The Albanian government approves the law on games of chance But to open one you need 100,000 $ The Albanian government approves the law on games of chance Casinos are coming But to open one you need 100,000 $ ARMAND MERO TIRANE - Albania too will soon have its own casinos. At its latest meeting, the Government approved the draft law "On games of chance and casinos". So the public’s desire to win by playing and testing their luck will now be regulated by a special law, which will be sent to Parliament for final approval. For years regarded as foreign spectacles, games of chance and prediction contests appeared for the first time legally in the autumn of 1990 with the Totobolli lottery. Later, this activity spread further with electronic games and lotteries of various types, thus creating, in a certain sense, a games-of-chance market. "This market, which emerges within the framework of market economy activity in Albania," explains to Gazeta Shqiptare Kasem Seferi, specialist at the Ministry of Finance, "is specific and has a complex character, where profit interests are intertwined with the desire for entertainment." Is the preparation of this law urgent? "Yes, because in the current economic conditions as well as in the desire to do business, in order to preserve the direction and organization of the lottery and games-of-chance market - according to Western models - state security and guarantees are also required. And the state can achieve this only through the law. Moreover, Albania truly has no tradition in this field, but it cannot become a place for Asian-style games of this kind that are played on the streets." What does this draft law approved by the Government provide for? "Through it, all the conditions that must be applied for opening and carrying out the activity are legally regulated and clearly set out." More specifically. "So far, the games-of-chance market was regulated by the state only through some Government decisions; from now on there will be a special law. Thus, for the organization of lotteries and prediction contests, the permit will be issued by the Ministry of Finance. As for casinos - as a special type - this permit is envisaged to be granted directly by the Council of Ministers and will have a 10-year term." The company that receives the permit will have to pay taxes and fees, said to amount to 10 million lek, and must have a founding capital of 30 million lek. What will the role of the state be in all this? "The state will determine the strategy for opening casinos by viewing this in combination with tourism development. On the other hand, the operation of lotteries and prediction contests - that is, the games-of-chance market - constitutes one of the most powerful channels for collecting money in circulation. Precisely for this reason, the state will also exercise strict control over this market." How will this control be organized? "Within the Ministry of Finance, a games-of-chance unit is planned to be established, whose functions will be determined by the Council of Ministers, since it cannot be a private lottery unit of the casinos." And how will the casinos themselves be organized? "The moment a company receives the permit to open a casino, it will be obliged to comply with several rules such as: publishing its internal regulations, clearly defining - for everything one wants to attend - the conditions of entry as well as the conditions of exit." And the financial relations it will have with the state? "The distribution of revenues is determined from the moment the permit is granted. This revenue will be divided in the agreed profit-sharing ratio between the State and the company. However, it must be emphasized that the company’s profit percentage, in all cases, also justifies the investments." A casino in France

DEVOLL - Another Albanian victim from the bullets of Greek border soldiers. And along with him, another mystery, one that does not seem to lose its weight with the loss of a person’s life. Last Monday - in the bloodshed on the Devoll border by the bullets of Greek soldiers - the Albanian citizen Fredi Muça was killed. A few days later, in a meeting between the two border sides, the Greek authorities admitted that their soldiers had shot and killed the Albanian citizen, but - according to them - were forced to do so after the shots were initially fired at them. Thus, another incident is added to the Albanian-Greek border, as well as another tragic episode, born from the hope for a job or a safe life. After the killing on Greek territory, the victim Muça had been taken to the morgue of the hospital in Kozanë, Greece. Meanwhile, searches for the crossing of the borders continue. They are trying to enter Greece as illegal migrants. On the very day that the Albanian and Greek authorities were discussing the killing of the Albanian citizen, at the border crossing points with Greece, about 300 Albanian refugees had been turned back, the majority of them at Kakavijë. Nevertheless, the signals about preparing a status also for Albanian emigrants in Greece, as it seems, remain the only future possibility for the Albanian-Greek border not to continue shedding blood. (Ed.La.)

TIRANE / Former parliamentary candidate detained Shkëlqim Koçi, back in Albania, is discovered by the police TIRANE / Former parliamentary candidate detained Another of the Koçi brothers is in prison Shkëlqim Koçi, back in Albania, is discovered by the police TIRANE - Another of the Koçi brothers is sent to prison cells. This time, through a successful "blitz", the law-enforcement authorities, who had discovered Shkëlqim Koçi’s return to Albania, arrested him on 24 March and have now detained him. Thus, after Fërim Koçi - sentenced by the Tirane Court in February 1994 to three years in prison - his brother, Shkëlqim Koçi, is now also detained and sent to prison; a criminal case has been pending against him for some time, while the law-enforcement authorities had also объявил the search for him. "As far as I know they are in Syria, but I have had no contact with either of them," Fatmir Koçi had replied to Gazeta Shqiptare, when asked about his brothers during the time he was undergoing judicial investigation. While more than 300 defrauded people had been expected to testify in this case against the only one of the Koçi brothers in Albania, Fatmiri still did not accept the charge and was convicted for "fraud committed in collaboration." "They must answer themselves for everything they have done," Fatmir Koçi had stated to Gazeta Shqiptare - "after this I feel calmer before my brothers." But although the trial had accused his brothers in Syria of everything, the Court had ultimately decided - apart from sentencing him to three years in prison - to order him to pay 400 thousand dollars that the firm "Koci" had once taken from various people through offers later with interest. In any case, the Court had separated the criminal case against the other Koçi brothers - since the defendants were not in Albania - in order to reopen it only after their return to the homeland. Meanwhile, the police detained Shkëlqim Koçi on Thursday - in a place near the Great Park of Tirana - thus bringing the "Koçi case" back onto the scene once again. Having left Albania long ago and settled in one of his villas in faraway Syria, Shkëlqim is detained after a prior surveillance and the accusation that had condemned his brother two months earlier. Meanwhile, for Shkëlqim Koçi - known quite well to Albanian public opinion after the election campaign for the March 22 elections - another mystery has now been uncovered. "I was abroad at that time, but I know that he ran an election campaign," Fatmir Koçi, Shkëlqim’s brother, had stated to Gazeta Shqiptare - "if it was really promised that a bread factory would be given in exchange for votes, then it was a lie, because Shkëlqim had no means to realize that." In any case, for Shkëlqim Koçi, Albanian Justice had opened a criminal case not for electoral fraud, but for another fraud: taking large amounts of foreign currency from many people - to return it with interest - but which in reality had ended up, together with the two Koçi brothers, outside the borders of Albania. Tirana Prison Edmond Laçi

