INTERVIEW / The most wanted man in Tirana speaks. “This is how I want to live now” “I don’t want hostility with the state; I have helped it” Kulla: “I want to live a normal life like everyone else. I’ll resolve my personal affairs myself” TIRANA - It is hot, and the outskirts of Tirana look even dustier than usual. People jostling at the roadside stalls, a few customers waiting for the time to come to head home, and passers-by shielding themselves from the sun by holding a newspaper over their heads. No one gives a second thought to the fact that our car is on its way to meet one of the best-known people in Tirana—and, indeed, throughout Albania in recent years—Nehat Kulla. “They haven’t told the truth about me. As for what I have done, all the residents of this area can testify to it,” he says, raising his eyes toward Mount Dajti. After the usual words of greeting, this is the first statement, delivered with a hint of emotion, that we hear from the mouth of “the General,” as his own people—who stay by his side all the time—are accustomed to call him. Only a few days ago, official sources reported that Kulla had escaped a Police ambush after exchanging gunfire. Is it true that you fired at the Police in recent days? “If I wanted to kill policemen, I wouldn’t wait for a chance to do it in Laprake. There are many policemen from my area serving at Police Station 4. If I had to kill policemen, I know where they are; besides, I have no animosity toward them. I didn’t fire at all that night, but apparently there are certain people who want to keep me constantly at odds with the Police...” Nehati has dealings with the state. What would he like to say to those in power? “Nehati would not want to have dealings with the state. I have had my personal affairs, things that can happen to anyone. At a time when the state and the Army had completely collapsed—I mean in recent months—I stood by the state, perhaps carrying out some duties that did not belong to me and my people, but to the state itself, which did not exist. The Artillery Plant, worth millions of dollars, was left untouched, and the people were not harmed; all of this can easily be testified to by all the residents of this area. Unlike what happened in Gjirokastër, not one of the modern weapons in this area was stolen, weapons worth several million dollars. As for the other affairs, which, I repeat, are personal to me, I have known how to deal with them myself.” So, what does Nehati have to say to the state? “I haven’t said much about the state. My only wish is to live in peace with everyone, like all normal people in this world. Whoever wants to understand that, let them understand.” What is an ordinary day like for Kulla today? “I have many people who come to see me, often from other towns in the country too. I spend most of the day with my family and friends. I don’t think I do anything unusual.” It has often been said that you and others have been invited to leave the country. Is that not a possible solution? “Never. I refuse to leave my country. First, I have not yet received such an invitation, but even if I did, I would not agree to leave the country. I want to live here, among my people.” The conversation with Kulla continues after the interview. A few young men offer Turkish coffee and lunch. Traditional raki. The outskirts have begun to come to life again. The hours of intense heat are starting to pass, and people are once again making their way toward the center. Kulla and his people are once again left there with their worries and problems, which they still do not know how to solve. Kulla escorts us to the gate. A few dusty passers-by greet him politely. He does not seem at all surprised by the presence of the most wanted man in Tirana.

Foreign Minister Milo responds: “Prodi should find another solution” Berisha accuses Nano: “He made a secret agreement” Nehat Kulla Foreign Minister Milo responds: “Prodi should find another solution” Return of the refugees: Rome should be careful Berisha accuses Nano: “He made a secret agreement” TIRANA - “This is not the time to return the refugees.” Paskal Milo has stated Tirana’s official position, going beyond its explicitly stated reservations about Italy. The head of Albanian diplomacy believes that “Rome has been asked to find another solution to the problem, since 3,000 Albanians do not pose a problem for Italy, a country of several million people.” Minister Milo stated yesterday that further steps would be taken through diplomatic channels. But he denounced the fact that, yesterday too, there had been nothing but silence and no response from the Farnesina. Meanwhile, Berisha has launched fierce attacks. At a press conference, the opposition leader said that the return of the emigrants was the result of secret agreements made in Rome by the Nano government. For Berisha, this also means even greater economic and social problems for the thousands of Albanians who depend on emigrants’ income in the friendly country. Caricature by Mehdi Belortaja — I brought it to you! On page 3

VLORA - The special forces continue making arrests and collecting weapons. - The special forces continue making arrests and collecting weapons. Forty antitank weapons, as well as another quantity of weapons, have been found near the airfield. In the afternoon, the special forces found two cars riddled with bullets. One of them is believed to belong to one of the bank executives in Tirana. It was a quiet day for the people of Vlora, who are increasingly frequenting the large promenade and the city’s cafés until late at night. On page 5

On the debate about the Genocide Pjetër Arbnori TIRANA - Pjetër Arbnori is going on hunger strike. “I’m heading to it right now,” the former Speaker of the Albanian Parliament said after leaving the chamber. Tired and emotional, Arbnori explained that he had made a sudden decision. “The deputies and the rules have been disgraced,” and they seemed to have ... in Beçani, etc. Arbnori had been the deputy who fought hardest to ensure that television cameras were in the chamber to film the session in which the law on genocide was to be discussed. On page 4

ERSEKË Battle in the small town: Police attack the gang Two members killed, three wounded, including two police officers On page 6

RARE Legisi, the first with a female bodyguard Karate champion from the Police Academy TIRANA - Ndre Legisi is guarded by a woman. He is the first among state officials to have a person of the fairer sex in his security detail. This is not a joke, but a true story. The State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior has chosen a woman among the people who will protect him. The person in question graduated from the Police Academy and was crowned Albania’s karate champion. We do not know Legisi’s real reasons for this choice, but at the same time we do not want to believe that he made it merely to imitate his counterparts around the world. In recent days she has been seen at every moment beside Legisi, who has not hesitated to take her with him to the southern cities as well. The woman accompanies him from the Ministry offices and the capital’s cafés all the way to the State Secretary’s home. Throughout her rounds, the brunette tries to take in every detail around her with her eyes—perhaps this is simply her nature, but perhaps it is also a strain caused by a duty never before imagined. Ndre Legisi

ALBANIA-UKRAINE 0:1 TIRANA - Our hopes are dashed once again in the final minute. After a relatively good performance, our U-21 players are hit by a goal from the Ukrainians precisely when we did not expect it. In the 89th minute, the visitors extinguished all our hopes of earning a point. The championship is at a crossroads. No one, at least in the capital, thinks it can get underway. Kola and Starova are pessimistic about its prospects. Swimming: the first medals are awarded; Germany wins two gold medals on the first day. On page 7

REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE N R I / V E P R O T Tirana, 02.04.1997 SUBJECT: Regarding the assistance provided by citizen Nehat Kulla in protecting military facilities during the events of March 11–15, 1997. TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE Mr. SPARTAK NGJELA TO THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL Mr. ALUSH DRAGOSHI At the request of citizen Nehat Kulla and the Tirana BFU Command, we confirm the substantial assistance provided by citizen Nehat Kulla and others mobilized by him in protecting several military units and depots in the Rrapi i Trisht - Tujan area. Citizen Nehat Kulla and his associates worked closely with the military commanders of this area, making it possible to prevent damage to and destruction of depots containing goods of great importance and very high value to the state and national defence. CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMY MAJOR GENERAL Adem Çopani [Signature and seal]