Two people detained EDMOND LAÇI KRUJË — A field in the Krujë area is also suspected of containing plants that could produce drugs. In Mazë e Vogël, 27 kilometres from the town, police inspected an area of one dynym planted with a rare plant. The Krujë Public Order Department detained the owner of the land, Asllan Mali, and his brother—suspected of acting as an intermediary—Mustafai. However, the Prosecutor’s Office has not yet opened criminal proceedings against them. “We cannot say for certain,” Hektor Pipero, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Police, told Gazeta; “we are only waiting for the results of the analyses that we will have carried out in Tirana.” The initial investigation has also established the identity of the person who recommended the planting and brought the seeds to the village. Information indicates that he was his cousin in the village. The police have brought him in for questioning, since he came forward himself, along with all the evidence.

Irregularities reported: higher prices? Shadows over EC aid State Audit intervenes Inspectors are checking the documents for goods delivered through «Italtrend» ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — Shadows over EC aid: the State Audit has begun checking the procedures, deadlines and prices applied in delivering the 30 million ECU in aid allocated by the European Community to state industries. The suspicion—at this stage, it is only a suspicion—is very serious: that excessively high prices were charged for supplying aid to industry. The activity of the Italian firm “Italtrend”, appointed by the EC as the procurement company for delivering this aid, is under scrutiny. The concern is that goods are being imported at inflated prices, a phenomenon that is already well known and risks affecting aid to Albania once again. Are these prices justified, or are they the prelude to a new scandal? The first to raise objections to “Italtrend’s” activities were the managers and specialists of Albanian foreign-trade enterprises. They claim that in many cases prices offered by foreign companies were much lower than the prices for the same goods offered to “Italtrend”. Conversely, EC, Italtrend and the Directorate for Long-Term Enterprise Support at the Ministry of Finance specialists believe that everything is regular, compliant and required by the procedures established by the EC. The basis of the contracts is the exclusion of Albanian trading enterprises—initially all of them, and currently most of them—from participating in tenders organized by “Italtrend”. As a result, they have not had the opportunity to compete with their more favourable prices. Two of these enterprises, which were awarded a contract in some way, won a tender, and their offers for the item in question were accepted. The total difference between these bids and those of the foreign enterprises that came after them was 109,500 dollars. Meanwhile, other enterprises that are still excluded claim to have many offers that are more advantageous than those accepted by “Italtrend”, whose offers, by contrast, continue to be preferred. The EC representatives have responded to the objections, beginning with those raised by the specialists.

TIRANA — (An. St.) Here is what three Albanian enterprises that oppose Italtrend’s procedure think: ALIMPEX — “In May of this year, we sent a letter to the State Audit Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. We informed them that we could supply 2,000 tonnes of sugar at $320 per tonne, while the company “Italtrend” was offering the state enterprises of our country the same quantity and quality at $405 per tonne. Our offer, made in connection with a French company, was not taken into account. Our enterprises have to accept the price offered by “Italtrend”. The sugar we imported at $327 was sold to private buyers. We have asked to be allowed to participate in the tender, so that the offers can be selected according to EC rules.” MINERGOCOMPEX — “Through at least three companies, better prices could have been obtained than those now offered through “Italtrend” by Albanian enterprises. We have the right to participate in the tenders organized by “Italtrend”, but we have received no reply to many offers for goods, although we have submitted considerable quantities of these goods.” MAKINIMPEX — “We were accepted to participate in tenders, but we were unsuccessful because the preparation period given to us was too short and did not provide us with the opportunity required to carry out the necessary work. We had an offer to import glass at $2.2 per square metre, while glass was imported at $3.4 per square metre.”

TIRANA — (An. St.) What does Vaso Pano, director of the Directorate for Long-Term Enterprise Support at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, think? “I do not in fact have any claims about the prices, because they have been determined through a mechanism that is among the most advanced structures in the market. Not all companies can participate, because they cannot prepare for a tender within the allotted time. The method of payment has a major effect on prices. Under EC procedures, the supplier is paid 60 days after the goods arrive at the user’s premises. This means that small companies, although they offer goods at lower prices, are not interested because they are uncertain about receiving their money. They find it more advantageous—especially Eastern European companies—to circulate the money in the financial and banking system, where interest rates are quite high. Our trading enterprises have most of their connections with these types of companies, and this makes their offers unacceptable. It is also required that not only the company but also the origin of the goods it offers be within the EC.” Initially, our enterprises were not included in the PHARE programme. Initially, our enterprises were not included in the PHARE programme. Initially, our enterprises were not included in the PHARE programme. Initially, our enterprises were not included in the PHARE programme. This is how it is stipulated by the EC.”

150 refugee tortoises repatriated DURRËS — They had gone to Italy as clandestine arrivals and have now been repatriated to Albania by the authorities. The curious thing this time is that these are not illegal immigrants, but tortoises. Yes, exactly 150 tortoises, perhaps in very good health... were stopped a few months ago at the port of Brindisi. A citizen of Durrës was keeping them in the boot of his car; customs officers discovered them, and since importing tortoises into Italy is prohibited, the animals were seized. With so many of them, the Italian authorities decided to repatriate the tortoises, which had apparently been kept at a collection point until their return. Entrusted to the Albanian authorities, the 150 animals can now be free again... but in their own country. A forestry police officer shows one of the Albanian tortoises seized in Italy

TIRANA — (d. k.) The “Soros” cultural foundation will donate $3,600 to improve the equipment and laboratory of the Museum of Medieval Art in Korçë, where a large number of icons by Albanian painters dating from the 11th to the 20th century are kept. The museum has been in crisis for a long time because of a lack of funds. The Ministry of Culture’s efforts to restore a large number of icons have so far been hampered by the lack of the necessary special materials, which are also expensive on the foreign market. A group from the Ministry, working with the Museum, drew up a detailed programme and submitted it to the “Soros” Foundation. Several foundation representatives inspected the situation on site and, after consulting their counterparts in America, approved the allocation of $3,600.

