A proposal for December: “Domenica In” in Albania Anna Oxa in her ancestral homeland TIRANA — A famous trio of world and Italian music may visit Albania in December. Three of the most successful singers, Joe Cocker, Anna Oxa and Lucio Dalla, may take part in a special concert organized in Tirana as part of Rai Uno’s popular program “Domenica In.” All three famous artists are very well known to the Albanian public through television programs. In December, it seems, there will be a direct encounter between music stars and Albanian spectators. For the singer Anna Oxa, there is an additional reason to take part in this event: for the first time, she will visit her father’s homeland, which he left a long time ago. The proposal was made to the Ministry of Culture by an Italian businessman who undertakes to organize all the necessary arrangements in Italy. According to the Italian businessman, it may be possible to secure substantial funding for this project from the Region of Reggio Emilia. So far, there are still no details about the project’s further progress. If it goes ahead, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest cultural events held in the country to date. Another major cultural initiative, about which the newspaper wrote some time ago, has begun to take shape. Now, following the Ministry of Culture’s initial efforts, the Albanian company “DEA” will handle the organization of the show in Albania in September. The proposal for this concert also arrived some time ago. A Roman association, Associazione Beneficienza Assistenza, has undertaken to bring together a number of well-known figures from Italian show business and sport to organize a major concert in Tirana. It will be held under the slogan “Don’t Forget,” in support of victims of violence and drugs. The list of participants includes the well-known Italian singers Eugenio Bennato and Tony Esposito. A large number of former players of the Italian national football team will accompany the singers on their trip to Albania: Albertosi, Benetti, Graziani, Altobelli, Giordano, Conti. In their proposal, the Italian organizers have undertaken to cover all the travel expenses of the group of artists and athletes, while asking the Ministry of Culture to cover the expenses required for facilities and technical equipment. This is precisely where the first difficulties began. According to Ylljet Aliçkaj, Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Culture, the ministry could not cover all the necessary expenses with the funds at its disposal, starting with the hall rental and ending with accommodation costs. “We made available to the project everything we could provide as a department. We had difficulties with the rest,” says Aliçkaj. Recently, several Albanian and foreign companies have offered to sponsor the event. The Italian restaurant “La Perla” is one of them. Following this, the Italian organizers, through the ministry, contacted the Albanian company “DEA,” which may undertake the organization of this show locally.

The Financial Police investigates the “music traffickers” TIRANA — For some time, producers of cassettes featuring music by Albanian singers have been concerned. The music-cassette market has been flooded with counterfeit products, and legitimate producers have not only cut back production but are also at risk of going bankrupt. So far, no one has stepped forward to protect their rights and those of the singers, as required by the laws in force. Only after several complaints from legitimate producers has the Financial Police begun to pursue the matter. Cassettes, and audio cassettes in particular, are a relatively new product on the Albanian market. After a flood of cassettes featuring foreign songs, those with Albanian songs finally appeared as well. They are produced by Albanian Radio and Television and the private company “Albsuvenir.” These very cassettes are crudely copied by pseudo-merchants and sold throughout the country at much lower prices. This pseudo-business has been conducted openly for some time, without anyone backing it. In central Tirana, in the shop windows near the “Albsuvenir” company’s store, counterfeit cassettes successfully compete with the originals. The similarity is almost uncanny. The same singers with the same repertoires, the same photographs, except that these have been photocopied in black and white. The most obvious difference between them is the price. Original cassettes cost 2500 lekë, while the counterfeits cost 1500. Consumers suffer from the poor quality of the latter.

Inter, Milan and Juventus are favourites. Many new developments The Italian Serie A championship is starting early, especially to meet the needs of the national team, whose target is USA ’94. The summer season has highlighted numerous problems, above all financial ones, due to the current economic crisis; in the so-called “transfer window,” most clubs have sold players, with the sums involved being imposed in order to reduce the squad rather than to buy; the river of foreign players of previous years has also been dwindling, and for the first time many top-level athletes have left “the most beautiful championship in the world,” such as Riedle, Rijkaard, Walker, Scifo, Casagrande. Demand for new sources of income has in practice forced the Federation and the League to grant a private television channel the right to broadcast one Serie A match live each day of the championship: this may start at 20:30, thus breaking with the historic tradition of the championship, namely that all matches are played simultaneously. Many clubs went bankrupt over the summer because of debts (such as Catania, Messina, Taranto, Varese), creating new unemployed people and rather difficult situations; so, in a gesture of solidarity, Serie A and B players will begin the— [The source text is truncated and garbled here.] MILAN — The loss of Rijkaard and Gullit is significant, although their replacements are well-known figures: the playmaker Boban and Laudrup (from relegated Fiorentina); a bombastic attack with Papin-Simone-Raduciolu, while awaiting Van Basten. JUVENTUS — Despite selling Casiraghi to Lazio, the team appears very solid under Trapattoni, especially in defence with the recently acquired Fortunato and Porrini; the attack is well known, with Baggio and a Vialli determined to return to the national team. PARMA — A club that has grown steadily in recent years; coach Scala has the brilliant Zola and Crippa (both from Napoli) at his disposal; a powerful attack with Melli and Colombian Asprilla, with Swede Brolin ready to take the field. LAZIO — Zoff has a very combative team with ambitious players: Casiraghi—Gascoigne-Winter and Signori (the top scorer of last year’s championship) guarantee good play and goals. Behind the favourites there is a large group of teams aiming for a traditional place in the Cup …so that developments in all the matches can be followed simultaneously. In the summer, many clubs went bankrupt new unemployment and relatively difficult situations, so that, in solidarity, Serie A and B players will begin today’s matches half an hour late. Fortunately, from a technical and sporting point of view, all the surveys suggest that a very evenly matched Championship is likely, with Milan no longer the sole favorite; the truth is that they have already won the season’s first trophy—the Italian Super Cup—for the third time in six editions (1–0 in Turin in the Washington final). The group of favorites consists mainly of Inter, followed by Milan and Juventus, as well as ambitious Parma and Lazio; let’s see why: INTER — It has numerous combative players alongside players with ambition: Casiraghi—Gascogne-Winter and Signori (the previous season’s top scorer) guarantee play and goals. Behind the favorites is a large group of teams aiming for a place in the standings that qualifies them for the UEFA Cup: Sampdoria, Roma, Napoli, Atalanta and Cagliari. The others, including the two absolute newcomers Piacenza and Reggiana, will try to stay in the division. But predictions are just predictions. The field will have the final say. IT STARTS LIKE THIS — today at 16:00 Atalanta-Cagliari — in Bologna Genoa-Roma Inter-Reggiana Juventus-Cremonese Lazio-Foggia — 20:30 Lecce-Milan Napoli-Sampdoria Piacenza-Torino Udinese-Parma Today, the Albanian Championship schedule On the inside pages

