The third case discovered in Albania Another plot of land planted with a crop that produces drugs. This time, the Albanian geography of this new phenomenon has moved from the South to the North. The place where Laç Police discovered the “strange” plant is called Delibnisht; after analyses at the Institute of Forensic Medicine laboratory in Tirana, it was found to be marijuana. The person who planted it, Seit Ramazan Sinani, 35, is now being held under supervision at the Krujë Public Order Department. The Delibnisht case in the Laç Highlands is the third discovered in Albania, after two villages in Fier where plants producing opium and marijuana were found. According to the Laç Public Order Department, Sinani, a resident of this town, had used part of his land in the remote village in the Highlands to grow the marijuana plant. Since 27 August, when Criminal Police officers carried out the successful operation, the investigation has continued intensively. Existing Albanian law—although it does not address cultivation—provides for a maximum sentence of 15 years for drug producers. The first trial for an identical case was held a few days ago in Fier, where a field planted with a crop intended for drug production was first discovered. According to statements by one defendant, as well as experts, the seeds for these plants came from Greece. A marijuana plantation

Former owners’ presence requested The constitutionality of Articles 12 and 17 will be reviewed on 10 September. Government representatives will attend. Former owners’ presence requested The Property Law: proceedings begin The constitutionality of Articles 12 and 17 will be reviewed on 10 September. Government representatives will attend. TIRANA – The first hearing held at the Constitutional Court to consider the case brought by the Association of Free Owners concerning the property issue brought virtually nothing new. Convened on 1 September, on the appointed date—but with one fewer member—the panel of judges had to begin about an hour late, and the hearing ended in less than ten minutes. After the representatives and the defense lawyer for the Association of Free Owners had been introduced to the panel, the President of the Constitutional Court, Rustem Gjata, announced the decision not to begin consideration of the case and instead to postpone the trial until 10 September. The decision also included requests to summon, at future hearings, representatives of the “Property with Justice” association of former owners, representatives of the Council of Ministers, and the “National Privatization Agency.” It was also requested that information be collected on the progress, during this period, of the privatization process for the properties that are the subject of the trial. The dispute over ownership of land and buildings belonging to citizens who bought them from the new owners, but which the former owners also claim as their property, ended up before the Constitutional Court as a result of the disagreement expressed by both owners’ associations over the content of the law “On the Return and Compensation of Property to Former Owners,” passed by Parliament in April. Each association, from its own position, has expressed doubts about the constitutionality of the Law and requested its review by the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court’s decision offers no indication of what direction the proceedings will take; in any case, it is further evidence of the highly complex nature of the issue it is to examine. Thus, future hearings would bring together, in the cramped courtroom of the Constitutional Court, representatives of all the legal entities involved in this case.

