349 hectares of coastline for hotels After the decision, all that is awaited is the arrival of investors TIRANA — Another great opportunity is opening up to attract foreign investment in the field of tourism. A few days ago, a large area of the Adriatic coast was designated as a free zone for tourism development. Golem Beach—the first in Albania—has been declared a tourist zone. It was the National Council for Territorial Planning that approved, at its latest meeting, the study and project drawn up for the development of tourism in the Golem area. “This area is among the most valuable in terms of its environmental assets,” specialists from the Ministry of Construction’s Territorial Planning Department told Gazeta Shqiptare, “and is classified among tourist areas of medium and high quality.” Its area of 349 hectares, in addition to an almost untouched beach, also has abundant pine greenery. The project that has been drawn up envisages preserving this environment and its character. The construction expected to take place must not disrupt the existing structure. Golem is thus becoming the first free zone for the exclusive development of tourism. The project is divided into several blocks and provides for the construction of a number of hotels and tourist villages. Its total capacity will be 22,500 holidaymakers, half of whom will be accommodated in beds, while the rest will be day visitors. In addition to numerous hotels and holiday villas, restaurants, shopping centres, parking areas, special facilities for children, and many entertainment and recreation facilities are planned. The project also designates areas for the construction of piers for boats, motorboats and yachts, as well as areas for water sports. “Alongside these, all possible services have been planned,” the specialists explain, “and all infrastructure and telecommunications issues have been resolved.” The entire area along the coast has been divided into three implementation phases. The first will be made available immediately, while the other two will be opened up from the middle of 1994. This is solely to allow for the possibility of correcting any inaccuracies. The project will now be transferred to the Ministry of Tourism for administration, and the Ministry will also attract investors. “However, any construction that takes place,” the specialists stress, “will strictly comply with the approved project.” Armand Mero … to be carried out,” the specialists stress— The service known as “World Institute of Scientology Enterprises” has been interested in Albania for some time. Of German nationality, manager of “World Institute of Scientology Enterprises” and a steel-products trader, he has been visiting Tirana for some time, equipped with a guarantee … mass media and the tourism industry on the coast. Scientology, founded by a former writer of serialized novels in the 1960s, has spread as a new international religion. Fatos Bakhaxhu. [Text cut off at the beginning and end of the page.] A section of Golem Beach

Alarm raised by a Viennese newspaper about Scientologists Who is the fourth religion Alarm raised by a Viennese newspaper about Scientologists “Albania, secret plan” Who is the fourth religion VIENNA — Another religion is intended to join Albania’s three traditional faiths: newer, less experienced, but much more powerful and active. Under the banner of money—its sole god—its first missionaries have already arrived in the country to carry out a secret plan. The plan, called “Project A,” is only in its early stages; its ultimate aim is to turn Albania into an international centre for this sect. In a very short time, Albania is intended to become the first “Scientologist” state, a name also used for a religious community officially recognized in the United States in recent years. The alarm was raised by Vienna’s best-known weekly, “Profil.” In describing the secret plan in detail, the author has also drawn on a book recently published by two German journalists and the testimony of a German Radio correspondent who investigated the sect’s activities in Tirana. “The secret plan ‘Project A’ was drawn up by a special department of this religion based in Los Angeles,” the newspaper “Profil” writes, “but the Scientologist churches in Austria, which influence propaganda in the former communist countries of the East, must also be well informed about it.” The service called for some time. “Profil” writes that missionaries organized by it give interviews on Albanian Television and have filled the National Library in Tirana with books by the religion’s founder. This department is so powerful that it even undertakes to send a number of members of the governments of various countries to Albania. The article’s author also mentions specific names: Georg Haag, a German national, manager of “World Institute of Scientology Enterprises” and a trader in steel products, has been visiting Tirana for some time, equipped with an American bank guarantee worth 60 million dollars. A company directed by him, “Albanian Building & Trade Co.”, is to undertake the construction of many buildings in Albania. “This also constitutes the first phase of the secret plan,” the Viennese weekly writes. According to it, the second phase will be the establishment of a bank and an airline, both owned by Scientologists. The next phase will aim to take control of the 1960s, has spread as a new international religion only in the last decade. It is more of an enigmatic organization with profit-making aims—its declared cult is money—than a traditional religion, and for this reason it has often been at the centre of Interpol investigations. Many of the methods it advocates involve violence. In 1979, the wife of Scientology’s founder was sentenced to five years in prison by an American court. Wiretapping telephone conversations and fabricating false documents were only some of the activities that she and several of her husband’s followers had carried out. Fatos Baxhaku A demonstration by members of Scientology several years ago, protesting the trial of 75 sect members

