Masked men kill a man on Yugoslav soil: settling scores The tightening police vise has driven criminals beyond the border pyramids. Serbian helicopters are patrolling Smuggled cigarette traffic causes casualties. An old man is killed over a 20,000-mark debt TIRANA - Gangs break through the border. Four armed men made their way as far as the village of Zhub, 80 kilometres from Pristina, and killed the head of the Ndue family. The causes of the attack have not yet been confirmed, but it is suspected that the victim owed the four masked men 20,000 marks. A Yugoslav helicopter also patrolled the entire border line after reports that another gang was trying to cross the border on the same mission as the first. The incident took place in the village of Zhub, very close to Gjakova. They entered the house and, after a fierce argument, shot the 65-year-old man. Police sources say the men’s arrival in the village went unnoticed; after the crime, they quickly fled and crossed the border. According to villagers from Has, the only motive for gangs moving from Albania into Yugoslav territory is to settle accounts with their debtors. All these actions stem from failure to honour agreements. In most cases, the conflict has been between northern residents and Kosovo villagers. On page 4 Serbian police in Kosovo (Photo: Iliaz Bylukbashi) Bylk bashki) with: the right wing, with the National Alliance offering the solution of transferring refugees. Meanwhile, ...

DEBATE IN ROME BARI - “We should keep the refugees, but in camps set up in Albania. The government in Tirana should take responsibility for building facilities to transfer the refugees who are currently still in Italy.” This is the latest proposal from the Italian right, specifically Alleanza Nazionale, for resolving the issue of Albanian refugees. According to the party’s MP Marco Zacchera, this arrangement “would cost less and at the same time offer greater guarantees of security and public order than comparable facilities in Italy.” Italian politicians put forward a wide range of positions yesterday concerning the issue of “Albanian refugees.” But there are two most clearly defined extremes: the right, with Alleanza Nazionale proposing the transfer of refugees to Albania; the Northern League of Umberto Bossi, according to which Albanians should not set foot on Italian shores; and the other extreme, represented by the Greens and the Democratic Party of the Left. In the latter’s daily newspaper, L’Unità, an editorial by the deputy editor of D’Alema’s party newspaper, titled “Why not keep the Albanians?”, describes the contingent of Albanian immigrants as a benefit to the Italian economy. The Green Party spokesperson, Luigi Manconi, also says that he considers “keeping tens of thousands of Albanians reasonable.” Meanwhile, Alleanza Nazionale is taking steps to advance its proposal to suspend aid to the Albanian government, reducing humanitarian contributions “until the Albanian government demonstrates through its actions” its commitment to resolving the issue. Meanwhile, the joint Italian-Albanian commission has begun its work in Rome. It met at the Italian Ministry of the Interior. Nevertheless, the Italians continue to turn away Albanians. On the coast near Lecce, 130 people were stopped; the police arrested five of them, and an Italian was also charged with illegal immigration. Alba Maltezi

Hope for water returns The Italians are returning to Bovillë. Yesterday, a team of Italian specialists met with the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Gaqo Apostoli. It is not yet known whether they have come to resume the work or simply to assess the situation. Work on the Bovillë water supply system began back in April 1996, but did not progress beyond the completion of the first phase. After the state of emergency was declared, the Italians left, promising to return once calm had been restored. On page 2

From the USA, former leader speaks of returning TIRANA - Selami foresees a return to the PD, but only after the “clique” that has usurped the Party is gone. This is the latest political position of the former leader of the PD, which he set out in an interview given to the Voice of America. The man who led the PD several years ago says that he has never considered himself outside the PD and that he appreciates the calls being made for his return. But he is quick to add that he cannot cooperate with the clique that usurped the leadership of the PD and is responsible for the Party’s decline and loss of standing. Selami believes that the PD can be reformed only by honest people, and that there are many such people in the Party. On page 2 Eduard Selami

