The state will subsidize only the most necessary medicines TIRANE — Another reform of the system of import permits for medicines in the country. The ministry has set higher ceiling levels for the retail prices of a group of medicines considered the most essential. Meanwhile, the prices of the other medicines left out of this list will be completely liberalized. Yesterday, specialists at the Ministry of Health explained this measure as necessary and as encouraging the activity of private pharmacies and privatization, as preparation for the privatization of the entire pharmaceutical network, which will not be long in coming. From now on, the retail price of medicines included in a list of about 190 items, classified as "reimbursable medicines", will be calculated by adding to the CIF purchase price not 25, but 35 percent. Consequently, the ceiling prices of these goods — sought after by sick customers — will henceforth be 10 percent higher. It was in February of this year that the Council of Ministers, in order to prevent the alarming — and in many cases speculative — increase in medicine prices on the private market, decided to apply ceiling prices to their sale for the first time. Until then, the supply from state pharmacies could not meet the strong demand from buyers because of their lower prices and the subscriptions they offered. By contrast, in the private sector, pharmacists were completely free to offer medicines to the public at high profit margins. The old decision was seen as a measure that, among other things, would quickly block excessive profits in trade. However, this seems to have brought other problems to light. It is the mechanism of the market economy that firmly requires the selling price of goods to cover not only production costs and other transport and trading expenses, but also to secure a sufficient profit margin. And from this unwritten law, the sphere of medicine trade can make no exception — despite the cynicism that seems sufficient in itself. In fact, from the very first application of ceiling prices for medicines, many private pharmacists declared their importation economically unprofitable, which could lead to a significant reduction in the market's supply of medicines. The percentage increase in the ceiling price aims precisely to eliminate this phenomenon — says Vigan Salij, Director of the Pharmaceutical Directorate, for Gazeta Shqiptare — which otherwise might have more negative consequences than those of super-prices. Meanwhile, consumer interests do not seem to have been forgotten either. For 1994, the Government has allocated a fund of 534 million lekë to cover the difference between the purchase price and the retail sale price of essential medicines. There are about 190 types for which, under a plan that will be submitted very soon to the Government, subsidies will be provided from this fund. These are medicines for wider and more intensive use among the population, as well as those for acute or chronic diseases. At the same time, the state will continue to subsidize the full value of medicines for certain groups of the population — children 0-12 months old, war and labor invalids, cancer and TB patients — as well as under the relevant decisions of the Council of Ministers. Andrea StefanI Fatos Baxhaku

TIRANE — Perhaps his silent “duel” with justice ends precisely today. TIRANE — Perhaps his silent "duel" with justice ends precisely today. For the first time since 1 July 1992 — when he was arrested — Sulo Gradeci has the chance to "speak before the court" as well. It is also the first time that the dictator Hoxha had trusted him in his 14th year, and today he appears before the Military Court on charges of "abuse of office" and "theft from state property", which perhaps force a closed chapter of 33 years of wartime service to be reopened. Gradeci’s marathon with the investigators began in 1991, when he was first made criminally liable, and now this is the second accusation that will be examined in his trial. For "lack of facts and evidence" and with the approval of the Prosecutor of the Republic, the criminal case against Gradeci was dismissed in April '92. This was only a temporary "calm", because the same Prosecutor of the Republic signed his being made criminally liable four months later. On 7 July '92, Sulo Gradeci entered the cells of Tirane Prison for the first time, the shepherd who yesterday and even today remained one. Only two years later the investigators closed the "Gradeci" file, but the error did not send him to the Civil Court, while the earlier law, as well as the current one, sends military subjects to be tried by the Military Court. Thus — after a preparatory hearing — Gradeci was sent to the military court, which, after asking for time to study the case, set today for the start of his trial. Ultimately Gradeci — former Commander of the Service for the Physical Protection of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PPSH, Enver Hoxha — will once again "remember" today a large part of his life from 1981-1986. Today, at 73, Gradeci, who once even wrote a memoir about the man whose orphanage he had secured, must answer two charges that carry very severe penalties: "abuse of office" punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while "theft of state property" carries from 7 years to life imprisonment. Meanwhile, for the amounts he allegedly misused — about 33 thousand dollars — a civil lawsuit may also be filed in parallel, just as similar civil cases had been brought against former block insiders or high-ranking officials of the regime. Thus Gradeci — for the second time — will tell his stories with the "Commander" — the former dictator Hoxha — except that this time he will do so before the judges and in order to prove his innocence. (e.l.)

