The story of the Katri i Radës “returns” amid grief Commemorative ceremony today for the tragedy’s 80 victims VLORË - The people of Vlora will gather in the square to remember the victims of Otranto. The tragedy in which 57 Albanians lost their lives and another 27 disappeared at sea will be commemorated today with flowers cast into the sea and visits to the families’ homes. In the evening, they told the “Gazette” how they survived that terrible night, but the accusation he is voicing loudly is that the Italians did not help them reach the dinghy. “That is also why the many bodies of those who drowned were not found throughout all the months the ship was at sea. They have remained at the bottom of the sea.” This time, politicians will not be in the front rows of the ceremony. Everything has been organized by the associations of survivors and family members. On page 6 Vladimir Beja* On 5 March 1997, I took up the post of Commander of the FMD, which was practically incapacitated, since the bases at Sarandë and Vlorë had already turned into “ruins”. For 30 minutes, Euronews had been showing two Albanian warships in Sarandë being used by masked men. The country was sliding rapidly towards anarchy with the force and momentum of an avalanche. 13 and 14 March also marked the fall of Shëngjin and Durrës, and the most active part of the fleet’s ships had earlier rushed to stay at Radë, adding to the exodus and the hijacking. It must be admitted that the Government of National Reconciliation rekindled our hope of recovery. I was encouraged by the fact that most of the ships had not been damaged during their voyage to Italy, although those from Vlorë and some from Sarandë had also been used for the exodus of hundreds of military personnel and civilians. Now we could get information only through the officers’ family telephone lines, since military channels were out of the question; they, together with the coastal surveillance system, no longer existed. Italian television channels were showing deeply disturbing footage for everyone, particularly the sight of officers throwing away their epaulettes and caps and demonstratively undressing in front of the very eager cameras; the rare footage being served up to them was truly shocking. As if by chance, and ironically in this tragic situation for us, Italian warships began appearing and making “visits” in Albanian territorial waters ever more frequently. There were even similar instances in the Bay of Vlorë and others in the Bay of Durrës; and, apparently surprised that no one came out to meet them, they left for international waters. It seems they remembered the international rules, which do not allow visits of this kind without the proper “ceremonies”. Having been rebuffed on paper, these fleets often (with both sides surely having gained something) — the Italian fleet had by then understood that the Albanian Fleet no longer existed. It had “surrendered” on its own, without being attacked by it or by any other maritime force. The Adriatic, the Ionian Sea and the Strait of Otranto were now under the absolute control of the Italian Navy. Alongside its legitimate concern about the wave of exoduses and providing assistance at sea, it was also “enjoying” its days of easy freedom, without hindrance from the neighboring state. Nevertheless, the organized Italian state, well versed in international law, sent a high-level military delegation from the Italian Ministry of Defence to the Albanian Ministry of Defence to discuss and approve a draft agreement between the two sides on maritime patrols; the draft had been sent in advance for study. Continued on page 6 * Former Commander of the Combat Fleet

Minister Brokaj inspects the northern borders Serbs one step from the border On page 2 Minister Brokaj inspects the northern borders (Photo: Hektor Pustina)

Shocks in the currency markets TIRANA — Fake or not, in the game involving the world’s strongest currency, the only winners are the “dollar bosses.” Taking advantage of the existence of counterfeit 100-denomination banknotes, they buy suspected dollars at a lower exchange rate. On page 9

Skifteri Meksi are seen as the people Berisha is expected to crucify and then cast out of the ranks of the Democrats. This is what happened with Ceka, Imani, Selami, Ruli and... The eight-year history of the largest opposition party seems to have moved in vicious circles of major departures, purges and crusades against those who founded it and were later left on its sidelines, until the final kick pushed them—sometimes forcefully, sometimes gently—out of all the Party’s structures. Created as a broad democratic movement, in the early 1990s the PD drew around it a wide spectrum of intellectuals and patriotic people from all fields of Albanian life, who had been accustomed to being somebody in the fields they came from. This entire echelon of people, disillusioned with the Communist left, found shelter in a PD of well-known names and first-rate intellectuals. But, coming from another era, these intellectuals could not free themselves from the mentality of the strongman and the single leader who would steer the new PD against a powerful PS with an established past. And Berisha was chosen as that strong hand, with an excellent track record in understanding the party’s cells and internal mechanisms. Taking advantage of this, the Democratic leader began thinking about consolidating his position. To do so, he had to call in the first people from the North, as well as open battlefronts with other well-known names and rivals such as Ceka, Zogaj and then intellectuals of the level of the chief... [partly illegible] Nevertheless, in the...

