The Municipality has decided to launch a full-fledged campaign against unlicensed construction within the capital’s territory. Following the government decision issued some time ago, which provided for stricter measures against those who violate the laws on construction in the capital, the Municipality has decided to intervene more vigorously. A special commission has been set up within the Municipal administration, with the participation of legal and urban-planning specialists and specialists from other sectors, to identify the hundreds of cases of unlicensed construction in the capital. Concrete action against abusive construction is expected to begin soon. In accordance with the law, the citizens concerned will be notified several days in advance. In every case, the police authorities of the relevant district will also be alerted. During the three years of transition, the problem of abusive construction became a pressing concern. Many residents built homes on the outskirts of the city. In many cases, unlicensed construction has been identified, as well as a number of kiosks and businesses. Some of the latter, quite well known and popular, have been built on the city’s green spaces. Small shops in Tirana: illegal shops will soon be demolished

“We still don’t know how to eliminate them” Report / After 10 months, 600 tons of poisons are still in Albania. The Environmental Committee explains FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — More than 600 tons of expired pesticides have been stored in Albania since September of last year. They arrived as “emergency aid for Albanian agriculture” from a German company, but most proved to be expired and harmful to human health and the surrounding environment. Today, after 10 months, the story of the “Albanian Seveso” remains just as current as before. The State Committee for Environmental Protection is concerned about the future of this toxic waste. The problem is financial rather than bureaucratic. Large sums are needed to dispose of the expired pesticides, whose chemical composition makes it impossible to destroy them by burning. According to specialists, these sums are several times greater than the value these pesticides would have on the European market if they were in normal condition. The only solution for disposing of them is burial. This approach also poses serious risks: burial could cause the poisons to seep into the underground water network unless specific technical procedures are followed. This is a problem that has put the Albanian authorities in difficulty. Those procedures entail considerable expense, which no one is yet willing—or able—to pay. Efforts continue, but the prospects for resolving this serious environmental problem are still nowhere in sight. The toxic substances are currently still in Milot and Bajzë. At Bajzë railway station alone, 17 German railway wagons containing more than 200 tons of pesticides have been stored. So far, 300 days have passed since the German wagons arrived in Bajzë. A railway engineer from Shkodra, Aleksandër Liti, who faces the poisoned reality of this station every day, wrote to the “Gazeta” a few days ago with concern: “For this detention, under internationally recognized rules,” he writes, “the Albanian railway must pay the Germans around 18 dollars per day for each wagon.” By a very careful calculation, that comes to around 90,000 dollars. “What is being done about the pesticides?” asked the engineer from Shkodra. “God willing, something will be achieved. Otherwise, the consequences will fall on the population,” he writes, “and then ‘Greenpeace’ will no longer need to discuss the matter in Brussels. It will be too late.” Someone guards pesticide containers in a warehouse in Milot (photo Greenpeace / Stefan V. Heng)

We will urgently request that radioactivity tests be carried out on the “Marlboro” cigarettes sold in Albania. TIRANA — “We will urgently request that radioactivity tests be carried out on the ‘Marlboro’ cigarettes sold in Albania.” Lirim Selfo, chairman of the State Committee for Environmental Protection, is concerned following the publication and survey conducted by the Gazeta about “Marlboro 4” cigarettes, very [text unclear] in Italy, but also widely available in Albania. “We haven’t tested ‘Marlboro’ cigarettes for five months,” says Artan Dibra, at the Institute of Nuclear Physics (radioactive tracer section), “but when we did, the result was negative. I’m not very sure, but I remember that the tests were carried out on ‘Marlboro 4.’”

Journalist Idajet Beqiri on trial. Tension in the courtroom

They had been exported unlawfully TIRANA — (Ed. La.) After two years, the Albanian authorities managed to trace two iconostases that had been unlawfully handed over to a private Italian citizen “for restoration.” The working group of the Albanian Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports—in cooperation with Marshal Polimeno, who heads the police unit for the protection of works of art in Palermo—managed to identify the Italian citizen Angelo Casa and seize the iconostases from the Church of Saint Peter in Vithkuq and Saint John Vladimir in Elbasan. “Many people thought these iconostases were lost,” Dashmor Kokonozi, director of the Directorate of Culture and Heritage, told the Gazeta. “Identifying the person and seizing the iconostases are the first assurance—after the necessary legal procedures—that they will be returned to Albania.” The working group of the Ministry of Culture is now considering filing a complaint with the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. This is a necessary procedure, since the Ministry itself cannot apply to the Palermo Court until the Tirana Court has first ruled on the matter. “A complaint will also be filed against Arben Arapi, former director of Cultural Monuments, and the former legal adviser of this institute,” Kokonozi continued, “because they improperly authorized the iconostases to be sent to Italy.” During their investigation, Kokonozi and his colleagues learned that the Italian citizen Casa lives in Agrigendo, not Palermo, as he had claimed in Albania.

