AID SCANDAL / Prosecutor of Tirana Arben Qeleshi speaks "But the conclusion of the Nano case does not close the investigation." Now the other defendant, Edi Vesho, a former Albkop employee who is linked to the case and must be questioned, is also being sought. EDMOND LACI TIRANA — The investigation into the Nano case has been completed, but not the aid scandal. Thus the socialist leader, together with Sokrat Plaka, Robert Gjini and Hasan Hallko, are only the first defendants who are moving toward trial, while the other defendants are now being sought by Albanian justice. "It should be clarified that in this case there are also several other defendants who have evaded the investigation and whom the Prosecutor's Office has still not been able to charge." It is Arben Qeleshi, District Prosecutor of Tirana, who confirms for the first time to "Gazeta Shqiptare" the sensational confirmation. Thus the Italian aid scandal — which many thought closed after the Nano file was sent to court — is suddenly being reopened "again". In fact, there are also two more arrest warrants: one for Arben Alia, the son of former President Alia, and the other for Edi Vesho, a former employee at Alkop. For both of these defendants — currently outside Albania — a search has now been issued by the Albanian authorities. "This case, known as the aid scandal, as regards the defendants Arben Alia, Edi Vesho and others — Arben Qeleshi tells "Gazeta Shqiptare" — will continue." At present the relevant statements have been prepared by the police. "So far the role of an intermediary, the builder Perniola, Executive Director of the company "Levante Co." SPA, Bari and Fatos Nano, at that time former Prime Minister of Albania". "Arben Alia is accused as an accomplice in the misappropriation of state property — replies Prosecutor Qeleshi — his position will also fully clarify the actions carried out through a company." According to Prosecutor Qeleshi, the son of former President Ramiz Alia — now in prison and also accused of other charges — was indicted two or three months ago, but "this decision has still not been communicated to him." Thus his case, as he is in Albania, has meant that even the arrest decision — issued by the Tirana Prosecutor's Office — has not been enforced, forcing the Albanian authorities to issue a search notice for him. "But in this case Edi Vesho is also a defendant," Prosecutor Qeleshi explains. In fact Vesho's name is not mentioned as accusing Arben Alia in the indictment of the Nano case. But as the General Prosecutor's Office explains, Vesho was an employee of the company Alkop and is connected to the event. In these circumstances the Tirana Prosecutor's Office has now sent the arrest warrant to Interpol. "Edi Vesho, wanted for two months, left with the former director Pajtim Ajazi, completing the arrest warrant of "Levante Co." with the name, transport expenses, quantity and quality control, sealing at customs and taking it to the Italian Embassy, which sent it on to Italy." Who is Arben Alia TIRANA — Arben Alia, son of Ramiz Alia, former President of Albania, now in prison, was born in 1966. He completed secondary school in Tirana, at the "Ismail Qemali" gymnasium, with excellent results. He then continued higher studies for 6 years — in France — at the "Grande Ecole" in Paris. After completing his studies he returned to Albania, where he worked at the Albanian Commercial Bank. During this period he is thought to have collaborated with his father in the creation of the "Iliria Holding" bank. He left Albania in early 1992. These were the moments when the attacks on Ramiz Alia intensified and it was clear that his rule was coming to an end. The country he chose was France and its capital Paris, where he is thought to currently live and work. Gazeta Shqiptare — would have carried out the collection operations for all four cases. The role of Edi Vesho, who is involved in this scandal, is mentioned only in the report of the State Control Commission, presented by Blerim Çela before Parliament last year. "Edi Vesho, was the private secretary of the firm "Levante Co.", instructed by the former director Pajtim Ajazi, he filled out the invoices in the name of "Levante Co." with the name, transport expenses, quantity and quality control, stamped them at the customs branch and took them to the Italian Embassy, which sent them to Italy." It carried out the collection operations for all four cases, Blerim Çela clearly states. Nevertheless — although the investigations continue — Vesho's charge, or even the motive that led the Prosecutor's Office to indict him, is still not clear. Apart from Arben Alia and Edi Vesho, there are other defendants as well, Prosecutor Qeleshi includes. Thus the investigation into the aid scandal continues again, even against persons who until now are still a mystery to public opinion. (1 - Continues)

