UNITED NATIONS FIELD SECURITY OFFICE
TIRANA, ALBANIA
WEEKLY SECURITY REPORT
March 30, 2003
Week 13
Political & General
25/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli reported that the head of the EU delegation in the talks
between Albania and the EU, Reinhard Priebe, said yesterday that Albania should produce
results in its anti-trafficking and anti-crime campaign as soon as possible. Priebe was very tough
with regards to the measures that the country should take to do away with problems deriving
from organized crime. “We all agree that Albania faces problems which threaten the foundations
of a modern society, democracy, law and economic progress. Unfortunately, Albania remains
very tied to criminal activities and this should change radically,” Priebe said. He added that the
time had now come for concrete decisions to be made and concrete results to be produced. He
said that was what the EU expected from Albania by the next summit in Greece.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Albania newspaper quoted that the President of the Republic, Alfred Moisiu,
will summon today the Security Council to asses the general situation in the country, particularly
the fight against organized crime, progress of institutional reforms and the anti-terrorism
campaign. The Security Council’s meeting, to be attended by Prime Minister Fatos Nano,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilir Meta, Minister of Defense Pandeli Majko and Minister of Public
Order Luan Rama, will concentrate on the country’s contribution to the coalition’s war against
Iraq.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Koha Jone quoted that the Executive Director of the Vlora Trafficked
Women Rehabilitation Centre Vera Lesko said the Centre would help victims of prostitution to
get training so that they can work to earn their own living. Lesko explained that she had
contacted eight repatriated women, who will attend a five-month course to become dressmakers,
within the framework of a project financed by the Save the Children Association.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli reported that he opposition MPs were not allowed to cross the
doorstep of the Municipality of Tirana yesterday to look at the institution’s archives and gather
evidence for their investigation on the use of public funds. The five MPs of the parliamentary
inquiry committee on the use of the funds by the Municipality of Tirana and the Ministry of
Culture during 1992-2002 were refused entry by the Municipality’s guard and two members of
the municipal police. Chairman of the committee Sokol Olldashi and the other members were
denied access because the document allowing them to gather evidence was apparently not
sealed.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that, Head of the Democratic Party parliamentary
group Bamir Topi said at yesterday’s plenary session of the parliament that the opposition would
soon seek the departure of Prime Minister Nano because the opposition members had been
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denied access to the Municipality of Tirana to gather evidence for their investigation. “When we
will hold a meeting of all opposition parliamentary group leaders, I will denounce Mr. Fatos
Nano as the initiator, and we will very soon formalize the request for his resignation,” explained
Topi.
24/03/03 –Tirana. Albanian Daily News quoted that hundreds of Albanian immigrants living in
Britain for years have been repatriated over the last few days by British authorities, as they were
not given the asylum status. Sources report that most of the returned immigrants are from
districts of Has, Kukes, and Tropoja. Almost 100 Albanian immigrants are sent back to Prishtina
airport every Thursday because they had been registered as Kosovo Albanians. During Kosovo
conflict, many Albanian citizens, mainly from Has and Kukes, illegally penetrated and sought
political asylum in several European countries. After their arrival from Britain, in Prishtina
Airport, UNMIK police and KFOR troops accompany the Albanian immigrants toward Morine
border crossing before handing them over to Albanian Police.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Korrieri quoted that, Albania and the EU held their second round of
negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The meeting, which was chaired
by David Daly of the European Commission and Minister of State for Integration Sokol Nako,
focused on technical issues. The themes of discussion were ‘the Right to Settle’, ‘Free
Movement of Employees’ and ‘Financial Services Related to Settlement’. Those issues relate to
the right of companies, individuals, banks and financial institutions of the EU member countries
to start their businesses in Albania, and to the right of Albanian companies, banks and financial
services to start their business in the EU countries.
25/03/03 – Workings for the construction of Kukes Airport, north of Albania, sponsored by the
United Arab Emirate (UAE) investors have set off according to plans, the spokesman of the
Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications said on Monday. The project is financed with a
grant of $16 million from the UAE government. The tender was won by the AL-KHARAFI
Company and construction will be carried out by its Albanian branch, MAK-ALBANIA.
According to this contract, workings are set to continue for 20 months and the capacity of this
airport will reach 100,000 passengers annually. It will be of C category, according to the
International Association of Civil Aviation. The runaway will be 1.8 kilometers long and 60
meters wide, what will make possible the landing of every type of aircraft. Besides this will be
built a terminal of 600 Sq. meters for passenger accommodation. An important part of the
workings will consist of an air-traffic control tower, ware- houses, a fire station and a parking lot
for the aircraft.
