A polemic among specialists In Albania, essences with falsified labels TIRANA — A controversy among specialists at the Health Center has focused on reassessing the essences of soft drinks imported from Eastern countries, mainly Bulgaria, during a meeting of the Financial Police lasting about four and a half hours. They stated that these essences — mostly made with artificial chemical sweeteners — pose a risk to consumers’ health, something that health specialists have in fact widely acknowledged, calling for measures to make the situation alarming. The composition of soft-drink essences varies, the specialists of the Financial Police explained, referring in this case to syrups and soft drinks of different kinds prepared with artificial sweeteners and currently widely sold at many points in the city. They even added that “their import into Albania should be banned.” One of the reasons for this firm proposal is, among other things, the presence of an artificial sweetener in these essences: saccharin, a substance widely used despite being proven to have anti-cancer properties in medicine. This fact is even stated on the label of some essences sold in Albania, where in English it reads: “Contains saccharin applied [?] as a substance stimulating cancerous diseases.” The doubts and concern of the Police experts have increased further because of several other facts. On many types of imported essences it is not stated to which group they belong — i.e. what kind of artificial sweetener is included. Meanwhile, in three other types, the presence of these sweeteners is completely concealed by falsifying the label on which the content of a natural product is declared. Analyses carried out have shown that in reality it is not sugar but synthetic sweetener. “First of all, they do not provide a large amount of calories,” explains [?] one of these types made for soft drinks or lemonade. In the case of this saccharin-containing liquid, they have shown that it is widely used by diabetics and that not only has it caused no health problems, but on the contrary it remains a fact that in Albania there are currently no rules to determine the type of synthetic sweetener or the calorie content used. In the present discussion, two years ago this problem was examined, concluding that the use of these essences does not pose a risk — however, it remained within the framework of a conclusion. We will prepare a report in which we will present our opinions, then it will be up to the two ministers to take a final decision on this issue,” Health specialists told Gazeta Shqiptare. “The issue is to clarify what position will be taken, since several countries have banned the use of saccharose — the 12 states of the European Community have banned its use — in falsified labels, given that their content has been defined; they will be blocked by banning their trade. Armand Mero

The judicial investigation concludes The mystery surrounding the activities of five exponents of the minority organization is clarified TIRANA — The judicial investigation against five exponents of “Omonia” has been completed and, for the first time since their arrest — April ’94 — instead of the charges, which were not opened for investigation and were left by the judge to be decided at the end of yesterday’s session, it was announced that the prosecutors’ preparation, which next Monday — at 4 p.m. — will give the prosecution. Thus, after ten days, the trial reaches its final stage and — after the prosecution and the defendants’ final defense — it will be up to the judges to decide everything. It had been the television videos and another discovery that, three days before arriving — Bezhani [?], chief and Myrto — had previously been agents of the service, the peak of the judicial investigation. For the first time in the history of Albanian Justice, the defenders of the prosecution — in order to refute the claims that during the investigation the events had been presented as “washed” by one of the tortures — displayed the real televised images. Thus the mystery of the activity of the five minority members of “Omonia” comes to an end, the fact clarified. The statements, facts and evidence gathered during the days of the trial will be needed only for the judges’ verdict. (p.r.)

The first “fevers” for pupils TIRANA — The first “fevers” of the start of school have begun. As the date for the start of the 1994-95 school year approaches, parents for their children — and for the children themselves — are preoccupied with securing the necessary materials, first and foremost school textbooks. Even so, they are already queuing up out of fear that the same thing as in previous years may happen, when many of them used textbooks handed down by their classmates from the year before. At the Ministry of Education they explain that this year the situation is better. So far, 95 percent of the textbooks needed for eight-year basic education and 92 percent of those for general secondary education have been printed. A year earlier, about 85 percent had been printed. The comparison with last year is worth mentioning — Pirro Milo, inspector at the Ministry of Education, tells Gazeta Shqiptare — because there has been cooperation through constant meetings between our ministry and the Ministry of Industry throughout the entire year of intensified work. It seems that the part of the books that has not yet been completed is most related to the well-known difficulties in publishing: the now obsolete technology and the over-worn printing machinery. But there are also content problems. A number of history and geography textbooks, for which a complete revision has been decided — according to specialists at the Ministry of Education, they will still need some time before they are ready. The government had previously secured a subsidy for one quarter of the cost of printing school textbooks. The entire school publishing system is being gradually reorganized to adapt to the requirements of the market economy. (r.a.) The book queue GJIROKASTËR — The demand for books seems to have reached its peak in the ancient city of Gjirokastër. Here, on Wednesday, a giant queue of around 150 children waiting to receive the textbooks for the new school year created a rare scene. Having bitter experience from recent years, the little ones were pushed and stayed up through the night, impatient and afraid they would be left without them after hours in the hot sun these days. Whoever managed to get the printed textbooks left radiating the satisfaction of having been stronger than the others. The bookstore formed the first queue of children — in the “18 Shtatori” neighborhood — is the only state-owned one that still remains in Gjirokastër, so only here could school books be obtained. That must also have been the reason for creating this “female conclusion” here. (r.k.)

TIRANA — It can no longer be called the prologue of the “sale”. On Wednesday evening — as confirmed by the Albanian Ministry of Public Order — the number of Albanian emigrants expelled arbitrarily and without the beginning of the “Omonia” process reached 14,000. Now, at the three border-crossing points between Albania and Greece, the number of returnees has risen to 250 per day. Only on Wednesday, as Athens also stated, around 1,500 Albanians were thrown out and repatriated from different areas of Greece. Meanwhile, the savage “shfesa” and the official source of information in Albania — were again accompanied by mistreatment. Many of the expelled Albanians speak of visa tearing, theft of money, even imprisonment or physical abuse. On the part of the highest Greek authorities, this phenomenon is still considered normal and “within the framework of the fight against clandestine migration and criminality.” (p.r.)

