BRUSSELS - Whether or not NATO troops will be deployed in Albania will be considered once again. In any case, if such a decision is made, between 7,000 and 20,000 military personnel will take part in the mission.
Alliance experts are once again studying all the possible options, which they will then present at the Alliance’s semiannual meeting of Foreign Ministers, to be held in Luxembourg on May 28. This study is being carried out following the alert issued by the Tirana government, which appealed to NATO for help. The study is part of a plan that has been under way within NATO for ten days, involving 20 military actions through which countries bordering Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania will be assisted in properly protecting their borders and preventing any further and dangerous spread of the conflict. This work began at the initiative of the United States and will conclude on May 28 at the Alliance Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.
On page 11
The triumph of the old property
Majko: This will lead us to a historic compromise with the right
The triumph of the old property
Left and right agree: It should be returned to its owners
Politics engages in self-criticism: Without this solution, there will be no peace
TIRANA - Property should be returned to its former owners. None of the political figures has, at last, expressed support for the former owners, who continue to hope for the old title deeds left to them by their ancestors. “We are moving toward a historic compromise with the Right on the issue of property,” said yesterday Pandeli Majko, one of the more moderate figures in the Socialist Party. Indeed, the Socialists—those who until yesterday did not even want to hear the name of the former owners—have today accepted a compromise with the Right, in order to satisfy that segment of the Albanian electorate which, whether they like it or not, will oppose them. Nevertheless, the Right and the Left, who in principle support returning property to the former landowners, are once again confusing the concepts. “We support the ’46 title deeds,” says the social democrat
Nano: No obstacle to meeting Berisha
Blushi speaks, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson
TIRANA - Nano wants to meet Berisha? It is not the first time, and it will not be the last.
At least, that is what Albanian Prime Minister’s spokesperson Ben Blushi confirmed, indicating that the head of the executive sees no obstacle on this point. “Since Albania is capable of concluding agreements and contracts with international partners, it is inconceivable that agreements cannot be concluded domestically between the parties,” Blushi told “Gazeta Shqiptare.” Explaining the position of the head of the Albanian government, spokesperson Blushi pointed to the failure of agreements and contracts between the parties as one of the obstacles that have adversely affected Albanian politics over these years.
Ramiz Alia, the last dictator or the first liberal?
Lubonja, Pëllumbi and Mero speak
Ramiz Alia and Enver Hoxha
TIRANA - Ramiz Alia is one of the most controversial figures in Albania today. This is due not only to what has been written, but even more to what he does not say and the role he played in politics. While only a few years ago he was more willing to criticize Enver, today Ramiz seems to defend him, because he is not very keen to talk about Hoxha. He is currently the most “hated” figure among Albanian politi- [text as printed appears truncated]—from Pëllumbi of the SP, Gjinushi of the SDP, all the way to Berisha of the DP. They all knew Alia earlier: one was his minister, one his doctor, and another worked on the political line of the Party of Labour. Meanwhile, those who suffered—not only as a result of his criticism—seem to have more respect for Alia than the others do. At the same time, they also give a fuller picture of the man who stood beside Hoxha until the end.
