Military Prosecutor’s Office: “We are awaiting those who abused their office” Perikli Teta: “The perpetrators of the March tragedy will certainly be found and prosecuted” Yesterday Meidani dismissed 11 senior military officers. Among them Armando Vingani, Adem Çopani... New officers appointed. The Albanian sanctuary is extinguished TIRANA - Former army generals will soon be investigated. The Ministry of Defense is preparing a list of senior Defense officials who currently bear responsibility for the March tragedy. “The guilty will be found, and then anyone who has broken the law will be prosecuted,” State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense Perikli Teta told Gazeta yesterday. Sources at the Military Prosecutor’s Office say the most likely charge against the former generals is “abuse of office.” The names to be reported by the new army chiefs have not yet been made public. So far, it is known that 11 senior generals have been dismissed, including Armando Ruçi, Baki Shehu, Gjergj Vladi, Dilaver Laçi, Shkëlqim Nurja, Hysen Rrepaj. The new Army leaders will be the ones to conduct an assessment of the entire Army. “This is being done so that Albanians can learn what really happened in the Army,” Teta says. Proceedings of this kind will soon bring some of the names most frequently mentioned during the March days, apart from Zhulali, to the doors of the Military Prosecutor’s Office. On page 3

CRIMINAL CASE OPENED KORÇË - Special forces officers rob citizens. Two of them threatened three citizens with a knife on Thursday evening, demanding all the money they had with them. Officers from the police station pursued the two special forces officers and, after many efforts, managed to stop them. Meanwhile, yesterday at midday, a group of special forces officers fired their weapons for about five minutes in the city center, terrorizing the population, which was out in force at the busiest time of day. People immediately expressed their indignation, which also reached the police station. A week earlier, the chief of police had called for the special forces officers to be removed from the city. They had arrived a week earlier with the task of restoring order at the Kapshticë customs post. On page 6

The Greek government revisits its decision in favor of Albanian refugees

After the dispute over the RTV law DP: “Meidani

BERAT On page 5

After the dispute over the RTV law TIRANA - The DP is looking to Meidani. “Help us get the media law sent back.” At the Democrats’ central session, they say that the head of state could make an acceptable gesture by sending the contentious law on the status of RTV back to Parliament once more. Vejsiu himself cannot see the logical error made during the passage of this law. In any case, there has still been no signal from the Socialists about a possible return of the law in question, even though the DP is ready to review it. DP headquarters On page 2

The Greek government revisits its decision in favor of Albanian refugees Simitis: “Residence permits for 1 to 3 years” refugees Athens: Legalization, but by dribs and drabs Simitis: “Residence permits for 1 to 3 years” TIRANA - The anxiety of Albanian emigrants is coming to an end. The Greek government decided yesterday to begin the procedures for granting legal status, news agencies in Athens confirm. The Greek government has once again reversed its decision that excluded around 450,000 emigrants from Balkan countries who are in Greece. A decision made a month ago denied Albanians legalization. This decision was opposed by left-wing political forces and trade unions, which had been insisting for three years on the legalization of Albanian emigrants’ residence. The Greek government was forced yesterday to make a contrary decision in favor of Albanians. The legalization of emigrants has been one of the main items on the agenda of intensive talks between Athens and Tirana. Yesterday Athens decided to yield. 200,000 Albanian emigrants in Greece are expected to receive residence and work permits for a period of 1 to 3 years. “The procedures will now begin and will be completed in September next year,” Greek government spokesperson Repas confirmed to the press. p.re. Greek Prime Minister Simitis

DELVINË On page 5 DELVINË Weapons at home: “There’s no room in the warehouse” On page 5

IN THE SEMAN RIVER DELTA On page 6 IN THE SEMAN RIVER DELTA Attack by clandestine migrants: The illegal speedboat got away On page 6

ITALY “Catch an Albanian, 1 million lire” The decision by Bossi has also been approved by the town council BARI — “Report an undocumented Albanian and we’ll give you one million lire.” The decision, worthy of a cowboy-movie script, was not made in the early American Wild West, but in a northern city in our neighboring country: Italy. The municipality of Terme is in the Piedmont region, and the Northern League of Umberto Bosi holds a majority on its council. And it was precisely here, two days ago, that the municipal council approved the proposal put forward by Bossi’s party: “Every citizen of Aquila Terme will receive a full one million lire if they report the presence of undocumented Albanians in this town.” “Our decision,” explained the mayor of Aquila Terme, “is a provocation aimed at the Prodi government, which does nothing but make fun of Italians by promising to remove Albanians who do not have residence permits.” Meanwhile, Albanian associations and politicians have not been silent in their response to this decision. For the Minister for Social Solidarity, Livia Turco, this is “an absurd initiative, far removed from any legal and civic civilization.” Turco also described this measure by the Northern League government as “a worrying initiative that could cause serious concern.” The “Migrantes” immigrants’ association also believes that it should be the Italian government that deals with stopping the attacks, and not adopt measures so harsh toward the association. Aquila Terme is one of the northern towns with the largest number of Albanian refugees holding residence permits. Of the 5,810 in the entire region, only 1,000 are in this town. The grape harvest begins during this period, and this work is often carried out by undocumented migrants, most of whom are Albanians. In fact, this is not the first time the Northern League has called for such harsh measures against Albanians. Only a short while ago, a representative of this party, Irene Pivetti, had said, just before the elections in the Otranto Channel, that “Albanians should be thrown into the sea.” Alba Maltezi