Ministry: Stop the operations, save the blood A circular from Tirana mobilizes all surgeons in the northeast in case of war Planned procedures are being suspended in the major cities. Everything for the North Blood banks have been ordered to stop distribution and urgently begin collecting large quantities of blood Hospitals in the five districts along the border line with Yugoslavia suspended their normal activity yesterday, awaiting what may happen (Photo: REUTERS) Murdered Albanians in Drenica TIRANA - A state of emergency has been declared at the Albanian Ministry of Health for what may happen on the Yugoslav border. In an unusual meeting of the Emergency Commission, it was decided to take immediate measures to place the hospitals and health centers of the five northern districts bordering the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as the local hospitals of Tirana, on alert. All planned operations have been suspended since yesterday, while blood banks have been ordered to stop distribution and begin collecting large quantities of blood. Anything may happen in the North and, in the event of fighting or a flood of refugees, military doctors are being called upon by the Ministry to remain on alert, ready to serve all hospitals with reinforced staff and guards, with additional medical aid units. Teams from the Ministry have urgently left for Kukës and the surrounding area to inspect the implementation of the measures. On page 2

RESTRICTED REPORT On page 3

Here's how to fill in the betting slip At Xhalli On page 10

A LEGEND IN AGONY Dritan Lundra Perlat Musta is fighting death. A bullet, fired from very close range after midnight, caused a wound that has put his life in question. Until late last night doctors were unable to say with certainty. The wound severely damaged a lung and several ribs. "So far I have been in the hospital, since 7:30 p.m. He seems to be fine, but he remains with a high temperature. That is exactly what worries the doctors" - said Shpëtim Duro. "The wound is very serious. I cannot say that he is out of danger. We fear a possible lung infection. We intervened immediately and removed one rib and wired together four others. We completely removed part of the lung (the lower one), because it had been damaged by the bullet. Nevertheless, we think he will get through it fairly well" said one of the doctors at the military hospital last night, Edmond Çeliku, who performed the operation. In full coma around 1:30 in the night of the attack, immediately after the operation he was taken to the hospital. He had been on his way home when the fatal shooting occurred. According to police sources, he had leaned against the gate of a one-story house, from where the bullet was fired, which left his life hanging in the balance. People who heard him say that Musta shouted loudly: "What are you doing, I am Perlat, do you hate me?" But immediately the bullet killed (?) the calm of the moment, entering straight into the body of the former goalkeeper of the Albanian national team. It passed from his right side through to his vitals; he fell to the ground and in that condition was taken to the hospital. Hours of anxiety and terror. His teammates and friends, who had learned of the event, arrived immediately. A serious operation, which has still not given a final answer. Starova left the hospital only in the early hours of the morning, hoping that later he would see his friend in better condition, and the close relative says a few words. Only at these hours did the family doctor confirm that at least Musta could survive, but his prognosis remained reserved. "We fear a pulmonary infection, I can say nothing more for the moment," the doctor closest to the case declared last night. The doctors had only six hours of surgery. Perhaps remorseful for what the criminal had done, he broke open the door and asked for an ambulance. "I heard noise at the outer gate. I looked around. Then I saw the person who had pushed his way in. The perpetrator was desperate and, from what the police know, no one knows exactly why, since everything is still under investigation. Nevertheless, the act is very serious." The goalkeeper of Albania, the great hero of our goal, the former goalkeeper of Partizani and of the Albanian national team in the 1980s, is now fighting death. No one has learned anything from this act. Only Albanian television has remained almost silent. In a dry notice at the end of the news, it announced his tragic wounding. We could not imagine how the other televisions of the world would react if such a case had happened in Italy, with Zoff, for example, or in Germany with Maier. It is deeply regrettable that such a figure is ignored by the state media. Perlat Musta

