Minister Musaraj speaks about the troubling phenomenon TIRANA - “Here is the truth about the abductions.” These are indeed just a few minutes for Minister Musaraj—invited by the deputies to an interpellation—to announce all the figures concerning the phenomenon of abductions of children or women. Calling the reports—especially the most recent ones—about the abduction of minors or women “more speculative than true,” Minister Musaraj nevertheless reiterated the recent commitments made by the body he heads to minimize as much as possible the impact of this crime, which is extremely troubling to every Albanian citizen. “Of the four cases reported for 1995, two did not turn out to be abductions,” Musaraj said, referring to child abductions, “while special investigative teams have been set up for the other two to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.” On page 5 The alarm is scaled back: “Only two cases have been reported.” Special group in Durrës Controversy erupts after inspection

TIRANA - A routine inspection at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has unexpectedly sparked a heated controversy. Almost 24 hours after the meeting, the sensational news emerged of a request by the Republic’s Prosecutor, Alush Dragoshi, to suspend Tirana’s chief prosecutors, Qelesh and Gjokutaj, as well as an entire list of other prosecutors. Without being aware of this, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic categorically denied any disciplinary measure not only against the leaders of the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, but also against other colleagues in that office. On page 3

Hope in three towns The season awaits team number 18 TIRANA - The dates have been set for the fierce “play-off” between “Iliria,” “Lushnja” and “Sopoti.” On the afternoon of 23 June 1995, only one of the towns of Fushë-Krujë, Lushnjë and Librazhd will have the right to celebrate promotion to Category I for the coming football season, thereby completing the number of 18 teams in Albania’s elite division. The association has been somewhat capricious toward “Iliria,” whose leaders asked for it to be replayed, even though the chance to play in the top division has once again smiled on their opponents. All matches are at 17:00; the teams have now been drawn and their fixtures are set. The first to take the field will be “Liria” and “Lushnja,” next Monday. Two days later, “Liria” will end the “play-off” against “Sopoti.” On 23 June, the “Lushnja”-“Sopoti” match is the “right” one to determine the winner of this contest, who will join the 17 teams already confirmed for Category I in the coming football season. “Not only the draw, but also the fact that they play in the league more than our two other opponents works against us,” said “Liria” coach Sherif Cicu after the draw. “Nevertheless, we will do everything possible to give our fans back the pleasure of remaining in Category I.” Meanwhile, “Sopoti” coach Luan Deliu has asked that “only the one who truly deserves it fairly” be declared the winner, while his Lushnja counterpart, Artur Cobani, said the draw and the chances were the same for all three teams. Until next Friday, hope and anxiety will reign in Fushë-Krujë, Lushnjë and Librazhd. Until Friday. Edmond Laçi

The court charged him with illegal possession of a firearm DURRËS - The bullet with which he hit the American Marine has cost the young man from Durrës, Ermir Shibishi, one year in prison. The court, in a rapid hearing lasting only five minutes, delivered its ruling on the young man whose actions disrupted the first joint Albanian-American military operation, “Sarex ’95.” Dervishi was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, although he was charged not with shooting the American but only with illegal possession of a firearm.

Tremors that caused deaths in Greece reach Albania too VLORA - It was felt as far as Vlora, which was also the epicenter of an earthquake recorded yesterday by Albania’s seismological network. The earthquake occurred on Tuesday evening, causing fear in Vlora. According to information given to Gazeta Shqiptare by Betim Muço, Director of the Seismological Center in Tirana, the amplitude of this earthquake was 3.5 on the scale— The city of Vlorë

Patras

INTERVIEW “Here are the new measures against earthquakes” Director of the Seismological Center, Betim Muço, speaks On page 5

Tourists also die On page 2

Italicized Reality Does the hoxha want a second wife? The village boys threaten him KORÇË – Has the hoxha from Arabia asked for a girl’s hand in order to take her as a second wife? No one among the villagers of Vashni, where Hoxhë Mehdiu performs his religious rites, can say this with certainty, but, in truth, this is said to have been the reason why the village’s young men threatened and even struck the preacher of Allah. The incident happened a few days ago, and now the whole village is abuzz with the news that their hoxha, who came from Arabia along with his wife, asked for the hand of a 23-year-old woman to have her as his second wife—a practice recognized by the Muslim faith. What reinforces the villagers’ suspicions are the preacher’s frequent visits to the young woman’s home; her family lives in dire economic circumstances. These visits were often accompanied by various gifts, including a color television that he gave them. But the Arab hoxha has denied everything about this incident, even though he himself was threatened by the village’s young men, for whom the cleric’s request was an insult. A group of them even struck him. In this atmosphere, the “servant of Allah” was forced to make up a story publicly. One day, after delivering his sermons in the mosque, he spoke out, dismissing the rumors that had spread throughout the village. Hoxhë Mehdiu even expressed indignation over the whole affair, accusing the villagers of being gullible. He denied wanting to take the 23-year-old as his second wife and described the help he had given the girl’s family merely as economic support for their dire financial situation. Nevertheless, his voice could not drown out the village’s talk, and the villagers now view their hoxha, who came from faraway Arabia, with suspicion.

Appointed Çausi new ambassador to the Czech Republic TIRANË – He is the first Albanian ambassador in the Czech Republic—after the numerous changes in Albanian diplomacy—to present his credentials to a foreign president. It was the new ambassador to the Czech Republic, Sherif Çausi, who presented his credentials at a meeting with the president of that Republic, Vaclav Havel, and subsequently received full authority as the representative of Albania. Çausi, the appointee, is well known to the people—he acquainted Havel with the changes taking place in Albania, both the massive economic reform and the many difficulties. Nor will the Czech president’s visit to our country be long delayed. Berisha himself has met Havel personally, and this is one of the reasons for undertaking the journey to Albania.

The budget is opposed On page 3 Emir Dervishi

The man who witnessed all the “World Cups” has died On page 2 Atomic bomb Ankara supports Paris On page 2

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The city of Vlorë