Inside Somalia: Americans bomb Africans abandon Germany A massacre over water in Sarajevo

Journalist Idajet Beqiri on trial. Tension in the courtroom TIRANA — Six months’ imprisonment for Idajet Beqiri, chairman of the Albanian National Unity Party. This was the decision of the Tirana Court, which found Beqiri guilty “of insulting high-ranking state officials.” In the [unclear] about the chairman in the newspaper “Kombi,” dated June 22, 1993, under the headline “Mr. Berisha, you are the murderer of all Albania.” After this, the police were forced to intervene against a group of protesters, and two of them were taken to the Police Station. “I will appeal this decision,” Beqiri told the newspaper from his office, where he was by then serving his prison sentence.

The film “A Day from a Life” is being shot TIRANA — Albanian cinema is resuming production. The good news comes from the Tirana Film Studio, where filming has begun on “A Day from a Life,” directed by Gjergj Xhuvani. The leading actor is the well-known Kadri Roshi, 72. The subject of this film, [unclear], is democracy: the years of blindness and the current lessons for the country’s intellectual elites. It speaks. Kadri Roshi plays an elderly nurse who, after retiring, begins to take stock of his existence, apparently devoted—for professional reasons—to helping others. And so, day after day, he discovers his deep, hidden faith: the faith he has had in the value of offering help and of ... Kadri Roshi succeeds in giving the role great dignity and credibility, turning the character into an extraordinary human example. Great anticipation surrounds the work being done by the director, Gjergj Xhuvani, a thirty-year-old who promises a great deal for Albanian cinema. Xhuvani is the author of the film “The Last Sunday,” with which he took part in the International Festival of Experimental Cinema in Italy, France, and Canada. Bardhyl Martinjani is the cinematographer, and the film is produced by Albafilm. “We are a long way from the films produced during the regime,” says Resul Çarcani, the film’s production director. “From after the War until recently, 250 films were made. But today we have changed the criteria: we have opened [unclear] feature-film production, not videotape.” Since the advent of democracy, this is the second film produced in Albania: the first—a great success—was “Death of the Horse” by Saimir Kumbaro. “A Day from a Life” will be shown in cinemas in December.

Dies in Albania - The dental orthopedics sector has been privatized. Under Minister Shehu’s order, the doctors’ [text unclear] will be sold to the employees

THE ORTHODONTIC SERVICE OF THE DENTAL SECTOR IS PRIVATIZED — The dental orthopedics sector has been privatized. According to an order from Minister Shehu, the equipment will be sold to employees of the privatized sector without an auction. The premises required for the new activity will be leased to dentists. AN ITALIAN FISHING BOAT DETAINED IN DURRËS — An Italian fishing boat has been detained at the port of Durrës since Saturday. The fishing boat, “Saveria Padre,” was fishing in Albanian territorial waters, according to the Durrës Harbourmaster’s Office. It was therefore detained by the Albanian maritime border guards and escorted to Durrës. Its entire catch, 71 crates of fish, was confiscated. Another Italian fishing boat, “Europa,” may have escaped pursuit by the Albanian guards thanks to its speed. GAVRAS MEETS PRESIDENT BERISHA — Albanian President Sali Berisha received the well-known French director Kosta Gavras. At the meeting, Gavras condemned the nationalism that has engulfed the Balkans today. “Only a peaceful Balkans will be able to join Europe,” the French director said. President Berisha expressed his compliments to Gavras for his renowned work. SARANDË: 25 PROPERTIES UP FOR AUCTION — The Sarandë District Privatization Office has announced in recent days the list of properties to be privatized through auction. Several properties located within the city of Sarandë and others in different parts of the district are slated for privatization. AID FOR ALBANIAN HEALTHCARE FROM AN AMERICAN CHARITY — Medical aid from the American charity “Americare” will soon arrive in Tirana. Turkish businessman Shener Aykuteli will also work with the organization, as will the Turkish government, which will cover part of the transportation costs.

Letters from across the sea Ardiana from Tirana wants to get in touch with Ilir Bala in Perugia, Italy. She has been out of contact with him since April of this year. She wants to know his new address, if he really has moved, or his telephone number. She is waiting to hear from him. (Ardiana — Tirana) We are an Italian family in Cosenza, Italy. On behalf of our son, we would like to thank Renato from Albania, who now lives in Italy—we apologize for not knowing his surname—for the help he gave Franco, our son, when he was in a car accident. We had heard a lot being said about Albanians, but this was the first time we had come to know their character. We send Renato and his family our embraces and thanks. And, hoping that Renato will read this letter, we ask him to come and visit us, because we would very much like to meet him and thank him in person. Once again, our heartfelt thanks. (The Tempesta family — Cosenza) My wife had a difficult delivery, and thanks to the help she received, she gave birth to a healthy child. I would like to take this opportunity to send greetings to my wife and son, and to express my gratitude for the care they received. I wish little Fabio a long and happy life, and happiness to everyone. (Artanl — Korçë)