Another system of ranks in Albania This is how the career will progress Another system of ranks in Albania New law changes the Army’s hierarchy This is how the career will progress ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — Another reform of the Army. This time it concerns the ranks, which had been reinstated after many years in July 1991. Under a draft law just approved by Parliament, the changes to the existing rank structure are substantial. They are greatest at the two extremes of this structure: the general-officer ranks and the lower ranks. Thus, after the President promulgates the law in question, the Albanian Army will for the first time have the general-officer rank of Brigadier General. Also for the first time, five levels of rank have been provided for active personnel, based on seniority and professional ability. The law also provides for changes to the time limits and procedures for awarding ranks. The time required to advance from lieutenant to captain and from first captain to major has been increased by one year in each case. The calculation calculation calculation has been made on the basis of a regular promotion process, for an officer to attain the rank of colonel. “The reform of the rank system became necessary because the law under which ranks were reinstated in the Army had several shortcomings and did not solve all the problems,” a source at the Ministry of Defence told the Gazeta. “Alongside this, [the changes] will not exceed the organic establishment for military personnel. In restructuring, in addition to Albanian experience, the legislation of Western countries was taken into account, particularly that of Italy, Greece, the USA and Germany, so that the rank system would better correspond to NATO’s structure.” Upon promotion to a higher rank, a servicemember’s pay will increase according to rates to be set by the Council of Ministers. The law provides for two years of financial incentives for them. The ranks officers obtained under the Law on the Reinstatement of Ranks will change when the new law enters into force, being raised or lowered according to the organic post they hold. The number of officers who benefit in rank from this adjustment is much greater than the number who lose rank. The law also sets out in detail the procedures to be followed in the rank of colonel. “The reform in the field of ranks in the Army, had some at the Ministry of Defence told the newspaper. “In addition, the restructuring of the Army made it necessary to bring the rank system into better alignment with the established positions. The ranks

Senior officials accused Tirana, investigation into the Municipality The case concerns a home returned to its owner. A family reports irregularities EDMOND LACI TIRANA — The capital’s Municipality is under investigation. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has just begun criminal proceedings against several senior municipal officials. The charge of “abuse of office” has been brought against people holding important positions in the capital’s Municipality. However, their criminal proceedings—also because the actions were taken in preliminary steps—are being conducted under the procedure for an investigation at liberty. It is very possible that the reason for these investigations was a complaint filed by a family in Tirana, who also submitted written documents along with their report. According to them, a house was returned to its former owner through forgeries and other illegal actions, a case involving officials such as the Director of the Public Services Directorate and the Head of the Finance Section at the Municipality. “The only charge involved is ‘abuse of office’,” the Investigative Prosecutor’s Office confirms, “and the proceedings are still at an early stage.” The official account of the opening of the criminal case is accompanied by that of Kristaq Kote, a resident of Building 80 on “Myslym Shyri” Street in Tirana. It is this very building that gave rise to the dispute and the suspicious case. At present, under a decision of the Municipal Council—No. 10, dated December 28, 1992—Building 80 “recognizes as its lawful owner the father of a municipal official.” “The suspicion does not concern the awarding of the home to the father of the municipal official,” says Kristaq Kote, who lives on the second floor of the building, “but the fact that the Municipality’s Decision No. 10, in all its 15 clauses, does not mention the home in question at all.” According to him, the forgery lies in the fact that all the documents accompanying the return of the property to the municipal official’s father refer to a Municipality decision that does not mention this case at all. After looking into the case, the Kote family, along with filing its complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office, also informed the State Control Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice. “The matter was verified at the Tirana Municipality and the appropriate measures were taken,” writes Justice Minister Kudret Çela in a reply letter. It is not yet known whether these measures coincide with the opening of proceedings in this case, or how valid the Kote family’s suspicions are. In any event, the newly opened investigation is continuing.

Italian MP announces his parliamentary questioning CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “I want clarity and respect: clarity and respect regarding the Arsidi case, for which I have documents that substantiate my accusations. And respect for the Albanian ambassador in Rome, whom I will ask to leave Italy.” Italian MP Alberto Alessi, a Christian Democrat and rapporteur for the Commission of Inquiry into Cooperation, is back on the attack. He has appeared before Parliament to press the Foreign Affairs Committee to put the “Albania issue” on its agenda: “I am asking for my question to be placed on the agenda,” he explained to the Gazeta, “because I urgently need to present all the documents that prove the basis for my accusations.” But what accusations are we really talking about? “I have already said it: we have been made fools of by the Albanian Government, which, while entrusting MP Giuliano Amato and then MP Benjamino Andreata with the responsibility of negotiating its foreign debt, was secretly giving that same responsibility to the Frenchman Arsidi. I have evidence for what I am saying. I have evidence and documents.” But why are you now attacking the Albanian ambassador in Rome as well? “Because he called me a liar, accusing me of slandering his country’s authorities. Yet the Vienna Convention prohibits ambassadors from interfering in the parliamentary activity of the foreign country in which they serve. That is why I am asking the Government to intervene in the strictest way possible—not only by firmly cutting off aid policy, but also by expelling the ambassador. To be clear: it is not assistance to the Albanian people that I intend to deny, but rather to a Government that has acted improperly in its dealings with Italy.” Your accusations are extremely serious, and no one can understand what factual basis they rest on... “We must not forget something important: I am rapporteur for the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into Cooperation, and as such I have dealt with, am dealing with and will continue to deal with aid and relations with Albania.” MP Alessi

