The sentence is carried out on a murderer from Kavaja and one from Durrës Two condemned men executed in a cemetery The sentence is carried out on a murderer from Kavaja and one from Durrës At midnight, the firing squad fires Two condemned men executed in a cemetery A balance between revenge and justice TIRANA — (c.bo.). - An Albanian investigator who had just witnessed the execution by death that he himself had sought tells us: “It is terrible to see a person being killed. It is such a powerful emotion that it unsettles your mind. At that moment you believe you are only taking revenge, although later—with greater clarity—you become convinced that you have carried out an act of justice.” Indeed, the death penalty always oscillates between these two opposing feelings: revenge and justice. The world is divided from time to time and must decide whether it should kill “in the name of the people” a person convicted of terrible crimes, or whether it is more humane to give him another sentence, still severe but not final. Some say that the death penalty is not a civilized act; nevertheless, countries with a great democratic tradition—such as the United States—apply it firmly, even though they know for certain that it does not help reduce crime. Although the death penalty exists there, the criminal world is harsher than in any other country. One last doubt remained, the most troubling of all, although it does not affect the interests of the state, but simply morality: can anyone—whoever they may be, and whatever reason drives them—be entitled to carry out the execution of another person? EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — “I am innocent,” 28-year-old Fetah Seferi swore that he was innocent. But the judges did not believe him. Just after midnight on Wednesday, Fetah Seferi from Kavaja was executed at the Tufina Cemetery in Tirana. But he was not alone. Fatmir Gegçiç, a 39-year-old from Suthki near Durrës, was shot alongside him. Both had been sentenced to death after the criminal offence of murder had been proven against them by courts at all three levels. Seferi had killed a soldier, while Gegçiç had killed a policeman in Marikaj. For the condemned men Seferi and Gegçiç, the waiting was now over. The doors of their cells in Tirana Prison opened for the last time. They had been waiting for this moment, although they had not expressed a desire for pardon, which never came. Their hopes had faded even before they were put into the police car waiting in the prison yard. Then came a very short journey: from the prison’s short access road, onto Tirana’s ring road, towards “Bajram Curri” Street. The car turned toward “Myslym Keta” Street, which, a few minutes later, led to the Tufina municipal cemetery. A few moments beneath the headlights of the car that had brought them there, then two pistol shots to the head. As prescribed by law. The executioners were chosen only a few minutes before the shooting. First, the men were asked for their last wish. Then the doctor—who had attended together with a prosecutor—signed the certificate of pathological death. It was 00:30, shortly before dawn on 15 September 1993. Along with Fetah Seferi and Fatmir Gegçiç, several people tasked with carrying out this difficult job also brought their story to an end. It had begun on the day they had taken the lives of two other people. In the first days of November last year, Fetah Seferi—recently arrested—had not imagined his final day. “I should be getting out of here soon,” he had told Gazeta al several months earlier, “because I have two other brothers here in prison. My mother is waiting for me at home.” The day after the execution, the first to learn of Seferi’s death—perhaps because he too was in Tirana Prison—was his brother. The prison’s three floors passed from wall to wall the news of the terrible end that had taken place in Tufina. No one else in this prison, at least for now, is kept in a cell wearing a protective helmet—to prevent suicide—and with their hands tied, treatment reserved only for those sentenced to death. The debate on the death penalty in Albania has been going on for some time. The Albanian Helsinki Committee has asked the President “to consider introducing alternative sentences to the death penalty.” President Berisha himself has publicly spoken out against this type of punishment. Meanwhile, in a TVSH television program about the death penalty, broadcast a month ago, the Deputy Minister of Justice and senior police officials spoke in favor of it, “as a measure that helps reduce crime.” Perhaps current Albanian legislation also reflects popular opinion on the need for this measure. And so the horror of a death sentence is countered by another horror: that of the terrible crimes committed by those sentenced. Other people sentenced to death are waiting... TIRANA — There are currently more than 20 prisoners in Albania’s jails who have been sentenced to death and are awaiting execution. A few weeks ago, President Sali Berisha granted clemency to a man from Korça, found guilty of killing his 14-year-old daughter; his death sentence was commuted to 25 years in prison. Three death sentences have been carried out this year. Between 1988 and 1990, there were 27 condemned prisoners; in 1991 there were 15, while no exact figures are known for 1992. That year, the public hanging in Fier’s main square of brothers Ditbardh and Josif Çuko, aged 21 and 24, from the village of Libofshë, caused great astonishment. They had been sentenced to death for having exterminated an entire family. There are currently 11 crimes in Albania for which the death penalty is prescribed, including terrorist activity, participation in armed gangs, theft of state property, robbery, and murder for ordinary motives. The Penal Code currently in force does not provide for life imprisonment. …than any other band. The last remaining doubt, the fiercest of all, though it does not concern damage a person’s will? Tufinës. A few moments beneath the lights of the car that brought him. “I have to get out of here soon,” he had told the newspaper newly arrested man had not imagined that the last day would come for all those sentenced to death. Debate about the death penalty in Albania has been under way President “to consider introducing the death penalty as a temporary punishment?” for the terrible crimes committed by the convicts, and in response to public opinion about the necessity of is set against another horror: that of the terrible crimes committed by the convicts: armed gang activity, life imprisonment. …an increase—57.6 percent higher than last year’s—healthcare still suffers from a lack of funds, reflected in the still-low salaries of sector employees—an average the departure of medical staff is not exactly being offset by the local population. Many patients, supported by their family members, mainly those in Janina. The Tufina Cemetery in Tirana, where the two men sentenced to death were executed. On the right, an image that went around the world: the Çuko brothers publicly hanged in Fier’s main square in 1992.

