AIR TRANSPORT After the suspension of flights, the Financial Police report irregularities. The company’s managers strongly deny them. Albanian Airlines in a storm A shadow of scandal over the company? TIRANA — Suspicion and many hypotheses followed the suspension of flights by the airline "Albanian Airlines". Alongside accusations regarding the irregular withdrawal of the check, there have also been conclusions about financial irregularities in its activity, conclusions stemming from a recently conducted inspection by inspectors from the Tirana branch of the Financial Police unit. And facing them stands the firm and rather laconic response of the managers of "Albanian Airlines": "These conclusions are wrong". The procedure followed from the balance sheet and — apparently, in order to examine more objectively where all this intervention is heading, the State Control Commissioner. The addition of a group of inspectors is carried out through the review, on the basis of supporting documents (or not), of the arguments and counterarguments raised by both sides. And at the center of attention, in a seven-page report — signed by the police inspectors but not by the managers of the accused company — is the argument for the discovery and claim of numerous violations by "Albanian Airlines" in legal and economic-financial relations. In what seems to be the legal team, the financial inspectors consider abnormal the fact that the airline holds authorization to carry out its activity only from the Ministry of Transport but not — as they say the law requires — also from the Ministry of Defense. "Albanian Airlines" has also not received a travel/business permit for 1994 from the tax office. In addition, it is noted that the agreement between the Albanian and Austrian parties is unsigned and not original. Numerous irregularities. According to the report of 14 January, the agreement between "Albanian Airlines" and IMC P/I (International Charity Project Islamic) for renting an aircraft to the latter is also attached. And it is not only the absence of a proper contract between the parties, but also damage amounting to USD 302,738 caused to the Albanian state "as a consequence of the company "Albanian Airlines"’s irregular bilateral relations. Other violations are also alleged in the distribution of free tickets. Overall, it is accused of giving out, without criteria and in contradiction with public circulation order no. 30 of 25.6.90, dollars for subscriptions, 5,500 dollars for the purchase of a van, 76 million lek for the purchase of a fuel license, 195,590 lek for newspaper subscriptions — according to the inspection, the press agency collected only 67,660 lek from "Albanian Airlines" — as well as other cases of foreign-currency withdrawals, travel and per diem expenses, vehicle repairs, expenses for "taxi", car parking, "...." which have not been documented legally. Also irregular, for the financial police inspectors, is the fact that all accounting operations at "Albanian Airlines" — those connected with conversions — were carried out using the devalued exchange rate and not the Bank’s official rates. The final remark, formulated in the report, concerns the passenger catering sector. According to its authors, there are no approved consumption standards per passenger and "as a consequence of .... catering expenses are inflated". And after the counterarguments raised by the managers of the accused company, it is the State Committee that will have the final word in explaining this complicated situation. Andrea Stefani

The court: «Illegal» TIRANA — The hunger strike of former political prisoners continues, a tense day around the hunger strike of the former persecuted. While on Monday the Tirana court declared the strike illegal and kept in force the temporary measure prohibiting its continuation, the leadership of the association of former political prisoners replied that it has no intention of ending it unless the demands submitted to the Government are met. Chairman Kurt Kola even declared that they would use all physical means to defend themselves if the law enforcement forces intervene to remove the strikers. Meanwhile, confrontations with the police have continued in many districts. Thus, according to figures provided by the association of the persecuted, a striker in Fier lost sight in one eye as a result of violence by the law enforcement forces. Meanwhile, the prefect of Durrës condemned the episodes of violence recorded in that city on the first day of the strike. The head of the Public Order branch in Shkodër also spoke out against these acts by the police. In fact, his action had been the first act of violence. An order to intervene against the hunger strikers — following an action by the association of former political prisoners — he had contradicted by resigning from his post. No such incident in the capital until Monday evening. The only thing to note was the withdrawal of Kurt Kola’s firearms permit. a. m.

VLORE — The "Berat hell" is being transferred to Vlorë. In the Psychiatric Hospital of this city, 13 disabled children with severe and incurable psychiatric conditions have been sheltered. The transfer of the little patients had been made because, if it were closed from that time, a full year would now have passed. Now, because of the consequences that struck the children, they are forced to face the conditions of an institution that would not have been suitable for treatment, nor specialist staff. "While we have placed them in a separate ward," doctor Vladimir Cela, director of the Psychiatric Hospital, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, "we have insisted that they be sent to a more suitable institution." Meanwhile, according to the psychiatrists, requests to dismantle the ward remain. Their treatment conditions — says the head of staff — are still very poor. In fact, the food fats are really disgusting. These are truly sick children who, perhaps more than all others, would need warmth. Many of them have also been abandoned by their families — doctors say many parents did not want to take them home — and now they should not be abandoned by society either. (L. M.)

