TIRANA — (Fa. Ba.) “For some time I haven’t been feeling well, and a doctor has told me that I may have AIDS.” This telephone message was heard on the live program broadcast by TVSH on Tuesday evening, prompting a question afterward: “In another case, could it be the ‘disease of the century’?” Deputy Minister of Health Besim Nuri, who spoke with viewers via the television screen, calmly answered the citizen, who wished to remain anonymous: “That reasoning is wrong. No one can tell you that you have contracted AIDS without first carrying out the relevant tests. Only after that can we speak concretely.” Perhaps this is one aspect of the spread of this disease: the fear that leads people to regard even the simplest illness as AIDS. It was a fear that Nuri himself tried to combat on the latest television program.

A TV debate to curb fear Deputy Minister of Health Nuri invites citizens to cooperate FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — AIDS is present in Albania too. What had long been expected has now been confirmed. Now not only can people move around freely, but so can this virus. Following “Gazeta’s” publication of the news about the first Albanian seropositive person, speculation and fears are mounting: what will happen in the future, and are Albania’s health-care structures capable of handling the AIDS alarm? This is a question that is being asked increasingly often, and not only in specialist circles. For the first time since the virus was identified in Albania, Deputy Minister of Health Besim Nuri addressed viewers in a live televised discussion: “We must not cause needless alarm. This is a normal occurrence that was to be expected. Now the important thing is to prevent the disease from taking hold: medical professionals, but also citizens, who need to take greater care. We must learn as much as possible about it. Only by knowing it can you fight it.” This was the clear message Deputy Minister Nuri addressed to the Albanian public. Many issues came up in the viewers’ telephone discussion with Nuri. The most urgent of all, the problem of equipment used in hospitals, is one of the ways the virus spreads most quickly: disposable syringes and equipment used in dental clinics. “You should choose the dentist who is most careful,” the Deputy Minister replied to a question from Tirana. This time, barbers were also discussed. “They should use disposable blades; otherwise, the likelihood of infection increases,” Nuri stressed. AIDS was first discussed in Albania in 1984, when medical staff began to be trained to fight it. In 1987 the first concrete program began to be implemented, and at almost the same time the first diagnostic laboratory was opened at the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Tirana. Later, particularly recently, the funding and the number of people engaged in its prevention increased several times over. Conferences and courses were organized and, finally, a project: Albanians have also begun to undergo tests for this disease on their own initiative. Meanwhile, his wife’s blood, which tests showed to be uninfected—but she remains a high-risk individual—was given ... by a doctor who did not ... wish to be identified. ... recently ... treated. The probability is 90 percent,” said one of the doctors who did not wish to be identified. ... “There is nothing special about this role.” Marsela answers ... the newspaper’s ... in a way that ... preserves professional confidentiality.

TIRANA — (Fa.Ba.) The shadow of AIDS has now fallen over two more families. Both children had to receive blood because of their medical conditions. The two young patients—whose identities cannot be published for obvious reasons—are an 18-month-old child from a village near Kavaja and another, six years old, from Fier. The suspicions arose because, unfortunately, tests carried out so far have not ruled them out: both children are connected, in some way, to the blood of the first Albanian seropositive person and his wife, who were regular blood donors. Blood from the seropositive person was given to the one-year-old child, while plasma was used to treat a patient at the military hospital in Lapraka, who later died in an accident. Meanwhile, his wife’s blood, which tests showed to be free of AIDS—but she remains a high-risk individual—was given to the child from Fier. The person identified as a carrier of the virus had donated blood before being found to be seropositive; it was used for transfusions in several cases. It is known that the virus spreads and has a long incubation period. At least the child who received his blood must be infected. who did not wish to be identified.

