The next convention in December TIRANA - (Ed. La.) - “The discussion was simply about the DP program, and nearly all the speakers concluded that everyone must respect the DP program and must not act according to their own personal ideas. The law, the Quran, the Bible—the only one is the Democratic Party program.” Bari Bregu, MP and member of the DP National Council, speaks about the expanded meeting of the DP National Council, held on Friday in Tirana. “It is thought that the amount to be invested over the next three years by the Albanian State itself,” Bregu tells the Gazette, “will be around 72 million dollars, mainly for infrastructure.” Speaking about Prime Minister Meksi’s address to the National Council, the DP deputy explained that consolidating the democratic structures of today’s government was also the main reason for the meeting. In addition, according to the meeting’s final statement, it was announced that the DP National Conference would be held in December of this year. ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Tirana, guards spring into action “Group 4 Securitas” expands into Albania EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — For the first time in Albania, alongside the State Police, a Private Police service is also operating. The joint-stock company “Group 4 Securitas — Shqipëri Sh. A.”, headquartered in Tirana, began its activities just four days ago. The Bread Factory in the capital is already under the supervision of the company’s employees. Under the Law “On the Organization of the Civil Guard Service,” approved by the People’s Assembly, these employees are legally permitted to carry firearms, radios, rubber batons and many other items also available to the State Police. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Order has just approved their uniforms: beige, and therefore different from all the uniforms of the Albanian Armed Forces. “The special feature of our service is that for every facility or person we undertake to protect, we immediately guarantee compensation in the event of a loss.” President Ksenofon Krisafi has gathered young men around him to carry out this particular duty. According to him, employees’ wages range from 5,000 to 6,000 lekë a month. But the company also undertakes to pay 26 percent of their social security contributions, 6 percent for social assistance and 2 percent allocated to conscientious objectors, not to mention child and food allowances. “Group 4 Securitas — Shqipëri” is insured with “Ligue Internationale des Societes de Surveillance”, England, to provide greater security for compensation resulting from the guards’ fault or negligent conduct. “Group 4” has already prepared contracts for interested clients. The cost of a guard post for one month is estimated at 15,000–16,000 lekë. This cost can, however, be changed for special conditions. Personal physical protection may also be requested for specific days. The list of services offered by “Group 4”, based in Tirana, also includes the transport of money and technical services. “We would like to provide our staff,” Krisafi says, “with sophisticated, modern weapons, but this is not yet provided for in the existing legislation.” Thus, to equip the personnel whom the Ministry of Public Order has authorized to carry weapons, the only current option remains rental [of weapons]. “The aim is not to kill people,” President Krisafi concludes, “but to prevent crime, including through coordination with state agencies.” And so the fight against crime and theft has just acquired the beige color of “Group 4 Securitas.” In 44 countries around the world The multinational company “Group 4 International B. V.” (The Hague — Netherlands), now a partner in the Albanian company “Albinvest Sh. P. K.”, is one of the largest security organizations in the world, with an annual business turnover of more than 1,000 million dollars. Its operations extend across 44 different countries, including Albania. The “Group 4” training school, based in Broadway (Worcestershire), is one of the most advanced in the world. Every year, 1,500 employees are trained at this school. The name “Group 4” is also linked to the four main services it provides: guarding facilities; protecting individuals; transporting money; and protecting property. This multinational company also undertakes the installation and maintenance of alarm systems for fire hazards and attempted burglaries, access-control systems, surveillance systems and closed-circuit television systems. Among the well-known people whose protection “Group 4” has provided or currently provides is the famous Liz Taylor.

CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Starting Tuesday, Gazeta Shqiptare will be bigger: the pages in Albanian will increase to three instead of the current two, in an effort to bring closer two countries that have always been friends and intend to remain so. Since the day of our first issue—published on 22 April last year—many things have happened in this country: happy and sad events that we have tried to record with great objectivity, striving to achieve the sole purpose for which our newspaper is undertaking this initiative: to contribute modestly and honestly to the growth and strengthening of democracy. An English intellectual says: if ten bricklayers make mistakes in their work, a house may collapse; but if those who make mistakes are journalists, a democracy may collapse. That is why we believe our task, like that of all Albanian newspapers, is difficult and essential. Gazeta Shqiptare has not decided to add pages for financial gain. On the contrary, this stems from the need to report ever more accurately on the story of a country that advances day by day and which—amid thousands of contrasts—is fighting to achieve genuine development. This collective effort involves us all in the name of solidarity between two peoples separated by a sea so small that it cannot constitute a division, but is simply a border. Starting with the next issue, Gazeta Shqiptare will publish three pages in Albanian every day, which we hope will soon become four and even more. Alongside the country’s daily news, we will also provide information on the economy, young people’s lives, sports, culture, performances, political debates and new trends. This is a difficult task for which we will need the contribution of every Albanian. Because Gazeta Shqiptare wants to continue to be everyone’s newspaper.

