TIRANA - The Italian government’s decision to deploy the army against clandestine migrants coming from Albania continues to provoke reactions in Albania. The highest Albanian parliamentary body responsible for foreign relations, the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, has also responded to this decision. In a statement issued immediately after a special meeting, the Committee, chaired by Eduard Selami, described Italy’s latest move as “a measure that is not in keeping with the good relations between the two states,” although it had previously diplomatically praised the assistance Italy has given Albania in recent years. In the same statement, the members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee also proposed a solution: ongoing dialogue between the two governments alone, a demand previously made by representatives of the largest Albanian political forces. The Committee also stressed the efforts Albania must make at its borders so that it can itself stem the tide of clandestine migrants. Reactions to Italy, but in the opposite direction, have also come from its allies in the European Union. Germany has expressed similar support for Italy’s “weak points” through Federal Interior Minister Manfred Kanther. In an interview with the Berliner Morgenpost, Kanther called for Italy’s borders to be strengthened further if Rome wishes to be included in the Schengen Agreement. While concerned diplomatic services continue negotiations to resolve the problem, in the “capital of the clandestine migrants,” Vlorë, local intellectuals have gathered in their twenties to discuss the means to be used to address this delicate problem. “Not the army, but the opening of a Consulate in Vlorë” was the message of the intellectuals of Vlorë, who have now collected more signatures in support of this position. p.re.

A sensational statement in the report delivered at the Conference of Former Persecutees The Helsinki Committee protests. Dokle: “The language of ’44” TIRANA - The rifle has appeared on the stage of Albania’s political battle. “If it (the PS) were in power, we, its eternal opponents, would no longer ask it for our rights through petitions and pleas, but would seize them with rifles.” This is the sentence that has sparked a storm of controversy. The protagonist of this unusual event in Albania’s recent history is Kurt Kola, the reconstructed Chairman of the Association of Political Prisoners and current Chairman of the Right-Wing League. The reference to taking power appeared at the end of the report he delivered at the Conference organized by the Chairman of the Organization of Former Political Convicts. Almost unnoticed during the days of the Conference, the paragraph about the rifle has now become the subject of a statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee, which has reminded Kola first and foremost, but also the Right-Wing League, that in a democracy the only means of achieving success are those that categorically exclude violence. “It constitutes grounds for prosecuting the author,” the Committee also protests. Another prominent figure in the RW, Sabri Godo, Chairman of the Republicans, has expressed his wish to distance himself from his colleague in the right-wing movement. The chairman of the Socialists, Dokle, also reacted very sharply yesterday: “That is the language of ’44.” The first to comment on this paragraph was Godo. “It is only Kola’s position at the Third National Conference of Former Political Persecutees,” Godo told the Albanian Gazette. “In the League we have stated that we will abide by the rules of democracy and the will of the people; this is all the more certain if we come to power after the next elections.” Dokle of the PS was much harsher. “Before I give my position,” the PS deputy chairman replied to the Albanian Gazette’s question, “you should ask Kola whether he was drunk or not. And if he still hasn’t sobered up, there are others who can remind Kola that, in our time, things are not settled with rifles or rifle raids. To make such irresponsible statements today means still having the mentality of 1944, 1913, or, worse still, the previous century. I am glad that the Helsinki Committee has taken the right position on this issue.” The Committee itself devoted two pages to its protest over the famous paragraph. It may be the harshest statement drafted in its recent history. “In principle, it should be judged,” the protest states; “a statement with this content provides grounds for prosecuting its author for making false allegations, and even for issuing calls that conflict with the constitutional provisions currently governing political life. In a democratic regime, such as the one in our country, problems are resolved only through democratic means and channels; there is no place for ultimatums, threats, or calls to exercise violence and use weapons. The impression is created that Kurt Kola is unaware of the extremely dangerous consequences of statements of this kind.” Fatos Baxhaku Rezart Xhaxhiu an employee at the PS firm, “Progresi”—is confirmed to have taken place in the capital, at around 10 o’clock on Sunday, just after he had left his home. Yesterday Daulltari was escorted to Tirana Prison, along with the arrest warrant and the charge against him, which is also accompanied by the sum of 30 thousand dollars. As stated at the offices of the PS economic department, Daulltari may be a victim of the financial investigation recently conducted by experts, who perhaps accuse him of withdrawing 30 thousand dollars from the “Progresi” account, a withdrawal made on January 17, ’93. But the same source also adds that Daulltari returned this sum—this time in the form of goods—just a few days later, on February 3, ’93. In any case, the labyrinth of figures and bank accounts—which apparently has also engulfed Daulltari—will take a long time to unravel, even though the PS firm “Progresi” is confirmed to have carried out very extensive business activity, employing many other people in addition to those currently accused. The investigations—made particularly explosive over the weekend—have nonetheless still been unable to remove the minister over the printing-house dollars, the large sum of money intended for “ZP”. Meanwhile, in the PS—where the defense against the accusations has continually focused on the origin of the printing-house money—the latest measures by the Prosecutor’s Office appear to have prompted a speeding-up in “Progresi”’s financial and organizational circles alike. And this apparently despite the fact that it has still not been announced—at least publicly—whether the sum of 250 thousand dollars, remaining from the printing house’s total of 400 thousand, should be returned to the state budget or used by the PS and its economic structures. Meanwhile, both the complainants and the accusers are holding their positions in their respective “trenches”: the State Audit Commission maintains that the 400-thousand-dollar sum—taken from the “solidarity fund” of the PPSH—must be returned to the state, while the PS maintains the opposite, namely that the money is its property, as is the right to use it. A mystery—so far known only to the investigators—who until now have disclosed only the names of four people against whom criminal proceedings have just begun. (Ed.La.)