An unusual friendship Kim Cong Il with several Albanian friends. The first from the right is the interviewee TIRANE — Restaurants that would empty as if an earthquake had struck if he entered them, guards, luxury cars at his disposal. It is the story of an unusual student friendship, that between a simple young Albanian and Kim Cong Il, the son of the former North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung, currently the number one man of a regime that still continues to stand with the support of a huge police and military apparatus. The protagonist of the interview is an Albanian engineer, Sh. Z., 48 years old, a university worker now employed at a private firm in the capital, who studied in North Korea in the years 1961-65. He is one of the few Albanians from that time who remains enigmatic. His frozen portrait — almost lifeless in time — does not allow one to understand the man who has in his hands the fate of this Asian country. How did you get to know Kim Cong Il? "Quite by chance. He had just returned from the Soviet Union, where he had spent a long childhood. At that time he had begun studying law. He had a strong desire to socialize with Europeans. It was something like a fixed idea of his. During the mornings, in public, he wore the typical semi-military uniform; in the evenings, Western clothes." How did he differ from other Koreans? "At that time he was 20 years old. He had no special intelligence. He only knew Russian, but he was modest and a mediocre student. He liked to go for walks, to stay for a long time in enclosed and feminine settings. And with you, how did he behave? "It was a normal friendship, like those usually formed at that age. He became much closer to me personally, and during the first two years we met almost every day. He took me to the most beautiful beaches and to places where Koreans were rare to go." Did he display his power? "Kim Il Sung in North Korea was regarded as a god. The village where he was born became a sacred place; a market was created there, and a military school was also established. In 1963, while he was still alive, a colossal museum was built in Pyongyang. Albanians who have been there recently told me that since 1983 a section has also been added dedicated to his son. They say there is an extraordinarily large photo there in which Kim Cong Il appears with me. He did not need to display his power, because those around him did that. As soon as we entered any restaurant, all the customers would move aside without hesitation. At all tourist spots they put two villas at our disposal. His father also had at his disposal an extraordinary vehicle, known as a prestige car. Through the car windows, the road could hardly even be seen, and the soldiers snapped to attention." Have you met since leaving Korea? "No, in fact for many years I did not even know what had become of him. In 1972 I saw him in a photograph in the Tirane press together with the Tirane ambassador. He had appeared on foot next to his father." How did the desire to meet him again arise? "I would meet him as a friend from youth, not as a leader. If he were only an ordinary person, I would very much like to meet him. A few years ago he asked our ambassador about me. And when they told him that I was a university lecturer, he said, 'I'm glad he is doing well.' But now, after 30 years, for me this is a closed story. Since then, many things have changed for both of us." (xhep)

ELBASAN — Once again, within a few days, a trial is underway in Elbasan against a man accused of rape. K. Xh., 21 years old, is accused of being the author of atrocities committed against young women recently. One of the two victims of K. Xh. is said — according to the indictment — to have been raped by him twice. Only a few days ago, the trial against a sexual man had caused a stir in Elbasan; for a long time he had pursued his victims and forced her to testify that they had been attacked with force. The speed of the actions in these cases has also alarmed the judicial authorities. "The cases have always been increasing," said the concerned jurist Dylgjeri, who is presiding over the panel in this trial. (M. K.)