At 1:00 p.m. TIRANA — The fate of ten former Albanian officials will be finally decided today, after nine court hearings held at the Tirana Court. At 1 p.m., the presiding judge, Aran Zeneli, will also decide the fate of the prosecution’s proposed sentence, which called for a total of 67 years’ imprisonment for all the defendants, more than 500 thousand dollars in compensation, and the forfeiture of decorations worth one thousand dollars that they had received while holding senior state and party positions. The trial began on 10 December, under the charge of “violating the equality of citizens in collusion, through the creation of privileges.” It was this charge that, even the day before yesterday—in the final statements by the lawyers and their clients—became the symbol of the opposing positions of the prosecution and the accused. The trial began with an indictment that, in addition to most of the abuses, also included other defendants; by now, as was clear from the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation, the millions of dollars are no longer at issue. “These amounts do not include the offences involving the construction of villas and renovations,” Genc Gjkokuatj, the principal prosecutor in the case, told Gazeta Shqiptare. “Likewise, expenses actually incurred by the defendants have been deducted, but in the reimbursement forms and documentation, no person’s name was specified.” For the ten highest-ranking former officials of the regime, today will also decide the fate of their honorary titles and numerous decorations. “In my sentencing recommendation I took into account those honorary titles and decorations that the defendants received only during their time in state or political power, the period to which the charge also refers,” Gjokutaj continues, “but not those from other periods, for example those from the National Liberation War.” Today, after hearing in turn the indictment, the defendants’ initial explanations and those of their lawyers, the witnesses, the accounting experts and the prosecution’s recommendation, only the decision of the presiding judge remains. “The witnesses conclusively proved the legal inadmissibility of the practice followed by the former House of the Leader in favour of the ten defendants,” Gjokutaj concludes. “Among the most important testimony influencing this charge was that of Adil Çarçani, former Prime Minister, as well as Ismet Elezi, former Head of the Legal Bureau of the Council of Ministers.” There are only a few hours left before the Court decides everything. [Text cut off at the beginning.]

Shoemakers want higher wages TIRANA — The strike by more than 1,000 Albanian workers at the Shoe Factory in Tirana has shaken the Italian company “Filanto”. It began five days ago, when a one-hour warning strike was held, and escalated on Tuesday morning. According to the strikers, the cause was the need for a wage increase. Although Tuesday’s strike lasted only one day, the workers say that if their previously submitted demands are not met, their strike in January will be indefinite, as provided for by current law. Their demands also include having Saturdays off. But the main demand is a wage increase: workers at this factory are currently paid 5,200 lekë a month, while they are asking for their wages to be doubled. “After the 1993 contract expired,” one worker told Gazeta Shqiptare, “we still have not reached an agreement on the new one, because we cannot accept such a wage.” The employers’ response is not yet known, including that of the Lecce-based footwear company “Filanto”, as to whether or not the demands of the workers at the Shoe Factory in Tirana will be met. (p.re.)

DOZENS OF FAMILIES FROM KUKËS MOVE TO LOWLAND AREAS — A large number of families from Kukës are abandoning their villages and moving to lowland areas. So far, their number has reached 1,000. These movements continue to take place without control. Around 400 families have settled in the Municipality of Kamza, and it is thought that another 600 families may soon be added to this number. SCHOLARSHIPS TO PAKISTAN FOR 20 STUDENTS — Twenty students who have completed secondary school will continue their higher education in Pakistan. The students—from Saranda, Delvina and Konispol—will attend the Faculties of Law and Business. First, they will take courses to learn English and Urdu (the language spoken in Pakistan). The costs of these scholarships, awarded by the Regional Muslim Committee, will be covered by the World Islamic Relief Organization. PESHKOPI HAS ONLY ONE VEHICLE TO HANDLE THE SUPPLY OF FIREWOOD TO THE POPULATION — There is only one vehicle—and even that is in rather poor technical condition—to handle the distribution of firewood in the city of Peshkopi. Whereas a year ago the Municipal Enterprise managed to cope despite the shortage of fuel, this year the obstacle is transportation alone. AN ENGLISH ASSOCIATION PROVIDES MORE THAN 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN AID TO KOLONJË — The aid provided to the Kolonjë district by the English association “Evangelical Mission” is worth more than 200 thousand dollars. Most of it consisted of medicines, equipment and medical devices for the Ersekë hospital, as well as assistance for the restoration of the “P.N. Luarasi” secondary school in the district. There was also considerable food and clothing aid for nurseries and kindergartens.

. Ten arrests by police in Palermo. ON PAGE 2

. The lira continues to fall. ON PAGE 3

Tirana’s diplomats celebrate all together Invitation from the German Embassy to the New Year’s Eve party TIRANA — “Leave your jeans at home and put on your dancing shoes” is the call the German Embassy in Tirana is making to all guests at the party it is organizing for the New Year. Diplomats—this time on a different kind of break—will gather together to celebrate the end of the year. Villa number 92 in the former Leadership Bloc—where the party will be held—will turn into a gym where diplomats, and a dance floor where diplomacy and the countries accredited in Tirana, will find out who is the most nimble on the dance floor. But although this is a special evening, there will be five on the special program for the important part. “Appropriate attire, please,” reads the invitations distributed by the German organizers. “Ladies are asked to wear short dresses, an outfit that is very much preferred. And in the end there may also be a prize for the best-dressed couple.” But German diplomacy is being discreet this time too. It really is the organizer, but everyone must make some sacrifices. So, “champagne-style drinks to get through midnight,” it tells the guests; “other drinks will be provided, and small gifts will also be accepted to help cover the costs.” (Ar. Me.)

Here is how much New Year’s Eve dinner will cost. On page 3