Sensational statement by coach Bejkush Birçe “They had told me that the match against Ireland had also been sold” EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — “If the scandal proves to be true, I will demand the most extreme measures against those truly responsible. I cannot believe that this national team could have sunk so low. I too have heard something like this,” says Bejkush Birçe, coach of the Albanian National Football Team, having just learned of the accusations against his team. And he finds it hard to believe. The story is already familiar: Espinoz, Vice President of the Spanish Football Federation, has accused them: “A representative of the Albanian footballers demanded, as payment for the match played in Tirana on Wednesday, a sum of 6–8 million pesetas, around 40 to 80 thousand dollars.” It is an accusation—one that should be referred to FIFA—not directed at Birçe, especially in relation to the recent matches, but it has never been proven. Now he too is checking what he remembers. “I don’t want to believe it, but it is true that the rumours kept growing.” Let’s start with Wednesday’s match against the Spanish national team... “Before the match, Eduart Dervishi, Secretary of the Albanian Football Federation, came to see me. He was the first to inform me of the suspicions that had been broadcast by various television stations. But it was quite late, only half an hour before the match was due to begin. So I preferred not to make the situation any more heated, because I also foresaw a possible revolt by the footballers.” During the match, did you start to think that the story about a fixed result was true? “To tell the truth, the goals we conceded were inconceivable. It was very hard for Spain to come away from that match with such a big win.” Whom do you specifically accuse? “I cannot accuse anyone without something definite being proven. If I knew for certain that one of my footballers had become involved in this dirty business, I would not have called him up to play. And I would report him.” When did you first hear signals that matches might be sold? “I heard quite a lot of things like that about the match against Ireland. In fact, someone who said that others had authorised him to speak to me openly told me that the match was sold. Moreover, after that match, the Danish coach said that ‘the Albanians were not serious.’ It is clear what he meant by the word ‘serious.’ Not only he, but anyone could have noticed the dramatic swings in our team’s performance from one match to the next.” Have you personally received offers of this kind? “No one has approached me about such deals. Apparently they knew me and knew that I had turned down other jobs to coach the Albanian team for a salary of 35 dollars a month. Someone has to do this job. Faced with hundreds of thousands, I would always have preferred a victory for our national team.” In your experience as a coach, have you seen cases like this before? “There have been cases in the Albanian leagues. In fact, the players who were typical of this kind of activity have already been identified. And these players may now even be regarded as stars.” Is any of them part of the current national team? “I can’t speak now. Let the latest accusations be clarified, and then...”

Strict measures to regulate trade and production Those who deceive will be severely punished What will change Here are the most important matters that will be formalised in relations between sellers and consumers: LABELS — Goods must carry a label stating their contents and how they are to be used. WEIGHT — The seller must sell the exact quantity of goods stated to the buyer. HYGIENE — The seller is required to sell in accordance with prescribed hygiene rules. REFUSAL — Sellers are prohibited from discriminating against buyers or refusing to sell goods displayed in the shop. DANGEROUS PRODUCTS — The sale of products dangerous to health is prohibited. TOBACCO — Tobacco advertising is prohibited. OPENING HOURS — Shops are required to display their opening hours. FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — Soon, relations between producers, sellers and consumers will be regulated by a special law approved by Parliament. Until now, these relations have been based on morality or a tradition established over time; they will now also be regulated by law. The Ministry of Trade has already drafted the bill, for which the “Consumer Association” has also been consulted. Everyone—producers, traders and suppliers—will be required to show greater respect for consumers’ demands. And consumers will feel better protected. Under this draft law, sellers are obliged to sell the quantity of goods stated and to allow consumers to check that the sale is accurate. The draft lays down strict measures to maintain acceptable hygiene and sanitary conditions. For all those who violate these measures, the law provides for severe penalties, ranging from substantial fines to the closure of commercial or manufacturing businesses. This time, the sale of products considered dangerous to consumers’ health is strictly prohibited. Many of the articles concern consumers’ right to receive as much information as possible about the goods they intend to buy. Every product will be sold with an appropriate label and other certificates showing its contents and how it is to be used. It seems that shops will also have to be tidier in their appearance. The law requires all sellers to display on their shop signs their trading name or symbol, together with information about the nature of the goods they sell. Shops will be required to identify and display their opening hours and to observe them rigorously. As in most countries around the world, Albania will also have a basic set of rules for advertising. The draft law sets out several points considered sufficient to regulate its content. No advertisement may contain text that incites national or religious hatred, violence or moral vulgarity. Finally, a measure that will be welcomed enthusiastically by opponents of tobacco: the draft law will prohibit every form of tobacco advertising. The new draft law has been welcomed enthusiastically by the Albanian Consumers’ Association, which since its establishment two years ago has worked to channel consumers’ spontaneous actions. Its chairman, Dr. Islam Cani, told Gazeta that he approved of the law’s contents: “The content meets international standards, and we have had only a few minor comments on certain wording. The important thing is that this law legally recognises consumers’ rights, just as it recognises the obligations of producers and sellers.”

