A secret report by the Minister of Tourism Police investigate the unusual arrival of citizens from the Third World EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Uncertainty and fear in Tirana over an alarm raised by the Ministry of Tourism. The clandestine transit of Third World citizens through Albania on their way to the West has alarmed Albanian officials, who are now calling for an investigation into the truth of this new phenomenon. A secret letter from Edmond Spaho, Minister of Tourism, addressed to the security authorities, SHIK and the Financial Police, calls for a halt to “the entry at border crossing points of all tourist groups that fall outside the rules of tourist activity.” “I have received an isolated tip-off,” Minister Spaho says at the outset, “that citizens of Sri Lanka and India are coming to Albania through various travel agencies, with the aim of transiting to Western Europe.” His suspicions cannot be called baseless. All the more so when we learn that 50 citizens of Sri Lanka stayed for seven days at the Hotel “Arbëria” last week. “They left for Vlora,” says the hotel receptionist, “and had arrived under the name of the ATT agency.” The Tirana Tourism Agency, which the receptionist refers to, is a state agency that operates from an office inside the lobby of the Hotel “Tirana”. Although this agency has not yet been officially accused, Edmond Spaho says: “State-owned companies cannot be exempt from these things either. That is why I recently issued an order—although the suspicions have also been clarified—for all state agencies to suspend their activities with these citizens.” While state agencies are required to comply with their minister’s order, private ones follow a different procedure. Even today, 10 Chinese citizens arrived at the Hotel “Arbëria”, brought by a private agency. The only question mark remains their destination. It appears that the 50 citizens of Sri Lanka set off for Vlora. After that, their trail also disappears. The visa office of the Italian Embassy in Tirana has never issued visas to citizens of Sri Lanka. “Not only have we not issued visas to them, but even if they were requested, we could not issue them, because visas for Italy are issued in their country of origin,” says the Italian official in charge of this office. The hypotheses that they left for Italy—although far from certain—are evident. Vlora is the city that receives the Otranto ferry three times a week, but it is also the city from which the largest number of undocumented migrants set out for the Italian coast. For now—while it is still too early to speculate—only the specialized authorities can shed light on the transit issue. “I expressed a supposition in my letter,” concludes the Minister of Tourism, Edmond Spaho. “Perhaps we are dealing with such a situation, namely the trafficking of migrants to Western Europe. Only the competent authorities will be able to verify whether these citizens are genuine tourists or tourists who are ‘slipping away’ toward the West.” No official announcement has been made to date, perhaps also because it has only been a few days since the Albanian Minister of Tourism’s suspicions were raised. A group of refugees from Sri Lanka at a shelter in Rome

The former landowners’ hunger strike ends Parliament will review the property law. Rrapo H. Damushi: “A great success for us” TIRANA (Fa.Ba. and Ar.Ça.) — The hunger strike begun in Tirana and Shkodër by former landowners and former kulaks has ended. At last, after 22 days, the authorities have put forward a proposal acceptable to the strikers as well: the laws on land and property will be discussed again in Parliament on the basis of the draft laws that the Association of Former Landowners ... will immediately cut off medical assistance, water and electricity. They will shut off all means of communication with the outside, the door and the windows. Anyone who tries to enter will meet the same death as us.” In the debate, which lasted until the late hours of the night, a compromise was finally reached. “It was a great success,” Rrapo H. Damu- told “Gazeta”, Tirana and Shkodër, by the former owners and former kulaks. Finally, after 22 days, the authorities have come forward with a proposal acceptable to the hunger be discussed openly in Parliament on the basis of the draft laws submitted by the Association of Former Owners “Pronësi me Drejtësi” back in September 1992. Following this, the hunger strikers in both cities have decided to end their strike. A statement from the two associations, “Pronësi me drejtësi” and “Ish-kulakëve,” expresses the hunger strikers’ position regarding the talks: “The strike will end when the Albanian Parliament agrees to public hearings and renewed discussion of the laws on land and property, and also recognizes former kulaks as people persecuted for political reasons. Otherwise, the hunger strike will resume.” The agreement between the former owners and the authorities was reached after the situation had become alarming. In Shkodër, despite the intervention of Kujtim Çashku, deputy chairman of the Albanian Helsinki Committee, the hunger strikers had decided to sacrifice themselves, declaring a “Death Strike” as of Thursday. In a letter addressed to President Berisha, the former owners issued a dramatic appeal: “We will ... ... sentenced for 11 years for political reasons, explain the reasons for their decision: “The association’s leaders have all been compromising with the government, and many of the demands we put forward some time ago have not been met. We have no choice but to protest in this way.” However, the government’s approval of the status for political prisoners, one of their main demands, appears to have put the organizers in a difficult position. “We are not sure how many will participate,” said Skënder Tufa.

Demobilization by the end of the year The “Pellicano” operation, the Italian Army’s humanitarian aid program for Albania, may be completed within this year. At the start of the mission, in September 1991, the Italian contingent consisted of 1,200 personnel; it has now fallen to 800 and may, in the coming months, be transferred to a technical-military mission supporting the rear. “We are scaling down,” said Chief of the General Staff of the Army Goffredo Canino, “because alongside Operation ‘Pellicano’ there is Operation ‘Shqiponja’, run by the Albanian army.” Canino expressed satisfaction with the work carried out by the Army, which performs two important functions in Albania: providing assistance and distributing aid. In addition to these two centers, two clinics have also been set up: one for healthcare assistance and the other for the supply of medicines. During the humanitarian mission, Italian troops participating in the operation distributed nearly 350,000 tons of humanitarian aid, covering more than ten million kilometers as they escorted aid throughout Albania. They have received many expressions of gratitude, not only from the Albanian military and civilian authorities, but also from the international community: many countries around the world have in fact sent observers to study the organization of the Italian soldiers involved in distributing aid.

