European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Albania a mix of Beauty and poverty by Liam Mcdowall associate press robbed of their boats fishermen wandering the White Sand beaches of Albania s idyllic Southern Riviera no longer bother with fishing tackle or nets. They use dynamite. Since their boats were stolen by people trying to flee Albania s a act poverty the fishermen have taken to flinging explosives into the ionian sea in Hope of striking schools of fish. It is a desperate Way to catch supper but these Are desperate times in Europe s poorest country. The Young Are leaving and those left behind survive on Charity and Hope tourism or links to neighbouring Greece will save them. Albania continues to reel from decades of harsh stalinist Rule and the chaotic aftermath of the regime s collapse even the startling Beauty of Albania s isolated Palm fringed ionian coast cannot hide the grim privation. Hemmed in by Limestone Cliffs the villagers of Himara traditionally have made a living from fishing Goat herding and harvesting olives. Now the Village shops Are closed. Most of the goats were eaten during the Winter and olives went largely readers action Lin How to minimize pcs nightmares it just recently i completed my Glrst military pcs reassignment. Unfortunately it was not a pleasant experience after receiving delivery of my hold baggage and household goods i discovered several Quot missing Quot items Worth approximately $2,000. Due to the nature of the missing items the Way they were packed and inventoried and some other unusual clues i believe the items were stolen by the originating packers at fort Rucker Ala. Even More unfortunate my claim will not be honoured due to some errors of my own. My question what is the Best Way of preventing goods from being stolen during a pcs move and in the event that the worst does occur what Are the necessary precautions a Soldier should take to ensure his her claim  honoured Here is my Story. The missing items Are 64 compact discs 75 cassettes a Large Toolbox full of craftsman sae English and metric tools and a few other items. My inventory did not list the Toolbox and described the two boxes containing the tapes and cd As Quot books Quot because one Box contained two cookbooks and the other three computer manuals. That is Why my claim will not be honoured. I now realize How important the inventory is and that it s a major responsibility for the transferring Soldier. How detailed should an inventory be the forms do not allow much room will claims Honor a list prepared by the soldier9 i have a Complete list of my cd collection and was Able to identify by artist and title which cd Are missing but because cd were not on the inventory in a out of Luck the person at claims asked if i had receipts or pictures i am not in the habit of saving receipts for cd and cassettes that i Purchase individually. I also do not usually photograph my cd and tape collection although i will before my next reassignment. What else should i do can i have a listing of expensive items verified by someone should i have an appraiser visit my House before a pcs move extensive photographs or videotape the Toolbox is a similar problem should i have it inventoried item by item if so where and How do i list it so that it will be acceptable also what Are the recommended procedures on the Days of pickup and delivery although i do not have a lot of possessions i shipped 1,400 Pound most of what i do have is expensive stereo equipment computer equipment an expensive bicycle Etc. How do you supervise several packers in your House what things must you do at delivery my hold baggage Box was already open i assumed customs had probably opened it. The two boxes containing my dress greens and blues Caps were also missing although the Caps were there. I now believe the people who stole my stuff used the two boxes to Divide up the loot and the emblems off the Caps were even missing. I did t realize what i was in store for until a couple hours unharvested for Lack of workers. One of the few goods available is the dynamite sold on the sly to fishermen by poorly paid marines from a nearby military base. The him riots boast a proud history. Their isolated Region an old Center of greek orthodoxy remained autonomous while the rest of Albania was under ottoman Turk occupation until Independence in 1913. Today they depend on charities in neighbouring Greece which bring in soap and other necessities. Little Aid reaches them along the treacherous Road from Vlora a port 30 Miles to the North. For easter one Charity gave each family a Chicken. Many of the 3,000 residents have left seeking a better life in Greece. Quot almost half the Village and about 90 percent of the Young Quot Are gone said qemal Stefan a 47-year-old garage attendant. His two teen age sons fled once to Greece were deported then set off again across the rugged Pindus mountains. He has not heard from them for five months. Among villagers left behind the end of xenophobic communist Rule has allowed the Long stifled culture of the greek minority to emerge. Less than two years ago it was a crime to speak later As i unpacked my boxes and realized not All my stuff was present. Should i have called someone when i noticed my Box had already been open and who finally i suspect the packers of the originating company in Alabama May have done the stealing. Is there any Way to file a complaint against this company and recommend that the army not contract with them in the future different friends have told me of tactics they have used to ensure a problem free move. Some suggest bribery such As pizza and Beer for the packers. I thought i read that Only water or soda and a restroom should be made available to packers. Other friends have suggested scare tactics videotaping the packers before they begin for identification purposes if anything is lost or broken. What is recommended i think this is a topic of concern for every Soldier