Arsidi and the Scandal The “Arsidi” case is reopened; the financial scandal expands into a legal scandal Arsidi’s accounts are opened; Berisha manipulated the trial The “Arsidi” scandal: theft, forgeries, concealment of evidence, testimony, threats and destruction • Where did 1.3 million dollars go? • The court has ordered the money to be returned by bankers Saliu, Tartari and Xhyheri • Ilir Hoti is sentenced to 10 years in prison, but is not ordered to return the sum of 1.3 million dollars • Arsidi gives two versions of the accounts • First version, in writing: I spent the money on lawyers. (letter dated 5 October 1992) • Second version: I gave the money to Ilir Hoti twice, 650 thousand dollars each time (no document, no written record, no signature) • Vaid Boriçi, former adviser to President Berisha, communicated with Arsidi and changed his alibi • A telephone conversation recorded by the French service proves the truth • Berisha: a speedy trial in Tirana, declaring people guilty and closing the investigation into Arsidi in Paris ACCORDING TO THE ALBANIAN COURT “Arsidi” received USD 1,585,000 from the Bank of Commerce and returned USD 1,966,000!? THE ACCOUNT Arsidi was paid by the Bank of Commerce: 650,000 (December) + 935,000 = 1,585,000 Arsidi withdrew for A. Tartari: 80,000 + 60,000 = 140,000 Arsidi withdrew for A. Saliu: 80,000 + 60,000 = 140,000 Arsidi withdrew for L. Simon: 270,000 = 270,000 Arsidi withdrew cash = 100,000 Arsidi gave Xhyheri = 16,000 Remaining = 919,000 • Meanwhile, according to the version presented in court by Nikolas Arsidi, the account is as follows: 1,300,000 (Ilir Hoti) + 280,000 (A. Saliu, A. Tartari) + 270,000 (L. Simon) + 100,000 (Arsidi cash) + 16,000 (A. Xhyheri) = 1,966,000 dollars. Thus, although Arsidi received 1,585,000 dollars through payments proven by the Bank of Commerce, he claims in the Albanian court to have returned 1,966,000 dollars. That is, much more than he received from the Albanians! PAGE 3

Police arrest the ringleader of the criminal operation in Tirana PAGE 4

Parliament votes to dismiss ministers Zef Preçi and Preç Zogaj, and votes by majority for the new ministers Ilir Zela and Mustafa Muçi

The two Americans reopened the consulate in the capital, Tirana If what we are beginning here is a service for the Albanian people PAGE 9

Deals between judges and lawyers; bandits roam our streets IMF: “OK” to the Government’s financial program Army enterprises, sometimes without profit, sometimes with profit People with an “Adhe B” name collect the money today at “M. Leka”

New Sunday Temperature: 5 and 3° Celsius