Brokaj gives a shocking tally: “100 billion cartridges, thousands of machine guns, dozens of ships and aircraft” Army chief’s statement: “Links with Greece and Italy” “This business is carried out using stolen vehicles and weapons looted over recent months” Brokaj gives a shocking tally: “100 billion cartridges, thousands of machine guns, dozens of ships and aircraft” Albania in the arms-smuggling trade Army chief’s statement: “Links with Greece and Italy” “This business is carried out using stolen vehicles and weapons looted over recent months” Minister of Defence, Sabit Brokaj TIRANA—Sabit Brokaj exposes arms smuggling in Albania. “There has been genuine arms smuggling in our country.” The unexpected and sensational statement was made yesterday by the head of the Albanian army himself. In an interview on television, Minister Brokaj also gave an account of the fate of Albanian weaponry since March. The ministry’s inventory registers a catastrophic loss reaching record figures: more than 100 billion cartridges, thousands of machine guns, cannons, anti-aircraft guns, aircraft and ships seized. This is the first tally of weapons stolen and damaged—items that even war itself could not destroy in such quantities. According to the minister, the smuggling is carried out using weapons looted over recent months. But he guarantees that “all commissioners will cooperate with the Ministry of Public Order on this issue.” In his remarks, Minister Brokaj also spoke at length about the measures he said he would take to gradually collect the gigantic arsenal of weapons taken and hidden for months in a very secret location, in a box. On page 2

ROME—Italy announces the return of illegal immigrants. 15,000 Albanians are expected to be deported at the beginning of September. The news was conveyed at a press conference by Italian Prime Minister Prodi and Interior Minister Napolitano. “All illegal immigrants will be sent back,” the two senior Italian officials declared. Quite unexpectedly, Prodi and Andreata interrupted their holidays yesterday and appeared before reporters. The Italian government will take strict measures against illegal immigration, it was reported here by the press. The first wave of deportations is expected to target Albanian immigrants who went to Italy during the past spring months. “We will ask the government in Tirana to help carry out this difficult operation,” Prodi said. Official Italian sources confirm that after the arrival of a group from Albania, 17,000 Albanians set off for Italy. The Italian authorities granted them temporary residence permits. Their residence permits expire at the end of August. After that date they will be deported, the two senior Italian officials warned. “All the immigrants who entered the Apennine peninsula without documents were accommodated in refugee camps set up nearby. But the vast majority have left the camps and are moving around illegally. Nevertheless, all the Albanians who undertook the Adriatic adventure were temporarily admitted by the Italian authorities. According to official sources, 6,000 of them were sent back to Albania immediately after landing on Italian soil because they were suspected of having committed criminal offences. On page 2

Generals Vinçani and Vasho TIRANA—The chief of the General Staff of the army has deserted his post. The fate of Ilia Vasho, Albania’s representative to NATO, and of military officer Halil Kraja, who works at the Albanian Embassy in Washington, is also unknown. The announcement of “Armand Vinçani’s departure to an unknown destination” was made yesterday by the Ministry of Defence. Absent from work for a week, the senior officer, according to sources at the Ministry, has left for an unknown destination together with the other generals. “Disagreements at work, involving a person in such a senior position, do not constitute an unauthorized departure but desertion,” State Secretary for Defence Perikli Teta told the morning press. Major General Vinçani, aged 39, was a lecturer and department head at the “Skënderbej” Higher Military School at the beginning of the ’90s. From 1992 to 1993, Vinçani was commander of the Military Academy and was then entrusted with the post of deputy chief of the central staff. “Vinçani was not threatened and, apparently, has not been taken away by anyone; we have not put any pressure on him.” Teta and one of the officials stated this. Ilia Vasho, the Albanian representative at NATO’s coordination office, and Halil Kraja, military attaché at the Albanian Embassy in Washington, have also left their posts. Teta recalled that the ministry would apply all current legal procedures to those who desert their military posts. This is the largest departure of Albanian military officers since the departure of Kres Zhulali. It is not yet known to what extent these senior officers were implicated in the events of March and the process of the mass opening of military depots.

Speaker of Parliament in Gjirokastër: Local government is incapable TIRANA—Gjinushi called for early local government elections at a meeting held in Gjirokastër. “A decision on new elections for local government must be made immediately,” was the unexpected statement made by the Speaker of Parliament during a meeting with the city’s local authorities. “The current local government is incapable of implementing the ambitious programme of the Nano government or of enforcing the laws that the new parliament is expected to draft,” Gjinushi explained. Gjinushi described the DP’s position on the forthcoming parliament as “grotesque.” “The Constitution will be drafted by parliament within six months and will then go to a referendum,” Gjinushi said. The Speaker of Parliament stated that “these posts are expected soon; he will carry out a visit to Athens on 8 September. Rome is expected to be his final stop.” On page 3 Skënder Gjinushi

The massacre is believed to have been motivated by settling scores They were ambushed on the road; police were looking for them The massacre is believed to have been motivated by settling scores Kuçovë, gang kills six people They were ambushed on the road; police were looking for them KUÇOVË—A gang ambush on the road towards the village of Porodinisë. Six people fall victim to gunfire. They were all inside a car, which was found below the bend where the ambush took place at around five in the morning. The people who were shot had no time to react. Not a single shot was fired from the car—inside which automatic rifles and pistols were found. The most plausible motive, according to witnesses to the incident, is believed to be revenge between gangs. The six dead were people who were highly sought by the police. According to the police, they were responsible for a series of crimes committed recently in the town of Kuçovë. On page 2

THE DEADLY DISEASE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE AFFECTED SEVEN PATIENTS Test results from specialists in Tirana are awaited TIRANA—Albania is once again gripped by the tormenting fear of cholera. Although it is still only a suspicion, since the condition must be confirmed by special tests in Tirana, the initial information points to symptoms of the deadly disease. The cases are isolated and have been confirmed in Gramsh. Seven residents of the village of Shushicë were urgently admitted in serious condition to the civil hospital in the town of Gramsh on Thursday. Five of them belong to the same family. The other two are their neighbours. According to witnesses, they had been together at a family lunch, but later felt unwell and were admitted to hospital. After the initial tests carried out in Gramsh, doctors suspected that it was cholera. There was great fear and concern about the hospital’s supplies, and the Ministry of Health and the specialist bodies in Tirana were immediately informed. With the same concern, a group of specialists from the Ministry was sent to the site to investigate the causes and determine whether the disease was present and how dangerous it was; a team of doctors was dispatched. The Ministry has not yet confirmed the diagnosis, but in view of the precautionary measures taken at Gramsh hospital, where the patients have been isolated since Friday, it is thought that those suspected of having cholera will be transported to Tirana for intensive treatment. Tirana Infectious Diseases Hospital

Minister of Defence: “The value of the lost goods amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars” “Internal sources report that smugglers have been apprehended inside and outside the Albanian border”

The daily newspaper “SHEKULLI” will soon be launched, published by the joint-stock company “Botimet Periodike Spektër”. The following have been appointed to lead “SHEKULLI”: ANDREA STEFANI, Editor-in-Chief ENEA JANKO, Administrator After the preliminary screening of applications, the newspaper’s management team will conduct interviews with qualified applicants for employment as journalists in the editorial office of “SHEKULLI”. For the Supervisory Board JSC “Botimet Periodike Spektër”. Chairman Preç ZOGAJ