But Tirana responds: No problem TIRANA - The Serbs are appealing from Belgrade. "They will attack our embassy in Tirana." But official Tirana has assured that the Yugoslav embassy is being protected to the fullest by the Albanian authorities. At the Albanian embassy in Belgrade, chargé d'affaires Florian Nova was urgently summoned yesterday to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRY. He was also questioned at the Ministry by the Secretary for Countries/Foreign Affairs Vladimir Krsan, who informed him of preparations for attacks against the FRY Embassy in Tirana and asked the Albanian authorities to take all appropriate measures to protect the building and embassy staff, in accordance with the norms set by the Vienna Convention. Regarding this information, the spokesperson of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "the FRY Embassy in Tirana and its staff are under the full protection of the Albanian police authorities". Vienna Convention secretary. These authorities do not confirm any information about a possible attack against the FRY Embassy in Tirana. If the Yugoslav authorities had any such information, it would be good if they made it available to the Albanian authorities, who had also informed Mr. Krsan via Mr. Nova, who received the reply that he had been told only to pass on the "information" and that he had "no knowledge" of its source.

Police: Settling scores Elbasan attack: This is how the Kalashnikovs massacred 3 people ELBASAN - An attack on the outskirts of the city. A hail of gunfire leaves three dead. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, caused panic in the city's most populated neighborhood. A possible line of inquiry in the crime involves settling scores. Police sources working on the investigation say that for the moment the mystery of the people who carried out the criminal act has not yet been solved. Panic spread through the whole neighborhood while, after the rain of bullets, people came out to the windows, but until late they did not understand what had happened. On page 5

POLITICS On page 3

WASHINGTON - "The conditions set by Belgrade for entering into dialogue with the Albanians of Kosovo are absolutely insufficient." This is Washington's reaction to the conditional offer made by Milošević to dialogue with the Kosovars. According to State Department spokesman James Rubin, the statements from Belgrade show that it has given a limited meaning to compromise with the Kosovars involved in the talks. Referring to the refusal of the Albanian leaders of Kosovo to take part in the talks and the provocations, he said this was another display of Milosević's international intransigence. "For us this is the making of a new, meaningful kind of dialogue, serious doubts, concrete actions, the steps demanded by the Contact Group," Rubin said.

FUSHE-KRUJE / After the explosion FUSHE KRUJE - Black hours yesterday after a long night of fear, panic, but also hope, amid the many accounts of the explosion that had shaken the city. The building in its center, which was overcrowded with many visitors, who had gone there to learn the details of the terrible explosion. It happened at 16:50, at a time when few people were moving in the streets of Fushë Krujë, as if dead. All six residents of the small cement town wanted to find out immediately what had happened in the terrible night. "We thought it would end in tragedy, but thank God it was only two injured," said one of the women who had gone to meet her sister, who lives in the victim building. The explosive placed on the third floor of the building near the apartment door of Xhevahes produced a muffled roar, but it was still heard far away. At that moment everything was covered in smoke and dust. Loud screams swept through the building in an instant and the people, stunned for the moment, hurried afterwards to check on one another. On page 7

Announcement Delegacy of Local Examination in Albania opens registrations for 2 (two) levels of OXFORD DIPLOMAS, Preliminary and Higher. ( 23rd - 24th May 1998). Registration period is from March 15th 1998 to April 22nd 1998 The candidates are advised to have consultancy in our Centre to check their level of knowledge. For further information, please contact us in our office Tel.395 64 Address: Rr. Islam Alla No 5, Tirana

L. "Pavarësia", Rr. P. Lulos(?) VLORË Tel/Fax 033 2545 VLORË Tel/Fax 052 2308 DURRËS IMPORT - EXPORT BUILDING MATERIALS - PLUMBING - PAINTS - ELECTRICAL MATERIALS

From 1 March AJAX Furniture sets up 16 new areas in the wholesale trade warehouse block (opposite the refrigerator) Tirana Tel - 042/335 97 - 038 2021 254

DURRES The company "TEUTA" Shpk, with Albanian-Swiss capital, carries out its activity in the production and trade of food products such as pasta, flour, rice, wheat, sugar, etc. All our products are packaged and carry the TEUTA - Durrës brand. CUSTOMERS! With us you will find only goods of Community standards quality and at highly competitive prices. ATTENTION! The label on the goods we trade, especially on our sacks, is the protocol and not red. Each sack has the production and expiration date placed on it in the Italian factories. Contact us at the addresses: TEUTA Shpk. Lagjia 4, Rruga "Aleksandër Goga", Durrës, Albania. Tel/Fax: + 355 52 23094.