25/03/03 – Tirana. Dita newspaper quoted that US officials met with the representatives of the
EU Delegation in Tirana and asked them to help Albania sign the Stabilization and Association
Agreement with the EU. The US Embassy said that the two sides signed a joint statement after
the meeting. “Representatives of the European Commission and the US government held
informal consultations in Tirana on 24 and 25 March to discuss their common vision of a
democratic, prosperous and peaceful Albania. They discussed ways of strengthening coordination of their assistance so that the country meet the EU standards,” the statement said. The
officials also stressed that Albanian membership in the EU and in the Euro-Atlantic structures
was the final goal of the US and the EU. They stressed that the fight against corruption,
organized crime and trafficking, as well as promotion of the rule of law would be considered as
the top priorities in the process.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that the President Moisiu said at yesterday’s Security
Council meeting that he wanted to see an improved system of training and selecting the staff of
the Albanian Intelligence Service (ShISh). President Moisiu made the remarks just four months
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after the new Director of ShISh was appointed. “It is important for this kind of service to stay
away from politics as much as possible,” Moisiu added.
26/03/03 – Tirana Daily Gazeta Shqiptare quoted that the People’s Advocate expert Sotiraq
Nushi said yesterday that the police were afraid to refer their complaints to the institution of the
People’s Advocate, because they were under the pressure of their bosses and in danger of losing
their jobs if they reported about violations to the People’s Advocate. “We cannot address the
issue as long as we do not have complaints from the damaged party,” Nushi said.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Albania quoted that the drivers of the taxi mini-vans throughout
Albania asked for permission from the Tirana Police Directorate to launch a large protest
as a sign of solidarity for their colleagues in Elbasan, who have suspended their work eight days
ago, because they were denied access to Tirana. Chairman of the Transport Labour Union said
that the taxi drivers all over Albania were feeling discriminated against because they had no
access to the capital. He proposed that the law on taxi mini-vans be changed because it was
inapplicable to the present conditions.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Only through upgrading national security will Albania be able to fight
against terrorism, illegal trafficking and shrug the responsibility of crime off its shoulders,
President Alfred Moisiu said at the meeting of National Security Council on Tuesday.
“Measures should be undertaken to face the worst, “ he said in the meeting. Moisiu, also
chairman of the National Security Council said the professional performance of secret services
were indispensable.
26/03/03 – Tirana. The Electricity situation has gotten worse again throughout Albania over
the last few days, with officials of energy utility (KESH) blaming lack of rain. According to
latest reports from the country’s prefectures as quoted by local media on Thursday, power
outages are mostly taking 8 hours a day in the cities and more than 12 hours a day in the
villages, when these restrictions were respectively 5 to 8 hours a day till a few days ago. Starting
from last week, five- hour power cuts are actually applied in the capital city, where the
electricity supply has been previously interrupted for only three hours a day.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Clandestine trafficking is extended from Kosovo to Durres, central Albania,
with travel agencies as major intermediates. This statement came from official sources of
Durres Police Department, referring to the prosecution’s data and investigation. During the first
quarter of 2003, one hundred and forty one people were arrested by criminal and port police.
After being provided with fake passports and visas by Kosovo trafficking networks they have
been registered as “ tourists” to pass to Italy, Germany, Sweden, and other EU countries.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Some 400 to 500 people die annually in Albania due to road accidents, at
work and by fire, daily Dita said. This figure is relatively high as compared to the population.
The Institute of Public Health, in co-operation with Medicine Faculty and SOROS Foundation,
have recently organized a conference entitled “Accidents and their prevention”. Every year,
some 2,500 people receive assistance in the Military Hospital, who have had a road accident or
accident at work. The number of victims is nearly 200, while the number of people who become
invalid is 800. In view of this situation, the Ministry of Public Order and that of Transport have
issued an order for the establishment of a Task Force to cope with the high rate of road
accidents. It is foreseen the creation of special Task Force units, which will be made up of 4
policemen, of the Road Police and 2 policemen of the Road Transport Service. They will have a
coordinating unit, which will have a specialist of the General Directorate of Road Transmission.
The task Force units in the regions will exert controls for licenses, technical control on the
vehicle, controls for use of alcoholic drinks, high speed and documents.
