Misunderstanding over the new tax?
TIRANA - The implementation of Value Added Tax is being accompanied—completely contrary to specialists’ calculations—by a wave of high prices in the country’s markets.
But such phenomena are taken into account, even if they seem paradoxical, when one bears in mind that the tax just introduced, VAT, is 2.5 percent lower than its predecessor, the 15 percent turnover tax. And it seems that the scramble for extra profits in this hot weather, along with traders’ lack of clarity about the purpose and functions of VAT, has stirred up the fever of rising prices.
On page 7
Goods market in Tirana
Nano: “You didn’t understand the motion”
The PS leader insists. The party Presidium objects: Congress in September
Yesterday, an answer to the Presidium came from Bënça
From behind the bars of Bënça prison, the Socialist leader responds to his party’s Presidium: “You haven’t understood me. The motion is right.”
Nano has not yielded and has answered the Presidium’s request without changing even a comma in his positions. The members of the PS leadership’s core are also insisting on defending their demands. “A congress in September, with delegates elected from the grassroots upward through the party structures,” they declared, deciding to submit to the General Steering Committee their proposal to establish commissions that will prepare the Congress, with a majority of members drawn from the Presidium and the KPD.
With their leader’s motion, the 17 members of the PS’s senior leadership also chose to call an extraordinary meeting of the Presidium of Albania’s largest opposition party. They then approved a series of proposals, including holding the congress in September and proceeding in accordance with the party statute.
It will be Monday’s meeting of the Socialists’ General Committee that makes the final decision. Which of the two alternatives put forward by Nano and the Presidium will lead the PS along the path to a Congress of change?
On page 3
Fatos Nano
“Majko’s election was a personal preference”
SPARTAK POÇI SPEAKS
TIRANA - “Nano may not trust the Presidium.”
Just 48 hours after the “Nano motion” crossed the threshold of the PS headquarters, the party’s deputy chair for Tirana, Spartak Poçi, made this sharp statement.
On page 3
The “Sejdia Case” returns
To be tried in absentia
Investigations into the fraud boss begin in Tirana
THE AID SCANDAL / To be tried in absentia
The “Sejdia Case” returns
Investigations into the fraud boss begin in Tirana
Businessman title
“EC recommendations? Fine, but we decide on the laws ourselves”
INTERVIEW / Arbnori between Parliament and family
Just two days after his elevation to the high office of Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori speaks
BY ROTA
I won’t go back to begging anymore
TIRANA — He is only 8 years old, but his eyes tell the story of a whole series of particularly horrific abuses.
The little boy is one of 12 Albanian children whom Italian police forces rescued from being subjected to brutal exploitation. He speaks in a measured voice, recounting all the suffering inflicted on him by money-hungry Albanians, affection and shackles.
“I couldn’t go back inside with 200,000 lire,” the 8-year-old says. “They would send me back out onto the streets to beg for money. The first few days are beyond words; they were very frightening, because I couldn’t collect that much money. I had to do what I was ordered to do, because they threatened that my family in Albania would suffer badly. I have been to many cities in Italy to beg. Two months ago they brought me to Fome, where I had also been the previous winter for Christmas. I remember it well, because there were lots of lights in the streets, and the people out walking were very kind to me when they stopped at traffic lights. Here in Rome I am under a bridge, and nearby I met [people] who convinced me they would find me a better place, where nobody would hurt me. But I was afraid that my parents would beat me sometime for (parent?) and so I was [taken?] by a [pol?]ice officer to return to Italy. I stay there with all my friends.
However, now that the police have managed to establish that exploitation is taking place by other means…”
Recognition from the municipality: Velija named “Honorary Citizen”
Title for the businessman
LIBRAZHD — “Vebi Velija is a very special Albanian, a man of great stature whose reach extends beyond the borders of Albania and Europe.”
This was stated this afternoon by the prefect of Elbasan, at a festive ceremony where Velija received the title of “Honorary Citizen” of Librazhd. The prominent businessman, who is also president of the “Velia” cultural foundation, has extensive business activities in the city of Librazhd as well, which he began six years ago by employing hundreds of workers. The title awarded to him by the city municipality was a token of gratitude for Velija’s valuable contribution as the exclusive representative of global industrial corporations; he is listed in the 10th edition of the business and trade directory Who’s Who. The foundation he established in Tirana has made a special contribution to Albanian culture.
“We decide on the laws ourselves”
Just two days after his removal from the high seat of Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori talks about the Assembly he led for four years.
“I will miss some of the MPs who did not manage to get re-elected,” says Pjetri, recalling the time when he wielded the wooden gavel on his desk. Optimistic about a new legislature “that will confirm the course of Albanian state policy towards Western European directions,” Arbnori rejects any outside interference in the drafting of laws. “We agree with the Council of Europe’s recommendations,” he says, “but we will pass the laws ourselves.” As far as the Speaker of Parliament is concerned, no one can interfere with or direct Albanian legislation, whose fate remains in the hands of MPs.
On page 3
Yeltsin once again “tsar” in the Kremlin
FROM RUSSIA
Joy after Yeltsin’s victory
Yeltsin once again “tsar” in the Kremlin
On page 2
The “Tirana Feast” is being laid out again
SHOW
The “Tirana Feast” is being laid out again
Comedy, songs and dances from Central Albania in next week’s show.
On page 4
Ravanelli to wear an English shirt
SPORT
Ravanelli to wear an English shirt
A contract worth 19 billion lire with Middlesbrough.
On page 8
Berat: cows have their own Miss too
Winners announced. A beauty pageant will be held next September
BERAT — The cows and heifers of Berat now have their own Miss too.
A committee made up of agricultural specialists from Tirana and the district watched 40 cows and 10 heifers “parade,” and unanimously chose the winners from among them. Breed, yield, physical beauty and even live weight were the judging criteria in the competition—the first of its kind in the Berat district. The local “defenders’” herd was represented by a six-year-old cow weighing almost half a ton. It has been able to give its owner up to 6,500 litres of milk a year, making him proud to own the district’s best cow. The other cows also mounted the divided podium, with second- and third-place prizes awarded.
The great passion of Berat’s farmers for livestock led to the idea being raised during the event that a similar beauty contest should be held again in September, this time for small livestock. The organizers had also planned to give the winners material incentives of up to 5,000 lekë. All the other participants in the competition were also rewarded.
Halit Tafa
Montenegrins shoot at a trader
Shkodër
Montenegrins shoot at a trader
SHKODËR — Gunfire against a Shkodër trader. While sailing in his boat to transport goods to the market in Tuzi, he was shot at by the Montenegrin guard. The 24-year-old from Bajza was wounded and ended up in hospital. Relations between Albanian traders and the Montenegrin police authorities have become extremely strained. Whereas until a year ago the border patrols turned a blind eye to the stream of boats coming from the shores of Montenegro, now their attitude has become extremely aggressive towards the traders.
On page 5