The new law will take effect in January The first phase will cover only medicines. Contributions will be compulsory The new law will take effect in January Health insurance The first phase will cover only medicines. Contributions will be compulsory FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — The time has come for Albanian citizens to pay for health care too. A new health-insurance system will soon be introduced. The relevant law will be submitted to Parliament by the end of March, and a working group drawn from several ministries—including Health, Economy, and Labour and Social Assistance—is working intensively on it. Under the new law, health insurance will begin in January next year. It will be compulsory for everyone. However, the first phase of its introduction will cover only medicines. Specialists are still cautious. “We have decided to begin with a partial health-insurance scheme,” Saimir Kadiu, Director of the Economic Directorate at the Ministry of Health, told the newspaper, “so as not to repeat the mistakes that have been made in other Eastern countries.” The measure is intended to increase state revenue allocated to this important sector. Meanwhile, although its budget has increased—by 57.6 percent compared with last year’s—health care still suffers from a lack of funding. This is reflected in the still-low salaries of sector employees—an average salary of 2,400 for nurses and close to 3,000 for doctors—and in the average age of the equipment available in medical laboratories and wards: 25 years, compared with about 7 in Western countries. While economists and lawyers prepare new legislation, 200 medical students—nearly half of the newly graduated doctors—may be able to start work. This year, a new process will appoint the medical candidates. Hospitals themselves will select the successful applicants for the 200 vacancies in health institutions through competitive examinations. As the young doctors wait to find out whether they have been selected, a new signal concerning emigration is coming from the southern districts. Medical staff, too, have been caught up in the wave of departures to Greece. In a report, the health authorities of the Sarandë District informed the Ministry of Health that 15 doctors had left their jobs to work in Greece; only a small number of them have managed to integrate into the neighbouring country’s health system. Similar information has also come from other southern districts, where nurses and doctors are missing from the rolls. Fortunately, the departure of medical personnel is not on a scale commensurate with that of the local population. Many patients, supported by their families, have managed to find accommodation in the nearest Greek hospitals, mainly those in Ioannina.

FINANCIAL POLICE SEIZE LIRE IN LUSHNJE — The Lushnje Financial Police seized 955,000 lire and also registered an outstanding liability of 930,000 lekë against the company. The sanctions were imposed on the Italian company “Romano” and the Garment Production Enterprise because irregularities were found in their collaboration. The finished product was exported to Italy at a price of 1.8 dollars per piece, compared with its true value of 23 dollars. The raw materials and machinery imported from Italy were not entered into the warehouse inventory. Discrepancies were also found in the value of the raw materials and the finished product. ACTIVITY OF A JOINT-VENTURE COMPANY IN MAMURRAS UNBLOCKED — The Albanian-Italian joint venture “Mekanika-Ylli i Orientit,” based in Mamurras, has resumed operations. A dispute concerning the owners of the plot on which the workshop was built had halted its activity. Intervention by the Commission for the Return and Compensation of Former Owners made it possible to establish the rightful owners and for the company to resume operations. A FOLK GROUP FROM BERAT SETS OFF FOR TURKEY — The folk group from the School of Culture in Berat has left for Turkey. At the invitation of the Mayor of San Francisco, the group will take part in the International Folklore Festival to be held in that city. Several private companies and the Wood Processing Enterprise sponsored the group’s trip.

TIRANA — The opening of the proceedings of the enlarged National Council of the Democratic Party is eagerly awaited today. One of the PD’s senior officials had told the newspaper that “the meeting would decide on important changes,” without specifying what they would be. The problems that have arisen in implementing the comprehensive reform will form the main focus of the meeting. “Further consolidation of the democratic structure and development of the reform—a new phase for promoting democracy in Albania”: this is the central theme of the meeting, as announced by the PD’s information media.