Two female police officers in Albania. This is the reality of June 1993, which will certainly go down in the history of the Albanian police. Marsela Myrtaj and Anita Londo, 19-year-old girls from Memaliaj in Tepelenë (pictured), have just started work in the Criminal Police service attached to the Tepelenë Public Order Department. “I’m very happy,” Marsela told Gazeta, “that at last the authorities have fulfilled our dream of becoming police officers.” Marsela Kapo Myrtaj, who is 1.74 metres tall and used to play volleyball and basketball, also enjoys playing football with the boys. In March, when she submitted her “strange” request, the district police chiefs suggested that she find another female friend as well, so that she would be safer. “For me,” says Marsela, a high-school student, “the idea of becoming a police officer appealed to me, so I didn’t refuse,” says Anita Londo, a fair-haired and respected young woman. The barriers facing the girls from Memaliaj were almost impossible to overcome. Most significant was the requirement to complete military service, which made it impossible for them to join the police. “I’m ready to do that too,” Marsela had said while anxiously awaiting a positive response. Then came the letter sent to the Minister of Public Order in Tirana, along with a series of necessary documents and medical tests. The long odyssey of waiting came to an end for the two policewomen. Although they do not have blue uniforms—because the suppliers have no stock—Marsela and Anita have been working with the district Criminal Police services for some time. “There’s nothing special about it,” Marsela replies when Gazeta asks for information. They quickly learned that the ABC of their profession is maintaining professional confidentiality. From today, two girls against crime

He was distributing cocaine and heroin at the “Pellicano” base DURRËS — (Ed.La.) It was decided that Fatmir Hajdar Kulla, the 28-year-old caught at the beginning of March while attempting to sell drugs in the territory of the Italian “Pellicano” operation, would appear in court yesterday. Thus, after three months in strict isolation, the first Albanian drug trafficker—according to Deputy Minister of Public Order Mehja—will testify before the court. Gazeta received confirmation that he would appear in court from the Durrës Public Order Department. “We have just received the notification from the District Court,” they said. Fatmir Kulla, who was caught red-handed by the police together with an Italian soldier, had a quantity of heroin and two small bottles full of cocaine seized on the spot. A subsequent search of his home also turned up 53 vials filled with cocaine and 10 grams of heroin. According to investigative specialists, special measures were taken to ensure Kulla’s safety, perhaps to counter an attempt to poison him. The two other people arrested with him, Hekuran Tepi—the driver who took him by taxi to the drug-sale location—and Andrea Mali—suspected of acting as an intermediary—were released by the Durrës Prosecutor’s Office “for lack of evidence.” In addition to the criminal charge of drug trafficking, Fatmir Kulla will also be tried for illegal possession of a firearm, since the Durrës Criminal Police “blitz,” along with the drugs, had found a Soviet “TT”-type pistol and two bullets. Thus, for the first time, the Albanian justice system will face one of its citizens accused of drug trafficking. This concerns actual drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, since other people were convicted in Albania six years ago for theft and the use of pethidine.

He was attacked a few days earlier TIRANA — Journalist Fatmir Elezi, 42, died after spending 10 days without hope in the neurosurgery ward of Tirana Civil Hospital. “This journalist,” said Mero Baze, Chairman of the Association of Journalists of Albania, at his funeral, “has enough years of work as a journalist to be remembered as one; but, apparently, two years of freedom are still not enough for Albanians to become a strong barrier against crime in the ordinary course of life, because of an almost tragic failure to protect human life.” Punched—in the presence of two of his colleagues—after a chance incident on the road near the Presidency of the Republic, journalist Fatmir Elezi could not withstand death. “The severe brain injury,” says the young doctor Arsen Seferi, “ended in an irreversible coma.” The tragedy, which has deeply affected his two children, aged 14 and 10, as well as his wife, is also a loss for his Albanian colleagues. Investigators from Police Region 2 in Tirana are still searching for the person who beat Fatmir Elezi, director of foreign news at ATSH, to death. In any case, Albanian journalists feel that they have one fewer colleague. One more source of anguish, not only for them, but for all Albanian society.

A false “scoop” and the journalist’s role ... from all social organizations: the Albanian press is highly politicized. But the latest incident shows that the problem of information, even in a democratic system, is— as is well known—fundamentally not only political, but also deontological and professional. The primary reference for what a newspaper writes—and we should know this at every newspaper—are first and foremost its readers, who demonstrate their trust in newspapers every day by paying out of their own pockets to be informed. Willingly publishing false information is tantamount to committing a small act of betrayal. And that is a serious wrong a journalist can commit. It is true: just as a democracy must mature, journalism and everything else must mature in the same way. Growth takes time. But at least let us not involve war; and with war, please, we must not joke. In an article in the next issue, the newspaper will expla... “cannons” should be understood in a “football context,” and the sides and the sides are ... connected to the reality of a staged apparatus. It remains to explain why the comedian cl... thought of bringing the toy con...tingent to a military base. A few days ago, the Chairman of the Association of Journalists, Mero Baze, while meeting representatives of the European Community, had expressed a fear, which was ... CARLO BOLLINO One of the characteristics of a democratic society is—universally acknowledged—the separation of roles. Leaders are meant to lead, investigators to uncover, and politicians, when they have the opportunity to achieve something, are free to do so. As for journalism, the journalist’s role is to provide information. To inform others and be informed, to transform ... loudly, to comment, to think and believe, to express opinions, to do ... is ... but its main function is ... . But its main function is public: it remains ... to provide information. And we ... earlier, in the ... in the newspaper ... ... is ... by newspapers ... the role ... part...

