“The truth about the crimes was hidden from Enver and me”
Nexhmije Hoxha speaks
The first step to freedom
TIRANA - Just a few hours after being released from prison, Nexhmije Hoxha, Enver Hoxha’s wife and close collaborator, spoke about the circumstances of her arrest, the role of the PS and the Socialist Parliament, her time in prison, and life and work alongside Enver Hoxha for 50 years; about dictatorship in Albania, socialism, the achievements and successes of the Party of Labour in Albania, mistakes and guilt, Enver Hoxha’s execution, and the democratic revolution. All these, Enver Hoxha’s mistakes and the democratic revolution. The Warsaw Pact and Europe’s indifference.
On page 9
Sudja: “I’ll pay the money on January 15”
“I guarantee you this; otherwise, do whatever you want to me”
Tension and clashes with the police outside the moneylender’s apartment building. One woman in hospital
TIRANA - Yesterday Sudja gave her final guarantee that she would pay the money. “If I don’t return the money on January 15, then do whatever you want to me.” This was announced over a megaphone by the moneylender from the balcony on the first floor of her apartment building. Meanwhile, another committee representing the clients met with Sudja yesterday. The young people called its members “corrupt,” so they chose someone else. A little later, they were able to obtain only confirmation that the counters would open on January 15; nevertheless, distrust seems to have been “planted” in all its force. In any case, the warning was conveyed quite clearly. “If on January 15, Kali, if on January 15, then hundreds of people will cause unprecedented chaos.
On page 3
“The moneylenders’ commission? I don’t expect anything from the investigation”
Kopliku’s skepticism
TIRANA - “I don’t expect anything significant from the Commission’s report.” Bashkim Kopliku once again voices his reservations about the seven-member team investigating the moneylenders. A proponent of his theory about the costs of this mechanism, the head of the Economy Commission is skeptical that Pelingu’s people will achieve an optimal result.
On page 3
One of the Commission members debating with people (Photo: P. Ilo)
The dollar and foreign currencies climb again
Psychological factors are “eroding” the lek
Demand for foreign banknotes rises in the exchange markets
TIRANA - The money market continues to be shaken by the powerful economic crisis affecting the dollar and other currencies, as well as by the plunge of the domestic currency in recent days. One unit of USD was sold by a bank in Tirana for 113.80 lekë, up from its Thursday selling price of 111.50 lekë. Each passing day is eroding confidence in the “lek” and increasing people’s anxiety to secure their “wealth” as quickly as possible in foreign currencies.
On page 11
Old cars: now there is a new tax
The tax for vehicles under three tonnes is 60,000 lekë, while for those over three tonnes and buses it is set at 100,000 lekë
President Berisha’s decree
TIRANA - From now on, all used cars entering Albania will be subject to another tax. A presidential decree has approved a “national tax,” which is the only way to prevent an environmental pollution emergency and reduce the number of old vehicles circulating on the roads running through the cities.
On page 11
Students on strike again: the University of Tirana is silent
But the lecturers have not expressed solidarity with the protest
TIRANA - Students once again boycotted their faculties. In their second protest, they said they would not end the strike until Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi received a delegation of theirs and met their demands. Student life in Tirana was paralysed yesterday. But the lecturers did not join the students’ strike. According to the usual practice, they collected the registers, although soon they returned them to the faculty secretariats.
On page 3
From yesterday’s strike at the Faculty of Law (Photo: P. Ilo)
Epidemics attack the country
Tirana
- A flu epidemic in Gjirokastër, while in another part of the country, in Skrapar, measles has attacked children. The situation in the country has become difficult. In Gjirokastër, at least, there is not yet any threat from the mysterious virus, while in Shkodër most of the sick are seeking care in their hospitals. Doctors have now taken measures, but doctors have denied that they have the situation under control. The same situation has also been observed in several other cities in the country.
On page 9
Mysterious phone call: mother-in-law suffers a heart attack
KUÇOVË - An anonymous phone call nearly caused a tragedy. “Your son-in-law has been in an accident. He’s in hospital and may die. You might find him being held [unclear].” That was enough for the mother-in-law of the “injured man” and some of his other relatives to set off from Kuçovë for Vlorë, where an unexpected surprise awaited them. The son-in-law was perfectly well and knew nothing about the anonymous caller. But the mother-in-law’s joy at seeing him alive could have killed her. She suffered a heart attack and perhaps only because she had been “shocked” did everything turn out all right and she survive.
It happened on Thursday evening. The nighttime call shook the Gyzeli family in Kuçovë, and four people set off for Vlorë. They had been told that the family’s son-in-law had been in a road accident on the way to Vlorë. When they arrived in the coastal city, they began a desperate search through the hospitals, but the staff could only shrug when given the name of their “patient.” Nevertheless, the newcomers had not lost hope—they decided to knock on the son-in-law’s door. He opened it, stunned by the unexpected visit; he knew nothing about the mysterious phone call. Just then, his mother-in-law was overcome with emotion and suffered a heart attack, but once again survived.
H.R. Ta.
“We’ll cut off Kamberi’s rooster’s head”
Preview of the Cup match
TIRANA - Besa wants to beat Flamurtari. Cikliu is drawn to the challenge with enthusiasm. “We’ll cut off Kamberi’s rooster’s head for the green shirts.” First time facing panic in Lushnjë. The Argentine will seek his first victory and, at the same time, his first million. Oliv[?] at a point of crisis, the season on the verge of resignation from the club. “Passion” takes the place of this international match against Austria for children under 14. Baggio asks Napoli: “Roby, what’s up with you? Will you be the new Maradona?”
Ottavio Bianchi is after Milan’s ace. Basketball, Euroleague. Bologna lose in Barcelona thanks to a basket 23 seconds before the end by their former player Xhorxhoviç. Roma are looking to strengthen the squad. Their eyes are on Germany; in their plans are Paolo Sergio L. Sverkuest.
On page 10
From the Cup final match
Behind the wheel after a crazy hobby
He passes the theory test; now comes the road test
A Guinness record for Albanian driving schools. An 82-year-old enrols
SHKODËR - A Guinness record for Albanian driving schools. An 82-year-old man from Shkodër has decided to get behind the wheel, defying his advanced age. He is Gjon Nika, who successfully passed the tests at one of the city’s driving schools, outperforming many others who failed them. Gjon managed to achieve a good result in the first test, the theory exam, and is now taking on the second, the practical road test. According to driving-school director Llesh Marku, 82-year-old Nika “has every chance of passing the second test and getting his licence.”
After spending several years in the prisons of the Hoxha regime, the man from Shkodër emigr[?] in order to “return to his homeland together with an automobile.” His passion for driving has taken him further, leading him to decide to get behind the wheel despite his age and the challenges of driving in Albania, with its traffic and poor road conditions.
