Intervention by the EC over the new price of bread Martini Camia announces he will leave his post as representative of the European Community EC intervention over the new price of bread CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “Yes, the International Monetary Fund said that we must raise the price of bread. It is another sacrifice being demanded of the Albanian people, but Albania is the only country that has complied with this Fund’s strict prescriptions, so it seems to me that the results are beginning to show. Nevertheless, raising the price of bread is an issue on which the European Community has made a decision, and we are studying a system of intervention to reduce the sacrifices people have to make.” Antonio Martini Camia, who has been responsible for the European Community in Albania for two years, is about to leave his post. “My assignment is practically finished — he says — I came here for an emergency, but in September a European Community delegation will be established and I will make way for the new ambassador.” Today, on the eve of his departure, this “good father” of a Greater Europe takes stock of his experience: he describes how Albania has changed over the past two years, explains what has been done, declares his boundless love for this country but, at the same time, offers a reproach: “Unfortunately, the Albanians are a people who have still not achieved a tendency toward national reconciliation.” And today this is the only flaw that Let us begin with the positive aspects: what has the European Community done during these two years of aid in Albania? “Europe has so far provided 400 million dollars in aid, an amount proportionally five times greater than that offered to other Eastern countries. Our areas of intervention have been food, health care and industry. The latter, which entails the supply of raw materials, has been somewhat delayed: we still have to deliver two thirds of the aid available. Other interventions concern reducing the public deficit: so far we have disbursed 40 million dollars, and now we are disbursing another 45.” Are there programs in the cultural sector as well? “We follow two tracks: the Tempus program and the scientific and technical program. In both cases we make study grants available. With the Council of Europe, we are launching a project that will begin by the end of the summer for legal training and education in the field of human rights. Unfortunately, I must admit that the European Community has done very little indeed in this sector.” Is that self-criticism? “Certainly. President Berisha himself has asked us many times to help him, but we are not: a greater effort should have been made.” How do you assess the development of democracy in Albania? “Democracy is a goal that is never fully attained. Good things have been done so far, for example the Law on Human Rights and Freedoms, which, for some reason, still has to be passed; for example, the law on the property register. Among the main interventions there should be a reform of the new legal frameworks. Unfortunately, I think there is still an agreement between the executive and judicial branches: certainly a legacy of the mentality of the past. The hated petty corruption that exists at the level of junior officials is much like what existed in Italy after the war. And then there is the press: I often read articles that contain no news at all and are complete fabrications. Falsehoods and slander are neither information nor propaganda: they are simply an insult to the intelligence of the Albanian people.” You insist that there is no national reconciliation in Albania. Could you be clearer? “I am convinced that this people — which has thousands of good qualities — must learn to be more flexible, must have more common goals. It must not engage only in destructive criticism and must begin to regard the criticisms of others as constructive. Ultimately, national reconciliation means this: to love one’s people more and to work together for their benefit and progress.” In a few weeks you will leave Albania: do you feel any nostalgia? “I criticize certain aspects of this country because I am secretly in love with it. And now that I am leaving, I can confess it. Here I have discovered the existence of values that do not exist elsewhere: keeping one’s word, hospitality, the ability to live with nothing. I hope I have brought something to Albania. Certainly, Albania has been a value for me [text unclear].” The club’s representative, Mustafa Tuksferi, is extremely concerned about the difficult financial situation. “It is a genuine state of alarm — he tells the Gazette — which will lead to incalculable damage. Many things achieved through years of work risk collapsing in a short time. It will take at least another 10 years to reach today’s sporting level.” changed Albania same time, makes a reproach: “Unfortunately, Albanians are a people that still cannot achieve could compromise its economic development.” Is it to help him, but we have always responded with little help. I be- Jurik and in Russian on has truly done very little in this sector.” Democracy is a goal that is never fully achieved. So far, good things have been done, who knows why, was opposed by the opposition parties. Certainly, many things have been done, but there is still more to do. For example, I believe that one of the main steps should be the adoption of new legal frameworks. Unfortunately, I think an understanding still exists between the executive and the judiciary: certainly a legacy of the mentality of the past. Improving living standards will also eliminate that phenomenon from the past. seris: a greater effort should have been made.” The representative of the European Community in Albania, lawyer Martini Camia