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26/03/03 – Tirana. State inspectorate of food controls has reportedly sequestrated more than 451
tones of rotten food products last year, said its relevant sources quoted by daily Sot on
Wednesday. Besides the expired food, numerous other products below the required standards are
actually circulating at the Albanian market, the above experts warned.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Power cuts are expected to be reduced significantly in Albania, at the
beginning of April, the Minister of Energy, Viktor Doda, confirmed during Tuesday’s meeting
of the ruling Socialist Party parliamentary group.
26/03/03 – Tirana. The Albanian President Alfred Moisiu asked members of the National
Security Council to strengthen the fight on organized crime. According to him, it was not
normal that in most of the cases, many problems related to this phenomenon, remained only at
the stage of evidence, as everything should be made concrete with results. Moisiu rebuked
especially handicaps in internal control structures in the Ministry of Public Order and on
functions of the justice system. According to him, the fight on organized crime should be the top
priority of the everyday work of Parliament, government, or other institutions relevant in this
process.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Gazeta Shqiptare quoted that European Union representatives
threatened Albanian government on Tuesday with suspension of aid unless the fight on
organized crime and trafficking was intensified. “The organized crime and trafficking are in
Albania’s way of European integration.” This was the statement of EU representative Reinhard
Prieb in the meeting of the fifth consultancy group between Albania and EU.
27/03/03 – Tirana. An OSCE Parliamentary Assembly headed by a representative delegation of
the Italian minority in the Slovenian Parliament, Roberto Batteli, visited Tuesday, the heavily
polluted Porto Romano industrial zone in Durres town, central Albania. According to the
representatives of the OSCE delegation, which is on a four-day visit in Albania since Tuesday,
the purpose of this visit is to sensitize the European Parliament to obtain investment from the
respective governments for this polluted area. Porto Romano’s pollution became a sensitive
issue after the United Nations Environment Programme published a report last year, which
ranked this area among the most polluted in the Balkans. According to the figures issued in this
report, pollution level in Porto Romano was 4,000 times higher than the European standards,
Albanian Daily News quoted as saying.
27/03/03 – Tirana. President Alfred Moisiu has apparently defended the chairman of the
parliamentary inquiring committee on the Muncipality of Tirana, Olldashi after Mayor Rama
denied Olldashi and four opposition members of the committee access to the Municipality
premises. Olldashi met President Moisiu yesterday and told him that his committee’s work was
being hindered by its Socialist members. Sources from the presidential office quoted Moisiu as
having asked that the committee respect the law and not be influenced by the political struggle
in the country. He is also reported to have asked that the opposition show more restraint and not
create political tensions by launching numerous accusations. Moisiu has reportedly asked
Olldashi to prove the accusations through investigations.
27/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Korrieri quoted that the European Commission approved yesterday the
second report on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Southeastern European
countries calling on Albania to take concrete action to counter organized crime, trafficking and
corruption. The report mentions that 1,500 kilos of heroin coming from Albania were seized in
Italy during 2002 alone. Thus, the report makes the country’s commitment in anti-trafficking a
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top priority. The report, to be released today, also assesses the progress of the integration
process of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the fYRoM and Serbia-Montenegro.
27/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Korrieri quoted that Democratic Party chairman Sali Berisha said at the
Tirana DP local conference yesterday that the time for street protests had come. Berisha’s
statement was hailed by the local Democrats with slogans like ‘Sali, honey, you are the right
man for Albania’ or ‘We will take food with us and take to the streets’. Berisha asked the DP
structures to make proper preparations for the street protests. The opposition leader said that the
protests were part of the DP battle against the clans of crime and bosses of drugs.
27/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Ballkan quoted that the new tariffs of electricity are expected to come
into force as of 1 April 2003. The Energy Task Force and the Council of Ministers suggested the
Regulatory Energy Agency to start applying the new price of electricity. Chief of the National
Energy Agency Besim Islami said that a study about Albania’s energy sector conducted by the
World Bank had calculated precisely the tariffs for various kinds of electricity consumption.
Islami said that the calculations aimed at avoiding electricity being used for heating and
cooking. The Task Force has suggested that a two-price system be applied. This means that the
price will be 4.5 Lek per each kilowatt-hour for consumption up to 300 kilowatt-hours and 10
Lek for consumption beyond 300.
