The Ferra family is demanding the million dollars The money had been donated for emergency care. It disappeared FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — “We ask for nothing other than to fulfill our father’s bequest to build the Emergency Hospital in Tirana. It was a gift from the brothers to his country, which he loved so much. All our efforts to find out what happened to the money deposited at the Bank of Albania have been unsuccessful. And now the only recourse left to us is to turn to the Court, although this is not a decision we would have liked to make.” Ferik Ferra, son of the well-known benefactor Xhemal Ferra, told Gazeta of the family’s decision to take the case to the Tirana Court. The decision comes after years of efforts in the labyrinths of state bureaucracy and bank accounts. The story of the funds for the Emergency Hospital in Tirana began in 1989, when Xhemal Ferra deposited the first sum for its construction. It was 105,000 German marks, followed over the ensuing months by further sums, bringing the total to more than 1 million dollars. After the necessary plans had been drawn up and a group of doctors and specialists had been sent to Italy, construction of the hospital began, undertaken by the then construction company “21 Dhjetori.” But after work proceeded in fits and starts, the family suddenly learned that construction had stopped due to a “lack of funds.” “It was an absurd explanation,” Ferik Ferra explains, “because the money my father had sent had been calculated on the basis of the cost estimates.” Since the time when work was halted, construction of the hospital has made no further progress. The State Audit Service has also taken up the case, and it was there that a point came to light that may help greatly in establishing the truth. In September 1992, the head of Finance at the Bank of Albania replied to the State Audit Service: “This sum is held in foreign banks and in the vaults of the district branches of the National Bank.” No official answer was given as to where exactly the money was. He also speaks about another problem. “We happened to learn that the hospital whose construction began with the money donated by our father has been assigned to the Catholic Church. Despite our great respect for this church’s humanitarian work, we do not agree with this. The hospital must be completed with the funds we deposited. So let those funds be found and put to the use for which they were deposited.” Will the mystery of the search be solved? It is a difficult task, and people are waiting… Tirana’s hospital under construction the taking over at that time of the construction project “21 dhjetori”. But, after work proceeded intermittently, the family suddenly learned that construction had stopped for explains, “because the money my father had paid in had been calculated on the basis of the estimates.” As early as February 1991—[text unclear] to clarify the Bank of Albania replied to the State Audit: “This amount is held in foreign banks and in the cash offices of the National Bank’s district branches.” As to where exactly, the family has received no official answer, although it had [text unclear]. Shtipital must [text unclear] On this day his family had gathered [text unclear] for a bequest he had left in his final days. A considerable sum of money was [text unclear] to the Institute for Tumour Studies political changes were taking place in his homeland.

No surprises from the sixth week of the championship lo Sport No surprises from the sixth week of the championship Milan still alone three teams are chasing Inter players and the well-known Bergkamp celebrate the second goal. On page 4, all the matches of the Italian championship On page three, the matches

At least 10,000 supporters of Boris Eltsin gathered in Moscow on Sunday to protest against the Parliament, which is resisting the dissolution ordered by the Russian president. Several hundred supporters of Parliament remain, defending and guarding the building where the rebel deputies are holding out. Aleksander Rutskoi, whom Parliament appointed president while considering Eltsin dismissed, has called on the Russian population to go on an indefinite strike. In the photo, armed soldiers guarding Parliament

SHKODËR — (p. re.) — Another serious road accident in the district of Shkodër, following the one that occurred a few days ago on the Shkodër-Shallë road, where three people died. This time, a private Fiat car with license plate 22 SH 669 left the road and ended up in the waters of Lake Shpatharit, injuring the five members of the Dani family who were traveling in it. A 6-year-old child, the child’s father, and another family member died. The other two family members are hospitalized in serious condition.

