Here are the reasons for the gasoline shortage THIRST FOR FUEL Empty tanks - Specialists: “The system against illegal trafficking has also slowed imports” - Traders: “After the tax increase, it is no longer worthwhile for us” ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA - Fuel supplies in Albania now have to pass through another anti-smuggling “filter.” The Financial Police and Customs directorates have just begun implementing—also in cooperation with the assistance mission for the enforcement of the embargo sanctions (SAM)—a system of prior checks covering the entire oil-import process. And this anti-smuggling mechanism appears to be one of the factors that has caused the recent gasoline shortage in the Albanian domestic market. This is an international monitoring system, a collaboration between the SAM missions of Albania, Italy and Greece, to be coordinated by SAM-COM-MI, the highest authority for implementing UN Resolution 820, based in Brussels. Under the rules of this monitoring system—which have just been distributed to customs posts and Financial Police branches in the districts—the relevant authorities in fuel-exporting countries must notify Brussels of every shipment sent to Albanian ports or borders. Detailed information is required—it will be relayed via Tirana, Brussels, Rome and Athens—on the name of the ship, ferry or truck, the destination port, transport documents, the quantity, quality and value of the fuel, as well as the shipping agency. All this information is forwarded from Brussels to SAM in Albania. SAM then, in cooperation with [the authorities], verifies detailed information about the list of buyers or recipients of the shipment, as well as contracts with companies in the distribution network. It seems that the operation of this anti-smuggling “traffic light” has caused the slowdown in gasoline imports—specialists believe it is temporary. At the Kavaja customs post, 3–4 tankers now pass through each week, a volume that until recently was imported daily. In recent days, fuel importers have appeared at the Financial Police Directorate, asking for procedures to be expedited because no Greek exporter is willing to send gasoline without receiving the green light from SAM-Albania. The decrease in the number of importing entities is another factor behind the shortage of gasoline on the market. An order from the Ministry of the Interior to establish anti-smuggling zones along the border with Serbia and Montenegro prohibits the establishment of fuel stations within a strip extending 4 kilometres from the shore of Lake Shkodra and 10 kilometres from the land border. This order led to the suspension of around 20 exporting companies. Meanwhile, in addition to the halt in gasoline production in Yugoslavia and at Ballsh—the latter is undergoing reconstruction—representatives of powerful companies such as LAP point to another cause of the gasoline shortage. “The recent increase in the gasoline sale price,” they told Gazeta Shqiptare, “has eliminated the price difference that made it worthwhile to use vehicles with modified tanks. The passage of Yugoslav citizens transporting fuel to Serbia and Montenegro has also been prohibited. Police roadblocks are being set up—manned by public-order forces, border police or rapid-response units—to prevent tankers, drums or cans of fuel from passing along the route toward Veli- [cut off], Rome and Athens—about the name of the vessel, ferry or truck, the destination port, transport documents, the [unclear] and the All this information is sent from Brussels to SAM in Albania. Then SAM, in cooperation with the Financial Police and the customs system, verifies the legality of the cargoes. And no one will be able to bring fuel into Albania without first providing the necessa- [beginning cut off] from the Ballsh Refinery—it is undergoing reconstruction—it is the representatives of powerful companies such as LAP themselves who point to another reason for the depletion of petrol. “The recent increase in the retail price of petrol,” they tell Gazeta Shqiptare, “is smaller than the difference between the price and the amount importers have to pay into the state budget.” According to them, it is this kind of “excise duty” that has, for the time being, [unclear] the import of petrol. One of the distributors in Tirana (photo: H. Pustina)

Rules in the border zone TIRANA - Here are some of the rules of the anti-smuggling regime being enforced in the 4–10-kilometre zone established along the land and water border with Serbia and Montenegro: The sale of oil and its by-products by itinerant vendors has been prohibited in this zone. Kerosene may be sold only by designated entities that also have authorization from the Police commissariats. Residents of the area who own vehicles are prohibited from keeping fuel tanks larger than 200 litres. At the border crossing points at Qafë Prush, Morinë and Hani i Hotit, Albanian tankers are prohibited from crossing more than twice a day. Vehicles with modified tanks are also prohibited from crossing. The passage of Yugoslav citizens intending to transport fuel to Serbia and Montenegro is also prohibited. Police roadblocks are being established—manned barrels or cans of fuel from passing at the following locations: the Velipoja road, the Buna Bridge, the bridge at the exit from Koplik, Gjejan in Kukës, Golaj in Has and Rragam in Tropoja. On Lake Shkodra, navigation by all types of Albanian watercraft is prohibited, with the exception of tourist and fishing vessels. (an.ste) Fuel traffic on Lake Shkodra

