RUNOFF / Socialists also lose in their strongholds, recording victories in two Communes PD again wins over 70 percent and takes 21 Municipalities RUNOFF / Socialists also lose in their strongholds, recording victories in two Communes Shkodër falls into the hands of Balli PD again wins over 70 percent and takes 21 Municipalities Clandestine migrants heading for Puglia: “Checks, but no army” TIRANA - The tally of Sunday’s runoff. Of the 96 communes in the second round, the Democrats triumphed in 73, the Socialists in two, and the Republicans in six. The other communes were divided among PBDNJ, PBSH and PDK. Of the 22 municipalities contested, the Democrats managed to win 21. Only Shkodër fell into the hands of the United Right of Selfo and Durolari. “We won by a greater margin than on May 26.” This was the first comment by Democratic leader Tritan Shehu. As for the head of Balli, Selfo said: “The victory in Shkodër confirms a nationalist right that, I hope, will balance Albanian politics.” Silence in the Socialist camp. Its leaders have preferred not to take a position, waiting for the reports to emerge that will sum up the latest developments before and after the runoff. Commenting on the victory in Shkodër in an interview with the Gazette, Selfo expressed the hope that “an all-encompassing organization of the Albanian right will play a decisive role on the country’s political chessboard.” The first statement from Boriçi, now the man of Shkodër, arrived yesterday from the northern city. “I will fight corruption and lead my city honestly, without any political or religious prejudice.” Having defeated the Democrat Luka, Boriçi also outlined the basic priorities that will guide his path toward a city without unemployment or corruption, with strong law and order and substantial investment. Meanwhile, although the official results have not been confirmed by the Tereska Commission, Albania now knows the major and minor leaders who will head the country’s local authorities for another four years. PD wins in 21 municipalities in the runoff, but loses Shkodër. Shehu: “We did not manage to organize ourselves well, but in Shkodër we have our ally.” The people of Shkodër turn out en masse again to vote for the right-wing Boriçi. From Tirana, Selfo declares: “Our man got 3,000 more votes than in the first round.” On page 3 TIRANA - “Checks will be stepped up along the Italian coast, but there is no reason to deploy the army.” This is what Interior Minister Giorgio Napoletano said at a meeting yesterday with the judicial and law-enforcement authorities in the Bari region. In just a few days, 100 politicians had signed a petition asking the Italian government “to intervene militarily to stem the flow of Albanian clandestine migrants.” Meanwhile, according to Napolitano, this entirely uncontrolled wave of illegal migrants arriving from Albania carries the risk of increased crime and, moreover, creates “a close connection between foreign and local clans.” “Nevertheless, deploying the army...”

The Court of Cassation also leaves the trial panel unchanged. Proceedings resume on Friday “Fajdet Arkond” trial reopened Canaj: “Release the Kosovars; they owe us USD 5 million” Two civil servants under indictment

SPORT Lushnja continues its positive run TIRANA - Lushnja has continued its run of positive results. After drawing in Tirana with the champions, the Korçë side followed, sealing their defeat in the first half. Two goals by Celes and Kuci sealed the victory for Lushnja. Volleyball: the player was sent off by referee Zhon, who showed him a red card. The reason was very simple: he had asked the referee to be tougher with the players, but had done so at his own expense. In the second set, the referee did not help the visitors against Lushnja. After forty minutes, Preng Pjetërushika came onto the field to referee the Shëngjin–Lezhë derby. Juve and Inter at the top of the standings. Milan and Parma KO. After the third round, two sides are in danger. For the precautions to be clear, they will be in charge next season. Becker, restrained at the Stuttgart tournament, is the girls’ winner, taking 6,000 dollars in the final against world number one Pete Sampras. “It is impossible to play against Becker in Germany,” Sampras said. On page 10 Edu

Two female employees charged TIRANA — The trial over the Savings Bank scandal begins today at the Tirana court. Two employees of the bank, Mimoza Deliu and Mimoza Palushi, have been charged with abuse of office. A full 1 million and 270 thousand dollars are missing from the Savings Bank in Tirana, “as a result of their actions.” For two years, they had signed off on loans to three companies in Tirana without following banking procedures. The borrowers had received large sums without mortgaging assets as bank security and without having an account at this bank. The fraud was uncovered in an audit by the bank itself, and the complaint to the prosecutor’s office was filed by the General Directorate of the Savings Bank of Albania. On page 9

Canaj: “Release the Kosovars; they owe us USD 5 million” TIRANA — The “Arkond” trial will resume on Friday at the Tirana court. The proceedings had been suspended about two months ago after the defendants and their lawyers requested the removal of the trial panel, claiming it was biased. The Court of Cassation also ruled on this request. Like the Court of Appeal three weeks ago, the Court of Cassation made no changes: the same panel and the same arrests. Under these circumstances, the trial will resume where it left off. Meanwhile, yesterday, representatives of the “Arkond” company in Vlora sent a letter to President Berisha and the presidents of the three courts—the Tirana court, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation—calling for the release of two Kosovar traders. On page 9 The accused in the “Arkond Scandal”

ROGOZHINË, SHE SUSPECTS HER RELATIVES BEAR A GRUDGE ROGOZHINË — “My house has been bewitched, so I want to sell it.” An elderly widow from a village in Rrogozhinë had become obsessed with the idea that everything that had gone wrong in her life was caused by an old spell cast on her home. For years she had lived under the stress of the “spell” and decided to free herself by selling the house some time ago. Things reached a climax a few months ago, when, at her son’s wedding, she found mud from a cemetery beneath the doorstep—a substance that, according to popular belief, is used for the most powerful spell. Dozens of visits to “holy people” and to places of “miracles” had not been enough to restore peace of mind to a widow from a village in Rrogozhinë. She was convinced that someone had “put” a spell on her house, and in this way she explained all the misfortunes in her difficult life. No one could help her, although she had paid a great deal of money to have the spell removed and regain her peace of mind. She also had no idea who had bewitched her and her family, although she suspected many of her acquaintances. But the “cup overflowed” a few months ago, when during her son’s wedding she found cemetery mud on the doorstep. Such mud, at least according to superstition, is used to cast the most powerful spells. And the widow, overcome by an unknown spell, decided to give in. “I will sell the house,” she decided. And from her village she moved into a new house, hoping that this way she would also escape the dark power of the spell. Oemal Cara

A weekly with humor, society and the world ALBANIAN GAZETTE Correspondence ring A weekly with humor, society and the world ALBANIAN GAZETTE Waiting for a “Yes” from the Albanian side Correspondence ring On pages 5–8

Bulgaria, presidential runoff

WORLD Bulgaria, presidential runoff SOFIA - Sunday’s elections brought Petër Stojanov, the candidate of Bulgaria’s right-wing opposition, close to victory. Meanwhile, the left, represented by Ivan Marazov, was unable to repeat its victory in the 1994 parliamentary elections. On page 2

“military intervention to stem the flow of Albanian opponents.” Meanwhile, according to Napolitano, this wave of illegal migrants arriving from Albania, which is completely uncontrolled, carries with it the risk of increased crime and, moreover, creates “a close connection between foreign and local clans.” “However, deploying a military cordon in Otranto is not at all reasonable,” he explains, “but police checks will certainly be stricter, in order to stop the influx of clandestine migrants.” On page 12