It arrives in Italy together with clandestine migrants 500 grams of heroin seized in Puglia: four arrests FRANCO GIULIANO BRINDISI — Clandestine migrants and now also drugs from Albania to Italy. The link, for which there had never previously been proof, was this time uncovered by the Italian Finance Police: together with the trafficking of clandestine migrants, smugglers also organize an even more profitable trade, drug trafficking. This multimillion-dollar business starts in Albania and is destined for Italy and other countries in Central Europe. This is the conclusion reached by Finance Police officers after the operation carried out last night in the waters off the Italian coast near Ostuni. After a chase, the Finance Police arrested the entire crew of a blue speedboat made up of four Albanians, who were smugglers. On board the powerful vessel there were also 40 clandestine migrants, 22 of them Albanians, 15 Chinese and 3 Kosovars. The four Italian smugglers, the brothers Pasquale and Guglielmo Balsara, aged 22 and 38, Alessandro Elia, 22, and Antonio Giubino, 36, are now locked up in Bari prison, accused of drug trafficking and aiding clandestine immigration. During the chase, in fact, the four men tried to get rid of a simple Albanian jacket. In the dark sea, as Captain Maurizio Favia, commander of the operation, immediately picked up the thrown jacket and wrapped it in aluminum foil, there were 500 grams of heroin. The boat carrying the clandestine migrants was escorted to the port of Bari. The magistrate, deputy prosecutor Domenico Catenacci, in charge of the Brindisi case and following these investigations, told the clandestine migrants that they had boarded at a small port near Vlora, paying 1,000 dollars each. No large amount of cash was found inside the boat. "There is a strong possibility," prosecutor Catenacci told Gazeta Shqiptare, "that the money was taken by the organizers' people at the moment of departure." "But this is not the most interesting aspect of the trafficking operation," continued the Finance Police captain — "the fact is (if we exclude the drug arrest of five Albanians last week in Brindisi) the discovery of the drugs. Of course, it is a small quantity, but it proves involvement in the trafficking organized by smugglers and, moreover, the existence of a type of criminal merchandise that is transported internationally and is based in Albania." "The suspicion that this smuggling organization has long been focusing on drugs as well (in addition to clandestine migrant trafficking) had already begun to gnaw at us earlier, based on a point observed by Favia. Just as the Saturday seizure showed that the drug trafficking operation had its bases in Albania. This time we have proof in hand that, in addition to clandestine migration, there is also a parallel trafficking of narcotic substances from Albania to Italy, involving powerful smuggling organizations controlled by Italian criminal gangs with, furthermore, the involvement of Albanian criminal elements. Just one trip like the one uncovered the night before would yield a profit, in addition to the small sums (40 thousand dollars) for transporting the clandestine migrants, of around half a billion, for drug trafficking, based on its value on the international market. The group of clandestine migrants captured in the waters off the Brindisi coast

An annual growth of 4 percent in gross domestic product is targeted Parliament approves the Government's medium-term program Some key objectives of the Government's medium-term program up to 1996 (the figures are expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, "GDP") Current account deficit in the balance of payments 20% Private investment 10% Budget deficit 9% Tax revenues 30% Current budget expenditures 29% State investments 24% Trade deficit 20% Parliament chamber TIRANE — The Parliament has just approved the Government's medium-term program for the years 1993-1996. Drafted by the government staff in line with the theoretical approach of the previous period, the program aims to achieve highly ambitious goals in economic recovery. In a document of about 40 pages, the medium-term economic schemes to be implemented in Albania for credit policy and taxation, the reduction of domestic and foreign debt, lowering inflation, imports and exports, privatization, construction, agriculture, employment overall, and social assistance are outlined. In achieving each of these objectives, specific commitments are envisaged, yet they are also interconnected and have reciprocal effects on one another. The Government aims to achieve, as a result, overall economic stability, which will be reflected in a 4 percent annual growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 1994-1996 period. Other important objectives are the reduction of the budget deficit from over 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 1992 to 9 percent in 1996, as well as an increase in exports, which will correspond to a reduction in the level of the trade deficit. The positions of the deputies regarding the assessment of this medium-term economic strategy and the possibilities for its implementation were varied. The opposition, in fact, voiced absolute praise in the speeches of the deputies of the Democratic Party. Harsh criticism and skepticism were expressed by deputies of the Socialist Party. Approval, but also reservations, came from parliamentarians of the other parties. Nevertheless, throughout this variety of positions there were also some key elements in common, albeit with opposite signs. On the one hand, almost all speakers praised the Government for reducing inflation rates, which, for the coming years up to '96, are also forecast to fall below 20 percent. On the other hand, many remarks were made regarding the Government's policy for reducing unemployment, which continues to remain at worrying levels. In essence, the implementation of a more liberal policy on credit and investment was called for in order to create new jobs. Many views were also expressed regarding the progress of the privatization process, and the need to accelerate it through the application of voucher privatization as a tool to block claims or unjust gains that fuel corruption. Between the trust and the doubts expressed stands the program and the Government's determination to implement it. Time will provide the assessment for all sides. Andrea Stefani

TIRANE — The two Albanian beauties are together once again. But this time Miss Albania '92 and '93 — Valbona Selimllari and Sidorela Kola — are not taking part in a show, but in a joint trip. On Thursday morning, Selimllari and Kola, on their way to the Albanian Airlines airport, left for Switzerland after having received an invitation some time earlier. The Albanian beauties are accompanied by their manager — the well-known TVSH director Vera Grabocka. (p.r.)

