Prosecutor’s Office returns the Vrioni file

Only seven days of investigations into Brozi’s accusations against the Deputy Prime Minister Prosecutor’s Office returns the Vrioni file Qeleshi: “The materials need to be supplemented” TIRANA - Brozi’s complaint about Vrioni remained on the desks of the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office for only seven days. Yesterday at midday, the same envelope—now also signed by Tirana Chief Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi—ended up back at Brozi’s headquarters. “The complaint materials need to be supplemented,” was the message that the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office sent yesterday to the institution headed by Brozi. According to what Qeleshi told Gazeta Shqiptare yesterday, no further procedural step could be taken in the matter without the materials that Brozi is now being asked to attach to his complaint against the No. 2 of the Albanian Government. Brozi Vrioni

Shock at the Enforcement Office: Frashëri accuses Brozi

An upheaval at the Tirana Enforcement Office. And new accusations against Brozi and the Court of Cassation. The conclusions of an inspection—carried out by inspectors from the Ministry of Justice—have just revealed serious irregularities, for which Minister Frashëri “will take disciplinary measures.” On page 3

Metalworkers hospitalized after poisoning

The first 13 arrive urgently in the capital Doctors: “Intoxication, but no danger to life”

Italian Anti-Mafia Commission arrives in Albania

Talks with the Prime Minister and other senior officials this morning Italian Anti-Mafia Commission arrives in Albania Seeks to verify international trafficking TIRANA - The visit to Albania by the Italian Anti-Mafia Commission will begin this morning at 10 o’clock. The delegation will be led by the Commission’s President, Tiziana Parenti, a former judge. The delegation, made up of eight MPs, will—after a meeting with Italian Ambassador Paolo Foresti—proceed to Parliament, where it will be received by Speaker Pjetër Arbnori and the chairs of several commi[?]

President Parenti: “Why we are coming to Tirana”

INTERVIEW “Our objectives are twofold: on the one hand, support for the right to cooperation in the legislative sector.” “Our objectives are twofold: on the one hand, support for the right to cooperation in the legislative sector. Then I think we will gather information: the Albanian authorities will provide us with information they have available there, which may indicate the presence of the Italian mafia, as far as

Former Sigurimi files: Constitutional Court to decide

Following the complaint, the decision is forthcoming Former Sigurimi files: Constitutional Court to decide Chief judges respond to Gjinushi Today the issue of the files is before the Constitutional Court. Just 48 days after Skënder Gjinushi, the PSD leader, filed a lawsuit against the head of state, the Albanian chief judges announce that the decision will be issued today at 9:00. A decision on the lawsuit, which had been formulated as follows: “An order requiring the President of the Republic to fulfill and respect the obligations arising from Article 28/1 of Law 7491. Declaration of the manipulations and blackmail carried out by

The land issue

200 thousand signatures in Parliament today TIRANA - A petition with 200,000 signatures “takes over” the Albanian Parliament today. “The Right-Wing League seeks to stop at any cost[?]

“The Masked Men” butcher the “Dajti” taxi driver

A 37-year-old capital-city resident is the victim “The Masked Men” butcher the “Dajti” taxi driver Three bullets in front of his garage TIRANA — Another victim of gun violence in the capital. But this time the case is even more mysterious. Sunday’s darkness and three bullets fired by masked men claimed the life of 37-year-old Besnik Elezi, a taxi driver at Hotel “Dajti” in the capital. Last night at 18:00, a ceremony attended by an extraordinary number of people accompanied the latest victim of the silent “war” on the streets of the Albanian capital to his final resting place. It was exactly 21:30 when three gunshots

signatures in Parliament today

TIRANA — today. “The Right-Wing League demands an end to any conditioning of the draft law on the purchase and sale of land.” On page 3