At tomorrow’s session, MPs will make their decision “Those two Court of Cassation judges must go” The DP group submits its request to Parliament TIRANA - Two Court of Cassation judges may be forced to leave their jobs. A request has arrived at the presidium of the People’s Assembly stating that they “have not met the standards,” having worked as jurists for seven years, to practise their profession at the Court of Cassation. This is what those MPs...

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE ORGAN OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA The “ZP” case: Former PS MP also in prison TIRANA - The hand of Justice is coming down hard over the case involving the 400,000 dollars intended to purchase a printing press for “ZP”. After three arrests at the printing house, another defendant has now been sent to a prison cell. He is Lutf Dautllari, a former PS MP in the Parliament elected on 31 March ’91, and the latest to be held criminally responsible by investigators in connection with the story of the dollars for the printing press, which is still in Canada. However, Dautllari—not only a former PS MP in the Parliament elected on 31 March ’91—is required to endure not only a more severe security measure, but also a different charge: while Përparim Xhixha, Drita Shehi and Fatbardha Cakani are accused only of “abuse of office,” Dautllari faces the charge of “appropriation of state property.” The arrest of Lutf Dautllari—currently an employee of the PS company “Progresi”—is confirmed to have taken place in the capital at around 10 a.m. on Sunday, just after he had left his home. Yesterday Dautllari was taken to Tirana Prison, under the detention order, and is also charged with, among other things, an amount of 30,000 dollars. As is said in the offices of the PS economic sector, Dautllari may be a victim of the financial investigation—carried out since...

TIRANA - The latest wave of earthquakes has caused damage not only in Greece but in Albania as well. In the very area most affected by the frightening tremors, in Bilisht, the earthquake has temporarily made an important building unusable: the local post office. In fact, all that remains of the building is a small structure, the roof, which could not withstand the force of the tremors coming from Greece. Fortunately, none of the post office employees was injured. Yesterday the fear of earthquakes returned to the southern districts. The tremors this time were light, but still frightening, reminding the residents of Korçë, Leskovik, Devoll and Ersekë of what they had experienced just two days earlier, when they had run out into the streets in alarm. “Today’s earthquake was recorded by our Leskovik station, which is the closest of ours to the epicentre of the area that has recently become active,” Betim Muço, Director of the Tirana Seismological Institute, told the Albanian Gazette yesterday. “The data reported to us show that yesterday’s tremors had an amplitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale. These are aftershocks that will continue to be felt in these areas for some time.” Muço also has another piece of news: the Government will soon need to make several amendments to Albania’s Anti-Seismic Code. A first draft has been prepared by the Institute’s specialists, and the Science Committee will soon submit it for approval. The document will set out measures to be introduced in Albania to prevent disasters in the event of strong tremors. Muço had previously appealed for compliance with the Code’s rules. “Only in this way can we reduce the impact of a disaster that cannot be predicted,” Muço had said. f.b.