Health concern Risk of disease from livestock In the first 6 months, 85 hospitalized. Be careful with meat and milk CITY BRUCELLOSIS ANTHRAX Berat 3 Bulqizë 1 1 Delvinë 1 Elbasan 1 Fier 1 1 Gjirokastër 46 Kavajë 1 1 Korçë 1 Krujë 1 Laç 1 1 Lushnjë 2 1 Lezhë 2 Pëqin 1 2 Përmet 1 2 Sarandë 2 2 Skrapar 1 1 Shkodër 1 1 Tepelenë 1 1 Tiranë 2 1 Vlorë 5 4 TOTAL 66 19 TIRANA — Fear and concern about the spread of zoonoses, diseases transmitted to humans through livestock animals and their products, are returning. The many cases of livestock affected by brucellosis, anthrax and tuberculosis have not been confined within them alone. By protective decision in recent days, hospital beds have been filled with the disease. Many of them have not been able to be treated quickly, nor is it reassuring that the consequences of the infection are serious, with complications of various kinds and loss of life. Meanwhile, the search for epidemics in medicine and among consumers, starting from the evidence of meat and from animals that may escape control, remains a danger to everyone. The situation is more serious in the south of the country; in Gjirokastër alone nearly 75 percent of all brucellosis cases registered throughout Albania have been verified, of which only in the first months 32 people were hospitalized in the city hospital. This spread is linked especially to the fact that precisely in the southern areas livestock disease is greater. Of 100,000 heads examined — 1.5 million in total — many tested positive and for this reason 400 heads, goats only, were removed. Along with brucellosis in the south another disease has also increased, anthrax or plague, and therefore the safety of meat is not as clear as before. In the north, tuberculosis continues to affect many cows. In this situation specialists recommend that milk — through which brucellosis can be transmitted — be boiled well. More dangerous is anthrax, which is contracted through the skin of animals but lives through contact with meat. If infected meat is not, or is not sufficiently, well fried, the disease becomes very serious and can even lead to death. Therefore, for safety, meat bought from the butcher is recommended to bear the inspection stamp. These diseases are not being encountered for the first time; in fact, according to specialists from the Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Albania has had even more serious situations. But what today increases concern is that the livestock structure and the veterinary service system have almost completely changed. The movement of livestock has made veterinary control difficult. In many areas — according to the Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture — there is not even a single specialist. But although Rako speaks of a situation under control, he also states that the necessary funds are lacking to carry out all the required analyses. The Ministry of Health also echoes the veterinary specialists; it even accuses Veterinary Services of encroaching on its competence, seeing this as affecting human health. "The veterinary service must not guarantee what food products of livestock origin are protected from sick animals," Kujtim Zazo, head of the Sanitary Inspectorate at the Ministry of Health, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, "while for by-products, for many factors that veterinarians cannot identify, it is up to Health to carry out the inspection, since it has the proper laboratories for this." In the table, the first cases of patients affected in the first half of 1994 Armand Mero

Elbasan, 27 months of investigations and 5 trials ELBASAN — Another court hearing has begun for the trial of a defendant. This process is in fact the fifth stage of a marathon of a case, with five judicial proceedings. For 27 months the case against Ajek Kardhashi, accused of theft, is still before a court for the third time. His file has gone several times from the Elbasan Court to the Court of Appeal and back again. Now Kardhashi has been accused again of slander. In a possible trial, only the mind. But what need and push? In the file called innocent he is not, I am ready to stamp the sentence now, guilty himself and not without being caught at all. Then enough has been written against charges for a serious crime. In April 1992, a peer of his had died. Since then the judicial adventure has begun for the young man from Elbasan, arrested in May 1992; Kardhashi has entered the courtroom of his city seven times so far. In the first two trials he was declared innocent, but the Court of Appeal overturned the district court’s decision both times. For the third time, the Appeal Court considers the young man guilty. At the higher level, in Cassation they are not convinced of his guilt and send the file back to Elbasan. Now, here, a new trial has begun for the young man accused of murder. The entire mystery of the event revolves around a sack which was found at the beginning of a murder investigation. Perhaps the current trial will put an end to Kardhashi’s anxiety. For that, the final conclusions of the forensic medical expertise are needed. Mentor Kikia

Appeal from a young student TIRANA — “Help me find my missing brothers”, the appeal accompanied by a photo came from Manza, Sabri Neli, a student at the Agricultural University of Kamza. His two brothers, Shkëlqim Neli, 23, and Besim Neli, 26, have been missing since March 1993. They had left for Greece and had managed to settle into work in a village near Volos, but one night they were taken by the village police for document checks and have not been seen alive since that day. His brother Sabriu has become the protagonist of a huge effort to find his loved ones. He even managed to meet the Secretary of the Ministry and the Greek leaders of Interpol — but all efforts have been in vain. Now, since what is it outside? or? so? and he thinks that it is financial assistance, he has decided to appeal for help in the hope that his extraordinary adventure will touch someone. (J.)

