Another young man is saved at Tirana Military Hospital Dies of thirst for drugs A banal mix-up causes a tragedy The 20-year-old victim was known to use pethidine TIRANA — (to.is.) The desire to take drugs has begun to kill in Albania too. The “plague of the century” has claimed its first victim—even if because of a banal mix-up. A 20-year-old young man from Tirana, B.H., died after injecting an entire syringe of a medication instead of the pethidine he wanted to take. It began as a simple game with friends, but within a few minutes turned into a tragedy for the unfortunate young man. The doctors in the toxicology emergency unit at the Military Hospital—where he was rushed—were powerless against the medication’s devastating effect. Subsequent tests showed that the young man had taken a medication that is not a drug: Pavulon, used by anesthesiologists during intubation. Pavulon almost immediately caused the young man’s breathing and heart to stop. Some time ago, another case was also recorded in the same department. This time, a young man had taken a genuine overdose: an entire syringe of fentanyl, a medication belonging to the narcotics family, which also includes pethidine. Only immediate intervention in time saved the young man’s life. Are these the first signs of a growing phenomenon, or cases being reported only now, after the press was silenced for fifty years? For Besnik Juca, a forensic chemistry expert, the second hypothesis is more credible. “The phenomenon did not begin now. It has always existed in recent years, but censorship did not allow such things to be published,” he tells the newspaper. According to him, the phenomenon has not yet reached worrying proportions. Only a relatively small number of young people use certain medical drugs to induce the intoxication caused by taking drugs. From expert Juca’s experience, there are two most widespread forms in Albania of using substances that produce drug-like effects. One is injecting psychotropic medications such as Valium and others in the same family. In most cases, taking Valium is accompanied by large quantities of alcohol. This is a trend Albanian young people have learned mostly through contact with life in the West. The other method is taking narcotics directly into the bloodstream. The best known and most commonly used of all in this group is pethidine. So far, no case of using hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine has been confirmed. “The current danger for Albania is the transit of these drugs, rather than their use,” says Besnik Juca. “These substances are priced beyond what Albanians can afford. On the other hand, Albania’s geographic position near traditional drug-trafficking routes makes their transit more problematic than their use.” What should be done to prevent the phenomenon from spreading? The problem has a legal dimension, and appropriate measures are being taken. The new Albanian legislation will be stricter toward drug traffickers and users, taking European laws as a model. But there is another, less familiar aspect. “Albania is a country where psychotropic medications and narcotics are used instead of hard drugs,” says the forensic medicine expert. “This is precisely where care is needed. Doctors and pharmacists—including private pharmacists, who have recently begun operating—must not hand out these types of medication too freely. A patient who needs them can be distinguished immediately from a young person using them for other purposes.” During a drug seizure in Durrës; above, a poster in the campaign against drugs

The Ministry of Culture’s permit is still missing EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The arrival of Slavic singers from the territory of the former Yugoslavia for a concert in Albania remains enigmatic. The concert announced for 9 September at the capital’s “Qemal Stafa” National Stadium is, so far, based only on an agreement signed in Tirana by the Board of the Sports Facilities Enterprise and the “Broadway” artistic group from Bosnia. Just a few hours after this contract was signed—on 25 August—Tirana was covered with numerous posters bearing portraits of the singers Shaban Shaulić, Branka Sovrlić, Sinan Sakić, Mile-na Plavšić, as well as an Albanian singer who lives in Montenegro, Shaban Gjekaj. So far, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has not issued any permit for these singers to appear on Albanian stages. “I will not allow this concert to take place,” Muhamed Ktujja, director of the Stadium and Albanian deputy signatory to the agreement, tells the newspaper, “unless I receive approval from the Ministry of Culture.” Ktujja also assures us that if the Bosnian signatory, Sadik Pasiç, does not comply with the agreement requiring him to submit the program, repertoire and list of singers weeks before the concert, the concert will not go ahead. The agreement also stipulates 10,000 tickets priced at 150 lekë, as well as a program duration of no less than 80 minutes. It also sets out the division of profits: 20 percent for the Albanian organizers and 80 percent for “Broadway” from Bosnia. The police, who will supervise the concert, have been allocated only 5 percent of the joint profits. But all of this is still invalid. The deadline for the Bosnian side to submit the list of singers has also not yet passed. This is needed to establish definitively whether these singers are actually Bosnian, or have emigrated from other former Yugoslav republics. Ultimately, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports must decide whether the concert will take place. The enigmatic “Broadway” currently has only an agreement in hand, and other Albanian signatures are also required for it to be implemented.

TIRANA — A camera disappearing from the room of an American woman staying at the “Dajti” Hotel is also a mystery. The report of this incident by Jenice Heejng was followed by the suspension of four hotel staff members. Everyone without exception was questioned by the investigator handling the case, although the results of the investigation have not yet been announced. But what is strange is Heejng’s insistence on finding two rolls of film—even more than the camera—one of which was not inside it. Nevertheless, the film has aroused the curiosity of the unknown thieves.

TIRANA — (ed. la.) The servicemen from Sazan have been sentenced once again. In July 1992, they had hijacked an Island transport ship in order to escape to Italy. After the trial in March of this year—at which 17 people were sentenced to 23 years and

One of them has been seriously injured

New service also with Slovenia

TIRANA — (ed. la.) Sazan servicemen are sentenced once again; they had hijacked a helicopter and the Island’s 1992 transport ship to flee toward Italy. After the trial in March of this year — at which 17 people were sentenced to 23 years and 4 months’ imprisonment — the prosecutor lodged an objection concerning the sentences imposed on several defendants, which he considered too lenient. Following the retrial by the Tirana Military Court, only Captain Gligor Merko benefited, being acquitted. For the other 13 defendants, the sentences were increased by a further year or 18 months. The trial took place following additional investigations, but the charges were not changed.

