After the prosecution’s closing arguments, lawyers threaten to boycott the defense For 75 minutes, Qeleshi’s speech recounted the story of the biggest financial scandal. Then came the accusations and sentences TIRANA - The 33 pages of the prosecution’s closing arguments—prepared by the capital’s chief prosecutors, Qeleshi and Gjokutaj—were enough to leave Hoti, Ahmeti, Xhyheri, Saliu and Tartari facing not only charges, but also 71 years in prison. And in the afternoon, for nearly 75 minutes, Tirana Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi called for the five protagonists accused in the “Arsidi” case to be found guilty, accompanied by sentences up to the maximum provided for by Albania’s new Penal Code. The regime was met with disapproval from the defendants, and also from the lawyers outside the courtroom. There was even a threat to boycott the defense hearing, which the judges had scheduled for a week later. Qeleshi and Gjokutaj On page

The check for customs was forged; two people arrested Durrës: the staggering fraud is uncovered after several months DURRËS - A new financial scandal appears to have been uncovered in Durrës. At its center is the city’s Commercial Bank, where falsification and embezzlement of a large sum of money have been verified. The case involves an $800,000 fraud carried out using a fake transfer order that was supposed to be deposited into the current account of the Durrës Customs Office, but which in reality never even reached the bank counters. So far, two employees have been arrested, while two other people implicated in the case—the president of the company that supplied a quantity of fuel arriving at the Port, and a cashier—have left Albania. Investigations into the staggering fraud have begun, but the fate of the enormous missing sum is still unknown. On page 5: The Port of Durrës. Tennis: Sampras and Graf win Wimbledon. On page 6

“Lists of terror”: now those from Fier too TIRANA—The “lists of terror” have once again returned to the scene. This time, however, they also reveal 99 other Albanians from the Fier district—as well as 32 foreigners—all “enemy elements presenting a pronounced social danger,” all slated for purging. Among these dozens of names is Albania’s current ambassador to the UN, Pëllumb Kulla, an artist by profession who worked at the Fier Theatre. Alongside him are many others: pensioners, tailors, bricklayers, teachers, electricians, painters and cooperative members, with the places where they were to be sent listed beside their names. Copy 20—a secret document of special importance—thus reopens yet another list of people marked for death who, fortunately, are still alive. On 30 November ’87, a gigantic plan of measures had been prepared—[?] by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hekuran Isai—two lists which, fortunately, have not met the fate of dozens of others. According to what the surviving lists “confirm,” the gigantic purge operation had been planned down to the last detail. Along with 41 officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were 155 soldiers, 132 chains and 280 meters of rope, which would have been needed to bind the “enemies” until the purge was carried out. And finally, the names of the villages or secret meeting points where the regime’s hostages were to end up. Hostages who, only now, may learn that not far away—but only eight years ago—on the other side, in four areas: the town of Fier, the coast, Ro- the town of Fier, the coast, Rroskovec-Patos and Mallakastra, even though the same fate had been planned for everyone. The number of discovered “Lists of terror” has now risen to three. After Mirdita and Dibra, those from Fier have now “come back to life” too. And for the first time, people are learning that their addresses, ages, occupations and fate had been written down in the regime’s highly secret documents. These are “Lists of terror” whose discovery has in every case sparked extremely heated controversy, accompanied by accusations and counteraccusations. At their center are former Minister of Internal Affairs Hekuran Isai, former President Alia, and current PS deputy Gramoz Ruçi. A few days ago, they had all been protagonists in a TV special, while only three days ago [?] TV, Archive employees again accused Ruçi of “burning documents”; the surviving part of those documents includes the “Lists of terror” from Mirdita, Dibra and Fier. The regime’s secrets have begun to come to light. (Ed.La)

Following the former President’s statement that he would return to politics TIRANA - “Ramiz Alia is a politician of the past; he will not be involved in PS politics.” This was the firm response from senior Socialist leaders immediately after the former Albanian president’s sensational statement. “I will engage in politics,” Alia declared after leaving prison. But the largest opposition party—and the part [?] did not present his choice and have [?] the former president. “Politics is a broad field,” said yesterday Servet Pëllumbi, the PS deputy chairman, “so nobody is stopping Ramiz Alia from engaging in politics either.” Up to this point, Pëllumbi seems to have preferred to remain loyal, whatever his position may be, if Alia seeks to join the PS. “We would not want Alia to get involved in the part of the field that belongs to us as the PS.” That is what the Socialist deputy chairman said, explaining that “Ramiz Alia’s views do not coincide with the views of the PS.” Pëllumbi was of the opinion that “Alia is a politician of the past.” Yesterday Socialist deputy Leontief Çuçi had expressed the same opinion, though with some differences in nuance. “Ramiz Alia does not have the moral right to allow [?] simply of the PS,” Çuçi said. “Nevertheless,” he continued, “it is open and he cannot be prevented from exercising his will.” But Çuçi was firm in saying that “Ramiz Alia has neither been nor will be part of the PS’s leading forums, even if a grassroots organization accepts him as an ordinary member.” Arian Çani