Gjirokastër, gangs GJIROKASTËR - Gang attacks bus on its route. The driver refuses to stop at the masked men’s roadblock, and they open fire. One dead and ten injured, one of them seriously, is the toll of the Kalashnikov burst. It was 1:30 p.m. yesterday when the bus was travelling from Korçë to Gjirokastër. Four masked men armed with Kalashnikovs signalled for the driver to stop the vehicle. Two of them fired at the bus from behind with Kalashnikovs. The first victim of the bullets was one of the passengers. Ibrahim Hamzallari, 50, from Pogradec, was killed on the spot, while the cries of several others could also be heard. On page 5

DESCARTES — Discourse on the Method Mystery also surrounds the philosopher’s end: natural death or poisoning? On page 7

FOOTBALL On page 6

Commissioner: “We saved people; we know who they are” SHKODER - The bandits defeat the police. That was the outcome of an unarmed confrontation between the blue uniforms and several smugglers. The incident began last night in the “djegësimin e djegshëm” [unclear]. It was 3:00 when information received at the Shkodër police station sent police forces, accompanied by an armored vehicle, toward Velipojë. At the place called Ura e Cjo Lulit, they stopped trucks transporting smuggled cigarettes. After seizing the valuable goods, the police forces headed for the town’s police station, but along the way they encountered a roadblock made of stones. They were only seven kilometers from the town when they saw a stone barricade. A large quantity of stones had been laid across the entire width of the road, while behind the barricade armed people carrying mobile phones were moving about rapidly. Some of them shouted at the police that they would shoot if the two trucks seized a short while earlier were not released. “Armed people were lying in wait on both sides of the road, while on the hillside you could see other people moving around with guns over their shoulders and mobile phones,” one of the policemen said a few hours later. The argument between the two sides lasted more than an hour; then the police chiefs agreed to release the two trucks. They left the convoy, which was led by an armored vehicle, and headed toward the inhabited area. Within a few minutes they had disappeared, while the people lying in wait left a short time later. The policemen continued on to the police station, but now empty-handed. They said that stopping the trucks had been the best course of action available to them; otherwise, they would have fallen victim to a massacre. Their position in relation to the people lying in wait had been entirely unfavorable. “We had no other way to act. The armed men could have opened fire at any moment,” police commissioner Doda told the newspaper. “It wasn’t worth risking the policemen over two trucks of cigarettes. We have identified the people who were lying in wait and are working to catch them. They had a police radio with them that had been stolen some time ago, and the bandits could hear all my orders as well.” The entire confrontation between the police and the smugglers ended yesterday morning. The former backed down for fear of a massacre, while the latter left with their goods. Arben Kopliku

Patos, three people steal 29 tons TIRANË - It was 29,000 liters of oil that were stolen in Monday’s spectacular robbery in Patos. According to the official police report on Wednesday, the amount of oil stolen was greater than initially thought. It was not 18,000 liters of oil, but 29 tons. This is confirmed by police sources, according to whom a masked group, after tying up the warehouse guards, stole 29 tons of oil using tanker trucks they had at their disposal. One of the site’s private security guards has been placed under investigation, which is still ongoing. A resident living near the warehouse is also being questioned. According to police, the robbery took place on Monday night, when three armed people entered the oil depots near his house. “I heard a noise and went outside,” he testified, “but the robbers pointed their gun barrels at me and ordered me to leave.” After that, everything unfolded amid continuous gunshots and the frightened residents and tied-up guards being unable to do anything. The police arrived at the scene late and are continuing their investigation to establish the facts.

Hope for water returns From the USA, former leader speaks of returning Gjirokastër, gangs CULTURE DURRËS Bovillë, they arrive [?] Selami accuses the party: Masked men attack the bus: Descartes and Special train to leave

“Gazeta Shqiptare” is seeking correspondents in the cities of Berat, Burrel, Laç, Përmet and Tropojë. Those interested should contact us at the following telephone numbers: 626-46, 638-86, 638-55.