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Gazeta Shqiptare

3 shtator 1997

“Zhuli did not desert”

The Prosecutor General states: “The former minister has no file with us” “In his position as former head of Defense, he was a civilian. As such, he cannot be accused of desertion” BY LAW? Arbnoni, a victim of politics TIRANA. He arrived yesterday afternoon from Athens. 13 hours after landing at the airport, he appeared at the General Prosecutor’s Office, accompanied by his lawyer, Sokol Hazizaj. He testified for about an hour and a half before the investigative group handling the events of early March. “Former Prosecutor General Arben Rakipi has been inconsistent with me in his public statements. Likewise, so has that investigative group, which in his name brings accusations against me. I did not leave Albania to evade criminal prosecution, but because my life was in danger. I left temporarily when the state had collapsed,” the former Minister of Defense, Safet Zhulali, declared yesterday before journalists. Thus, after 6 months he has returned to marriage in Albania, where on March 4, after issuing the order for air strikes in the south, he first left for Italy and then for Greece, where he stayed as a political asylum seeker. During this period he and his wife moved several times to different European countries. Zhulali is expected to testify again in the prosecutor’s office today, while it is still unknown whether he will be arrested by the police. TIRANA. Safet Zhulali, former Minister of Defense, has denied involvement in the suppression of anti-Communist protests in Albania, as well as the accusation of desertion. Both accusations have also been dismissed by Prosecutor General Arben Rakipi, according to whom Zhulali was questioned yesterday as a person under investigation. He further confirmed that after the questioning, no security measure was taken against him. “He is considered a person under investigation only for the period when he was Minister of Defense and not for his departure from Albania. There is no file for desertion, because he was not a military man, but a civilian,” Arben Rakipi explained yesterday to the newspaper "Shqiptare". Sokol Hazizaj, Zhulali’s lawyer, stated that his client was questioned about the events of March, mainly about the order to drop bombs in the South, about his movements after March 4, and the reasons why he left Albania. Hazizaj added that the investigators asked questions about Zhulali’s relations with former President Berisha and with several other leaders of the PD. The prosecutor’s office did not wish to give further comments. [partial text, unreadable in the small columns] Chief Prosecutor Arben Rakipi; Safet Zhulali
Safet Zhulali Arben Rakipi Sokol Hazizaj Berisha Tiranë Athinë Shqipëri Itali Greqi

Plus of the grandfather in Parliament: The guardian of PD is sought

MEDIA CONTROVERSY TIRANA. In passages half-joking, half-serious, the deputies in the Albanian parliament are dealing with the discussion of whether former prime minister Aleksandër Meksi should give explanations for a photo published in the press. In it, he is seen kissing a little girl on the forehead and, according to some deputies, this can be interpreted politically. [partial text] Azeri minister [?]. Last night he appeared before Albanian deputies at the leadership of parliament asking for the removal of the PD guardian. The painful problem of this group is the risk that, in the eyes of the public, they may appear as people who cannot even control the order of the chamber. [partial text, unreadable]
Aleksandër Meksi Tiranë

Nano overturns army officials

REFORM IN ADMINISTRATION / Shtlla affects all commanders LUTTA BERRATI Special! accuse the police BERAT. A special tense situation has gripped the premises of the Berat prison for two days. The prisoners have said that they will decide to take the director of this institution hostage if the police allow the mistreatment against them to continue. On Sunday evening, two prisoners from Tirana’s Unit 313 arrived at the Berat prison by ambulance. Both had serious signs of violence on their head and body. [partial text] Nano overturns army officials Fino government dismissals and new appointments Ministry of Defense ON PAGE 2 [Photo: building] Development mines FOR HOURS AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF VEHICLES TIRANA, yesterday formed with the English embassy TIRANA, yesterday formed with the English embassy [?] Ylber. [partial text, layout collage with many notices]
Nano Lutta Berrati Berat Tiranë Vjenë

Ylpin Çobël for Lady Diana: Tonina’s best friend from all over the world shocked by Mother Teresa’s appeal

ON PAGE 7 “Tirana”, two tributes at the English embassy Ylpin Çobël for Lady Diana: Tonina’s best friend from all over the world shocked by Mother Teresa’s appeal [partial text]
Lady Dajnen Nënë Tereza Ylpin Çobël Tonina Tiranë

An injury will be returned to the Albanian refugee

LET COMMISSIONER KIKANU An injury will be returned to the Albanian refugee You supported it and Reno Girone: “Let’s keep them in Italy” TIRANA. Mario [?] Djuliu [?] has publicly expressed his opinion regarding the issue of Albanian refugees in Italy. He has spoken in favor of their staying in Italy, opposing their immediate return. The Italian actor Reno Girone is also quoted as saying: “Let’s keep them in Italy.” The article is connected with the public debates of the time about Albanian refugees. [partial text, unreadable] Mikie [?] paglia
Reno Girone Mario [?] Djuliu [?] Tiranë Itali