Yesterday, the first meeting in Tirana with the delegation that arrived from Rome. Another raid in Vlora as well. The speedboats seized from traffickers will be used by the police

Tirana-Athens TIRANA—A fresh breeze is blowing through relations between Albania and Greece. Until recently, the two countries had faced tense situations that had led bilateral relations to stagnate. Today, however, a commission for Greek-Albanian cooperation begins its work in the Albanian capital, where it will discuss legal and consular issues. Another sign of the changing climate between the two old neighbours is the joint military exercise that began yesterday, for the first time between Balkan countries, in Kalamata, Greece. Today is therefore a sign of Greek-Albanian contacts in areas that had previously been inaccessible because of crises and the breakdown of a friendly climate. For the first time, today’s talks will also address the property of the Chams in Greece and discuss ways of finding acceptable solutions. The main meeting will discuss placing the matter on the bilateral agenda. What is important, however, is the official recognition of the Cham issue, at least in the economic sphere. In addition to protecting the interests of Albanians, representatives of the Greek and Albanian governments will also discuss consular matters concerning the opening of consulates and easing the procedures for obtaining visas on both sides of the border. The symbolism of the new spirit, not only in Greek-Albanian relations but throughout the region, is also reflected in the name of the first joint exercises involving Greece, Albania and Italy, Bulgaria and Romania on Greek territory. “New Spirit”—that is the name given to these exercises, which began on Monday in Kalamata, Greece, and are being held under the supervision of the United States. The training is being conducted within the framework of the Partnership for Peace. Alongside thirty soldiers, there will also be 60 Albanian military personnel—for the first time participating in such operations, and in such large numbers, outside Albania’s borders. so.bal.

The attackers are three boys of the same age. Police begin the search Racism in Korçë against two teenagers The attackers are three boys of the same age. Police begin the search “You’re Gypsies,” and they beat them brutally Racism in Korçë against two teenagers KORÇË—Racism in Korçë against two Egyptians. Two teenagers were mistreated by three peers solely because of their skin colour. The shocking incident happened yesterday, but its perpetrators have not yet been caught: Police forces are continuing to pursue them. The two teenagers, E.K. and B.D., were attacked as they were walking along the road. They were forcibly taken by three other boys—their names are still unknown, since E.K. and B.D., extremely frightened, have not said anything even to the police—and put into a car. They were taken to a place somewhat out of public view, where they were savagely beaten. “We’ll take out on you all the anger and hatred we have for Gypsies,” the three teenagers said viciously as they began beating them. For several minutes they kicked and punched them, leaving their legs and arms bloodied. Then the three cruel teenagers left, leaving E.K. and B.D. lying on the ground. Some passers-by later helped the two battered boys and took them to the police, reporting the racist attack. Elsa Koçiu An appeal from the Helsinki Committee Mysterious disappearance of a child in Tirana On page 3 TIRANA—Negotiations between Albania and Italy to resolve the visa problem began yesterday. The fight against illegal immigration will continue on the part of the Albanian authorities as well, but Italy insisted on exploring the possibility of a seasonal work scheme for Albanians: this is not yet a question of liberalising visas, but of a first step towards a greater opening of the borders. Yesterday, a delegation from the Italian Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived in Tirana for a meeting with the Albanian government authorities.

The trial for the child’s killing begins ELBASAN—The mystery surrounding the disappearance of 11-year-old Rezart Maze, from Elbasan, who was found at the bottom of the Shkumbin after a week of searching, has been cleared up. The reading of the indictment in the trial heard by two young men, A. Bujzi and E.Turku, neighbours of Maze, has shed light on the chilling story of the child’s death. “After the car accident, the accused thought the child was dead and, to conceal the traces, threw him into the river,” was the conclusion of the eight-month investigation. It was December 19 when Maze left home in the car in which his two neighbours were also travelling. Near Peqin, the car went off the road and ended up on the bank of the Shkumbin. This was where the mystery began. The child had disappeared. Subsequent searches—and mysteries that grew day by day. An anonymous phone call from the hospital in Durrës informed the family that the 11-year-old had been treated there and had set off for home, where he never arrived. Only after seven days was Maze found at the bottom of the Shkumbin. Medical experts determined that the child had died not from injuries sustained in the accident, but from drowning. A girl who was defending [them] rejected this, saying that Maze had ended up in the river because he was thrown by the force of the car’s impact. Mentor Kikia

