A petition is also sent to the President Hunters protest after the activity is banned ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — In Albania, the practice of sport and tourist hunting has been banned for a period of one year. And now controversy is erupting. Until next March, no local or foreign hunter may pursue his hobby. The order outlawing hunting, signed by former Minister Kalakula a few days before he resigned, has caused alarm and is being strongly opposed by many specialists in this sector and, in particular, by the Directorate for Forest Protection and the Hunters’ Association. The latter reacted sharply, sending a petition to President Berisha and Prime Minister Meksi. The Ministry of Agriculture says that the measure was taken to protect the country’s fauna from the threat of extinction caused by the uncontrolled hunting that has been taking place lately. But is such a danger really present? “The surveys we carried out this spring,” officials at the General Directorate of Forests told the Gazette, “do not indicate a worsening of the situation that would justify banning hunting. For some species, such as wild boar and pheasant, whose numbers have declined, we have imposed a hunting ban. For other, less depleted species, such as hare and partridge, hunting is already quite restricted.” According to these specialists, any decline in the number of wild animals cannot be blamed on hunting. Deforestation, land reclamation, the spread of settlements, environmental pollution, and the recent intensification of illegal hunting methods have all had a major impact. “Banning hunting does not address the real cause of damage to the fauna,” they said. Similar views are also expressed by the Hunters’ Association, whose membership includes more than 10,000 hunters. The Ministry of Agriculture’s order, the association’s secretary Kujtim Pano told the Gazette, is unconstitutional. It conflicts with the existing hunting law, which does not empower the minister to suspend hunting nationwide. He added that it also violates hunters’ right to engage in the sport of hunting. “Finally, at the very least, the hunting of migratory birds should not have been prohibited, since these are among the least restricted hunting targets throughout the world.” Recently, with Albania’s opening to the world, the first steps have been taken in tourist hunting. Hunting tourists have made up a considerable proportion of genuine tourists arriving from abroad. This has caused concern about damage to Albanian wildlife, and became one of the main reasons for this extreme measure. But banning this activity entails considerable economic losses. “During the 1992 hunting season,” the General Directorate of Forests reports, “tourist hunting brought in around 330,000 dollars. This does not include taxes or rentals for hotels and houses built near hunting reserves. From just one such house in Tepelenë, around 5,000 was earned each month during the past season.” According to Lirim Selfo, Director of the Committee for Environmental Protection, the economic factor was the main reason the Committee abandoned the option of banning hunting. “We have also requested that foreign hunters be allowed to hunt only one day a week,” Selfo says. The Ministry of Agriculture’s order banning hunting was preceded by a period of discussions among specialists from several institutions. In the end, the Directorate of Forests proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture not a ban on hunting, but better organization and stricter controls over all types of hunting. At the Ministry, they find it difficult to provide arguments in support of the order that was issued. “I supported the view that hunting should be banned for one year only in the reserves,” says Deputy Minister LL:zar Kora, explaining that he had not been assigned to resolve this issue. It seems that the only arguments in favor of banning hunting are several hypotheses about the destruction of Albanian wildlife. In most cases, these are based on reports by foreign environmentalists about intensive methods of exterminating animals used by foreign tourists. Italian customs authorities have also sent reports about the seizure of prohibited animals from hunters arriving from Albania. But opponents of the decision say the damage is not alarming and that the losses caused by banning hunting will be greater. have been taken in tourist hunting. Hunting tourists who come to Albania are interested in hunting. During 1992, the General Directorate of Forests says, include taxes, hunting rentals, or hunting fees. hunt only one day a week,” the representative says. Despite the concerns, and [the claim] that the losses are not alarming and that the losses will be greater if hunting is banned. This false alarm has almost completely paralyzed the circulation of this banknote. It seems that the one-year period will not be enough for its governor to make the possible journey to the Bank. Only profiteers are benefiting from this pointless confusion. They are willing to collect this banknote in exchange for a lower amount. as he descends the steps of the Tirana Court. Meanwhile, his former director assures us: “I will appeal to the Court of Appeal.” The decision just handed down against their clients has also alarmed the lawyers. “Although the opinion of the accounting experts was categorically rejected at the outset of the judgment,” lawyer Sanxhaku explains, “the Court nevertheless based its decision on that same foundation, but this time in its own interest.” “The maximum sentence for the charge of abuse of office is 10 years’ imprisonment,” concludes Unë Cena, a member of the panel of judges, who has just concluded a very difficult trial. lower amount. At a later stage, all these banknotes are to be replaced by a new monetary system: metal coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lekë. In addition to its many advantages, it is hoped that this new system will make the use of the old monetary system in everyday speech unnecessary, a practice that remains widespread today.

Out of circulation in September 1994 But many traders are already refusing it. And someone is speculating TIRANA — (an. st.) The Bank of Albania’s announcement that the 25-lekë banknote will be withdrawn from circulation has caused confusion among consumers and traders. Even Radio Tirana’s repeated announcement that the bank would exchange and accept the banknote until 1 September 1994 has not entirely dispelled the uncertainty. Everyone is avoiding the 25-lekë note as if it were infected. Its holders rushed to the shops to buy something with it as quickly as possible, but are also determined not to accept it as change. Shopkeepers show the same reluctance from the other side of the counter. be enough for its holders to make the final pointless confusion. They are willing to collect the banknote in exchange for a lower amount. The withdrawal of this banknote from circulation is part of the monetary reform that has just begun. Some time ago, a similar measure was taken with regard to the 10- and 50-lekë banknotes, issued to cope with the increasing circulation of money. The main reason for this measure, officials at the Treasury Directorate told the Gazette, is that the banknote is quite worn out and is no longer being produced. Its place in circulation will gradually be taken by the existing 3-, 5- and 10-lekë notes. At the same time, the Bank of Albania is working to replace all these banknotes, at a later stage, with a new system of hoped that this new system will make the old monetary units unnecessary in everyday life, a practice that is very widespread today. BANK OF THE ALBANIAN STATE · TWENTY-FIVE LEKË · L.P. 51.1764 · 1976 · PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON PRESENTATION

