SHKODER Secret pipelines supplying fuel to Montenegro are discovered. The underwater installations crossing the Buna River are destroyed by law-enforcement forces. But are there others? Arteries of smuggling 20 tons were siphoned off in seven minutes SHKODER — The arteries that make it possible to smuggle fuel from northern Albania to Montenegro have begun to be built. A sudden inspection by the Financial Police at midnight between December 29 and 30 uncovered an underwater pipeline linking the two banks of the Buna River, this powerful tool. Built on the bank of the Pulaj area, this pipeline was used to supply Montenegro with fuel. According to specialists’ estimates, the “facility” had the capacity to fill the fuel load of a 15-ton tanker truck in seven minutes and transfer it automatically to the other side of the border. The response was swift. The pipeline was destroyed by the police authorities. The same was done some time earlier with another secret pipe discovered in the village of Pentar. Meanwhile, the financial police say there may be other pipelines, and others may be built in the future. The temporary suspension of the sale of fuel — which occurred on Vukë J...? Street and runs along the Buna River — was carried out by the special customs network on the prefect’s orders, to mask the risk of smuggling and to facilitate inspection operations. Lake Shkodra seen from the castle In a single pattern with hundreds of families from the Shkodra area who have turned into its “cafeters”. The economic hardship the country is going through pushes them to admire and enjoy it, since profits from this activity have so far proved stronger than the moral and legal duty stemming from the embargo the United Nations has imposed on Serbia and Montenegro. It is a familiar sight in Kamicë — on the shore of Lake Shkodra — to see, lined up like in an orderly port, dozens of oil barrels waiting to be transported across the border by watercraft. A single seizure carried out in this “port” by the financial police involved around 1,000 tons of oil. Also on December 30, at Bishti i Jukës at the entrance to Shkodra, the financial police blocked 11 tanker trucks loaded with fuel, each carrying 45,000 liters, which were suspected of being destined for Montenegro. After the documents were checked and found to be in order, the tanker trucks were nevertheless blocked. Now they roam around the city of Shkodra — unable to unload the fuel, although three of the four blocked points are also checkpoints, blocked by the financial police. The latter, in cooperation with the law-enforcement forces, is trying to impose strict control over all transport vehicles destined for Shkodra. In any case, the financial police believe that only drastic legal sanctions will be able to put an end to this exploding smuggling operation. Andrea Stefani

“We preach peace, but the members’ names are secret” Its chairman: “I am not a traitor” TIRANE — In Tirane, but only two years after its creation, an Albanian-Serbian association is discovered. The vice-chairman, current president of the Ecological Party, speaks for the first time to "Gazeta Shqiptare" about the existence of this association, even confirming that he is at its head. The association is called "Miqësi e Përgjithshme me Serbinë" and its headquarters are on "Aleksandër Moisiu" street. It counts 26 in TIRANE — according to its leaders it has also been legalized by the Albanian authorities — and now aims to spread throughout all districts of Albania. Does such an association really exist? "Yes, it was founded on 13 July 1991, conceived by 33 intellectuals, among them doctors of law and medicine. The Albania-Serbia Friendship Association is now also registered with the Tirana Court. The start-up capital — kept in the association’s safe — was 30 dollars and 2,000 new lekë." What activities have you carried out so far? "We held the first official meeting and also elected the governing bodies. I am the president of the association — Namik Hoti — while the secretary is Ismail Meta, a traveling teacher. For the time being I cannot reveal the names of the other members of the association, because many of them still work in various institutions and fear reprisals." What do you seek to preach through the creation of this association, and what is its purpose? "Its sole purpose is to promote friendship between Albania and Serbia." But don’t you understand that what you want to preach has long been violated by Serbia, which brutally represses the Albanians of Kosovo? "The Serbs seek dialogue with Kosovo. Then let us not forget that Serbia is our neighbor, not our enemy. The only current problem between Albania and Serbia is Kosovo." And that seems little to you... "No, but disputes between Serbs and Kosovars must be resolved between them." In the case of an occupation, it can never be called a “dispute”... "I was not born in Vushtrri, I am from Prizren and I love the Kosovars, but the current party in Kosovo must abandon its present policy." So you went to Belgrade in the role of mediator? "I made a political visit there, as the leader of a legal party in Albania. When I finished the political meetings, I also spoke about the association. In fact, Branka Jovanoviç, chairwoman of the Ecological Park Party of Serbia — supporting my initiative — took on the task of creating an Albanian-Serbian friendship association in Belgrade." Doesn’t the founding of this association, precisely at the most difficult moment for the future of our brothers in Kosovo, seem like a betrayal of the Albanian nation to you? "I am not a traitor, because I do not break away from the Ecological Party, nor from the Commission for Drafting the Constitution. I was one of them — and from the Association of Friendship with Serbia and Serbia. I live on a pension of only 17 dollars and 40 cents." (Ed.La.)

Another 100 hectares can be built on Houses on the marshland Durrës expands The main square of the city of Durrës DURRES — Construction opportunities are increasing in the city of Durrës. Some time ago, the expansion of the city’s yellow line was approved. There will be 100 hectares of surface area on which, from now on, different kinds of construction will be allowed. The freed area belongs to a stretch that was formerly marshland. For this reason, several studies have been carried out — of the seismological and geological aspects — and based on the results, a detailed urban plan will be drawn up. Depending on this plan, the types of construction that will be allowed will also be determined. This is the second time that the yellow line has been changed in Durrës. This is linked to the many building requests the city has. The overwhelming majority of requests are for residential houses. Meanwhile, extensions of the yellow line have also been approved for 12 other cities in Albania. The main reason for these changes is the many illegal constructions recorded in almost the entire country. In this way, it will also be possible to bring them under control and ensure a fairer distribution of construction and of its types according to population density in these areas.

