Hospital treatment changes “We want to increase voluntary donation,” says Minister Shehu. The law does not specify seriously ill patients TIRANA (c.bo.) — Blood now has to be paid for. With the exception of emergencies or chronic cases, patients needing a blood transfusion in Albanian hospitals will from now on have to pay. The state, in fact, no longer covers these expenses. The decision was made by Parliament, which approved a special law. This initiative is part of the measures taken by the Ministry of Health, which intends to bring out and try to limit the demand for AIDS screening. “The purpose of the law is certainly not to speculate on people's health,” Health Minister Tritan Shehu explained to the Gazeta, “but rather to try to make things safer.” In Albania there are thousands of donors who sell their blood to various hospital facilities. But this occupation — not yet widespread in this area — is now facing a very serious risk: AIDS. The only two seropositive people identified in Albania (the latest case was discovered only a few days ago) are in fact blood donors. Today, testing laboratories are able to check only 60 percent of the blood collected for payment. And so it may happen that a donor with AIDS, without knowing it, infects many other people. Seropositive blood has been seen in Albania — before tests reveal the presence of the virus — not a trade”. blood to various hospital facilities. But this occupation — not yet widespread in this area — Albania — before tests reveal the presence of the virus ... is for the Ministry of Health to take action, as it intends to address and try to curb the threat of AIDS. on people’s health,” the Minister of Health, Tritan Shehu, explains to the newspaper, “but rather to reorganize the blood-donation system in a new way, since today it is a normal buying and selling business. The newly approved law is very important. In fact, a patient will be exempt from paying for blood if, within the span of a year, they have donated blood voluntarily at least once (either personally or through a family member). The amount does not matter; what matters is that they have done it.” The aim is clear: to encourage voluntary blood donation and reduce, until it is eliminated, what is happening. “Blood donation must be a mission,” the Minister emphasizes. “At present, we can test so it can happen that a donor who has AIDS without knowing it infects many other people. The blood of the first Albanian who tested seropositive—before tests revealed the presence of the virus—was used for a transfusion in a small child. The authorities feared that the infected blood might have done the same to the little one. Then, before the tests were done, the child died of the cancer he had been suffering from for some time. ‘This is the most dangerous period for us,’ Minister Shehu concludes. ‘AIDS has a very long incubation period, and it is clear that blood donors risk being the main carriers of this disease. For this category and its activities, we feel it is our duty to…’ The entrance to the hospital in Tirana

Hotel Tirana will also be renovated Summer oases in Jala and Lura TIRANA — Around fourteen million dollars are ready for investment, along with two tourist villages in the North and South and the restructuring of Hotel Tirana, the country's largest. Albania is beginning to move decisively into the profitable tourism sector. The prospects are enormous and everyone — Europe above all — is convinced that the future of the land of eagles lies precisely in the development of tourism, a major resource that was cut off for 45 years by the communist dictatorship. The funding has come from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. “Two million dollars in support will be financed — in the form of low-interest loans — for the construction of a hotel and a large shopping centre by an Austrian company,” explains Tourism Minister Edmond Spaho. Another one and a half million dollars in financing will be allocated to the restructuring of Hotel Tirana, in the capital. “The final signing of the two agreements by the EBRD is scheduled for the coming days,” the Minister adds. “This is the first major investment in the tourism sector: it is a test to gauge the country's readiness for this kind of intervention.” The projects of the Austria[n?]ns concern two outstanding areas: Jala in the South and Lura in the North of the country. The first Albanian tourist villages will be established there. It is still necessary to say “will be established,” at least until the first stone marking the start of construction has been laid. Last month, news was confidently announced of the establishment of the tourist village of Ksamil; later, the Control Commission found irregularities in the agreement and called for the contract to be annulled. At present, tourist facilities in Albania are still small in scale. Nevertheless, the arrival of 35,000 foreign tourists is forecast by the end of 1993, while 4,000 have visited in the first four months. The preferred destinations have been Saranda, Pogradec, Durrës, Kruja and Tirana. “Last year,” Tourism Minister Spaho continues, “we took in more than 4 million dollars thanks to tourism.” Another important meeting for Albanian tourism is scheduled for September. The World Tourism Organization conference will be held in Indonesia, and at that meeting Albania's admission among the member countries will be discussed (and certainly decided).

The fountain in front of the University of Tirana TIRANA — New fountains in Tirana. As part of the restructuring of the water supply system, for which 36 million lekë have been allocated, 4 million have been earmarked for repairing the capital's large fountains: those in Skënderbeg Square and University Square (pictured). The Government's initiative will certainly help make the capital more beautiful, although the problem of drinking water remains to be solved. Although the restructuring of the facilities also concerns the large Bovilla water-supply system (40 percent of whose water resources could be enjoyed by the residents of Tirana), in fact it cannot be used because the proper pipelines are missing. In this respect, a foreign investment in it would solve most of the problem. There is no shortage of water. In the north-eastern part of the city lies Mali me Gropa, which has a 55-square-kilometre hydrological reservoir, with a capacity of 55–60 million cubic metres of water. Unfortunately, today this extraordinary resource cannot be used, while many homes in the city (especially on the upper floors) go without water for many hours a day. And the great summer heat does nothing but heighten this concern. Only the children have found a solution: they bathe in the fountains.

