Director of Police: “I have evidence that proves this” Private and state-owned hotels under surveillance. New roadblocks on national highways and strict checks at the state border. Director of the Public Order Police: “We have irrefutable evidence, including the parents’ statements, showing that the children had not been abducted” Ministry of the Interior TIRANA - “The investigations carried out so far by the Shkodër police and the maximum commitment of the specialised forces from the Ministry of the Interior have led to the preliminary conclusion that we are not dealing with the abduction of three children from the same family.” The reassuring message to all parents and to Albanian public opinion was delivered last night — on television — by Agim Shehu, Director of the Albanian Public Order Police. But that is not all: the senior official from the Ministry of the Interior has also substantiated with facts the false reports of children being abducted in this city, whose disappearance had been reported by their own families. He once again insisted that “only three cases of child abduction have been recorded throughout Albania.” On page 3 A reassuring appeal from the senior official: The Shkodër case should not cause panic. But the causes remain a mystery...

their future after the end of the school year. Now that this year is coming to an end, their situation is also being assessed—the “others,” those who have not gone to school even a single day. Their year has been filled with other concerns, not schoolwork. The alarm over pupils dropping out of school comes directly from the Ministry of Education, which has also presented the worrying figure: “17,200 children in eight-year schools across the country have abandoned their studies this school year.” On page 3 Tens of thousands of children throughout Albania will not be able to enjoy the summer holidays. They will not be able to run and play like most of their peers after the school year ends. Now that this year is coming to a close, an account is also being taken of their year—the year of “the others,” those who have not gone to school for even a single day. Their year has been filled with other things

BERAT - A love story, similar to that of Romeo and Juliet, took place just a few days ago outside the city of Berat. A couple in love ended up in hospital: the young man was stabbed by his girlfriend, who then tried to kill herself by drinking poison. All this only because 27-year-old Krenar Rrapaj, after two years of dating, asked 18-year-old Mirela Idrizi to break up. The request was considered a great insult by the girl: “I come from a prominent family.” The incident began in the evening. At 10:00 p.m., Rrapaj had arranged a romantic meeting with his girlfriend. The two met in a quiet place and sat down on a patch of grass to talk. After an hour of arguing, the young man lay down on the grass with his back turned, and the girl, kneeling, began the love tragedy. Mirela approached him as if to caress him and immediately plunged a bread knife she had brought from home into him. After this, the 18-year-old returned home. She told no one about what had happened and shut herself in her room. There she drank a large dose of lindane—an insecticide used in agriculture—and calmly awaited death. Once again, it was the young man’s good fortune that saved his girlfriend a few hours later. The police were notified by the hospital where Rrapaj had been admitted with wounds. The Public Order police car immediately set off for her home: the whole family was asleep while Mirela writhed in her bed from the effects of the powerful poison. The police quickly took her to hospital as well. “He deeply insulted me when he told me he would not marry me,” Mirela said, “because I come from a prominent family. I had tried several times to persuade him, but he stuck to his decision.” Now the two lovers are in Berat hospital under police supervision. The tragic breakup has “reunited” them once again... in the ward beds. Halit Tafa

More barricades Tension and anger continued to dominate the situation in Bathore yesterday morning. The national highway Tirana -

A giant plant is coming from Bulgaria TIRANA - A giant trans-Balkan gas pipeline across Albania. The Albanians... which from Russia would have to go on to supply Europe

Tension and anger continued to dominate the situation in Bathore yesterday morning. Tension in Bathore yesterday morning. The national Tirana–Shkodër highway was blocked again by barricades erected by angry residents: two more obstacles had been added to the main barrier from the first days—several large concrete blocks at the beginning of the slope of the Kamza Institute, followed by a fallen tree... On page 3

TIRANA - A huge trans-Balkan oil pipeline through Albania. These resources, which are to travel from Russia to supply Western Europe, will also pass through our country. The idea for this highly ambitious and profitable undertaking came from the Bulgarian authorities. Now it remains for the local representatives involved in this project—Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia—to sit down and calculate the costs required to carry it out. According to the initial proposal, the trans-Balkan oil pipeline will connect directly to existing Russian facilities. On page 3

Speedboat owners clash with the Police: 31 people detained VLORA - Tension between the police and speedboat owners in Vlora. Thirty-one speedboat owners ended up at the Police station; earlier, they had tried to enter the New Port, where their speedboats are being held by the Police. Their action immediately prompted a response from the security forces, who intervened to disperse the group of speedboat owners attempting to force their way into the Port grounds. All 31 people were detained. The incident occurred at around 12:00, but the first signs of tension had appeared in the morning. The owners of the impounded speedboats went to the Vlora Police Commissariat with a petition requesting the release of the speedboats, which, they said, were being held by the Police “unjustly.” “This way our speedboats will be ruined,” the speedboat owners shouted at the police officers. Later—since they had received no response to their petition, which is how the dissatisfied speedboat owners explained it—the whole group headed for the Port, where the incident took place. The Port, where forces from the various Commissariats were present? Podjeka? natural for the Albanian Newspaper? ... The chairman of the Vlora Intellectuals’ Forum, Cëzim Zile, said: “We are convinced that measures involving force and anger? in Albania will not lead to a complete solution to the problem of trafficking? weighing? clans of clandestine migrants?.” Meanwhile, self...? ... Note: ... (the staff)

Alia back in court today TIRANA—Another trial for Ramiz Alia today. After having tried the Tirana courts, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation, former President Alia has once again turned to the capital’s court. This time, however, although he is in the position of a prisoner, he is the plaintiff? seeking precisely release and the completion of his sentence. The new Penal Code is the subject of the proceedings that will begin today at 9:00. The counterclaim? submitted to the Tirana Court refers to Alia’s release date, which, according to him and his lawyer Kleanthi Koçi, should have been June 1, ’95, whereas according to the General Directorate of Prisons it was March 29, ’96. (e.l)

Martinez: Macedonia in the Council of Europe? On page 2 The Court PR loses its headquarters On page 8 Court of Cassation Another trial for Arben Lika On page 3

A championship with 18 teams? On page 5

Today: the super crossword Page 6