The historic club is threatened by a lack of funds. Who can save it? A dramatic appeal by the management: “Help us” FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — Sport-Klub Tirana, one of the oldest sports clubs in the country, is on the verge of bankruptcy after 73 years of activity. The dramatic news comes from the management of the capital’s club itself, who have no choice but to appeal to Albanian and foreign businesspeople for help: “Help us, we are going bankrupt.” The names of its athletes and the chants “Tirana, Tirona,” so familiar to the capital’s fans, risk being left as nothing but memories. Today the club of alarm — he tells the Gazette — sporting level.” The capital’s Municipality has recently begun addressing the problem and has promised substantial funding if the club is financially… They businesspeople for help: “Help us, we are going bankrupt.” This risks leaving only the culture [?], the enthusiasm and the calls of “Tirona, Tirona,” so familiar to the capital’s fans. Today the club and the Municipality of Tirana will hold a meeting with businesspeople to consider possible ways of preventing its closure. The club currently comprises all the sports teams that previously belonged to the “17 Nëntori” club, with the exception of the football team, which has become independent and has begun to receive sponsorship from the Italian company “Ariston”. The first financial difficulties began to be felt in January, but since the beginning of June the club has had no funds even to pay the athletes, although it still maintains its tradition of ranking near the top. One of the best-known coaches working at Sport-Klub Tirana, Klujtim Kasmi, who leads this year’s women’s basketball champions, says: “If this situation continues, we will be forced to suspend our activities. We have already begun to feel athletes leaving our teams. There is no more mo- New sports disciplines were added. activity in Albania. Playing against Cetina of Montenegro, the Sport-Klub Kukës football team recorded the club’s first international match. This same team became champions in 1930, in the first national football championship. So did the basketball team, which won Albania’s first national championship in that sport. Immediately after the Liberation of the country, in March 1945, at a meeting called by the President of the Antifascist Youth of Tirana, it was decided that the capital’s team would be renamed “17 Nëntori,” the date of Tirana’s liberation. In four consecutive Spartakiads—the biggest sporting event for Albanian clubs—the Tirana team won only gold medals. After the latest democratic developments in Albania, the famous Tirana club returned to its original name. But by then it was preserving only the fond memories of years gone by. The transition to a market economy has created many problems for this club. It is a new story, but one that can in no way eclipse the others. (Photo of runners, with numbers 6, 13 and 7 on their shirts)

TIRANA — (Ed.La) — Founded on 16 August 1920 in Tirana, Sport-Klub Tirana is now on the verge of bankruptcy. It is among the oldest sports clubs established in Albania and has been one of the most prestigious for these 73 years. It is the club that for the first time — and, so far, the last — gave Albania an Olympic Champion: Ymer Pampuri, winner of the Gold Medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in weightlifting. Sport-Klub Tirana encompasses many of the best-known names in its history and is an anthology in its own right of the history of Albanian sport. The 1920s, along with the founding of Sport-Klub Tirana, also brought many new sports. First football, then basketball, volleyball, athletics and cycling expanded sporting activities in Albania. Playing against Cetinje of Montenegro, Sport-Klub Tirana’s football team also recorded the first international match in the name of this clu-

AZEM HAJDARI, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PUBLIC ORDER COMMITTEE, SUSPENDED FROM PARLIAMENT FOR A WEEK — Parliament’s disciplinary committee suspended MP Azem Hajdari from the proceedings of the People’s Assembly for a period of one week. He is currently Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Order Committee. According to witnesses in Parliament, Mr Hajdari insulted Pjetër Arbnori, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, during a discussion and kicked the podium in the main chamber. GREEK DESTROYER ARRIVES IN DURRËS — The Greek destroyer “Themistokles” arrived in Durrës on a friendly visit. The Greek warship, built in New Jersey, has been part of the Greek Navy since October of last year. Its crew consists of 310 officers and sailors, and it is 138 metres long. CHURCH BELLS STOLEN NEAR SHKODËR — As-yet-unidentified perpetrators stole two bronze bells from the church in the village of Koman, near Shkodër. One of the bells weighs 460 kilograms, while the other weighs 50 kilograms. Both were made about 50 years ago by the Italian government during the Second World War. Koman Church is the only one in the area which has 5 dakikë [?] supported by all the communities, while the bells had been stolen, having fallen today, and continued courageously [?] to be for [?] the church. Only courageously [?] to be for [?] the church.

