Clashes between newcomers and police: barricades across the national road TIRANA - Battle in Bathore, the village near Kamza on the outskirts of Tirana where, for several years, many newcomers from northern Albania have settled. Stones flying from every direction and rubber batons were the main protagonists yesterday at midday in an almost two-hour clash between the police forces and the residents of this area. The clash ended with many injured—more than 25 police officers and about ten residents—who were subsequently taken to the emergency wards of the Military Hospital, while others were detained and locked up in the police station cells. The residents’ two-hour blockade of the national road was the final episode in the battle of Bathore. Report Armand Mero on page 5 A barricade on the national road (photo: H. Pustina) HISTORY This is how the unauthorized city came into being A. Çaus(h)olli on page 5 A barricade on the national road (photo: H. Pustina)

Beat Moldova 3–2: Albania’s first away triumph TIRANA - Albanian football has triumphed once again. Bajko and his team have triumphed. The “Reds” have achieved their first “historic” victory away from home. It is a European victory, unprecedented, and one we had been missing for a long time. Although it had no further qualifying implications, the victory in Moldova confirmed that the Albanian national team is in good form. Rudi Vata will be remembered as the author of a goal of extraordinary importance. Five goals and excitement right up to the end of the match. Kushta scored again, as he did in the match played in Tirana. On page 8 FOOTBALL Juve close to the Cup U. Zajmi on page 2 Kushta in a duel in the first match against Moldova (photo: H. Pustina) Kushta in a duel in the first match against Moldova (photo: H. Pustina)

Following reports in the press, politicians also intervened Berat, they leave their homes Two elderly English people But 51 percent to the State They do not repay the loans From London Electricity: Shkodër Three children from one family are kidnapped Durrës A mother’s appeal: “Bring my son back to me...” On page 3

Elbasan Proceedings begin; life imprisonment sought They survived the hell of Spaç together: after 20 years he meets him and kills him for money ELBASAN—Prison cellmates meet again after 20 years and part ways with knives. Mehmet Beqiri, a 55-year-old from Lushnja, was killed by his fellow inmate in the cells of Spaç, Hasan Radoshi, with whom he had served time. Hasani from Greece. A murder that will now mean life in prison for the treacherous killer, who “had wanted” to take the money his friend had saved from emigrating—after spending most of his life in prison. “Life imprisonment” is the sentence the prosecutor has requested; what was requested regarding the punishment? The murder took place in September last year. A tall 55-year-old man was found hanged in the “Naum Frashëri” canal near the village of Kuqan in Elbasan. For six months the buried corpse remained unidentified. After six months, experts managed to identify him: Mehmet Beqiri, 55, from Lushnja, whom his family believed to be an emigrant in Greece. A month later, police identified and arrested the perpetrator, Beqiri’s contemporary, Hasan Radoshi from Berat. In fact, relations between Beqiri and Radoshi had begun more than twenty years earlier. Both had been convicted of political crimes and had served their sentences in the terrible prison of Spaç. In 1978, both had already said goodbye to their cells and to each other. But later, each on his own account, they had returned there again, having been convicted of political and ordinary crimes. Since last year, Radoshi—who had no family or relatives—had been living and working with the Haziz brothers’ family in the village of Kuqan, Elbasan. That is where he began to deceive people. The villagers, who believed him to be an honest man, had lent him large sums of money that he was unable to repay. Faced with this situation, Radoshi had decided to emigrate to Greece. There a very rare coincidence occurred: after 17 years, he met his prison friend Memet again. In September ’94, as they were returning from Greece, he had suggested that his friend spend a night at the home of his acquaintance in Kuqan. But there, according to his confession, as soon as they approached the house, he killed him and then threw him into a canal, where police found him several days later. Mentor Kikia

Berat, forced to leave their homes BERAT—They do not repay the loans taken from banks and are now obliged to leave their homes as well. This is the fate of 12 people in Berat who borrowed money from the Agricultural Bank and have been unable to repay it by the specified deadlines. But this appears to have hit business hardest—the loans were taken to invest in various properties. Nustrë Tare has been affected: in addition to his house, he will have to put up for auction the warehouse bought with the bank’s money, as well as two trucks. Tare had taken out a loan of 2.3 million, which he spent on buying a tobacco warehouse. Three years have passed and he has still been unable to make the profits needed to repay the loan. A few days ago, enforcement-office employees informed him of the decision to seize his property unless he paid back the loan: the deadline is June 12. But apparently there is no hope for Tare. News of the seizure has shaken his entire family. Meanwhile, enforcement officers are taking the bank to task, accusing it of irregularities in issuing loans without first mortgaging property. “The seizures we carry out do not cover the value of the loans,” the enforcement officers complain. Ha.Ta.

TIRANA—Sulo Gradeci is again in the dock as an accused man... Sentenced in October ’94 to 4 years in prison, this time he will answer for misappropriating state property worth 229,131 lekë. Gradeci, former commander of the group that served dictator Hoxha, will appear before the military court on June 12. After new evidence emerged, the prosecution has requested that Gradeci now also answer for the assets presented as having been “misused by exploiting the position he held in the former senior communist nomenklatura.”

But 51 percent remains with the State TIRANA—The State has decided to relinquish its monopoly over electricity and share the sector with private operators. The idea put forward by Berisha months ago has now been made concrete. The government has approved the draft law on privatizing this branch of industry, initially relinquishing only the electricity distribution system, and even then no more than 49 percent. In this way it hopes to resolve one of the most difficult problems currently facing the energy sector: widespread theft. Transfer to private hands is seen as the key to putting an end to large-scale looting and, on the other hand, attracting investment to increase energy production. The main form of privatization in the electricity sector (KESH) will be a joint-stock company. The formula for the number of shares will be determined by the Council of Ministers. But naturally the State—as the largest shareholder—will hold no less than 51 percent of the shares, thereby preventing possible bankruptcy. Another law will be drafted to regulate relations between the State, private operators and consumers. Under this law, the activities of this triangle will be directed by the Regulatory Commission. Albania’s electricity system is unified and consists of three main links: generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Privatization of this sector will begin with distribution, since the network is at its weakest technical level and needs to be repaired as soon as possible. The state budget is insufficient to carry out a full rehabilitation of the system, but privatization has its advantages. In the future joint-stock company, with owners holding different percentages of the capital, the State will receive substantial revenue that it can use in its most critical areas. Another advantage: this privatization will increase competition, and increased competition will lower costs, which will undoubtedly be reflected in improved service quality. The subsidiaries in the distribution sector—the first phase of privatization—number 35 and are located throughout the country according to the administrative divisions. About 5,500 employees work in these subsidiaries, supplying electricity to around 700,000 users, about 95 percent of whom are households. This is why, for now, network losses and abuses are among the most destructive. Arlinda Çausholli

Kushta in a duel in the first match against Moldova (photo: H. Pustina)

A. Çaus(h)olli on page 5

U. Zajmi on page 2

On page 5

On page 3

From London to Tirana by bicycle TIRANA—To come from London to Tirana, to leave Big Ben behind and head for Tirana’s Clock Tower, must surely have been quite an adventure for the two elderly Englishmen. They have spent several days away from the four wheels of their Rolls-Royce, somewhere in a residential neighborhood of London.