FORMER BLOC OFFICIALS The Prosecutor’s first request is approved. Defendant Miska makes a mysterious accusation: “It wasn’t us who impoverished the people.” Who was it? “Give the money back” A second trial is now being sought EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Another trial against ten of the highest-ranking former officials of the communist regime is being prepared—indeed, the first steps are already underway. Only a few minutes have passed since the defendants’ first appearance in the courtroom when the prosecutor, Gjukani, intervenes: “Alongside the criminal case against the defendants, the civil claim concerning the return of the sums improperly obtained must also be tried.” This is another trial within the one that is supposed to establish the charge of “violating the equality of citizens through the creation of privileges.” And the presiding judge, Artan Zeneli, approves: “The court accepts the request to examine, alongside the criminal proceedings, the civil claim brought by the representative of the prosecution, the object of which will be the return of the sums improperly obtained while the defendants held political and state positions.” These are not small sums: the indictment speaks of millions of lekë. Thus, at the conclusion of the trial, the court will have to issue its decision: first, on the defendants’ guilt or innocence, and second, on their civil liability, which entails returning the sums to be determined by experts. Thus, quite unexpectedly, the trial of the year in Albania has begun. At 10:24 on Friday, all the former senior officials of the regime—now defendants—gave their personal details to the judicial panel, thereby marking the start of a very unusual trial. Even the lawyers, in their first submissions, sought to get as close as possible to their clients, gathering close to them for the first time since the fall of the dictatorship. Then came a long list of witnesses, many of whom had not appeared at their earlier introduction to the court. Among the 62 witnesses, most are members of the former Directorate of the Presidency, relatives of the defendants, but also well-known figures and former officials of their era, such as Xhelil Gjoni, Niko Gjyzari and Abdyl Backa. The witnesses themselves will need time to appear in court. The defendants will be heard first, while, according to the presiding judge, the proceedings will also require testimony from accounting experts and the admission of various documents. The questioning of the last defendants is expected to be completed today, after which the proceedings will resume next Friday. In this second round, the prosecution will also be heard, and the defense will present its arguments. “It was not the expenses incurred for the special treatment of 10, 20, 30 or 100 people that impoverished our people,” says Pali Miska, the second defendant, in his defense. “The other people are the ones who should be able to assess the real causes.” Miska’s defense and accusation are mysterious, and perhaps they will be clarified in later hearings. A few minutes before 10:24—the deadline for the defendants’ return to court—the first and final hearing focuses on their cases. By now, everyone also pays for every square meter of the exterior wall area of a building. Signs, too, will be taxed. Anyone with a shop or office identified by a sign will pay 500 lekë a year. In addition to the new taxes, the draft law also proposes changes to some existing ones. The proposed change to residents’ cleaning and environmental taxes is quite small: the annual amount is expected to rise from 50 lekë to 60–70 lekë. This increase also applies to companies and private traders. No increase or adjustment is proposed for the radio and television tax. This time, the proposals for these changes come from the offices responsible for local-government affairs, headed by Rexhep Uka. The minister has stated that their approval would bring more than 100 million lekë in additional revenue to the state budget. The purpose of this draft law is for the revenues the state receives from these taxes to be shared with local governments as well. This would further strengthen the financial and budgetary independence of local government. Other proposed adjustments also serve this purpose, changing some national taxes into local taxes. The defendants in the courtroom. First row, from left: Llambi Gexhprifti, Prokop Murra, Foto Çami. Second row: Pali Miska, Vangjel Çrava, Hajredin Çeliku, Muho Asllani. Third row: Besnik Bekteshi, Qirjako Mihali, Lenka Çuko

TIRANA — (Ar. Me) — Soon, Albanians may have to pay new taxes. In the coming days, the “Draft Law on Certain Changes to the National and Local Tax System” will be submitted to Parliament for approval. Among other things, it provides for the first-time introduction of several new local taxes. For the first time, butchers may also have to pay another tax. The draft law proposes a tax of 50 lekë for every animal slaughtered. Construction work may also be subject to a new tax. It will no longer be enough to pay only the cleaning charge or rent for each square meter of occupied space. A charge will now also be paid for every square meter of the building’s exterior wall surface. Signs will also be taxed. Anyone with a shop or office identified by a sign will pay 500 lekë a year. In addition to the new taxes, the draft law also proposes changes to some existing ones. The proposed change to residents’ cleaning and environmental taxes is quite small: the annual amount is expected to rise from 50 lekë to 60–70 lekë. This increase also applies to companies and private traders. No increase or adjustment is proposed for the radio and television tax. This time, the proposals for these changes come from the offices responsible for local-government affairs, headed by Rexhep Uka. The minister has stated that their approval would bring more than 100 million lekë in additional revenue to the state budget. The purpose of this draft law is for the revenues the state receives from these taxes to be shared with local governments as well. This would further strengthen the financial and budgetary independence of local government. Other proposed adjustments also serve this purpose, changing some national taxes into local taxes.

