The Forestry Police are investigating the burned forests of Martanesh Trees in flames in the Berat area too The Forestry Police are investigating the burned forests of Martanesh Forests threatened by fire Trees in flames in the Berat area too TIRANA — Alarm over forest areas. In Krujë, Tepelenë, Gjirokastër, Berat and Mat, hundreds of hectares of forest have been affected by fire — during this month alone. These fires are the result of high temperatures, but some were also deliberately set. In Mat, where 20 hectares of pine saplings were engulfed by flames and 6 hectares burned completely, the case file has now been sent to the Investigative Department. But the alarm seems insufficient: “The district forestry service directorates have a limited number of people and resources to tackle possible fires,” officials at the Forest Police Sector of the General Directorate of Forests in Tirana say. The risk of losing control during the recent fires becomes all the more real. “There was no help from the villagers — the report of the Mat Forestry Service Directorate states — only two platoons from a military unit helped, along with the public-order forces.” And the result was: 6 hectares burned to ashes, moreover planted with pine saplings. The fire — which broke out in the Martanesh Forestry Enterprise — did not spare plots 34, 33, 29, 24, 124, 127 and 7. Meanwhile, the district investigative authorities have opened an investigation and are working intensively to find those who started the fire; the loss falls on the Albanian economy. Although the Mat case is unusual in terms of its causes, fire has now affected other forest areas in Albania as well. The most recent case dates to the 25th, when reports from Berat stated: “In Forestry Enterprise No. 7, one hectare of Mediterranean pines was engulfed by fire.” On the 13th of this month, in Tepelenë, one hectare in Plot 104 of the Dukas Forestry Enterprise was also affected by fire. The damage was estimated at 2 thousand lekë, and 0.1 hectares of a 25-year-old forest was completely damaged. Then, on July 19, a forest in Gjirokastër was also lost to the flames. It was an entire sector of the Lunxhëri Forestry Enterprise. The list of forest fires may also include the Krujë case of July 21. This time, the Qafë-Shtamë Forestry Enterprise suffered the fire, losing — fortunately — only 0.3 hectares of scrubland. “Apparently, the forces once reached as many as 500 people — officials at the General Directorate of Forests say — now there may be at most 20 employees in each district branch of the Forest Police.” As officials at this Directorate explain, private property has shown little solidarity from villagers and residents around the areas where extensive forest fires have been recorded. Therefore, assistance from senior government bodies is now awaited. “There are not only too few personnel in the Forest Police ranks, but also too few rapid-response service vehicles. So much so that even the General Directorate in Tirana has no vehicles or gasoline to monitor — at least — fire-related problems. 200 liters of gasoline a month is far too little for this directorate, which must cover part of the country. This is an appeal that must be heard as soon as possible.”

Photo of a building with colonnades and people in front.

Every month, 300 thousand lekë for the first-prize winners TIRANA — The Albanian Red Cross, a humanitarian organization known for its work serving people in need, has this time launched a new activity, a way to help increase the association’s funds, which many other sister organizations around the world have been practicing for some time. For several days, the association has been selling tickets for a lottery it has organized. The activity has been organized with the help of the Spanish Red Cross, and all proceeds will go toward the association’s humanitarian work, including several social programs and a program to prepare individuals affected by natural disasters. The new lottery is intended only for Albanian citizens. It will offer citizens who buy tickets an additional chance to win. The lottery will be held monthly, and the draw will take place publicly. There are 1005 prizes for the winners. Here are the prizes: the first prize is 300 thousand new lekë; 2 prizes of 100 thousand each, 3 of 40 thousand each, 9 of 10 thousand, 90 of one thousand, and 900 others of 500 lekë each. The first Red Cross Lottery draw will take place on August 21 of this year. The organizers have decided that prizes can be claimed for up to 60 days after the draw each month. Prizes will not be cumulative; each winning number will receive the highest possible amount. It will undoubtedly be a new opportunity to show solidarity with this humanitarian association, whose purpose is to help those who are suffering.

The perpetrator turns himself in to the Police LEZHË — The incident took place in the village of Torovicë in the district of Lezhë. As residents say, it was a domestic murder. Soko Geç, 26, who was a police officer at the main facilities in the city of Shkodër, and Zojës Noshit, 28, his fiancée’s sister. The killer — according to the testimony of the Shkodër Public Order authorities — is Gjin Pejaj, 37, Zojës’ husband. According to the same source, the motive that drove him to act was finding the two victims in flagrante in his room, after they had spent several hours together. Present at the time of the killings was Gjin Pejaj’s wife’s brother. He recounted what his brother-in-law said, who stated: “I forgave them both. I would certainly divorce my wife, but Sokol Geçi insulted me badly and I shot him with his pistol.” The perpetrator turned himself in to the police, having taken with him a packet of cigarettes and matches. He is the father of three children, with very little income, which he secured from a piece of land given to him by the household as collateral. He is now being held by the Shkodër Police authorities.

