Police find in Ersekë the sixth field in recent months Found by Police in Ersekë: the sixth field in recent months The new fashion: drug cultivation Marijuana worth 20,000 dollars discovered The risk of an economic crop (c.bo.) – For the fifth time in a few weeks, a drug field has been discovered in Albania. According to the authorities, the plants were intended for export, but there is nevertheless a serious risk. Marijuana produced in Albania costs less on the market, as has been noted, than that produced in other countries. And the risk lies precisely in the fact that, if it is produced in large quantities at such a low cost, Albanian citizens themselves will also be able to buy it. In fact, heroin has even higher prices, while Albanian marijuana risks taking over the local market. The concern is that the terrible mechanism recorded thirty years ago in Europe may begin: individual consumption led to retail sales, which then led to the accumulation of drug wealth. From there, things moved on to the final, dramatic episode: the use of hard, expensive and deadly drugs. EDMOND LAÇI ERSEKË – The cultivation of drug plants in Albania has reached alarming proportions. Following reports of cases in Fier, Laç, Krujë and Shkodër, Ersekë has now joined the areas where drugs have been cultivated. This time too, tests showed that the plant grown was “Cannabis Sativa”, used to prepare marijuana. According to sources in the Financial Police, which carried out the latest operation in cooperation with the Ersekë Public Order Department, the area covered by this type of plant was very large: one and a half hectares. The value of these plants, if sold wholesale on the foreign market, is estimated at 20,000 dollars. Citizen Habib Dedulla was detained on the 17th of this month, the day the operation was carried out, but was released by the District Prosecutor's Office after 48 hours and is now being investigated while at liberty. Two Greek nationals, also implicated in this affair, managed to leave illegally for their homeland while under Police surveillance. “As for the two Greek nationals who left,” Kapllan Xhangolli, Head of the Public Order Department in Ersekë, told the newspaper, “we had informed all the border crossing points. After their illegal departure, we have also notified Interpol.” The only discrepancy between the Financial Police and the Public Order Police concerns the area planted, which, according to Xhangolli, is several times smaller. The investigations, which have only just begun, have not yet established where the drug crop was intended to go. So far, it has only been discovered that the seeds for cultivation came from the Greek nationals, who, when first questioned by the Police, insisted that they were only hemp plants. The other five cases Here are the five drug fields discovered in Albania before the one in Ersekë. FIER, July 1993 — For the first time in Albania, an area planted with opium, used to produce heroin, was discovered in the village of Beshlan in Fier. Area: 12 square metres. FIER, August 1993 — Again in Fier, but this time in the village of Suku, tests showed that the plants grown on an area of 250 square metres were Cannabis Sativa, the raw material for marijuana. LAÇ, August 1993 — From south to north. Cannabis Sativa again, but this time in the highlands of Laç. The village was called Dedibisht. KRUJË, September 1993 — In Malë të Vogël, 22 kilometres from Krujë, a field planted with Cannabis Sativa was discovered. The area was half a hectare. SHKODËR, September 1993 — In Shkodër too, an area of one and a half dynym was found planted with Cannabis Sativa. Police seized more than 1,000 plants in the village of Mazrek. A new, intended alarm. The cases identified in Albania this year alone show that drug cultivation has turned into a new, highly profitable trade. The hypothesis — still unconfirmed — that this quantity is intended for the domestic market is the latest threat. Cultivation and sale within the country would complete the “drug phenomenon” in Albania, which began with trafficking and continued with cultivation. The danger is evident not only because the craving for drugs has claimed its first victims, but also because the experience of other cultivating countries shows that drugs are sold there many times more cheaply than in importing countries. Added to this danger, however, is the structure of Albania's anti-drug services, which has recently been achieving success. It is now very difficult to get across the border the quantities of these plants cultivated in Albania. But this difficulty in controlling small quantities of drugs in Albania…

