After the Government's decision on customs tariffs Beverage prices also rise After the Government's decision on customs tariffs Cigarettes more expensive Beverage prices also rise PRICE CHANGES (in lek) IN THE WHOLESALE MARKET ITEM WAS IS CIGARETTES Parisienne 41 45 Karellia 33 40 Compass 35 40 LM 48 52 BEER Amstel 330 ml 34 37 Kronenbourg 500 ml 37 45 Skopsko 500 ml 30 40 Kronenbier 500 ml 30 40 DRINKS Ivi 33 ml 34 37 Fanta 33 ml 34 37 The main market of Tirana ARMAND MERO TIRANË — An immediate reflection of the Government's decision taken a short while ago to raise the double customs clearance rate for cigarettes and various beverages. The sharp increase in prices was observed in recent days in all wholesale markets, as well as in the premises where part of the trade is carried out. "We are forced to raise them," various traders at the wholesale market in Tirana told Gazeta Shqiptare — "this is dictated by the very change made to customs tariffs." So those who smoke regularly now have to pay even more for their habit. Cigarette prices will no longer be the same as before. They have risen, depending on the category, by 40 to 80 lek more. But an even bigger increase has been reflected in the prices of beer and other kinds of beverages. In this photo report, the change in prices has already been reflected in bars and retail outlets as well. Citizens, however, seem to react to the traders' response to the rise in the prices of beer and drinks they sold in 330-milliliter bottles. The decision introduced larger changes for beverages and beer. All the price changes reflected in the market these days are the result of a decision taken by the Government at the beginning of this month. That decision — of 12 March — approved the doubling of the fixed customs clearance fees for certain goods such as cigarettes, beer and other beverages. For cigarettes — classified by category — the double rate was increased by more than 50 percent. A slightly smaller increase was applied to beer and other beverages. The proposal for these changes in customs tariffs had been made in the last months of the previous year by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The aim of this action, according to the Ministry, was the protection of domestic production. "Only in this way," its specialists told Gazeta Shqiptare, "will it be possible to bring these products onto the market in the country and support them now when the entire Albanian market has been flooded by imports."

Prosecutor's Office TIRANË — The representative of ICP l'Airlines, the airline agency operating the Tirana-Istanbul route, is now blocked in Albania and will not be able to leave. After the conflict between Albanian Airlines and the document, after so much effort by the prosecutor, Hasan Jalaç, vice president of ICP l'Airlines, had his passport blocked and was prohibited from leaving the country. "It was a necessary measure," explained Valter Bettini, administrative director of Albanian Airlines, "until the issue claimed by ICP is clarified and finally resolved." Meanwhile, the Albanian representative continues efforts to solve this problem through legal channels, while representatives of ICP Airlines say — over the telephone — that they will make the payment settlement, and that within just one day. The scandal between the two airline agencies had broken out at the beginning of this year when the Tirana-Skopje sector of the Tirana-Istanbul route was suspended. ICP Airlines had been operating on this route — with Albanian Airlines, with which it had signed a contract. These obligations, accumulated over two months, had reached nearly 300 thousand dollars. But precisely at the moment when Albanian Airlines had suspended flights, its representatives had left Albania without a trace. Ar. Me.

The landowners turn to the Court But the Ministry of Tourism disputes the claims The landowners turn to the Court “Hotel Tirana belongs to us too” But the Ministry of Tourism disputes the claims TIRANË — Hotel Tirana, the tallest building in the capital, has not escaped the current whirlpool of ownership disputes. A few days ago the police removed from the area used as a parking lot the heirs of the owners of the plot of land located at the back of the hotel. For three months they had not moved a single step one way or the other. "Now there is no other way left," one of them, Jorgji Terca, told Gazeta Shqiptare — "we have to take the Municipality and the Ministry of Tourism to court. They have closed off every other possibility for us." On the other hand, the Ministry of Tourism has a completely different view of the matter. "We have all the proper, verifiable documents showing that we are fully in accordance with the law," says Nazari V., Deputy Minister of Tourism and president of the Italian-Albanian joint venture that is carrying out the hotel’s reconstruction. Thus, as in many other similar cases, it will be the court that decides the future fate of the land behind the hotel. For their decision, the family members have already informed the President of the Republic, the European Commission office in Tirana, and a number of foreign embassies. Hotel Tirana The heirs of Petro Korra, the owners of the land, possess documents proving ownership of this plot and of part of the land on which the hotel was built in 1930. Their claim is that they should either be given the separated part of the plot that belongs to them, or that the parking lot to be built should remain their property and be used commercially for profit. A proposal with which the Ministry of Tourism does not agree. "The claims of ownership over this plot are invalid, as long as the right of these heirs has not been officially recognized by the Tirana Property Restitution Commission," according to the Law on Property Restitution. The heirs have received a decision in a court file from the Chairman of this commission but not in an official document. In my opinion they should sue the municipality and not us. It is the one that has the contract authorization." Thus a third protagonist emerges in this case: the Chairman of the Property Restitution Commission. The problem is the continuation of this person’s trip to the USA. Apparently, the ownership right over this plot will be contested by one side or the other until justice has the final word. Fatos Baxhaku

Tiranë — Perhaps it is the strangest investment begun for implementation in Albania. A village for orphans. A settlement for orphans with 15 houses, a school and special infrastructure has begun to be built on the hills of the village of Sauk in the Tirana district. The builder is the Austrian organization "SOS Nalkerdorf International," and the village — which will be the 121st in the world — is expected to be completed in the spring of next year. In each of the houses, they will live together with a "mother" of a family. She will take care of their upbringing and education.

