From 1988 to 1991, Italians and Greeks sold 77,000 quintals of tobacco CARLO BOLLINO TIRANË - They poured into the Albanian market, without paying a single tax, more than 18 billion lire worth of smuggled goods. Only through the tobacco fraud, from 1988 to 1991, goods worth nearly 10 million dollars disappeared from the warehouses of the Albanian state. A lengthy investigation carried out by the Italian Guardia di Finanza in cooperation with the Albanian authorities has reconstructed the scheme of a major smuggling affair linked to the import and fictitious “export” of cigarettes and tobacco in Albania. The investigation has brought to light a network of traders and intermediaries who used forged documents and false customs declarations. At the center of the case are transactions carried out through foreign and Albanian companies, where the imported goods were listed as re-exported, while in reality they were put on the domestic market without paying any fiscal obligation. According to investigative sources, Albania was used as a transit point and as a cover country for a wide trafficking activity. The goods entered Albanian ports, were temporarily registered in state warehouses and then disappeared from official documentation. Through this scheme, large customs duties were avoided and considerable profits were made by the organizers. The verified documents show that from 1988 to 1991 tens of thousands of quintals of tobacco and cigarettes were brought in and administered, declared as aid or transit goods. But a large part of them ended up on the Albanian market. The investigation continues and new developments are expected regarding the administrative and criminal responsibilities of the persons involved.

TIRANË - S. Idajet The presence so far in the town of Kavaja of about 200 homosexuals, aged 18 to 30, most of whom are sick with AIDS, puts at risk not only the town but also other districts of the country. According to information received from specialist doctors, these people, besides the fact that they may have been affected by the HIV virus, are also carriers of many other contagious diseases. “Such people not only endanger their sexual partners, but also family members, friends and acquaintances with whom they have close contact,” doctors say. Sources from the hygiene sector have reported that the lack of medical checks and sanitary conditions makes the situation alarming. Numerous cases of different infections have been observed, and it is suspected that some of them are directly linked to the lack of information and healthcare. Doctors appeal for swift intervention by institutions and for preventive measures in order to avoid the further spread of infectious diseases.

BEOGRADË Faced with the position of the Kosovo Albanian side, which is particularly demanding a final solution and a special status, the Serbian president has once again repeated that Belgrade is not prepared to grant Kosovo region a special statute. The statement was made during a meeting with media representatives and comes at a time when international attention is focused on developments in the former Yugoslavia. Political sources say that Belgrade’s position remains unchanged and that the Serbian leadership considers the Kosovo issue an internal matter of Serbia. On the other hand, representatives of the Kosovo Albanians have stressed that without recognition of the province’s political and institutional rights, there can be no lasting solution. The statements have heightened political tension in the region.

TIRANË - Is the next year of the new Albanian government beginning with a big promise to return the country toward Europe? In various political and economic forums, there has been talk of concrete steps toward integration, closer ties with European structures, and improved relations with Western countries. According to official statements, the government aims to accelerate administrative and economic reforms, presenting this period as a new beginning for Albania. On the diplomatic front, important meetings, cooperation projects and financial support from foreign partners are mentioned. However, many analysts stress that European rhetoric must be accompanied by concrete reforms and tangible results in the daily life of citizens.

FAIQ SHAHU Our correspondent from Durrës writes about a summer view of the coast, where the colors of the sea and the movement of holidaymakers create a distinctive tableau. On a sunny day, the beach turns into a stage of everyday life, where people come and go, children play, and the waves carry the rhythm of summer. These scenes, according to the author, are part of an Albania that seeks to be reborn also through small joys and the memory of natural beauty. The description is accompanied by detailed observations about people, conversations and the atmosphere of the coastal city. In the end, the author returns to the idea of a landscape that carries a feeling of hope, despite the difficulties of the time.

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