A kiosk has chosen the well-known pacifist as its emblem TIRANA — It is a sign made of plastic. Placed on one of the sidewalks of “Rruga e Kavajës,” it reminds the many passers-by that in this square full of refreshment stands and ice cream, where they can enjoy a pleasant, family-friendly and very sociable break, people who do not want to get involved in other work seem to find a place to rest. It is the Good Soldier Shvejk, Hašek’s famous character, a symbol of irony toward the madness of war, this “disease” of humanity that is becoming ever more widespread. It is not known why the kiosk owner chose precisely a character like Shvejk to advertise the refreshment stand. Perhaps it was out of nostalgia for the time of his youth, when the book sold well. Even today, perhaps more than ever, Shvejk’s biting irony toward the “gentlemen of war” remains relevant. Not far from here, Bosnia continues to be a blood-soaked land. The catastrophe is not being averted, despite the intervention of the international army. Where to? This is the question asked by the hundreds of people who appear every day in the television reports coming from the battle zones. I am a student in the eighth grade of the eight-year school “LeF Sallata” in the city of Vlorë. My name is Reda Imari. I like literature very much and have written verses and poems, which I have not published. I would like to be a reader and storyteller for “Gazeta Shqiptare,” and therefore I would like it to report the most important events concerning Albanians outside the homeland. “Gazeta Shqiptare” is a real newspaper, because I now read party events in it. I am sending you some poems in this letter, with which I try to express my thoughts. There, in the south of Albania, is one of the neglected areas. Let us try to express Albanian identity and love. “Letter from the emigrant” Oh, my mother! with tears in my eyes, I write to you with longing in my heart I remember summer, the beautiful season that I like, the day of departure, which took me far away. With longing in my heart I remember everything, that makes me suffer and think. How far away I am, from here and everywhere, the great, lively and beautiful world. I am a student in the eighth grade of the eight-year school “LeF Sallata” in the city of Vlorë. My name is Reda Imari. I like literature very much and have written verses and poems, which I have not published. I would like to be a reader and storyteller for “Gazeta Shqiptare,” and therefore I would like it to report the most important events concerning Albanians outside the homeland. “Gazeta Shqiptare” is a real newspaper, because I now read party events in it. I am sending you some poems in this letter, with which I try to express my thoughts. There, in the south of Albania, is one of the neglected areas. Let us try to express Albanian identity and love. “Love has no boundaries” I saw you and waited for you You left and did not speak please tell me why you left me to suffer Like a sun that never sets you were at that time you loved me and I loved you because you were my [unclear] Love has no boundaries from youth to old age love those you love, don’t listen to what they say. REALDIA MERI Is the Albanian economy moving? The Albanian economy seems to have ground to a halt. How is this happening? At first glance, the political situation is almost stable, setting aside the so-called local or group frictions. “Albania” is a country where there are difficulties. In fact, small anti-[unclear] groups can pose a fundamental threat to future stability. The people have now understood that they will never achieve a peaceful, prosperous life through extremist methods. The Albanian worker needs work, with help to secure the minimum necessary for living. Now the Albanian trader has emerged, able to [unclear] and make a profit. The role of the small trader is important for the market relationship. The private market should be encouraged by the state. In what direction should Albania develop in order to achieve the fastest, most beneficial and most satisfactory development for selling? Tourism — through tourism the Albanian economy could develop in this way. European tourists are “sated” with Europe’s beauties and need new, undiscovered places, not to mention the beauty of our coastline. The dawn and light of Albania show it to be a country in Europe, an integral part of it. And closer than others, in terms of our use, it is a part of Italy, with a familiarity with Albania that no other Europeans have. A man from Oranto, well known and close to Albanians, is Don Giuseppe Colavero. Within a few months the association he founded grew in many cities and villages, mainly in southern Albania. Don Giuseppe, the former president of the local Caritas, has helped many people in need. He conceived and personally established an Albanian training center in Oranto called “Agimi,” equipped with resources and carrying out activities in the economic, religious and cultural fields (especially popular culture), as well as in humanitarian work and solidarity. Photograph of a signboard featuring a peace symbol and the soldier Shvejk.

THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE ONE CHAMBER — At the initiative of Justice Minister Kuçret Cela, discussion began in the People’s Assembly on Chapter Three of the Draft Albanian Constitution. Once again, the idea of a two-chamber Parliament was put forward by the deputies: a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The vote selected the one-chamber Parliament as the final form. Speakers emphasized the need for a broad definition of the powers of the three branches of government, as well as environmental protection issues. The next meeting of the Parliamentary Commission for Drafting the Constitution will begin on Wednesday. GERMAN BOOK EXHIBITION OPENS IN TIRANA — The German Book Exhibition opened at the International Cultural Center in Tirana. It is the second one — after the one held last year — since the end of the Second World War. The exhibition — the result of cooperation between German organizations and the Ministry of Culture and Sports — is largely devoted to scientific publications. Dr. Klaus Wolers, Germany’s Ambassador in Tirana, speaking at the exhibition’s opening, promised that seminars would be held in cooperation in the field of books, that a printing press would soon arrive from Germany, and that Albanian publishers would be invited to the Frankfurt Book Fair. VLORË / EDUCATION FACES DIFFICULTIES — “Securing teaching staff and the lack of funds for teaching materials” are the concerns of education officials in the district of Vlorë. Nevertheless, work is continuing to prepare for the new school year.

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Soon in “Gazeta Shqiptare” you will find free space for your classified ads. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to one of our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370. Or in Bari: Viale Scipione l’Africano, 264. State in your message what you are looking for or offering, your name and address.