IN SHKODER TWO THIEVES OF TELEPHONE LINES ARE ARRESTED — Astrit Lajtha and Gëzim Sefrdi, aged 18 and 19 respectively, have been detained by the police authorities of Shkodër. The reason was that they were caught in the act damaging the poles of the Shkodër–Oblikë line with the aim of taking the copper cables. This is thus another case of line theft, which, despite police arrests, continues to occur. The damage caused by these thefts has often led to the interruption of telephone lines. At present the link between Shkodër and Oblikë is functioning. IN KORÇA IRREGULARITIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SHOE FACTORY — It was the State Control Service that uncovered violations of legality in the management of property. The sale of goods to private entities at prices that had not been liberalized — that is, lower than the existing ones — caused a loss of 22,800 lek. Contrary to the decision of the Council of Ministers, cash purchases did not include the two parties, while the economist who had gone without a patron caused such a large loss to the enterprise. The goods were supplied from the factory warehouses without the monthly reconciliations being made. Moreover, for the means used, the dismissal of the factory director was requested. IN HAS THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE FALLS — A significant drop in infant mortality in the Has area of the Kukës district was recorded in the period January–15 March 1994. According to the director of the city hospital, this is the result of an improved service structure. Another positive factor has been the increased care by medical staff and the assistance provided by a group of German doctors.

Smuggling? LAC — Considerable quantities of kerosene continue to be transported toward the Shkodër area, and this has repeatedly served to fuel smuggling with Montenegro and Serbia. This time the signal — after several reports from other networks — comes from the city of Laç. Through its streets many citizens from Shkodër or from Malësia e Madhe often come looking to buy kerosene. Large quantities of kerosene — bought at sales points in Laç — are loaded onto trucks with Shkodër license plates, while the people of Laç have had no particular need to do anything. It is not clear how the buyer who comes from the north ends up with the invoices for the purchase of kerosene intended for gasoline.

Dozens of lines destroyed ELBASAN — Progress in the telephone service in the city, but the opposite in the countryside. Hundreds of kilometers of telephone wires have been stolen and interruptions have been caused in the remaining lines and in other lines. This is the reason why the condition of this service leaves much to be desired, is quite difficult, encouraging demand and their lack of coverage. It is enough to mention the fact that out of the 21 commune centers in the district, 5 have no connection at all and the others have interruptions. Also, 2 post offices have been closed because of the total destruction of the telephone line. "As for the connection of the post offices near the communes with the seven — Thoma Kalami, Director of Telekom in Elbasan, told Gazeta Shqiptare — there can now be no question of it." The situation regarding the increase in the limit of connectivity appears severe, since specialists of the telegraphic service say that there is no longer any talk of repairing the destroyed lines, but of rebuilding entirely new ones. "Despite financial difficulties," Kalami continues, "we are continuing the construction of the damaged lines." Recently, the Elbasan–Funar line was completed, and efforts are being made to build other lines. Even though the first initiatives have only just begun, the thieves continue to steal and destroy telephone lines. In recent days, the theft of part of the line linking Elbasan with Labinot was again verified, while the vandals have also often destroyed the direct lines. (Me KL)

Fier, after 28 months of searching the family tries again The seven young men had set off for Italy Fier, after 28 months of searching the family tries again Appeal: $5,000 for one news item The seven young men had set off for Italy FIER — A small rubber boat had usually been "traveling" across the sea since 18 November 1991. Aboard it were seven young men, eager to reach the coast of Italy. But have they ever reached the shores of Italy? Are they still traveling? — that is what the families of the seven missing young men still think. Others, even today — after 28 months — believe that something, at any cost, will tell them about the boat and the "passengers" who had set off from Povelçë. After the first appeal in Gazeta Shqiptare, TV, the Red Cross and many other organizations were informed, and now the family members are once again publicly trying to bring good news about their loved ones. There is a reward of 5,000 dollars offered by one of the family members of Dhimitraq Çuko, the 38-year-old from Fier, known as "the schoolteacher," who still have not heard from their relatives. Some time ago the Çuko family — together with Dhimitraq — celebrated the latter's birthday for the second time, and six other family members were also at home. Again — appeals have been made for their relatives to bring good news, which they are now also being paid for. (Ed.La.)

TIRANË — The two-year-old tiger that is "impatiently" waiting to find a mate, and a rather unusual kind of aggressiveness is showing itself, is now waiting in its "wedding room" for the work on the new environment to be completed. These are the latest news from the Tirana Zoo. The zoo, in the hills of the Artificial Lake, has been highly successful with the arrival of new exotic inhabitants. It has become a large construction site, with 15,000 to 20,000 lek a day in donations. The managers of the Construction Enterprise have led a renovation project aimed at turning this facility not only into a comfortable place of rest but also into a worthy shelter for the animals. At the same time, suitable ways of accommodating the zoo’s population have been planned. "We will definitely buy a female tiger too," the enterprise managers assure. Recently, however, they seem to have had problems in their married life. Two cubs born to the lioness were mercilessly drowned by their mother, who also tried to push aside the bars of the cage and a child whom she had allowed too close. Perhaps the lioness’s behavior is linked to the disappointment felt by the construction workers. The lion enclosure room is, in fact, being improved. Until the work is completed, the lioness will be housed temporarily in the only room left to her, the one belonging to the puma. It is, in fact, a large room, floored with planks and heated by an electric radiator that makes it possible to reach optimal temperatures. (n.ba.)

A day of friendly matches: 18 national teams play And Germany beats Italy 2-1 ON PAGE 2 Survey with 338 young people on suicide Causes: drugs and love ON PAGE 3