13 billion lek in investments The project will soon be in Parliament TIRANA — Inflation in Albania is expected to show a clear downward trend during 1994. The trend of the curve will be downward, and so will the budget deficit in relation to the national gross domestic product. The latter is expected to reach a lower level by the end of the year. These are therefore the main forecasts and objectives that made it possible to present the Albanian state budget — a draft approved by the government and expected to be submitted soon to Parliament for this financial year. While during 1993, as a result of the large amounts of money brought in from abroad and the growth of household deposits, inflation fell to 30.5 percent, this year it is forecast to continue falling to 18.5 percent. This successful decline in inflation is expected to come as a result of replacing with three times more (taking into account domestic production) while also calculating a reduction in the national gross product (GDP) from 11.3 percent in 1993 to 8 percent in 1994. On the part of the same government — relying mainly on developments in the agricultural, construction, transport and services sectors — real growth of 8 percent is forecast. Deepening measures to increase revenues and keeping expenditures under control have been at the core of the structure and budget policy for 1994. Thus for revenues — in addition to relying on real GDP growth and improving the fiscal system — special taxes will also serve as a basis STRUCTURE OF THE STATE BUDGET FOR 1994 TOTAL REVENUES 46,165 (in million lek) - Revenues from the anti-party fund 4,664 - Tax revenues 24,566 - Taxes 9,245 - Non-tax revenues 1,412 - Social insurance 6,278 TOTAL EXPENDITURES 72,940 (in million lek) Current expenditures - Personnel 14,284 - Interest 5,272 - Operating expenses 9,335 - Subsidies 2,943 - Social insurance 10,925 - Other 15,151 Development expenditures - Investments 13,551 - Critical imports 986 - Reserve fund 493 the introduction of several new taxes such as the "Law on Personal Income" and the law on Property. Only from the implementation of these two measures, effects on the budget are forecast at 2.8 billion lek. Revenues are also expected to grow from the favorable trade balance as well as from the increase of certain taxes (road circulation tax and excise duty). During 1994, specialists have forecast that additional revenues will reach 5.3 billion lek, or an increase of 45 percent compared with 1993. On the other hand, public investments to further spur development will occupy an important place in budget expenditures. Thus for 1994 more than 13 billion lek will be allocated. Of this, 8.9 billion will consist of foreign financing. A large share of budget spending — 11 percent of it — will also be social in nature, mainly unemployment benefits, economic assistance and bread compensation. During this year, further deepening of administrative and structural reform in the banking system is also planned. This reform will aim to reduce the number of employees in the banking system while at the same time increasing productivity. Meanwhile, the state will continue this year to subsidize the prices of several different products, but within a policy in which revenues increasingly cover real costs. If revenues are not achieved as forecast, expenditures will be reduced by the same amount as the shortfall. Armand Mero

“The law on salaries as soon as possible” TIRANA — "Anyone who does not support the judiciary, in one way or another, contributes to corruption and its downfall." El Brozi, President of the Court of Cassation, after the parliamentary group of the PD requested a review of the draft law "On the Salaries of Judges," again sharply criticized the indifference toward the judiciary. Very harsh words and statements are also addressed to the Albanian Government and Parliament themselves. "Any delay is ill will toward the judiciary. Malice cannot be done after the fact; it may be done lightly and intentionally, but at the same time I say that it is also done on purpose." Where do you see this attitude? "While in the executive and legislative branches, by government decision, salaries have been increased since 16 January, judges, prosecutors and investigators continue to be paid under the old system. This is because salaries should be set by law. Since the project is ready, any delay no longer proves goodwill, but the opposite." Why is this happening? "I had hoped that the mistakes of the past 50 years would not be reflected in the debates on this draft law in today’s pluralist Parliament. Unfortunately, I see that the mentality still persists that the judiciary should be a power that must hold out its hand to the executive and legislative branches. Is that acceptable to you? For it to be achieved legally, the judiciary must have its own economic, budgetary and financial independence. Something which it does not have today." What new things will the new law bring? "It establishes steps to improve judges’ salary ratios compared with the salaries of the other two branches of power. The project itself is also very clear that this power needs a special economic status." Why should it enjoy this status? "Because judges must lead a normal, not an overstretched life. And the state should provide that. The state must not push the judge toward corruption but move him as far away from it as possible. Yet the opposite is happening, at least up to these moments as I speak. I repeat and emphasize it again. If we truly want a dignified judiciary that applies the law without distinctions, that is, equally for everyone, urgent measures must be taken." President of the Court of Cassation, Brozi Ar.Me.