Letter from the director of “The Battle of Algiers” Pontecorvo seeks to revive the realist cinema of the 1960s and ’70s Letter from the director of “The Battle of Algiers” “We invite Minister Anagnosti to the festival” Pontecorvo seeks to revive the realist cinema of the 1960s and ’70s On the eve of the Venice Film Festival (which opened on Tuesday evening), its director, Gillo Pontecorvo, wrote an interesting letter to the Albanian Minister of Culture and film director Dhimitër Anagnosti, inviting him to the film festival. Unfortunately, because of his commitments in Albania, the minister was unable to accept the invitation. Here is the text of the letter, which is of particular significance because of the great prestige Pontecorvo enjoys throughout the world as the director of, among other films, “The Battle of Algiers” and “Queimada.” GILLO PONTECORVO “I wanted briefly to explain a few things, at least as I see them. I have discussed them with many of my friends: Bob Altman, Luiz Male, Garsia Markez, Spike Lee, Francesco Rosi, Costa Gravas, Ettore Scola, Martin Skorcese, Tutarro, and many others. We are all convinced that creative freedom in our work has been drastically restricted over the last 40 years. Once there were ample spaces in which a filmmaker could move freely; now the same freedom and opportunity no longer exist at the economic or organizational level. The worst evil is within us. A defeatist spirit, withdrawal, and self-censorship have gnawed away at our minds. If it were possible for people such as Roselini or De Sika—as for me, I have accepted this position. Perhaps on the occasion of the festival we could organize a broad gathering of quality cinema. Perhaps from here we could issue a manifesto in defense of the vital spaces of Art has been drastically curtailed over the last 40 years. Once there was plenty of space within which a film director could move freely, and there was likewise freedom of expression for the work of painters, musicians and writers. But today our creativity is moving further and further away from those ideal circumstances that the expressive arts once enjoyed. Certainly, we see today that 90 percent of this creativity is directed toward the entertaining character of communication. But it is criminal to close off the spaces that enabled De Sika and Roselini to present works such as «Umberto D», «The Bicycle Thief» and “Paisan”, and other masters to present works such as «The Road of Shame», «Pantar Panchalin», «On the Tightrope», «The Scream», «Zero for Conduct» and «Ivan the Terrible». The danger in the present circumstances is not economic or organizational; the greatest evil is the one away at our resolve. If people such as Roselini or De Sika, to give an example very familiar to me, could come back to life, they would never be able to plan or even imagine films such as «Open City» or «The Bicycle Thief». We must take action, build a vocabulary in order to keep open spaces that are at risk of being closed forever. We must unite in the belief that we can create new opportunities. We must also accelerate the process of freeing what was once an industry of «prototypes» from standardization. What should we do? This is the question I have focused on, and I am trying to transform the Venice Film Festival (where I am the new director) into a kind of laboratory for this struggle. And it is precisely for this reason that I accepted this post. Perhaps, on the occasion of the festival, we can organize a broad gathering of quality cinema. Perhaps we can “film art,” and against standardization and so-called «entertainment cinema». Other ideas will come in time. If you approve of these initial thoughts, I would be happy to receive your suggestions and ideas as well, both on issues to address during the festival and after it. At first, this effort seems to me like the optimism of a man sitting on the riverbank and ordering the river to return to its source. Nevertheless, after speaking with many of my friends, I have convinced myself that if we achieve genuine unity and remain in constant contact, we will be able to accomplish important goals. Director Gillo Pontecorvo

JIMMY CARTER JOGS IN THE CAPITAL’S CENTER — One day after former US President Jimmy Carter arrived in Tirana, residents of the capital saw him jogging along its main boulevard. Dressed in sportswear, his run—as with all US presidents—was accompanied by the cars of his personal security detail. The American friend then sat down and had a coffee at an ordinary roadside café on “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard. KRUJË POLICE DETAIN A CITIZEN WHO HAD WOUNDED TWO OTHERS — Murat Mustafë Karaj, who together with his brother had attempted to kill one person and wounded two others, was detained by the Police. A pistol and six bullets were also found on the perpetrator. Along with him, a villager from Doma was detained for keeping his weapons without a permit. TWO PEOPLE TRIED IN KUKËS AFTER PROCEEDINGS FOR DAMAGE TO FORESTS — This year, strict measures have also been taken against fires in the Kukës district, and further cases have been verified of individuals damaging forests for personal use or trade. There are 405 official reports drawn up by the District Forestry Service Directorate, amounting to 997,150 lekë. In addition, 15 people have been prosecuted for the criminal offense of damaging forests, only two of whom have been sentenced. TRIAL CONCLUDES FOR THE 13 ACCUSED OF THE ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATION IN LAÇ — After four hearings held at the Krujë court, the trial concluded of 13 people accused of the criminal offense of participating in the illegal demonstration during the events in Laç. Some of the accused were sentenced to imprisonment, for a maximum of 12 months, while the others were fined up to 600,000. The court found Shpallin guilty.