Portrait of a stranger: the new deputy prosecutor TIRANA - “Through the declaration of assets, we aim to cut off corruption at its source,” Justice Minister Thimio Kondi told the Gazette. There is little time left before the huge asset-verification process begins. The Tax Office has been instructed to scrutinize every declaration made by people in the justice system, checking bank transfers and assets as well, to investigate claims that their luxury came from abroad. Meanwhile, the man who will replace Fatos Dervishi is considered the most suitable for the post. Ylvi Myrtja, once chosen by Berisha, was also his opponent in the Referendum. Everything about his life and career is learned from colleagues and close friends from his years at work.

TIRANA - Belul Çelo, former Minister of the Interior during the National Reconciliation government, testified yesterday at the Military Prosecutor’s Office about the file on the Republican Guard. He gave detailed explanations about the signatures he put on documents while serving as minister. How was the Guard armed, who mobilized the reservists, and why was Unit 711 created? On page 4

TIRANA - The Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania has decided to take to the streets in support of the strikers. Their demands, which they say have been continually ignored by the Government, will now be pursued through strikes. The President of BSPSH, Xhevdet Lubani, who is not recognized by the Court of Appeal, said: “The deadline of 20 March 1998, set by BSPSH as the limit for restoring dialogue between us and the Nano Government, has expired.” On page 9

TIRANA - The patients do not know. They simply lose consciousness, fall into a coma and, through some tubes, inhale the gas most essential to life. Discussions about oxygen reserves in Albanian healthcare are continuing. Whereas just a few weeks ago its shortage was what worried many people, perhaps unjustifiably, this problem now seems to have been resolved. The question is where the oxygen used for intensive-care patients will now be bought. On page 12

DURRËS NEWSPAPER Gorea speaks This is what Durrës will be like in 1998 DURRËS - Durrës will be more beautiful this year. So says the Mayor himself, Arqile Gorea. The bus station will be brought up to modern standards, while greenery will “take over” most of the city. Gorea assures us that he has secured funding from an American association to carry out these projects, while also asking for the support and participation of his fellow citizens in them. Nevertheless, the supply of electricity remains a problem for Durrës and Shijak: there is no power for six hours a day. On page 7

GJEBREA IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE TIRANA - They have abandoned the musical staff for the television screen. Well-known names in Albanian popular music have begun appearing in advertising spots. A path that began nearly two years ago seems to be gaining momentum among the VIPs of recent festivals. Well-informed sources say that this practice appears to be far more profitable for singers than one or more concerts put together. On page 8

Old friends increasingly far apart The major departures: why Ceka, Selami, Meksi left... HEMORRHAGE Skifteri The Democratic Party is on the verge of a purge that had been announced. Tritan Shehu and Aleksandër ... the departure of Aleksandër Meksi and Tritan Shehu seems to be only a matter of days within the Democratic Party, before they join the large battalion of former Democrats who have left the PD’s blue headquarters. Although just a day earlier Shehu himself had stated that he continues to remain within the ranks of the PD and that the latter also needs Meksi, sources close to the leadership confirm that the next major movement within the Democrats has begun to take shape and will soon become a reality. And afterwards, those who joined the Democratic Party only a few years ago will be left in the party’s small leadership group.

Tirana Gazette TIRANA - The Mayor of Tirana, by a decision of yesterday’s Municipal Council, has taken care of his new car, replacing his current one. Brojka will buy a new car. Tirana’s Municipal Council approved a fund of 17 thousand dollars to purchase a vehicle for the mayor of Albania’s largest city. Getting into his old Audi, which he bought