Here are some copies of antique panoramas depicting Italy’s most beautiful cities. Starting Sunday, these panoramas will be offered free to readers by Gazeta Shqiptare every week. They will be distributed together with the newspaper.

The Press Law to protect readers too CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Parliament has resumed its autumn activity by beginning consideration of one of the most important matters in the legislative agenda: the Constitution. The proceedings got off to a poor start, to the point that the Socialists and Social Democrats—who had left the chamber to protest delays in the committee’s work—returned to the parliamentary session to contribute (albeit from their own position) to the political debate. But Parliament faces another important session, already scheduled in the September calendar of proceedings: the Press Law. Public opinion has so far shown itself indifferent to this issue, perhaps because it mistakenly thinks that a press law concerns only other people’s newspapers. On the contrary, it is needed—and wisely so—precisely to protect the interests of those who read newspapers: readers, ordinary people. The new democratic Albania rightly deserves credit for restoring freedom to a press imprisoned for 45 years by the dictatorial system. This freedom is there for all to see: dozens of newspapers circulate throughout the country, hundreds of opinions and a mountain of lies are written every day; some people protest, others—rightly or wrongly—retract, but in the end everyone is free to say what they think. Journalists can thus be called free. And yet true press freedom is not only the freedom protected for journalists, but also the freedom that protects readers. In the absence of rules established by an appropriate law, freedom of information risks becoming freedom to misinform. The greatest danger is that the right to defame may be legalized. Unfortunately, examples are not lacking in Albania. According to a survey by the European Community, the Albanian press ranks among the lowest in Eastern European countries in terms of credibility. This problem is widespread in all countries emerging from dictatorship, and perhaps a law that ensures accurate information is frightening. But making rules does not mean imposing censorship, but ensuring the truth. It does not mean imposing censorship, but protecting the reader’s right to be informed.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ALTAR IN SHKODËR CATHEDRAL BEGINS — Work has begun on reconstructing the high altar in Shkodër Cathedral. This altar, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel, was designed by the well-known Shkodran architect Kolë Idromeno. In 1967, during the communist campaign against religion and places of worship, the famous altar was completely destroyed. The work is also being financed by the people of Shkodër. Shkodran citizens of different faiths have contributed money to the church collection box. AID FROM GERMANY FOR THE LAÇ DENTAL CLINIC — The humanitarian organization “Aktion Solidarität” from the German state of Bavaria has donated equipment worth about $6,000 to the Dental Clinic in Laç. The donated equipment includes a complete dental unit that will improve the standard of service. IN KAVAJË, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS GROWING — According to official figures, 1,300 people have so far been employed in Kavajë’s private trade sector. According to some estimates, the number is much higher. There are 1,057 private shops and businesses in Kavajë. A very large number of people are engaged in street trading, and it is almost impossible to calculate their exact number. The company “Mondi & Rikes” has put a large number of employees to work. It has begun renovating [text unclear] in Kavajë, enabling them to take part in the work again. The town has been one of the most active trading centres in the whole country.

Greçi resigns, Micoaqi government Agreement signed between OCP and Israel Clashes in Somalia, hundreds dead

CURRENCIES In the currency market, the main currencies—the dollar, German mark, Greek drachma and Italian lira—had stable exchange rates. During the past month, on the free market the dollar could be bought for 100.8–101.4 lekë and sold for 101–101.5 lekë. The German mark likewise moved slightly; from 1.01 lekë [unclear], its free-market rate went from 61.8 to 61.7 lekë. The lira was also traded by Alba agents, while the mark had the most expensive buying rate at 61.9 lekë. The lira reached 60.5 lekë [unclear] and appeared to rise. On the free market, 1,000 Italian lire went from 61.2 lekë to 62.8 lekë. Likewise, on the free market, 100 Greek drachmas could be bought for 4.6–4.9 lekë and sold for 4.7–4.9 lekë. GOODS Here are some prices of goods for August 1993, in lekë per KVG. Fresh milk 16.1 16.9 21.6 16.0 21.2 20.0 Cow’s milk 22.0 21.6 26.9 26.4 26.3 20.6 Veal 200.9 219.9 237.7 248.0 204.9 206.6 Veal 202.7 220 260 163.7 164.4 163.3 Pork 216 204.3 195.2 196.7 200.2 Cheese 162 144.5 170.8 162 156 166.7 Butter 173 84.5 170.8 162 156 166.7 Oil 287.6 312.1 316.7 322.9 296.8 286 Eggs 15.2 16.2 21.1 20.1 19.7 20.0 Rice 15.4 16.2 21.1 20.1 19.7 20.0 Potatoes 26.1 25.0 26.4 25.8 26.0 Tomatoes 9.3 24.3 20.6 25.1 22.8 Onions 20.7 23.1 26.9 34 22.6 Peppers 9.6 9.6 10.9 11 10.9 Watermelons 78.7 62.6 62.0 69.8 57

Here are some prices at which certain goods are traded in foreign markets: Sugar Raw sugar 169.30 USD/tonne White sugar 279.70 USD/tonne Coffee Santos coffee 67.35 USD/tonne Extra Ecuador coffee 55.85 USD/tonne Oil Olive oil 570 USD/tonne Fish Grey mullet 3,000–4,500 lire/kg Red mullet 14.50–20,000 lire/kg Eel 16,000–18,000 lire/kg Frog 17,000 lire/kg Brown trout 5,000–5,500 lire/kg Fuel Crude oil 16.23 USD/tonne Refined oil 162 USD/tonne

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