Signs of demobilization The return of personnel and equipment has begun One of the helicopters donated to the Italian contingent in Albania DURRËS — Is Operation “Pellicano” being demobilized? After two years of extremely intensive activity, the Italian army’s structure—which has become an institution in Albania—seems to be on the verge of leaving. No one officially confirms it, as they await the definitive order to return from Rome. But naturally, a decision of this kind would be made in agreement with the Albanian side. The signs are there, and there are many. The first, and most obvious, is the reduction in the number of soldiers present at the Durrës base, from more than 1,500 at the beginning to around 500 today. A further reduction is planned within the month of June. Along with the soldiers—and this is the second sign—many of the trucks used to distribute food aid have also been loaded onto ferries. A few weeks ago, the base’s heating system was dismantled and sent to Italy, prompting suspicions that military commanders expect the camp to have been dismantled by the time the cold weather arrives. The latest development is of the same kind. Supplies have stopped for what, for two years, were the mission’s symbol: the giant “Cheenook” helicopters, used to transport food to the most inaccessible areas of the Albanian mountains. The equipment has been returned to Italy. The official explanation is that it needs maintenance, but unofficial sources explain that in reality it is to be assigned to the peace mission the Italian army is carrying out in Somalia and Mozambique. In other words, Albania is beginning to be able to handle its own problems, while the Italian army must leave because other peoples in difficulty need its help, and the help of the whole world.

Drivers and directors of distribution companies suspected of being responsible A Financial Police report accuses 40 people Drivers and directors of distribution companies suspected of being responsible Aid: 9,000 tons of wheat have disappeared A Financial Police report accuses 40 people EDMOND LAÇI CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — More turmoil in Albania’s huge aid business. At least 9,000 tons of wheat intended for the population and provided by the International Community have disappeared along the distribution chain. The Financial Police and the State Audit Commission, following an investigation lasting three months, have submitted a final report to the competent authorities. It is a file full of figures and documents, ending with a complaint against 40 people: primarily the truck drivers responsible for transport and the directors of local distribution companies, accused of appropriating wheat collected from the port of Durrës but never reaching its destination. “The wheat has disappeared,” Genc Ruli, Minister of Finance, confirmed to the Gazette. “Now the people summoned by the investigators in connection with this matter must account for the missing quantities.” But the problems do not end there: the Minister of Finance has begun an audit to verify that all the money collected from the sale of thousands of tons of wheat and other aid distributed over the past two years has been regularly deposited in the State treasury. “For the moment, it is only a verification,” Minister Ruli also explains, “but there may be other irregularities. Naturally, we need time to complete the verification. We are checking all deposits, bank transfers, and the companies’ accounting records. Some problems may be connected with technical difficulties in informing us of outstanding payments: unfortunately, it is difficult to contact many areas by telephone.” The value of the missing wheat is not insignificant: 9,000 tons, at current market prices, are worth around 3 million dollars—according to figures communicated so far by the Financial Police—and represent a very small proportion compared with the thousands of tons that have arrived in Albania in more than two years. The soldiers of Operation “Pellicano” themselves have so far distributed 170,000 tons supplied by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 146,000 tons provided by the European Community, and 24,000 tons donated by private organizations. In recent months, the distribution of aid has increasingly been taken over by the personnel and equipment of Operation “Shqiponja,” an Albanian state structure that has assumed responsibility for carrying out work that for a long time was performed exclusively by the Italian army. The problem of missing wheat is not new in Albania, although this is the first time the police authorities have signed a report formally accusing suspects. In previous months, it was the Minister of Finance himself, Ruli, who reported to Parliament the initial results obtained from the sale of wheat. “At first, the ratio between the proceeds and the value of the wheat received was low, around 50 percent,” the Minister explains. “Then the European Community asked us for a higher percentage, and so, in principle, we increased the ratio to 70–75 percent. Naturally, wheat is a commodity that, by its nature, incurs losses: from collection at the port until it reaches the supplier, it passes through many stages. And a certain percentage disappears.” But were only 9,000 tons stolen? A few days ago, the press reported the disappearance of 30,000 tons of wheat. Genc Ruli does not confirm this: “Our accounts show a difference of 9,000 tons.” A year earlier, however, Western representatives had also pointed to a discrepancy between the wheat collected and the wheat delivered: on that occasion, there was talk of a 10,000-ton shipment that had come through Hungary and never reached its destination. It was European Community wheat. But the European Community was the first to intervene to deny the claim. The operation to stockpile sacks of wheat

Ambassador Torquato Cardilli, currently head of the Italian Embassy in Tirana, writes to us with some clarifications regarding the article we published on our front page on 29 April, an article that also concerned him. Ambassador Cardilli goes on to inform us of the verification of certain kinds of assessments and asks to offer “lessons” (using the term of the founder, truly unusual for a diplomatic personality), which will merit a response from him in due course. But since we do not practice the kind of journalism that Ambassador Cardilli would like us to direct at him, we limit ourselves to presenting below the clarifications he requested, without any comment. “1) No doubt can arise regarding the correctness of the actions of the Italian Embassy. The way the aid, Albanian or Italian, was distributed could be questioned only by the sick minds of those who conceived it as such. 2) The phrase placed in quotation marks, ‘the documents sent to the Albanian authorities were signed by Ambassador Cardilli, and this conference is confirmed as his,’ is better known as something firmly established and authenticated at the top, but [??]. It is natural that the Ambassador should countersign the communication from his Government seeking to verify the property of those to whom it is accredited. 3) So that no doubts may arise for anyone, Albanian or Italian, it is not, as alleged, a communication by him alone: the documents are signed by the executive of the Albanian Government, a fact for which the Embassy has found the relevant arguments.”

