Berat, the plant reopens old wounds. More will be admitted Lead in the blood, 6 in hospital Treatment begins for the Battery Plant workers The first workers from the Battery Plant in Berat have been admitted to hospital. The patients, whose bodies have been affected by doses of lead, all began intensive therapy yesterday to eliminate the effects of the illness contracted in the plant’s departments. More will be admitted at the beginning of next week, all to be cleansed of the lead that has been living in their bodies for some time. On page 3 Berat Hospital

TIRANA - The second week of the First Round of the Albanian Cup began yesterday at midday, with Tirana’s champions defeating Memaliaj, the team from the lower divisions, at “Stermasi” Stadium. Meanwhile, the other 15 teams that will be the best in this tournament will be determined today. The matches begin at 16:30. Only Laçi and Apolonia, teams from the first division, face difficult 90 minutes in the return matches. The Second Round matches will be played in a week, and the draw has already been set: two-legged matches for the teams, based on last season’s standings. The Third Round matches will be played in January. On page 5 National team Bajko announces the Malta squad On page 5 Football Baci and Mema in place of Muça? On page 5 Athletics Two world records in Göteborg On page 2

From Krajina, now Croatian, the flow of refugees continues to stream toward Serbia. A large number of them are also expected to settle in Kosovo. In that region, the Serbian authorities have declared a state of readiness, setting up special headquarters to accommodate the refugees who have arrived and those expected to come. The first large group of Serbian refugees from Krajina is expected to arrive during the night. The Albanian government has expressed concern over the plan to install a Serbian regime in Kosovo. “This plan is nothing other than a continuation of the chauvinist policy to create a Greater Serbia,” the spokesperson for Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. He described the plan as an element of the ethnic cleansing that began some time ago. On page 2

Durrës, six-member gang arrested. Investigations continue The kidnappers of the 3-year-old are caught But the child has been sold abroad DURRES - The gang of kidnappers who abducted 3-year-old Jonuz Luku two months ago has been caught, but the little boy himself has been taken abroad. A flash operation by the Durrës Police, extending to Fier and Peqin as well, led to the discovery of the group: six people, men and women, who had taken the child in order to sell him outside Albania. According to initial theories, little Jonuzi may have been taken to Greece. The Albanian police have now made contact with Interpol and are working to find him, as well as another member of the gang who took the little boy out of Albania. The six people were immediately placed under arrest and are now all being held in the detention cells of the Durrës Police Commissariat. Jonuz's mother, during the appeal on TV

Fier, because of pollution On page 5

Kavajë On page 5

Shkodër On page 3

KORÇË - The socialists’ demonstration in Korçë. A police order prohibiting the use of their announced meeting. The senior leader from Tirana, Luan Hajdaraga, had also been invited. “We will continue our demand for the release of Fatos Nano,” Hajdaraga shouted angrily. The people gathered in “Rinia” Park were not allowed into the hall—they were able to hear only a few minutes of the Socialist Deputy Chairman’s speech. The security forces were very close to the crowd and called for people to disperse; they remained in the park for a long time. On page 3 Hajdaraga, Deputy Chairman of the PS

Korçë, anti-drug operations On page 3

Fier, a 6-year-old POJAN - A game among children ended in tragedy. Egged on by his friend, a six-year-old from the village of Pojan fell into the cauldron in which clothes were boiling, suffering severe burns to his little body and putting his life at risk. He is now hospitalized in the intensive care unit in the city of Fier. The incident happened the previous day in the village of Pojan in the district of Fier. Erald Prena—that is the name of the unfortunate six-year-old—had begun playing with his peers in the yard of his home. All the children started running after one another. This is where the terrible tragedy began and quickly came to an end. Apparently tired from playing and, as a result, left unattended by his careless mother, Erald found a dangerously large pot in front of him, which he could not get around: a very hot cauldron in which his mother was boiling the washed clothes. The child stumbled and fell into the boiling water, causing terrible burns and pain to his body. He was immediately taken to Fier hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care. There, doctors found that he had sustained severe burns over 25 percent of his body. «n.m.y.»

The Greek Minister of Justice will soon visit Albania Tirana and Athens will discuss prisons Projects: “How will drug addicts be treated?” TIRANË - Tirana and Athens will discuss prisons. A high-level meeting is taking place soon this time between the Albanian and Greek ministers of Justice in Tirana. Sentenced drug addicts, the extradition of prisoners, and the implementation of agreements and court rulings on criminal matters—these are the issues to be discussed between Tirana and Athens. The discussion packages have now been distributed to the parties, and an official visit is expected from Greek Minister Anastasios Peponis, who will meet his Albanian counterpart Hektor Frashëri on August 15–17. Following the improvement in relations between the two countries, the Albanian and Greek ministries have restored the ties severed in 1994. An invitation from Minister Frashëri to his Greek counterpart Peponis has made his arrival in Tirana possible and will allow the continued observance of the “Convention on Mutual Assistance between Albania and Greece in the Judicial Field.” Athens has already prepared the projects it will present in Tirana. How prisons will operate in the future, what will be done with convicted drug addicts and how they will be treated—these are the most “delicate” points in the negotiations between the parties. Tirana—the Albanian state ministry has already accepted the Greek side’s projects—will present another package of proposals. Providing professional assistance to Albanian notaries and newly appointed judges, the extradition of prisoners and the way this act is to be carried out, and providing scientific assistance in drafting our new legislation are the issues on which the Albanian side will await a response. In addition to Minister Frashëri, his Greek counterpart will meet with the highest state authorities. A.Ç Ministry of Justice

The cleric also inspired admiration in Albania NEW-YORK - A solemn ceremony for the departed servant of Allah. Even in the US, the Muslim faith has many followers among believers in Islam, but yesterday’s occasion was also one of unparalleled grief for Bektashi believers. Baba Rexhepi, the leader of the first tekke in the United States of America, has died at the age of 94. Here in Albania—where there are many Bektashis—the news was received with great sorrow. Baba Rexhepi was one of the most distinguished philosophers of Bektashi ideology. Born in 1904 in Gjirokastër, Baba Rexhepi distinguished himself at a very young age through his gift for studying theological sciences. At the age of 16, he studied at the Zall tekke, near his hometown, and later completed his studies in Islamic theology. But that was not all: Baba Rexhati also studied jurisprudence and theology. Three years later, he could boast that he knew Arabic, Turkish, Greek and Italian. Baba Rexhepi was more than a religious figure; he was also a well-known figure in the struggle against the communist dictatorship. In 1944, he was forced to leave the country and settle in Italy. From there—four years later—he moved to Egypt. Only after losing all hope of ever returning to his homeland did he decide to travel to the “land of wonders,” the US. Baba Rexhepi was the very person who brought to life the dream of many Albanian Bektashi believers living in the US: the construction of a Bektashi tekke. Two years after he had arrived in the US—in 1954—his dream and that of the believers became reality: a new Albanian tekke was built and began operating in Detroit. It was in this city by the lake that Baba Rexhepi closed his eyes, known and respected not only by Bektashi believers in Albania, but also beyond its borders.

From Krajina, now Croatian, the flow of refugees continues to stream toward Serbia.

Jonuz's mother, during the appeal on TV

Korçë, socialists take to the streets in a pilgrimage PS rally rejected They are not given the meeting hall KORÇË - The socialists’ rally in Korçë has failed. A police order preventing access to the hall where PS members were to gather has blocked their announced meeting, called by ...

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