TIRANA — “Ongoing threats and violence against journalists” is the title given to its protest, addressed to the Prosecutor’s Office, the Investigative Police and Public Order authorities, by the Albanian Helsinki Committee. The protest, which also lists all cases of mistreatment of Albanian journalists—and some foreign ones—by criminal groups or by individuals who have threatened them in the course of their work during the period from June to September 1993, calls on the public order and justice authorities to take urgent measures so that such cases do not recur and those responsible for these incidents are identified as quickly as possible.

The championship resumes (Uv. Za.) Today the 55th National Football Championship resumes. The third-week matches will also be played at 16:30. The champions, “Partizani,” who hold first place, will play in Librazhd this time. Here are the other matches and the referees who will officiate them: “Teuta” – “Elbasani” B. Pregja (Tirana). The match will be played in Lushnjë. “Besëlidhja” – “Apolonia”. A. Isufi (Shkodër) “Vllaznia” – “Flamurtari”. F. Behari (Durrës) “Sopoti” – “Partizani”. N. Allaj (Kavajë) “Tirana” – “Laçi”. B. Kaimi (Tirana) Since “Besa” has been suspended here and is playing its first Balkan Cup match against Greece’s “Janina,” the FSFH decided that the “Besa” – “Lushnja” match, which ended 0–2, would be played on Tuesday, 21 September. The other match, “Dinamo” – “Albpetrol,” was played yesterday. The Partizani team

DEBATE/ New rules for information Entire technological instruments, such as television, which at that time technology had not yet perfected. Newspapers, however they are written, spoken or broadcast, do not need any preventive censorship. All cases in which they may be seized by the administrative authorities are excluded. Such a serious act may be undertaken (with many measures without warning) only under two conditions and only if crimes clearly provided for by criminal law have been committed. The only limits on freedom of expression provided for by the Constitution are found in protecting the equal rights of others and in safeguards, in respecting good morals and in seeking to prohibit works and performances contrary to the common and general sentiment of society. A first and fundamental law implementing constitutional law was published in February 1948. Among other things, it establishes that every newspaper must be “registered” with the Court (care? [?]) “registrar”; it no longer needs to obtain authorization, must have a responsible editor, and must state who publishes it and who owns it. An important provision for the protection of citizens stipulates that the editor is required to publish, free of charge, statements or corrections from those to whom actions, opinions or statements have been attributed that they feel have harmed or injured their dignity, or that are contrary to the truth of the facts. Furthermore, in cases of defamation, in addition to severe criminal penalties (imprisonment for up to 6 years), payment of a sum of money as compensation is provided for. Severe penalties are also provided for those responsible for publications that offend the moral feelings of children and adolescents and incite corruption or suicide. A fundamental completion of the press regulations was achieved in Italy with the establishment of the National Association of Journalists in 1963. It is particularly notable that Italian legislation is less advanced in this sector. Few nations have newspapers registered not only with a court but also with a genuine professional association, as is the case for other professions (lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc.). Italian journalists also have a true Provident Institution [?], which provides services including pensions and assistance. These two organizations have been greatly valued by all journalists and were established by law in order to guarantee journalists complete professional independence from every political and economic power. incite corruption or suicide. The law on the Association of Journalists also protects citizens. In fact, one of its first articles, the second, states that journalists’ “invincible” right is the “freedom of information and criticism,” a principle grounded in citizens’ human rights to be “freely informed.” It follows that journalists perform an essential service for democratic life. Without a free press, in fact, no country can guarantee the freedom of its people. But the same Article 2 also sets precise limits on the “protection of the personality of others.” Respect for “the truth and true facts” is established as an essential obligation of journalists, who must always fulfil “the duties imposed by honesty and good faith.” Thus, news that “proves to be inaccurate” must be corrected. As a further safeguard for citizens, both journalists and publishers are required to respect “the secrecy of the source of news” and not reveal who provided it; moreover, they must act in such a way as not to damage the relationship of trust between newspapers and their readers. The other provisions of the law concern the Association’s internal affairs, the practice of the profession and the discipline of its members. It is interesting to note that foreign journalists based in Italy may practise their profession by registering on a special list of the professional register, provided that the country they come from grants Italian citizens the same opportunity. As if the State’s regulations and those of the professional association were not enough, Italian journalists have in recent months adopted a “truly shameful Charter,” that is, internal rules intended to provide greater protection to the most vulnerable groups: children, people on trial, and ethnic and religious minorities. * National Councillor of the Association of Italian Journalists The open discussion in Gazeta Shqiptare continues on the need to establish new rules for Albanian information and on the necessity of approving a press law that will restore professionalism and credibility to newspapers. This time Pasquale Tempesta, adviser to the Committee of the Italian Journalists’ Movement, contributes. This debate remains open to anyone wishing to discuss this subject and this delicate but also essential problem: that authors take responsibility for their statements, which must not conflict with the newspaper’s editorial line. PASQUALE TEMPESTA * For all countries freed from authoritarian regimes, and for Italy, which became independent immediately after the war, the issue of establishing new rules to protect citizens in matters of information is of great importance. Among other priorities are freedom of personal thought, the possibility of freely expressing all personal perceptions without commercial obligations, and the clear establishment of the fundamental principles of freedom of thought, expression and the press, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Italian Republic. press are enshrined in the Constitutional Charter of the Italian Republic and declared to be the fundamental rights of all Italians. These principles, set down in writing and clearly expressed, must be applied—as they are—so that they cannot justify any kind of censorship. In the other countries, part of this article ... “registered” with the Court (care? [?])

