Good investment opportunities for Albanians Tourism Minister Edmond Spaho speaks. The plan for five hotels in Tirana Tourism? We have to wait another 5 years Good investment opportunities for Albanians CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Five extremely luxurious hotels in the city of Tirana alone, another in Gjirokastër, two tourist villages (perhaps) between Durrës and Vlora. And dozens of private businesses have already started, with others ready to get underway, also thanks to funding that the European Community makes available to Albanians intending to invest in this sector. That is the state of tourism projects in Albania for 1993. “It may seem that things are moving slowly, but tourism follows the development of all branches of the economy,” explains Tourism Minister Edmond Spaho. In other words, one cannot expect more from a country struggling to build democracy and a market economy. Minister, let us start with the problems: what is currently holding back the development of tourism in Albania? “First of all, the lack of infrastructure: to receive tourists, you need roads, electricity, telephone service and water. The countries around us offer highly developed models of tourism, and we have to adapt. Of course, it takes time...” How much time? “We say that it will take at least 4–5 years to enter the market with a certain capacity, but full development will take at least 15 years. That is a natural timeframe. Here, it is not only the infrastructure that has to adapt, but also people’s mentality. Because tourism is also a matter of culture and education, and our people must get used to that as well.” What kind of tourism do you envisage for Albania: mass tourism, of the Greek or Spanish kind, or elite tourism, like the French and, for example, the Italian kind? “We will avoid mass tourism at all costs and aim for a medium-to-high standard. Besides, Albania is the only Mediterranean country with mountainous areas and completely clean seas. This is a privilege that we intend to make use of.” What can an Albanian citizen who intends to invest in the tourism sector do? “For Albanians, several offers have been provided for under the European Community’s Fare programme: for 1993, around 1 million and 300 thousand dollars are still available to finance individual and small-scale initiatives such as restaurants, shops and craft businesses. Information on obtaining this financing can be gathered from the various technical teams operating in Tirana and seven other cities. In general, however, this programme aims to encourage activity in the south of the country, particularly in Gjirokastër and Sarandë.” Let us talk about concrete projects: which initiatives have already been approved? “The most important ones are in the hotel sector. Among other things, work will begin on renovating Hotel “Tirana”, under an agreement between an Italian company and our Albaturizmi. This means the hotel must remain open: the work will last no less than a year. Hotel “Dajti” will also be renovated and expanded, although the financing procedures have not yet been completed: 110 new rooms will be built. Work is being discussed on a third hotel, on the hills above the artificial lake: it will be a 200-room facility built by a group of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs. The fourth hotel (120 rooms, 20 apartments and 20 offices) will be built in the area where the new Central Committee headquarters had been planned some time ago. The project belongs to an Austrian company that has already received financing from the European Bank and will also build a shopping centre behind the Italian embassy. Finally, there is a fifth project—also awaiting financing—proposed by a Swiss company to build a super-luxury hotel with 100 rooms in an area near the Martyrs’ Cemetery.” That covers Tirana, but what about the rest of the country? “In Gjirokastër, work has begun on building a new 70-room hotel, being developed by an Italian firm and Albaturizmi...” And will the tourist villages go ahead or not? “We hope to conclude two agreements for tourist villages in Vlora and Durrës within the year. Then we have to consider the offers. As I said, it takes time. Things cannot move faster. They cannot.” Hotel «Tirana», with the beach at Durrës nearby

Sport What Serie A will be like Cremonese’s “valuable players” GIANNI ANTONUCCI After 10 years, Gigi Simoni returns to Serie A, bringing Cremonese back to the top division just 10 months after its “descent” to Serie B. “This time,” says president Domenico Luzzara, 71, who has been at the helm of Cremonese since it was founded 26 years ago, “we’re buying a one-way ticket. No return. We’re in Serie A and we’ll stay there.” With this objective in mind, the club has closed its transfer-season accounts at a “loss”: 5.5 billion for player purchases and just over one billion from sales. The top scorer stays with the team. Keeping Tentoni cost Cremonese a real sacrifice; for a calm championship campaign, it has brought in goalkeeper Mannini (36), who has played for Pisa, Bari and Fiorentina; Atalanta midfielder S. De Agostini; Castagna of Vicenza; Lucarelli of Padova; and Bassani of Chievo. Apart from Lombardini, sold to Vicenza, it has kept its “valuable players”: Maspero, Colonnese, Nicolini and Tentoni. Their performance will be discussed next year. Luzzara’s gamble is to stay in Serie A for more than one year. Cremonese has never managed that so far and still relies on its two foreign players, Florjancic (top scorer of the Anglo-Italian tournament) and De Zotti. Signings: Mannini (Fiorentina), De Agostini (Atalanta), Castagna (Vicenza), Lucarelli (Padova), Bassani (Chievo). Departures: Lombardini (Vicenza) Squad: goalkeepers: A. Mannini, Turci, Razzetti; defenders: Bassani, Castagna, Colonnese, Gualco, Lucarelli, Montorfano, Pedroni, Verdelli; midfielders: Cristiani, De Agostini, Ferraroni, Guindani, Pessotto, Maspero, Nicolini, Giandebaggi, Pirri; forwards: De Zotti, Tentoni, Florjancic, Bruzzano, Cabrini L. Coach: Simoni (confirmed). 3. Continued