He had been caught a few days earlier Inside

PRESIDENT BERISHA: MONTENEGRO SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE EMBARGO — At a press conference, President Sali Berisha declared that he supports exempting Montenegro from the embargo because it has taken a positive position on international proposals for peace in the former Yugoslavia and should therefore be excluded from the embargo. The Albanian president stressed that Albania is the country implementing the embargo most consistently, even though it knows this has harmed not only the state but also the Albanian population in Kosovo. “The embargo also has its moral aspect,” Berisha said, “and two peoples are suffering because of it: the Albanians in Kosovo and the Montenegrins.” KUWAIT FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE 8.7 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE PORT OF DURRËS — The Kuwait Fund for Development will grant a loan worth 8.7 million dollars for the rehabilitation of the Port of Durrës. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy in Tirana. The Kuwaiti side, with the Minister ... the modernization of the port’s machinery ... including lifting and transport equipment. 936 FINES ISSUED BY FINANCIAL POLICE IN SARANDË OVER FIVE MONTHS — From January to May, the Sarandë financial police issued 936 fines worth 3,163,000 lekë. The financial police in the city uncovered 160 cases of concealment of profits by various legal entities and individuals. These people were subsequently required to pay around 146,000 lekë into the state budget in fines. Proceedings were also initiated in 97 cases of practicing a profession without a permit. Fines totaling more than 100,000 lekë were imposed in these cases.

Minister Teliti’s visit to Bari and Rome An Albanian killed in Fasano during a brawl More English fighter planes in Bosnia

Dining places near the cinema — opening hours The dining place fran- open every da- Italian restaurant, ... - K... Street - open every ... ... seafood - Ga... - Boulevard ... Sciences ... 3.00 SATURDAY ... from 20:00 to 2:00 and ... direct hours ... kilo/ha...

GOOSE Psychological interpretation: In a positive sense, it symbolizes feminine fidelity; in a negative sense, foolishness. Prediction: The goose foretells gains and professional recognition; if we dream that we are plucking it, the future looks even brighter. EYE Psychological interpretation: The eye represents our mysterious and magical organic senses, which are in direct contact with our soul. It is said that a person “speaks with their eyes” to describe an expressive gaze that reveals the soul and state of mind through a tiny spark, a brief glimmer. The eye is a symbol of consciousness, knowledge, and intellect. It can also represent the divine, the eye of God that sees everything. If in a dream you see that you are being spied on, it seems you have a strong sense of guilt. If we are without eyes, this is a matter of moral blindness; if we refuse to open them, we refuse to look reality in the eye. Prediction: A clear gaze is a good sign for the future; if the gaze is clouded, it foretells financial losses and decline. Blindness foretells sorrow and advises against travel. Having more than two eyes is a good prediction for someone who is unmarried, because it suggests marriage. OIL Psychological interpretation: Like all fats, oil also symbolizes well-being, according to the old Roman tradition, whereby newly married women anointed themselves with oil for ... and new hope. Prediction: ... oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. GOLD Psychological interpretation: Gold symbolizes the finest qualities of personality. It is a metal in which ... a sense of armor ... indicates a person who does much through application and material ... . Gold also represents perfection and incorruptible beauty, and ... from which we may identify gold with childhood, understood as a calm and happy period. Prediction: Losing gold, touching gold, having gold: none of these is a favorable prediction, only deceit and loss; if we find gold in a dream, it foretells...

Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an entirely normal fact, except that sometimes these dreams are so beautiful or so bad that they leave you amazed and bewildered when you wake up. But dreams can also be “warnings,” that is, they may contain a foretelling, a warning of what might happen to us in the future. Every week, “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers an explanation and the meaning of the objects and situations most often seen in dreams. Dreams of ... Dream interpretation