480,000 cubic metres of firewood, kerosene and coal await customers The involvement of private companies may solve many problems TIRANA – (An. St.) It seems that the coming winter will bring fewer difficulties for residents of towns and villages in Albania. Compared with last year, there has been a significant improvement in securing supplies of heating fuel for the population. These optimistic signs come from the Executive Agency for Energy Resources for the Population. “At present, the firewood depots are stocked and ready for the winter season,” the Agency told the newspaper. By the end of the year, 480,000 stacked cubic metres of firewood will be sold to the population nationwide, compared with 440,000 stacked cubic metres sold over the same period last year. There are also all the possibilities for meeting growing demand from the population, up to 500,000 stacked cubic metres of firewood. The financial balance for the beginning of 1994 also looks more favourable. The Agency can purchase a further 590,000 stacked cubic metres of firewood to heat homes. The return of private companies to this sector has also had a very positive impact. They operate in all the markets, covering part of the process, from cutting and transport to delivering the wood to everyone. This has eliminated a number of difficulties, particularly those involving transport. The kerosene situation is also favourable. In addition to domestic production, there are 20,000 tonnes of aid from Kuwait and Libya. “With this quantity,” an Agency representative states, “the needs of every district will be met through the end of the year.” To speed up transport, the Government has authorised the use of private tanker trucks. At the same time, the Agency is considering the possibility of importing some additional tankers. As the population's demand for coal is increasing, measures have been taken to have 10,000 tonnes ready for sale. Should demand increase, the resources are available and there will be 20,000 tonnes of coal. Improvements are also expected from the introduction, at the beginning of 1994, of widespread use of liquefied gas for cooking. At present, the Italian company Gesea in Durrës supplies liquefied gas to about 1,000 families. At the beginning of next year, this activity will also extend to Tirana.

FRENCH ARCHITECT INJURED IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF APOLLONIA – A French architect was seriously injured while working at the excavations of the ancient city of Apollonia in Fier. According to hospital sources, the architect suffered a fractured rib, although his condition is said to be improving. The architect had come to Fier as part of an Albanian-French archaeological expedition. The accident occurred when he fell from a height of three metres onto the retaining wall. ILLEGAL FISHING CONTINUES IN TEPELENE – Although Police detained four people who were fishing with explosives in the Vjosa and Drinos rivers, illegal fishing continues. According to official sources, other fish species have disappeared completely, bringing the situation close to an ecological disaster. It is also reported that the main source of explosives is the coal mine in Memaliaj. GREEK FOOTBALL FEDERATION HELPS SARANDË'S “BUTRINTI” TEAM – The equipment donated by the Greek Football Federation to Sarandë's “Butrinti” is worth 500,000 drachmas. The contribution consists of uniforms for appearances and a sufficient quantity of other sports equipment for the team from the city of Sarandë. NEW FOOD AID FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY – European Community aid allocated to the Albanian people and Government continues to arrive at the Port of Durrës. The ships “El-se Fundi” and “Apollonia Nomad” arrived in Durrës yesterday and began unloading. The new aid consists of 5,012 and 5,000 tonnes of flour.

TIRANA — “In the country's governance by the coalition of parties, we have observed many serious shortcomings and we do not agree with the actual functioning of this coalition, but Berisha's latest statement gives us hope that things will be put right,” said Sabro Godo, Chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, at the conclusion of the meeting of the Party's General Governing Council. The meeting discussed current issues concerning the further development of the party's regime and the setting of policy in the country. The Republicans also expressed their concern about possible entry into Poland and Russia, and about increasing cooperation among all right-wing parties in Albania. Headquarters of the Republican Party

TIRANA — “When a Greek language and literature department opens for the first time at the University of Gjirokastër, at the highest level of Albania's educational structure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the Greek Government accuse and claim that ‘the Albanian authorities have ordered, through a circular, the suspension of operations and closure of schools belonging to the Greek minority’. The Albanian response — in a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — rejects the Greek Government's statements as completely untrue and without any basis.” TIRANA — “When a Greek language and literature department opens for the first time at the University of Gjirokastër, at the highest level of Albania's educational structure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the Greek Government accuse and claim that ‘the Albanian authorities have ordered, through a circular, the suspension of operations and closure of schools belonging to the Greek minority’. The Albanian response — in a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — rejects the Greek Government's statements as completely untrue and without any basis. Through this statement, Albania once again confirms that it has created all the conditions for education in the Greek language in Albania. This, according to the statement, is not done for minorities living in Greece.”

It arrived as a gift from the USA. Now its colour must be decided TIRANA — (Ja.ba.) Sometimes even gifts can become a problem. That is what has happened in recent days at the Albanian Parliament. At last, to bring order to the discussions of “unruly” MPs, who use up — often quite significantly — the time allotted for discussion, an electronic device is to be installed. It is a kind of large clock that will show each MP how much time they have available. Its arrival — it was a gift from the United States of America — has led many MPs to ask the Parliament's Presidium, mostly and often quite emphatically, who is responsible for putting the clock “for keeping the allotted time” into operation. Fortunately, the clock arrived from the USA without being painted on the outside. “We don't remember what colour the Parliament's separate hall was painted,” the Americans said. “You decide for yourselves what colour the clock should be.” Thus the clock's colour became another subject of discussion for the MPs on Saturday during breaks between sessions. Some have also made concrete proposals based on their preferences, but the final decision will be made by the Parliament's administration, which has not yet decided. Only after it has been painted will the large electronic clock adorn the walls of the Parliament's main chamber and begin carrying out its function in support of the Presidium. Parliament building

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