The existing law provides for handover within '95 An earlier deadline has been proposed HERE IS THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES LIVING IN THE HOMES THAT WILL BE RETURNED TO THE FORMER OWNERS IN SEVERAL OF ALBANIA'S MAIN CITIES IN HOMES NATIONALIZED FROM OWNERS Durrës 1,300 Fier 130 Korçë 100 Shkodër 620 Tirana 1,650 Vlorë 110 IN TENANT OCCUPIED HOMES Durrës 537 Fier 210 Korçë 545 Pogradec 660 Shkodër 620 Tirana 500 TIRANA — The fees for tenants of private homes who live with a shared entrance with the owner of the house are to be liberalized after 1 June 1994. This is the latest proposal that the Albanian parliament will soon discuss. Through it, the aim is to bring forward the deadline for rent liberalization in private homes from the end of 1995 to June of this year. "We believe it is reasonable to advance the degree to which private-property homes are made available to their owners," says the proposed draft law, "for an amendment to the law on the privatization of state housing." The main arguments supporting this request are the many developments and changes at the level of employment and in the property relations of individuals in Albanian society. According to data held by the Ministry of Construction, the number of families that would be affected by the approval of this change in the current law reaches around 5,000 across the country. The largest number is mainly in large Albanian cities such as Tirana, Shkodër and Korçë. Pogradec is the only exception, where the figure approaches nearly 700 cases. These are mainly families who live in the same house with the owner of the home. At present, the rent they pay is controlled by the state and, according to the housing law, the state will continue to maintain this control until the end of 1995. Only after that date will it be liberalized, thus making it possible to settle the relations of the families living in the owners' homes with the owners themselves. In this case, the owner, if he wishes, may also demand that his home be vacated. It now falls to parliament to examine and decide whether bringing forward the deadline for rent liberalization is fully feasible. According to the proposal submitted to it, this change is considered achievable because for the homeless — as such are registered tenants and families living with the owners of houses — the possibility has also been created of obtaining interest-free, long-term repayment loans in order to build homes. It is still not known whether parliament will consider sufficient — for the families forced to hand over the dwelling — the time given to them until 1 June 1994. Ar. Me.

TIRANA — A new financial aid package for economic reforms in Albania has been proposed by the European Commission to the member countries of the EC. In the bureau that grants this powerful body’s support, it declared that the Commission has requested approval for aid of 30 million dollars in favor of the reform of the Albanian economy. The issue was discussed in Brussels during a special meeting devoted to the progress of economic reforms in the former communist countries of the East. Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova were the countries examined at this meeting of experts. At the end of it, it was decided to propose a loan of 50 million dollars for Moldova to correct the balance of payments. Additional economic aid was also proposed for Bulgaria and Romania. The latter will specifically complement the measures that the local council had previously discussed together with experts from the European Community. Aid for Albania and Bulgaria was proposed within the framework of the action undertaken for some time by the European Community together with the International Monetary Fund and the other countries of the "Group of 24", which includes, in addition to the twelve European countries, also the EFTA countries, the USA, Canada and Japan. (p. re.)

Inventory of the collections begins today TIRANA — The doors of the National Historical Museum in the capital have reopened after the closure at the beginning of February. But perhaps there are new unexpected developments from this important Albanian museum center, because the staff still has another doubt about the serious state of affairs: what is the true number of objects that have disappeared from the Museum’s collections? After the spectacular theft of the Epiphany of Glavinica — the heaviest loss caused so far to Albanian art — its collections and exhibits have remained closed for about two months. Most importantly, we will soon have an exact answer to this question, because today the doors of the institution will be opened to a small group of its employees, who will carry out the inventory of the collections. The news was given by the Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of the Ministry of Culture. Dashnor Kokono, Director of the Directorate of Culture, expressed his doubts to Gazeta Shqiptare: "The facts confirmed by specialists that the theft of the Epiphany and that of the trophy pistols were unknown, raise doubts that here we may perhaps be dealing with damage on an even larger scale." The Museum has been opened for a "short time." Afterwards, and with a precise conclusion, a detailed inspection will be carried out in order to identify the missing objects. If the cultural authorities have acted without haste, then their action will be very useful to us in learning more accurately the balance of this important asset. These conditions can be achieved only if the necessary equipment functions, which since the time the Museum was closed has not been put into operation. A small group of inventory workers will enter the Museum today and begin work, together with a group of technicians who will put the air-conditioning system into operation. Only in this way will it be possible to reduce the loss caused by the hands of thieves and by damage to the monument, as well as that caused by the failure to comply with certain severe temperature and air-humidity requirements. Another factor makes the normal operation of the Museum even more necessary; for some time now a contract has been signed for the opening of an exhibition of Iranian culture. Usually the opening of such activities requires organizational and technical measures many days in advance. In fact, the date of the inauguration of this exhibition is approaching. Nevertheless, intensive work continues to identify the real perpetrators of the heaviest theft in Albanian museum institutions. Because five people, whom the Prosecutor’s Office says may have been implicated in the taking of 30 million or even house arrest — are now accused of failing to take full measures to secure the Museum. Meanwhile, several countries, having kept the collection closed through INTERPOL, have confirmed their initiative to help find the famous Epiphany of Glavinica. (p. re.) National Historical Museum

THE INTERNATIONAL PROTESTANT CHURCH OF TIRANA IS RECOGNIZED — For the first time Albania was on the list of the order “Shehret Pater” — meaning that the “international herald” was to be in the new framework, thus recognizing the International Protestant Church, based in Tirana. This was considered a special recognition of this institution in Albania and — through it — a member of the European Evangelical Brotherhood. AFTER 30 YEARS, THE KUÇOVË PLANT RISKS CLOSURE — With old technology from the 1960s, generally working intermittently because of a shortage of oil, and with low profitability, the oil plant in Kuçovë risks closure. According to the Oil Ministry. Despite these difficulties, it employs 240 workers, while for ’95 this figure will fall to 140. Nevertheless, the main managers of this plant still believe that — with a reduced amount of oil — it could continue to exist as an enterprise, thus hoping that Cërrik and Patos will also be closed. THE BOARD OF THE BEVERAGE FACTORY NEGOTIATES THE LAW ON FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY OF SHIJAKU — An Italian firm for the production of fruit juices — with 100 workers — and recently another one with 70 for the production of bags, are the first investments in the city of Shijak. Meanwhile, many of the existing small enterprises are now having their documentation prepared for the privatization process.

