Universities in turmoil, but enrollment is at a record high Students: without textbooks, we have turned into typing machines Reportage SPIRO ILO TIRANA — The university is living through days of hope, but also of major problems. “We are in a period when we want to build something academic, but being so poor and dealing almost every day with problems such as chairs, desks and students’ textbooks, our main concern for now is economic,” says Koçi Petrit, Dean of the Faculty of History and Philology at the University of Tirana. There are 9 universities in Albania, where 22,643 students are currently enrolled, compared with 18,893 in the 1987–88 school year. Half of today’s students are women, whose number reaches 11,694: a figure that, in comparison with statistics from previous years, reflects a significant decline in their number. This year, for the first time, women did not exceed 50 percent of new enrollees. It was university students who first rose up against the dictatorship in December 1990, giving life to the democratic movement throughout the country. The neighborhood known as “Studenti” in Tirana, once a site of clashes with the police, is now quiet. The dormitories and living conditions in this mini-city were among the first things the democratic government addressed, as a sign of gratitude to the young people. But little has yet changed in the classrooms and lecture halls. The mere sum of 25,000 dollars that the state budget has allocated for new investments at the university seems small in light of the current state of the classrooms and large, almost empty lecture halls, where students gather around the few available tables. Now that winter has passed and the sun coming in through the large windows warms the students a little, the most evident problem remains textbooks. “Textbooks—even the old ones, some of which are no longer used—are a dream for students,” says Enkel[e?] Gjoni, a first-year student in the Faculty of Geography. “The only thing I remember from the faculty is the pressure to write as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t miss the lectures. We’ve simply turned into typing machines, and all teaching has been reduced to the poverty of the textbooks of the past.” At the Ministry of Education, we are told that higher-education textbooks are stalled because of the high cost of publishing and the liberalization of retail prices. Under current conditions, students cannot afford these prices, which are 10–15 times higher than before liberalization. To complete all the copies now in print would currently require 10,000 dollars. One of the problems that concerns students most is the future. What will they do after graduating? In a country like Albania, where unemployment has gripped more than 40 percent of the working-age population, the need for graduates seems to belong simply to the future. “I have no hope that I’ll be able to find a job after I finish school,” says Ilir K[r?]aci from Kruja, a third-year electrical-engineering student. “I have many friends who think it’s better to learn any trade than to waste their time at school, but I think education is still worthwhile for getting ahead in life.” This is a view shared by many young Albanians, and it is also confirmed by the statistics: despite the problems, new enrollments this school year have reached a record number. A slight decline has been recorded only among students coming from rural areas. Lecturers, too, have their problems; the most troubling is that their salaries are still low. Al[i?] Dhrima, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages in Tirana, says: “Everyone talks about the weakness of the generation of intellectuals who must take Albania forward, but this cannot be achieved on a salary of 20 dollars a month.” This dissatisfaction is reflected dramatically in the statistics: a large number of them have left the university this year. And so, after desks and textbooks, students risk losing their professors as well. 1992–93 1991–92 1987–88 Total students 22,643 22,705 18,893 Female students 11,694 (51.6%) 11,741 (51.7%) 9,519 (50.3%) Male students 10,949 (49.4%) 10,964 (49.3%) 9,374 (49.7%) Students from rural areas 7,117 (31.4%) 8,004 (35.2%) 6,580 (34.8%) Students from cities 15,526 (69.6%) 14,701 (64.8%) 12,313 (65.2%) Total first-year enrollees 6,054 (26.7%) 5,447 (23.9%) 4,853 (25.6%) Women 3,028 (50%) 2,974 (54.4%) 2,602 (53.6%) Men 3,026 (50%) 2,473 (45.6%) 2,251 (46.4%) From rural areas 1,759 (29%) 1,871 (34.3%) 1,753 (36.1%) From cities 4,295 (71%) 3,756 (65.7%) 3,100 (63.9%) Graduates (in June) 4,050 4,300 2,985 Lecturers 1,729 1,805 1,625 2 - continued

