Gjallica in court to formalize the divorce It has blown up in Kosovo, too. A lending company goes bankrupt. One million dollars disappear TIRANA - Another bombshell over Sude’s moneylenders. “A date has not yet been set for when the money will be paid” — this is what the Tirana moneylender declared yesterday. She is responsible for repaying all the amounts announced in the press. As 10 January approaches, when thousands of people are waiting for operations to resume, Sudja has declared, “I still don’t know when I will restart my financial operations.” Meanwhile, yesterday Gjallica sent documents to the Tirana court to formalize the divorce between the two leaders, former president Shensie Kadria and the director in Vlora, Fitim Gërxhalli. On page 3 Sudia Interest rates at VEFA cut. A boom in deposits to get money before the 10th. Yesterday alone, $400,000 came into the cash office.

LATEST NEWS PD slap to Hajdari: Out of the parliamentary group TIRANA - “Hajdari should not represent Parliament.” This was the proposal put forward yesterday at the meeting of the PD parliamentary group leadership and addressed to the party leaders. Azem Hajdari, who in recent months has drifted away from the Democrats’ political line by placing himself at the head of the trade union movement to oust Valer Xheka, has thus received another slap from his party. Spahia, Arbnori and Qirko, the leading figures of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, formulated their proposal yesterday afternoon. “Hajdari should be expelled from the parliamentary group” is the demand, justified by the fact that “his recent actions are contrary to our party’s policy.” It is not known what the PD leadership’s reaction will be, but it is easy to understand that there will be no hesitation about expelling Dhejtor’s man. Just one month ago Hajdari had also been expelled from the National Council. At that time, it was Shehu himself who had signed the decision as PD leader. The party chairman had cited four points to justify Hajdari’s removal. His trade union activities, as well as his accusations — unclear and unfounded — against the government, Meksi and other Democratic Party figures, had been enough to decide on his expulsion. In fact, the break with Hajdari had been foreshadowed in the Tirana newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike,” which had floated the idea of even stripping the PD deputy of his immunity. Since that day things have proceeded step by step, until now not even a formal link remains that could keep Azem connected to the party in which he had been active since its earliest days.

Laç, an organized network is suspected

Bread 50% more expensive than 12 months ago The Institute of Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index

Bill ready for Parliament . Cars cost less at customs. Finance Ministry: “The only way to stop the influx of used cars that have polluted the environment, and, moreover, it will bring positive changes to the state budget.” TIRANA — Customs duty on cars will now cost less. The bill, just approved by the Meksi cabinet, sets the new taxes for vehicles. For cars weighing under three tonnes, it will be 60 thousand lekë, while for trucks over three tonnes and buses it will be 100 thousand lekë. The bill is expected to be sent to Parliament for approval. On page 11

. The house in Laç where the Italian held the hostage. LAÇ — The threads of a trafficking network involving women appear to have been finally cut by the Laç prosecutor’s office. The arrest in May of the Italian Roberto Magnani led the investigation to extend further. Yesterday, the investigation detained seven people—two from Pogradec, one from Korçë and four residents of Laç—on charges of trafficking women and forcibly abducting a minor. However, this is thought to be only the beginning. On page 9

. Accused of kidnapping, resisting the police and illegal possession of a firearm. LAÇ—Four attempted suicides in a cell, but he was saved quite by chance by a guard. An accident helped Italian Roberto Magnani survive; he has been in the isolation prison since December 15 of last year. On page 9

. TIRANA — The year 1996 has passed, but bread prices have risen. In January, 17.4 percent was recorded during its months. This is what the newly published Consumer Price Index (ICK) from the Institute of Statistics shows. At the top of the list of goods that have become more expensive is “bread,” which Albanian consumers must now buy at a price 50 percent higher than in December 1995. On page 11

MALIQ, THEY DEMAND PRIVATIZATION OF THE COMBINE . “There is no school for our children.” Strange protest by sugar workers. FROM THE WORLD. Opposition protests with “kisses.” On page 2. SPECTACLE. Tedj Papavrami. Papavrami in concert with Bramsin. On page 4. MALIQ — The small town is setting the most incredible example: “If the sugar combine does not start operating, we will not send our children to school.” The threat was made at the beginning of the week, and the children of the combine’s workers have now been forced to leave their school desks in solidarity, if only out of love, with their parents’ protest. The disagreements that sparked the revolt of the workers at the sugar combine in Maliq began in December of last year, when it closed its doors in a protest over a lack of profitability. The workers were put on assistance, but were not convinced this was justified. Indeed, their suspicion—“The combine is profitable, but the director is bad”—was also voiced recently by an inspection group that came from Tirana. They have demanded that all types of protests continue: keeping their children out of school is only one of them. The workers’ reasons for protesting. They demand that, if this is not granted, they be given shares in the combine amounting to 40 percent. Otherwise, all forms of protest will of them. Elsa Koçia Tedi Papavrami

Prefects gain new powers . Prefectures are changing: a new direction now. Meeting at the Court of Cassation. Meksi and Shehu discuss funds. Money sought for the reconstruction of the building of Albania’s highest court. TIRANA — Yesterday, Prime Minister Meksi met with the chairman of the Court of Cassation, Avni Shehu, at the latter’s invitation, to ask him to intervene in allocating funds to improve working conditions for the judges of this court. On page 3. TIRANA — A revolution in the prefectures. A sophisticated tax system, municipal police, self-financing for local government and a new fiscal mechanism. These will be the latest elements introduced into Albania’s regional administration. A series of bills is ready to move from Kosovrasti’s offices to the Albanian Parliament. Kosovrasti. On page 3

Albanian Cup Starova wants Peço Albanian Cup Songs in the stadiums in milli... [?] The football season resumes on Saturday with the Albanian Cup. 100,000 lekë for Lushnja for a win On pages 5–8 Transfer market, sensational swap between the two Baggios at the end of the season. Keegan leaves Newcastle

. A man went from being his beloved’s lover to becoming her husband, and then also her husband’s lover. And as if that were not enough, he now also risks going to prison. In a fit of jealousy, he kept his wife tied up and locked in a room of his home for three days and beat her nearly to death, but she has still not reported him. B. M., 52, a resident of a village on the outskirts of Berat and father of five children, had been having a love affair for a long time with a woman 20 years younger than him. He kept their secret even when he proposed to his son that he marry her. The son agreed, but three years ago he suddenly discovered that it was his own father who was sharing his wife’s bed. The insult was so great that the betrayed son left his father, and moved out of the house with his mother and five siblings to live in Elbasan. Then the lover became the husband. Their life remained peaceful until age began to make the “groom’s” knees “give way.” The bed had now become a torment for him, but not for his young wife. And when she turned cold toward him and sought him elsewhere, the man grew enraged and beat his wife nearly to death. P. te. The lover turns into a father-in-law and husband