TIRANA - Two Court of Cassation judges will perhaps be forced to leave their jobs. A request for their dismissal has now reached the presidium of the People’s Assembly because they “do not meet the necessary conditions to be judges at this Court.” The request was submitted by Alia Spahia, chairman of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group. The fate of the two judges, Petrit Plloci and Tefta Zeka, will be finally decided at tomorrow’s session of Parliament. The reason their names have reappeared before MPs is that they “have not fulfilled the required seven years’ work as jurists to practise their profession at the Court of Cassation.” Thus, the very DP MPs who had proposed and approved the appointment of both judges are now seeking their dismissal. Parliament is turning against itself. In fact, Zeka’s name and the request for her dismissal had already been raised in the offices of the People’s Assembly a few months ago. But now Plloci has been added to her, and he is currently also chairman of the national association of Albanian judges. a.m.

“War on trafficking in oil and refugees” Here are all the latest figures TIRANA - Around 650 foreign nationals turned back, 40 of them detained by law-enforcement authorities, and 39 speedboats impounded and seized: this is the latest tally in the fight against the trafficking of illegal migrants, reported yesterday at midday by Interior Minister Agron Musaraj. Regarding enforcement of the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro, Minister Musaraj says that more than 50 people have been detained—13 of them Montenegrins—all for fuel trafficking. Speaking about crime in general, the head of the Interior Ministry said that in the first four months of ’95, around 500 fewer criminal offenses were recorded than a year earlier. Meanwhile, some other crimes have increased: drug trafficking, 11 more cases; kidnapping, 7 cases; and arms trafficking, 15 more. Crimes, however, have also been detected more often. (e.l)

Blood at the border: Serbs kill an Albanian TIRANA - Another incident on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. On Saturday afternoon, a shepherd, Ferid Llacaj, 31, was killed and another Albanian, Halil Hoxha, 40, was wounded while they were grazing their cows, 30 meters from the border. According to the experts who investigated the scene, the two Albanians were shot by Yugoslav guards without any cause. The numerous traces of blood and the shell casings from Serbian army weapons that were found confirmed that the victims had been inside Albanian territory.

The Hoxha case file in court TIRANA - Ilir Hoxha’s case file has been sent to court. Yesterday at midday, the investigators definitively closed the investigation, leaving the matter in the hands of the judges, who will decide between acquittal—as requested by Ilir Hoxha—or conviction, as sought by the Prosecutor’s Office, on the charge of: “Disturbing public peace by inciting discord and hatred among different groups of the population, by insulting and defaming them.” Thus the son of the man who ruled Albania for nearly 40 years will remain under house arrest—confined there since April 17 of this year—until the day of his trial, which has not yet been scheduled. In any case, it will be a trial with few participants, since during a month of investigation only Ilir Hoxha—twice—as well as the editor-in-chief of “Modeste”, Kujtim Dyrnari, and the leader of Albanian environmentalism, Namik Hoti, were questioned. (e.l)

Starova: “We respect the embargo” TIRANA - The embargo against the former Yugoslavia and Albania’s observance of the sanctions were the subjects discussed yesterday at a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Starova and the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union, as well as those of the US and Hungary. - The embargo against the former Yugoslavia and Albania’s observance of the sanctions were the subjects discussed yesterday at a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Starova and the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union, as well as those of the US and Hungary. Starova, outlining the latest measures taken by the Government, once again reiterated that Albania and its institutions are fully committed to respecting all its international rules and obligations.

TIRANA - The Ministry of Justice has finally decided, following an intervention, that lawyers will sit the examination beginning on May 25. The first to take the qualification test will be those from Vlorë and then, on the rescheduled date, all the other districts. “In preparing the materials and drawing up the final version, we held a meeting with representatives of the Bar Associations,” the director of the Ministry’s Legal Affairs Directorate told the Albanian Gazette. “The system was for them to submit their proposals and the changes they wanted to the programme, but nothing came of it.” Although they initially reacted strongly, the lawyers now also seem to agree: “The decision was opposed by those who felt unprepared,” said the deputy chairman of the Fier Bar Association, expressing his support. a.m.

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