TIRANA — Aid worth 3 million dollars, consisting of 174 tractors and 400 different agricultural machines, is being provided free of charge to Albania by the European Community. This aid, part of the PHARE program, was formalized in a contract between the Ministry of Agriculture and Social Food and two Western European agricultural machinery manufacturers. The project will be carried out by two Italian and English companies, whose aim is to establish service centers in Albania to repair these machines. The first tractors and equipment are expected to arrive in September and be sold to private owners.

TIRANA — Law-enforcement and justice employees, under pressure from the state's reckless actions…

TIRANA — Law-enforcement and justice employees are under pressure from citizens’ reckless actions. This is the latest signal, which has begun to manifest itself in various forms. A person was arrested in Tirana for having threatened Shkëlqim Hajdari, Head of the Investigative Police of Region 4, seeking to force him through violence to abandon an investigation. A similar case concerns the Prosecutor of the Mat District, who was openly threatened in the middle of the city by various individuals. This followed his transfer to the presidency of the District Court, in the trial to be held next week in Burrel.

SERREQI SPEAKS ABOUT RELATIONS WITH GREECE — The claims made by the Greek side that the Greek minority in Albania is supposedly being denied its rights and freedoms are unfounded, and we also expect the High Commissioner for Minorities to arrive soon to carry out a verification.” Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi once again emphasized the Albanian Government's goodwill regarding relations with its neighbours, especially Greece. “There are many problems between Greece and Albania,” Serreqi continued, “but they can be resolved very well through discussions and without the passions that feed the fanatics of Megali Idea.” YHAMELE IN THE CITY OF KOPLIK — After Megali Idea.” THE NEW MOSQUE IN THE CITY OF KOPLIK — After 17 months of work, the new mosque was inaugurated in the city of Koplik, funded by the Islamic Charitable Centre of Kuwait. The architecture of this mosque — in the Arab style — as well as its functional layout, allow 700 worshippers to enter at once. The best craftsmen in the Koplik area were employed in building the mosque. Worshippers from Malësia e Madhe, Shkodra and Lezha, as well as senior religious figures, attended the mosque's opening day. THE NEW ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL IN TIRANA — Abdul Rahman Al-Ajmi, President of the World Islamic Committee, also presented a model of the new Orthopaedic Hospital during his meeting with President Berisha. It will be built free of charge by his organization. The hospital, whose opening will take place tomorrow, will be built in the hills of Tirana near the village of Sauk. A BUSINESSMEN'S ASSOCIATION IN TIRANA SEEKS TO LOWER MARKET PRICES — “Union of Democratic Businessmen,” an association established about four months ago, seeks to influence and lower the price level. “Our aim is to achieve honest commercial activity” is the main motto of this private venture, built on the basis of partnership. The association, which has its own statute, regulations and contract, is chaired by a 15-member board. “Normally, the profit margin,” says the association's economist, “should be 10–15 percent according to international standards.” The association also denounces cases of profiteering, which for some goods reaches as much as 100 percent.

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by Stella Wilder Aries 20/III 20/IV — Your powers and opportunities are great today. Don’t get lost in memories of the good times gone by. Focus on the present. Cancer 21/VI 22/VII — Your emotional situation may suddenly heat up today. The options available to you are numerous, and all are satisfactory. Libra 23/IX 22/X — Today, progress should not be confused with benefits. There is a difference between the two, which you will discover by the end of the day. Capricorn 22/XII 19/I — The support you are counting on today will be slow to reach you. Don’t lose patience: you are fully capable of managing on your own. Taurus 21/IV 20/V — Communications with other people may be abruptly interrupted today, creating a complex situation that only you can resolve. Leo 23/VII 22/VIII — Finding out the truth today may be as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack. But you won’t give up. Scorpio 2/X 21/XI — A look into the past today will help you view the future more sharply. Everything will seem clearer and simpler. Aquarius 20/I 19/II — Delusions may lead you directly to satisfaction during the same day ahead, which will be complex and contradictory. Gemini 21/V 20/VI — Others will expect support and guidance from you today, things that you yourself desperately need. Virgo 23/VIII 22/IX — Nobody promised you that today would be easy, but there’s no need to make it harder than it really is. Sagittarius 22/XI 21/XII — Today you have the opportunity to demonstrate your talent before a select audience: friends and loved ones whom you value. Pisces 20/II 19/III — You would be wise to keep your opinions to yourself, especially in the morning. Before you say anything, assess the state of mind of those around you.