Officials and traders detained The smuggling scandal is spreading to Pogradec as well EDMOND LACI TIRANA — The customs scandal continues to send more people to prison. On Sunday evening, after checks carried out by the Financial Police, the Prosecutor’s Office decided to order the detention of nine more people, four of them employees of the Qafë Thana customs office in Pogradec. The other detainees are employees of various companies operating privately in the Tirana district. Although investigators are convinced that the accused detained on Sunday are involved in “abuse of office” and “committing smuggling,” the exact charges have not been fully clarified. This brings to 24 the number of people arrested or detained — since just after the end of February — who are now held in Tirana Prison and are being investigated for the customs scandal. The geography of the investigative authorities’ action — after the districts of Tirana, Gjirokastër, Durrës, Fier and Vlorë — has now reached Pogradec as well. The four customs officers from the Qafë Thana border post bring to ten the number of employees or managers of Albanian customs accused of abuse of office. Because the investigation is highly secret, no details have yet been made public about the customs officers from Pogradec or even the private traders, nor about the times and reasons that led the Prosecutor’s Office to take this preventive security measure. In any case, this is not only a matter of cigarette smuggling, but also of beer, socks, paint, and suspicions that customs duties were not properly fulfilled. Meanwhile, investigative bodies are questioning all the accused again — the security measure has been extended for them after the 48-hour detention. The border that divides Albania from Macedonia The reaction of state authorities against the phenomenon of smuggling, long called the customs scandal, is thus becoming harsher, as it is one of the biggest scandals in Albania. The first arrest was of the customs officer Nabil Silimit — who is still in prison — as well as the senior Albanian customs official Thoma Biciolli. Later, the director of customs in Tirana, Xhemal Hani, was also taken to this prison cell. The charges against the persons so far suspected of being involved in this scandal are: smuggling, falsification of official documents, and abuse of office. As for the many people whose activities are linked to the accused — including those dealing in cigarettes and various other goods, also passing through the State Anti-Smuggling Office — the first public data on the customs scandal indicate thousands of smuggled goods and items that were not declared to the state budget, having been hidden from customs duties and various taxes.

Nano trial TIRANA — Important documents have disappeared from the Italian aid files, raising suspicions, already in 1991, about a “movement” that was helping to strengthen the movement and, with the spread of the Italian scandal in Albania, Torquato Cardilli[?], one of the latest and most interesting witnesses to speak, among many witnesses in the trial over the aid scandal. It was Harilla Goçi, a representative in the Economic Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who first revealed in the trial — through his testimony — the mystery of the apparent disappearance of documents referring to the Italian aid procedure of 1991. Immediately after him — also on the subject of missing documents, reconstructed in some way with the aid files — the defendant Sokrat Plaka, now convicted together with Gjin Halla[?] for “abuse of office,” also confirmed this. Meanwhile, many important witnesses state that all this testimony gives the case special significance, as to who knew about the missing documents and who hid them. Thus the trial continued, and the testimony in recent days suggests why it is difficult to prove the course of the large Italian aid in Albania.

New examinations for sick Metalurgjiku workers Health inspections at the Cement Factory ELBASAN — Efforts against industrial pollution are increasing in the most polluted city in Albania. The Hygiene Sector of Elbasan has launched inspections precisely now, as many industrial enterprises in this district are preparing to increase production. “We will not allow any facility, no matter how important,” declared to Gazeta Shqiptare Pellumb Hiu[?], director of Hygiene in Elbasan, “if it becomes a source of pollution for the environment.” At one of the district’s most important economic facilities, the Cement Factory, recent inspections have been carried out. The Hygiene Sector says that if this factory is not equipped with the proper technology to reduce pollution levels for the present environment, then, specialists say, they will ask for its immediate closure. The cloud of poisonous smoke surrounding Elbasan has become denser on most days in recent weeks. The rise in pollution levels is higher than usual also because of weather conditions. In the city, an increasing number of serious illnesses is being observed, which doctors say are linked to environmental pollution. Doctors have begun new examinations for sick workers of the Metallurgical Combine. The Elbasan Metallurgical Complex The rate, from extremely lower levels, recorded 2.36 in 1991, 1.57 in 1992 and 1.48 last year. According to specialists from the Labour Inspectorate, these figures show a strong link with pollution, especially with the level of lead in the blood and with the occupational diseases of workers. Doctors at the Elbasan Hospital are carrying out further analyses; the results will be seen in a few weeks.

