ZËRI I POPULLIT 18.03.1999, SHKODËR, DURRËS, ELBASAN, KORÇË, THE SOUTH DIARY “Corridor 8”: the road is not going to Elbasan Failure to follow legal procedures has caused conflicts between the Turkish company that won the tender, the local authorities and the Ministry of Transport PAGE 9

The minister is going to burn America’s 325 million dollars By Erion Braçe TIRANA—A month and a half ago, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, during his visit to the United States of America, took part in the signing ceremony of an agreement for an American investment in the field of telecommunications. The sum in question was 325 million dollars, to be invested in Albania over the following 10 years by the company “New World Telecom”. The US Department of Commerce and the Secretary of State himself, William Dely, emerged as guarantors of this entire investment. Prime Minister Majko described this event as the definitive entry of American business into the Albanian economy. He also praised the leap Albanian telecommunications would make through this investment. Prime Minister Majko said then that this investment would also serve as a reference model for all foreign investors wishing to enter Albania. Upon his arrival in Tirana, the Director General of the Albanian Telecom, Dhimitraq Rafti, told the newspaper that the implementation of the entire program signed in Washington was now expected. He said the Government would decide to establish a joint venture between “New World Telecom” and “Telekomit Shqiptar”. It would be a joint-stock company in which the American company would hold 75% of the shares, while Telekomit Shqiptar would hold 25%. The Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization, the owner of everything state-owned in Albania, including the Albanian Telecom, must submit the draft decision to the Government. But even though 46 days have passed, and even though Prime Minister Majko said upon returning home that the Government would make the decision very soon, the Ministry of Public Economy has done nothing so far. In fact, it has not written even a single line of the draft decision that must be submitted. Officials at the Ministry of Public Economy, headed by Ylli Bufi, say they are studying the matter. They seem to have found work for themselves—or, more precisely, Mr Bufi has found work for them so they do not have to deal with the major investment in telecommunications. The entire Directorate of Telecommunications has been appointed to the Supervisory Board of Telekomit. And they are making major expenditures. But what a fascinating set of interests! Nevertheless, to date no one in this ministry, starting with its chief, Bufi, has said what they will do about the agreement signed on the shelf in America and guaranteed by Prime Minister Majko and US Secretary of State Dely. No one has said to date that the draft decision will be submitted to the Government on this date and approved on that other date. And when this is missing, naturally the decision is treated with “mockery”—a serious mockery, in fact, weighing 325 million dollars. What has gone unsaid so far is the irony of the scientists in Minister Bufi’s offices about the setting fire to the signatures put on paper in Washington. No one says it out loud, but they mutter it around the offices, more intent on sabotaging things. And if they really succeed in this, the only thing left for us is to show these people where they can go when the anger of the Albanian people has reached its peak. Prime Minister Majko and US Secretary of State for Commerce Dely, watching the signing of the agreement for the 325-million-dollar investment in telecommunications by the directors of the Albanian Telecom and New World Telecom. (Photo: M.Xhufka)

DURRËS—The Director General of Customs, Ardian Maçi, in letter No. 1681, dated March 16, addressed to the customs offices of Tirana, Lezhë and Durrës, and acting on the basis of the order issued by the Lezhë district prosecutor’s office on March 15, requests “the immediate release of 1,012,920 liters of diesel, 99,920 liters of super gasoline, as well as 36,900 liters of diesel on behalf of the Greek military forces stationed in Tirana.” PAGE 6

Accused of robbing passengers on the Koman–Shkodër road PAGE 6

TIRANA—In exchange for four monthly salaries, many doctors have offered to work in areas that are not covered. Regarding this issue, Andrea Gudha, Director of Personnel at the Ministry of Health, told “Zëri i Popullit” yesterday that the government has not approved the decision to provide financial incentives to specialist doctors who are willing to work in remote areas where they are needed. PAGE 1

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