— The famous Port of Rotterdam has won the tender for the study of the best way to adapt this port's roads for further activity in Albania. The investments for carrying out this study came from a World Bank fund, while a group of specialists — Albanian, Dutch and English — are now working on collecting data for the loading and unloading sector in Albania's largest port. The final processing of this study and its computerized method will be followed by another study, linked to the modern level of activity of the Port of Durrës. (p. re.)

The arrest appeal is rejected TIRANA — The president of the firm "Anonime Kakavijë" remains in prison. On Tuesday the Tirana अदालत rejected V. N.'s request for a lighter arrest measure. V. N. had been placed under arrest in prison for 16 months since Sunday at the end of last month, on suspicion of involvement in networks in the South, accused of the crime of cigarette smuggling. V. N. had filed a request for revocation in the case because — according to him — the arrest against him had been illegal. Nevertheless, because of the secrecy of the investigation, it is still not known what concrete figures and facts are mentioned in Naci's file. Along with the president of the firm "Anonime Kakavijë", five customs officers from the customs offices of Gjirokastër and Tirana are also being investigated on charges of cigarette smuggling and involvement in forgery. The charges against them concern official functionaries “for abuse of office, undermining national trade.” Just a few days ago, the Financial Police had detained and arrested 9 other people, this time not only for cigarette smuggling. For the customs scandal alone, more than 20 people are counted, who after being charged have been detained or arrested by the Prosecutor's Office. (e.l)

— The telephone subscriber directory in the city of Elbasan will also be expanded by 4,000 new numbers. Soon work will begin in the city on the first phase of the entire line designed by "Telekom Shqipëria" for the construction of the new automatic exchange. "The project was scheduled through ’94 — Thoma Kalan, Director of Telekom, Elbasan, tells Gazeta Shqiptare — but we hope to begin work very soon." The basic project also includes the laying of fiber-optic cable, which is planned to pass through the Tirana-Durrës-Pogradec-Elbasan-Librazhd route, where the problem of Elbasan's connection to this network will also finally disappear. In Elbasan.

OPENING / The owner is an old admirer of his A venue bearing the name of the Italian tycoon TIRANA — Berlusconi's shadow is also being appreciated in Albania. This time the image of the Italian television magnate was not carried by the powerful Fininvest machine, but simply by the sympathy of an Albanian. In a new and modern venue near the center of Tirana — behind the Palace of Culture — a successful name from Italy itself, with the respect of a campaign for him, is "Forza Italia". A local Berlusconi has now become fashionable. The owner has placed this symbol out of admiration for Berlusconi over the years, for his respect for successful Italian visitors, as well as for the many economic problems. "Berlusconi has everything a person needs to seem: independent, well dressed and a great entrepreneur," says the owner of the venue. And he explains that he chose the industrialist's name as a symbol of the private entrepreneur. “I want everything in my venue to be Berlusconi,” he fully justifies. ARMAND MERO Leader of the party «Forza Italia», Berlusconi

In the political elections Italy chooses the right Silvio Berlusconi, the big winner, perhaps prime minister ON PAGE TWO Every month the private sector has employed 3,400 people More than 35 percent of them are women ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your economic notices. 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. Say in the message what you are looking for or offering, your name and address. FOR SALE — two houses together with the plot of land of 1,000 square meters. Interested parties should contact this address: Rruga e "Durrësit" No. 30 in Tirana (next to the petrol distributor, by the former Party School, opposite the "Traktori" factory). FOR RENT — A one-room apartment with a kitchen in Tirana. The house is also equipped with a telephone. Interested parties should call 26607 (in the evening). FOR SALE — A 2-room, 1-kitchen apartment, with balcony and telephone, on the second floor in the center of the city of Vlorë. Interested parties should call 22608. FOR SALE — An automatic dish-washing machine, price $6,000. It is type E-6. Professional. Interested parties should call in Rome at 0039 68557802 (after 10 a.m.). FOR RENT — Premises for a shop or warehouse with the following dimensions: width 3.7 meters, length 4.2 meters and height 4.3 meters. The premises has water inside, has a yard with about 9 cubic meters of volume and is located at the beginning of Hoxha Tasin Street near "Avni Rustemi" Square (New Bazaar). Further information can be obtained by phone at 26259 from 7.00-10.00 and 14.00-16.00. FOR RENT — A 67-square-meter house with three rooms and a kitchen (living room, cooking and dining room, children's room and bedroom). Address: Rruga "Thanas Ziko" No. 84/I Tirana. Telephone number 26280 from 13.00 to 19.00. FOR RENT — A house with a yard, water, one room and a kitchen (corridor, bathroom, telephone). There is space for several cars. Address: Rruga “Besim Imami”, No. 78 in Tirana. Telephone number 27169. FOR RENT — A villa with 8 rooms, two bathrooms, two yards, 3 basement rooms, one bath[b?]. Address: Rruga “4 Dëshmorët” No. 14. Telephone 24586 or 25018 (from 15.00 to 17.00 and after 20.00).