Albanian undocumented migrants on two boats in Brindisi “Still quite a few migrants,” says the minister The “executioner” of couples killed in France Clashes in Somalia; people are fleeing

Senator Benetton explains his success This is the story of an ordinary family that, after the war, in a stable destroyed overnight and sustained by the colors of the world around them, amid inflation, set out to try to become wealthy. Italy at that time was somewhat like Albania today, so the example seemed relevant to everyone. It is the curious adventure of this enterprising family, which made a living by starting a small business, opening branches, and then seizing opportunities—for example, at a time when sweaters were in demand. They built a small factory and later their first shop. Back then no one knew them; today their name ranks among those of the most important manufacturers. ... clothing companies in the world. Benetton has 7,000 retail stores in 110 countries (including Albania), although it continues to produce only in Italy and France. What is the secret of success? “Business is all about intuition and reflexes,” replies Luciano Benetton, one of the four brothers who was previously in Tirana and is now also a Senator of the Italian Republic. “Luck alone is not enough,” he assures us. “You need work, work and more work.” It seems like the simplest trick for becoming rich and famous. But one thing, at least, is certain: no one gives you fame and wealth. Senator Luciano Benetton

Today, a debate: What does demobilization by the end of the year mean? General Canino: In Albania yesterday TIRANA ASKS THE US FOR A GREATER COMMITMENT IN THE BALKANS — Defense Minister Safet Zhulali, as he departed for the United States, expressed hope that Washington would play a more energetic role in the Balkan region. In a statement, President Sali Berisha also spoke about the role of the United States in the Balkan crisis. In particular, referring to the deployment of American troops in Macedonia, he said that the deployment of these troops was very necessary. Berisha said that he agreed with the deployment of NATO forces in Kosovo. KOPLIKU AND SERREQI MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN TIRANA — Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Kopliku and Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi met with heads of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana. The discussion at the meeting focused on the plan announced by President Sali Berisha in Korçë concerning the resolution of the Kosovo issue. AN EC DELEGATION IN TIRANA TO SUPPORT ALBANIA’S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS — An EC delegation visited Tirana to discuss with the Albanian authorities the provision of aid worth 70 million ECU in support of Albania’s balance of payments. The first part of this aid was sent in December 1992. The remaining part will be of the same value. The EC’s financial assistance has been provided to meet the country’s general import needs and to strengthen its foreign-currency reserve position. AID FROM KUWAIT ARRIVES IN VLORA — 7,586 tons of gasoline and 6,982 tons of kerosene arrived at the port of Vlora as a free donation from the Kuwaiti government. The cargo was transported to Vlora by the Italian tanker “Varano”, owned by the shipping company “Petrolifera Tankas”. The shipment was transported under the supervision of the Kuwaiti company “Rrineri dhe Kimi”, which has a branch in Naples. The cargo is now being handled by the Albanian company “Albpetrol”, which aims to deliver the entire shipment to its final destination as quickly as possible.

Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Senator Giacovazzo TIRANA — What is the reality of newspapers in a former socialist country? What does it mean to provide information after having spent years producing propaganda? These are some of the questions that Italy’s Deputy Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Giuseppe Giacovazzo, will try to answer today. At 16:30, in the university conference hall, a conference entitled “Journalism in a Post-Dictatorial Society” will be held. Member of Parliament Giuseppe Giacovazzo, former director of “Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno”, is visiting Tirana at the invitation of the university rector, Rajmondi Sharif. During this visit — during which he will meet with an Italian delegation — he will meet the deputy [text cut off/unclear] ...

To get more benefit from the fan, place a damp cloth in the middle of the room and then switch on the fan: the room will cool down more quickly. Vegetables play an important role in the daily diet. Since they are low in calories, they greatly aid digestion. They also contain mineral salts. As for canned vegetables and fruit, we should bear in mind that their nutritional value is the same as, and perhaps sometimes better than, that of fresh vegetables, when they are preserved immediately after being picked and by methods that retain their qualities. We prick the blisters with a needle and thread, first disinfecting the needle. We prick them in several places, passing the needle through so that the fluid can drain and be absorbed. We should not cut the skin; it should dry on its own. When a tablecloth gets stained with red wine, immediately sprinkle salt on it; the stain will come out in the first wash. White wine can also be poured over such a stain. Leave it to work for a little while, then rinse it. Another method is to put it in milk that is still boiling and leave it for a few moments. The stain will disappear. To preserve olives, we should empty them ... Here are this week’s practical tips: ... for as short a time as possible and make use of the cooking water, which is rich in vitamins. In the freezer, they should be kept at a temperature of −20 degrees. We should buy preserves that were prepared not too long ago. To tell whether an egg is fresh, place it in a container of salted water: if it is fresh, it sinks to the bottom; if it is somewhat fresh, it stays in the middle; if it is bad, it stays on the surface of the water. Vegetables vary depending on the water and the heat used to cook them; therefore, to retain more of their nutritional value, they should be used ... Before using a new paintbrush, leave it in water for several hours; this will also loosen hairs that are not firmly attached. To clean a pot in which food has burned, bring it to a boil with a little washing powder. Pears and apples can be kept for a long time by covering them with dry sand or wrapping them in paper; the important thing is to keep them apart from one another. Peaches can be frozen easily after peeling and removing the pit. Dip them in sugar before putting them in the freezer. A peach should not be overripe, so choose fruit that is ripe but still feels firm when pressed with a finger. In summer, when it is hot, keep them at the bottom of the refrigerator and take them out an hour before use. To make greens ... different, clean them with beer or milk. Tiles can be maintained by coating them with wax. This also protects them well from stains, which cannot penetrate. Dry leek leaves, finely chopped, in the sand; keep them in a box and use them for soup.