The murdered taxi driver

gunshots brought the residents of Kombinat’s “week end” to an end. The body of taxi driver Elezi was found lifeless very close to his garage, shot dead with three bullets to the head. The motives for this mysterious murder are not yet known, although local residents put forward an attempted robbery as the most likely hypothesis—one that, unfortunately, ended only with Elezi’s murder. In any case, the only facts that can be confirmed are the circumstances in which the victim was shot by masked individuals, who had been watching 37-year-old Elezi until he was driving his car into his garage beneath the apartment building. Perhaps the target of the robbery was the black “Alfa”; but the money gained from it also caused the masked men to disregard Elezi’s life. According to the victim’s neighbours, the perpetrators fled on foot toward the hills immediately after firing their weapons, opting not to make their escape in a car. Law-enforcement officers arrived immediately, while—because the investigation is being conducted with extreme discretion—no confirmation has yet been given regarding the identification or discovery of those responsible for the latest crime. Thus another painful “obituary” is added. This time it is for a 37-year-old man whose mother is now alone in the family home. Elezi—one of the people of July 2 at the embassies—had returned only a few months ago from emigration in Italy, hoping to build another life in his own country. A life that was tragically cut short by mysterious bullets, something he could never have imagined. (e.D) The murdered taxi driver

For deposits

The Bank raises interest rates starting today TIRANA — Starting today, anyone who has deposited money in a bank will earn more. The State Bank has decided to raise interest rates. The biggest increases are for three-month term deposits, while six- and twelve-month deposits have also seen a positive trend. There is no change for demand deposits, whose interest rate will remain at 12 percent. The refinancing rate for second-tier banks is set to fall, dropping from 25 percent to 22 percent. Anyone who deposits money in a bank for a three-month term will now earn more. Whereas the interest rate applied until yesterday was 7 percent, a 4 percent increase will be applied to current deposits: in this way, the interest rate will range from 10 to 11 percent starting in July. The increase is less pronounced for six-month term deposits. Since July 1995, they had earned interest at a rate of 12 percent; now, under the bank’s latest decision, interest rates will range between 12 and 13.5 percent. One-year deposits are also changing in both directions. As a result of the decline in the rate, they were at 32 percent in ’93, while in June ’94 they stood at 20 percent—now a balanced level has been found. From the 14.5 percent applied until now, starting today they will range from 13.50 to 15 percent.

Snake... intellectual at the National Library

TIRANA — A snake in the house of books. Yesterday, a small venomous snake appeared on the premises of the National Library in Tirana. In its main lobby, at around 19:00, the reptile poked its head out and continued walking freely across the polished floor. Its presence alarmed the many employees and researchers who, until that moment, had been immersed in the world of letters. Concerned and surrounded, the library employees, who every day walk through and [unclear] its halls. The snake, about 1 metre long, appeared in the lobby on the first floor, very close to where the security guard sits. No one saw where it had “sprouted” from: the alarm was raised only when its writhing body reached the centre of the main corridor. Many people came closer, and the reptile found itself at the centre of a circle. Some had approached out of curiosity, while many others, especially the girls, moved away in fear. Then the bravest ones approached the reptile, [unclear], and took it outside. That was when people began taking revenge. Blows rained down on the snake from all sides until it died. Nevertheless, its disappearance did not dispel the fear of the Library employees, who [unclear] remained alarmed: “But where did it come from?” Ali Ulqaj The snake, [unclear], on the stairs of the Library (photo: H. Pustina)

Meksi

“Why we are coming to Tirana”

There are two objectives: on the one hand, we can strengthen cooperation in the legislative sector. Then I think we should gather information: the Albanian authorities will communicate to us data on readiness and conditions that may indicate the presence of the Italian mafia, particularly with regard to arms and drug trafficking. On page 5

Copa América

Brazil bows its head Uruguay lifts the cup Tour de France Indurain wins On page 6

“Week-end”: two dead and all the others in hospital

Beaches overcrowded in Vlorë and Durrës On page 3

In Dibër against Kurt Kola

On page 3

Shrimp invade Fier and Berat too

On page 5

Panic yesterday in the great house of books. The reptile was caught and killed