Illegal immigrants, prostitutes, drugs and weapons. Who covered it up? Silence from the top in Tiranë: strong evidence for two enterprises A series of successive explosions, according to sources from the General Prosecutor’s Office, was reported by Ulysi and is suspected to have been carried out to settle scores with foreign mafia clans. To this day, the official version circulating in the media is that the remote-controlled attack of 4 August in “Misto Mame” centered on the execution of businessman Vullnet Këzheni. While the Tirana police have declared wanted two citizens of Kosovo who rented the place where the “Benz” was parked and the director of the company “Melsi”, the police and the prosecutor’s office have not made it clear with certainty for whom the 25 kg of tritol were intended, which killed two people and injured 7 others. At least that is what the investigation line suggests. At present, according to unconfirmed data, two lines of inquiry are being investigated after the terrorist attack. The first concerns the elimination of Vullnet Këzheni and it is suspected that the perpetrators are from Prishtina, while the other investigative line speaks of a criminal organization that trafficks girls and drugs in Albania. Unconfirmed sources close to the Tirana Criminal Police state that Vullnet Këzheni was the administrator of an Albanian private company based in Tiranë, but for the past 6 months he had also been the representative of another company involved in trafficking prostitution, heroin, and allegedly weapons as well. According to the same sources, from Vullnet Këzheni’s address another company, “U.K”, was also registered, with which he, together with his partner S.A.N, owned 3 speedboats. These vehicles appear to have been used for trafficking drugs and illegal immigrants toward Italy. Other sources indicate that the explosive used in the 4 August attack is the same as the one placed 3 weeks earlier at the doors of “Coca-Cola”, but the Tirana group suspects a broad transport operation behind which private companies stand. It is learned that Këzheni’s vehicle is also suspected to have been a gift from Vullnet Këzheni’s Kosovo partners. The police are investigating links with two Albanian-Kosovar private companies that were active in import-export and transport. It remains unclear who protected these enterprises and why the institutions stayed silent. No. 8 report on the case in Vlorë Avokat Koka’s house one day after the attack (REUTERS PHOTO)

Majko asks for forgiveness "PPS will lose if it does not stop Vlorë" Face-to-face party conference. Prifti makes his debut in Kret TIRANË - the rapporteur has passed on foot, but the failure in central Albania and in the capital has halted participation. Prime Minister Ilir Meta himself confirmed again yesterday that one of the committee’s first reactions was the acknowledgment that in Vlorë the party has lost. "They have done only a very partial job and have not explained before the party forum the problems that led to the loss of 1 October 1996 in this district." The old leaders and the lack of cooperation have been blamed for the failure in the two areas. At the same time, the leadership has called for changes in the main branches and for a deep analysis. Majko has apologized for some earlier decisions and has admitted that the climate of division has damaged the party’s image. According to him, without a clear reflection and without stopping the conflict in Vlorë, PPS will lose even further. On page 4

Greek ship with Albanian crew seized DURRËS - A ship smuggling cigarettes, stopped yesterday by border police forces, is suspected of belonging to a criminal group operating in the Adriatic Sea. On board, hundreds of crates of "Marlboro" and "Assos" cigarettes were found, worth nearly 1 million dollars. The crew consisted of Albanian citizens and one of them is reportedly wanted earlier for trafficking. The police stated that the ship had entered our waters from the direction of Greece and was trying to unload the cargo on the coast. On page 5

Together with the money and the technical government On page 2

SHKODËR / PRIVATIZATION OF THE ENTERPRISE THROWS WORKERS INTO THE STREET Street sweepers are laid off The city no longer needs their workshops SHKODËR - complaint. “If you go for the brooms and socks, you understand very well,” they say in the offices of the Municipality of the northern city about the unusual situation. After the privatization of the cleaning enterprise, a good part of the women employees who worked with brooms in the streets have been left without jobs. According to municipal officials, the way cleaning is carried out in the city has changed and the service will be performed with other equipment. The workers say they were offered no alternative and that many of them support their families with this wage. On page 2

Phone. Meeting from Tirana? Absurd TIRANË - from special sources, senior representatives of diplomacy have made it known that there is no plan for an official meeting with the Serbian side in Tiranë. At the same time, the debate over indictments and responsibilities for the war in Kosovo has returned with strong tones. Officials emphasize that any eventual contact should be seen only within the framework of international forums and not as a political concession. On page 4

SPECTACLE On page 8

BERAT On page 6

FRANCE '98 On page 7

RESTRORANT VIKTORIA Announcement for the holidays begins. Kristalloqiçina New Year’s Eve We welcome you. Address: Kavajës roundabout Beside the stadium; 5 Shtatori; near PTT 8 Tiranë From Mjaltusha EXCLUSIVE PHOTO OF THE WONDERFUL KINGS 32 FINALISTS FRANCE '98 On page 7 Dortmund-Bayern cup clash On page 7