovery of thousands of fake poor people For the destruction of 2 July The white page is withdrawn

Trial of prison guards begins Indictment: “Here’s how the police helped the robber” On page 3 Football, today: the Albanian and Italian championships On page 3

Korçë, ADEL employees on strike They have not received their wages for March and have decided to stop working. All 400 employees of the ADEL enterprise, a joint Albanian-Greek enterprise, have decided to go on strike. This is the second time since February that the same thing has happened. Tropojë, two people detained for murder On Monday, in the early hours of the day in Tropojë, two citizens accused of murdering another citizen were detained. K. Drini, 31, and Z. Mali, 20, according to the charge, recently killed a third person, citizen Z. Sali, acting together. According to law-enforcement authorities, firearms held without a permit were found during the search of the defendants’ home. Marinela gives a concert in Sarandë Another success for the renowned Greek singer Marinela. This time her concert was held in the city of Sarandë. Hundreds of spectators followed Marinela’s songs and melodious voice with applause at the Butrinti cinema. Fier, the prefecture prepares for vouchers A working meeting was organized with specialists and officials from the municipalities and the prefecture of Fier to register Berisha privatization vouchers, or securities. The inclusion of several villages within the yellow line in some towns is one reason this issue requires close attention.