27/03/03 – Tirana. Shekulli quoted that the Exim Bank US and US ACD Company, well known
for investment in the health sector, will construct a 30-million USD worth modern hospital in
Albania, as a sign of the US gratitude for the country’s support to the American-led
coalition against Iraq. The news was broken at yesterday’s meeting between Prime Minister
Nano and high representatives of several US banking institutions.
27/03/03 – Tirana Twenty-two passengers travelling back from Pristina to Tirana with an
Albanian Airliner were scared to death when they realized that their plane was not landing
within the landing strip of the Mother Teresa Airport in Rinas, the newspaper writes.
Fortunately, nobody was injured. The incident occurred at 1430 and there are no reports on what
caused it. Sources from the Rinas police commissariat said that the plane’s deviance was some
40-50 meters.
27/03/03 – Tirana Sot writes that a group of international parliamentarians were terrified on
Tuesday by the high level of pollution in Porto Romano, Durres. The visit by the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly delegation, accompanied by the representatives of the OSCE Presence
in Albania, comes after the Sot newspaper sounded the alarm amid government’s silence over
the Adriatic coast’s most poisoned area. Porto Romano is located northeast to Durres, its surface
is 17.5 hectares and its population totals up to 20,000 inhabitants. The inhabitants, who have
moved from remote areas in the country, were settled after the downfall of communism on the
ruins of the former Durres Chemical Plant.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that speaking about high figures in corruption,
organized crime, low security and public order, limited capacities of the public administration
and unsatisfactory economic growth, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Tirana,
Ambassador Lut Saltzman, warned the Albanian Government that the negotiations on the
Stabilization and Association Agreement with the country could be delayed. On Thursday,
Saltzman officially submitted to the Government the European Commission Second Report and
presented parts of it at a press conference afterwards. “The country’s political elite, the
Government and the opposition should show full willingness to fight against crime, corruption,
trafficking and money laundering,” Saltzman said at the conference.
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28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that the opposition walked out from the parliament
after Mayor of Tirana Edi Rama refused to provide the right-wing members of the parliamentary
inquiry committee on the use of public funds by the Municipality of Tirana and the Ministry of
Culture during 1992-2002 period, with evidence necessary to complete their task. The
opposition claims that Prime Minister Nano and Mayor Rama are behind the blocking of the
committee. The opposition’s walk-out led to the suspension of the proceedings in the parliament
as there was no quorum to put some scheduled draft laws to vote.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Koha Jone quoted that the Justice Ministry experts confirmed that they
had already started working on drafting a law on private investigators. Private detectives are
thought to work in parallel with the State police on gathering evidence, which the newspaper
says will bring about competition in courts. Most of legal experts say this law is a necessity and
that a legal status for private investigators should be first drafted.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that the World Bank released a report on Thursday
saying that local and international investment in Albania decreased during 2002 due to
corruption in the public administration, particularly in tax and customs sectors. The report said
that a failure to solve the property restitution and compensation problem was also a reason. To
prepare the study, the World Bank had collected data from 500 companies in Albania and
interviewed some 30 representatives of the public administration. The study found that some
companies were facing increase of the production cost due to abuse and unfair competition.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Sot newspaper quoted that four Pakistan citizens, apprehended
recently for irregular entry at the Police Commissariat of Gjirokastra, were pre-screened by an
UNHCR and IOM team. The Pakistani citizens were interviewed by specialized personnel on
whether they wanted to request asylum in Albania or return to their country of origin. They
chose to return and are now staying in an IOM shelter waiting to go back to Pakistan. UNHCR,
the Governmental Office for Refugees, IOM, and the OSCE Presence in Albania pre-screen
regularly foreigners apprehended for irregular entry to Albania. This activity is based on an
Instruction of February 2001 issued by the Minister of Public Order to all police stations, which
establishes that joint teams composed of UNHCR and IOM interview foreigners who are
apprehended within the country for irregular entry. The OSCE Presence in Albania ensures that
the communication between the police and the pre-screening teams is comprehensive and
timely.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Albanian news reports taxation police of Elbasan, central Albania, has
lately closed two breweries and fined a third one, said local sources quoted by daily Dita. Also,
competent organs have sequestered more than 1,000 liters of alcoholic drinks allegedly found
without the required fiscal trademarks.
28/03/03 – Tirana. Airline Company “ Swissair” will interrupt flights from Tirana starting from
March 30, the General Director of Swiss International Airlines Ltd, Bernard Schindelholz said
Wednesday.