IOANNINA — Three Greek policemen have been arrested in recent days, accused of selling residence permits to many Albanian refugees in exchange for large sums of money. Panajotis and Dhimitris Papas, both policemen in Ioannina, were assisted by Hristos Ballas, who was also arrested. The group of policemen forced an Albanian woman to sell residence permits to numerous Albanian citizens seeking valid documents. According to sources in Athens, there are currently a large number of Albanians in Greece who are moving around without valid documents issued by the local authorities.

THE ARSIDI SCANDAL / Trial concludes EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — “The defendants are not accused of misappropriating this sum, but only of actions contrary to the proper performance of their duties.” Former Prime Minister Ahmet Gjonaj and the former senior executives of the Albanian Commercial Bank, Saliu and Tartari, have been sentenced by the Tirana Court. All three have received 15 years’ imprisonment on charges of “abuse of office.” Thus, the “Arsidi Scandal” in Albania appears to be over. Although Prosecutor Marko and the presiding judge, Spahiu, expressed the same view in their closing arguments and judgment—that other people could not be tried in this case, according to them, unless the Prosecution acted first—this signal does not yet show that the “Arsidi Scandal” may continue after the first act has concluded. In particular, the 1.6-million-dollar bill of exchange—the first ever used by an Albanian bank—has just led to the conviction of three people. “I don’t understand why I was a defendant here or why I was sentenced,” Ahmeti, sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, told the Gazette immediately after the verdict. “The judgment is merely a polished redrafting of the unjust indictment,” Tartari believes a very difficult trial.

DURRËS — Another humanitarian aid shipment has arrived in Albania. On Saturday, a quantity of electrical equipment worth 300 million lire arrived at the port of Durrës, destined for the district of Lezhë. All the materials were donated by the Italian Episcopal Conference through the non-governmental organization C.E.S.P. Centro Esperti Servizio Progetti, from the Italian city of Cuneo in northern Italy. The aid consists of 15 oil-filled three-phase transformers, 50 operating switches, 15 low-voltage automatic switches, and other electrical materials.

As a café for athletes opens... TIRANA — “Café des Artistes” has closed unexpectedly. The venue, which opened at the beginning of summer on the terrace of the Palace of Culture, had become a landmark of the capital’s nightlife. Since Monday evening, the gates of the bar-discotheque have been locked, and no one has explained the reason for its sudden closure. According to the little information circulating, it is not confirmed that the initiative was taken by the local authorities. So far, the venue has operated entirely by the rules. The great success “Café” enjoyed both with Albanians and with foreigners who were in Albania makes this decision even more mysterious. Many now expect that one of the many [unclear] will be turned into a venue, or, in other words, that somehow such a sacrifice will be made. But just as Café des Artistes closes, another café “reserved” for athletes is opening. It is called “Hotel Dajti” and is a little more than a café, on the first floor of the “Dajti” Hotel. The first coffees were drunk by well-known figures in the world of sport: Bedri Stërmasi, Sadik Struga, Nuri Bylyku, Myslym Alla, Skënder Hyka, Shkëlqim Muya, and many other athletes. The owner of the new venue is Luigi Bytyçi, also a former Albanian footballer for the blue-and-white team. The venue’s staff are also all connected with sport; former athletes, athletes’ wives and sisters serve there. “It is not just a café for the athletes of our beloved Tm club,” explains Bixhi, the owner, “but for all athletes who would like to come here. Nevertheless, we will always leave one table reserved for Tirana’s footballers.” It is also planned that photographs from all the years of “17 Nëntori” — today SK TIRANA — will be displayed in a special corner, to commemorate all the old and new heroes. It seems that this venue has been missing [unclear] from its very first days. The Palace of Culture in Tirana

BERISHA: “WE WILL REOPEN THE EMBASSY IN ARGENTINA” — The Albanian embassy in Argentina will soon reopen. The announcement was made by President Sali Berisha during a meeting with the Argentine ambassador in Tirana for the presentation of credentials. The embassy will be the only one Albania currently has in Latin America. There are around 30,000 Albanian emigrants in Argentina, settled there for a long time. IN VLORA, 10 FORMER OWNERS GET THEIR SHOPS BACK — Ten shops in Vlora have been returned to their owners. This is the first restitution recorded in the city since the law on the return of property was passed. A special commission is operating in the district to review and rule on former owners’ claims. So far, the commission’s work has encountered several practical difficulties, which are gradually being overcome by locating the documents that record the former properties. UNEMPLOYMENT A CONCERN IN KUKËS — Unemployment has become one of the most troubling problems for local authorities in Kukës. According to figures from the Employment and Social Assistance Office, there are currently 10,800 unemployed people in the district, 4,600 of them in the town of Kukës alone. In addition, 6,800 people in the district are receiving assistance, and 2,500 young people have still been unable to start work for the first time. All [unclear in source] have completed military service or have different educational backgrounds. So far, 12,000 people have been employed in state enterprises and the administration. The district’s new private sector has managed to employ nearly 1,500 people, but a large number of people are also engaged in street trading.

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