ATT agency: “The last time for citizens of the Third World” EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The destination of the “tourists” from Sri Lanka has been discovered. “They left for Croatia,” a Slovenian told us on a tourist boat,” says Ilir Agolli, one of the employees of the Tirana Tourist Agency, which had also brought the 49 Sri Lankans to Albania. After this statement, it seems that the suspicions of Albania’s Minister of Tourism, Edmond Spaho — though not entirely — about clandestine migrant trafficking by travel agencies are not unfounded. The Ministry of Public Order, through its representative, has just shown interest in this suspicion. “We told the Ministry what we knew,” says the employee of the official tourist agency ATT. It was Edmond Spaho, Minister of Tourism, who reported his suspicion to the Albanian specialist authorities, saying that “many travel agencies may be transiting citizens from Sri Lanka and India toward the West.” Since the police have begun their checks, no conclusion can yet be given with certainty. “Besides us,” Agolli continues, “many other private agencies have brought citizens from Sri Lanka to Albania. The agencies Scanderbeg Travel and Albanian Travel & Tours stand out.” According to a source close to Minister Spaho, no official agency is now permitted to bring such citizens into Albania. Meanwhile, the latest to arrive in and leave our country were Sri Lankans brought by ATT. “The agency that supplied us with such citizens was ‘Europa Travel,’ based in Moscow,” the agency employee explains, “because we have had a long-standing relationship with them.” Only the departure of 49 tourists from Sri Lanka has been verified. They stayed in Albania for 7 days and only moved around Hotel “Arbëria”. Today, 10 Chinese women, brought by a private agency in Albania, are also staying at the same hotel to relax. “Sri Lanka and India toward the West.” In any case, the police have begun their checks, and Travel & leave our country were Sri Lankans brought by ATT.

KRUJË — A child, aged 8, dies in a town with a hospital because a medicine is unavailable. A medicine which, in somewhat better circumstances, would be an inexpensive anti-viper serum (against snakebite). The victim of this absurd incident is little Elona Leka, a resident of the village of Nojë, near Krujë. On Monday morning the girl had gone out to play in a sunny spot in the middle of the field behind her house. She was wearing sandals when a viper — a snake quite common in those parts and at this time of year — bit her leg in the bushes. The girl screamed and began to cry. The villagers immediately took her to hospital, helped her quickly and took her to hospital. And here the agony begins. The hospital doctors have no anti-viper serum; it is unavailable, they say. The hospital pharmacy has no ultracortisone, which in such a case could serve as a kind of antidote to ease the pain. Nothing can be done for little Elona Leka. She spends the night amid the desperate tears of her parents, their despair and the doctors’ helplessness. The accursed snake venom flows through her veins; no one knows what to do to stop it. At 7 in the morning Elona Leka falls into a coma. A few minutes later she dies. The question being asked today is whether anyone could have intervened; Krujë is only 30 kilometres from the capital. Why did no one think of transporting her to a hospital in Tirana? And, even if there was doubt, might they at least have saved her in Tirana? Doctor Medi Agolli, the on-duty physician in the emergency department of Kru- [text cut off] hospital no. 2, which handles such cases, replies with a troubled expression: “We do not have anti-viper serum. We have not had any for a long time. From time to time supplies arrive, but they are so small that they are used up very quickly. Now we are also short of ultracortisone and antibiotics. We lack many essential medicines.” When the first humanitarian aid for health care was requested in 1991, the international community thought of sending Albania vaccines against renal failure: a medicine so useless that it could have been refused. Italy and the European Community have spent more than 800 million dollars this year alone on aid to Albania — yet no one has thought to supply Albania — “its villages of life with [text unclear]” — with anti-viper serum. One dose costs 5,000 lire. Elona Leka’s life is worth much more.

The background to the new accusations against Andreotti ● An ancient and ultra-modern wedding in Japan ● Sport: Van Basten’s career may be over

[unclear decorative text] Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an extremely normal fact, except that sometimes these dreams are so beautiful or so terrible that they leave you astonished and bewildered when you wake up. But dreams can also be “precognitive,” that is, they may contain a premonition, a warning of what could happen in the future. Every week “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers explanations and meanings of the objects and situations most often dreamed about. Dwarf Sometimes they are identified with magic and mystery, according to the fairy tales about them: from this point of view, they represent a dark tendency in our consciousness. If we see someone we know as a dwarf, it seems that we have little regard for them and feel a strong sense of superiority toward them. But if the person we see as a dwarf is unknown to us, they represent an aspect of ourselves, an inferiority complex of our own and a repressed fear. Prediction: good health and victory over enemies. Nose The nose is a masculine symbol, and thus represents the male and, more generally, willpower and determination. Prediction: a big nose: honor, power, wealth; a small nose: fear, anxiety; a black nose: merchants on the way. Fog Worry, lack of clarity, anxiety: a situation is troubling you. In general, this refers only to temporary anxiety. Prediction: in these cases, psychological interpretation and popular tradition conclude that a period of sadness and difficulties lies ahead. Shop Dreaming that you do the shopping, choose goods and pay is an indication that you understand you have reached adulthood: you are convinced that you are no longer a child. Going into a shop also reveals sexual desire. Prediction: imminent arguments. Black A dream dominated by the color black brings out the worst sides of our personality or of other people, pointing toward sin and evil. This color symbolizes the mystery of uncontrollable forces. Prediction: mourning and misfortune. Snow Like ice, snow symbolizes emotional coldness, loneliness and melancholy. It also expresses frigidity. Prediction: difficult professional obstacles are being set in your path.