Here is what the project approved by the Government provides Those who do not cultivate will be taxed Here is what the project approved by the Government provides Property tax soon for land, animals and buildings Those who do not cultivate will be taxed TIRANA — Around 2.8 billion lek will be collected in the state budget during 1994 from taxes on agricultural land alone. This is the forecast made if the law "On property tax in the Republic of Albania" comes into force. Still in draft form, but now approved by the government, it is expected to be sent soon to Parliament for review. Taxes on property will therefore begin this year as well. The taxes — most of which concern the countryside — will also extend to citizens' immovable property. There are four main areas where this law is expected to apply: agricultural land, live animals, buildings, and vacant plots. The countryside — until now exempt from tax obligations — will now also be subject to the tax system. The very fact that peasants make up almost 85 percent of the population makes the extension of the fiscal contribution to agriculture more than necessary. It is precisely the tax on agricultural land that constitutes the most important part of this draft law. The basic concept used to set it is fertility, that is, the fact that lands have different fertility and therefore generate different incomes. In this sense the lands have been divided into 10 classes, where the tax varies from 0.8 lek per square meter for lands of the first and tenth categories, down to 0.1 lek per square meter for lands of the ninth and tenth categories. Reliance only on this concept has been opposed by specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture. "For this, it should have been taken into account — explains the head of the Drainage Sector — that under the administration of the communes, the water fee will be local. The water fee will be local. Perhaps everything will be paid at the moment the contract is signed. If livestock graze on the peasant's own land, naturally it will not be taxed. By introducing this tax the state will achieve revenue of 900 million lek in its budget." The draft law on "Property tax" also provides for taxes on buildings. The amount will vary according to the type of building, the place where it is located — city or village — and the purpose for which it is used: commercial purposes or productive activities. Buildings used by budgetary institutions, charitable organizations and religious communities are exempt from this tax. Vacant plots — areas within which no buildings of various kinds have been erected — will also be subject to the taxes foreseen in this draft law. Their amount will be determined by a series of criteria and will be per square meter. NEW TAXES ACCORDING TO THE DRAFT LAW A-TAX ON AGRICULTURAL LAND - Agricultural land class 1 - 6,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 2 - 6,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 3 - 6,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 4 - 6,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 5 - 4,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 6 - 4,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 7 - 3,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 8 - 2,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 9 - 2,000 lek per hectare - Agricultural land class 10 - 1,500 lek per hectare B-TAX ON LIVE ANIMALS - Goats, billy goats, sheep, lambs 60 lek per head - Calves, rams, hogs and milor 60 lek per head - Cows, oxen, bulls and heifers 300 lek per head - Mules, horses, donkeys 800 lek per head - Farm and sea poultry, geese 10 lek per head C-TAX ON BUILDINGS - Residential buildings Lek per square meter per year in the city: . detached houses 6 . jointly owned dwellings 4 2. in the village: - Commercial and service buildings 100 - Buildings where production activities are carried out 50 Armand Mero

Berat, work continues at the hospital BERAT — Special projects for the army of Albanian disabled people. But so far only the construction of the former prison in Berat is becoming reality. Even so, this has raised another problem: out of around 53 disabled people — 12 of them orphans — the rebuilt institute will have room for only 30-35 people. So some of the disabled will remain outside this center, not to mention those who are currently in families. Thus, in order to alleviate this wound at least somewhat, it has been considered that, for example in Fier, several day centers should be set up, or in other places where the number of disabled people is considerable. In any case, another project also concerns a center for people with disabilities in psychiatry from various families from Switzerland. Specialists in this field believe that for 30 thousand disabled people, more than economic support, real legal protection would be more useful, and that this still does not exist. It was the Swiss association ASED that offered a small economic aid to the families of Berat, time that would serve their institute to be reconstructed. "We have achieved something, because we treat them as human beings," says Lida Çangonji, director of the Medical-Educational Center for Disabled Children in Tirana, where children and "residents" from Berat are housed and raised.

