Shkodër, doors closed for the testimony of the Guard officer: “He was a double agent” Trial begins for Montenegrin spies Meanwhile in Italy: “Is the CIA investigating the ship Korabi?” SHKODËR - The mystery surrounding the story of Montenegrin espionage against Berisha and Rugova is deepening. Guard noncommissioned officer Mehmet Logu—one of the main figures in this affair—was questioned yesterday in a closed courtroom at the first hearing of the military trial opened in Shkodër. While working with Montenegrin spy Beqir Lesheviç, he had also maintained regular contact with the Albanian secret services. For two hours, nothing was learned about the testimony he gave before the judges. “His account contains secret information,” was all Logu’s lawyer would say. Immediately after questioning the noncommissioned officer, the presiding judge announced that the trial would be suspended for further investigations. The case file will be transferred to Tirana. The trial concerning the espionage affair, which has brought three people to the dock—Lesheviç, Logu, and an officer from the Muriqan border post—began at 11:00. The military prosecutor first read the indictment and the charges against the three people involved in the case: Lesheviç is charged with “espionage, smuggling, and illegal border crossing”; Mehmet Logu is charged with “treason against the state in the form of espionage and illegal border crossing.” The border post officer is also charged with “violation of guard-service regulations,” because he let Lesheviç go when he was caught. Both Lesheviç and the Guard noncommissioned officer denied the espionage charge. The Montenegrin—while admitting to smuggling and illegally crossing the border—defended himself by saying, “I am Albanian by nationality and I do not betray my homeland.” However, Lesheviç said that he and Logu had met with a Montenegrin intelligence agent. His explanations, however, were confused. Lesheviç’s lawyer then asked to speak himself, saying, “My client,” he stressed, “is suffering from nervous problems caused by being held in isolation for a long time, for 22 months.” The court then stopped the questioning. But while the judges were expected to shed light through the Guard noncommissioned officer’s account, they cleared the courtroom and continued the trial behind closed doors. Logu’s testimony was deemed secret. This was not because of the role he had played in the whole affair: although he had agreed to work to provide Montenegro with secret information, at the same time he had also informed the National Intelligence Service. However, according to the indictment, he had concealed and failed to report his trips to Tivar and Ulqin to meet the Montenegrin intelligence agent. But the trial has revealed nothing new about the truth behind this entire mysterious affair. His lawyers, too, remained completely silent. The minister with whom he had been associated for some time now appears to be set to remain in office longer. And the trial In addition to plutonium, clandestine migrants, and the stolen marine engine, will the CIA be added to the list of things surrounding the Albanian ship Korabi? This is the sensational hypothesis put forward by an Italian newspaper, according to which “American secret services have been monitoring the movements of the ship suspected of trafficking plutonium and uranium for several months.” But investigators have not confirmed the report. Reggio Calabria prosecutor Francesco Neri himself confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare only the latest investigations carried out by his colleagues in Pescara, who in recent days have conducted a series of searches with police dogs and divers. Police chemists also took a sample of water from the bottom of the vessel to find out whether it contained any traces of nuclear material. The results of this latest analysis will be made known in the coming days, but according to Italian sources... Meanwhile, the captain’s lawyer, who is still in Pescara prison, has requested that the seizure order on the ship be lifted and that the officer be released from prison. Yesterday the captain’s wife and Skënder Ago arrived in Pescara; Ago is the captain’s partner and owns 50 percent of Agritras, the company that owns the ship “Korabi.” Absolute secrecy surrounds the visit to Pescara a few days ago by the Albanian consul in Rome, who met with investigator Salvatore Di Paolo. In a telephone interview with a private radio station in Pescara, Consul Bekteshi said only that “all checks are being carried out to ensure the ship’s safety at sea.” A detailed inspection of the ship revealed that it lacked the required salvage equipment, as stipulated by Italian pollution laws. Another factor that could prevent the ship from setting sail—if the seizure is lifted—is the absence of the second officer, who left without a trace several days ago. The authorization and documents... The ship “Korabi,” seized in Pescara From Pescara FRANCO GIULIANO … saw life in blue, “Medusa” Mehomet Logu is charged with “treason against the homeland in the form of espionage and illegal crossing of the border.” The charge includes elements concerning the officer of the “Skënderbej” Border Post and the rules governing guard duty, because Lesheviç was allowed to go free when he was caught by the Albanian patrol while trying to cross the border into Montenegro without permission. … discovered by the Montenegrins. But nothing new has emerged from the trial about the truth behind this whole mysterious case. There was complete silence, including from his lawyers. The mystery surrounding this incident now seems likely to be solved. Yesterday the proceedings were suspended once again, and everything was postponed for further investigation. Ar. Ça. … who in recent days have carried out a series of inspections with police dogs and divers. Police chemists have also taken a sample from the water at the bottom of the speedboat to determine of this final according to confidential sources, the water contains no radioactive elements. … “of the ship.” An examination of the ship’s equipment showed that they were not salvagers, who are not subject to Italian maritime law. Another factor that could prevent the ship from departing — if it needs to be extradited — is the absence of the second officer, who disappeared without leave several days ago. In this case, authorization must be issued by the Albanian authorities in Italy. The mystery continues. … his imprisoned brother. About the elections, the possibilities, the hopes… Then, stating that “permanent admission to the EC would be the best chance for a quick resolution of the Nano issue.” This time Dokla discussed the newspaper group with the Albanian newspaper and his relations with the other members of the Albanian delegation, both inside and outside the important meeting room. And also the Greek representatives’ attitude toward Albania. In any case, a position which — following those previously expressed by Spahia and Selami, and the publication of the EC documents — completes the picture of the rare hours in Strasbourg. Article on page 3

