Nano in Rome: Finding the money

Aid plan ready. Government officials return satisfied The second phase is now underway: technical discussions begin with the tough IMF experts

Pyramids stained with blood: Two dead

LIBRAZHD - A patrol of Macedonian-… [?] border guards opened fire without warning on Wednesday morning, killing two Albanian citizens. Several others were wounded. The victims, together with a large group of their companions, were returning to their homeland after having worked illegally abroad for some time in the neighbouring country. But just 300 metres before reaching the border—in Macedonian territory—they were spotted by a border-guard patrol, which opened fire without warning. The wounded nevertheless managed to cross the border and reach the hospital. But two of the wounded died there. The people involved in the incident—all of them from the village of Rajcë in Librazhd—say that they were shot at without any warning and that it was difficult to tell that they were not fleeing, in an equally tragic incident. On Wednesday as well, but at midday, a Yugoslav border unit entered almost 250 metres into Albanian territory and opened fire with automatic weapons, wounding an elderly man. The victim was from Shushica and had gone to plant medicinal plants.

Dini and Milo jointly decide: Patrols in the Strait of Otranto will continue

Italy, the main partner vis-à-vis Albania. Rome sets up a special commission

ROME - Full support from the Albanian community in Italy for the Albanian government. Prime Minister Fatos Nano said this after the conclusion of the Rome Friendship Conference, attended by 35 delegations from around the world. Nano stressed that Albania would not be left alone during the phase of restoring order, but would continue its government programme in the future. At the Conference, it appeared that applications for international community programmes to rebuild the country would soon begin. Meanwhile, during yesterday’s meetings between the foreign ministers of Albania and Italy, the agreement on patrols by the Italian navy in the Strait of Otranto was postponed until October. The aim is to prevent clandestine migration. Franz Vranitzky confirmed the continuation of the OSCE mission as coordinator of international aid in Albania. But, according to the former Chancellor, the governments of the participating countries will set their own conditions. Proposals were also made for stabilising law and order in Albania. On page 3

Governor: Panic and speculation are killing the dollar

TIRANA - The lek’s revaluation against foreign currencies in recent days is mainly the result of psychological factors, not actual economic ones. This was how Qamil Tusha, Governor of the Bank of Albania, explained yesterday the sharp reversal in currency exchange rates on the country’s foreign-exchange markets. “Many factors are at work simultaneously, and it is difficult to give an accurate assessment,” Tusha replied when journalists asked about the drastic fall in foreign currencies—especially the dollar—and the possibility of speculation by speculative actors, giving some entities the opportunity to reap millions. On page 2

Smugglers attack the soldiers’ island

Sazan, searching for weapons Vlorë - Chaos continues in Vlorë and the surrounding area. The militarised island of Sazan has turned into a smugglers’ paradise, as they raid the army’s countless tunnels. Two days ago, a group of around 20 soldiers landed on the island to search for weapons, but ended up as victims; a considerable quantity of weapons caught fire and reportedly caused a substantial blaze yesterday. Nevertheless, they did not appear at the Vlorë hospital, but were treated illegally and privately. Yesterday at midday, a citizen of about 50 was abducted by unknown individuals travelling in a car without licence plates. Later, along the Vlorë-Skelë boulevard, a firefight broke out involving several cars. On page 5

Mystery surrounding the ballot papers

Monarchists: Another case of manipulation Found in a rubbish heap in “Student City” TIRANA - Mystery surrounds hundreds of referendum ballots. An alarm was raised by the representative of the monarchists at the CEC. Muart Basha has clai… [?] their claim at the premises of the Student City. Several hundred ballot papers were found in a rubbish heap near building 24. According to Basha, thousands of such ballots had been scattered around the streets of Student City a few days earlier. It seems that a mysterious hand hid them during the night, leaving only a few dozen behind as the process got underway. One of the nominees at the CEC claims that this is one of the latest signs of what he calls the massive manipulation of the referendum and the results concerning the Monarchy. The ballots belonged to area 45 of the capital, an area where, according to Pelumb Çela, there were many irregularities. On page 2 Ballot papers in the rubbish heap

Courts halted amid fear and uncertainty

Gjonaj: “A hasty decision” TIRANA - Qazim Gjonaj responds to Minister Koni. In an interview with the Gazette, the head of the Tirana Court disagrees with the Justice Ministry’s decision to suspend the activity of the court he heads. “It is a hasty and incomprehensible decision,” says Gjonaj, who says he has ensured that the Tirana courts under his direction are able to function, as he warns of the beginning of a storm that could sweep over the institution’s judicial staff. On page 3

Otranto survivors: Italian police prevent demonstration

BRINDISI On page 8

“Ukaj, grief also in Shkodër”

JOURNALISTS OF THE NORTH SHKODËR - Grief over the death of the journalist from Gazeta Shqiptare is also felt by his colleagues in Shkodër. Yesterday they sent a statement to the editorial office expressing their sorrow over the unexpected and tragic event. The Shkodër journalists also wish to convey their condolences to Ukaj’s family and friends. “The tragic death of our colleague Ali Ukaj has saddened and angered us. The work of the young journalist Ukaj was welcomed not only by the readers of Gazeta Shqiptare, but also by all of us. There is no doubt that, in the contribution of all Albanian journalists towards a more professional and free press, the pen of the journalist and colleague Ukaj has a special role and importance. We express our special feelings and respect for our colleague Ukaj and send our most sincere condolences to his family and the colleagues at the newspaper where he worked. At the same time, we wish to stand in solidarity with all our colleagues, protesting forcefully: ‘Stop all forms of violence against people of the press.’” Ali Ukaj

Sejdia buys the pit for the second time

TIRANA - Adjin Sejdia buys the pit for the second time. He first bought it in 1991. After lengthy negotiations with the 86 owners of the plot containing the pit, an agreement was reached to set the land price at 220 million per square metre. At the beginning of this year, Sejdia paid the full amount, once again, as stipulated in the 1991 contract. “An 18-storey hotel will be built,” says Sejdia’s lawyer, Shefqet Dizardi, “and construction will begin very soon.” He goes on to explain that all the necessary documents will first have to be reviewed once again, since they date from 1991. After his extradition to [?] for reasons that remain mysterious, Sejdia promised that he would return all the money he had taken. He makes the same promise now, saying he will return all the money citizens lost in the pyramid schemes, but that he is allowed to build several hydroelectric power stations. The giant pit in the centre of Tirana On page 8