Young people want modern clothes Miniskirts are popular. But prices are high TIRANA — (Br. Ca.) — Colors, elegance, originality, tastes. Fashion is being born in Albania. For days, young people in Tirana have been walking past the window of the “Benetton” shop, the first Western clothing store to open in Albania. A store that represents not merely a simple commercial venture, but which in itself signals a fundamental change in the tastes and aesthetics of Albanian youth. But what do the young people themselves say? Vjola Mati: “I would like to find cropped tops in shops, down to the waist; I like dressing fashionably.” Arens Kongoli: “I like miniskirts.” Sales assistants stand close to the display windows and come over to offer you merchandise, suggesting which outfit makes you look better and inviting you to buy. But these ways of selling also represent something new in certain respects. Because fashion and commerce are closely linked to one another. One exists because the other exists too. It is one of the laws of the market economy. And so the phenomenon of fashion brings with it the problem of prices. “We can’t always buy the clothes we like,” Albana, a student, replies simply. “When prices are too high, we give up. Because we are used to…” itself represents a sign of a fundamental change in the tastes and aesthetic sensibilities of Albanian youth. But what do young people say? Vjola Mati: “I’d like to find waist-length crop tops in shops; I like dressing fashionably.” Arens Kongoli: “I like luxury, elegant clothes.” Entela Dede: “You can’t find shorts in the shops.” Ar-dian Metohu: “What’s missing is elegant, good-quality clothing: suits, jackets, ties...” Nor are adults indifferent to the lure of colours and fashion. Although for some people this is a problem: “I can’t find black clothes,” says pensioner Fatime Kajimi sadly, as she moves, confused and excited, among red miniskirts and yellow jeans. “I hadn’t intended to buy anything, but I liked the atmosphere,” says Drita Zotaj, showing the bag bearing the “Benetton” logo in which her purchase is packed. “As soon as I came in, the salesgirls approached me, and with their manner and gestures they invited me to touch the items on display.” There they are, the salesgirls: they too are new protagonists of the fashion phenomenon. You approach... And so the fashion phenomenon brings price problems with it. “We can’t always buy the clothes we like,” replies Albana, a student, simply, “especially when prices are very high. We’ve got used to going without.” “Besides, a children’s blouse costs 1,200 new lek; with that money I can eat for a week,” continues Zyli Zorba, a pensioner. “I can’t afford these prices. The goods are good, but they don’t match our wages.” Mimoza Rexhaj gives the same answer: “Prices are high; I’d like to find [something] in the shops for [a few] lek.” Parents and children react to the prices in the same way. “Compared with abroad, they’re cheaper, but even here they’re too expensive for us,” says Mimoza Ibrahime. Her 12-year-old daughter Jugerta adds: “Mum would like to buy things for me, but she can’t afford to. I’d like a bicycle, but Mum is on assistance.” She speaks while looking toward the display window, where many of her other wishes are on display. Wishes and the inability to fulfil them intertwine unintentionally. For her, as for many others. UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON

Major security measures at the trial

A project to intervene for children with heart disease is ready

Major security measures at the trial TIRANA — For the first time in Albania, the court is intervening between rival criminal groups. Naim Zyberi, accused of murdering Gazmend Muça in April 1992, appeared before the Tirana court bench on Monday. This is an extremely delicate trial, being held under extraordinary security measures: “It is the first time a court hearing has been watched over by police wearing bulletproof clothing,” one of these officers told the newspaper. “My client is accused of murder—one attempted and the other completed,” said lawyer Maks Ostreni. The first hearing, which lasted five hours, ended with two [unclear]. After 3–4 interruptions and confrontations between Naim Zyberi’s family and Gazmend Muça’s family, the presiding judge, Agim Bendo, ordered those present to leave the courtroom. The first two witnesses, who were to identify the defendant as responsible for attempted murder, acknowledged that the name of the person who had wounded them did not match that of the defendant in the courtroom. Meanwhile, the sole witness to the murder of Gazmend Muça, a police officer, said that he had heard the killer’s name being mentioned in the moments immediately after the murder, but that he himself “hadn’t seen anything.” The other witnesses who were to testify that Zyberi had murdered the young Muça did not appear at this hearing, forcing the court bench to order that they be brought in by force for the next hearing, which will begin on Saturday. “Naim Zyberi has been in the prison hospital for 8 months,” lawyer Ostreni continues, “and he is being treated in two departments: psychiatry and surgery. Four expert assessments have been conducted for Naim. The first confirms the defendant’s lack of responsibility; the next two are inconclusive, and the last gives an answer, but not a definitive one.” Gazmend Muça was killed on “Qemal Stafa” Street by a group of three killers. The hypothesis, consistently upheld by investigators, is that the incident is linked to rivalry between gangs. A conjecture on which justice must finally deliver its judgment.

TIRANA — Good news for Albanian women. Under Article 26 of the Social Insurance Law approved by Parliament, all women who give birth are entitled to one full calendar year of paid leave. The article provides for one additional month of leave for women who give birth to twins. This outcome was reached after many debates, some of which became heated. The strongest opponents of this article were the Social Insurance specialists themselves, who feared the state would not have the financial resources to cover the costs required to implement this decision. In the end, the feminist position prevailed, supported above all by women members of Parliament from all parties. Many deputies considered the article’s approval “a great victory” for protecting mothers’ health and reducing infant mortality.