Krujë, violence in the stadiums again Football brawl: police draw their guns Fights between footballers and fans. Cars smashed, injuries and arrests TIRANA - A football brawl. The latest protagonists in the violence appeared yesterday at the stadium in the town of Krujë, where, unusually, law-enforcement officers were forced to fire their guns into the air to prevent potentially tragic clashes. Earlier, on the pitch—referees were attacked once again—players from “Iliria” and “Besa” engaged in a mass brawl among themselves and later with the law-enforcement forces. Outside the stadium, a local commotion broke out at the shelter where one of the “Besa” officials was staying, while opposing fans continued their “battle” for around 20 minutes. Cars from Kavaja were damaged, people were injured, and many fans were detained. An exceptionally large law-enforcement presence was on duty for the “Iliria”-“Besa” match. Perhaps this was also because in Phase I there had been incidents, including that involving captain and Fushë-Krujë player Cangu, who was mistreated so badly that he had to spend around two months in hospital and now has one hand partly paralysed. Three minutes after the visitors’ goal, the first fan was detained in the stadium, and then... The Kavaja match was postponed; people were injured and many fans were detained. Meanwhile, “Besa” officials had to change their cars’ licence plates in order to pass through Fushë-Krujë. The clash in town, which escalated into serious confrontations between fans from Fushë-Krujë and Kavaja, also led to the police firing shots into the air. The operation was requested and organised by Krujë Police Station Chief Kasem Stafa, who, together with his officers, nevertheless managed to prevent what may have been one of the most notorious episodes in Albanian football. Tirana made up for last week’s performance, scoring freely yesterday. All the goals it scored against Albpetrol equalled the six goals scored in all the other matches of the week. Meanwhile, four matches ended goalless, and eleven teams failed to score. Some of them have gone two or three weeks without scoring. A championship in which strikers are becoming the fans’ enemies. Almost nothing has changed in the standings. Tirana has moved one more point ahead of Partizani, taking the gap to six. Elbasani, with a big win over Besëlidhja, has climbed one place. Tomorri has likewise moved ahead of Shqiponja, which failed to make its home advantage count. Shkumbini’s Peqin players also earned a valuable draw against Dinamo on Friday, drawing level in the standings with Albpetrol, both on 18 points. Lezhjan and Shkodran have the same number of points. gj.pi. stadium, to come to Police at the stadium (photo: H. Pustina)

Impounded: “Hunt” for cars with yellow plates TIRANA - A “hunt” is also under way for official cars. For the past two days, vehicles with yellow licence plates have been targeted by Road Traffic inspectors, who have even impounded those found to have irregular documentation. This time, however, the “hunt” for official cars has not spared even vehicles belonging to the institutions that issued the latest order for strict checks. Around 4–5 vehicles belonging to Ministry of the Interior officials have met the same fate—impoundment—as vehicles from other state institutions, because they did not have the required documents. And that is not all: the Ministry of the Interior was also the first to take strict measures. The director of the Ministry of the Interior’s Vehicle Park was dismissed, while two other officials were suspended. According to Road Traffic inspectors, the purpose of the checks was to address the indiscriminate use of state vehicles, as well as the payment of insurance premiums and other mandatory taxes. For two consecutive days, almost no state-owned car managed to get through the inspection net organised by the Ministry of the Interior itself, regardless of the institution it represented. Although [the checks applied] to all vehicles travelling within Albania. Significant violations were also found involving the indiscriminate use of vehicles or their use by drivers without authorization from their institutions. Perhaps for this reason, Ministry of the Interior officials carried out a surprise inspection on Thursday evening, specifically at the ministry’s vehicle park, where the violations were identified and the severe measures against three officials were taken. (e.l)

vehicles with modified tanks. established—manned tourist and fishing vessels. (an.ste)

Pogradec, trial postponed POGRADEC - The trial of four SHIK officers accused of abuse of office was suspended on Friday at the Pogradec Court. The judges decided to send the case file back to the prosecutor’s office for a more thorough investigation; this was also the request made jointly by the accused and their lawyers. A new expert assessment may be needed, or other witnesses may have to be questioned to clarify the precise position of the four SHIK employees. Investigations into the officers had begun in 1992 and were considered complete only a month ago. All four are accused of having made several documents disappear. Nevertheless, even after several court hearings, the judges have been unable to determine the position of the accused on the basis of the facts contained in their files, and have therefore called for the sensitive case to be investigated again. Me. Ki.

Durrës, it was a toxic gas DURRËS - What had begun as a day of celebration nearly turned into a day of tragedy. Two classes from Durrës’s “Naim Frashëri” high school, who had gathered yesterday morning at the “After Dark” nightclub, risked being poisoned by a mysterious toxic gas that spread through the dance hall: 10 students ended up receiving medical care, while the bartender and the shopkeeper were also found in a state of asphyxiation. The Police have taken charge of the case and opened an investigation. The mystery at the nightclub began when a blackout occurred. A gasoline-powered generator was switched on to restore the electricity supply. Just moments later, various clouds of smoke spread through the hall. Many people immediately began to feel unwell, experiencing sore throats, vomiting and fainting. The worst affected was a girl, who was rushed to hospital and discharged yesterday evening. The Police also arrived at the scene and shut down the nightclub. The origin of the toxic smoke has not yet been established. Rather than the generator, suspicions point to someone having thrown a canister of paralyzing gas. In any case, these remain hypotheses that the Police are investigating. Gë. To.

Korçë, 6 deaths in accident KORÇË - The journey of an Albanian family to Korçë ended in tragedy. They were from the same district. A young man from this [unclear] car and its plunge from the bridge into the waters of the Devoll River cost the lives of two little children, aged 8 and [unclear]—the sisters Rebeka and Myrvete Cenolli—and their parents: 30-year-old Verore and 31-year-old Luan Cenolli. Two other people travelling in the car also lost their lives: 26-year-old Eltëna Cenolli and 26-year-old Artur Agasta, from Babani i Devollit. It was a single hurried manoeuvre by the “FA”-type car, driven by Luan Cenolli, that sent everyone to their deaths. According to the expert examination, and because of the wet conditions, the IFA skidded just as it was crossing the Bintika Bridge. It crashed, and then fell into the waters of the Devoll. This is where the tragedy of the Cenolli family and the two other people began. Submerged under the water, they had no way to get out of the cabin, where they died of asphyxiation.

ELBASAN - A construction laboratory in Elbasan has been shut down. - A construction laboratory in Elbasan has been shut down. An inspection carried out by the Police in recent days found that the analyses performed by this facility were not recognized by the relevant institutions. The suspension order was issued on Friday morning. Analyses were carried out here on all products—cement, concrete or prefabricated materials—which could be sold only after receiving a certificate issued by the laboratory. It was precisely the fact that the specialized institutions did not recognize this laboratory’s competence that led to its closure. m.k.

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