Washington and Rome against Albanian economic crime American lesson on dirty money. For the first time, the “pyramid” scheme is explained page 2

Italian Interior Minister Napolitano was not the only Western official in Tirana to call for a fight against crime. In the Albanian capital to meet the country’s senior authorities, the former Italian communist was on the same wavelength as the American FBI experts—the Federal Bureau of Investigation—who held a seminar on economic organized crime on the same day as Napolitano’s visit. While the former called on the Albanian government to fight crime in general and illegal trafficking in particular, the American experts focused on economic crime, whose main form is money laundering. This parallel drawn with the visit of the senior official from Rome is likely no coincidence. Some time ago, in an interview with the press, Undersecretary of State Wirth said that the U.S. administration considered Italy to be the country that would deal directly with Albania’s integration into the international community. Such a position, clearly expressed, leaves no room for doubt. The Italian government’s increasing concern about illegal trafficking between the two shores at this particular moment, and the firm demand made by the Italian minister to sever the links between the criminal organizations that carry it out, dovetail perfectly with the political and economic pressure Washington has brought to bear on Tirana. In this respect, there are quite a few hypotheses that can be put forward about a joint Italian-American action aimed at cutting off the channels of organized crime in Albania. Again in this regard, it can be seen that the emphasis is not so much on ordinary crime as on economic crime. And here the problem becomes more complicated. While Washington, directly or indirectly, has called for the closure of the pyramid schemes into which money has been invested for interest, its experts, as well as Italian Minister Napolitano, are calling on the Albanian government to do more to combat “illegal financial operations.” This may also be the point of connection, given the hypotheses already put forward about the possibility of recycling money through the process of taking money on interest. The longevity of Albanian pyramid schemes has been shrouded in mystery, while quite a few people have advanced the hypothesis of a direct link between them and the laundering of dirty money coming from European countries. The banking system in our country also makes this possible. It was the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Luniku, himself who told “KJ”: “Once money leaves the bank, it is considered clean.” Just a few weeks ago, Berisha told a senior IMF representative that the money in Albania’s pyramid schemes was clean, hard-earned money. But it seems the West has not believed this. Napolitano’s arrival in Albania, the fact that the agreement he signed with Shamata mentioned the fight against “illegal financial operations,” and the presence of the FBI in Tirana on the same day and for the same purpose confirm the opposite. It is clear that there is a division of roles and a joint plan: to curb the phenomenon of Albanian pyramid schemes. What is not yet known is the timetable for its implementation. In any case, Mr. Berisha would like nothing to change over the next four months—until he is re-elected President of the Republic. But does the West agree?

Mejdani and Lakrori try to change Pellumbi’s image page 4

They facilitated the clandestine transport of lekë

As soon as they installed the telephones in our newsroom, they cut off our electricity. That is why “Koha Jonë” did not come out yesterday and was not distributed throughout Albania. “Sport Ekspres”, which is in the same building as “KJ”, was also not published. Although electricity is more essential to a newspaper, as a newsroom we appeal to the competent authorities: they would do better to take the telephones back, as long as they leave us our electricity.

photo G. SHKULLAKU From Monday morning’s protest, where the women of NPV 2 demanded the annulment of the enterprise’s privatization

The company “Magic Bingo Albania” announces that on Sunday, 8.12.1996, the second draw of the “National Tele-Bingo” was held at the Palace of Culture in Tirana. For this draw, 75 series had been put on sale, from series No. 76 to series No. 150. 1) The winner of the Mini Bingo prize was: Ticket No. 3765, worth 30,000 lekë. Everyone holding a ticket with the number above should go to the respective network sales outlets on Thursday, 12.2.1996, to collect the amount in lekë. Mini-Bingo winners in Tirana will collect the above amount at the company’s representative offices at the Palace of Culture, Tirana, every day from 10:00 to 11:00, starting Friday, 13 December 1996. II) The winners of the Major Prizes were: 1. - Star-Bingo Prize: Ticket No. 3765, series No. 88, worth 300,000 lekë 2. - Magic-Bingo Prize Ticket No. 3765, series No. 90, worth 600,000 lekë 3. - Tele-Bingo Prize: Ticket No. 3765, series No. 108, worth 3,000,000 lekë Everyone holding these tickets should appear at the Central Offices of “National Tele-Bingo,” at the Palace of Culture, Tirana, on Thursday, 12.12.1996, at 11:00. They must bring the winning ticket and an identity card (or a valid photo ID certificate) in order to complete the necessary procedures before a notary to collect the bank cheque for the relevant prize. These people will also collect their Mini-Bingo prize in cash (lekë in hand) that day. Note: The company will publish the above announcement for each draw in all the main newspapers every Tuesday. Head office: “Telebingo Kombëtare” Magic Bingo Albania (sh.p.k.), Tirana

Kauç letësuar transportin Klaudefëshin të teknarit — p. 12 Xhaferri buys Mario Kempes — p. 23

All newspaper and magazine newsrooms, as well as publishing houses, that wish to have their publications transported throughout Albania should call 355 91 to sign contracts. Reduced rates apply to newspapers with a circulation of under 2,000 copies. In any case, contact its sole owner, Nikollë Lesi, for all matters.