EMBARGO Suspicion over an oil tanker arriving at the Port of Durrës. It is being checked in Shkodër and by European Community commissioners Alarm over oil in Montenegro EMBARGO Suspicion over an oil tanker arriving at the Port of Durrës. It is being checked in Shkodër and by European Community commissioners More pipes are being sought Alarm over oil in Montenegro SHKODER — More secret pipelines carrying oil from Albania to Montenegro are being sought. The police authorities seem certain of this: “Yes, the hypothesis that other pipelines exist is possible and we are looking for them,” Major Mani, director of the Financial Police in Shkodër, told Gazeta. The suspicious discovery of a large rubber pipeline in the village of Pulaj, 35 kilometres from Shkodër, crossing the Buna River, about which Gazeta Shqiptare reported a few days ago, occurred on the night of 21 December. This real artery of smuggling was 20 metres long and was able to suck in at least 20 tons of oil in seven minutes. A few weeks earlier the same police authorities had discovered another pipeline, 10 centimetres in diameter and operating with the aid of self-priming pumps. The Buna River is the narrow border strip that separates Albania from Montenegro: a true paradise for smugglers from both countries, who have become rich thanks to the embargo imposed by the United Nations throughout the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The news published by Gazeta Shqiptare has also caused surprise and great alarm among the SAM commissioners who, on behalf of the European Community, are guarding the Republic of Albania. In recent days a SAM official wrote specifically to verify this suspicion, and the possible existence of other underwater pipelines capable of transporting oil is more than well founded. In Shkodër yesterday a large increase in fuel, much higher than the area’s needs, was noticed. The suspicion that there may be other underwater pipelines capable of transporting oil is more than well founded. In Shkodër yesterday a large increase in fuel, much higher than the area’s needs, was noticed. In recent days police officers, during a road check, blocked 25 vans loaded with 130 barrels of fuel within six hours. What were they intended for? That too is unclear; and what happened in the last few hours also made suspicious a large oil tanker, “Glory,” from Panama, loaded with 90,000 tons of oil, which asked to dock at the port of Durrës in order to unload 10,000 tons of fuel. When the maritime authorities informed them that the port was too small and difficult to navigate to Vlorë, the ship left and disappeared. There is fear that this oil too was destined for illegal trafficking. In Shkodër the police have increased their vigilance and now 1,000 people involved in military units are engaged. Meanwhile, the SAM is preparing to send special instruments (known in English as “derelens”) and the railway line connecting the station of Bajzë (the one with wagons loaded with pesticides) to Montenegro. In time it is necessary to prevent smuggling from taking the land route by blocking the river route. p.re. Lake Shkodër

One in every two women does not want her own child In 1993 the phenomenon increased by 38 percent One in every two women does not want her own child Cradles increasingly empty: 27 thousand abortions in 9 months In 1993 the phenomenon increased by 38 percent TIRANE — A desperate explosion of abortions has broken out in Albania. Out of every two women who give birth, seven and nine abortions are their own. The operational data of the Ministry of Health show that after the legalization of the right to abortion in June 1991, the number of abortions has increased while the number of births has fallen. A comparison of the statistical figures between 1990 — when abortion was prohibited — and the first nine months of 1993 shows an average monthly increase of 38 percent in abortions and a decrease, also monthly on average, of 27 percent in the number of births. During 1990, 26,112 abortions and 82,177 births were registered, while in the first nine months of 1993, 27,043 abortions and 51,759 births were registered. In this way, the ratio between births and abortions performed seems to have narrowed considerably. Thus, if in 1990 it was approximately 3:1 in favour of births, now it has dropped to 2:1. This means that for every two births there is one abortion. It is difficult to predict the reasons that this revolution in Albania’s demographic trend will bring. To date, the final result of mortality has been calculated at 2.0 percent, while the European average is 0.4 percent and the world average 1.7 percent. Likewise, the fertility coefficient has been 31, while in Europe it is 1.7 and in the world 3.4. The demographic regime that has characterised Albania in the past should also be considered. This is because at the current stage it is being achieved mainly through abortions, used without family planning and with insufficient care for health. The comparison of women who have had two or more abortions with their number is 2.5 percent, caused by 4,929 out of 78,600 women of reproductive age who use contraceptives. Legalization after one way demonstrated passive suffering and brings growth in its development. In relation to 1,369 in 3. Abortions based on medical reports have fallen from 1,344 to 836, while those carried out with consequences have risen to 703 from the quota of 20 that existed in 1990. Legal abortion too is heading toward disappearance. This change in the structure of abortions is assessed by specialists as highly positive in choosing maternal health. Around 55 percent of these cases in Albania have been caused by induced abortions, a good percentage of which were carried out illegally. Andrea Stefani A room in a Tirana hospital

THE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE THE SOCIALISTS RESPONDING: “WE DID NOT ASK FOR EITHER A STRIKE OR WAR” The Socialist Party openly seeks to throw the country into anarchy,” declared the article published in the newspaper “Republika,” which refers to the meeting between representatives of the Socialist Party and President Berisha. For their part, the socialists — who had told Berisha that Nano’s conviction could lead the country into uncontrolled situations — tell Gazeta Shqiptare that “we are not asking for either strikes or war. But for us even a break is an uncontrolled situation”. THREE ITALIAN FISHING BOATS ENTER ALBANIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS — It was three Italian fishing boats that illegally violated Albania’s territorial waters. After being detected by our Albanian radars — which opened up with automatic bursts — the boats quickly left. Only one of them has been identified, bearing the name “Polaris”. After repeated incidents — before Christmas two other boats had been seized in Vlorë — the Albanian authorities have sent a protest note to the Italian government. The Albanian Ministry of Defence has also stated that it will further strengthen the protection and control of its waters. THE UNIVERSITY OF GJIROKASTËR IS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNICATION VIA SATELLITE VIDEOS — It is the University of Gjirokastër “Eqerem Çabej” that will be included in the Italian Program “Concorso Nettone”. This programme — financed by several Italian institutions — provides for the training of specialists in long-distance communication through satellite television. For the implementation of this programme in Albania, branches and 23-year courses will be opened at the University of Gjirokastër for the specialisation of students in the use of computers and televisions.

