TRANSPORT / New fares begin on February 1 TIRANA — Transport fares and passenger costs are rising. Starting from 1 February, for every citizen, travel will cost more not only from one city to another, but also within the cities themselves. The decision, taken by the Government at its meeting of 24 January, came as a necessary response to the recent rise in fuel prices. In just five days, anyone traveling outside the city will pay 30 percent more. “In this rise in ceiling prices,” explains Fehmi Godo, specialist in the Automotive Sector at the Ministry of Transport, to Gazeta Shqiptare, “we have taken into account, besides the value of fuel, also a certain increase in inflation.” The price of urban transport tickets has risen even more sharply. From the current 3 lekë, it will now cost 5 lekë. But while the ticket rises by 60 percent, the commuter pass will move only 25 percent. “By acting this way,” says Godo, “interest increases and passengers are encouraged to use passes. In fact, the use of passes for urban transport has been growing. In Tirana alone it has doubled. If throughout 1992 113,000 passes were bought, during 1994 that number rose to 231,000. Meanwhile, pass holders make up nearly 40 percent of passengers.” The rise in intercity transport fares had been illegally pushed by private transport operators. In these intercity services, the 15 January increase in fuel prices — which approached 70 percent — was followed by an increase on their part of the travel price by the same, or almost the same, amount. The greatest abuses have been committed mainly on the Northern and Northeastern routes, where ticket prices have reached almost twice the current value. “To eliminate this situation, the Financial Police should also have intervened. It is the state that sets the prices and has established a ceiling level for them,” says Godo. “However, private transport operators could have raised prices, since because of competition they had been lower than the ceiling level, but not exceeded it.” The rise in prices has now been prompted by the fact that the state has set the limit. It is not yet known whether competition will again keep ticket prices lower. The road to the ticket Here is how urban transport prices have changed in recent years: TICKETS Until 1991 0.3 lekë At the end of 1991 1.5 lekë At the end of 1992 3 lekë 1 February 1994 5 lekë Armand Mero

Activities also for inmates 1.4 million dollars through a special project Situation '93 Here are the conditions in the prisons during a period in 1993 Prisons Prisoners Main age groups 18-25 years 26-30 years 31-35 years LEZHA 250 99 65 31 LUSHNJA 130 70 27 20 KAVAJA 220 94 40 24 TEPELENA 30 - - - TIRANA 1 120 35 25 12 TIRANA 2 130 47 30 24 SARANDA 120 59 30 24 Tirana Prison TIRANA — Investments are finally reaching the prisons too. These are 1.2 million dollars that will be used for the restructuring and equipping of these institutions with the necessary materials. This amount will be provided by the European Community within the framework of humanitarian aid — a budget of 12 million dollars — approved for Albania. Seven prisons will benefit from this financing. They will be included in a pilot program that will aim — in addition to restructuring — to organize regular activities for inmates as well. Meanwhile, the European Community project also provides for funding part of the major repairs — walls, windows, roofs and other works — in all Albanian prisons, as well as supplying them with various essential equipment. The request for this financing had been made by the Albanian authorities themselves, and a commission will be set up that will also determine the seven prisons — one of them believed to be the prison of Kavaja — that will benefit from the pilot program. An expert from the European Community will also soon arrive in Albania to cooperate with Albanian specialists for the swift implementation of this project. The alarm about the difficult condition of the prisons had been raised some time earlier — through Gazeta Shqiptare — by Bardhyl Llëshi, former Director-General of Prisons, who called for restructuring and expansion of staffing, as well as securing new capacities and structural renovations. Like all other institutions, the prison system in Albania had inherited a very difficult situation: old buildings, without basic hygiene systems or inmate care, and a growing number of detainees as well as convicted prisoners. In most cases they were also located far from city centers, connected by unpaved roads. On more than one occasion, the Albanian Helsinki Committee also appealed about the grim state of the prisons, drawing attention to the need for a greater concern from democratic society for improving the living conditions of inmates. Ar.Me.

THE AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ALBANIA IS ADMITTED TO THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES — Among the 323 member churches of the World Council of Churches, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania is unanimously admitted as well. According to a statement from the press office of this Church, it is also reported that during the proceedings — in Johannesburg, South Africa — Archbishop Anastas also spoke. THE ASSOCIATION "KONSUMATORI SHQIPTAR" IS ADMITTED AS A CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONSUMERS UNION ORGANIZATION — Among 200 members from all continents, the association "Konsumatori shqiptar" is also admitted as a corresponding member of the International Consumers Union Organization — based in London. This association, created two years ago, now extends throughout Albania and even cooperates with state bodies to protect consumers. ENELI PALET PERPJEKJII RESPONSIBLE FOR ELECTRIC ENERGY FOR '93 — The third energy forum for Albania — electric energy — reaches the figure of 3 billion 484 million kilowatt-hours for the ten completed months of this year. That high figure, added to the fact that — compared with 1992 — Albania has achieved this production with 7 percent growth. This has resulted in the restriction of that same energy for citizens, but above all there will be a greater shortfall of 170 million kilowatt-hours, which means the figure is lower compared with last year. A greater increase is also being promised in overall electricity output, but consumer demand continues to rise, explained also by the standard of living of Albanian families.

