FOOTBALL / Today at 2:00 p.m. Bajko’s lineup on the field A welcome under Beethoven’s music FOOTBALL / Today at 2:00 p.m. Bajko’s lineup on the field Georgia, another chance A welcome under Beethoven’s music From Durrës EDMOND LACI Bajko’s anxiety this time has been accompanied by the “Moon Sonata” of the famous Beethoven. Three of Bajko’s men — Nallbani and Zala — who together with the square hotel quadrants[?] in the hotel layout[?], seem to have made the waiting minutes of the Albanian footballers, who are expected at any moment, pass with “classical” music as well. Until yesterday afternoon — out of the 16 rooms booked for the Albanian side — only those of Vata, Fortuzi, Malko, Zalla, Shukuti and Nallbani had been made available for the few buffet guests. The only one who crossed the threshold of Hotel “Adriatik” on Sunday afternoon — to join the footballers who had left the capital that morning — was Altin Rraklli. He arrived in Albania after a very good match with “Freiburg” in the German championship, but this time without his spiritual escort — his German girlfriend — who had stayed with him until Tirana. A Sunday that ended with a light run of training somewhere across the sea, a bit of aerobics, and, in the hotel lobby, once again “Moon Sonata.” After midnight, no one — except Bajko — had the hope or patience left to wait. Even though Xhumba and Bellai at that hour should have been in a hotel in Ioannina, to leave a few hours later for Gjirokastër and then Durrës. Everything lasted until 2:30 p.m. — when the national team bus had taken the road toward its headquarters and on to Kavajë stadium — because Bajko suddenly gave the order to depart. Xhumba and Bellai said goodbye by phone to their colleagues and — as a compulsory meal — it did not leave them time to continue training that day with the others. Kavajë Stadium — even though it was sunny — was truly very cold. Apart from Bajko’s zeal — which urges his players to train hard — nothing stirred. Yesterday’s bee visit had left its stands empty, while the only person present belongs to a file[?] — also probably there accidentally — who stands tied somewhere behind the goal where Musta trains Nallbani. And when yesterday’s break drags on — another newcomer enters the field: former “Flamurtari” player Dema, freshly arrived from Slovakia. He is Bajko’s tenth footballer. Yet he still has not managed to fill the 11th position, the minimum needed to start a football match. And once again he has fallen into “sleep,” helped by the hair braids of Shukuti, Nallbani and Zalla, who are waiting for their colleagues in the “Moon Sonata.” A melody perhaps continued last night too... Even though this afternoon Albania is seeking to beat Georgia. Georgians The “trick”? The Albanian block TIRANA — Yesterday at 11:00 a.m. the special charter plane of the company “Georgian Air” landed at Rinas Airport, carrying the 30 members of Georgia’s football delegation. Along with them, 13 Georgian journalists also arrived in the Albanian capital and were “installed” in Hotel “Adriatik” in Durrës, where Bajko’s squad is also staying. In the corridors of Georgia’s national team a “Don’t Disturb” sign has now been placed, from where the team was detached for the afternoon hours to carry out Tirana’s first training session as well. At the disposal of the Georgian footballers — as had long been requested by their officials — were all the preferred conditions: halls, spas, fruit and mineral water. As they confirmed last night after landing in Rinas, the Georgians will leave Albania only a few minutes after today’s match.(e.l.)

The agreement is signed TIRANA — Italy and Albania have entered a major phase in the field of mutual investment: an agreement has been signed to abolish double taxation for citizens of both countries. The agreement was signed on Monday by the Italian Ambassador in Tirana, Paolo Foresti, and by the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Dyber Vrioni. It will need to be ratified by parliament before it becomes fully effective, but the most important step has already been taken in one of the areas considered most important for the protection of foreign investment. Under the agreement, Albanian and Italian citizens residing respectively in Italy and Albania are no longer required to pay taxes twice — once in their country of origin and once in the country where they carry out economic activity. This is intended to benefit both sides, and especially Italian investors on the other side of the Adriatic. The importance of the agreement was immediately discussed by the Italian ambassador to the country, Robert Cecik[?]. The essence of this agreement — Cecik[?] said to the Albanian official information channels — is that Italian investors now have no legal obstacles left to invest in Albania. This could also serve as a model for other countries of the European Union. The agreement may also be very valuable for Albanian emigrants who have long been settled in Italy. It will allow Albanian refugees in Italy to transfer their earnings easily and without paying taxes to their families through bank... (p.[?])