After the second week of the Championship, the Central Disciplinary Commission at the FSF ruled: — “Laçi” footballers Arjan Ceka and Roland Tuna are suspended for 3 and 2 matches, respectively, because during Tirana’s match against “Partizani” they deliberately struck an opponent. — Disha 1, a “Teuta” footballer, is suspended for 4 matches for unfair play during the match against “Tirana” in Durrës. For the same reason, another “Teuta” player, J. Alliu, is suspended for 3 matches. Dashi, also of “Teuta,” is suspended for just 1 match. — V. Dede of “Tirana” is suspended for 3 matches for improper conduct during the match against “Teuta” in Durrës. — The Durrës stadium is sanctioned: “Teuta” must play its next two matches elsewhere. For objects being thrown onto the pitch during the “Besëlidhja”–“Elbasani” match, the Lezhë stadium is warned that “Besëlidhja” may be barred from playing matches there. — For failing to take organizational measures for the “Teuta”–“Tirana” match held in Durrës, the secretary, Bashkim Koka, Head of the “Teuta” Sports Club, is sanctioned and may not accompany the team until 31 December 1993.

The open discussion in Gazeta Shqiptare continues on the need to establish new rules for Albanian information and on the necessity of approving a press law that will restore professionalism and credibility to newspapers.

PROJECT TO EXPAND THE FERRY PIER IN VLORA — The Scientific Council of the Ministry of Transport today approved a project to expand the ferry pier at the Port of Vlora. Work on the planned extension has already begun, with the aim of increasing the port’s capacity to handle ferries, which arrive almost every day. At present, three ferries use the pier eight times a week, and this had created difficulties in handling them. “ALBPETROL” TO BE FINANCED BY LIECHTENSTEIN — A contract has been signed between representatives of the “Albpetrol” football club in the city of Patos and the “A.S.W.” company of Liechtenstein. Under the contract, which covers the 1993–94 football championship, each “Albpetrol” footballer will receive a monthly salary of 100 German marks. Additional incentives have also been provided: 10 marks for each win and 5 marks for each draw. The total amount the foreign company will invest is close to 35,000 German marks. POOR HYGIENIC CONDITIONS AT THE BERAT MARKET — There has been no improvement in eliminating the poor hygienic conditions at the city market in Berat. A very large quantity of food products is traded at this market every day, increasing the risk of harm to people’s health. Around 25 to 35 quintals of meat are sold here, most of it traded and transported in very poor conditions and in violation of established regulations.

10 Sport Partizani today

How the foreign investment law will change There will be fewer bureaucratic procedures ON PAGE 3 The 2000 Olympics will be held in Sydney Beijing’s bid is rejected ON PAGE 2

Because of a strike by Italian journalists, tomorrow «Gazeta Shqiptare» will not be printed. We apologize to our readers.

We will have an extra hour to sleep tonight. As in other European countries, the clocks will change in Albania too: at 3 a.m. all the hands will be moved back one hour, and it will therefore be 2 a.m.