CURSIVE REALITY LEZHE — "We in the municipality denounce to the Prosecutor and the district police and public order police for failing to do their duty," says the visibly shaken mayor of Lezhë, who? Arrested? who has given the city Mayor of Pllak? with them? from the ground of the? of the city "Until now the municipality and we are because the city of Lezhë has been cleaned and the people have been raised lin? and u? hotel for Gazeta Shqiptare the mayor Arson Dila — in the municipality order is mandatory for everyone, regardless? we lose? the visible places of the city but none from the? declared so far with the high global oil. Although often it is exultation? burns in? and the police do not act, while the law says even his wheelchair flowers. This is only one side of the medal. To be fair about the problem (are the flowers burned?) qilar wells? also until? above? and? that day? which companions are the problem and speaks? a? ve? marri? in a? sharper than the kiosks or the "populations" of? where? Slidogjafe to harsh criticism Mayor Dibran also in? pronoun? until per? i? mar? into consideration The municipality has no under its orders asn? poll? Has this not come? order Police Municipality: ke? If it happens like this that time? The police e? i? bë? order? in? order? Po? e? citizen, to whom Lezha Jan? e? in our hands. (In. Ra.)

Many unregistered entities TIRANA — Serious shortcomings and deficiencies in the implementation of fiscal tax legislation by the State Control Service in the Tirana Tax Department branch. Thus, the revenue program of the fiscal system for the years '93 and '94 at regional and district level — in contradiction with the laws in force — was not approved by the government, but only from customs revenue, profit tax from private business, turnover tax, turnover tax and other revenues. Of the 1.8 million lek in fines imposed, only 466,000 lek were collected. In addition to these, other deficiencies were found: 4,800 unregistered entities for 1993. Likewise, in the first quarter of this year, many entities were found to be carrying out activity without registration, and it appears that 6,614 such entities had taxable income but were not taxed. Lack of premises and failure to pay obligations at scale. From small business, 60 percent of obligations were collected only the following year. Of the 1.8 million lek in fines imposed, only 466,000 lek were collected. In addition to these, other deficiencies were found: 4,800 unregistered entities for 1993. Likewise, in the first quarter of this year, many entities were found to be carrying out activity without registration, and it appears that 6,614 such entities had taxable income but were not taxed. Lack of inspection specialists of the city — a result of the non-functioning internal control in the Tax Department branch. (an. sl.)

— Three bursts from an automatic rifle disturbed the peace of central Tirana. The shots were fired from the automatic rifle of a soldier who was on guard at the building of the former Museum of the Ministry of Interior. The details of this event have not yet been clarified — and because the young soldiers felt they had no other choice — but the result was tragic: the soldier Zef Gjelaj, 19, from Rrëshen in Laç, lost his life. The shots were chilling. The body was hit by bullets, the fall on the pavement, the column? and? burned? much? flows? Hotel "Drenica". The soldier was taken urgently to hospital, but in very late condition, the bullet wounds caused his death.

PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH THE AMERICAN AMBASSADORS, SHITTER AND JAPAN — Deepening Albanian-American cooperation was the main topic of conversation between President Berisha and American ambassador Richard Shifter, special assistant to President Clinton, and Rajt Xhonson, deputy secretary at the State Department. Familiar with the achievements of the reforms, Berisha asked the two senior officials for U.S. financial support in implementing a broad public project with increased funding. For their part, Shiter and Xhonson underlined the commitment of the American government to support reforms in Albania and what would facilitate integration into the EU. THE MINISTER OF HEALTH VISITS THE DISTRICTS OF BULQIZË AND DIBËR — The need to implement reform in health service institutions was the central topic of discussions that Health Minister Çikuli had with doctors and leaders of the health sector during his visit to the districts of Bulqizë and Dibër. Among other things, Çikuli also emphasized the need to establish better cooperation between local government bodies and the center, the health service. Likewise, the head of the Lung Diseases Branch in the city of Gjirokastër, A. Golez, lecturer at the "Van't" University, was awarded by the Academy of Sciences with the title "Honorary Doctor of Medicine". At this ceremony, A. Golez stated that scientific work and long medical practice in service of treating lung diseases had been his objective.

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