MUSTAFA GJINISHI "RETURNS" TO HIS NATIVE PLACE, PEQIN — The Patriotic National Association "Bajram Xhani" based in Kavaje — and the Council of the Peqin district were the organizers of a meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Gjinishi, the man who brought the platform of the National Liberation War in Albania. Also taking part in this meeting were the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, authorities from the Presidency of the Republic, as well as many deputies. On this occasion, the remains of Gjinishi — for whom the President of the Republic awarded a high medal — were reburied in Peqin, after a long stay in the grave in Diber. KORCE, POLICE DISCOVER A WHOLE ARSENAL OF WEAPONS IN THE HOMES OF THE FIVE ARRESTED — Almost a whole arsenal of weapons — a considerable quantity of combat grenades, timed mines, 7.62 mm cartridges, and combat incendiary material — were found in the homes of five citizens from Korce, immediately after their arrest by the law-enforcement forces. According to confirmations, Vangjush Kapurani, Mucin Lara, Edmond Qyra, Vladamir Rogazdha and Enver Mena — all between 26 and 33 years old — are accused of severe possession of weapons in their ownership. TO MAKE USE OF THE SPELEOLOGICAL EXPEDITIONS OF THE SOUTH — The joint French and Albanian speleological expedition, which for almost a month aimed to explore the karst areas of Albania, somewhat little known in some areas of southern Albania, has been called successful. According to the first member of the exploratory team, it is believed that "Albania has an interesting karst terrain, with a future in this field." While the world-famous speleologists, Klou Tulumzha, described the quality of the "Blue Eye" as "a tourist fairy tale." ALBANIAN TIDINGS — They are a large group of businessmen from Croatia — after cooperation between the Croatian Embassy in Tirane and the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Albania — who have begun their visits in various Albanian cities. Their aim is the possibility of cooperation in fields of common interest.

KAVAJE — A violent collision between a cart loaded with sheet metal and a car ended with at least one person being taken to hospital. One of them — a soldier — is in serious condition, and doctors have given little hope for him. It happened near Kavaje, on the road leading to Durres, at midday before reaching the school in Qerret. According to the first information, the car driver lost control of the vehicle, blinded by the lights of a truck traveling in the opposite direction. The collision between the car and the horse cart loaded with sheet metal was strong. Of the nine passengers who were in the various vehicles, two were injured in the accident and remain in treatment. The unluckiest among them was one who had been left with little more than gifts of affection. The villager intervened in the road from Durres. The bridesmaid was standing very close to the house bus while paying the orchestra. The collision with the paying one was quickly overcome. And they ended up on the paved road in the yard. The musician did not receive the most in several times over 8 trucks — as in the halted Solon shells when, at the moment, a few men were being transported by cart — carried the "wage" on the road and had directed him safely, toward the city market.

LEZHE — In the absence of money, bricks have been put into circulation. And the issuer of this strange payment has not been the Bank of Albania — which has the monopoly on minting money — but a villager from the Lezhe district, Zanfilla e billkaje, where a wedding had been organized in his house. It is known that a wedding cannot take place without an orchestra. In the past, when the wedding was "drawing to a close", the musicians were in good spirits and asked the house owner for payment of 15,000 lekë — that had been agreed in advance between them — for the lovely melodies they had given to the wedding guests. The villager intervened only with difficulty. The wedding had already been extremely expensive and there was only a little money left to pay the orchestra. But the pay problem was quickly overcome. And a pile of bricks in the corner of the yard was enough. The musicians did not make much fuss — as in the frames of Solon the forbidden when, at the moment, the few men were being transported by cart — they loaded their own "wage" and had directed it safely, toward the city market.

TIRANE — The "ship of poisons" has set course for Albania. Departing from a northern port in northern Germany, after covering a long stretch of water, from the Danish straits it is to make a crossing toward the Mediterranean entrance, and is expected to dock these days in the port of Durres, where it will wait for the designated order. In Albania they are processed in large depots. These pieces of equipment on other ships will be linked to the port when they arrive, not to the port that comes from the country's proposed lands. It will bring loads of unused pesticides that have gone out of use after 10 years. The German ship carries hermetically sealed containers, 16 in total, which will be 8 pairs of their vessels. Altogether the pesticide quantity is 4,500 tons. Whereas the "expired" material that will arrive in 80 vertical [?]

Northern Ireland on the verge of peace The first talks in London ON PAGE 2 "Lamerica" by Amelio at the Venice Festival The film shot in Albania ON PAGE 3

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