CARLO BOLLINO DEBATE/ Rules for information The law, but caution The Press Law is causing debate. And this is important news, because debate—when it is constructive—does nothing but benefit democracy. We are pleased about this also because of the discussion in Albania and the raising of the issue of information in Albania and its rules. Looking at it this way, the Journalists’ Association has organized a meeting to discuss the draft law. “Gazeta Shqiptare” does not consider it at fault; on the contrary, we want to make clear that we will offer our contribution. The Press Law is important news, and it must be approved with the greatest calm and without haste. Parliament must also hear the assessment of the international executive before making a decision; what is strange is the proposal to make several changes to the draft law. The Albanian proposal was clear, and the Press Law in question is based on the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia: the fact that it concerns a country with a long-established democracy does not mean that its laws are also suitable for Albania, which must take account of the conditions of [l.] and the dictatorship that has just ended. Its provisions must be adapted to the Albanian context. 2) The draft law is incomplete in several respects. In particular, it needs to specify the state bodies charged with ensuring compliance with the directives. For example, the law does not specify who is responsible for ensuring that the rules conform to the Constitution (Article 18), although it is clear that in a democratic article any function of control over the press belongs to no one but the Investigation Department. 3) It is not certain that, “in Albania,” a function of any kind relating to press activity should fall within the competence of the Ministry of Public Order, even though Article 12 of this draft law provides for it. 4) It would be necessary to clarify the provision imposing imprisonment on a journalist (Article 21). Memories of a dictatorship and of persecuted newspapers are still all too fresh. Will this provision be used to suppress protests, or will it be regulated in some other way? If so, will it be possible to appeal? 5) An international declaration or at least a clarification that sanctions against [unclear] risks of transform-

Qemal Ferra TIRANA — (fa. ba.) — Xhemal Ferra is an example of a man who devoted his life to work. Born in 1903 in Krujë, as a young man he worked as a caravan driver, traveling across Central and Northern Albania. Later he began a commercial business in Burrel. Ferra was one of the two partners who built the Royal Palace on the hills of Tirana—known as the Palace of the Brigades—between 1936 and 1939. In 1939 he was interned in Italy for anti-fascist patriotic activity. In 1941 he returned from internment, but was forced to leave again in 1943. It was the last time he saw his homeland. From then on he lived and worked in Italy as a merchant and entrepreneur, far from his family. He died in 1991 in Milan, where he spent most of his life. The story of Tirana’s Emergency Hospital is more or less well known. But it was not yet known that he had also made such a charitable gift to Italy, the country where he lived for nearly 50 years. In recent days, his family has spoken of a bequest he had made during his final days. A considerable sum of money was left to the Institute for Cancer Research in Milan. His children say that although he lived far from his homeland, his thoughts were always in Albania. He died at an advanced age, at a time when important changes were taking place in his homeland…

SERVICE FEES CUT AT THE PORT OF VLORA — The Directorate of the Port of Vlora has decided to lower charges for cargo handling. The aim is to encourage private importers to bring goods through the port. It has been observed that traders prefer to route their goods through the Port of Durrës, where cargo handling is faster. As a result, various goods, including grain, arrive in Vlora or Fier from Durrës by rail and road. AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOVILLA RESERVOIR — Representatives of the Italian-Albanian company, following the opening of the tender, signed the agreement for the construction of the Bovilla reservoir at the Ministry of Construction. The project, which is expected to be completed in 2 months, provides for the construction of several other structures in addition to the 80-meter-high dam. It aims to secure 80 million cubic meters of water, of which 38 million will be used to meet the needs of Tirana’s residents and the remainder for agriculture. MUNICIPALITY DECISIONS ON THE EVICTION OF ZERA BOCRESHT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED — Police in the district of Sarandë have intervened to enforce Municipality decisions against families who have forcibly occupied various public premises for housing. The latest action was the eviction of families from the premises of the Orikum Enterprise.

D’Angio and Gjoka at a concert for peace Italians and Albanians together ON PAGE 2 “I prefer saying Tirona” Dialects make a comeback New debates on language issues ON PAGE 2