28/03/03 –Berat. Citizens of Durres City protested against the lack of power supply. The lack of
power supply has sent close to bankruptcy, several business firms of Durres City, even though
Durresi, is one of the main cities that pay regularly the electric bills, daily Koha Jone quoted.
29/03/03 –Tirana. The Albanian Government approved a packet of punitive and repressive
measures as part of its efforts to strengthen the fight against organized crime, trafficking and
corruption. The measures include establishment of a court for serious crimes, stronger control to
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prevent money laundering and changes in the way of the functioning of the prosecutor’s office
and court system. Korrieri says that the package of measures is aimed at coping with criticism
from the EU and the US about high figures in corruption and organized crime. The government
approved sanctioning of terrorism financing and the phenomena related to that, such as money
laundering and opening of anonymous bank accounts.
29/03/03 – Tirana. Albanian Daily Newspaper quoted that the draft law “ On Money
Laundering” the establishment of a serious crimes court and especially legal measures for a
witness-protection programme are three top priorities that the Ministry of Justice will move on
to fulfill as part of the fight on organized crime and trafficking in Albania, said the Minister of
Justice, Spiro Peci.
29/03/03 – Tirana. Albanian Daily News quoted that the Corruption indicator in Albania
marked an increase of 8 points in 2002 as compared to 2001, said a recent study involving
some 7 countries of South-east Europe. The latest data were published on Thursday in a report
of Foreign Investment Advisory Service, a World Bank Group. According to this study, under
the conditions when there is a lack of functioning of institutions in general, it is not surprising
that corruption is considered one of the most serious factors that hamper efforts for reform. “The
data on the corruption the survey showed, though high, are not new for Albania,” the report of
FIAS said. In 2002 indicators of perception of corruption by International Transparency,
Albania is ranked the eighty-first among the 102 countries involved in the study.
30/03/03 –Tirana. Daily Shekulli quoted that the Prime Minister Fatos Nano said at a Socialist
Party local conference in Lezha on Saturday that DP leader Sali Berisha’s favorite allies had
always been members of the underworld and those who had been interesting in selling out
Albania’s interests. “As a Prime Minister and chairperson of the Socialist Party, I can say that
we will not tolerate this time that a destructive man like Berisha touch the country’s stability and
the Euro-Atlantic integration reforms. Berisha can no longer introduce himself as a politician
representing the clean hands movement. Sali refuses to understand that the days we are living
in are especially important for the country’s future Euro-Atlantic integration,” Nano said. The
Albanian Prime Minister added that the opposition leader had not shown even a minimum of
willingness to offer his contribution to developing long-term strategies for the country’s
prosperity. “This happens because his ties to fundamentalism, crime and terrorism are so
strong that cannot allow him to move to the West,” Nano said.
30/03/03 –Tirana. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Valentina Leskaj signed on Saturday an
agreement of co-operation with the Albania’s Encouragement Project Forum (AEP), which
brings together 70 NGOs involved in social services and poverty reduction campaign in the
country. The AEP operates in Albania since the early ’90s. It has set up social centers in Tirana,
Korce, Gjirokaster, Pogradec, Durres, Shkoder, Vlore and Saranda.
Anti-trafficking
25/03/03 –Korce. As many as 19 babies, delivered by Albanian women have been trafficked to
Greece, aimed at organs’ trafficking, daily Shekulli quoted. So far 7 people have been arrested
and then detained, charged for being involved in this human beings’ trafficking network. Police
investigations continue.
25/03/03 –Perrenjas. The Border police arrested 12 nationals, charged for attempting to cross
illegally the borderline. Their age varied, from 15 to 17 year-old, official police sources said.
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25/03/03 –Greece. Greek police arrested and then detained Riza Meco, 61,from Korca,
southeastern Albania, and three other Albanian national, from Central Albania, charged for
being involved in a drug network. The four Albanians nationals are suspected to have been
involved in a drug network. Albanian and Greek police investigations continue.
25/03/03 –Durres. Police of Durres Port, central Albania, seized 93 smuggled cell phones in a
car arriving from Italy Saturday and arrested the owner of the car as well as the customs agent,
official sources from police said. According to preliminary calculations the value of the seized
cells reached to Euro 1,700, while the neglected customs duty reached Euro 3,800. Police
arrested Astrit Tartari, the owner of the car, as well as Adimirim Lici, the customs agent who
allowed the attempted smuggling.