Tragedy after a road accident SHKODËR — (ar. ça.) — It was just an argument that arose over a traffic-police fine, but it turned into a tragedy for 30-year-old Ndoc Doçina, who killed himself on Sunday by firing an automatic weapon into his mouth inside his home. The dead man’s body was found by his family members beside the Model 56 automatic rifle, which Doçina owned without a permit. It all began with an ordinary car accident, one of the hundreds that occur every day on Albanian roads. Doçina’s car collided with a vehicle belonging to a fellow townsman who was coming from the opposite direction. The police then intervened: Ndoc Doçina had to pay a fine of 6,000 lekë because he was deemed responsible for the accident. Doçina’s attempts to meet the head of the district Traffic Police were unsuccessful. The chief was not in his office that day. After that, apparently unable to afford the fine, Doçina decided to take the tragic step. “He was a very sensitive person,” said someone from the family circle.

TIRANA — There were some differences, as foreign news agencies report, between President Berisha and Montenegrin President Bulatoviç (pictured), who met on Wednesday in Tirana to discuss the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the situation in Kosovo. “We must continue the dialogue on the points on which we disagree,” Bulatoviç said after meeting with the Albanian President. “Dialogue must continue”

Today is the last hope. Bircë may set off to buy them in Greece TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — “Today is the deadline. If this problem isn’t solved, I’ll take the bus to Greece,” Beklush Bircë, coach of the National Football Team, sighs—as he tells the newspaper—while describing an unusual anxiety. Ahead of the match to be played in Tirana next Wednesday, those responsible for the national team have discovered a particular shortage. This time, what is missing is not clothing, a hotel, a bus, a training pitch or meals for the footballers—as has happened on other occasions—but the players’ sports kits. The story began with preparations for the Albania-Denmark match. Three Albanian footballers—having forgotten that they had a kit of their own—swapped theirs with those of the European champions. A pleasure that has forced their coach to think more about the players’ clothing than their game. “They’ve promised us a kit from Spain,” Bircë hopes. “Xhubo, who is coming from Greece, may bring us one too.” For now, all we have is hope; if it fades, the Albanian coach may be forced to end up in some ordinary Greek shop. But having to go all the way to Greece to get one, if the effort is refused, would mean a sporting tragicomedy. A scene from the Albania-Denmark match in the autumn World Cup campaign

Russian plane changes course Schools close in Kosovo Cup match results

Everyone dreams when they sleep. This is an entirely normal fact, except that sometimes dreams are so beautiful or so bad that they leave you amazed and astonished when you wake up. But dreams can also be “predictive,” that is, they may contain an indirect hint, a warning about what might happen in the future. Every week, “Gazeta Shqiptare” offers its readers an explanation of the meaning of the objects and situations most often dreamed about. STATION Psychological interpretation: The station symbolizes an important stage in our lives. It is very interesting to assess our state of mind, the people, the trains and the destination: all of this helps specify the conclusions about the lives we are living and our inner conflicts. When the impressions we have made progress, things are rarely so… but if we do not know where to go, it is clear that we are still very far from achieving our goals. Predictions: Its image foretells a journey or an unexpected visit. STAR Psychological interpretation: A dream with many stars is a consoling dream: they symbolize sunlight, the guide along the path of existence, and their appearance gives us courage. If, on the contrary, we see falling stars, the dream speaks of failed hopes, loss of brilliance and enthusiasm. It is said that the greatest events in history have been foretold by a comet; in sleep, too, it appears to announce an essential development, an event of particular importance to the person. Predictions: Like the sun, stars foretell prosperity and good news; a comet foretells pleasant news. But the prediction is reversed if we see the stars’ light dim or see them disappear: bad luck and even death. BOOTS Psychological interpretation: Boots symbolize power, authority and aggressiveness. This image often reveals a desire to be sexually active: someone who wears boots would like to have a dominant role over their partner. Predictions: Boots foretell a love affair that is about to begin, with a happy ending; but if they are crooked and old, they predict situations that must be faced with determination and courage. SHTIGE Psychological interpretation: This is the negative representation of the mother. More generally, it embodies all the negative characteristics of women, and may project either the worst aspects of female rivals or those of close female friends. Its image also appears to symbolize unconscious fear and anxiety. Predictions: Quarrels and hostilities. STUDY, STUDIO Psychological interpretation: Sometimes it is a projection of an actual reality, but often it represents anxiety and fear of the future. Predictions: Lasting happiness is expected.