INTERVIEW Dokle speaks INTERVIEW Dokle speaks “This is what was discussed about Nano” TIRANA - This is the first version from home following the return of the Albanian delegation from Strasbourg, where Albania almost reached the Council of Europe. Namik Dokle—one of the three members of the Albanian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee—recounts everything that was discussed then about the issue of the imprisoned new leader. About the elections, the possibilities, the hopes... He even says that “final admission to the Council of Europe would be an additional opportunity for the quick resolution of the Nano issue.” This time Dokle has also told Gazeta Shqiptare about his relationship with the other members of the Albanian delegation, inside and outside the room where the important meeting took place. He has also described the position of the Greek representative toward Albania. In any case, a position that—after those previously expressed by Spahia, Selami and the publications

TIRANA - As every Thursday, the “What we used to be like?” initiative will continue today. All readers of Gazeta Shqiptare will receive a panorama of Durrës in the 1930s as a gift today. The photo shows a view of the city, with a picturesque view of the famous Port standing out, photographed from the city hill. A good opportunity—not only for the people of Durrës—to experience the atmosphere of those years. Regardless of the panorama, the price of the newspaper remains unchanged: it will still cost 15 lekë. Ask your vendor for a copy.

Brussels, Van der Broek says TIRANA - The EU’s senior Commissioner for Eastern Europe’s visit to Tirana has produced results very quickly. TIRANA - The visit to Tirana by the EU’s senior Commissioner for Eastern Europe has produced results very quickly. Upon arriving in Brussels, Van der Broek gave a lengthy interview in which he announced a very positive outcome for Albania: “Soon the European Commission will propose to the Council of Ministers of the European Union that talks be opened with Tirana on an association agreement with the EU.” The news from Brussels came immediately after the major step taken by Albania in Strasbourg, at the Council of Europe. Van der Broek also gave a timeframe for the start of the important talks: mid-June. “Albania plays a positive role in the region,” the Commissioner told European journalists yesterday. “It has improved relations with Greece and Kosovo, and for these reasons I have decided to support this country by assessing the reforms undertaken and proposing that talks on association be opened in June.” Van der Broek’s visit to Tirana was therefore entirely successful. The optimism expressed by Albanian politicians last week has thus proved to be well founded. p.re.