Along with the owners, bank employees too The prosecutor asks the Government to cancel the firm’s contracts ELBASAN — The “Skampini” case has reached court. Along with the owners, bank employees too Elbasan, the Scampini scandal reaches the courtroom The prosecutor asks the Government to cancel the firm’s contracts ELBASAN — The “Skampini” file has reached court. Thus the city’s largest company in Elbasan — together with its four directors — will be tried within January for “forgery of official documents”. Along with them, some of the employees of the District Bank will also appear before the court panel, accused by the prosecutor’s office of “forgery of official documents and abuse of office”. According to the accusations and this process, Ndriçim Alla, Chairman of the Elbasan District Council and at the same time a member of the presidium of the firm “Skampini”, has been involved. Meanwhile, the District Prosecutor’s Office, through a letter addressed to the Government, has requested the cancellation of the contracts that this firm had signed for the construction of various facilities, markets and service stations. “Ndriçim Alla has no connection with the firm” says the Elbasan District Prosecutor to Gazeta Shqiptare — while others close to the implicated parties will go to trial within January.” During the last parliamentary interpellation of Berit Çela, Chairman of the State Control Commission, many MPs who asked about the “Skampini” case accused Chairman Alla as responsible for the favours granted to the leaders of this firm with many suspicious activities. The “Skampini” file has been under investigation by the prosecution authorities for four months. It is very likely that the movement of money and the way loans were granted, excluding long-term repayment interest, will also become the subject of the investigation. This firm is also accused of having cooperated with the privatization chairman in the purchase of the social and trade package from former state enterprises, without in principle passing through the privatization voucher. The State Control Commission — the first to uncover the irregularities of this firm — in its then report wrote that even in terms of paying obligations to the state — taxes — this firm was privileged. It was also declared — and in Parliament — that by using laboratory methods, this firm had produced and sold “Skënderbeu” brandy, but with fake labels. Nevertheless, only the court process will ultimately determine what actions of this firm are covered by the prosecution’s charges. Men.Ki.

Border killings BELGRADE — The retaliatory tactics after the provocation, the accusations. Thus the Belgrade authorities, after the killing of an Albanian citizen by Serbian border forces, denounced to the international press “an outbreak of illegal entries by Albanians into Serbian territory”. A move aimed at responding to Tirana’s denunciation, which described as “criminal” the episode that occurred a few days ago in Kukës, where 25-year-old Ramadan Mustafa was killed. According to the Albanian authorities, Mustafa was only five metres inside Serbian territory cutting grass, but Belgrade’s denunciation seeks to refute their version, as if the victim had knowingly crossed the border. Then — according to them — that is enough to kill a man.

Korçë Television repeater robbed KORÇE — Another repeater has been stolen. This time in Korçë, the city where a satellite repeater worth 25 thousand dollars is being sought for installation. On the morning of 3 January the owner of the tourist point “Morava”, Dhori Gori, informed the order authorities of the theft of the television repeater installed on top of this building. The robbery and damage of this repeater, about 100 of which in the areas of Albania, has caused numerous problems for the RTV management, since many residential areas cannot watch its programme.

The serviceman had used his own pistol BERAT — An officer from Berat kills himself. This time the death is not an accidental suicide, but a deliberate one. The victim, Besim Bajrami, 33, was an officer in his office — inside the area of the unit where he served — and after finding it, he shot himself with his own pistol. After the event — which probably took place at dawn on 4 January — at 5:40 the first actions were carried out by the investigation specialists and the forensic doctor. The initial hypotheses — although the investigations continue — pointed to a suicide for trivial reasons. Officer Besim Bajrami had been serving in Military Unit 9970 of the Berat district, in whose premises he ended his life by suicide. E.S.La.

Mentality and lack of experience get in the way In Kukës the lesson hour is banned Mentality and lack of experience get in the way Sex in schools? “What shame” In Kukës the lesson hour is banned KUKES — Sex continues to arouse fear. But not only among individuals. The opposition has become so great that it has caused the sabotage of school programmes. Thus, in the district of Kukës, the planned lessons intended to provide the basic elements of sex education as part of the health education subject continue not to be held. In the district education directorate, this disruption of the school programme discipline is explained by the inability but also the mentality of some teachers. Some time ago, it was the same backward mentality that classified as a shameful scandal the holding at the “Qemal Stafa” High School of a lesson on protection against AIDS, illustrated with slides. And so in Albania the struggle between “the future” and “morality” seems to continue fiercely. The latter, while presenting itself openly as very dangerous, forgets that the greater danger comes from ignorance. AIDS is the most concrete and painful example of how neglect punishes ignorance mercilessly.

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