The MP threatens: “I have evidence of your corruption” THE BATTLE OF THE TRADE UNIONS / Serious accusations against Xheka: “He is an agent of Greek intelligence.” Hajdari’s congress in Tirana today Another distancing by the DP from its man, Hajdari. “He is no longer protected.” Hajdari: “Corruption has engulfed sections of the DP and the state. I have facts.” TIRANA - “The DP will not form a group with Hajdari,” repeats another party figure [?] who has left the DP central headquarters, heading toward the man described as one of its co-founders. The DP’s organizational secretary, Ylli Vejsiu, says that “the time has come when we can no longer protect Hajdari from his actions.” According to the Democratic politician, this man from the city “is now facing an outraged public,” and “surely the party cannot be used as a cart to provide protection for long. Meanwhile, threats against the Democratic Party are coming from Azem Hajdari’s camp. “Corruption has engulfed certain sections of the DP and the state. I have documents proving this, and I will expose them in the press,” Hajdari said at the extraordinary conference of Tirana trade unionists. Taking advantage of the podium at this conference, the Democratic MP and current leader of the BSPSH even went so far as to make his most extreme accusations, claiming that Mehmet Elezi had links to the Serbian secret police and Valer Xheka to the Greek secret service. On page 3 The DP headquarters (above); Azem Hajdari

INTERVIEW, MAJKO SPEAKS TIRANA - “Another Congress would split the SP.” Yesterday, from the office of the Secretary for Public Relations, Pandeli Majko, came a warning about the danger of holding an extraordinary Congress. “Those who raise themselves up at a Congress,” Majko told the newspaper. He also declared his conviction, amounting in some respects to an ultimatum, that no “socialist will enter Parliament.” Majko is ready to face a vote. The repeated demands for such a vote are clearly evidence of his confidence. “I am not afraid of a vote.” The SP headquarters On page 3

Six members arrested in absentia Tirana, court: “O.K. to the request from the General Prosecutor’s Office” TIRANA - “Hakmarrja për drejtësinë” has been struck again. Six members of this organization [?] have been convicted and are wanted. “Hakmarrja për drejtësinë” has appeared before other courts, which have issued arrest warrants. The police have still been unable to bring them before justice, despite their efforts. The defendants have gone to unknown addresses, but this has not prevented the criminal activity of the gang from being documented almost completely. On page 9

Experts: “The managing partners have not paid in around 60 million lekë of the initial capital and have committed serious financial violations.” BSPSH accuses the “Heart” company DURRËS - The Independent Trade Union Confederation of the Capital(?) held an event at the former Pioneers’ Camp at the Beach in Durrës. The trade unionists accused the partners of the three “Heart” sh.p.k. companies of failing to pay their contributions and initial capital, as well as of misusing the company’s funds for personal gain. And it seems that the experts appointed by the court to verify the financial situation also support the lawsuit filed by the BSPSH through their conclusions. On page 11

2,500 hectares are under water MP Nika accuses the Ministry of Agriculture LEZHË - The North is under pressure from the weather. Nearly 2,500 hectares have been completely covered by water after three days of rainfall in Shkodër and Lezhë. Villagers have protested and are calling for emergency aid from the Ministry of Agriculture. Meanwhile, Lezhë MP Gjon Nika yesterday accused the minister of indifference. “If things continue like this, another city will be affected, and the damage caused will run into millions.” On page 9

TIRANA - Incest within the family. A teenage girl has accused her father of attempting to rape her. To satisfy his perverted desires, he even offered the girl money. But the terrified teenager managed to get away from him and recounted the tragic story at Police Station Number One. Another “short-lived” crime has been added to his record: a 43-year-old father from Tirana, who has had problems with Albanian justice five times before and has been convicted of ordinary crimes. On Wednesday evening, a 16-year-old teenager reported that her father had attempted to rape her. She defended herself with all her strength and finally managed to wrench herself away from the sexual monster. L. D. also offered his daughter a considerable sum of money so that she would willingly share his bed, but this too failed to persuade the teenager, who was alone at home at the time. Terrified by what had happened, she reported the criminal to the police at Police Station Number One, which placed the maniac in handcuffs. He has been remanded in custody for a month, pending the doctors’ findings after they conduct the forensic medical examination to establish the details of the gruesome scene. He now risks facing two charges: incest and attempted rape, which could put him behind bars for up to 20 years.

WEEK 12 TIRANA - Today the matches of the 12th week of the Albanian First Division football championship will be played. In Shkodër, the match between Flamurtari and Vllaznia is expected to be very exciting. On page 10

SHOW TIRANA - The three musicians will sing together for the first time at Fest ’96. On page 4 Redon Makashi

FROM AROUND THE WORLD WASHINGTON - The cream of the Russian generals has arrived in America. On page 2 Aleksandër Lebed

INQUIRY? Arrested for “knowing about” the illegal automatic rifle But the people who bought the weapon are free Five people were arrested over a single automatic rifle. But only one of them remains in jail. His offense was having been convicted of selling the weapon. TIRANA - Even knowing is a crime. It is enough to land you in jail. This was the fate of a young man from Zall-Herr, who was arrested because he “knew about the sale of an automatic rifle,” while the owner of the prohibited goods had only had “better luck”: he was placed under house arrest. Judge Agim Bendo also managed to resolve the legal “tangle” that had arisen: he released R. A. from prison, but did not drop the charge against him. The complicated story began some time ago: five people were involved in the transfer of an automatic weapon. Two of them took the weapon from a third person and “kept” it for several days before deciding to sell it. R. A. also knew about the prohibited sale; he knew the name of the weapon’s new customer. All five were subsequently detained by the police, but only one of them was released; R. A. ended up in jail. His only fault was knowing about the prohibited sale and purchase. Yesterday Bendo released him from prison and placed him under house arrest until the investigation is completed, finding another way out of the legal tangle that had arisen. Tirana Court

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