Director of Customs: “We will carry out our own inquiries too” After six arrests in Italy, Director Prifti speaks: “We will ask the Ministry of Finance in Rome for the documents” Director Prifti: “We will also inspect our customs offices, but the Italian side must make the discovered invoices available to us” TIRANA - The investigation into the “Fake Invoice Scandal” in Otranto will cross the sea. Following official notifications from the Lecce prosecutor’s office about the discovery of fraud in the food trade between Italy and Albania and the arrest of a customs officer, four traders and a ship’s captain, the General Directorate of Customs in Tirana is seeking to examine Albanian customs documents to determine the consequences of the fraud in Albania as well. “We will formally ask the Italian Ministry of Finance and the Lecce prosecutor’s office to make available to us the materials they have uncovered concerning the falsification of invoices by Otranto,” General Director of Customs Alfred Prifti confirmed yesterday to Gazeta Shqiptare. If the Italian customs agent falsified hundreds of invoices, through which traders appear to have evaded customs duties at Albanian customs offices for around two years, the consequences could involve considerable quantities of goods. On page 9

Attacks: Serbs arrest two Albanians PRISHTINË - Serbs have arrested two Kosovars who are possible perpetrators of the recent killings of Serbs. According to them, the Albanians’ activities date to the period 1993–1996. On page 2

Students rejoice as lessons are suspended for a day TIRANA - A one-day strike, but a partial one. This is the outcome of the past few hours, following the protest announced several weeks ago by the Union of Independent Trade Unions and the Confederation. Although the leaders of the most powerful organizations had warned of a complete “shutdown” of telecommunications, transport, education and healthcare, yesterday’s action achieved only part of what they had predicted. Late last night, they said that only education had been almost entirely on strike. On page 11 Students “happy” about the strike (REUTERS)

ENTERTAINMENT “Iliria” wins Folk Festival in Sarandë On page 4

Reportage / Ten days after the clashes with the police TIRANA - Unauthorized houses are springing up again in Laprakë. People building, children playing beside the ruins, and anxiety that the police may return at any moment, as is now happening in the capital’s outlying neighborhoods. Only ten days have passed since the fierce clash between newcomers and the police. Fear is ever-present there, but the residents insist that they will start everything over again. “We bought the land from the owner, paying cash. They may demolish it again, but we’ll build again anyway,” Azemi from Kukës said loudly, keeping his eyes on the national road. “They came from over there, gathered together, along with the excavator. I saw with my own eyes how they demolished the walls of our houses.” On page 9 In Laprakë ten days ago

The 12-year-old suspects that his father sold him Shkodër, the minor recounts his sad ordeal SHKODËR - “They left me on the street for three days to force me to beg. I went from street to street with another Albanian and three Africans. If I didn’t meet the money quota demanded by the owner, he beat us mercilessly. I’m afraid my father also sold me in Italy,” the 12-year-old recounted, shuddering, describing his tragic story, which lasted two years in Italy. The minor could no longer endure the modern slavery, asked his associates for help, and escaped in order to… return to Albania. He has now been living with his mother for a week, but cannot forget the long days of terror when he was forced to beg in Milan. A broken family, an apparently inevitable divorce and the abandonment of the mother by everyone seem to have led to an unavoidable crisis in the family’s story. The family. He had become part of his father’s and child’s social circle, while, as far as everyone was concerned, the two parents had separated and he had gone to Italy with his father. At first the little boy was only 10, and found himself in a terrible situation: “without shelter, in bars, bus and train stations and other places where people live. Another Albanian and three little Africans were with me. Later we understood each other only through gestures. At night we had to beg, and whatever we earned was exchanged for poor food and sleeping in a warehouse,” this sad story recounts. The children worked for a small share, 30,000–40,000 lire… It was thought that they would continue to the large cities of Italy, but later they were put to work. One says that if they were caught, they would manage to get only a small amount, 1,000,000 lire a month… Otherwise… They regularly attended… [damaged/illegible passages]. Ermal Muka

Foreign Minister: “New elections in 2000” TIRANA - “The Americans are not in favor of early elections.” The statement was made by Shehu in Tirana during his first press conference. Commenting on the important meetings he held during his five-day mission in New York, Shehu shed light on several issues concerning relations between Tirana and Washington. Only a day earlier, a statement by the State Department spokesperson had sparked discussion in Albanian political circles. But Shehu, representing Albanian diplomacy, offered his counterarguments. “We were at a forum [discussing] our options regarding the conditions mentioned and the approval of it by referendum.” According to Shehu, the Albanian position that should be supported is that it be fully in favor of the third elections in the State Department. On page 3 Tritan Shehu at yesterday’s press conference

“Gazeta Sport” among the fans Starting next season, the Champions Cup will be played with 24 teams. The decision was officially made in Turkey, and eight runners-up will also take part. On page 10 Kushta

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All district correspondents working for “Gazeta Shqiptare” are informed that they should report to the editorial office on Sunday, 6 October, at 12:00. “Gazeta Shqiptare” is looking to hire a permanent correspondent for the Gjirokastër and Lushnjë districts. Those interested should come to the newspaper’s editorial office as soon as possible.