The student рассказывает his unbelievable adventure We discovered the super-winner of Lotosport “I, suddenly a millionaire” 1,200 lek become $10,000 The student tells his unbelievable adventure EDMOND LACI TIRANA — He is the only student millionaire in Albania. In the space of one day his life — now with a sack full of dreams and money — has changed radically. Yesterday evening he was just an ordinary final-year student in the Faculty of History and Philology at the University of Tirana, while today he is being sought by newspapers, from which he hides and does not even want to reveal his initials. The only people who do not "bother" him, without knowing him, are the football people, who want him to keep away the companions before handing over the amount won. "No one, not even my professors, will know that I am the winner of the record sum of 10,000 dollars from Totofutboll," the lucky young man says to Gazeta Shqiptare — "that is precisely why I postponed the exam by another week." But it will not be easy for him to keep the secret, and in his life he has already made his first plans: a special gift — a washing machine — for his beloved mother, a satellite antenna, but also something for study and a spark in other things. Had he ever imagined that within one day he would become a millionaire? "Never. Even today it seems unbelievable to me, with just one winner and the amount available. Believe me, I didn't even remember the announcer. What plans have you made? "I still haven't decided, especially about the size; I'll finalize that. I only know that I want to turn it as soon as possible into an apartment, a workplace, like many of my fellow students who are finishing their studies this season. I had thought that upon finishing university I would go to Italy, but now I have changed my mind. I will also complete the house with everything I have lacked until now. For my unemployed mother or my newly retired father too, some assistance, I believe, will be better." To whom do you dedicate this victory? "I don't know, perhaps to those 60 minutes when I filled in the slip, perhaps to the ticket sellers of Tirana, but also to the intermediaries of Lotosport victories. Or perhaps to the fantastic RAI 1 advertisement. 'Who does not play does not win' — that is something I now believe more than anything else." And what about a girlfriend? "At present I have no girlfriend, but if I were ever to fall in love, it would be like in fairy tales, because I have no intention of changing even my clothes." Honestly, I feel sorry for all those respectable shopkeepers who work hard to earn, perhaps in fewer days than I, the lottery bills by spending 1,200 lek. I also feel sorry for the others who have dreamed of my fate, which I did not always have the heart to help them realize." What happened to you on Sunday? "Everything started normally. My close friends were there; they knew that I had found all the afternoon matches, because I had not been able to follow them due to rehearsals. Then the evening match, a sleepless night waiting for the possible competitors, until the moment when the TV announcer announced it" EDMOND LACI

A U.S. company offered disposal of 850 thousand tons per year DURRËS — The offer came directly from an American company: to build in Durrës a plant capable of burning 850,000 tons of toxic waste coming from industries across the ocean. A business worth millions of dollars, but one that could cause an ecological catastrophe. And the Albanian government, preferring environmental protection over profit, rejected it outright. The news, kept secret until now, was confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare by specialists from the Committee for the Preservation and Protection of the Environment at the Ministry of Health. The American company that had put forward the proposal — in "SATRA" — specialized in the incineration of industrial toxic waste. The matter was discussed even in the European Parliament. It was the Greek MEP Sotir Kostopulos who had warned of the danger such a plant would pose in Albania. Kostopulos had called on the European Community to intervene to stop the deal, citing in this case an incorrect norm concerning European responsibility for environmental policy. Jan Paleo[k?]rassas replied that by the end of that year that EC norm could not be applied. "It is up to Albania alone to authorize or refuse the import of toxic waste," Paleok[r?]assas explained. Kostopulos’ fears were well founded. The Albanian government, on its own initiative, had rejected the SATRA company’s proposal several weeks earlier. In the Council of Ministers, fortunately, for itself. A few days ago the Albanian Parliament approved precisely a law prohibiting the import of toxic waste. (p.r[e?])

— Ten young people from Shkodër have now been selected to go to Strasbourg. The young people — 5 pupils and 5 university students — winners of the European competition "What should the family be like" will stay for several days in Strasbourg, where they will visit the European Parliament. This competition, organized by "Lëvizja italiane për Jetën" in cooperation with the University Luigj Guraquku — held in Italy and in several Eastern countries — had the family as its theme this year. The participants competed with various works such as studies and personal reflections on family problems, its rights and its future.

A new emergency system Albania connected to the international network TIRANA — It is called "Cospas-Sarsat" and, as it is Russian and English, it means "we ask for evidence." The satellite for search and rescue [?] from aeroh[i?]t this service of locating rapid assistance at sea and it will also function in Albania. Its mechanism and operation are very reliable: if a person is lost at sea (or on land) and gives the alarm with a portable device called "Cospas-Sarsat," the person is located via the radio signal emitted by that device. The satellite shows the ground station the position of the missing person and rescue thus becomes very easy. The satellite system that will operate in Albania will be connected to a base installed near Bari airport and, in addition, Italy has contributed 4 billion 640 million lire. The satellite link will also be followed by the emergency water rescue station in Tirana, covering places including Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, and even Somalia and Sudan.

LAW FOR A SPECIAL PROTECTION OF THE SERVICEMAN — Only a few days after Sali Berisha, President of Albania, had submitted to the People’s Assembly the decree "For a special protection of the serviceman," the deputies approved it. The main purpose of this decree, which had met the harshest criticism, is to deal with crimes committed against servicemen or to provide assistance when servicemen lose their lives or become unable to work because of duty. It is foreseen that in this case they will receive 100 percent of their salary, rewards and m[?]em. J[?]ershëm as well as a scholarship up to the age of 18. COORDINATING COUNCIL, AN INITIATIVE FOR A PENAL CODE — It is in [?] order to draft a new Penal Code and in implementation of a common platform by several associations of c[?]eq that in the developments of the national issue. These included "Tropoja", "Kosova", "Chamëria", "Kolonja", the Association for National Unification and the Democratic Movement for the Unification of Albanians. Representatives gathered in order to contribute jointly, but as a single program, to the solution of the national issue. FINE IN KUKËS, FOR 20 PERCENT OF THE STOLEN CURRENT — The devaluation in Kukës of around 8 percent of the electricity in the network, as a result of use and theft. The alarm and the percentage collected by the Electric Police, were observed by the company in Kukës. Against the phenomenon it has not been possible to help even the fining of around 100 persons, until the accusation reaches up to 120 thousand lek, calculated control of this region [?] much [i?]m. [?.] [?.] of losses [?.] before the thieves have stolen the v[?]in.

Massacre in a hospital, more blood in Bosnia Talks for peace continue ON PAGE 2 Tirana team awaits Elbasan The Saturday of the upset? ON PAGE 3

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