In 12 months, 33 deaths from accidents Of 885 criminal offences, about 200 involve adolescents ELBASAN — Crime and criminal offences are steadily increasing in the district of Elbasan, but so is the ability to detect them. Around 885 people were implicated only in 1993 in various unlawful activities, 189 of them adolescents aged 14-18. So far — according to the heads of the Elbasan Police Commissariat — the perpetrators of 550 criminal offences have been identified, arrested or are still being pursued, a very high figure, which also represents 77 percent of the number of law violations. Meanwhile, the year that is ending has also set a record in terms of road accidents. A view of Elbasan Strongly affected by unemployment, the district of Elbasan also felt the consequences: criminal and unlawful acts. Although most of the perpetrators — around 700 — are in the 19-26 age group, the fact that many adolescents are involved in crime is also worrying. There are five unlawful activities and many adolescents are not classified as having been committed on the street; this does not mean that a robber can avoid them — property and use cause no fewer problems for his “client” either. During 1993 in Elbasan, 62 crimes against the person were committed, while 61 perpetrators of crimes were identified by the law-enforcement forces. A worrying problem for the competent authorities is also the arrest of perpetrators of serious crimes — when identified — who flee abroad in order to enrich themselves. According to the heads of the Elbasan Police Commissariat, this body has established links with Interpol for their arrest and extradition, a cooperation which so far has still not produced the desired results. Also during the year, a record number of road-traffic accidents was recorded in the Elbasan district. Thus, out of 42 serious car accidents, there were 33 fatalities as a result. Another 22 people — also as a result of accidents — were seriously injured. The city streets — still without a single traffic light — are often filled with vehicles driven by intoxicated adolescents, thus becoming a major source of these accidents. But the increase in the number of cars beyond the very limited road capacity has also contributed to the rise in accidents. Although the number of criminal offences committed during 1993 is several times higher than a year earlier, another positive fact is the increased detection efficiency of the law-enforcement forces. Compared with 1992, this detection force increased by 4.8 percent. (Me.Ki.)

— A contradiction between private shopkeepers and those who sell in open-air trade has forced the Municipality of the city of Laç to reorganize the free market. Two tablets and a personde [?], will show street vendors the place for selling fruit and vegetables in the market square. They will no longer have the right to trade after 2:00 p.m. 16.15 [?] a police force sent by shopkeepers will force the Municipality to adopt such a solution. The latter — who pay taxes to the state for their shops — have often complained that the street vendors were more numerous than them and have demanded a limitation of trading hours for their competitors.

Only previously approved projects will continue A Territorial Council decision bans other large constructions TIRANE — "There will be no more large constructions in the Lake Hills Park in Tirane." This is the decision taken at the end of the meeting of the National Council for Territorial Planning. The considerable green areas of this Park — granted over the last two years to several foreign investor firms — were also among the reasons that led to this decision. From now on, no structures that do not belong to the relaxing and recreational character of the Park will be allowed. Everything that will be built here will comply with a special study for its regulation. This study also foresees the expansion of the green area. With the decision of the Territorial Council, only the largest constructions that had been approved some time ago remain in force. These were various hotels and residential villas. A large hotel will be built by a Kuwaiti company, "Al Kari", next to the building of the University of Tirana. Also, about 6 hectares of land were given for construction to the Canadian company "Globex". At present this company has also begun construction of a group of villas. Meanwhile, "Interbau" will be the other 5-star hotel to be added to the capital. This hotel will be built near the hills of Sauk. The Swiss investors — who have undertaken its construction — have planned a 4-storey building, with 150 rooms, 300 beds and restaurants with a capacity of around 500 seats. It will occupy an area of 15,000 square meters. The construction of this hotel was accompanied by several objections from the Environmental Protection Committee. The essence of the objections concerned the worry — arising from the large constructions being carried out in this Park — about the impact on the green area. "As a Committee we are not against construction," Liriri Selivo, Director of the Environmental Protection Committee, told Gazeta Shqiptare, "but we ask that they be studied and monitored." Ar. Me

POLIZIA DI SOSTEN [?] Five Albanian rapists discovered in Milan One of them has been arrested ON PAGE 2 A plane explodes in Siberia: 120 victims Engine failure and catches fire ON PAGE 2

300 WORKERS WILL BE EMPLOYED IN THE JOINT ENTERPRISE IN LIBRAZHD — There will be 300 workers employed in the 2 joint enterprises created in the town of Librazhd. These enterprises — one in cooperation with an Italian firm and the other with a Croatian firm — will be set up for furniture production and the collection of medicinal plants. THE ORCHESTRA OF THE JAN KUKUZELI THEATER IN DURRES RETURNS TO THE STAGE — Yesterday evening it returned to the concert stage after an absence. This orchestra is made up of amateur actors from the city living in central Albania. In the concert, pieces of traditional music by Mozart and Rachmaninov were performed. THE NEWS OF THE BRI I DARES I AUTORIT UK ZENE — [?] has been published in Tirane by the private house "Dardania". The book, whose author is only "an English direction [?]", is valued by the author as dealing with sex problems in a dialogue-style book. It is titled "Bija ime flet, gan, qesh me Oljerr [?] Ekle Alina". This book has been translated into Albanian by Tertul Balla. (With the other Dardan portal [?]) GREAT DEMAND FOR MINI-TRACTORS FROM THE FARMERS OF TROPOJA — Demand for mini-tractors and parkungje from the mountain farmers of the 10 villages in this area is very high. However, currently in the villages of Chinese production [?].