14 FIRES IN BERAT IN AUGUST ALONE — This year, fires have destroyed 2.5 hectares of forest in Berat. Around 20 more hectares have also been affected. In August alone, there were 14 fires. The district Forestry Police found it almost impossible to protect the forests. The assistance provided by the local Civil Protection authorities stands out; they helped extinguish a fire near their own unit. A case of arson was also identified, but — according to inspector Abaz Zyraj — the Prosecutor’s Office has remained silent. AGREEMENT WITH THE ITALIAN CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT SEA — The Scientific Fisheries Research Institute in Durrës succeeded in concluding a protocol Research at Sea (CNRAM). The agreement provides for the study of fish stocks, pelagic and demersal species, molluscs, as well as biologically clean areas. It was also decided that a joint expedition would take place within this year, the results of which could pave the way for a four-year project. THE AIRCRAFT GROUNDED AT RINAS TAKES OFF AGAIN — After being forced to remain grounded on the runway at Rinas Airport for many years, the aircraft belonging to the Turkish company ICP Airlines has departed for Istanbul. It had been grounded because of a technical fault. According to official sources, the Turkish company must have paid 1,000 dollars for parking for each day it remained in Albania. Very high fees are stipulated at all international airports for incidents of this kind.

Berisha: “The position

TIRANA — The Socialist Party decided to return to Parliament. The new parliamentary session will thus once again bring together—after June 16—the Democratic and Socialist MPs. Official confirmation is still expected of the return to Parliament of the Social Democratic MPs as well. Both parties had boycotted Parliament’s proceedings because, they said, the Constitution was being delayed. The Socialist Party’s latest decision was made after a meeting of the General Steering Committee and was justified as necessary in light of “the highly tense situation.” “We are returning to Parliament to state our position openly following recent developments,” said Namik Dokle, chairman of the Socialist parliamentary group.

The new, more liberal law on investments TIRANA — A much more liberal law on foreign investment. The signal given earlier—following the response to the draft law by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations—was also confirmed by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha. The “Law on Foreign Investments” is now expected to go before the Government, to be approved by Parliament in the coming months. Speaking about partnership in Europe and relations with Italy, Berisha said: “I think Italy’s position is among the most paramount and, as far as I know, exchanges, joint ventures and Italian investments in Albania rank first.”

The Middle East moving toward a peace agreement The UN risks bankruptcy without funding Kosovo: a boy of Albanian origin is killed

Sht. Wilder Aries 20/VIII 20/IV Do what you think is right, especially regarding health matters: you have never been wrong, and there is no reason that should change now. Taurus 21/IV 20/V You are giving too much importance to work matters that are actually quite insignificant. Don’t take things too seriously. Gemini 21/V 20/VI Close and ongoing cooperation with others can help you rein in your tendency to ramble. Cancer 21/VI 22/VII Your actions should match your theories; otherwise, you risk losing confidence in yourself. Leo 23/VII 22/VIII Even though you are going through a tense situation full of problems, you cannot neglect or disregard issues that directly concern you. Virgo 23/VIII 22/IX The coming days are charged with emotion: you must keep yourself well under control if you hope to achieve new successes. Libra 23/IX 22/X You need to learn about the environment around you and meet people whose aims and opinions differ from yours. Scorpio 2/X 21/XI Within your family, someone or something needs your attention: don’t settle for giving only a simple piece of advice. Pack your bags and set off. Sagittarius 22/XI 21/XII Think carefully before speaking. You don’t want others to misunderstand you, and be careful not to assume what is closest to you. Capricorn 22/XII 19/I The stars advise you not always to follow the same path: be brave and make changes from the way you have been until now. Aquarius 20/I 19/II Don’t be discouraged by your plans; the stars advise you to proceed in small, slow steps. Pisces 20/II 19/III It will be risky to spend the coming days thinking at length about how to behave. Trust your instincts and, above all, be brave.