Experts at the Ministry of Defence complete the project Women too among the new reservists Experts at the Ministry of Defence complete the project Military training resumes for Albanians Women too among the new reservists ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — Work has begun on reorganizing the training system for Albania’s reserve armed forces. Soon, Albanian citizens will once again undergo compulsory military exercises according to the ages and abilities established by law. The first public signal of this came from the Defence Minister himself, Zhulali, at the ceremony inaugurating a new division a short time ago. It is thought that women will not be exempt either. A working group appointed by the General Staff is preparing the legal framework needed to restructure the Reserve Forces. The draft law on the training capabilities of the Reserve Forces and another draft law concerning units with vehicles and transport animals belonging to state or private civilian entities have now been submitted to the Government for approval. Work is also under way on the draft law on the Territorial Forces. It is envisaged that the work will be completed by December this year, at the same time as the restructuring of the Army is completed. “In defining the structure of the Reserve Forces, their training capabilities and age limits,” the Ministry of Defence told the newspaper, “the experience of Western countries belonging to the NATO pact has also been taken into account. According to the projects, they will consist of reservist forces that will carry out direct combat duties in support of the Army, and territorial forces.” According to them, the deadlines for calling reservists up will be determined on the basis of the tasks these forces will perform in combat situations, as well as the need to master the technical and tactical aspects of the new weapons being introduced into the Army as quickly as possible. It has been proposed that the training time for members of the reserve forces with direct combat duties should be up to seven days over two years. They will consist only of men up to the age of 55. In the Territorial Reserve Forces, the training period, also over a two-year period, will be 3–4 days. The maximum age for men in this structure is also expected to be 55. These formations will carry out tasks involving the mobilization of cities, the evacuation of the population when necessary, or protection from weapons of mass destruction. Women up to a maximum age of 35–40 will also be included. In the new system, women will be exempt from combat duties involving the assault of airborne troops, the capture of an Army unit’s base, and the use of the heavy weapons available to the Army. For reserve staffs, a training period of 10 days over two years has been proposed. The draft laws also present several options for mobilizing vehicles belonging to private and state civilian entities, as well as transport animals. They are expected to be mobilized for readiness drills lasting 1–2 days.

Unknown burglars enter through the roof FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — The list of objects stolen from Albanian museums is growing. This time the thieves targeted Tirana’s Ethnographic Museum. On three occasions within a week, unknown individuals managed to steal several old silver objects from Tirana’s Ethnographic Museum. Following this, the directors of the Institute of Popular Culture decided to lock all valuable ethnographic objects in a storeroom until the museum’s security problem is resolved. For some time, this museum had been removed from the list of sites guarded by armed police. Built around twenty years ago in part of the large metal structure of the former “Albania Today” Exhibition, the Ethnographic Museum was one of Tirana’s few tourist attractions. A large number of ethnographic objects were on display there, some of them very old. Until now, these too had been displayed and handled by art dealers, whose activity has expanded in recent years, also taking advantage of the problems that have arisen in protecting Albanian museums. The way the thieves entered the museum’s metal building was unusual. No signs of entry were found at the museum’s main door. The thieves then used a more convenient route. Part of the large building, still called the “Chinese exhibition” by Tirana residents, has recently been used as an exhibition and sales venue by various commercial firms. This section connects to the rest of the building, where the museum is located, only through the ceiling. The thieves used this very passage and had enough time to select antiques from the museum on three occasions over the course of a week.

BREWERY DIRECTOR IN KORÇË ARRESTED — The Director of the City Brewery, Gjergji Shkodra, has been arrested by the Korçë Prosecutor’s Office. The measure was imposed following a complaint by the State Audit Service, which had examined the enterprise’s economic activity over the past two years. According to the inspectors, the suspension of production for almost two years caused economic damage amounting to 22 million lekë. The loss, according to the audit body, was caused by buying and selling deals made by the brewery’s management, who purchased 1,000 tons of very poor-quality imported barley even though good-quality barley was available on the Albanian market. The brewery produced only 710 hectolitres, below standard. THE PEZË CONFERENCE COMMEMORATED — An event organized in Tirana by the Political and Democratic Peace Organization of Veterans and Invalids of the National Liberation War commemorated the 51st anniversary of the Pezë Conference. A number of papers were presented at the event, held in the amphitheatre of the National Historical Museum. INSURANCE FOR PROPERTY AND HOMES IN SARANDË INCREASES — Insurance coverage for citizens, household property and other assets in Sarandë continues to increase. By January, 1,800 vehicles from Sarandë and Delvinë had been insured through the General Insurance Branch. The branch has paid out more than 35 million lekë in claims in one year. At the same time, campaigns have been carried out to increase insurance coverage for homes and businesses. Life insurance policies have been taken out by 95 citizens of Sarandë. The district branch is now aiming to include other types of registered motor vehicles in its insurance coverage.

TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — The large restaurant in the centre of the capital’s Grand Park, beside the Artificial Lake, will no longer exist. Built 33 years ago over the ruins of the Church of Shën Prokopi and restored several times, the restaurant is finally becoming the property of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. Masses have now begun in the partially improvised restaurant. The necessary documents for the return of this property—which the Church’s inventory lists as covering up to 5,000 square metres—have been signed by Prime Minister Meksi and Mayor Kelmendi.

TIRANA — The round table organized on Thursday by the Albanian Helsinki Committee in cooperation with the “Albaned Albania-Holland” association aroused considerable interest. The two central topics discussed by human-rights activists from among the Albanians of Kosovo and Macedonia were the free movement of people, and religious tolerance and intolerance. Gazmend Pulaj, head of the Helsinki Committee for Kosovo, presented facts about the violation by Serbian authorities in Kosovo of Albanians’ right to free movement. Activists from the Netherlands and Romania also took part in the meeting and spoke to the Albanian audience about their experience.

Three cases reported by citizens MILOT — The story of expired medicines has surfaced again. Following the alarm raised by the Ministry of Health—the first to report the arrival of these medicines from abroad—new facts have emerged in Milot. For about a year, preparations that should have been destroyed long ago have been sold and used by patients there. Some patients, according to an ATSH survey, have become worse after using the preparations. Many citizens, after checking the expiry dates, have asked to return the medicines they bought. But officials at the District Pharmacy Directorate have insisted, claiming that “foreign medicines are kept by the patients themselves even after their expiry date.” Meanwhile, the local doctor has reported cases in which various patients suffered damage to the stomach lining and a reactivation of ulcers and gastritis. The leaders of the Milot Commune have also been informed of these cases. The expired medicines—which arrived in Albania mainly as humanitarian aid—amount to as much as six tonnes and have been distributed to all the medicine depots in the districts. In connection with this problem, the Ministry of Health has requested the right to inspect medicines arriving through aid channels as well, something that has not been done until now.

Shkodër: Gunshots at a wedding A relative of the groom seriously injured TIRANA — Another shooting accident in Shkodër, following gunfire at weddings. This time, the man miraculously survived. Gjon Stani, 40, was injured while celebrating his brother’s wedding with his relatives. The incident took place in the village of Velipojë, and the victim was immediately admitted to hospital. According to doctors, Stani is now out of danger. But this latest incident is not the only one in this city. During the summer, the custom of firing guns at weddings has endangered other people as well. The Public Order Department has warned that it will stop weddings in such cases.

Mafia kills a priest in Palermo Mother Teresa undergoes surgery again Cagliari lose in Bucharest

Currency, commodity prices, and assessments of foreign markets for major food products. “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers you a new column: it will contribute to understanding how the Albanian economy is performing and is intended for everyone—business representatives, traders, and also housewives who work every day to balance the difficult household budget. IN FOREIGN MARKETS HERE Here are some prices on foreign commodity markets and some market values abroad: ALBANIA On the LONDON market: Raw sugar 160.60 USD/tonne White sugar 289 USD/tonne VIENNA On the ROTTERDAM market: MIT: Sunflower oil 600 USD/tonne SUNFLOWER OIL FOR CARS On the ITALIAN market For diesel refineries: Semi-synthetic oil should contain SHPBDO 5300–5600 per KG Oil for tractors 3800–4000 lire per KG For two-stroke engines Mineral oil 4000–4000 lire per KG CURRENCIES The rates at which the main currencies were quoted on the Tirana market this week were almost the same as last week. On the free market, the dollar was quoted at 101 to 110.4 for selling, while the buying rate remained almost stable at 101. The German mark showed a slight upward trend against the lek, rising slightly to 62.2 and reaching as much as 64 lek on the market. GOODS Here are some average prices for goods for August 1993, in lek per KG Canned beer Potatoes Cognac Ferreki Imported pasta Cooking oil Shtakutura Domestic pasta Fresh eggs Sugar Here are some price changes for food products sold in Tirana during the week ending (in lek) Tirana Fier Dibra/Gjirok. Shkodra Korça 141.2 135.3 148.2 146.9 138.0 140.7 196.1 211.9 164.4 215.3 177.9 204.2 226.6 202.6 189.1 187.5 179.2 192.3 203.0 207.2 166.5 190.6 163.2 206.4 Imported pasta 67.0 69.2 70.9 71.4 71.0 68.1 Shtakura 67.5 72.4 71.1 71.4 72.0 69.1 Domestic pasta 44.6 43.3 53.0 41.0 49.0 53.0 Fresh eggs 50.6 43.3 45.3 43.1 53.2 Sugar 50.6 40.3 56.4 43.1 53.0 50.0 Here are some price changes for food products sold in Tirana during the week ending (in lek) Tirana Shijak Vj. Ork Vlorë Speca Papale Week 8–12 August 58 115 60 71 25 25 Week 13–19 September 58 125 56 78 30 30

MATERA Locally, it will take in the life and offer of the forms that passed by and which, together with G- Albanian city. The panorama undertaken is a reproduction adapted from the old view of Ma- tera.