KUKËS — Eight houses have collapsed and around 40 have been damaged in Shtiqën, Kukës, following the torrential rains of August 29. Immediately afterward, through the initiative of the local government and the Public Order authorities, the affected families were temporarily accommodated in the warehouses of the Commercial Enterprise for Various Products. The value of the damage caused by this natural disaster has not yet been determined. The damage occurred during the night of August 28–29 in the Fërth neighborhood of the village of Kodulum, in the Municipality of Shtiqën. But crops were also damaged, including fruit trees and the families’ grain crops. No one was found to have been injured or physically harmed during the night of the disaster.

One of them is seriously injured SARANDË — A serious incident occurred on Sunday in Sarandë. An offensive hand grenade thrown by Sokol Habilaj, 18, seriously wounded traffic police officers Stefan Vasili and Osman Todhaj. The incident took place late in the afternoon. Officer Todhaj remains in serious condition at the city hospital, hit by a fragment of the grenade. Night combat. The third officer, who was part of the same patrol as his two wounded colleagues, miraculously escaped unharmed. After throwing the grenade, Habilaj, a resident of Sarandë, quickly fled the city on the motorcycle he was riding. Police forces managed to locate and arrest him after a four-hour pursuit at the place where he had hidden in the heights of Mount Sarandë. The perpetrator gave an absurd reason for his serious act. Not having a motorcycle licence when the officers called on him to stop is the excuse Habilaj has so far given to the investigative authorities. It has not yet been clarified where the young man obtained the military grenade.

New service also with Slovenia DURRËS — Another maritime route has been added to the existing ones connecting Albanian ports with neighboring coastal countries. The Italian company Inter Europa Line inaugurated a few weeks ago a route linking the port of Durrës with Koper in Slovenia, Igoumenitsa in Greece, and two cities in Apulia, Bari and Brindisi. Travel for passengers who prefer to go by sea is provided by three fast, comfortable ferries: “Laburnum”, “Hornbeam” and “Rosebay”. From the first days, the new service has attracted passengers who, during this holiday season, need to travel quickly and in optimal conditions. Departures for Koper are scheduled four times a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Travelers can depart for Brindisi on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, while there is only one trip to Bari, on Friday. The route is a new service offered to Albanian and foreign citizens who need to travel across the Adriatic, which is being crossed increasingly often by people from one shore to the other.

Clinton optimistic

Clinton optimistic about peace The Pharaoh’s revenge strikes Racism again in Rome

IN LAÇ, THE CHURCH HELPS RECONSTRUCT THE HEALTH CENTER — Reconstruction of the pediatric ward at the Laç city hospital is expected to be completed soon. Carried out with funding from the Catholic Church, the new ward will be equipped with new beds, sheets and mattresses, as well as all the necessary plumbing and electrical equipment. The Catholic Church has long been active in the Laç district and has funded the rebuilding of several roads, hospitals and schools in the district. BLOOD FEUD CASES IN HAS; COUNCIL OF ELDERS FOR BLOOD-FEUD RECONCILIATION ESTABLISHED — The increase in the number of blood feuds reported recently in Has has prompted the local population to establish a council of elders to reconcile them. In this case, most recently, there have been 12 victims in this area, with incidents then reported in the villages of Vrankoni. Such events have occurred from time to time in Has, Golaj and Krumë. In the village of Qarr, residents of two clans, Golaj and Kostë. In the village of Qarr, residents of two clans have barricaded themselves inside their homes after a tragic incident that caused several deaths. It all began as a simple quarrel over land and ended in serious events with consequences for the villagers. Four people have since been arrested, but the reasons for their actions have not yet been made known. HEALTH SERVICE RESTRUCTURED IN KORÇË — The effectiveness of health services in the Korçë district has increased considerably. At present, 920 employees work in the district. The emergency service operates with teams of two doctors, who have four ambulances at their disposal. The maternal and child health service has 16 clinics. The district also has a functioning hospital serving the municipality. It has been equipped with a family-planning unit and supplied with the necessary equipment and devices. New departments have begun operating in the dental and pharmaceutical services. The existence of these new departments has made services more effective in meeting the needs of the district’s population.

Do you have a relative, a friend or a loved one far away, across the sea? Would you like to reach them with a greeting, a message or simply a wish? This space is yours: use it, they will read it. If you are in Italy, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, viale Scipione l’Africano 264, 70100 Bari. If you are over here in Albania, you can write to this address: GAZETA SHQIPTARE, Rruga Bajram Curri 370, Tiranë. In your information corner, the Durrës–Vlorë–Otranto route served by the ship “La Vingina” is not operating. I think this route is essential, at least once a week. With this route, people could travel by ship as far as Vlorë as well. If possible, please intervene to get this route operating again. Vilson Zipa — Durrës Dear Loreta and Nata­lel! You came from Emilia Romagna and saw Dukagjina before I did, a place I had heard a great deal about but had never seen. I truly felt good when you spoke so highly of the hospitality of our highlanders. By living for several days in that part of the country, you had the chance to get to know the lives of the villagers in that area more closely, working alongside them to build the irrigation canal, to experience their difficulties more directly, and for this to bring you closer together. I hope that another time we can go to Dukagjin together. Hugs. Venera — Tiranë Dear Francesco and Roberto! Your newspaper came into my hands quite unexpectedly. Although I saw here your commitment to writing an article about Albania, it never would have occurred to me that in such a short time in Albania you managed to become familiar with our problems and our lives. Through your very enjoyable and critical humor, other things take shape. The drawings and photographs were very meaningful, and I believe that if you come again, you will find plenty of material to add to your lively humor. I wish you success and thank you for the attention you give to my country. Greetings, Iris Irisi — Tiranë