Here are the figures for long-distance communication A marked decrease in calls compared with 1990. But also fewer envelopes and telegrams. Here are the figures for long-distance communication The telephone and letters are no longer a passion A marked decrease in calls compared with 1990. But also fewer envelopes and telegrams. Description Unit of measurement 9 months of 1994 Postal service a - Letters and simple items thousand pieces 940 b - Registered letters and items -||- 550 c - Parcel post -||- 14 Telephone service A - Urban telephone calls -||- 5,791.3 b - Interurban telephone calls -||- 771.7 c - International telephone calls -||- 2,404.3 a - Urban telephone calls thousand minutes 25,570.5 b - Interurban telephone calls -||- 3,196.8 c - International telephone calls -||- 10,375.6 Telegraph service a - Domestic telegrams pieces 257,838 b - Outgoing telegrams -||- 6,578 ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — While the import of modern equipment and the number of needs brought by the opening to the outside world have increased, Albanians are using long-distance communication tools less and less. Lately they have been required less often to use postal services or telephone cables. A comparison prepared from the activity of posts and telecommunications for the last 9 months with that of 1990 has produced an almost unbelievable result: while the postal service is sending fewer envelopes, the telephone lines are carrying fewer subscribers’ voices. This year, from January to September, according to the Institute of Statistics, around 500 thousand letters and parcel items of various categories have been sent over nine months, while the waves of the telegraph service have carried more than 265 thousand telegrams inside and outside the country. During the same period, the telephone service registered around 8 million 967 thousand phone calls, most of them — more than 5 million — were urban calls, followed by calls with subscribers outside Albania, which reached 2 million 404 thousand. All these indicators are lower than those reported by the Institute of Statistics for 1990. It turns out that during the 1990s around 10 million letters were used, meaning almost 10 times more than during the 9 months of this 1994. Likewise, telegrams were 6 times more numerous, with a total of more than 4 million. As for telephone calls, they have fallen by almost 50 percent. Thus, in 1990 around 16 million telephone calls were made compared with around 8 million in the first three quarters of the current year.

American experts in Tirana TIRANA — Teams of American soldiers have begun helping the Albanian army with its organization. This was announced in an official statement by the Ministry of Defence, which points out that Albanian-American military cooperation is taking place within the framework of agreements previously reached between the two states. There are six groups of American military personnel who, divided by specialty — after leaving their bases in Europe, Germany and New Jersey — are now working together with the Albanians. The same source also indicated the areas in which the Americans are contributing: the organization and functioning of the xhataber[?], preparation of the new military code — although it is considered very important by Albanian specialists — and the computerization of the army. American experts have also contributed to military medicine, the organization of active and reserve forces, and the methods of armament and maximum stability. This is the second important step announced in cooperation between the two armies. Almost a month ago, a team of American soldiers took part in the Albanian army maneuvers held in the southeast of the country. It was the first time in the last 30 years that foreign military personnel took part in Albanian military maneuvers.

The Black Sea Initiative TIRANA — Albania will be the next chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation of the Black Sea Countries. This was decided by the participating countries at the meeting of this organization held on Monday in Tirana. This international organization includes within its membership a number of Black Sea and Mediterranean countries, as well as countries close to Albania such as Greece, Turkey and Romania. Monday’s meeting was mainly devoted to cultural issues, the environment and the free movement of people.

The prosecutor’s closing argument for the five military men TIRANA — Up to one year in prison has been the maximum sentence requested by the prosecutor in yesterday’s hearing for the five career military officers from Peshkëpi taking place in Tirana. For the Prosecution, which read its closing argument on Monday, there is no longer any doubt: all five must be considered guilty. For Ylber Meran, Pilo Ninin and Arjan Guman, the final charge is abuse of office, and therefore the following sentences were requested respectively: 6 months’ deprivation of liberty with a one-year suspended sentence, and one year in prison; 6 months in prison for the storekeeper Sinat Selfo. For Qemal Stroka — at the time responsible for the guard shift — 8 months in prison were requested. In its closing argument the Prosecution explained that the omissions after the armed attack led to the tragedy of Peshkëpi in April last year, in which two Albanian soldiers lost their lives. All the accused asked for acquittal, requesting that the court take into account the special circumstances of that April night.