THE PREFECT OF KOSOVA VISITS KORÇA AND DEVOLL — At the head of a group of specialists from the “Intereg” program, Jorgo Kopransi, Prefect of Kostur, was officially received in Korça. He spoke with representatives of the local authorities about the implementation of the second phase of the European Community’s “Intereg” program, which provides for various investments in the economy, infrastructure and health. The districts of Korça, Devoll, Kolonjë and Pogradec will benefit from this program. The group from Kostur had brought stationery and fax machines for the schools of the districts of Korça and Kostur and will also help in the field of Albanian healthcare with equipment, medicines and exchanges of doctors. IN DURRËS THE CONFERENCE OF THE INDEPENDENT TEACHERS’ UNIONS OF ALBANIA HELD ITS WORKS — In one of the areas of the holiday camp in Durrës, the Congress of the Independent Teachers’ Unions of Albania held its proceedings. The Minister of Education Xhezair Teliti was present. Alongside an assessment of the work done, concern was raised about teachers’ worries regarding job cuts and rising costs. The need for urgent intervention in several state institutions to improve salaries and working conditions was also discussed. THE ASSOCIATION OF ALBANIAN JUDGES WILL BE CREATED — Judges also seem to be looking for their own voice. This was announced at a meeting of legal specialists held in Tirana by the Court of Cassation in cooperation with the “Friedrich Ebert” foundation. The association will be a voluntary union of judges and will carry out qualification activities as well as exchanges of experience with courts in other countries.

At school BURREL — Teachers and students at the Klosti secondary school have suspended classes in protest. The reason is the shooting of final-year student M. Xh. inside the school with a firearm. Meanwhile, the victim — wounded in the head — is out of danger in the hospital of Burrel, while the perpetrator has fled in an unknown direction. Law enforcement bodies have only been able to detain the weapon’s owner — a service pistol — with which this crime was committed for trivial motives. During this time, the teacher-student collective of the school has sent a petition to the competent authorities, asking that order and calm be strictly enforced so the teaching process can proceed normally.

Shkodër, land reclamation yields 100 ha SHKODER — It seems that the reclamation of the Domni swamp in the Shkodër district is finally heading toward a solution. Soon, the tender is expected to be announced, which will determine the enterprise that will take on the work. From the reclamation of this swamp — together with the opening of the lands of B. a Gjodulit — it will become possible to gain about 100 hectares of land suitable for field agriculture. At present — in order to carry out the necessary works — part of the drainage station has been built. Its pumps are also already stored, ready to be put into operation. The engineering plans are likewise now in place. Regarding the existing condition of this swamp and the planned project for its reclamation, the Water Directorate of Shkodër has also drawn up an accurate and detailed report. “After the necessary funds are secured,” Idriz Xh. vara, director of the Water Directorate and Waters Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “there remains nothing else but to assign the enterprise that will carry out the works.” It remains to be hoped, as happened a few years ago, through the reclamation enterprise of Shkodër.

Tiranë TIRANE — Officers of police station no. 2 in Tirana have detained 23-year-old H. Gashi for carrying a passport with a falsified visa. Marin Kastrati, 27, living in Shkodër, is also linked to the existence of a group of smugglers who deal in falsifying the visas needed for Albanian citizens to cross into different states. These visas were sold to various citizens for large sums of money in lek or foreign currency. In any case — according to specialists at this police station — it is still not possible to uncover the threads of the main network of this type of smuggling.

The well-known cigarette will be produced by the Durrës factory TIRANA — The “Diamand” cigarette is returning once again to the Albanian market, not unchanged. Production from the Cigarette Factory in Durrës is expected to be put into circulation next week. According to specialists, “Diamand” will be able to compete fully, unlike many foreign products. Another type of cigarette is also appearing on the Albanian market. “Diamand” — in its old and familiar wrapper — has now been made almost entirely different. And with a more usable, reworked and contemporary name. As for the question of finishing, Xhemil Fusheka, specialist in the Tobacco Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “inside it has been processed according to the Western type” and therefore it is in no way inferior in comparison with many cigarettes sold on our market. It contains Congres and several others.” But in terms of possible business, specialists also see the price as a factor: it will be 30 lek. However, in the name of European-ness, “Diamand” has also been forced to change something else from its past: it will now have a filter. Ar. Me

Gjirokastër, alarm from archaeology specialists GJIROKASTER — After its destruction in the middle of the second century BC by a great and unexpected fire, the ancient city of Antigonea is now experiencing a second ruin. The alarm is being raised by staff of the Archaeological Institute. Left to its fate, the old city has become prey to damage and theft that increase day by day. In addition, its surroundings have been turned into grazing land for the livestock of the village of Saraniishtiq[?], located nearby. As a result, the condition of the monuments — especially that of their restored parts — has worsened greatly. Facing this spontaneous and destructive “erosion” is the passivity of the responsible and competent authorities. There is plenty to say. The workshop of the Monuments Institute in Gjirokastër has done its job, but coordination with other bodies has been lacking. According to specialists, the ancient city continues to be damaged also by illegal construction in the vicinity. Antigonea was founded in the 3rd century BC. During archaeological excavations in recent years, paved roads, walls, parts of the city, a basilica, as well as other objects of special historical importance, have been uncovered. The situation of recent years is pushing this archaeological center of incalculable value toward degradation.

In response to the announcement by the Italian Press Federation, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow journalists will not work. As a result, Gazeta Shqiptare will not be published on those two days

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