INTERVIEW TIRANA—“Berisha is a name I have personally forgotten. As a figure, he is shut away in the presidential tower.” Neritan Ceka, leader of PAD and one of the founders of PD, tells Gazeta Shqiptare his positions now that new elections are just around the corner. He speaks about their objectives, strategy and future allies: “Our objective in the ’96 elections is to command the centre of Albanian politics. Given the polarisation of this politics between PD on one side, which is losing ground, and the socialist left on the other, which is gaining ground, it is essential to create a European-style centre.” Who do you see as allies up to and after the elections? “Until the elections, our ally is confidence in our programme, the organisation of AD and its presence throughout Albania. Discussions about alliances will take place after the elections, mainly on the basis of further criteria. But it will also depend on the electorate we have and on the results achieved by the other parties. We will enter into cooperative alliances with those political forces that get over 50%. We favour cooperation in a coalition government only if our programme matches the programme...” And with the change in the head of Albanian RTV, what do you hope for? “I think that the head of Albanian RTV has been and remains Berisha.” How would you describe your personal relationship with Berisha? “Berisha no longer exists for AD, either as President of the Republic or as a political interlocutor. He is more like an iron curtain put up by himself. Berisha is shut away in the presidential tower, and it is oppressive because he is someone who has long closed his eyes to Albanian politics. In my personal relations, Berisha is a name I have forgotten.” If Ceka were to rejoin [cut fragment] PD, what would change? “Tolerance and dialogue, which have long been absent from this party. When you do not recognise tolerance, when you rule out dialogue, when you remove its chairman over legal viewpoints, it is difficult for this party to present Albania as a European-style democracy. The democracy PD proposes today through its party-tactical practice is a Byzantine-style democracy.” And what separates you from PS? “What separates us first is the history of how our respective parties were founded. If its programme is left-wing and we are centrist, we have another...” also depends on the electorate we will have, as well as on the results the party as a whole will achieve. We will not enter into cooperation alliances with those political forces that receive more than 50%. We support cooperation with a coalition government only if our program matches the programs of the parties that approach us after the elections.” PAD is a party of intel- lectual clubs. What chances does it have if it has not yet made inroads in the countryside? “This is an opinion wrongly formed because of the block- ing imposed on social parties, as well as the lack of active coverage of its activities on TV, which continues to be sub- servient to the government in power. The reality is different. Since the end of ’93, we have decided to be a party of a popular Christian-Democratic type. We are currently pre- sent in all the districts of the country, with branches and sections. The alliance is more about natural understanding, but of a popular character.” And what separates you from the PS? “What separates us first is the very history of the creation of the respective parties. If its program is left-wing, we are centrist and have a different program. What also separates us is our social base. The PS emphasizes aspects of a welfare state, whereas the AD insists on a state with a liberal economy.” What will happen if the PS wins an absolute majority? “This will show that the Albanian electorate has been easily swayed only in theory and that it does not understand what the extent of true democracy is. But such an electorate does not exist in Albania. The referendum shows that Albanians know how to value their vote. The PS test, meanwhile, was a test of apartment blocks, not of the people, conducted in places where they believe they have their electorate.” Rezart Xhaxhiu Mentor Rika

Shkodër Xhaja: KESH is heading toward bankruptcy SHKODËR - The Minister of Energy, Abdyl Xhaja, has issued a series of alarming messages about the energy sector. This time, during a meeting in Shkodër with the prefects of Shkodër, Malësia e Madhe and Lezhë, Minister Xhaja said that “if the unpaid debts owed by state institutions and private entities are not paid, KESH risks going bankrupt”. Shkodër ranks first nationwide for unpaid bills, with 118 million lekë, or 57% of the total. Meanwhile, power lines have begun to be cut, mainly in the villages of the area. y.p.

The banker’s lawyer: “The client is ill” “Tartari should be allowed to return home” Experts unprepared, proceedings postponed TIRANË - “Tartari should be allowed to return home.” For what seems like the umpteenth time, the lawyer of the senior banker implicated in the Arsidi scandal has asked for the security measure imposed on her client to be changed: he should be transferred from his cell to house arrest. The reason? Once again: “Tartari is ill and his health continues to deteriorate.” Lawyer Zana Hasko’s request was repeated during yesterday’s hearing in the Arsidi case, where she asked the court to appoint doctors to assess her client’s condition. On page 3

Yesterday in Vlorë Axe murder at a billiards hall VLORË - A tragic massacre in a familiar setting: a billiards hall. The incident took place yesterday in the city of Vlorë. The Resuli brothers, Besnik and Vironi, aged 25 and 28, were drunk when they went to one of the city’s bars, where there was also a billiards table. There, they tried forcibly to persuade the other players to give up the table for them. According to the initial findings of the investigation, confirmed by police, an argument then broke out between the two brothers and the bar’s owner, G.D. He became angry and struck them, killing Besnik and seriously injuring Vironi. G.D. is under arrest.

SHKODËR - To die at the age of 20 from a gunshot to the head. She chose to die without explaining why, perhaps simply because she had been hurt by the village gossip. It happened on Sunday afternoon in Velipojë, in northern Albania, where Orjeta Marku, twenty years old and from Hoti i Ri, killed herself with her father-in-law’s rifle. Orjeta had been married for three months, had a family of her own and had moved to Velipojë, to her husband’s home. In the village she was considered “good”. In her words, by the end of February the rumors were unfounded, but day after day they had wounded her honor, her hopes and her desire to live. The police report states that she died in a “moment of weakness”. Orjeta had reportedly been crying and then, at around 15:00, [the source text is unclear] her family and her desire to sleep. Her family heard the sound of the shot and, when they entered the room, found Orjeta dead. No one can explain why; she herself did not explain before dying why she chose to die at the age of 20, just three months after fulfilling her dream of love. The police speak of a “moment of weakness”, but we have a moral duty to ask what brought about this weakness. Could it really have been caused by gossip? It is possible; sometimes gossip kills, and we must all bear this in mind. Unfortunately, Orjeta is not the only case of suicide among Albanian women. In the past week, episodes of this kind have recurred with great frequency, and it cannot be mere coincidence. Perhaps, while politicians and economists study paths to development, sociologists and psychologists should stop and consider whether this is an effect. Does despair arise? In some way, gossip can kill; let us all reflect on this. y.p.

Football from Albania and Italy Dinamo escapes relegation Juve wins the title again after 9 years On page 4 On page 5

The government has set the new bonuses On page 3

Report from Tirana’s new Circus An arena also transformed into a disco On page 2

Cigarette smuggling threatens closure of the Tobacco Factory On page 5 Vlorë Police officer pursuing a killer falls from the fourth floor On page 5