The Turkish president meets Berisha and the opposition TIRANA - Turkish President Demirel arrived in Tirana yesterday. He held a long one-on-one meeting with President Berisha. Goodwill was expressed toward developing trade relations. Later, Demirel shook hands with the leaders of all the political parties. On page 5 Presidents Berisha and Demirel yesterday in Tirana

Political corner Omonia: “In ’96, we too will have our own candidates” Qiriazati: “Only us, the representatives of the minority” On page 5

The $800,000 scandal involving money that never reached Customs widens Durrës: Albpetrol also defrauded Bankers reveal: another USD 130,000 missing New forged documents and thousands more missing dollars have once again been discovered at the Commercial Bank of Durrës. The massive fraud involving $800,000 that was never deposited in the Customs Treasury was not the only incident. The fuel company in Ballsh has also been affected, falling victim to the same extortion scheme: $130,000 for fuel supplies cannot be found in its account. Once again, the company “Epidamn” is the protagonist; it also carried out this withdrawal of goods. From Durrës, ARMAND MERO On page 3

FOOTBALL The full draw for the European Cups On page 7

TIRANA - The draw has been held for the preliminary rounds of the three European football Cups. The Albanian teams now know their opponents: Tirana-Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel), Teuta-Tps Turku (Finland) and Partizani-Fenerbahçe (Turkey). Officials Hyka, Labinoti, Starova and Koka are also present. The matches will be played in August. The teams coached by Muca, Koka and Lika have a chance to qualify. The first legs will be played at the opponents’ grounds for Partizani and Teuta, while the champions will play in Tirana. It was the realistic-looking balls placed on the UEFA tables that determined the opposing teams for the Albanian clubs in the new continental season. Tirana will face the Israeli team Hapoel Beer Sheva, which finished third with 50 points. Hapoel scored 54 goals and conceded 39; in 30 matches it won 14, drew 8 and lost 8. The first match will be played in Tirana on 9 August, and the return match in Israel on the 23rd. Meanwhile, the Albanian Cup winners, the Durrës team Teuta, will travel to northern Europe. The first match will be played in Finland on 10 August, with the return on the 24th. After week 9, TPS Turku are in 6th place with 15 points, while leaders MyPa have 19. Their current record is 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, with a goal difference of 15-10. The Turkish team Fenerbahçe will be Partizani’s opponents. The Turkish side finished the season in 4th place and have Aykut, the league’s top scorer with 26 goals. In 34 matches they recorded 20 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses. They scored 78 goals and conceded 35. The first match will be played in Istanbul on 8 August and the return in Tirana on the 22nd. Uvil Zajmi

Moments of panic yesterday in “Avni Rustemi” Square Gunfire in central Tirana Bullets wound a police officer TIRANA - A volley of shots in the centre of Tirana. And a police officer wounded. Yesterday afternoon, “Avni Rustemi” Square and its surrounding residents witnessed yet another armed scene, which once again showed no mercy and left someone bleeding. Fortunately, 25-year-old police officer Arben Sinani escaped with only a serious wound to his shin, although passers-by—seeing him covered in blood, including on his face—initially thought he had lost his young life. On page 3 Uvil Zajmi He has recorded 20 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses. He has scored 78 goals and conceded 35. The first match is on the 22nd.

Koplik — New facts about the disturbance at the Malësia e Madhe Police Station have shed light on the matter, but have also deepened the mystery. The protagonists in this story are two Montenegrin “diplomats” and a strange car that later disappeared... On page 3

GJIROKASTER—Robbed and mistreated Albanians, as well as victims, arrive at the Kakavijë border crossing. Once again, a tragic episode in the flight of Albanians, reported only in the final hours of the beginning of this week. On page 5