TIRANA — The kiosks opened for New Year’s Day are still keeping the center of Tirana cluttered. — The kiosks opened for New Year’s Day are still keeping the center of Tirana cluttered. Although under the contract signed with the Tirana Municipality the kiosks erected behind the National Historical Museum were supposed to be removed by 21 January, 3 of them belonging to a private company have made no move to be dismantled. According to the company, no concrete measure has been taken.

In Tirana Piero Badaloni and Tiziana Ferrari TIRANA — Two famous Italian journalists, known to all RAI viewers, will be guests tonight on the show "Vreth fatit per 12 nete" directed by Vera Grabocka. Piero Badaloni, host of several successful programs on RAI UNO, and Tiziana Ferrari, journalist for TG1, will be interviewed by Ardian Kastrati. It is the first time that Badaloni and Ferrari have come to Albania. Their interview is only one of the many surprises that this program will offer to all Albanian viewers. The show, which continues to enjoy great success with the public, will end in three weeks with the last prize first; a new "Mercedes Benz". Journalist and presenter Piero Badaloni

New deputy minister TIRANA — Albanian sport will also have a representative in the Meksi cabinet. It will be Veli Rizvanolli, who has just been appointed Deputy Minister of Sports. He will carry out his activity within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. V. Rizvanolli, a former kulak and at the same time a player and a figure in Albanian volleyball, will have to face in this ministry and in his new function the many problems and difficulties that Albanian sport is currently going through.

An original decision to reduce the university textbook shop The famous bookstore also becomes a pharmacy An original decision to reduce the university textbook shop How can you cure yourself... with books The famous bookstore also becomes a pharmacy TIRANA — (E.L.A.) The famous University Bookstore will now also sell... medicine. A decision by the School Book Enterprise has ordered the sale of the premises of this bookstore, which by 14 February was supposed to vacate its teachers' gallery. Although this speedy enforcement order issued by the Ministry of Education was, to say the least, enough to be brief — even in the first days before expiry the "kind of pharmacy", the bookstore is still there. Order. In any case, the very fact of the "famous University Bookstore" has been dissolved. Alongside books, there may also be medicines in the future pharmacy — as the shop assistant says — thus being closer to the original "fusion" of theory with practice, at least in the medical field. Thus with thousands of students, one day in four faculties of the University of Tirana or even those of the Academy of Arts and Agriculture — which has services for buying textbooks at the Bookstore — may be able to be cured there in a study council, on the faculty desk someone may perhaps place an aspirin.

DHL POSTAL SERVICE VERY POPULAR EVEN AMONG ALBANIANS — The DHL postal service, which arrived in Albania one year ago, is also very popular among Albanians; this service has completed more than 900 postal shipments of various sizes. From the figures presented by DHL representatives in Albania, it emerges that foreigners account for only 35 percent of the shipments made, while the rest — despite the high fees for the current standard of living — belongs to Albanians. DHL, known throughout the world for its services, has branches in 220 different countries. DURRES DAY, THE 920TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF JAN KUKUZELI IS CELEBRATED — The 920th anniversary of the birth of Jan Kukuzeli, the distinguished Albanian figure of Byzantine music, is commemorated in Durres with a tribute concert. The concert — organized by the orchestra of the same name — opened with Kukuzeli's number arias and the orchestral sultanate of Jakoves. For the first time this orchestra presented its Albanian Byzantine sullen repertoire. "The laments and the resurrection of our Lord Christ". APPROVAL OF TRADE UNIONS — WILL NOT BE WITHIN THE COURTS' COMPETENCE — It will not be the Ministry of Justice that approves the trade unions. From now on, by decision of Parliament, changes to the law on trade unions provide for their registration with the district courts. In cases where a trade union extends across several districts, its registration will be done in the District Court where its headquarters are located. BAD WEATHER CAUSES DIFFICULTIES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PUKA — The bad weather of these days has caused many difficulties in the district of Puka. As a result of heavy snowfall — which has reached almost 1 meter — roads have been blocked for vehicles. Despite the measures taken, the situation remains difficult, especially in communication with other districts.

Sarajevo, the Serbs resume surrendering their weapons Will the NATO attack on Bosnia be cancelled? — ON PAGE 2 Today the first and the last face each other In Vlore, Flamurtari against Vllaznia — ON PAGE 3