A paradox in the country that escaped famine Will the price of bread go down? A paradox in the country that escaped famine Too much flour in Albania Will the price of bread go down? How much it costs today Here are the sale prices of wheat flour on the domestic and international markets: — PRIVATE TRADERS The sale price charged by private traders is 24 lek per kilogram. — THE STATE The state’s fixed price on the seller’s side is 29.6 lek per kilogram. — THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET The sale price on the international market on 13 October was 159.37 ECU per ton, or about 21.4 lek per kilogram. ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — From a country that just a short time ago was at risk of running out of bread, Albania has suddenly, as if by magic, turned into a “warehouse” of flour stocks. There are 30,000 tons of flour received as aid from the European Community that cannot be sold and are at risk of going moldy. The reason is simple: the fixed state price for this flour (29.6 lek per kilogram) is far less competitive than the price of 24 lek per kilogram for government flour, which would make it possible to lower the price of the flour left in storage. Approval of this proposal by the Government will have various consequences. On the one hand, it could lead to a fall in the price of bread, but on the other, it could harm the interests of private traders, whose interests are particularly important for the future as well. Once again, private enterprise is demonstrating its superiority over the state’s sluggish and inflexible mechanism. Knowing the state’s fixed price for flour, economic self-interest has encouraged private traders to take advantage of the situation created in foreign markets. It is known that in the EC countries, the USA and Canada, the disposal of large quantities of surplus flour or grain for export is subsidized by the state. It pays producers 30 percent of the international sale price of flour to enable it to be exported more quickly by lowering its sale price. These favorable prices have made the flour trade very attractive to Albanian traders. In September alone, they imported 16,000 tons of flour. For its part, the state is not properly taking account of the major change brought about in the domestic market by the supply from the private sector. This has also led to a clash of interests and to “stocks” of flour. Albania has around 50,000 tons of flour in stock, not counting the quantities held at milling factories. The draft proposal aims to unblock the situation by abolishing the fixed state price, thereby creating the possibility of lowering it. But how much will the price fall? Will an “equilibrium” price be found that satisfies both sides, or will the State oppose the private traders?

Health alert TIRANA — Rats are taking over Tirana. TIRANA — (Ar. Me.) — Rats are taking over Tirana. “They’re big, with bare backs, kind of red, and with thick tails. Even the cat is afraid of them,” Margarita Koci, who lives in a ground-floor house, tells the newspaper. The concern gripping many residents of the capital is also supported by the health authorities. “It’s a very serious problem for us too,” says Jorgo Kosta of the Directorate of Public Health at the Ministry of Health. “Lately, the number of these rodents has increased. We have no way of carrying out deratization, that is, fighting them with chemicals.” Previously, poison for rats was prepared at a chemical factory in Durrës—but now that this factory has closed—the only option is to import it. It has therefore been proposed that traders be given special licenses to sell chemicals against rodents and various insects. In fact, specialists say, chemical control is only the last stage. What matters is paying attention to hygiene. In Tirana, however, there are [unclear]. [Unclear], thrown here and there, [unclear], and at times [unclear] the outskirts of the city do nothing but encourage [unclear]. People see more and more rats crushed by cars. Perhaps there are still [unclear] with the [unclear].

FIER / The second death sentence in a few days Teacher stabs 17-year-old to death over an absurd jealousy FIER — Another death sentence in Albania. FIER / The second death sentence in a few days Kills his son’s bride: sentenced to firing squad Teacher stabs 17-year-old to death over an absurd jealousy A section of Fier’s industrial zone FIER — (ha. ko.) — Another death sentence in Albania. This time the Fier Court has handed down the death penalty to a 48-year-old man. It is the second sentence of this kind in Albania within a week; the same penalty was also chosen by the Court of First Instance for Premtin Tolen, 23, who had killed and been convicted of killing his father. The latest sentence was handed down to Javer Gogan, from the village of Njeshar in Fier. He too was accused of a gruesome murder within his family, whose cause was once again a woman: his son’s wife. “For crimes of this kind, public opinion is extremely sensitive,” Artan Hajdari, the presiding judge in the case and President of the Fier District Court, told the newspaper immediately after the sentence. “That is why the judicial authorities must take a firm stance.” After many exhausting hearings and an unusually large number of curious onlookers attending them, the judges have decided that Laver Gogan should be executed by firing squad. This is because the evidence showed the defendant’s involvement in the crime. But it was not his only crime, since the first family conflict had begun even before he committed the murder. A year earlier, Goga, a teacher at the secondary school in the village of Njeshar, had insisted on arranging the engagement of one of his students—L. Refti, 17—to his son. His demand that the wedding take place just as quickly was rather unusual: less than five months had passed since the engagement, contrary even to the traditions of the region. All the more so because, only a few days later, Laver Goga’s son—now sentenced to death—was due to leave for military service. The crime had begun. But the son, although serving in the military, had sensed what was going on. And he did not delay his decision: he decided to send his wife to her parents until he himself returned from the army. The son chose an unusually harsh way to express his anger, but his father could not bear this decision. Armed, he went to the home of his son’s bride’s parents, where she had just arrived. In a matter of seconds, her father-in-law plunged 15 knives into the 17-year-old’s body. Meanwhile, the only person beside the granddaughter at that moment—[unclear]—was saved by fate, suffering only an injury. This is another monstrous crime in Fier, whose residents have also had the opportunity to witness a public execution. A year ago, these citizens had risen up over two people being hanged in the middle of Fier. Thus, in response to the crimes committed by criminals, the cycle of their executions continues.