BALLI KOMBËTAR HOLDS CONGRESS — The congress of Balli Kombëtar began its work at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. In addition to delegates, members of the Central Committee and representatives of the party from the diaspora were in attendance. After the opening speech, a report was presented on the activities of Balli Kombëtar since the period of the National Liberation War, as well as its political and economic platform for the future. SEMINAR ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND DRAFTING LAWS — A seminar entitled “Parliamentary Procedures and Drafting Laws” opened in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. It is sponsored by the PHARE program. The first session addressed issues concerning the preliminary drafting of bills in the Government and Parliament. 46 PERCENT OF HOMES PRIVATIZED IN POGRADEC — Of 3,566 state-owned homes, 1,573, or 46 percent, have so far been privatized in the Pogradec district. Documentation has been prepared for the privatization of a further 330 apartments. At the same time, the privatization commission has encountered considerable difficulties in privatizing apartments occupied by families with several households. The large number of homeless families remains a problem. According to data from the district local government, 1,341 families are considered homeless.

TIRANA — (d.k.). An exhibition of Albanian handicrafts will open on Monday in Putignano. The hosts of this exhibition will be the “Free Historical-Cultural Association of the Citizens of Putignano.” This association has long-established good cooperative ties with two Albanian cities: Shkodër and Durrës. Sallusti of the newspaper will consider that the association has planned to organize cooperation with Albania. Albanian participants will also take part in the traditional carnival festivities in Putignano, but the main event will remain the handicrafts exhibition.

TIRANA — The animals of the National Zoological Garden are rapidly heading toward extinction. Due to a lack of food and care, just in the last two years two bears, rabbits, owls, roe deer, eagles, a cuckoo falcon and a buzzard have died. Visitors to this center can now see only a few bears, the wolf, dozens of [unclear], vultures and storks. These too are threatened—not only by natural deaths, but also by the forced “diet” imposed by the lack of food.

The Environmental Committee will oversee them TIRANA — (p.re.) Another step toward safeguarding the country’s natural heritage. At its latest meeting, the Government decided to strengthen controls over the country’s caves, many of which are of great value. The measure is aimed mainly at foreign speleologists. To visit any of them, they will have to pay a set fee: 20–30 dollars per day for each expedition participant. Under this decision, caves will be maintained like all other national assets. In recent years, many caves had become the target of abuses and misuse by numerous people, mainly foreigners, who, in the absence of relevant legislation, had found these places a paradise for their activities. Many geological objects have already ended up in foreign metropolises, having been taken illegally from Albanian territory. To curb this phenomenon, the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection decided to intervene. It was this ministry that proposed to the Government the decision approved in recent days.

The caves, starting today Starting today, the caves

Inside

In London, the Nazis win Football: Serie A matches Undocumented migrants land in Brindisi

by Stella Wilder Aries 20/III 20/IV You may meet someone who poses a threat to the visibility you believe in; believe this regarding the matter that concerns you. You must finish what concerns you. You must finish a job you have started; no excuses will be accepted. Taurus 21/IV 20/V An important person is relying on you. You really have to work with them; you have to convince them that you are right, and convince them that you are not careless and so on. Watch your diet. Gemini 21/V 20/VI You will receive an important gift, though you may not give it due attention. Don’t let yourself get upset. You understand. Don’t let these few disappointments upset you. Cancer 21/VI 22/VII A meeting may weigh on you a little. Don’t be cold. You need to know how to appreciate fully what is being offered to you. You can learn many things this week and also gain more experience in a particular area. Leo 23/VII 22/VIII A good week, moving more slowly than your contemporaries. Don’t worry; what’s coming is there, even if it doesn’t seem so. A new model: this week, avoid easy enthusiasm and, above all, aggressive behavior. Virgo 23/VIII 22/IX You may find the activities you have started enjoyable. You want to have time to understand that you are… Don’t let everything happen at once; there must be a reason for this intuition. Libra 23/IX 22/X Teamwork can produce excellent results, but you must never forget your personal tasks. If you need help this week, just ask; there will be many offers. Scorpio 2/X 21/XI Tension in the family. You will be forced to act on a serious problem and face it honestly. You will receive an offer that is difficult to refuse, but it will require you to make important changes that were not in your plans. Sagittarius 22/XI 21/XII You will be more bored by the usual routine. But you need to be aware of the new things you need. Don’t bring things out; perhaps one of them may also be something that does not suit you. Capricorn 22/XII 19/I There will be no shortage of surprises this week, but you need to look beyond the façade to grasp them. If you have help planned this week, make sure it is for the better; you should not experiment. Aquarius 20/I 19/II This week you need your usual nose for bargains. You may be able to make substantial financial gains. You can combine your abilities and pleasures with creativity. Pisces 20/II 19/III If you are to hold your ground, you must rely only on your own ability and experience. A clash between you and another person of your sign may seem to concern your property.