The Socialists: “We will go, but on our own terms”
Changes to the electoral law. The DP has its proposals ready: two private voting booths and no police officers at polling stations. The Socialists say “Yes” to Berisha’s invitation. The Polo’s position is still unclear. Imami: “We will make our decision today”
The Democratic Party is ready to correct May 26. Just four days after the European recommendations on the October elections, the governing party is coming to the presidential roundtable today with a package of proposals concerning the local elections. Not just one private voting booth, but more than one; no police officers at polling stations; a greatly simplified ballot paper, as well as other changes to voting procedures. These are some of the draft proposals with which the DP will come to today’s meeting of the fourteen parties. “We will be open to any kind of proposal that may come from other political forces.” Tritan Shehu says this, adding that although the electoral law is good overall, some of its parameters nevertheless need to be changed. The proposals with which the governing party will come to the roundtable today seem likely to give a new direction to the course of the inter-party talks, which will take place at the Palace of Congresses. In any case, it remains to be seen how far the Socialists will go with their counterproposals.
The President’s joint roundtable with the parties
Local elections
OSCE/ODIHR’s delegation in Tirana
TIRANA - Senior OSCE/ODIHR officials are arriving in Tirana.
The director of the organization that observes elections arrived in our country yesterday and has a busy schedule of meetings today. Albanian political parties will be her interlocutors throughout the day.
On page 3
Rains flood the mines
Work halted for two days
REPORT / In Prrenjas, the villages lie in ruins
More money from deposits, but loans are more expensive
Banks change interest rates
National Commercial Bank
TIRANA - You can now earn more by depositing money with the State Bank, but you have to pay more to get a loan. Second-tier banks have just announced higher interest rates on deposits, but also on loans. And, alongside other factors—which vary depending on the situation from one bank to another—this increase in interest rates appears to stem from the rise in inflation that has characterized the Albanian economy this year.
On page 7
“Arkond” pyramid schemes: money disappears from banks
Payments not only in Nigeria, but also in the West
The trial opens on September 10. The Prosecutor’s Office: “They have not repaid USD 500,000”
TIRANA - The protagonists of the “Arkond” pyramid-scheme scandal will appear in court in Tirana on September 10. The three businessmen are accused of comm-
Police: Structure
Sarandë: Flour fraud
Sarandë
Flour fraud
Work halted for two days
LIBRAZHD - A natural disaster has struck the villages of Librazhd, making their poverty even more tangible.
The torrential rain of three days ago destroyed several homes and rendered others uninhabitable. A 60-year-old man [?] died and four people were injured, while material damage—according to the local authorities’ preliminary figures—amounts to as much as 400 thousand dollars. It is heartbreaking to visit the people who have been badly hit by nature; one person says they have lost everything they managed to earn over an entire lifetime and even risked their life during the rainstorm. The chrome mine has also suffered serious damage and has now halted production because of the flooding.
Flooding in the villages of Prrenjas
On page 7
Payments not only in Nigeria, but also in Përmet
TIRANË - The protagonists of the “Arkod” pyramid-scheme scandal will appear in court in Tirana on September 10.
TIRANË - The protagonists of the “Arkod” 10. The three businessmen are accused of the criminal offense of fraud in cooperation: they took considerable sums of money at interest, but were unable to pay them back. Several dozen criminal complaints have been filed with the prosecutor’s office against the three businessmen by citizens who lost their money—the unpaid amount reaches 500 thousand dollars, but is thought to be several times higher. They claimed to have used these sums as a means of securing a 75-million-dollar loan from Nigeria’s National Bank. The prosecutor’s office has been able to establish that the three businessmen made payments not only in the poor African country, but also to banks in the United States, Germany and Britain.
On page 5
Tirana Court
Police: New anti-crime units
TIRANË - New structures in the Albanian police.
For the past two days, a prosecutor and a judicial police officer have been “attached” to each police station in Tirana. The prosecutor’s “ambassadors” within the police will review all materials concerning preliminary investigations before the police send them to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation. The establishment of the Tirana Police Directorate has also been appointed, as a coordinator between the police stations.
On page 5
Sarandë — Flour fraud against a merchant
Sarandë
Flour fraud against a merchant
SARANDË - He wanted to buy flour but was left without money. A merchant from Sarandë was defrauded by a fellow townsman and a Greek man, whom he had trusted to bring the goods to Albania on his behalf. But he received nothing from them. Neither money nor goods. Now all he has is a complaint against the two people with whom he was going to trade, which he filed with the court a few days ago.
His story began two years ago. Sh. Gjergji gave a sum of 3 million drachmas to a man from Sarandë, A. Kolcos, and a Greek man, G. Papallopullos, so they could arrange for a shipment of flour to be brought in. But from the moment he handed over the money, Gjergji saw no sign of the goods he had asked them to bring. In Sarandë there is no sign of the goods, the money or the two merchants. For two years he pleaded with them, hoping they would return it. But now, having no other choice, he has turned to the court. “He will withdraw [?] the addresses of the two men,” the court clerk stated, according to ATSH Kyv[?]tari; “if they cannot be found, we will hold the trial and seek Interpol’s intervention.”
American bombs explode in Iraq
FROM THE WORLD
American bombs explode in Iraq
Saddam’s military [?] in southern Iraq.
On page 2
Sad am Husein
Kanu says “addio” to football
SPORT
Kanu says “addio” to football
Doctor: “He has heart disease”
TIRANE- Kanu is definitively leaving football. A routine medical examination has left the Olympic hero permanently disabled for sport. His heart is capable of functioning like that of any ordinary person, but not like that of a professional athlete. Batistuta has overtaken Maradona in goals for the Argentina national team. The goal against Paraguay was the 35th for the Argentine ace, one more than Maradona. All from everyone for him [?]. Ranieri: “Batistuta is the best player in the world this season.”
Mike Tyson has decided to change his life. The Muslim has decided to become a different person. “It’s true that I slept with five women at once, even the day before a match, but that was only one part of my life; today I have decided to change completely.” Damon Hill is leaving Williams for good. Next season Heinz Harald Frentzen will race for the British team. There is considerable controversy surrounding the Briton’s departure. Many journalists believe he is a victim of the Williams driver. Sammer will return to the field on Saturday against Hansa Rostock.
On page 6
EVERY SUNDAY “GAZETA SPORT”
Starting this Sunday, Gazeta Shqiptare has decided to publish a special sports supplement, which will bring football enthusiasts all the information—interviews, commentary, lineups—about Albanian league matches. Photographs and articles on international sport. All of this will be found in the GAZETA SPORT supplement, which will come with Gazeta Shqiptare. For a price of 30 lekë, you will be able to buy two newspapers in one.
ALARM IN POGRADEC
The koran is disappearing from the lake
POGRADEC — Alarm at Lake Pogradec. The koran, the famous fish, is being driven toward extinction.
Dynamite fishing and the failure of natural reproduction are leading to the disappearance of the fish from Albanian waters. But this phenomenon does not exist on the Macedonian side.
On page 7
Lake Ohrid
Meeting with Berisha at 5:30 p.m. Following the Council of Europe recommendations, the Democrats are ready for changes
SPECTACLE — Miss Europa brings the President to Tirana
SPECTACLE
Miss Europa brings the President to Tirana
Roger Zeiler begins work on staging the eagerly awaited show.
Vera Grabocka
On page 4
