The first suspicions of a plutonium-waste trafficking operation denounced a year ago Mystery after the “Korabi” was detained in Italy: Captain in prison The ship “Korabi” detained at the port of Pescara DURRËS - The international mystery surrounding the Albanian ship “Korabi”, detained by Italian investigators at the port of Pescara, has just deepened over suspicions of trafficking in radioactive materials, such as plutonium. The ship’s Albanian captain, Hysen Curri, 45, is being held in Pescara prison. Last night, at around 20:00, he was subjected to a hearing that cannot be judged. The first charge on which Curri was arrested - tomorrow it will be decided whether he will remain under arrest or be released together with his ship - is currently “receiving stolen goods” (police found on board a 20-horsepower marine engine that appears to have been stolen), but suspicions concerning the ship “Korabi”, which departed from the port of Durrës, are very serious. This story actually began a year ago in Sicily, at the port of Palermo. In March 1994, “Korabi” asked to dock to unload its cargo, but during an inspection on board, the Sicilian port authorities discovered signs of radioactivity. The ship was therefore denied entry to the port and ordered to leave. Two days later, “Korabi” reappeared in Crotone, but the Italian authorities again did not allow an inspection; the Albanian ship disappeared, heading into international waters. Meanwhile, a sudden storm forced it to seek shelter in the port area of Reggio Calabria. The Italian police appeared immediately and discovered that the ship had been emptied and its mysterious cargo had vanished without a trace. The traces of radioactivity had also disappeared. Regarding the “Korabi” affair, the environmental organization “Legambiente” then filed a judicial complaint, accusing the ship of being “involved in trafficking radioactive waste in the former Soviet Union.” “Unfortunately, trafficking in radioactive waste exists,” Nucio Barilla of “Legambiente” told the Albanian Newspaper. “The Italian Mafia finds it easier to handle dangerous waste in Calabria, and there are suspicions that they might use ships such as the ‘Korabi’ in this business. I personally have been to Albania to investigate, but now I cannot say anything more.” The Reggio Calabria investigation had alerted all Italian ports to inspect waste-carrying ships, in case the “Korabi” was among those reported. The Albanian ship arrived in Pescara on Saturday morning. Inspections began immediately, but by yesterday no trace of radioactive materials had been found. The ship is carrying 900 tons of cement. Today investigators will check the crew’s documents; until now, the crew has been free to leave. If the charge remains limited to the captain. Pre

Berat: man who abducted an 11-year-old from Poliçan caught An organization exploiting the destitute is uncovered BERAT - A sensational arrest by the Berat law-enforcement authorities. This time, a 21-year-old citizen from Berat has been charged; he was detained by police while he had managed to abduct an 11-year-old who lived in Poliçan. Although the Prosecutor’s Office has only just begun its investigation, those involved in the successful operation at the Berat Police Station told the Albanian Newspaper that the child was intended to be used in Greece or Italy as a beggar or thief. But while the charges against the young man Kuniqi remain to be proven in Albania, on the other side of the sea an Albanian scandal is unfolding that confirms the exploitation of Albanian minors. Seven Albanian adults have already been arrested, while the four children they used as beggars have been repatriated immediately. Their parents — suspected of collaborating with the organization exploiting the minors — have been reported to the Italian authorities. The first person who had managed to alert the law-enforcement authorities about eleven-year-old Alban Seiti had apparently tried to help him. Shocked to see his son get into an unknown vehicle, he immediately raised the alarm, which soon reached Berat, towards which the kidnapper was already driving with the child. But everything ended in the little boy’s favor, after he was “stopped” by other forces, who rescued him from his abductors. His family was also saved. All three were seven meters inside the territory when they were spotted by this patrol in August. At that moment, one of these people, whom the Albanians had quickly begun taking back, was involved. But the Montenegrin patrol immediately opened fire on them. The bullets pierced [unclear]; one man was left dead at the scene: he had been shot in the back. Expert commissions from both sides immediately went to the scene, and after reconstructing the incident in detail, confirmed that the information and [unclear]. The killing of the adults took place on these slopes in the border area between Albania, former Yugoslavia and Montenegro. Over the last three years alone, more than 40 people are counted among those killed by the border guards of neighboring states. The latest incident was on November 14, just a few days ago — on April 14, in Macedonian territory, where 19-year-old Tirana had been [unclear] by the guards while crossing through this [unclear]. In that case, Tirana reacted sharply toward Skopje. After verification, Albania’s Ministry of the Interior had [unclear] everything [unclear]. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now calling for border crossings to be handled [unclear], so that the case does not lead to increased tensions between the two countries.

Republican Party dissatisfied after the President’s statement in Korçë “There must be another land law” TIRANA - Controversy over President Berisha’s latest statement in Korçë began immediately. “We cannot return the land to its former owners; this would create unbearable social problems.” This was the gist of Berisha’s statement during his meetings in Korçë, where he was engaged with the entire population to celebrate Easter. The only one to react sharply was the chairman of the Republicans, Sabri Godo, who strongly insisted on the need for a new land law, under which land would be returned to its former owners. “The President’s statements in Korçë,” Godo told the Albanian Newspaper, “do not correspond to reality. We have laws on pastures, on urban plots and on forests, but there is no law that resolves the land issue on the basis of democratic principles. Besides, land is being distributed in different ways. This has put Albanians in an unequal position, and everyone is suffering when it comes to agricultural production.” Godo also disputed the figures Berisha had cited about the former landowners: “The President’s calculation seemed a little strange to me,” Godo continued. “At that time, the Albanian people had a difficult lot. Everyone should have a law that returns land to its former owners; we should not continue with the reflexes of the time of Ramiz Alia. Where problems arise, the former owners should be given land from state property. Only in this way can this problem be resolved democratically.” Sabri Godo