TIRANE - He falls into the trap of the law-enforcement authorities, along with others who had tried "violent love". On Wednesday, 21-year-olds A.A. from Tirana and L.G. from a village in Peshkopi were sent to Tirana Prison; according to the initial investigation, they had tried to rape a 14-year-old girl from the capital. The shameful episode had occurred the previous night - around 10 p.m. - while only the swift intervention of officers from Police Station 3 had saved the minor from the hands of the two young men. After being caught red-handed, the criminal case was immediately opened. (e.l)

SHKODER - The phenomenon of fuel smuggling from Shkodër to Montenegro continues, but so does the response of the law-enforcement authorities. The latest people arrested by the Shkodër Police have been caught - in whose vehicles the found loads were suspicious and numerous. According to the law-enforcement authorities, Fadil Bruna, Sytki Skrypi, Ramazan Solo and Skënder Trashaj - all residents of a place of residence in Shkodër - were caught red-handed engaging in fuel smuggling. Due to the secrecy of the investigation, the quantity of materials they had transported is still unknown. (e.l)

Tirana, 200 homes on the outskirts TIRANE - Another area of Tirana is designated for private housing construction. This time, an area of nearly 57 hectares has been entrusted to the English company "Mc-Rae International", which will build a group of two-storey villas. Approval of this decision was made two days ago by the National Council for Territorial Regulation. There will be more than 200 houses - residential villas that "Mc-Rae International" intends to build in the area near the Hills of Selitë in Tirana. With the construction of these villas, this area is expected to acquire the character of a truly residential zone. In addition to the housing units over a period of time, all the necessary services for a modern residential area are to be created. According to the project, the population density in this area will be close to 300 inhabitants per hectare. The approval of this zone simultaneously brought a change in the urban development plan of the capital. Thus, that part allocated to housing - within the framework of increasing greenery in the city - has been planned as a university zone on another 18 hectares previously intended as park area. Ar.Me.

BERISHA'S VISIT TO GREAT BRITAIN CONFIRMED - The President of Albania, Sali Berisha, will travel to Great Britain on a working visit. In the first visit by a head of state to this British country, Berisha is scheduled to have a private audience with Queen Elisabeth, Prime Minister Meixher, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Commonwealth, Douglas Hërd, as well as other high-ranking figures from political and business life. HUMANITARIAN AID CAMPAIGN BY THE ALBANIAN RED CROSS - Just launched by the Albanian Red Cross, which next week will begin the humanitarian aid drive. These aid supplies appear to be intended for a delegation from the municipality of Merdhenes de Maillësë së Rethe, Lezë. Albanian Red Cross, it is said that after several efforts by the organization, around 12 thousand people have been secured. KUKËS, TRAVELERS UNDER WATCH OF THE REGULATIONS - Since Monday, non-implementation of the Council of Ministers' decision on the association of bus owners and the functioning of the free line is expected to bring major improvements. These are concerns that continue to arise among the many travelers who use this network with enthusiasm. This has led to measures being taken to maintain order and passenger safety through checks of their luggage.

Powerful protest demonstrations in France Angry students have completely blocked Paris ON PAGE 2 More than 280 thousand people are looking for a profession The largest number of unemployed people is in industrial cities ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU NEED TO BUY SOMETHING? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU NEED TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your classified ads. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State clearly in the message what you are looking for and offering, your name and address. FOR SALE — a 2+1 apartment, with balcony and telephone, on the 5th floor in the center of the city of Vlorë. Interested parties should call 22608. FOR SALE — a washing and polishing machine, costs 6,000 US dollars. It is type E.6, professional. Interested parties should call on the number 0099 6856709 (after 10 a.m.). FOR RENT — premises for a shop or warehouse with the following dimensions: 8.7 meters long, 4.2 meters high, 4.3 meters. The premises have water inside, a cellar with walls of 9 cubic meters volume, and are located at the beginning of Hoxha Tasim Street near Avni Rustemi Square (Pazari i Ri). FOR RENT — a 67-square-meter house with three rooms and a kitchen (living room, children’s room and dining room, bedroom) in the city center, address Rruga Thanas Ziko No. 941/Tiranë. Telephone number 262 80 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. FOR RENT — a house with a yard, one room and a kitchen (corridor, bathroom, telephone), with space for several cars. Address: Rruga Besim Imami, No. 7/8 in Tirana. Telephone number 27169. FOR RENT — a villa with 8 rooms (two bathrooms, yard, 3 rooms in the basement, one room outside). Address: Rruga 4 Dëshmorët No. 44. Telephone 24566 or 25018 (from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m.).

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