VLORE — Tensions between lawyers and the Ministry of Justice have flared up again. Even the latest ruling by the Constitutional Court, which rejected the defence lawyers’ request to strike down the article requiring them to take a qualifying examination, seems to have changed nothing. Following a protest by the Ministry over the new exam dates—which are due to begin on Monday—the lawyers of Vlorë have decided to boycott it at a meeting held yesterday afternoon. On page 5

A 50-year history on a cassette A special initiative by a singer who plays the çifteli TIRANE — “You brought us pluralism, you gave us communism.” This is not a political slogan, but simply a song dedicated to President Berisha, whose lyrics have now been compiled on a single cassette. It is the first song for Albania’s new President, and its melody can now be found alongside dozens of cassettes heard every day on the streets of the capital. It is precisely through this cassette, as sometimes happens after ’91, that the popular rhapsodist spreads the name of Berisha, as well as democracy, the leaders of other political parties, Europe—and even the vices of the new era. The one-of-a-kind cassette—sold successfully for 150 lekë on Saturday—has now taken over the market. And street vendors do not hesitate to play it whenever surprised buyers ask to hear the next cassette. A cassette-history, which includes not only academic heroes—according to the account—but also yesterday’s dictators. It mentions neither the prisons of Spaç and Burrel nor life in those years. Nor the internments and bunkers. On the cassette—whose distributor remains anonymous—there is only the name Ismaili, while, in place of the author’s name, the image of a popular rhapsodist has been printed. Not even the cassette vendors can dispel the mystery; they can only talk about the cassette’s success and the age groups that prefer it most. Because all they can do is turn up the volume on their tape recorders. Meanwhile, the rhapsodist continues to sing of the “immortal prophet of democracy.” President Berisha is also urged, through the çifteli, to bring about a better and more prosperous future. And, naturally, there is also a call for higher wages. Ali Ukaj

Closing arguments yesterday TIRANE — “Six years in prison for the heroin dealers.” This was the request made by capital-city prosecutor Selim Caka for a Turkish citizen and another man from Albania. The closing arguments—brought under the charge of “sale of narcotic substances in complicity”—refer to 13 August ’94, when nearly one kilogram of heroin was seized. According to the prosecutor, the defendant Spiro Trako had asked the Turk Sefedin Saraj to be at his house, because together they would sell the heroin to “durnaka” for about 15 thousand dollars. On page 3

Final ceremony in Strasbourg From today, one more flag... Final ceremony in Strasbourg Albania in Europe: today is the big day From today, one more flag... Headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe TIRANE — Starting today, there will be one more flag among those flying in front of the Council of Europe building. At a ceremony organized especially for the occasion, the Albanian red-and-black symbol will be raised alongside the flags of all the European states. The name Albania will be entered first in the Council of Europe’s registers. Earlier, the Albanian leadership had marked its full and equal entry, alongside all the states of the continent, among the civilized and democratic countries. Albania has finally boarded the train to Europe, and will travel with it toward its future. The European dream had taken its full form on 29 June, when Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had raised their hands in approval of Albania’s admission. “Let Albania take its place on Europe’s throne,” “Come, brothers, let us move forward together”—with these words, the parliamentarians of the Council of Europe had invited the land of eagles into their home. And just a few days later, their friendly appeal was also heard by the Committee of Ministers—the institution comprising the prime ministers of the member states—which did not hesitate to approve the Assembly’s decision. On Monday, at their meeting, they put an end to any doubt: “Albania joins the Council of Europe.” With this decision, they recognized the great honor and the colossal efforts Albania has made to merit it. Albania will now have four seats in the European Parliament. There will be four votes with equal rights to those of all representatives of the member states. The road to the Council of Europe had begun three years earlier, when Albania’s application was submitted. During this period, meetings, sessions and various reviews had reflected the progress toward the Council of Europe. And Albania reached the finish line. Now it is in Europe.

Tirana, Kosovo’s new ambassador On page 5 Kavajë, death caused by an insect On page 3 Pogradec, boats stolen from the lake On page 3 Lezhë, attack at the home of the Aviation commander On page 3