LAND SALES Government responds to criticism from the Right The “battle” for the coastline begins Meksi against Godo: “The coast belongs to no one” Controversy erupts over the sale of the coastline. The Right criticizes it harshly; the Government defends itself. “The seashore is nobody’s property.” Aleksandër Meksi, head of the Albanian government, has rejected statements by the Right, which—in its rally on Friday—supported the former ownership claims along the coast. Meksi comments that “anyone could seize the coastline by producing musty documents from anywhere in the world.” According to the Prime Minister, the time needed to revoke this decision is not short, and the government already has a special study involving the Albanian side, the World Bank and the European [Bank]. Prime Minister Meksi PS against it again. Deputy Chairman Pëllumbi: “The President’s statements are nothing but propaganda” On page 5

The American ambassador sees off the Albanian peacekeepers TIRANA - Conflicts around the world? Here come the UN peacekeeping forces, but this time there will also be Albanians among them. This major historic undertaking became a practical reality yesterday—even though the Albanian servicemen had been training for this event for some time—when a company of Albanian military forces set off in a special ceremony for the United States of America, where it will carry out its first training exercise at the training ground of this special force. A change that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. On page 5 The American ambassador sees off the Albanian peacekeepers. (Photo: P. Omeri)

Strong statement by Commissioner Mulosmani The police chief gives figures for the first six months of ’95 “More than 90% of the population of Vlora’s villages has been involved in planting cannabis; 95% of the volunteers suffer the material and moral consequences of trafficking and crime in the city. For this reason, 90% of the police officers have also been stripped of their uniforms and replaced by others. Nevertheless, Vlora is a city of traffickers, not the Mafia.” This was stated at his press conference yesterday by Commissioner Mulosmani, who has headed the Vlora police for two months and deserves credit for the changes and for bringing organized-crime phenomena close to eradication. On page 3

Unlucky Kola injured in training TIRANA - The striker Kola’s Kavajë [team/player] is injured in Ballsh. The prognosticators have given him one leg [sic] regarding the champion’s condition, but he disagrees. On page 5

Elbasan: accident or revenge? ELBASAN - A mysterious electrical shock. A wire carrying high voltage, strung overhead, cut across the path of two little girls very close to their home. Nertila Baku, 12, died, while her sister Enkeljeda was seriously injured and is in intensive care at Elbasan hospital. The tragic event took place in the village of Karunë i Ri, near Elbasan, at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The two little girls and their parents had been planting crops that day at some relatives’ home. But as they were returning, 100 metres from their front door, they stepped on a wire lying on the ground. A powerful electric spark suddenly threw everyone down, the sisters holding hands. Darkness had fallen over Nertila, a member of the family; the wire charged with high-voltage current remains a mystery. This was discovered only at one in the morning. It seems someone had brought about the girls’ tragedy. “The wire ran deliberately across our path, with the real intention of causing the tragedy,” the girls’ uncle says. A long pole was still hanging from the high-voltage pylon. Apparently, the wire had been connected to the power line here. The deadly conductor stretched across the surface of the path leading to the Baku family’s home. It appears to have been a deliberate act, or perhaps it only seems deliberate to the families in the village. In any case, these are the family’s and her relatives’ first suspicions. The investigators have begun their inquiries. What the family’s grief must establish is whether the wire attached to the high-voltage pole was deliberately made to fall and then removed as planned. As for the careless wire, it is attached to a sign and [unclear]; an unauthorized person may be involved, although it could have happened accidentally, and this [unclear] caused the tragedy. MentorKikia

Durrës On page 3

Tirana On page 5

Athens On page 3

Greece GJIROKASTER - Greek forces are concentrating along the borders with Albania. This time, a special Greek [operation/measure]. Around five hundred forces specialized in combating drugs will lie in wait for drug trafficking and other substances used in its production coming from the northern neighbour, Albania. Numerous and frequent Albanian police operations have seized tens of kilograms of cannabis and more. The first statistics on hashish production. On page 5

Response from the Ministry of Health On page 3

VLORA - The winners of the biggest summer show, “Buzët e detit” [“Lips of the Sea”], were announced late last night. The beautiful Amarda Jaza won the title of Miss Beach, while the boys’ winner went to Tirana, where Vehbi was named Mister Beach. The capital’s girl and boy formed the most beautiful couple in the big summer competition. The show began at 8:30 p.m. at the presidential villa in Vlora. In a setting built in the shape of a ship’s prow, Ardit Gjebrea, this time chosen by director Beti Bozo as the presenter, hosted the entire competition alone, dressed in a sailor’s uniform. Over two and a half hours, 14 girls—from 14 to 22 years old—and 7 boys—from 17 to 21—who had come from different parts of Albania, presented themselves before the jury and the spectators, dancing and captivating them with their beauty in exchange for votes for the prize. The stage a few hours before the show

ENTERTAINMENT Albanian singers “discover” Africa A tour of Egypt by Aleksandër Gjoka, Redon Makashi and other young artists Interview with Gjoka on page 7

HOLIDAYS Today: Gazeta Plazh Quiz, games, super crossword and society gossip. How to protect our skin from the sun’s rays On page 6