Israel: Peace with Jordan and Syria too? At last, water has reached Qeparo Mussolini was shot twice by the partisans

“Rotary Club” to provide 700,000 dollars TIRANA — (fa.ba.) A large-scale campaign against one of Albania’s most problematic infectious diseases—viral hepatitis B—will begin next January. An aid project worth 700,000 dollars has been drawn up by “Rotary Club.” This amount will be used mainly to purchase the costly vaccines. The project, called Vita per l’Albania, is in its early stages, and the team of specialists appointed by “Rotary Club” has been in contact with the Ministry of Health in Tirana for some time to coordinate the work. Another meeting will be organized in the first days of September to coordinate the work more effectively. According to Albanian specialists, the vaccines to be purchased will be sufficient to vaccinate about 70,000 newborn children, roughly the average number of births per year. Viral hepatitis B is the disease that has become most troubling in Albania in recent times. It is this disease that causes serious complications, including cancer and cirrhosis. Cases of hepatitis B account for half of all hepatitis cases. Doctor Jorgo Kosta told the Gazette of his concern: “The situation is almost catastrophic, and the assistance expected from Rotary will undoubtedly be a great help. At least for the next three years, we will not have problems. But we must also think further ahead.” According to data available to specialists at the Ministry, the rates for this disease are much higher than those in other European countries. In Albania, in 1990, an average of 352 people per 100,000 inhabitants were affected by the disease, whereas in Italy, around the same period, the figure was only 48 cases. Albania’s disease rates could be compared only with those of Romania—around 300—but they are still higher. Inadequate screening of donor blood, a lack of laboratory equipment, and extremely primitive sterilization methods are among the causes which, according to doctors, have led to an increase in hepatitis B cases.

Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an extraordinarily normal fact, except that sometimes these dreams are so beautiful or so bad that they leave you amazed and surprised when you wake up. But dreams can also be “forewarning”: that is, they can contain a warning, a warning about what may happen in the future. Every week, “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers explanations and the meanings of the objects and situations most often dreamed about. SWORD Psychological interpretation: Like every weapon, the sword is an instrument of death and destruction, and it commonly enters our dreams with this meaning. But the sword also has a positive meaning: it separates and distinguishes what is good from what is bad, acting like our intellect. In this sense it is a symbol of conscience, justice and order. In Freudian interpretation, the sword symbolizes the male organ. Predictions: The sword is an indication of separation and coldness; if we lose it, we should expect a period of poverty; if it changes hands or if we break it, we will experience sadness and dishonor. Drawing the sword from its scabbard foretells arguments at home or in the places we frequent. MIRROR Psychological interpretation: Legend has it that the mirror was invented by the god Fest so that women could admire their beauty; it is therefore an instrument of self-esteem (of oneself and others) and seduction. But the mirror is also a powerful means of becoming aware of our image. In sleep, dreaming that you are looking at yourself in a mirror is like looking at your soul from within; breaking a mirror would indicate a desire to release what is inside us. In general, when this dream appears, the dreamer is in a delicate emotional state; they understand the need to detach something within themselves, but are afraid to do so. Predictions: Seeing yourself in a mirror warns of misunderstandings and stalled projects; a broken mirror is an ill omen. STATUE Psychological interpretation: In general, this image brings us to a situation of coldness, emotional loneliness and lack of warmth. It can often symbolize sexual coldness or impotence. These meanings may apply to us personally or to someone very close to us: as usual, it is the content of the dream that allows us to interpret it best. If our figure is carved into a monumental statue, we have a high opinion of ourselves. A broken statue symbolizes a profound worldly conflict, an inner contradiction. Predictions: Difficulties in love.

GJIROKASTER — Recently, state budget revenues generated by tax collection in the Gjirokastër district have increased considerably. In July alone, 1 million 181 thousand lekë were collected, while the total for the first seven months was 2 million 181 thousand lekë. There were significant over-collections in several areas, such as profit tax, excise duties and income taxes. The tax office in this district has sought to reduce tax evasion by investigating more thoroughly the ways in which taxpayers avoid the obligations imposed on them by law. Another important focus has been uncovering falsifications made by some traders in documents stating the prices of imported goods, in order to pay as little customs duty as possible. For the violations verified in this case, fines worth around 4 million 850 thousand lekë have been imposed.

Vaccination begins in January