Pajtaj adds: “At our Ministry, we haven’t found a single document about the money deposited” Shehu speaks about the Emergency Hospital Tirana’s “new” hospital TIRANA — (c. bo.) — “I’m afraid that the 1 million dollars donated by Xhemal Ferra for the construction of the Emergency Hospital ended up among the 500 million dollars that made up the debt accumulated at the Albanian Bank by 1990. It will be difficult to recover…” Health Minister Tritan Shehu offers his version of what happened to the money donated in 1988 by philanthropist Ferra for the Emergency Hospital, which later disappeared. “There is another problem,” Shehu adds. “At the Ministry of Health, we haven’t found any document containing a record of the deposit. I believe that in 1988 Ferra made this direct arrangement with the Bank. At that time I was a doctor; I also took part in the projects, so I know very well what that million dollars was for. But there are no documents at the Ministry…” So the Government cannot return it? “No, we can’t return it. I explained this to Bujar Ferra, Xhemal’s son, too. Unfortunately, that money was used by the Albanian Bank for various purposes, and the Treasury cannot return the 499 million dollars.” Bujar Ferra denies that the Emergency Hospital will be built by the Catholic Church. He assures us that the Vatican knows nothing… “That is not possible: we have signed an agreement with the Albanian Catholic Church, which is undertaking to build a 250-bed hospital, with an investment of around 35 million dollars. The Emergency Department will also be part of the hospital. We have made it a condition that the Catholic Church erect a memorial at the entrance to the ward, in memory of Xhemal Ferra, the generous donor. This is all we can do for now.”

NEW PRESIDIUM OF THE ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ELECTED — Tritan Shehu will be the Secretary-General of the ADP. At its first meeting, the National Council of the DP held elections for the Party’s new Presidium. Three deputy chairmen were also appointed: Tomor Dosti, Ali Spahia and Engjell Hysenbegu. VISIT OF THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN FLEET FRIGATE “DROGOU” CONCLUDES — The French frigate “Drogou” of the Mediterranean Fleet departed from the Port of Durrës. The frigate’s officers, which had been in port for several days, held a number of meetings with Albanian dignitaries. They also presented the Albanian Naval Academy with a quantity of military literature. 13 MILLION LEKË SOUGHT FOR SEVERAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS IN THE KUÇOVË DISTRICT — A further 13 million lekë is needed for the water supply systems in the villages of Kuçovë. The district had previously received a fund of 4 million lekë for the water systems. This fund has been supplemented with another amount in the form of a loan requested from the German Government. WORLD BANK TO SUPPORT ALBANIA’S MUSEUMS — The World Bank will provide funding for city museums. This was communicated by the Minister of Culture to Dhimër Mitratur at a meeting with representatives of the Ministry. Previously, representatives of this Bank had themselves visited, and a minister had submitted the funding request. This fund may be used for the entire system of Albania’s national and local museums.

TIRANA — Albania has been awarded an ecology prize. The “Environment Prize” was awarded to our country—along with several Eastern European countries—by the Presidency of Italy’s Regional Council of Lazio. The prize is awarded on the basis of work carried out to protect the environment and raise environmental standards to the national and European levels. A special ceremony was held in Rome for the presentation of the awards. In Italy, Forest Guards were honoured for their work. “This prize,” a note stated, “is a sign of the Italians’ gratitude to them.”

DURRËS / The first such case DURRËS — An Italian entrepreneur has been expelled from Albania “for reasons of public order”: the person, Raffaele Niccoli, born in Brindizi and officially resident in Tirana since May of this year, is a partner, together with an Albanian citizen, in the maritime agency “Shpresa”, based in Durrës. Niccoli was summoned that same afternoon to Police Station No. 2 in the capital, where he was informed of the Ministry of Public Order’s decision that he must leave. As part of the same measure, his residence permit was also revoked. On Friday afternoon Niccoli left for Italy. Last week, the Italian entrepreneur operating in Albania was questioned by the Durrës Police following a complaint filed by a former subordinate at the “Shpresa” agency. The man accused Niccoli of threatening him with a gun. Niccoli showed that the weapon he had was a toy revolver, and the police authorities released him. It is not known whether the expulsion from Albania is connected with this incident or with other, unknown events. This is the first case of an Italian entrepreneur being expelled from Albania.

Government response expected on Monday Student grants remain the main issue. Better dormitory conditions are also being demanded. Meanwhile, the democratic movement is being commemorated at the Student City TIRANA — Monday will determine how the students’ strike develops from here. “We will wait until Monday,” students at the Kamza Agricultural Institute say. “If there is no move by the Government, then the strike will continue.” These are students at the Agricultural University of Kamza; if they receive no positive response from the Government, the strike will continue indefinitely from Monday. The residents of this university in Tirana are mainly demanding that scholarship support continue. At present, students receive scholarships according to a percentage-based system. Arben Vaqari, deputy secretary for the University, Politics and Trade Union, tells Gazeta Shqiptare that those covered by the scheme are treated according to self-assessment criteria, plus a quota to pay for this year’s cost of living. The criteria for students to receive scholarships have been established, and they are asking for them to be set within the shortest possible time. Alongside the issue of dormitories at Student City, only there is a strike that forms a major part of the action begun in Kamza. At a meeting at the Ministry of Education, it was emphasized that this problem would also be discussed with the Tirana Municipality. Meanwhile, a commemoration of the strike that marked the beginning of the democratic revolution was held at Student City in recent days. It was the students themselves who succeeded in overthrowing the 60-year communist rule in the winter of 1990. According to AT, Prime Minister Meksi took part in the ceremony and praised the great role students played in freeing Albania from communist dictatorship. University students on strike

Tax imposed on income from land rent and leases Incomes below 4,000 lekë will not be affected ON PAGE 3 Europe discusses the unemployment crisis The “White Paper” prepared by Delors is presented ON PAGE 2