Elbasan, appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office ELBASAN - “Ardian Subashi should be released”—this was the appeal made to the district Prosecutor’s Office by 150 residents of the “Brigada” neighborhood in Elbasan. They are calling for the release of the perpetrator of a murder that took place in this city a short time ago. Subashi had been in detention for months and days, accused of killing an Albanian citizen from Saranda who presented himself as Greek and tried to deceive Subashi’s sister by proposing marriage to her. S. Ardiani had thus come to Elbasan and presented himself as a Greek boss. Faced with such a situation, Subashi reacted to restore the honor of his family and his sister. It is precisely this stance that 150 residents of Elbasan have supported, saying that the 23-year-old killer did nothing other than restore the honor of his family and his sister. me.ki.

TIRANA — It is not the teams, but Albanian fans who are taking part in the new UEFA Intertoto Cup. Following the decision not to participate in this summer competition for financial reasons, it is now the Sports Lottery Center that will give lottery enthusiasts the opportunity to continue their prediction “hobby” during the break between football championships. From June 24 through July 29, 1995, traditional totofootball pools for the “Intertoto” Cup will be run in Albania. Of the 65 European teams, four will be included, and the winners will go directly into the UEFA Cup.

A 9-year-old girl FIER — She died while doing a task she did almost every day. She was nine years old, and died for an absurd reason: a frightened cow dragged her for many meters, causing injuries that took her life. The tragic incident occurred in a village in Fier—in Farkull—and the little girl was named Irma M. Her peers, the village children, recounted the details, saying that the girl, tired from working, had tied the cow’s rope to her leg and lain down to rest when, suddenly, the cow began to run. e.m.

Final ceremony today at the Lake Hills TIRANA — The remains of Faik Konica, the distinguished Albanian thinker, intellectual and politician, have at last arrived in his homeland. He was the most distinguished figure in culture and literature produced by Albanian soil to date. Yesterday afternoon, at Rinas, a delegation headed by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Teodor Laço, returned from the USA, fulfilling the wish Konica himself had left to his compatriots: that after his death his remains be brought to his birthplace. Last March, the Albanian government had decided to bring Konica back to Albania permanently. A scholarly session was also held yesterday to commemorate Konica’s work. “Albanians should be grateful to him for life” — … The remains arrive at Rinas (photo: H. Pustina) In his speech, [the speaker] present at this gathering. Today Konica’s remains—he was born in 1875 and died in Boston in 1942—will be placed in the Memorial of the Frashëri brothers, on the Lake Hills. This will be the final ceremony in honor of Konica, the Albanian who gave the written Albanian language itself a distinctive development.

“The Ilir Hoxha case: after editor-in-chief Drizari, another witness” “I arranged that interview” TIRANA — “I will be both a witness and a defender of Ilir Hoxha in the trial expected to begin against him.” With these words, the well-known ecologist Namik Hoti left the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, where he had been questioned as a witness. Yesterday morning, Hoti was required to answer prosecutor Gjokufati’s questions about what he himself had publicly called “mediation between Ilir Hoxha and the editor-in-chief of ‘Modeste’ for the interview to be conducted.” A few minutes after being asked about the matter, Hoti admitted to reporters that he had initiated the much-discussed interview, as well as “the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Hoxha’s death.” Meanwhile, Gjokufati denied any initiative to assign Hoti personal responsibility for the Albanian newspaper, saying that Hoti “was questioned only as a witness in connection with the criminal case involving the persecution of Ilir Hoxha.” Thus Namik Hoti — still chairman of the Albanian Ecological Party and of the Albania-Serbia Friendship Association — becomes the second witness in the investigation concerning Ilir Hoxha. The first had been the interviewer and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Modeste,” Kujtim Drizari. (e.i) Namik Hoti leaving the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday (photo: H. Pustina)

Reportage On the shore of terror The tragedy in the Lake: The knot...

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