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HEARS PS REQUEST FOR FATOS NANO’S RELEASE - The Constitutional Court has heard the request by the PS Parliamentary Group to lift the arrest measure against Fatos Nano, the party chairman, currently in prison accused of misappropriation in connection with Italian aid. Immediately after his arrest, the PS Parliamentary Group appealed to the Constitutional Court, arguing that Nano’s arrest was unlawful because he was still a member of parliament, even though Parliament had voted to lift his immunity. NUMBER OF TEACHERS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS DECREASES IN BURREL - Some of the poor results observed in education in the Burrel district last year were also considered to be the consequence of a relatively high number—over 158—of teachers without the appropriate educational qualifications. Measures are being taken this school year to limit this phenomenon. Sixty-eight new teachers who have completed higher education and are from this district will begin work. PRIME MINISTER MEKSI MEETS WITH UNDP REPRESENTATIVES - The delegation of UNDP Governors once again assured Prime Minister Meksi that the international organization would continue to support the reforms undertaken by his government. “Aid will be phased according to the country’s needs,” senior UNDP officials visiting Tirana on an official visit stressed. Meksi, for his part, described the government’s relations with the powerful international organization to date as exemplary. Albania currently has the status of a developing country and aims soon to attain the status of a least-developed country, which would make it easier to increase aid from international organizations.

The Emergency Clinic will be completed TIRANA — The Catholic Church will begin financing construction in Tirana’s new hospital district. The news came from Health Minister Tritan Shehu. His ministry has been seeking funds for some time to implement health-care reform, and the establishment of the new complex is only one of the measures envisaged in this reform. In addition, according to Minister Shehu, the Catholic Church will also undertake to complete a building whose construction began some time ago on the outskirts of Tirana. This hospital, which will treat emergency cases, had begun construction some time ago with funding also provided by the wealthy Italian-Albanian Ferra family, but the funds for its construction were diverted to other purposes by recent governments. “The new hospital district,” Shehu said, “will be administered by the Catholic Church, but it will form part of the public system of the Ministry of Health and will be guided by our health policy.” The Catholic Church will spend millions of dollars on constructing hospital buildings and—what costs more—equipping them with modern laboratory equipment. Shehu has appealed to the Government to secure concessions for this initiative.

TIRANA — Within two years, the Greek minority in Albania will also be able to receive secondary education in the Greek language. This was stated by Education Minister Teliti at a meeting with van der Stoel, the CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, who is visiting Albania for the second time. According to the Albanian minister, a qualitative leap will be made in education for the Greek minority in the country over the next two years. At present, this year, Greek-language education in minority areas has reached the sixth grade, and the conditions have been created for it to extend through the seventh grade. A Greek-language teacher-training department will also open at the University of Gjirokastër.

The first Chinese restaurant in the Capital TIRANA — (fa. ba.) — All Tirana was missing to be called a fully-fledged European capital was a Chinese restaurant. After the opening of a number of luxurious restaurants in many corners of Tirana, it was the turn of the discos, always, as I hear, packed this season, and finally: a Chinese couple from Shanghai. They had noticed that Albania had become the country most visited and frequented by tourists, and they hope there will be more. A very simple sign announces its presence as soon as you enter from Kavaja Street at the junction with the Capital’s ring road: it says “Chinese Restaurant” in Albanian, alongside five large Chinese characters, which you obviously cannot translate. It was their interesting idea to bring Shanghai cuisine here. They had noticed that Albania was the only country in Europe left without a Chinese restaurant, and decided to try their luck. Inside the restaurant, you are greeted by the warm smiles of the kitchen staff and a distinctive aroma, like that of all Eastern restaurants that use spicy seasonings. The restaurant’s aroma has not erased its characteristic Chinese atmosphere—the Chinese people who work here will continue to make some changes—but the menu is entirely Albanian-Chinese. The names of the dishes sound somewhat different from those people have been used to hearing in our restaurants so far: Se Cuan chicken and beef, lotus salad. Naturally, there are also dishes featuring the Chinese staple food, rice; there are five different kinds, prepared according to the old Chinese tradition. And so the Chinese have appeared in Albania for the second time. Albanians had been accustomed to seeing them as construction-technique experts and “perfect donors,” and the like, associated with a sudden collective clamour, without it ever being clear where they lived. Now they have arrived as enterprising businesspeople in several fields. And with the restaurant’s opening, the roles have changed too. A few years ago, it was Chinese specialists who brought Albanian cuisine. Now it is Albanians who want [??] the chefs from Shanghai in Albania.

