Marsel Skëndo became better known after the RAI2 program EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Just a week ago, his spouses had watched with curiosity the man whom RAI 2 called the first Albanian millionaire. Marsel Skëndo, President of the Boards of the ADA Joint Enterprises, was escorted by police to Tirana Prison the day before yesterday at 13:15. The charge: “Forgery of official documents”; the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office imposed pretrial detention. Skëndo, 44, who had been charged—but remained at liberty—three months ago, is also being investigated in another case: the story of the purchase of tear-gas bombs, dating from 1990, for which the Prosecutor’s Office had arrested a few days earlier Muharrem Sako, Director of the Economic Directorate of the former Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Gjergj Toto, a former specialist at the Ministry of Foreign Trade. But immediately after Skëndo’s arrest, Frenchman Zhylien Rosh reacted—he too is under investigation by the Albanian authorities and subject to a travel ban—and who owns 50 percent of ADA’s shares. In a letter addressed to Alush Dragoti, Prosecutor of the Republic, Rosh asked to be arrested as an accomplice in all of ADA’s dealings as well. Skëndo, President of the first joint enterprise in Albania, was served with the arrest warrant while being interviewed in his office by a female journalist. Marsel Skëndo was first charged by this body a year ago. The first charge against him concerned abuse of office. In October of the previous year, a Government decision had ordered the dissolution of ADA, but the Constitutional Court later annulled it. This time, the charge that sent him to the cells of Tirana Prison concerns a document that, according to the investigative authorities, is considered false. It is a document dated August 26, 1991—addressed to state institutions—which claimed that 100 tons of cigarettes were in stock, when in fact there were only 40 tons. A discrepancy over the quantity, and it is not known what lies behind it. But there is also another case in which Skëndo continues to be investigated. It concerns the scandal involving 220 thousand dollars, which in 1990 were taken out of Albania for the purchase of tear-gas bombs. This sum, which has disappeared without a trace, and the investigation into it had, before the arrest, sent Skëndo and his associates to prison. Here is the photo: Marsel Skëndo a few minutes after his arrest former officials: Muharrem Sako and Gjergj Toto. But the investigation into Zhylien Rosh, ADA’s co-president, remains a mystery too. All that is known is that he is under investigation and subject to the security measure requiring him not to leave the country, but the charge is not known. A few days before his arrest, Marsel Skëndo had told the newspaper: “We are in a democracy, and only in a democracy can you be accused, you can be tried, but you can also win.” The charges and his confidence now stand face to face. In the photo: Marsel Skëndo a few minutes after his arrest

Necessary to cover production costs Electricity becomes more expensive The price rises more for household use ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — The Council of Ministers has just adopted a decision to increase the price of electricity for both the population and industry. Three consumption limits for different areas will remain in place: 250, 150 and 70 kilowatts, but the price of electricity purchased within these quotas will change. From 0.5 lekë, it will become 0.8 lekë per kilowatt-hour. If these consumption quotas are exceeded, the price to be paid will not be 1–1.5 lekë but 3 lekë. The latter was the highest price under the previous tiered system, which applied only during the winter period. But now industry will also buy electricity at a higher price. The price will rise from 1.8 lekë per kilowatt-hour to 2 lekë per kilowatt-hour. Numerous factors have compelled the Government to take such a decision. The Minister of Energy, Abdyl Xhaja, at the Government meeting where this decision was adopted, identified the worsening energy situation as a primary factor, resulting from the prolonged drought. Alongside this, however, there are many other factors that are even more decisive. The main one appears to be a World Bank project. It aims gradually to bring the electricity sale price into line with the actual cost of production and eliminate subsidies. The measures are in keeping with this program, which also appears set to dominate the future formulation of policy for this important sector of the economy. The Government’s medium-term program envisages a substantial increase in electricity tariffs for the population as part of a program to rehabilitate the energy sector. “For 1994,” Zana Kallfa, supervisor for electricity at the Ministry of Energy, told the newspaper, “the price is projected to rise to 4.2 lekë per kilowatt-hour.” The weakness of the cable network that distributes electricity to homes has also been an additional factor favoring the price increase. It is thought that the price differential will serve as a protective barrier against excessive electricity consumption, which has often caused the distribution network or transformers to burn out. There is no doubt that this change will be perceived in different ways, first and foremost according to people’s financial circumstances and income. Despite the objective reasons, it is somewhat difficult—and this is almost always the case in such situations—for people to welcome a price increase. The only ones who may applaud it are energy-sector employees, who see this decision as ensuring the survival of the Energy Corporation. An electricity pole Old and new bills Here are the electricity prices, as they are and as they will be. AS THEY ARE: For consumers, 0.5 lekë per kilowatt-hour. Once the quota is exceeded by up to 50 kilowatt-hours in the 250-kilowatt, 150-kilowatt and 70-kilowatt blocks, the price rose to 1 lekë per kilowatt-hour. If consumption exceeded these quotas, the price rose to 1.5 lekë for the April–October period and 3 lekë for the November–March period. For industries: 1.8 lekë per kilowatt-hour. AS THEY WILL BE: For consumers, 0.8 lekë per kilowatt. For any amount exceeding the respective blocks of 250 kilowatts, 150 kilowatts and 70 kilowatts, the price rises to 3 lekë per kilowatt-hour. For industries: 2 lekë per kilowatt-hour. 2 lekë per kilowatt-hour for industry.

