The prison is also under investigation. The Prosecutor’s Office sets up a special anti-terrorism group
Storm at Bënçë: links to the gang?
Former director, a chief and four guards detained
TIRANA - The anti-terrorism storm has reached Bënçë prison as well. Hasan Shehu, former director of the high-security cells, and the head of the Internal Service, along with four police officers, have ended up behind bars. The lower-ranking officers were immediately transferred to Tirana. The exact charges are not yet known, but police sources link these arrests to the major anti-terrorism operation.
Meanwhile, yesterday in Tirana, a team of prosecutors was formed to investigate all the activities of the Tirana terrorist organization. The Prosecutor General’s Office approved the establishment of a special group consisting of three prosecutors, led by a prosecutor from the Prosecutor General’s Office, and five judicial police officers working at police stations in Tirana. The group will scrutinize the gang’s four years of activity as part of its investigation.
The arrest of Kolonec(it), his wife denies it: “The story of the money found in the safe”
Yesterday, the judges released the son of former Justice Minister Kudret Çela pending investigation
Shehu’s death? “It was suicide”
TIRANA - The “enigma” surrounding the end of Mehmet Shehu may perhaps no longer be described that way from now on. For the first time, a version based on forensic science has been fully presented, leaving no room for doubt: Mehmet Shehu killed himself on the night of December 18, 1981. The doctor, who at the time was one of the few people involved in the “examination of the scene” and is now Director of the Forensic Laboratory at the Ministry of the Interior, has recently published a book for his specialists. He has had no doubts: the former prime minister killed himself. The theory of an enigmatic murder is thus overturned. The book recently published by the expert is quite straightforward. It is titled “Examination of the Scene” and is primarily intended for people involved in the fight against crime, but between its lines an important finding has emerged: the expert’s opinion on the events of December 18, 1981... Mehmet Shehu’s end is treated as one of the most typical cases of suicide. A specialist opinion that clarifies a discussion that had been “circling” over everyone’s heads for some time... On page 10
December 18, 1981, photograph of Mehmet Shehu, photo of the experts
OSCE: “Something is wrong with Tirana”
Shehu: “Their departure does not compromise the elections”
Socialists denounce: “There are 16,637 irregularities identified in the lists”
TIRANA - “The decision not to accept ODIHR observers is extremely shameful.” The highest-ranking OSCE officials ...
40 kilograms seized
Five Albanian drug couriers caught
Three European festivals for director Saimir Kumbaro
SPECTACLE
Three European festivals for director Saimir Kumbaro
A still from “Vdekja e kalit” by Saimir Kumbaro
TIRANA - Three European festivals for Albanian film. Today director Saimir Kumbaro leaves for Germany with the film “Te burgosurit e gal...” and then his tour will continue in two important French cities, Montpellier and Saint-Etienne. Financial difficulties for his trip as a professional director. Majko... of Culture is proclaimed the most beautiful woman in Kosovo. Mrs. Ajvazi ... has been chosen Miss Prishtina, fifteen years after the competition was banned in Kosovo. Singer Sherif Merdani has prepared his first album. He will bring together his best works over the years. The singer has chosen the well-known composer and arranger Alfred Kaçinari to take part in a... On page 4
OSCE: With people who do not look
Shehu: “Their departure does not invalidate the elections”
TIRANA - “The decision not to accept ODIHR observers is extremely reprehensible.”
The highest-ranking OSCE officials are thus placing another question mark over Tirana. In a statement faxed yesterday, diplomatic officials—speaking on this day entirely on behalf of the European organization—sent out new warning signals concerning relations between Albania and the OSCE. “The OSCE’s withdrawal does not invalidate Sunday’s elections,” Albania’s foreign minister Shehu responded. According to him, Albania has consistently been and remains open to the European organization. Addressing every political problem with it, Shehu believes that “Albania respects everyone, but asks to be respected by others as well.” Meanwhile, yesterday the Socialists protested strongly over irregularities found in the election lists. There are 16,637 irregularities catalogued in the Socialists’ documents.
On page 3
Stevens of the OSCE in Tirana
Tirana Municipality: The candidates are tired
The campaign ended yesterday
TIRANA - How do the four candidates of the political parties for the mayoral seat feel after 45 days of an intensive electoral campaign?
Brojka, Fagu, Ceka and Nertan Alibali “shared” their first impressions yesterday after the electoral campaign ended. “I feel tired,” Brojka told Gazeta Shqiptare. The Republican candidate for the capital’s municipality, Alibali, said the same. “I have felt under enormous strain,” he said. The opposition candidates differ in their assessments of the electoral campaign for the local government elections. Fagu and Ceka accuse: “The campaign was not conducted according to the law.”
On page 3
Five Albanian drug couriers caught
Five Albanian drug couriers were caught yesterday in several regions of Italy.
More than 40 kilograms of marijuana were seized, and all the Albanians were arrested. This was the latest result of a new operation carried out in the southern region of Puglia.
On page 9
Three European festivals for director Saimir Kumbaro
...eleven years after this from and arranger Alfred Kaçinari to take part today in a... On page 4
“The Parliament should be constituted”
KOSOVO / Appeal to Rugova
PRISTINA - Thirty deputies from all parliamentary groups submitted a request to President Rugova for the convening of the constituent session of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo.
[photo]
Kosovo’s deputies
PRISTINA - Thirty deputies from all parliamentary groups submitted a request to President Rugova for the convening of the constituent session of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, elected in the May 24, 1992 elections. The request was signed by 15 deputies of the Democratic League, 6 of the Albanian Party, 5 of the Parliamentary Party, 4 of the Albanian Christian Democratic Party and 1 of the Social Democratic Party.
On page 2
Chrome miners cost only 3 million dollars?
ECONOMY
Loans, but with high interest rates
It is more expensive to borrow money from banks
Privatization begins
Chrome miners cost only 3 million dollars?
TIRANA - A free “market” for chrome: Albania is preparing to “sell” 80 percent of its chrome mines for a value of 3 million dollars. The state-owned company “Albkrom” has entered into talks with a German firm. A price considered quite low, especially given that chrome exports during the year amounted to 5 million dollars. Following this process of privatizing strategic sectors of the economy, ministers have been appointed to cooperate with the privatization department to facilitate the gradual transfer of this sector from state hands to private ownership.
On page 11
Loans, but with high interest rates
It is more expensive to borrow money from banks
TIRANA - The Savings Bank announces drastic increases in interest rates on the previously granted long-term loans to citizens, from 15 to 21 percent.
to borrow money from banks
TIRANA - The Savings Bank announces drastic increases in the interest rates on the long-term loans previously granted to citizens, from 15 to 21 percent. But now not only are people who go to the bank counters to obtain a loan forced to pay more; those who must pay installments on a loan contracted much earlier are also affected. Thus, it is now more expensive for citizens to obtain loans to build a house or to pay for an apartment in installments. It is the Bank of Albania that is driving this increase in interest rates in line with inflation rates.
On page 11