ATHLETICS — (P.M.) - Although no Albanian athlete achieved the qualifying standards, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) has nevertheless granted places to two athletes in the upcoming world championships, which begin on 13 August in Stuttgart; so Ermelinda Shehu, aged 16, will compete in the long jump (a few days ago in Tirana she reached 6.20 m) and the triple jump, and Ilir Xhani in the 400 m and 400 m hurdles; he is currently registered with the well-known German club Universität Mainz. The two athletes aim to improve their previous records; the Albanian delegation will be completed by Petrit Qendro (federation secretary), who will attend the IAAF Congress. EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CUPS — The dates for the Albanian teams have finally been set; Patosi will play its first match in Liechtenstein on 15 August at 17:30; the team will depart on the 13th on the Tirana–Zurich air route and continue by bus to the small town of Balzers; the return match will be played at «Qemal Stafa» Stadium on 31 August at 16:30, under the direction of a Slovenian referee. The dates have also been confirmed for Partizani-IA Akraens: 22 August in Tirana (17:00) and 1 September in Iceland. BALKAN CHAMPIONSHIP — The Balkan Championship for youth national teams is scheduled in Bucharest from 9 to 14 August; Romania «A» and «B» will take part (the latter because the former Yugoslavia is barred from participating), along with Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Albania; the teams have been divided into two groups; in Group «A», Albania will face Romania «A» on 10 August and Greece on 11 August, both matches starting at 18:00. Here are the players called up who have departed: goalkeepers: Mergjyshi (Tirana), Shehu (Teuta); defenders: Pali (Flamurtari), Gjoka (Skënderbeu), Dino and Shehu (Tomorri), Veliu (Besa), Xhegiri (Besëlidhja); midfielders: Kola (Besëlidhja), Kela (Tirana), Fetushi (Shkëndija), Bulku (Teuta), Hoxha (Kukova); forwards: Slaku (Vllaznia), Qose (Skënderbeu) and Qorri (Apolonia). Coaches: Luan Deliu and Petrit Haxhiu. FOOTBALL — Recent friendly preparatory matches: Dinamo-Tirana 0-3 and 2-2; Vllaznia-Dinamo 1-0; Lushnja-Besa 2-2; Besa-Albpetrol Pato(si) 0-1; Elbasani-Tirana 2-3. Republic Cup — Preliminary matches: Skënderbeu-Ersekë 6-2, Saranda-Përmeti 3-0, Ballshi-Kuçova 1-0, Kukësi-Korabi 2-0 (because the team from Dibër did not take part).

Serbs leave Sarajevo to the blue helmets Alberto has been sworn in as Belgium’s new king Tonight the «kërrnia» of the stars will take place

Do you have a relative, a friend or a loved one far away, across the sea? Would you like to reach them with a greeting, a message or simply a wish? This space is yours: write, and they will read it. If you are in Italy, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, viale Scipione l’Africano 264, 70100 Bari. If you live in Albania, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, Rruga Bajram Curri 370, Tirana. On the occasion of her sister Anna Maria’s birthday, who lives near the college in Bari, Enkela Kola sends her greetings from Shkodër. May she live a long and happy life. She warmly thanks Pierro for the books he sent her with flour. Denisa, Lindita, Anila and Ergy-si also send their greetings together with Enkela. (Enkela Kola — Shkodër) Since my son Adri left for Italy with his wife last month, I have had no news of him. When he arrived in Bari, he informed me, but then I lost contact with him. Since I have neither an address nor a telephone number where I can look for him, I am worried. I ask for help and thank those who will help me find his address. Thank you. (The Konomi family — Korçë) Our daughter Boi, as we called her when she was little, has been in Rome for three months, near a clinic, receiving treatment. On 12 August she turns 5, and on this occasion my wife and I send her our loving congratulations from afar, wishing her a very happy time and hoping she won’t feel sad. Only a few weeks remain, and we will meet soon. We have bought her many birthday presents, all of them for Boi. We also take this opportunity to thank the hospital staff, and especially prof. Girolamo, who helped us and is continuing to help us so much with the recovery of our little Boi. (Etleva — Tirana) Tiziana Di Bari sends greetings to Blerina Matin from Vlora. Blerina and I met in Brindisi on 13 June of this year. I gave her my address, but I have not heard from her. I am taking this opportunity to contact her through this newspaper. If she has received the letter with my message, I am waiting for her phone call. Thank you. (Tiziana Di Bari — Brindisi)