27/03/03 – Italy. Italian police arrested yesterday an Albanian on suspicion of running a giant
racket of illegal immigrants trafficking. Ramiz Paci and his close friend Luan Sheqi, who was
also arrested, illegally trafficked would-be immigrants from Albania to Italy via Greece. Italian
police said the route was much safer than the one going directly to Italy by speedboats.
Italian police arrested and then detained one Albanian national whose name was not reported,
charged for being involved in a drug network. At the time of the arrest the Italian police found in
his possession 2 kg of cocaine, daily Gazeta Shqiptare quoted.
27/03/03 -Italy. Italian police arrested and then detained 11 Albanian nationals, Gentian Lecini,
23, Sokol Vishkurti, 37, Arjan Meka, 21, Malush Godeni, 51, Agron and Klodian Cela,
respectively 24 and 26 years old, Mentian and Dorian Agalliu, respectively 33 and 25 years old,
Saimir Balla, 26, and Agim Dervishi, 27, charged for being involved in a drug network.
27/03/03 – Vlora. Police sequestered 80 kg of marijuana, hidden among the rocks of Dhermi
Coast. Police were mobilized by an anonymous phone call. Police investigations continue.
27/03/03 – Durres. The Border Police of Durres Harbor, arrested Sokol Mema, 19, charged for
attempting to cross illegally the borderline to Italy, by climbing on the ropes of “San Savino”
ferry. A few hours later he was released from the Police Commissariat, daily Gazeta Shqiptare
quoted.
27/03/03 – Pogradec. Police arrested and then detained Artan Shkurt, 24, a Lieutenant Officer
of “ Delta” Force, of Farke Police, suspected to be involved in a prostitution network. Police
investigations continue.
27/03/03 – Milano. Daily Koha Jone quoted that the Italian police arrested and then detained
two Albanian nationals, respectively 30 and 35 year-old, charged for being involved in a human
beings network. Police investigations continue. Koha Jone quoted.
30/03/03 –Durres. Durres Border Police arrested and then detained 6 crewmembers of
“Anastasia” ship, charged for being involved in an international human beings trafficking
network. The six crewmembers, of Bangladesh, Greek and Syrian nationalities, are accused of
organizing the international trafficking itinerary Pakistan-Turkey- Bulgaria- Croatia- Albania –
Greece. Their arrest was made possible, by the arrest of four Pakistan nationals, who had entered
illegally into Albania. Police investigations continue.
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Crime& Incidents
24/03/03 –Vlore. Kujtime Mema, 43, attempted to commit suicide, by poisoning herself at her
house. Preliminary investigations said the woman was suffering from mental depression, caused
by poverty.
24/03/03 –Berat. E.Mallati ,18, attempted to commit suicide, by poisoning herself at her house.
Preliminary investigations said the young woman was suffering from mental depression, caused
by the lack of communication, for several months, with her fiancée, living in Greece.
24/03/03 –Lushnje. Dhia Alhatore, 40, of Iraqi nationality, was released on Monday, from
prison. Alhatore was suspected to be involved in a terrorist organization. According to police
sources, his visa expired a year and a half ago. Alhatore is married to an Albanian woman.
24/03/03 –Durres. Police of Kruja city arrested and then detained B.ZH, 17, charged for armed
burglary. Police investigations continue.
24/03/03 –Durres. Police arrested D.K, suspected to have been involved in a theft from a silver
ware shop. Police investigations continue.
24/03/03 –Shkoder. A powerful explosion rocked a house few meters from the center in
Shkodra, north of Albania, on Sunday night, police sources reported Monday. The blast that
took place at 2230, was caused by placing an explosive device near “ Shkodra” printing house,
blowing away windows and damaging the main door of the building. According to police, the
object of the explosion was a house close to the printing house and they believe that the motive
of this act was revenge. The police have started investigations to shed light on this event.
25/03/03 –Vlore. Dallendyshe Malaj, 20, committed suicide, by shooting herself with a rifle.
Preliminary investigations said the woman was suffering from mental depression, for she
couldn’t accept the jealousy of her husband, Shaqir Malaj, 27, who attempted to commit suicide,
by shooting himself with the same rifle, a few minutes later, after seeing his wife dead. Shaqir
Malaj is in a serious condition.
