— THE POLICE TORTURE CITIZEN EDUART HELMËSI IN AN INHUMANE MANNER, IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, WITHOUT HAVING ANY EVIDENCE OF THE BANK ROBBERY. — FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE DEMOCRATIC POLICE. — LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RESPECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS’ DECISION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE SAVINGS BANK. (Read on page 2)

It is reported that on Thursday, at around 14:30, prosecutor Shkëlqim Kokonai and investigator Beqin Kokoshi decided to charge Mr. Vilson Ahmeti, Prime Minister of the technical government. According to sources, the investigator and prosecutor were accompanied by 10 police officers, who searched Mr. Ahmeti’s home. As is known, investigator Kokoshi has been assigned to investigate the case involving 1 million 600 thousand dollars connected with Albania’s foreign debt. Mr. Ahmeti’s tenure as prime minister coincides with the appointment of the Frenchman Arsidi as mediator for the foreign debt. Let us wait to see what emerges following the detention of Mr. Vilson Ahmeti. We remind readers that, following the arrests of Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari (the Director and Deputy Director of the Commercial Bank), this is the third arrest connected with the 1,600,000-dollar scandal.

Today, Turkish President Turgut Ozal is leaving Albania together with his wife of 137 years. The first visit by a Turkish president to our country takes place just four days after that of Zhelju Zhelev, President of Bulgaria. In their speeches to the Albanian Parliament, both presidents addressed the crisis in the region and the need to recognize Macedonia. Ozal supported Zhelev’s proposal for the Balkan highway Sofia–Skopje–Durrës, also saying that this highway should begin in Istanbul. The Turkish president added that, for now, the project is held back only by the lack of stability in Macedonia, while, in his view, cooperation between Turkey and Albania will play a restraining role against adventures in the region. President Ozal also said in his speech: «I am convinced that the rapid normalization of relations between Albania and Macedonia will be very useful, because the stabilization of Macedonia is also of great importance to us.» On the first day of his visit, Ozal had a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Meksi, at which tourism, light and food industry, and especially telecommunications, were discussed in principle. Zhelev had made the same proposals. Four days earlier, when he visited Albania, Berisha said that investors were not expected to come to Albania because of the danger threatening the country from abroad. On that occasion he asked for help from the former states of Albania, to do something ... [text unclear] ... the threat facing Prime Minister Meksi. President Turgut Ozal said Albania would need a 15-year development plan. On Thursday, Ozal also held a one-on-one meeting with President Berisha for 50 minutes. Later, in the talks between the two sides, [text unclear: the article repeats that investors are not expected to come to Albania because of the danger threatening the country from abroad]. On this occasion, he asked for help from the states supporting it. Also, previous governments took out a 15-million-dollar loan from Turkey, which has not yet been repaid. You will read more about the Turkish president’s visit in the next issue of the newspaper. «Koha jonë» correspondent

February 20 Second anniversary of the toppling of the monument to Enver Hoxha in the center of Tirana (see pages 4–5)