TIRANA — The second National Assembly of the Democratic Party will be convened soon. This was announced by its chairman, Eduart Selami, at a press conference. “At this assembly,” Selami stressed, “we will analyze our achievements as well as the objectives that have not been achieved and are still in progress.” Another important issue to be considered will be the admission of a new party and new members. According to Selami, his party currently has around 100,000 members. He once again confirmed the DP’s position as a center-right party.

A long-term project designed by WHO and the EC TIRANA — Another project will try to help Albanian schools in difficulty. TIRANA — (fa. bax.) — Another project will try to help Albanian schools in difficulty. This time the assistance will focus on a new area: health. A joint project of the World Health Organization and the European Community will begin to be implemented in Albania. The project will cover three major districts of the country and include ten eight-year schools. It aims to fund selected schools so that suitable facilities for pupils can be made available there. The schools will be called “health schools” for a reason. Teacher training and the knowledge acquired there will focus more on this issue. The first portion—around $360,000—of the funds available for the project has now begun to be disbursed. Technically, the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. Ten eight-year schools in three major cities of the country will benefit: four in Tirana, three in Elbasan and three in Shkodër. The project is expected to continue for five years. During its implementation, the schools are also expected to be equipped with showers. In some schools, canteens for pupils will also be built and put into operation. The longer-term objective is to integrate these schools into the European network of health-promoting schools. This goal will also be achieved with the help of a humanitarian aid foundation. ADN Norwegian-Albania is the name of this foundation; it will meet some of the schools’ needs for technical and construction materials. In this way, better relations will also be established among parents, pupils and teaching staff as they work to raise standards in their respective schools. Health education for pupils has begun to be placed on a new footing, thanks to the initiative of experts in this field. One achievement has been the introduction of sex education into the school curriculum. But the implementation of this activity has also encountered financial difficulties.

A panorama of Lecce Readers will receive tomorrow this panorama of the ancient city of Lecce, published together with the Albanian Newspaper. Tomorrow’s panorama is a reproduction of an old view of Lecce.

Here is what the journalists who will not work for two days are protesting against CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Starting today, thirteen Albanian newspapers have announced a two-day strike to protest against the Press Law approved by Parliament. The protest is taking place in Tirana; moreover, on the morning of the first day and in the afternoon, Parliament is meeting, while Albanian journalists seek to defend their rights and freedom of expression. Journalists will call for a law that protects freedom of the press, describing the current bill as a threat to it. Considering democratic change necessary and, before conducting an investigation, a useful example for public life, and bringing together the arguments in the dispute, the journalists on strike have… Is the Press Law in force? [unclear] freedom of information after 45 years of dictatorship. The law prohibits [unclear] data against the constitutional order of the state? It imposes fines ranging from 0 to 800,000 lek, an excessively large amount for an independent press. The law will also impose restrictions under [unclear] conditions? Journalists understand that to be included in the draft without [unclear] the journalists themselves. Another concern about the Law centers on three points: fines (set at a high level), confiscation (the press is subject to compensation orders issued by the authorities), [unclear] of facts and rules concerning the failure to publish security-related information (provided for every criminal case, without specifying in detail [unclear]). On the other hand, there is no [unclear] in this Law—which must certainly be corrected—that adequately addresses information, which throughout the world is governed by legal rules. Among other things, the Law allows journalists not to be arrested for press offences, but [unclear] and permits newspapers to…

CONVENTION ON JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE BETWEEN ALBANIA AND GREECE RATIFIED — In a plenary session, the People’s Assembly ratified the Convention on judicial assistance in criminal and civil matters between Albania and Greece. Under this convention, each party guarantees the other party the provision of all rights and legal protection enjoyed by its nationals. The document also provides for extradition. Both parties undertake to hand over to one another persons against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated. FORMER OWNER OF THE AGRARIAN PARTY HEADQUARTERS RETURNS TO TIRANA — The former owner of the house where the Agrarian Party headquarters is located has returned to Albania. After 12 months of hardship, he has finally returned to his home. For now, the FA has retained its headquarters and two rooms that are [unclear]. WORK ON COMPLETING THE HOTEL IN QERROVDE HAS STALLED — No further progress has been made on work begun about four years ago to build an eight-storey hotel in the town of Qerrovë. The fact that its construction was put out to tender brought no new developments either. Now the hotel—with an estimated cost of 60 million lek—has been left at the mercy of fate, becoming prey to extensive damage and theft. EVENTS DEDICATED TO MODERN ROMANIAN LITERATURE IN LAÇ — A literary and artistic evening centered on modern Romanian literature was organized in Laç. Several papers were presented during the event, and poems by Eminescu, Dinesku and other Romanian authors were recited in Albanian and Romanian. Guests attended as part of the cooperation between Laç and the Romanian city of Tregovish.

The “clean hands” scandal widens He was asking for ten billion dollars Coverage of the Albanian and Italian championships The “clean hands” scandal widens ON PAGE 3 Stalin wanted to sell East Germany He was asking for ten billion dollars ON PAGE 2