On page 2
Elbasan, teachers strike over wages
ELBASAN - Teachers in Elbasan have fully supported the demands of the independent education union. Yesterday, throughout the district, around 2,000 teachers at all levels took part in a one-day strike in protest against the government’s silence in the face of their claims concerning wages and working conditions. The strike lasted one hour and took place during the second lesson. No one appeared in the classrooms, while the teachers gathered together and explained to the students why this kind of “break” had been called. While lessons were suspended, someone was found to send complete and immediate information to the Ministry of Education. On page 8
Durrës, surrounded by police, he kills himself
DURRËS - A police operation late last night to capture a man sentenced to life imprisonment ended with him refusing to surrender and killing himself. The operation was carried out at around 21:00 by criminal investigation squads after they received information that the 24-year-old fugitive, who was being sought, was at his home. The house was in the area of the former Durrës marsh, and the wanted man lived there with his parents. The police called on him to surrender and waited several minutes for a response. They also tried to persuade his parents to help, but this was not possible. Surrounded, and instead of responding with a weapon, he killed himself with a burst of automatic gunfire from a weapon he had at home. On page 8
Smuggled lottery tickets seized
GJIROKASTER - Police launch an anti-smuggling operation at the Kakavijë customs post. Two vehicles with trailers and three other vehicles have been stopped by police forces because they were carrying goods suspected of being smuggled, while others had not paid their fiscal duties to the state. The day before yesterday afternoon, the police suddenly “surrounded” the Kakavijë border crossing and began an inspection that would last several hours. Sources report that a truck with license plate “GJ 3826 A” and trailer plate “3827”, owned by the well-known company “Altradin S.A.”, was held in one of the customs facilities so its cargo could be checked. As confirmed by customs, various garments were declared, but they appear to have come under suspicion, and so the truck will not continue its journey. On page 7
Elections, DP indifferent after Meidani’s ultimatum
TIRANË - The DP is still undecided about sending people to the CEC. “The President’s threat is both scandalous and laughable.” This was the Democrats’ first official reaction after the Presidency signaled that they would be left out of the Central Election Commission. The head of the Democrats’ election headquarters, Genc Pollo, reminded President Meidani that he was threatening them in the old style, with a statement drafted at midday by his office. No haste of any kind was evident at the Democrats’ headquarters after the President’s ultimatum that he would appoint the other, smaller parties in the DP’s place. On page 3
Changes at the ministry — Turmoil among senior Security officials
TIRANË - The highest-ranking security officials have been shaken up in the capital. They are still not confirming anything so far; reliable sources within the security agencies report that... On page 4
Rome ready — VEFA will also be investigated in Italy
TIRANË - Joint investigative commission into Alimës’ foreign associates. Foreign names also appeared on the list of people who were rewarded by VEFA’s bosses after its takeover. Discovering these people’s role in the company’s activities has made it necessary to extend the investigation beyond Albania. VEFA’s associates are bringing the Italian Prosecutor’s Office into the investigation as well. Albanian investigators have asked their colleagues across the Adriatic for accurate information about the people identified on the lists of those who were paid. On page 9
Usury — Investigators given free rein over the pyramid schemes
Usury. Investigators given free rein over the pyramid schemes. TIRANË - Parliament corrects itself. The much-discussed transparency process had tied the investigators’ hands since 30 July ’97. Following the amendment to the law “on the administration and control of companies that have taken loans from the general public,” investigators and the justice system can continue doing their work. “Until the transparency process is completed, no kind of investigation or court proceedings may begin against companies under administration.” This is what Article 3 of the transparency law says, and it must be applied. But recent developments in the field of usury have come to regard this article as an obstacle. Not long ago, the government issued a decision stating that all people who had illegally obtained money from the pyramid companies must return it. On page 9
From last year’s protests in Vlorë
GAZETA e Durrësit — Army: 100 trucks arrive
DURRËS — “San Giorgio” brought aid for the Albanian army. The largest Italian ship docked yesterday at the port of Durrës with around 100 heavy-duty vehicles, as well as a large quantity of clothing and logistical equipment for the Albanian army. This is the largest amount of aid to come to our country from Italy. On page 8
GAZETA e Shkodrës — Montenegrins detain 60 traders
SHKODËR — The 60 traders stopped at the border were taken to the border police station, where all their goods were confiscated. They were held there for several hours and then sent back across the border. This was not the first time such a thing had happened, but in recent months checks of this kind have increased considerably. In just the last two weeks, at least 15 sule (the name given to the boats that transport goods on the lake) are estimated to have been confiscated. On page 6
GAZETA e Vlorës — Speedboat holds police officers’ vehicles hostage
VLORË — A confiscated speedboat that went missing has been holding up the salaries of Vlora’s police officers for two days. The story began with an order by the Mulosmani school to confiscate the speedboats. After they were impounded at the Port of Radhimë, several disappeared and their owners filed complaints. One of them managed to win the court case, and the police must pay him 36 million lekë. On page 7
GAZETA e Tiranës — Margarine-laden goods destroyed
TIRANË — One and a half tons of spoiled margarine seized. The Tirana Directorate of Hygiene announced that it had seized 1,600 kilograms of margarine at the Tirana customs office. Kujtim Zaho, director of the Tirana Directorate of Hygiene, said that an inspection carried out a few days earlier at the capital’s customs office had established that a batch of margarine brought from far away was unfit for consumption. On page 5