25/03/03 –Tirane. Kreshnik Berisha, 21, was repatriated from Italy. Berisha
wanted by police charged for attempting to murder and illegal arms bearing.
was declared
25/03/03 –Cerrik. Elvis Omeraj, 20, was badly injured by a pistol, in mysterious
circumstances. Omeraj was immediately sent to hospital. Police investigations continue.
25/03/03 –Elbasan . Police arrested and then detained Fran Qose, 78, charged for attempting to
murder with a rifle, his 24-year-old neighbour, following some property arguments. Police
released Qose, considering his old age. Police investigations continue.
Kujtime Mema, 43, attempted to commit suicide, by poisoning herself at her house.
25/03/03 –Tirane. Roland Tafili, 30, was injured by a gunshot in mysterious circumstances.
The incident happened close to Tirana Lake Hills. No motives have been reported. Police
investigations continue.
25/03/03 –Durres. Police arrested and then detained Armand Plaku, 26, charged for sexually
abusing a 10-year-boy.
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25/03/03 –Berat. Police arrested Altin Mena, 12, charged for stealing to his uncle, Lek50.000.
The young boy declared that he committed this act, for revenge, due to some arguments
between his family and the uncle’s family. Police investigations continue.
26/03/03 –Vlora. Parents of Martin Isai, 30, and Romeo Beluli, 20, asked the assistance of Vlora
police, south of Albania, as they have been missing for several days, the relatives were quoted
by daily Gazeta Shqiptare as saying on Wednesday. They explained Isai and Beluli had
acquired a speedboat in Montenegro and had left for Italy, with 20 persons on board, in attempt
to reach the shore of the neighboring country.
26/03/03 –Elbasan. Some unidentified masked persons robbed Lek 1 million from a house of a
citizen, in Elbasan City. Police investigations continue.
27/03/03 –Tirane. Sajmir Hysi, a prosecutor in Tirana’ Prosecution demanded eight years of
imprisonment for Fatjon Hasa and one year and half year of imprisonment, for Shkelzen Haklaj,
charged for stealing Lek 40 million from the house of an Albanian citizen, in Kamez, Tirana
City.
27/03/03 –Vlore. Sokol Lulaj was arrested and then detained by police, charged for theft. Lulaj
stole Euro 4500 from an Albanian citizen. Police have declared wanted the other national, whose
name, was not been reported, charged for adding and abetting him. Police investigations
continue.
27/03/03 – Durres. Some unidentified persons stole the vehicle, type “ Benz Mercedes 2000 ”
from the husband of the Albanian Deputy Minister of Local Power and Decentralization,
Natasha Paco. Police investigations continue.
27/03/03 –Tirane. Police arrested and then detained Shpetim Merepeza, 34, and Ledio Cano, 33,
charged for aiding and abetting Akil Mazreku. Mazreku is declared wanted by the police,
charged for injuring with a pistol Roland Tafili, following an argument for a woman.
27/03/03 –Kavaje. Police arrested and then detained Fatmir Mema, 28, charged for vehicle
theft.
29/03/03 – Durres. Some unidentified masked persons stole Euro 6500 from a house in Durres
City. Police investigations continue
29/03/03 – Tirane. Police arrested and then detained Kastriot Dalipi. Dalipi was declared wanted
by the Albanian police, charged for murdering of a citizen from Kosovo, in 1992. The
Albanian Justice had sentenced Dalipi to 20 years of imprisonment.
30/03/03 – Tirane. Police arrested and then detained three nationals Mishel Prela, 17, Olsi Jorgji,
20, and Artan Bardhi, 24, charged for assaulting three policemen, who were on duty. Police
investigations continue.
30/03/03 – Durres. Police arrested and then detained Thanas Tata, 52, charged for badly injuring
his wife, by beating her with a pistol on her head, following some family arguments. So far,
the wife, Adriana Tata, 36, is in a grave health condition. Police investigations continue.
30/03/03 –Tirane. Unidentified persons murdered on Saturday, Fatmir Rama, 35, owner of the
Kartodrom luxurious coffee shop on the outskirts of Tirana. Three other persons were injured.
