Here is Alimucaj’s secret document of the fraud This is how 205,000 creditors will get their money back The pyramid-scheme boss in prison for another 15 days. Bankers also charged Alimucaj has sold VEFA’s assets in America. The company boss justified the repayment of the creditors’ debt in this way. Meanwhile, investigators are presenting evidence of Alimucaj’s latest fraud. He is now merely a simple employee and cannot sell the company’s properties. Prosecutors have uncovered the entire mechanism behind the disappearance of the money. Apparently, bank executives were also involved in this scheme. On page 12 TIRANA — The government approved the draft law that will compensate 205,000 Albanians. That is the number of people who lost their money in the 9 largest usury firms. At Gjallica alone, the first to spark the revolt, 81,000 people lost their savings, most of whom had substantial dealings. The repayment of the money will begin after June 30. For those who deposited in foreign currency, who make up 66 percent of creditors, repayments will be calculated using the average exchange rate for ’95 and ’96. The creditors to be repaid first are those with less than 2,000 dollars: 108,000 people. On page 9 Vehbi Alimucaj in handcuffs yesterday on the steps of the Tirana Court (Hektor Pustina) Vehbi Alimucaj in handcuffs yesterday on the steps of the Tirana Court (Hektor Pustina)

“Italian Visa Desk” at ALBANIAN GAZETTE Send your letters to: 370 Dibra St., Tirana Reply to the Italian consul in the pages of “Albanian Gazette” Italian visas: Here are the new names The list of people who are ready to leave On page 12

Opinion Political reconciliation: Nano’s illusion Neshat Tozaj If we take a quick look at developments in governance in the past, we will notice that it has relied on two fundamental criteria: primarily loyalty to whoever held power, and only rarely or accidentally on ability. In all the systems of government we have experienced (Zogu, Hoxha, Berisha), loyalty has been the top priority. It is the misfortune of Albanians that there have been few civil servants at the head of the state who were loyal to the law, to the people of their country, and to the homeland to which they belong. But it is a fact that, in the face of loyalty—which is required and which “breaks your neck”—the criterion of ability comes second. That is why things will never go well for us. I understand the good intentions of today’s Prime Minister Nano regarding “coexistence” and “inclusiveness”; I understand very well that the policy of “exclusion” pursued by Hoxha and Berisha was an anti-national act. However, at this crucial point, we must avoid the mistake that has already posed a great risk of failure for a government program backed by Parliament’s vote of confidence. The term “co-governance” sounds good as a way of appearing “European,” but in Albania this term and this practice are entirely out of place. In our beloved homeland, Albania, after a 46-year period in which there have been “winners” and “losers,” in which class warfare was practiced and the proletariat proclaimed, it is impossible to accept “cohabitation.” That is why Berisha, knowing the past well, called for unity among all: he preserved the dictatorship and divided it up to the point of… class warfare, putting the class and the persecuted in power. Berisha did everything possible to create a new social stratum on which the DP could rely. This stratum was allowed to enrich itself by every means. That is why loyalty serves him to hold on to power with fire and sword. He is troubled by no conscience: he did not return their property to its rightful owners, but gave property to miners and encouraged unscrupulous people. Is the current socialist government in coalition a recipe for success, or is it heading towards total disaster? Unfortunately, Nano thinks that Albanians, who, as political opponents, call one another enemies and act as open enemies towards one another, are French or other Europeans, raised in democratic systems that are still not perfect even today. Those who worked for the DP are mostly people compromised in various ways, so when the SP… Continued on page 12

INTERVIEW / FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER TAKES HAJDARAGA’S PLACE TIRANA — Neritan Ceka takes Hajdaraga’s post. The vacant position on the Order and SHIK Committee was filled yesterday, when Parliament elected the PAD leader to head the Committee. The person who had been elected was former State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, Ndre Legisi, who gave way to Ceka for this post, overturning all expectations. Legisi had been the most widely discussed candidate to take over the Committee after Hajdaraga was appointed Minister of Defence, replacing Sabit Brokaj. Former Interior Minister Ceka speaks to “Albanian Gazette” and explains: My removal was a political move to meet one of the opposition’s requests as well. On page 4

Serious accusations by the Director of Prisons against the Minister of Justice “My dismissal is Kondi’s personal revenge” TIRANA — Mit’hat Havari has been suspended from his post. The Minister of Justice has proposed his dismissal, justifying this action by citing the new law on the organization of the Directorate of Prisons. Under this law, the head of the prisons administration must be a civilian. Havari’s responsibilities will temporarily be taken over by the Deputy Minister of Justice. Meanwhile, the head of the prisons administration continues to perform his duties as normal. “Only the Prime Minister’s signature can dismiss me. Until that day, I will continue to uncover corruption,” Havari says. The police’s iron hand describes this action as the minister’s personal revenge following the deterioration of relations between them. Meanwhile, Kondi’s proposal has not yet been signed by the Prime Minister. On page 4 Kondi Havari

Durrës Gazette Disarmament? Impose fines DURRËS — Disarmament? Judges in Durrës are undertaking to propose a solution. “Impose fines,” they say, “instead of prison.” Perhaps, faced with financial penalties, people will think carefully about whether or not to carry a weapon with them or keep one at home.” Although several people have been arrested for carrying weapons, this method does not seem to be working. On page 8

GAZETA e Tiranës Healthcare, the “policeman” of food TIRANA - The longstanding conflict between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture over food inspections has been resolved. PHARE has acted as mediator between the two institutions, leaving the inspection stamp in the hands of the Ministry of Health. Thus, the latter will issue licenses, deciding which food companies may trade, once the origin of the goods they sell to people has been verified. On page 5

GAZETA e Vlorës INSIG against the police: They don’t check insurance VLORA - INSIG raises the alarm in Vlora: the police do not check the insurance policies of cars arriving from abroad, and as a result many of them leave without being checked. In response, the institution itself will begin strict inspections in the coming days, checking the document bearing its final stamp. However, Vlora-registered cars with foreign plates and expired insurance policies are more numerous. INSIG complains that the police are not helping uncover fraud. On page 7

SHKODËR / Released after a mistake SHKODËR - Boxing coach Zef Gjoni is free; it was his double who was guilty. The man at the center of the much-discussed Ura Vajgurore incident can go home and, starting tomorrow, return to his passion, boxing. The charges brought against Gjoni and the prosecutors’ many confrontations have come to nothing. The man placed at the center of suspicion has rejected everything through his lawyer. On page 6 Hajdanti’s bodyguard

NATO is dealing with Albania The OSCE will attempt mediation at the border TIRANA - The tense situation along the country’s northern borders continues. Yesterday, Chief of the General Staff General Aleks Andoni again met with senior border officials and was briefed on the latest situation in the area. Meanwhile, it is reported that additional special forces have been sent toward the northern borders to reinforce the other troops stationed there for several days. On the Belgrade side, fortification of their border continues at a different pace. On page 2

Disarmament?

“Gazeta Shqiptare” will not be with its readers tomorrow. “May 1,” the international workers’ holiday, will also be celebrated by the staff of our newspaper, but we will return on Saturday. Other Albanian newspapers printed at the “Demokracia” printing house will also join in the celebration. On this holiday for all workers in Albania today, and with the wish that their numbers grow day by day, “Gazeta” is taking a day off and will return on Saturday.