The State Commission answers 60 questions All Ministries under scrutiny TIRANA - Sixty questions for Blerim Çela to shed light on corruption. The State Commission answers 60 questions Corruption, Çela speaks All Ministries under scrutiny TIRANA - (c. bo.) — Sixty questions for Blerim Çela to shed light on corruption. A report before Parliament, lasting more than two hours, during which the Chairman of the State Audit Commission answered nearly all the questions put by members of the majority and the opposition. A harshly worded report, at times less thorough, but one that helps shed light on the state of legality in Albania. Çela spoke of illegalities uncovered in Ministries, investigations launched, cases “prepared” by the Prosecutor’s Office in relation to several sensitive matters, and finally some ministries that have been much discussed in recent months but about which little was still known. But let us look specifically at the most important questions, the key issues, and Çela’s answers. WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT DISAPPEARED AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE? — The 300 thousand dollars relate to a contract signed with a Bulgarian company to buy “TFA” vehicles. The vehicles were not delivered despite payment having been made, and the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence was informed of this; it guaranteed that it would intervene to have the sum returned in dollars. WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE LOAD OF CAST IRON ORDERED BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND THEN SENT BACK? — The cast iron was ordered because it was needed by the military industry, but the shipment that arrived in Albania did not meet the contracted quality. Some has already been returned; the rest is in Albania at the disposal of the supplying company, which will take steps to collect it. HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FOR THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, AND WHO PAID FOR THEM? — To date, 108 vehicles have been purchased, 55 of which were paid for with a World Bank loan, repayable over 40 years at an interest rate of 0.75 per cent. The purchase figure exceeds 1 billion dollars. These are not luxury cars, but vehicles needed to carry out government activities. HOW MANY INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT AT MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BODIES, AND WHAT IRREGULARITIES HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED? — The inspections cover, and continue to cover, all public bodies in Albania. Here are the results achieved so far. Council of Ministers: some irregularities were noted in per diems and travel, but the sums involved are small and recoverable. Parliament has been informed. Ministry of Industry: excessive expenditures of 1,481 dollars and 14,228 lekë were noted. As a result, a director was replaced and another dismissed. Ministry of Agriculture: vehicles were transferred to drivers without going through the privatisation agency. The responsible official was dismissed. Ministry of Tourism: excessive expenditures of 2 million lekë were noted, particularly for the purchase of motor oil, some of which was not used. The former minister is paying the damages, and the Director General of Albaturizmi has been dismissed. The opening of criminal proceedings has been requested. Ministry of Culture and Sport: excessive payments of 6,400 dollars were noted. The head of the accounting office was dismissed. Ministry of Public Order: irregularities were noted, and administrative and criminal measures were taken in relation to military bodies and Unit 100 of the Ministry of Public Order. Ministry of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Parliament and the Prosecutor’s Office: inspections are still under way. SHIK: inspection for the period 1991–1992 was refused, and the irregular sale of a vehicle was noted. Inspections carried out at ATSH, the Ministry of Health and the State Audit Service revealed no irregularities. DOES THE INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY INTERVENE APPROPRIATELY? — So far, the Investigative Authority has opened criminal cases in only 8 per cent of the cases reported by the Audit Commission. IS THE AUDIT COMMISSION REALLY INDEPENDENT? WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THE OPPOSITION, AS IN ALL THE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES? — The Commission carries out independent, non-politicised work. A request from 20 members of parliament (including members of the opposition) is enough to prompt its intervention. Inspections are carried out in all bodies, including ministries. A rehabilitation centre for the capital’s young beggars has now opened. The problem of abandoned elderly people remains unresolved; among them, on these cold November days, another victim has been added. The greatest flow of vehicles. Meanwhile, implementation of the second phase of this study has begun. This phase—which is expected to be completed by the end of this year—provides for meeting the need for traffic lights at other intersections as well as installing them like—

A homeless old man sleeps and dies on the pavement EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — A new victim among the Albanian homeless who sleep in open spaces in the centre of the capital. At dawn on Wednesday—when the temperature was quite low—a police patrol from Tirana’s Precinct 3 found an elderly man, around 60 years old, showing no signs of life. The victim was immediately taken to the Emergency Department of the capital’s Civil Hospital, but he could no longer be saved. The hospital medical team assured the police officers that there were no signs of a crime on the body of the victim—who was found sitting by the advertisements for the “Republika” Cinema, very close to the Turkish Bus Station—that might have caused his death. The fact that the victim had no identifying marks and that his body was found around three in the morning, sitting on the pavement, indicates that he was one of the many homeless people who spend the night on Tirana’s main streets. The phenomenon—more widespread among children and the elderly—had months earlier become the subject of an initiative by the European Community, which has now opened a rehabilitation centre for the young beggars of the Albanian capital. The project for the abandoned elderly remains to be addressed; been added.