since we Transfer about every three years. David a. George Katterbach Germany Jim Beazer traffic management specialist office of the Deputy chief of staff logistics and col. John c. Greenhaugh commander  army claims service Europe reply thank you for your letter. The following information is provided to respond to your questions regarding your losses during the movement of your personal property. The Best Way to prevent loss through theft during a pcs move is to ensure that inventories prepared during pack out properly and completely identify the contents of the shipment. The agreement Between the government and household goods carriers states that Carrier inventories will identify general contents such As linens pots and pans Etc. There Are no specific requirements for the documentation of tapes compact discs or tool boxes. Often several packers will be working in your Home at one time. We recommend that a family member or Friend assist you in monitoring the activities of the packers. When the Carrier presents the inventory to you for signature at the end of the pack out you have the right to dispute entries and to annotate exceptions after the last inventory entry. It s a Good idea to videotape your property items and if possible videotape portions of the pack out. The tape can prove ownership of items not annotated on the inventory. During delivery you should Check items being delivered using the inventory Given to you at the time of pickup. Any differences should be annotated on both the Carrier s and member s copies of the delivery documents. During your pre shipment counselling at fort Rucker you should have been advised to notify your Usa eur installation transportation office Ito if losses were discovered. The conus Continental United states and Usa eur its will share information about the shipment problems. The its Are authorized to take action against a Carrier such As not using that Carrier for a period of time if it is determined that his firm has violated the terms of the agreement Between the government and the Carrier. Regarding claims for loss and damage the governing statute and implementing regulations require that the greek on Himara a streets. Now albanian is rarely heard. People tune into greek to rather than broadcasts from Tirana 130 Miles to the North. Even the Graffiti hailing the end of dictatorship is in greek. It is part of a creeping hellenic nation of Southern Albania where ethnic greeks number anywhere from 60,000 to 400,000, depending on who gives the figures. With the greek resort Island of Corfu visible in the distance at one Point it is fewer than three Miles from the coast it is Little wonder that Many see a tourist Industry linked to Greece Sas their Best Chance for salvation. The albanian Riviera s stunning Beauty and isolated beaches have plenty to offer. But in impoverished towns like Himara boats Are not even allowed to Dock in the Harbor because they would be stolen by desperate would be emigres. Quot even if they landed we have no food to give  said Stefan. Things Are not much better in Albania s main Southern resort of Saranda where tourists still make occasional Day trips from Corfu. One recent Day a group of visitors huddled in front of the Only hotel beset by begging children As they awaited a bus Back to their boat. Claimant show proof that items were shipped and were lost or damaged during shipment in order for a claim to be favourably considered. In the absence of inventory documentation showing that items were shipped other evidence of ownership such As Purchase receipts and photographs May be considered. Additionally there Are occasions where statements from disinterested individuals May be used. After the claimant has substantiated ownership and loss a value must be placed on missing items. Normally commercial Catalon prices or retail replacement estimates May be used. As to your own move and loss of property it is normally not necessary to inventory the tools in a Toolbox unless a particular tool was unusually expensive and not found in the average Toolbox. Since the Toolbox compact discs and cassette tapes were not listed on the inventory the claimant and the claims office must look for alternative methods to substantiate the claim. For instance in regard to the compact discs and cassettes proof that you owned a cd player and tape deck before the move and Are having them shipped to you would be most helpful. Statements from people who saw the items in your Home shortly before your move would assist you in substantiating ownership prior to your move. These same principles also apply to substantiating ownership for the Toolbox prior to your move. You also note that it appeared the moving boxes were broken into because they were open and items were missing when delivered. If any of the missing items were annotated on the inventory that fact alone would be very helpful in documenting a theft even if the local transportation office was not called immediately. Once it has been established that a Carton has been broken into claims offices will use any discretion available to compensate a claimant. All claimants Are entitled to ask for reconsideration of their claim if they Are not satisfied with the settlement. The request for reconsideration is filed with the local claims office and unless the claim is resolved to the claimant s Complete satisfaction the reconsideration request is forwarded to the  army claims service Europe for consideration and final decision. The Bottom line is that the claims system is dedicated to reimbursing the Soldier fairly and quickly for loss or damage incurred during pcs. If the writer has any remaining questions concerning his claim or the reconsideration process he should Contact the  army claims service Europe ets 380-7101/8250, for assistance. To write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort a striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes tuesday May 26, 1992