Admission to the CoE STRASBOURG - It has also been officially accepted as a member of the Council of Europe. This took place yesterday at the regular meeting of the CoE Committee of Ministers, where what had been formalized

Cannabis discovered in three districts Police operations in Vlorë, Fier and Gjirokastër VLORË - A hunt against drug cultivation took place over the past weekend. In three districts of the country, various fields planted with the now well-known plant cannabis sativa were discovered. The police seized them and several people

STRASBOURG - the Council of Europe. This took place where what the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had decided days earlier was formalized. Albania has entered its name in Europe’s registers. The Council, or Ministerial Committee, has been described as the final link in the admission procedure, since the Committee has never reversed Assembly decisions, although it has the authority to do so. Thus, there was in reality a possibility that the Committee might block the Assembly’s decision, and in such a case Albania’s admission could have been postponed until the autumn. But this did not happen, either with Albania or with Moldova, the first former Soviet country to be admitted to the great European family. Everything has now ended well. The process remains to be completed with the solemn ceremony of raising the Albanian flag. Thus Albania’s black, double-headed eagle will, on the coming 13 July, take its place as an equal among the other European flags. At this emotional moment, prominent figures will not be absent. Among them stands out the name of Albanian President Sali Berisha, who will head the Albanian delegation this time. p.re

VLORË - The hunt against drug cultivation continued various fields planted with the now very well-known cannabis sativa plant were discovered. The police seized them and several people were detained. Meanwhile, its operations against the drug plant will continue in the coming days as well. In Vlorë, following extensive raids in the Vlorë River area, where entire areas of villages were found cultivated with the drug plant, the focus shifted to Sevaster. Here too, the police searches did not come up empty-handed.

Tirana, law-enforcement authorities detain the young man A new “fashion” for robbers: now privatization vouchers A woman from Kruja is robbed of 500,000 lekë TIRANË - Not only lekë and dollars, but also privatization vouchers. This has given rise to another “fashion” for robbers, who have just introduced it in the capital. On Saturday evening, the young man from Kamza, Feslim Demollari, ended up in the cells of the Tirana Police Commissariat. He—and a friend of his who is still being sought by law-enforcement authorities—has been charged with stealing privatization vouchers worth 500,000 lekë. The victim, investigators say, was a woman from the villages of Kruja, who had apparently reported the loss of her newly acquired property, recently distributed by the state. According to employees of the capital’s Police Commissariat, the incident took place at midday on Friday, when Demollari and the other young man, now being sought by law-enforcement authorities, allegedly robbed the woman from the villages of Kruja of 500,000 lekë—not in ordinary banknotes, but in the form of privatization vouchers. (e.l)

Elbasan, terrorized residents appeal ELBASAN - “I’m the village’s bogeyman; things will be done as I say.” A man sentenced to prison over the village. “He steals, robs, fires hot and cold weapons, and is still free.” He has been reported to the police seven times for violent acts, but each time he has spent only a short while in custody. It seems that the man in question feels all-powerful in his village. “In the town of Belsh, everyone will do as he says.” Seven people, having failed to find support from the police and the law, have now turned to the newspapers with an appeal, hoping that this time they will be able to bring the 30-year-old “bogeyman,” F.C., to his knees. Here is the story of the 30-year-old strongman’s “deeds,” as told by the victims of his violence themselves. Nënshart Nafai, an employee with many years of service. Nazmi Peqini, seriously wounded with a knife. Haki Qeloshi, he steals his car and threatens him with a weapon not to report it. Bujar Kasa, beaten by the tough guy, who as a keepsake cuts off one of his ears with a knife. L. Tafani, an attempt is made to kill him with a weapon, months ago. And the latest incident in chronological order, though not in brutality: the “spectacle” he put on took place in June this year. What happened? Nothing less than the “barbaric” beating of a woman in the center of Belsh. The reason? After a report she had supposedly made, according to the residents’ testimony, about the “bogeyman,” the latter was arrested and held in prison for three weeks. Then the monster was released and beat his wife. That was not enough: “I’ll bring you to your knees for what you did to me,” another of F.C.’s victims is quoted as saying. In addition to the violence and the lack of protection from the law, the victim had to … and her assailant, who then also beat his wife and … threatened [her] again. (p.r)

Vlorë, 2 police chiefs in detention On page 5 Constitutional Court, lawyers lose On page 3 Beach tragedy, 3 drowned On page 3