TIRANA — Albanian doctors now have their own organization. The recently established Order of Physicians includes all doctors practising in the territory of Albania. The National Council of the Order of Physicians, which will lead this body, has also established the moral and ethical rules of medicine that every member must observe. The need for a professional body capable of ensuring compliance with the rules of professional conduct in the practice of medicine had been felt for some time. Not only a medical degree from the University of Tirana, but also acceptance of the internal code will ensure that no doctor who does not deserve the title can enter this organization. In addition, the Disciplinary Commission operates within the Order of Physicians and imposes the appropriate penalties for every violation. Registration, either temporary or permanent, has also been provided for foreign citizens who wish to work as doctors in Albania.

TIRANA — Albania has asked UNDP and UNHCR for a special lower development status. This request from our country is expected to be considered at the session of the UNDP Governing Council, which will be held soon in New York. The request by the Albanian authorities has also been supported by a study from the UNDP office in Tirana. The involvement of this organization, together with Albania’s grave economic situation, is likely to make it possible for the status to be granted.

TIRANA — After the Audit Commission, the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office is also examining the financing that the PPSH gave to foreign Marxist-Leninist parties and groups. Well-informed sources report that prosecutors’ officials are working with inspectors from the audit body to examine the voluminous documentation of the “solidarity fund.” The documents proving the financing, currently available to experts, are mainly decisions of the Secretariat of the Central Committee that allocated annual sums to the Marxist parties and groups receiving payments from the PPSH. The documents, marked “secret” or “top secret,” were initially signed by Enver Hoxha himself, later by Hysni Kapo, and in the 1970s and 1980s by Ramiz Alia. The latter has been under house arrest for some time in connection with the Prosecutor’s Office investigations into the misuse and appropriation of state property by senior party leaders. As we have previously reported, documents recently discovered in the State Archive of the Party of Labour revealed that this party paid more than three million dollars to subsidize Marxist-Leninist parties and groups around the world for nearly 30 years. Further evidence of funding for Marxist-Leninist parties continues to emerge from the same archive. Indeed, a letter recently discovered also reveals the payment mechanism, at least for Italy. The letter was sent to the Central Committee in August 1970 by an employee of the Albanian Embassy in Rome. The Albanian diplomat recommended to his leadership that payments to the “Italian comrades” should be made “no longer at the Albanian embassy [where they had been made until that year], but at the headquarters of the Italy-Albania Friendship Association,” an association that was merely an appendage of the Italian Marxist-Leninist Party.

An example of cooperation between Apulia and Albania Doctors’ conference on lung diseases 8 Albanians arrested and deported in Brindisi

Will defend the interests of professionals “We are a very poor country” The Audit Commission is cooperating with investigators Inside An example

Here are the practical tips in this column: Almonds are not easy to peel when we want to use them for cooking. To do it easily, after blanching them, put them in boiling water, then let them cool after taking them off the heat. The skins then come off very easily. Almonds can be roasted in the oven, but they should be placed on a plate lightly greased with oil. Almonds can also be ground. *** For mayonnaise to turn out properly, all the ingredients need to be at the same temperature. If the mayonnaise has not turned out properly, add a few drops of vinegar and the problem will be solved. To use mayonnaise made the day before, mix it only with mashed hard-boiled eggs. *** Marble can be cleaned by washing it with soapy water. Above all, never use acid, bleach, caustic alkali, or hydrochloric acid: marble can be irreparably damaged. If it is very dirty, scrub it with a brush moistened with lemon juice to which a few grains of salt have been added. This can clean coffee stains. Fruit stains and all kinds of colored stains can be cleaned by scrubbing them with water to which a few drops of ammonia have been added. For rust stains, use 20% hydrogen peroxide. Then we can polish it by coating it with linseed oil and wiping it with a piece of flannel. *** One of the greatest enemies of rough hands is water. Therefore, to protect rough hands, it is advisable always to dry them very well or to wear gloves for all household chores. To beautify the hands, mashed boiled potato can be used. After washing them, we can rub them with lemon juice. To make hands very white, rub them with coffee grounds. *** A fresh stain can be cleaned more easily than an old one, because it has not had time to soak well into the fabric. We must act as quickly as possible. *** Dip red hands in hot salt water, then rub them with olive oil. *** Bananas or dried fruit help to relieve nervousness. For watery eyes, put two drops of lemon juice in each eye twice a day. It will sting a little, but it is very effective against eye irritation, and also makes the eyes brighter. *** To line the eyes with a pencil, quickly pass the pencil tip through the flame of a match; slightly warmed, it glides more easily and applies more precisely. If it becomes difficult to use, it can be used again by adding two or three drops of water. *** To wash a pipe so that it has a pleasant smell, wash it with a little cognac and even less sugar. Illustration: women and a man, banner «Here, just for women»