A brake defect causes the accident Tirana, one passenger loses his life TIRANE — It was only a miracle of fate that prevented the workers' bus from the quarry in Tirana from turning into a real tragedy when it plunged from a height of 40 meters. Now almost everyone — except for Xhavit Hoxha, who could not escape death — is out of danger. It had been only a sudden mechanical fault in the vehicle that, after finishing work, carried 15 quarry workers, and that had put their lives at risk. On one of the bends in the village of Linzë — around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday — the driver Kishto Velo said that the brakes no longer held. Thus, despite maneuvers to avoid a rollover, he could not avoid the vehicle's path to stopping, after several rolls, at the bottom of a ravine. It was a terrible scene — Haxhedin Bitri, one of the workers who survived the tragedy, tells Gazeta Shqiptare — “death was staring us in the face.” Nine ambulances immediately arrived at the scene, and the injured were taken to Tirana Hospital No. 2, where they were admitted in serious condition. From there, 24 were transferred for treatment to the military hospital, while the rest received first aid and left. Only driver Kishto Velo and one of his companions, Haxhi Fejzgere Mbi — over 40 years old — have been admitted to intensive care in a coma. Ar. Me.

Approval by international bodies is expected TIRANE — Soon civil aviation too will be regulated by a special law. The Ministry of Transport's specialists have completed the drafting of the bill "On Civil Aviation". The draft is intended for approval by the competent international bodies. The draft places emphasis on concentrating control over all areas of activity in civil air transport, based on safety and professionalism. The bill also provides for full authority in the supervision of airports and air traffic, as well as in resolving disputes between private airlines. Special importance has been given to the examination of procedures at airports and to safety on every journey, so that it is faster, safer and without delays. The draft law rationalizes competition among private airlines, with the aim of achieving the most favorable prices for Albanian passengers. The need for such a law had been felt for some time, especially with the increase in the number of civil transport flights verified in recent years. With the regulations and instructions that existed until now, it was not possible to achieve the objectives aimed at raising this type of transport to modern standards. Their existence had often caused various ministries to interfere in certain areas of aviation, causing confusion, shortcomings in coordination and inconsistencies with international standards. The law has been drafted on the basis of successful foreign models. American and Austrian consultants also contributed to its drafting. (p.e.)

Prices of firewood and coal are also liberalized New decision on heating fuels TIRANE — Since yesterday, kerosene has also become more expensive. A government decision has now set the new price: 20 lekë per liter. Alongside it, prices for several other items have also increased and been liberalized. Thus, from now on, firewood and coal will be traded freely. Meanwhile, electricity will cost — according to the same decision — 4.5 lekë per kilowatt hour actually consumed. To cope with the price increase, the state undertakes to compensate the average family for electricity used for cooking and lighting, as well as for household kerosene consumption for heating. This compensation — which may reach an average of 700 lekë per month — will take into account several indicators, such as the level of employment in the state sector of family members, economic assistance, unemployment contributions, pension, and place of residence. This compensation will be paid once a month in the same manner as the previous compensation. It starts in April and will be paid in May. For all these items, the state will stop subsidizing the price difference. The differences between the new prices and the previous ones will be covered by the state budget.

The bloody end of a quarrel between friends Fier, an 18-year-old dies while another is in serious condition in hospital FIER — "A tragedy at school and a terrible "breakup" for two high school friends from Fier. The knife fight during the break between classes would leave 18-year-old Armando Nako dead, while his killer Elton Muka would be sent to the intensive care unit of Fier Hospital in very serious condition. The incident had deeply shocked the residents of the "8 Shkurti" neighborhood in Fier, many of whom could hardly believe that the protagonists of this high school story had gone from being together to becoming victims. "The murder was committed for reasons that, for the time being — before the investigations are concluded — no one can explain!" No light can be shed on the mystery of the knife fight between the two third-year high school students. The prosecutor's duty officer in Fier is carrying out the necessary investigations into this tragedy. According to the medical expert at Fier Hospital, Nako's death had been instantaneous; the strong blows against him were also accompanied by the great sharpness of the knife. So perhaps, in an instant, in losing a companion, he unexpectedly also lost his life. Enkela Myftari

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INTERPELLATION BY AGRON MUSARAJ, MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER — "The public order organs have not shone in any respect in the fight against crime in Albania," was the response to the questions from the Socialist Party group to Agron Musaraj in his interpellation in Parliament. Socialist deputies — who had requested the minister and put questions to Musaraj — had accused the public order organs of having obstructed, in many cases, the organization of their party's rallies. THE ALBANIAN RED CROSS INAUGURATES NEW HEADQUARTERS — The new headquarters to which the Albanian Red Cross will transfer is now completed. For its construction — which cost around 500 thousand dollars — the Italian, British and German Red Crosses helped. The inauguration of this headquarters is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:30, with no loss of donors, and will take place on 12 April. On that same date, 10 medals will also be awarded to donors of the Albanian Red Cross. PERIMETER AND THE NEW SHOW OF THE GJIROKASTËR VARIETY THEATRE — The Gjirokastër city troupe is once again appearing before the city's variety theatre. This time it is with the performance titled "Dashuria bleu?". Staged by director Pirro Oja, the troupe performs the work with five choreographies, with interpretations by small groups and with comic and musical pieces and other elements. CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE VILLAGES OF TIRANA IN PARALYSIS — The cultural institutions in the villages of Tirana are almost completely paralyzed. Out of 11 villages, only 4 of them continue to be cultural centers, although the activities organized there are very few.

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