The chrome enterprise under accusation MAT — More than 42 million lekë in losses have been confirmed at the Batër Chrome Extraction and Enrichment Enterprise over a period of 17 months. The cause, according to the conclusions of a group of State Control specialists, is the misuse and abuse of financial funds as well as the weaknesses and negligence of management personnel. The inspection has confirmed a considerable number of payments made in a careless manner. These include 13,600 lekë in bonuses for the management board, 130,000 lekë for work outside the enterprise, 15,000 lekë withdrawn and used privately, and 1,309,000 lekë paid to a private company for the construction of internal roads, work that in fact was never carried out. Excessive use of dynamite and fuel, as well as unnecessary transport payments in the private sector, have also been confirmed. For these and other violations of this nature, the State Control has requested criminal proceedings against 2 persons and the removal from office of the enterprise’s director.

Price record SARANDA — A challenge from the market of Saranda. The prices of several agricultural and livestock products in 6 districts, published yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO, have made it possible to compare them with other districts as well. And it turns out that in Saranda many articles of this kind such as tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes or watermelon are higher than the maximum prices observed in six other districts. Gjirokastër, Kavajë, Korçë, Librazhd, Shkodër and Tiranë based on the data of the latter, the most expensive market turned out to be Tirana. But Saranda challenges...

The center of Gjirokastër GJIROKASTËR — A fire that broke out in a shop in the old part of the city has once again highlighted the safety problem of Gjirokastër’s old monumental buildings. The fire broke out at the entrance of a cellar in the city’s symbol. The fire that broke out in an inhabited shop has put the city fire brigade on alert, which fortunately managed to extinguish the blaze that threatened to spread to neighboring houses. The causes of this fire are still unresolved. At the moment it broke out, only some construction materials were inside the premises, which the owners — who had recently taken over the shop — had used for its restoration. The fire therefore once again made evident the danger threatening the old part of the city unless all the rules and measures established for such cases are respected. The city fire brigade has appealed to the population to be especially careful with combustible materials. Otherwise, according to them, even the houses that rise in value [value] may be avoided in advance. (r.a.o)

CURSIVE REALITY ELBASAN — Although the competitions have been only for animals, every day more couples are getting the destination wrong. Even the extent of state punishments for these kinds of acts has not been able to keep at least some of them from operating. And apparently, in many districts hunters confuse targets and leave rabbits in place of human permits. Just in the last month in the district of Elbasan, those taken in by hunters have caused two victims and several others wounded. There is also data from the public order organs for the past month in the village, as fire — forestry at the Elbasan Police Commissariat — the number of these is even more considerable, since many of the villagers who have left people as their target came from neighboring places. In any case, Elbasan’s problem is not isolated. Because villagers and hunters “shooting” are being uncovered in many other areas of Albania as well. There were the fishermen and others who some time ago caused a tragedy in the Fier district. After a quarrel between two families in the village, weapons were used, while three others were injured. Attacks with shotguns have left few survivors, not even animals, even Albanian ones. (M.K.)

KRT decides TIRANA — Another wholesale market will soon be added to the capital. For this, the Council of Communes [Commune?], the decision of the National Council for Territorial Regulation has determined the space that will be built from the 40 that will be located near the village of Stërmas, an area of about 1,500 square meters, and this will even be built there with the help of shops, trucks and means for the traders’ transport and goods will be bought on site. The increase in goods will also be intended for unsuitable conditions of specialized centers. (M. M.)

“THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY WILL NOT MEET IN SESSION UNTIL THINGS HAVE BEEN FULLY WORKED OUT” If the announcement made by the Information Office of the People’s Assembly following the request of a group of deputies with Socialist and Democratic mandates for “the examination of the issue arising in the context of independence and police responsibilities”, then. According to this Office, it says that “it is not that the Assembly of deputies accused and not a request for an interpellation that comes from the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the People’s Assembly. Pjetër Arbnori and the deputies regarding the “OMONIA” issue CALL THE TRIAL AGAINST ITS 5 EXPONENTS POLITICAL Only a few hours after the end of the judicial investigation, the head of the organization representing the Greek minority in Albania, publicly present. In a communiqué the accusations were presented against the Prime Minister, protesting the character of the trial against the five minority members and considering it political, against “Omonia” with the aim of restraining its growth. In an interview for the press and for Radio and Television, “Omonia” makes it clear it has deliberately reduced respect for minority rights in Albania, as certainly, by calling on all Albanian political forces, financial movements, based on the issue of education representation from the “DEMOCRATIC UNION OF VORIO EPIRUS AND THE TIRANA UNION” The completed positions of Albanians against the “GAZETA SHQIPTARE” about the figure in the series of the organization, but does not consider it the movement of the minority. It further states that the Greek government is following without approving the decision of the Albanian court regarding the five defendants in the “Omonia” trial.

Nuclear smuggling: two thieves arrested ON PAGE 2 Domenico Modugno is still alive ON PAGE 3

SPARE PARTS FOR ALL CAR BRANDS You will find a wide variety of parts Head office: TIRANA - Rruga “Myslym Shyri” (Opposite the Palace of Pioneers) Branch: DURRËS - Rruga “Bulevardi Kryesor” Neighborhood 1 (Near the Flower Shop)