BARI — An orthopedic rehabilitation center for children has been inaugurated in Durrës. The center was renovated with the involvement of the Center for Solidarity with Albania of Caritas Bari-Bitonto. The new facility has 10 places and 65 staff members. The total cost of the work is 150 million lire, funding for which began to be provided by Caritas a year and a half ago. All the work was carried out by Italian and Albanian technicians. Among those present at the inauguration were Albania’s Minister of Health, Tritan Shehu, and the president of Albanian and apostolic Caritas, Monsignor Ivan Dias.

Jonuz Begelani — 40 years old — is the victim of a road accident in Shkodër. — Jonuz Begelani, 40, was the victim of a road accident in Shkodër. The incident occurred the day before yesterday, around 13:00, on one of the main roads of the city. Begelani, who was crossing the road, was run over by a car traveling at high speed and died at the scene. The driver, Alfred Ndoja, was detained by the police.

— The food industry, too, is moving toward cooperation with foreign companies. In Tirana, two enterprises in this industry—the soft-drink producer and the oil producer—have signed joint-venture contracts with Italian companies. The first investments in equipment and renovation of the premises are already under way. Production is expected to begin soon.

— Shkëlzen Zallti, 31, a resident of a village in this district, was detained in Tropojë for possessing weapons. During a search of his home, 12 packs of automatic-rifle cartridges, 240 individual cartridges, and other military equipment were found. He had taken these materials from the military unit where he worked. Also in Tropojë, the police detained other people for illegal possession of weapons.

— A scientific conference was held in Shkodër to mark the 38th anniversary of the establishment of the modern Austrian state. The conference, during which six papers on different topics were presented, was organized by the Albania-Austria Friendship Association, based in Shkodër.

Disco-rock in Gjirokastër GJIROKASTER — Another original way to make worthwhile the labor and colossal expenses involved in building and installing tens of thousands of bunkers across Albania. The old symbol of war is now intended to be turned toward peace, and even toward music and young people. After the Lushnja bunker-customs post, this was another original idea by Bexhet Serjani and Zhija Shoshaj, both from Gjirokastër. They have turned one of the city’s many shelters into an entertainment venue: a discotheque. They rented this refuge. Then they carried out considerable work, which was needed to transform its military appearance and give it the look of a discotheque. They spent around 350,000 lekë on this. “Bar-Diskoteka Rinia”—the name given to the shelter—will undoubtedly be one of the most original discotheques not only in the country, but in the world. The reinforced-concrete walls of this shelter—specially designed to withstand bombardments—will from now on hear only the sounds of music. Perhaps that music will be foreign music, so harshly attacked by the regime, of which this very bunker is a symbol.

A panorama of Bari . Tomorrow readers will receive, free of charge, a panorama showing a view of the famous [?] of the city of Bari in southern Albania. The coastal panorama with [?] and the old port of Bari.

Here’s how to protect ourselves from the counterfeit banknotes back in circulation TIRANA — (p. re) — Counterfeit dollars are back in circulation. Yesterday the police intercepted several counterfeit 100-dollar bills. But how can we recognize them and avoid being cheated? Here are some useful tips: 1) The first thing to do is check the banknote in the palm of your hand. On banknotes put into circulation in 1990 or earlier, a thin thread bearing the tiny inscription “100 USA” should be visible through the paper (on the left side). But those put into circulation earlier do not have such a thread. 2) The precise composition of the paper is important. Genuine banknotes are stronger than counterfeit ones. 3) Run the pad of your finger over the collar of President Franklin’s jacket, printed in the center of the banknote, or over its black border. Genuine notes have a rougher surface, while counterfeit ones are smoother, like a sheet of paper; the entire banknote is smooth. 4) The paper used for genuine banknotes is whitish-gray and has several small black marks resembling bits (strands of hair) scattered irregularly. Counterfeit banknotes, on the other hand, are a clearer white and completely clean. 5) For a more sophisticated check, look at the note under an ultraviolet-light device, which can distinguish genuine banknotes from counterfeit ones. A special device for carrying out this check is, after all, available at all banks. Counterfeit dollars seized

News and curiosities about the Albanian championship ON PAGE 3 Lenin’s embalmed body is being photographed for the last time ON PAGE 2 Germany: to combat the crisis, people will work 4 days ON PAGE 2