Shadows of smuggling over the Southern Riviera Special forces arriving from Tirana patrol the main roads Checks increase. Police and border forces placed on alert TIRANA - Smuggling mystery reaches the coast. Three ships were seen just 50 metres from shore, attempting to drop anchor. Two of them chose the Lukovë area, while the other was at Ksamil. The first suspicions about the cargo they were carrying and the place where they intended to unload it put the border forces on alert, and they immediately informed the Ministry of the Interior. The four police stations in the South, together with the special forces who had arrived some time ago, searched the entire coastline for those who were to receive the goods. Police from Sarandë and Vlorë blocked the main roads. Meanwhile, Italian “Guardia di Finanza” vessels patrolled the sea. By evening, there had been no sign that the ships had anchored. Ministry sources stress that they may have temporarily left, but the possibility of their return has not been ruled out. Hundreds of police officers, all equipped with special vehicles, have put the entire Ionian coastline on alert. The three ships attempted to drop anchor just 50 metres from shore, but saw a great deal of activity and changed their minds [?] The ships may return. Hundreds of police and special forces are watching the entire Ionian coastline On page 9 Krasta on stage a few hours before the first night began (Photo: Plator Ilo)

GJIROKASTËR On page 9

BERAT Rubella returns: 30 people in hospital On page 9

TIRANA On page 11

Italy provides aid worth 317 billion Dini in Tirana meets Meidani, Nano, Milo and Berisha TIRANA - Italy has opened its gates with money for Albania. More than 317 billion lire, which officials say will be disbursed as loans, aid and grants to Albania over a three-year period of cooperation. Dini has presented his commitments concerning jointly agreed projects, and aid and grants for various sectors of Albania’s economy, healthcare and development administration. Italy will remain the gateway through which Albania enters Europe. The message delivered by the head of Albanian diplomacy has been interpreted in a completely clear way, with changes both inside and outside the country. Money, too, for roads, healthcare, education and water. All these have been given concrete form in a series of agreements signed yesterday by ministers Milo, Ruka, Meksi and Solis, and other ministers in the Nano cabinet. On page 2 Dini and Milo yesterday in Tirana (Photo: REUTERS)

Prosecutor’s Office takes urgent measures TIRANA - Hunger strike at unit 313 in the capital. Two remand prisoners accused of serious crimes have refused food for two days, claiming that investigators had forgotten about them and had not questioned them. The alarm has also reached the highest institutions. After several swift measures, one of the prisoners is said to have ended the strike and agreed, while the other enters his third day today. His health is reported to be good. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office has taken swift measures. On page 2

An agreement is signed to export the spring Work to draw water is expected to begin soon at the famous spring The waters of Albania’s largest underground spring will cross the Adriatic through pipelines Work to draw water is expected to begin soon at the famous spring TIRANA - The Blue Eye will soon play in Italy. An agreement has been reached between an Italian consortium from the Apulia region and Albania, under which the water of Albania’s most beautiful natural spring, the Blue Eye, will be exported to Italy. In the coming years, the Southern Eye will become industrialised—a striking phenomenon, a metaphor fit to confine this word “response”—and its sterile waters will flow through a large pipeline into the waters of the sea, which, according to the signatures, the two countries understand one another about, and even trample one another over. The legend of the Blue Eye says that it is nothing other than the constant eruption of the Bistricë River, which could not put out the fire of a mythological dragon defeated by a man. But apparently, the icy waters of the Eye will only put out, once and for all, an evaporation that those people may have no idea at all is taking place, as the spring is sold to relieve their drought. Soon, the view will no longer dominate the retina of the Eye. Some powerful motor pumps will be installed at the bottom of the spring, thereby setting a world record, since it will also be the greatest depth from which water has ever been extracted. Naturally, what will help make this possible is the powerful pressure of the mysterious spring of the Blue Eye. The Blue Eye is the most beautiful of a long chain of underground springs that emerge and feed thousands of rivers and life. Its remoteness from people has long made it seem an enigmatic phenomenon, around which legends have grown. In any case, at least the Blue Eye may escape this curse, moving away from the ancient murmurs of an era of a people, with the infernal [?] rhythm of a perhaps ill-fated industrial revolution. As for the costs? In this respect, astronomical figures are always found, and there is always a commotion over plans that do not always balance out the losses. Sokol Shameti The Blue Eye spring

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France ’98 Special: Guide to the 32 teams Germany A very solid team, but above all riding high after its World Cup success Brazil This year they have an outstanding striker in their “seleçao” GAZETA SPORT Exclusive photos and everything else about all the teams taking part in the French World Cup On pages 5–8

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