— The third round of the Albanian Football Championship will not be played this Saturday, as scheduled. The decision was made by the Football Federation because of the match against Spain, which will take place on Wednesday, September 22. The match will be officiated by a three-man team from France. — A group of 20 former Albanian athletes has left for Bucharest, Romania. The team was invited by the Romanian Athletics Federation to the Balkan Veterans Championships, which will be held on September 18–19. The team leader is Belul Hatibi, Merited Master of Sport.

The marijuana was destined for Greece SHKODËR — (p. re.) — Drug cultivation in Albania threatens to assume widespread proportions. Following the cases in Fier, Laç and Krujë, the number of fields planted with the crop used to produce drugs that have been discovered in the country just recently has reached five. This time, the Police discovered a field covering one and a half dynym in the village of Mazrek, a few kilometres from Vau i Dejës in the District of Shkodër, planted with more than 1,000 cannabis plants, the plant from which marijuana is produced. Its owner, 31-year-old farmer Pal Gjoni, was arrested by the Shkodër Police, which collected the entire quantity of the dangerous plant and began destroying it. Gjoni had cultivated the cannabis in secret, hiding the planted field from the homes of his fellow villagers. This time, the arrested man himself fully admitted that a Greek citizen had given him the seeds and that the crop was destined for the illegal Greek market. For his services, Pal Gjoni had also received a sum of money from the unknown Greek man, whose identity has not yet been disclosed. This is not the first time that the discovery of such cases has been linked in one way or another to Greek criminal elements. One such case involved a farmer from Fier, who was sentenced some time ago. He too had obtained the seeds somewhere in Greece. Marijuana plants

JOINT VENTURE FOR GARMENT PRODUCTION IN TEPELENE — The Albanian-Greek joint company “Athine-tep” has begun operating in Tepelene. The new enterprise—the first of its kind—will operate in the district, with the aim of exporting its goods. The company “Athine and Tepelena” will produce garments for different age groups and will be intended mainly for the foreign market. So far, about 90 sewing machines have been installed in the company’s workshops, and more than 25 workers have been employed. It is expected to begin in the first month with the installation of new machinery, which will be installed across the area. DIFFICULTIES IN SECURING SUITABLE AREAS FOR CROP GROWTH — In the district of Kukës there are many difficulties in securing areas. Despite the efforts, these are in mountainous and outlying areas. In many communes, ambulances have been damaged and the condition of the vehicles is very poor, while in urban areas of the district the damage is severe. Telephone wires are missing in many communes in the district of Kukës. In some communes in this district, work has been halted for several weeks.

TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — Another weapon has gone missing from the depots of the Albanian armed forces. The theft of a Chinese-made Model 56 machine gun has been confirmed at Unit 711 — Rapid Intervention — of the Ministry of Public Order. This was not an ordinary break-in theft, but a weapon that had been missing for some time. The discovery was made after an inventory check of the weapons at the unit. The Investigative Police have immediately opened a criminal investigation. The unit in question, installed in a heavily fortified location near the village of Linzë, five kilometres from Tirana, rules out the possibility that the weapon was stolen from outside. For this reason, forensic experts have begun examining the relevant documents, also checking the signatures of unit personnel on the records for the receipt and handover of weapons.

Police arrest the farmer who was cultivating it Drug field in Shkodër Inside The crossing by swimming

LAND FORCES NAVAL FORCES OFFICERS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS Lower ranks second lieutenant sub-lieutenant sergeant policeman corporal lieutenant third-class sergeant third-class policeman Middle ranks captain second-class lieutenant captain second-class sergeant second-class policeman first captain first-class lieutenant captain first-class sergeant first-class policeman Senior ranks major third-rank captain chief sergeant chief policeman lieutenant colonel second-rank captain colonel first-rank captain General-officer ranks brigadier general rear admiral major general vice admiral lieutenant general admiral general — ENLISTED PERSONNEL corporal sergeant first sergeant

Swimming across Lake Ohrid Trafficking of Albanian girls in Pesaro Israel makes peace with Morocco and Jordan