Money laundering, suspicions, and pyramid schemes Study by the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office: “Organized crime creates its own institutions” TIRANA - Organized economic and Mafia-style crime has also established its own institutions in Albania. International trafficking in drugs and clandestine migrants, money laundering, forgery of documents and currency, financial scandals, and arms trafficking are phenomena that have now taken over the world, and Albania is no exception. A detailed study, authored by Edison Heba, Director of the Directorate of Foreign Relations at the Republic’s Prosecutor’s Office, provides information on the extent to which the Mafia’s tentacles have spread in Albania and its links with international organized crime, primarily Italian and German Mafia organizations. The cultivation and trafficking of narcotics and pure drugs, clandestine migrants, women, and children used as beggars are activities carried out in cooperation with their Italian and Greek counterparts. Italian-Albanian organizations exploit at least 1,200 Albanian prostitutes in Rome and around 15,000 throughout Italy. Meanwhile, the report also raises the alarm about crime and the money-laundering mechanism in Tirana. In the absence of private banks, the Mafia appears to have found mysterious investments, such as bars and luxurious discos, for laundering money. But suspicions of dirty-money laundering extend even to the pyramid-scheme activities of Albanian firms.

Blockade for clandestine migrants TIRANA—Napolitano assures that “iron gates” will be put in place for Albanian clandestine migrants. At this point in his Albanian day, the Italian Minister of the Interior assured Albanian officials that “drastic measures will be taken to stem the flow of migrants landing in Italy by sea.” “We agree with you,” was Shamata’s reply. Berisha and Napolitano

But annual inflation is higher TIRANA—Prices ebbed in November. The Institute of Statistics reports that during the penultimate month of this year the Consumer Price Index ...

Poçi: “We will inform the KPD of the requests” The questionnaires are “revealed.” Nano’s dismissal is also proposed Verification commission Employees surround ... [?]

TIRANA—Prices ebb in November. Consumer Price Index fell by 0.5 percent compared with October, settling at 143.19 percent. But November’s deflation cannot erode the absolute rise in prices, which during 1996 pushed the inflation curve up to 143.19 percent, defying the government’s optimistic forecasts. Unlike last year, it has now become quite clear that 1996 will end with a double-digit inflation figure. At the end of November, the Consumer Price Index—compared with the end of December ’95—registered an increase of 16.6 percent, while compared with November 1995 (that is, over a full 12 months), it rose to 17.4 percent. On page 9

TIRANA - Albanian civil servants are regularly showing what is in their pockets. Property, money, land, machinery, as well as personal assets. These are some of the movable and immovable assets that Albanians are disclosing to the Asset Verification Commission. The figure stands at 22,000 state employees who must declare what they own. So far, 95 percent of them have managed to meet the legal deadlines. Another echelon has recently been added to the large army of state employees: local government workers. For the head of the Commission, this means that the process remains open and that it is too early to speak of preliminary conclusions. Nevertheless, the documentation available so far suggests that Albanians have been forthcoming about their assets. On page 3

TIRANA - The capital’s Socialists are once again on the offensive against their party’s top leadership. In questionnaires distributed by the branch executive committee, members of grassroots organizations have proposed “Nano’s dismissal, the resignation of the party executive committee, and the holding of an extraordinary Conference or Congress.” In response to a question about whether it had been “put forward,” they also categorically opposed the Socialist Party’s entry into Parliament. Thus, according to the deputy chairman of the Tirana PS, P.ogj-Nano [?] E. the party executive committee is at the center of harsh criticism from the capital’s Socialist grassroots. “All these proposals,” P.ogj-Nano [?], the senior Tirana PS politician, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “will be reported to the General Steering Committee.” On page 3 Mejdani; PS headquarters

SPORT TIRANA - Yesterday, Albanian professional boxing brought a face-off before the Albanian public. The FSHB secretary refused to call it the first professional boxing match in Albania. Besa is the first finalist of the VEFA Cup. Shqiponja wins the Demokratia Cup in amateur boxing. Juventus is unstoppable in the Mënje [?] doshme championship, with little change at the top of the standings. On page 10 From the match Ibrahim Isufi - Hernak (E. Hazizllari)

FROM THE WORLD LECCE - Italian police operation. Detonators for hand grenades, half a ton of marijuana, one kilogram of hashish, 5 people arrested and 25 others apprehended: this is the outcome of the inspection operations carried out by the financial police along the Apulian coast. The spectacular seizures took place early Saturday and on Sunday night. As for the detonators, they were hidden together with 27 kilograms of marijuana in the double bottom of a truck that was aboard the “Nio-be” motor vessel. The vehicle was loaded with various mechanical and hydraulic tools, including a large number of cylinders. The detonators and drugs had been placed inside them. After the operation, the driver of the vehicle was arrested. Another quantity of substances was found: 210 kilograms of hashish were seized, together with 950 grams of hashish, during three illegal landings. On page 2

Weekly magazine with a world stage ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER Weekly magazine with a world stage ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER Gold engravers: masters in decline Albanian goldsmithing, Lezhë; the village fishermen ... [?] AXL Roses: madness woven with talent Albanian fans celebrate the birthday of ... [?] Albanian cinema The film “Debatik” Test: What is your relationship with food? The message ... [?] The bread consular service ... [?] Addresses of famous actors TELE - BINGO One million every Sunday Gold engravers: masters in decline On pages 4-5