A project to intervene for children with heart disease is ready ready 1,000 Albanian children await help from Italy TIRANE — A ray of hope for Albanian children suffering from serious heart conditions. Six Albanian children with congenital heart disease are waiting to receive free surgery in the pediatric cardiac surgery department at the hospital in Massa, Italy. This will mark the start of the first phase of the project aptly named “Cuore.” Launched last year, following a preliminary study, by a group of pediatric cardiologists from Massa in cooperation with Albanian doctors, the project aims to fully rehabilitate Albanian children suffering from this severe disability. According to figures from the Ministry of Health, there are currently around 1,000 children in Albania who urgently need heart surgery. For all these children, the long wait for surgery means losing any hope of escaping this serious misfortune. Albanian hospitals are still unable to provide the facilities needed for these kinds of operations, which require advanced technology. Meanwhile, an operation of this kind in Western clinics costs sums that Albanian parents cannot even imagine. To save sick children, the “Cuore” project provides for 4–5 operations a month at the hospital in Massa. In addition, Italian hospitals will provide assistance, sharing their expertise and supplying the necessary equipment to pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiac surgery departments in Albanian hospitals. The project has encountered financial difficulties, but the doctors are determined to begin its first phase, even under limited conditions. The six young patients arrived at the hospital in Massa some time ago, and the delicate operations are being prepared; the doctors have expressed optimism. Recently, another group of doctors from the same hospital arrived in Albania. The group identified other children in Tirana, Shkodër and Fier, who will soon undergo surgery in Italy. This project is not the first instance of cooperation between Albanian and Italian hospitals to ease the suffering of young patients. People in both countries remember the case of Borela, the little girl from Vlora who entered Italy clandestinely with her father. She suffered from a serious illness and was operated on free of charge by surgeons at the hospital in Lecce. Thanks to this operation, her life was put at risk. In addition, several Italian hospitals have repeatedly sent medicines and hospital equipment to children’s wards in Tirana and other districts.

The 30 members of the Rotary Club celebrate their first anniversary TIRANE (c.bo.) — There are thirty of them, just thirty, but they have very strict rules: an admission quota, compliance with international regulations, the club’s own premises — Villa Italian — and social gatherings on the first Friday of every month. The venue was chosen in advance: Kafe Europa, whose owner — a member of the 100-club organizing group — closes the public venue and offers it to all the members free of charge. The association’s aim is to help others without regard for personal gain. This is the Rotary Club, a charitable organization recognized around the world and present in Albania for a year. Its thirty members gathered at Hotel Tirana to celebrate the first year of its activity. In Italy, Europe and America, Rotary is a club where wealthy gentlemen meet to expand their social connections, exchange cultural experiences and maintain their standing in society. In Albania, its implementation seems different: programs for current affairs information, the development of humanitarian and professional assistance, tourism and — often — aid to the poor, as well as — often — a campaign for vaccination against viral hepatitis. Founded in Tirana just one year ago, on the initiative of Distretto 2090 of Puglia, the Rotary Club Shqiptari had only thirty members: 150 lek for admission and a great desire to help people. Today its membership has not grown, because “the admission of new members does not depend on us alone,” explains Flamur Tartari, one of its most active members. It is a fact that all its members are professionals and well-to-do, in keeping with a practice respected by Rotarians around the world. And in Albania, an organization of this kind represents another sign of growing change. Where once there was a lack, a hall at Hotel Tirana hosted the president of a local organization and, as this club was established, the traditional bell was rung, its sound heard in every Rotary Club around the world. A hotel com[?], a singer surprised by this unusual atmosphere, asked whether something had happened. Only after they reassured him — though he did not understand — did the Albanian partygoer enjoy himself and leave.

Motoring: «Ferrari» has a new sporting director Evidence is lacking for Albanian saints Perhaps Clinton will send American troops to Macedonia

Here are this week’s practical tips: Prepare an infusion using two handfuls of lime blossoms. Pour it into a bath with 3 litres of water. Extend the bath a little by adding hot water as needed so that the water does not get cold. In the evening, this bath helps you sleep. * * * To remove a cork from a glass bottle when it will not come out, wrap the neck in a cloth soaked in hot water and rub it gently. * * * To prevent glasses from breaking when pouring hot liquids into them, place them on a damp cloth. * * * To keep an opened bottle of beer, seal it tightly and put it in the refrigerator upside down. * * * To remove a beer stain from coloured fabric, clean the stain with hydrogen peroxide diluted one to ten, then with cold water. * * * To clean an oil bottle, pour still-hot coffee into it. The damp coffee grounds stick to the inside of the bottle. At this point, shake the bottle vigorously, then remove the grounds by pouring water into the bottle and rinsing with cold water. To bring out the flavour of coffee, add a little bitter cocoa or a little fine salt to the filter. * * * To melt butter, pour very hot water into a metal pot, empty it, and immediately add the butter, cut into small pieces. * * * To perfume underwear, put little bags of flowers or aromatic leaves in the wardrobe, dried on paper in the shade. You can use rose, mint, violet, rosemary, etc. * * * A dried fig contains four times as much sugar as a fresh fruit. To check that figs are good, they should yield when pressed between your fingers. The fruit is tasty if it is fully ripe. If we have fresh fruit that is a little discoloured, lightly steam it and it will regain its freshness. * * * A bunch of flowers that have opened too much can be used to make a very pretty table centrepiece. Cut the stems very short and arrange them nicely in a transparent dish; this way they will float on the surface of the water, creating a beautiful decoration for the table.