Ministry: “He was seven meters inside foreign territory” Guards’ bullets kill an Albanian TIRANA - The Albanian border is bloodied. On Monday, in the early hours of the morning, a man from the village of Vrakë in Shkodër was killed just a few meters inside Yugoslav territory, on the border with Montenegro. Kolej Ivana, 27, accompanied by two other people, was shot by Montenegrin guards, causing his immediate death. The incident occurred at 3:05 in the afternoon, according to a statement distributed Monday by the Albanian Ministry of the Interior: “According to reports from other citizens, they had illegally entered Montenegrin territory, in the area of the village of Brijë in Malësia e Madhe. All three were seven meters inside when they were spotted by this guard patrol. At that moment, as these people began quickly to turn back, the Montenegrin patrol immediately opened fire on them. The bullets pierced [unclear]; one man was left dead at the scene: he had been shot in the back. Expert commissions from both sides immediately went to the area, and, after reconstructing the incident in detail, confirmed that the information and [unclear]. The killing of the adults took place on these slopes in the border area between Albania, former Yugoslavia and Montenegro. Over the last three years alone, more than 40 people are counted among those killed by the border guards of neighboring states. The latest incident is that of November 14, just a few days ago — on April 14 in Macedonian territory, where 19-year-old Tirana had been [unclear] by the guards while crossing this [unclear]. In that case Tirana reacted sharply toward Skopje. After verification, Albania’s Ministry of the Interior had [unclear] everything [unclear]. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now calling for border crossings to be handled [unclear], so that the case does not lead to increased tensions between the two countries.

Diplomacy TIRANA - Important diplomatic visits are expected in Tirana: first Hans van Der Broek, an important figure in relations with the EU and NATO, and after him Thomas Klesil, President of Austria, will come on diplomatic missions to the Albanian capital. Van der Broek will meet with the Albanian authorities on Thursday and Friday, with whom he will discuss important issues in relations between Tirana and the EU. Van der Broek is visiting Albania for the first time. Two of his predecessors had previously undertaken the same mission. Klesil will arrive in Tirana on April 2. Austria is one of the countries linked to Albania not only by close traditional cooperation between the two countries.

Girl in a coma SHKODËR - A solidarity drive has begun to help Afida Semini, the little girl who has been in a coma for some time after a terrible car accident. Yesterday, citizens of Shkodër came forward and offered the girl’s family a sum of money, so far the only support provided to help restore her physical condition. Afida is just a child, suffering greatly, and her parents and family often suffer alongside her. It is also very difficult for her parents.

Tragic end to a game with guns Shot by a fellow soldier TIRANA - The accidental killing of a soldier was known about, and a report was filed several hours later. Yesterday morning, the soldier from Korçë, Engjëllush Doda, had reportedly been ordered to take up the post where he had been assigned. At the beginning of the weapons drill, two soldiers were inside the military unit near the border of Berat — one was the soldier recruited for this duty, and the other was 19-year-old Doda. They had loaded the weapon, and soldiers from the 4th Command of the Tirana Police were called in. For nearly 10 hours they considered the hypothesis that Doda — his [unclear] brother, with a weapon nearby — had killed himself. This hypothesis was later abandoned and disproved, forcing the authorities to present the weapon, the evidence and the initial facts directly. In the aftermath of this tragedy, which has brought together [unclear] and [unclear], uncertainty remains over the circumstances.

Fierëz - They threatened the guard, took the money and fled in an unknown direction. Around midnight, 900,000 lekë were stolen from the safe in the municipal offices in Fierëz, Tropojë. Municipal employees said that around midnight, 3–4 armed and masked people intimidated and threatened the guard of the building, then carried out the robbery and fled in an unknown direction. The same information was received by the district police commissioner, who said that investigations had been launched to catch the perpetrators. Within a short time, h

Peqin, mysterious incident ELBASAN - The citizens of Peqin went through a night of terror this Sunday. On Sunday night, 53-year-old S. Dudia died after being brutally stabbed in circumstances that remain completely mysterious. “Open up, it’s your friend,” the enigmatic killer replied to the person who asked who was there. Dudia was asleep; he said he would open the door, but then stopped breathing after a powerful blow to the stomach. His alarmed family, shocked by the horrific sight that appeared before their eyes, was left speechless. E. Dudia was immediately taken to the hospital in Elbasan but died there two hours later. The police immediately began an investigation, which appears difficult.

It happened in a hospital KORÇË - A 60-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital in Korçë after becoming the victim of an attempted rape. The “adventure” for the elderly woman began on Friday evening, when the woman, a patient in the pathology ward, went to the hospital bathroom. At 23:30, one of the ward nurses, before changing shifts, noticed that a man was in this corridor in a distressed state. As the nurse tried to open the door, she stood on tiptoe and quickly struck him, although she had already raised suspicions while trying to catch the person involved in the incident.

Today the national team in Georgia: another match tomorrow The whole of page 3 Results and photos from the Italian Championship On pages 4–6 News and curiosities from sports around the world On page 5

Culture Socialist realism becomes a film On page 2 Controversy Can a newspaper pollute the language? On page 2 Current Affairs Bell thieves caught in Shkodër On page 2