New road traffic project By the end of 1993, vehicle traffic in Tirana will be controlled solely by traffic lights New road traffic project The capital will soon have fluorescent signs By the end of 1993, vehicle traffic in Tirana will be controlled solely by traffic lights ARMAND MERO TIRANA — A revolution in road traffic. By the end of this year, the movement of vehicles and pedestrians in Tirana will be fully regulated by traffic lights. A four-stage project envisages an automated future for traffic in Albania. For now, improving the road network and installing a full set of traffic signs—which will be fluorescent—will be the quickest solution to this problem. As for bicycles, their future is expected to lie on pavements built specifically for them. The rapid increase in traffic—especially in recent years—has become a worrying problem, particularly in the capital. To deal with the situation, a study consisting of four phases to find a definitive solution to traffic problems was launched earlier. The Ministry of Construction allocated 15 million lekë for this purpose. A large number of traffic lights have therefore been planned for installation at 28 intersections in Tirana. The first phase of the study—which addresses immediate needs—has been completed. Traffic lights have now been installed at six intersections in Tirana, the points where vehicle traffic is heaviest. Meanwhile, implementation of the second phase of the for traffic lights at the other intersections as well, and installing them after the lanes. However, traffic lights do not constitute the definitive solution to road traffic. “In cooperation with the Tirana Municipality,” Bujar Flaga, chief engineer of the network at the Décor Enterprise, tells Gazeta, “work is under way on a proper study of traffic in the capital.” A special section will be devoted to traffic signals and signs. Unlike the situation until now, these signs will also be visible at night in Albania. They may be fluorescent. “Although the initial cost of these signs is higher,” Flaga explains, “they have a longer lifespan.” The road problem—which many people consider the most difficult—does not seem to be so worrying. According to road traffic specialists, higher,” Flaga explains, “they have a longer lifespan.” What cannot continue travelling alongside cars. Their future, according to specialists, may be on pavements that could be built especially for them. The overall outlook for traffic appears highly modernised. The other phases of the road traffic project envisage its complete automation. Meanwhile, the road problem—which is considered by many to be the most difficult—

MAMURRAS — A serious accident at the entrance to Mamurras. A tanker loaded with 36 thousand litres of petrol overturned. It was 3.00 in the morning when, at the outskirts of Mamurras, the Greek driver of the tanker failed to negotiate a turn and veered off the road. As a result of this mistake, the driver overturned. The two people in the cab—the driver and his Greek colleague—were not injured. Road directorate employees and firefighters arrived at the scene immediately, preventing a possible fire. Around 16 thousand litres of petrol spilled when the tanker overturned.

Minors under 18 and women are exempt from capital punishment TIRANA — (p. re) — Life imprisonment has been definitively introduced into the Penal Code of the Republic of Albania. By approving a bill of amendments and additions to the Code, Parliament has thus become the protagonist of a new revolution in the field of justice. From today, the Penal Code will have seven fewer articles that had prescribed the death penalty. But that is not all: for six other articles that currently recognised the death penalty, courts will also have the option of avoiding this capital punishment and replacing it with life imprisonment. It was also decided that life imprisonment would not apply to minors under 18 years of age or to women. Although many changes were made to the explanatory report distributed before the bill was approved, most of the wording was retained as acceptable and appropriate. Thus, in addition to the articles on life imprisonment, an amendment was also approved to the provision concerning the cultivation and production of narcotics. The penalty for this crime provides for imprisonment from 3 to 15 years. Amendments were also approved to the article setting out fines, which, under current conditions, were—according to the bill—of an entirely negligible amount. The revised wording of the articles dealing with suspended sentences was also approved, with the aim of clarifying and better regulating this institution. There was much debate about a number of new criminal offences, intended—according to the proposing members of parliament—to protect individuals and the new democratic institutions from abuses of freedom of the press. Thus, an additional article entitled “Insulting the President of the Republic” was approved, but with modifications. A new article was also added concerning failure to pay taxes, as well as the unauthorised taking of water for irrigation.

Winter has arrived, and with the cold, the snow too. The summit of Mount Dajti has turned white, as have the mountains elsewhere in the country. Travelers and residents of villages situated at elevations of around 1,000–1,500 meters are the first to feel the arrival of the snow. The snow has also caused difficulties for road transport. According to forecasts, temperatures will fall in the coming days. The sudden cold caught people by surprise, setting the relevant teams in motion. First snow on Dajti

GERMAN COMPANIES’ PRESENCE IN ALBANIA SHOULD BE EXPANDED — “We would like to see greater participation by German investment companies in Albania,” Prime Minister Meksi said at a meeting with Schmitbauer, Germany’s Minister of State. Meksi stressed that this presence should be felt mainly in tourism and industry. Schmitbauer responded to the Albanian Prime Minister’s interest by saying, “Germany will be increasingly present in Albania.” KEROSENE SUPPLY SITUATION IN TIRANA STABILISES — “The irregularities in the supply of kerosene to the population were caused by transport,” said Shkëndër Muci, Director of the Energy Sector Directorate at the Tirana Municipality. During the first two weeks of November, Tirana residents had considerable difficulty obtaining kerosene. This happened because, owing to a serious incident in rail transport, the Directorate of Fuels had supplied only 70 per cent of the required quantity. INTEREST IN ALBANIAN AGRICULTURE GROWS AMONG MANY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES — “Great interest in cooperation in various sectors of Albanian agriculture was noted during meetings between Hasan Halili, Minister of Agriculture, and delegations from various countries. These meetings were held during the days of the 27th UN Conference on Food and Agriculture, FAO. Alongside talks with Turkish representatives—during which Turkey’s commitment to implementing the agreements reached was once again confirmed—views and experience were also exchanged with representatives from Italy, Israel and Japan.

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not to be applied to minors under the age of 18, or against women. Although many changes were made to the explanatory memorandum circulated before the Bill was approved, most of its wording was retained as accepted and appropriate. Thus, in addition to the articles concerning life imprisonment, the change was also accepted for 15 years. Amendments were also approved to the article providing for fines, which under the current conditions — according to the Bill — were of an entirely un-