The police said that the murderers had left their weapons at the crime scene, walked a few
meters and then got into a car and drove away. Senior police leaders surrounded the complex,
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which is the only one of this kind in Albania and which includes a car race track, swimming
pools and a restaurant. The police have not yet come up with the official version of the murder,
but drugs smuggling is thought to be one of the main lines. No one knew Rama by his real
name. He was known as Miri i Xhikes by his friends and even by Albanian politicians, who
mentioned his name at the December 2001 meeting of the Socialist Party General Steering
Committee. Rama immigrated to Italy in early ’90s where, according to the newspaper, he was
involved in suspicious activities. In 1995-1996, he shook off the image of a refugee in Italy by
becoming a powerful businessman. At the same time, it was reported that the Milan Anti-Mafia
Prosecutor’s Office started legal proceedings against him. The investigation led to a court
case held in absentia under charges of running a drugs racket. He was reportedly sentenced to
28 years of imprisonment, which is thought to have been the reason why Rama decided
eventually to return to Albania and put his money into an investment. Rama had also become a
popular character in Albania’s political life thanks to his connections with the leaders of the
majority.
Accidents
24/03/03 –Berat. Veli Shala, 57, Avdulla Shala, 43, and another man were injured, when their
vehicle collided with another one. The accident happened close to Pobrat village.
24/03/03 –Berat. Arjan Baha, 32, and his fiancé, Rovena Qata, were injured following a vehicle
accident. The accident happened close to Vertop village, in Berat District. According to
preliminary investigations, the driver had lost the road’s direction, official police sources said.
Police investigation continues.
25/03/03 –Tirane. Spartak Hasholla, 48, died, after being knocked over by a lorry. The accident
happened at 1400 close to Tirana e Re Quarter.
29/03/03 –Pogradec. Spartak Ngjela, Democratic Party MP, and two other persons were injured
in a road accident, which occurred on Friday on the Pogradec-Korce section. The police sources
said that the accident occurred at the Leshnica Bridge, 12 kilometers away from the township of
Pogradec. Ngjela, his sister and the driver were sent to hospital, where doctors said their lives
were out of danger. Police investigations continue.
Travel Advisory
All travel to and around Albania requires security clearance.
Fire Safety
25/03/03 – Shkoder. At least seven shops have been set ablaze in the city’s central market
Monday, this time due to serious defects in the power network. Sources said that a surge of high
tension was the cause. Firemen managed to localize the fire, to prevent it from spreading in other
areas.
26/03/03 –Librazhd. Three flats in a building, in Librazhd, were burnt down, due to a big fire.
25/03/03 – Lusnje. A big fire burnt down a bakery, in Ngullez village, in Lushnje district. No
cause is given but according to preliminary investigations, the fire was caused by an electric
overload in the power network. Police investigations continue.
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Security Assessment.
The security situation in Albania remains stable. Following a meeting of interested parties it was
decided after the Friday briefing that the present situation does not warrant any special change in
our security preparedness. The situation will be reviewed next week.
Regional
24/03/03 – Tirana. Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Montenegrin Minister of Foreign
Affairs Dragisha Burzan talked on Sunday about the latest developments in the world,
particularly following the start of the war against Iraq and the assassination of Serbian Prime
Minister Zoran Djindjic. They both agreed that the future of the Serbia-Montenegro union, as
part of the Western Balkan, would continue to follow the road paved by Djindjic and that the
integrating process would be even more fruitful with Serbia’s participation. They also talked
about projects of regional co-operation with special focus on joint initiatives to fight organized
crime and trafficking.
26/03/03 – Tirana. Bulgarian Prime Minister Simon Saks Koburg will pay today an official visit
to Tirana, where he is expected to sign three bilateral agreements. They include a free trade
agreement and another one on international communication. The Bulgarian Prime Minister is
expected to meet his Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano and the President of the Republic Alfred
Moisiu.
27/03/03 – Kosovo. Three explosions were heard yesterday in the village of Goshnic, on the
border between the fYRoM and Kosovo, the general headquarters of the Macedonian National
Army reported. The Army said that there were no casualties or material damage reported.
Representatives of NATO, KFOR and OSCE based in the fYRoM were informed about the
incident.
30/03/03 – Tirana. Daily Gazeta Shqiptare quoted that the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister
Nebojsa Covic said Belgrade would stand by its word that an independent or divided Kosovo
was out of discussion. “If Kosovo will move towards its independence at a time when the
UNMIK is telling Albanians that there will be no independent Kosovo, then conflict is
unavoidable,” Covic said. “Belgrade cannot tolerate that the UNMIK works in Kosovo the way
it wants, hearing the warning of more competencies being given to the Government of Kosovo
and seeing the lack of serious goals on the part of the Albanian community to create a
multiethnic life and live with the Serbs,” Covic said.
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