TRIAL «Shpresa»: Republican Party TIRANA — “I will appeal to the Court of Appeal” Rafalea Niccoli — present last year in Albania for reasons of public order — but summoned by the Tirana Court for participation in a civil case, is challenging the decision of 25 January. Following the lawsuit filed by the Republican Party, the Court ruled that: “The company ‘Shpresa’ is an economic unit of the Albanian Republican Party, with Rafalea Niccoli as partner.” According to Niccoli, he contests the decision because: “a company with all owners as shareholders has been included among the partners, and since I do not know these partners, I would rather not have the company,” he concludes.

Ten days after an explosive device was planted Tirana, clash at a teqe: six believers injured TIRANA — Another incident at the teqe in the village of Selitë e Vogël on the outskirts of the capital. Just 10 days after an explosive device was placed on its door — seriously injuring a believer — clashes have now broken out. Six believers have been injured, one of whom — Agim Laku from Kukësi — was immediately taken to the Central Military Hospital after serious injuries to different parts of the head. The incident — which occurred between the residents of this village and Bektashi believers — was stopped only after the intervention of the public order forces, who later also detained the responsible persons. Because investigations are still ongoing, the 4th Police Commissariat of the capital is still unable to give precise conclusions about the causes of the clashes. “The cause of the incidents may only be the issue of land ownership,” officials at this body confirm to Gazeta Shqiptare. In any case, regardless of the motives behind the attacks, the incidents twice put people’s lives at serious risk. “Only sixty meters from the Vakëf,” a wounded witness, Urini Ajdini, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “while those who attacked us were around 30 people, equipped with shovels, crowbars, iron bars, shovels and stones.” According to the believers, at that moment there were also many believers inside the teqe, who were locked inside the Vakëf. Ten days before the clash of 22 January, precisely at three o’clock at night, the teqe of Selitë e Vogël had once again become the target of an unusual event. While five believers were sleeping inside, a powerful explosive device had detonated on the side walls. Fortunately, only the believer Artur Shishi was injured, and he is still in hospital. The villagers also say that many believers from different districts come to this teqe, where, through the religious services of the Bektashi order, they seek and heal spells, but also many different illnesses, such as rheumatism and neurological problems, epilepsy, paralysis with no clinical cause, and other family problems. (Ed.La.)

The protagonist tried to poison her ex-husband’s coffee Before that she had stolen from his house The protagonist tried to poison her ex-husband’s coffee Ancient revenge of a woman Before that she had stolen from his house TIRANA — Lorena Bobbitt, known here these days in a way, after cutting off her husband’s penis, appears in Albania as well. Only the Albanian protagonist thought of a more ancient revenge, by trying to poison her ex-husband through coffee. Immediately after this, on the morning of 28 January, the citizen M.B. was detained by officers of the Tirana Police Commissariat. But against N.B., 50 years old, after the attempt to poison him, another accusation is added: she also stole from her ex-husband, S.B., from his home, money equivalent to about 6,000 dollars, 12 pairs of trousers and a pair of shoes. A divorce with a suitcase has thus turned into a revenge of a capital-city couple. This time it is not the men who retaliate, as usual — but, on the contrary, the woman against them — the protagonist M.B. is now under investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office. (Ed.La.)

SOS from the copper industry IN BRIEF ON PAGE 3 USA, the daughter of Albano and Romina disappears There has been no news since 1 January ON PAGE 2

I AM LOOKING FOR a wallet lost last week near “Bajram Curri” street, near the Dental Clinic, containing various documents. I would be grateful to whoever finds it, if they let us know by calling Gazeta Shqiptare at 32646. The person concerned will be rewarded at least with the return of the documents. I SELL a house, one room and kitchen, with corridor, annex, and bathroom, of very large dimensions. The apartment is on the first floor and has running water. Address: near the Public Order Branch in Vlora. Interested parties should call 2718. I SELL a house, one room and kitchen, with corridor, annex, and bathroom, of very large dimensions. The apartment is on the first floor and has running water. Address: near the Public Order Police Department, Vlora. Interested parties may call 2718, Tirana. I RENT a two-story villa in the center of Tirana with a yard of 300 square meters. Interested parties should contact: Al Lila, “Qemal Stafa” street, no. 184, phone 2762, Tirana. I SELL OR RENT a warehouse with an area of 18 x 6.5 meters, in the center of the city. The warehouse is single-story and is sold together with the land. Address: “Sul Papri” neighborhood, building 123, phone 20 65, Elbasan. I RENT a shop on “Bajram Curri” street, opposite Pharmacy No. 10, with an area of 50 square meters. Interested parties should go to this address from 9:00 to 12:00. I AM LOOKING FOR a masseuse, interested parties may call 24124, Tirana.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU NEED SOMETHING TO BUY? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message, no longer than 15 lines, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Bajram Curri street, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l’Africano, 264. In the message, state what you are looking for and offering, your name and address.