Assassination attempt in Lezhë: masked killers come as guests LEZHË — The night “guests” fired bursts of bullets at the “friend” family that had opened the door to them. Citizen GJ. A. was sleeping in his house when someone called him out by name to come outside. He opened the door, but was struck in the body by automatic-weapon bursts. The event took place at daybreak on Monday. Seriously wounded in the spine, the resident of Lezhë was immediately taken to the city hospital. After an operation that lasted for hours, his condition again remained critical. The police authorities of Lezhë immediately began pursuing the people who fired the shots, but the latter fled in an unknown direction.(r.a.)

— A danger has appeared for the ancient city of Krujë. No one is turning it back, but what is truly to blame is the city’s garbage, which now — more and more worn down — has begun to appear in the sandy riverbed of the forested area surrounding the city. Recent dumping has created a large garbage-covered mound on the outskirts of the city, posing a danger to the nature around the city. Thus, now in addition to indiscriminate cutting, garbage is the most visible threat to the forests near Krujë.(f.a.)

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Among the main causes are also family conflicts. Poison is the preferred weapon 800 suicide attempts in one year: here’s why Among the main causes are also family conflicts. Poison is the preferred weapon Yes, for love one can even die 800 suicide attempts in one year: here’s why TIRANA — A masochistic desire seems to prevail among Albanians: suicide. Almost 800 people across the country tragically attempt every year to end their existence by putting an end to it. Such a figure emerges according to a report published by specialists at the Toxicology Hospital Center. And even more alarming is another fact that is brought to the fore: Albania is the country in Europe with the highest suicide rate relative to population. For every 100,000 inhabitants, there are 60 suicide cases this year, compared with 40 four years ago. This is a 50 percent increase that has led specialists to wonder why. “We find and see real causes,” explains to “Gazeta Shqiptare” Elton Sulo, head of the toxicology resuscitation service. “Poison seems to be the weapon of choice. Seventy percent of those who commit suicide use chemical preparations, especially household substances, Oks, formaldehyde, insecticides, medications, etc. Most of the remaining attempts are carried out by hanging or cutting. Self-poisoning takes first place because it is the closest and easiest means to use.” The main substances that cause accidental poisonings or are used for suicide are mainly medicines — drugs for the nervous system, sedatives, sleeping pills — as well as pesticides, industrial products or alcoholic beverages. The same trend for this situation is explained by weaker and fewer links with other countries and by poisoning? “There are two phenomena,” says Sulo. “Often the patients arrive in serious condition — he says — and in almost 30 percent of the cases presented to us, we need to intervene with resuscitation measures or other strong means. Poisoning? aided by the use of certain drugs? for these people we urgently follow up for those who already before? [?.] From the National Toxicology Center — a service in which university [?] — are being examined more carefully and support is being raised for families, operating free of charge 24 hours a day through telephone lines. “This service is very necessary — adds Sulo — and we can call it quite problematic. Many countries have it, so we are lagging behind.” Ar. Me.

Private-sector workers risk losing their pension They have been employed in the private sector but risk not having their pension recognized. This is the situation of dozens of citizens from Lushnjë who in recent years have taken jobs with private firms in the city. The phenomenon was uncovered by a survey carried out in recent days in Lushnjë by the tax office, which found that about 320 people — out of more than 2,000 private-sector workers — do not appear on the social security lists. Berat, they were violating construction on the Kutalli-Drenovë road Vlorë. The fund allocated by the government for this project — 14 million — was entrusted, after the cancellation of the tender, to a firm from Elbasan. But for more than a month this firm has carried out no work and, according to construction specialists on the District Council, the planned fund for this year risks failing. For this, specialists in the area or residents have filed complaints regarding the assignment of the work, and the road construction is assigned for entry that will be until the special [?]. Kukës, financial abuses uncovered There are 86 cases of financial violations that have been observed in the last two months of this year in the district of Kukës. Their value has so far been calculated at more than 730 thousand lek and part of it has already been transferred to the state budget. Most of these violations were committed in the form of granting amounts higher than the intended ones or of unjust payments.