Mystery surrounding the reasons, just because of his duty? SHKODËR - A police officer was killed in an assassination attempt on Tuesday evening. Valmir Pera, 27, was shot three times with a pistol by an unidentified person who immediately fled the scene on foot. Investigators’ most credible hypothesis regarding the killing of the police officer is that he was shot for reasons connected with his duty. The police blocked all entrances and exits to the city and searched vehicles attempting to leave Shkodër. About 20 people suspected of having links to the incident were taken to the police station, but they were released after a few hours. Since 1992, eight cases of employees of law-enforcement agencies being killed have been recorded in Shkodër alone. An employee of SHIK has also lost his life. Shkodër On page 11

A counteroffer comes from Kamberi and Sudja: 10 and 16 percent Companies raise interest rates The presidents discuss their wealth potential “All Albanians’ money is guaranteed.” This is the only phrase coming from the buildings of Vefa, Gjallıca, Kamberi, Populli... Deposits and withdrawals at the counters have continued at the same pace TIRANA - To calm fears or offer a counterweight, the companies are raising interest rates. Kamberi and Sudja are the ones that have provided full guarantees for all Albanians’ deposits. And yesterday the rates went up: 10 percent at Kamberi and 16 percent at Sudja. “All the the buildings of Vefa, Gjallıca, or the other companies. The only explanation has been a claim of a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in his own wealth, cited by the president of “Vefa,” Ali-mucaj. Nevertheless, there have been no comments on the debate over “usury.” The only official sides remain shrouded in a cloud of confusion, still unable to clarify matters. Minister Bodie has described it as a misinterpretation, while the Bank’s governor, Luniku, promises assistance to the firms operating with interest rates. Meanwhile, yesterday was an entirely normal day at all the locations. Deposits and withdrawals continued at the same pace. On page 9

All the excitement in the Sports Gazette On pages 5–8

TIRANA - Strict measures to secure the Epitaph of G[?]l- laveniç. Although the ancient historical work has not yet... TIRANA - Strict measures to secure the Epitaph of Gllavenica. Although the ancient historical work has not yet...

FIER On page 9

TIRANA — “What a heartbreak, our national team.” None of us wanted to begin this article like this, but this phase reflects our true feelings. People sometimes say that it is “an honor to be beaten by the real champions.” They do sometimes say that sincerely, but they say it when defeats happen only occasionally. When they happen frequently, other phrases lose their power. The world of sport has also come up with more comforting words — such as “It is not important to win, but to take part” — but none of them suit the sad, rain-soaked faces of the Albanian “fans,” who got from their national team... only the now monotonous taste of a heavy defeat on home soil. It would have been good if it had been just a little, but yesterday the eleven players led by Bajko gave the country, which had held its breath in front of television screens, absolutely nothing. Nobody deserved this. As usual, Bajko preferred to speak only in the corridors of “Qemal Stafa.” “What can we do? Well, Portugal isn’t Librazhd,” Bajko said, completely coolly, astonishing the journalists present with his indifference. Even those of us who know nothing about football, but remember a little geography, knew that Portugal isn’t Librazhd. Perhaps it is very convenient for us journalists to talk about a field in which we do not work exactly, and our criticism may sound excessive. We would like the national team’s coach himself and “his boys” to explain more clearly why the national colors of the Albanians, which they should feel honored to wear, have for some time failed to leave stadiums with honor. Dritan Lundra

TIRANA — Strict measures to protect the Glavenica Epitaph. Although the ancient historical work has not yet arrived in Albania at its Historical Museum, its managers are prepared. “The display case in which the Epitaph will be exhibited will be placed in the area corresponding to the historical period to which it belongs. The exhibition location has also been selected with security conditions in mind. The table on which the work will be placed is monitored by several hidden cameras and alarm sensors,” said Museum director Vilson Kuri, announcing the measures taken by the Museum, where the famous Epitaph will be kept, to prevent the major theft from happening again. Meanwhile, the cloth on which the crucified Christ and the head of Saint Mary were found is still at the police station, under storage conditions that, according to Kuri, meet the requirements for the Epitaph’s security. On page 11

HEALTH — An air tube in intensive care: the other “heart” HEALTH An air tube in intensive care: the other “heart” Four children in the grip of polio How are they living? “Three weeks with an oxygen tube” TIRANA — A tiny hand clutching mine, the intensive-care tube, and a screen recording heartbeats: this is the scene we find at the children’s hospital in the capital. There are four of them, and they are in very serious condition. Sadly, doctors say these children may be left paralyzed. Although the anti-polio campaign has already begun, the dangerous virus continues to act unabated. The condition is also serious at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, where the latest patient has arrived. INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL CASSATION, LAWSUITS DELAY THE DECISION TIRANA — The opposition is preparing for the big “clash.” The two lawsuits filed by the PS and “Poli i Qendrës” with the highest levels of the Albanian judiciary — the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court — have led opposition leaders into a crossroads they had never anticipated. The two cases taken up by these courts have been postponed by the judicial authorities on the grounds that two parallel lawsuits have been filed concerning the same matter. The Court of Cassation has postponed until Friday its consideration of the final arguments in the lawsuit brought by Prolit against the authorities, while the Constitutional Court has proceeded along the same lines. It has taken up the PS’s lawsuit, which claims that “the age restriction for voting imposed by the Central Commission is a violation of human rights.” On page 3 On page 11

BERAT Bomb at the wholesaler’s house On page 9 POGRADEC Electricity kills a soldier On page 9

Cowboys “make a racket” at the Circus TIRANA — The season of performances and premieres opens at the Tirana Circus. On page 4

Macedonia: poisonings affecting only Albanians SKOPJE — More than three hundred pupils at Albanian schools have been poisoned. On page 2

BREAKING NEWS Italy, now an anti-clandestine-migrant aircraft It will patrol over the Adriatic at night, too BARI — The roar of an aircraft will soon be heard above the heads of clandestine migrants who continue to arrive on the Italian coast aboard the now “famous” speedboats. A specially equipped aircraft will join the vessels patrolling the Apulian coastline in the coming days. The news, reported by the official news agency ANSA, was confirmed yesterday afternoon in an official statement by the Port Authority of Bari. The “anti-clandestine-migrant” aircraft is expected to begin flying next week. It will thus be more difficult for speedboat operators and clandestine migrants to reach their destination. This is no ordinary aircraft, but a craft equipped with all the latest detection technology, which the Italian authorities have decided to put into operation against clandestine migrants arriving from Albania. Thanks to sophisticated electronic equipment, the Italian aircraft will be able to carry out intensified checks at sea, even at night. The Italians have sought to reassure public opinion. “The first aim is to come to the aid of people who venture out to sea, often deprived of all safety equipment,” the official statement from the Port Authority of Bari says. But it is not difficult to understand that the aircraft will perhaps primarily serve to curb the now widespread phenomenon of clandestine emigration by Albanians and others seeking to board the speedboats from Vlora. Just one day before this decision, right-wing members of the Italian Parliament, representatives of the Polo delle Libertà and the Lega Nord, called for the army to intervene to stop clandestine migrants.

On page 10

HEALTH