The drinking habit is on the rise among young people Results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health Drinking habit on the rise among young people ARMAND MERO TIRANA — Consumption of alcoholic drinks is increasing among young people and Albanian women. The Health Ministry is concerned: “We do not have the proper means to combat it.” Meanwhile, statistics place Albania below the European average for alcohol consumption. “There are still no complete data compiled scientifically — Dhimitra Stratobërda, Director of the Directorate of Health Education, tells Gazeta — but surveys and questionnaires point to an increase in alcohol consumption, especially among young people and Albanian women. The results show that drinking alcohol generally helps improve their state of mind. The problem of alcohol, which concerns not only young people, has become a worrying issue for Albanian health services, which anticipate a further increase in its use. “It is necessary — Arfim Dangëllia, a doctor at Tirana Neuropsychiatric Hospital, tells Gazeta — to establish a rehabilitation center for alcoholics. This center should have its own laboratory and specialized doctors.” For now, alcoholics are treated in various wards of this hospital. “This treatment — explains Irma Dilaveri, a doctor in the psychiatric rehabilitation ward — has been left to chance. Medicines are lacking. Patients are often forced to buy them themselves at pharmacies, at high prices.” This hospital mainly treats alcoholics who come of their own accord. “It was my own choice — Kujtim Luku, a 40-year-old from Shijak who has spent more than half his life with a glass in hand, tells Gazeta. — Every day I started in the morning and carried on until evening. I accompanied the drink with just a little salt, dipping my finger into it. If I didn’t drink, my hands shook.” The same is said by 25-year-old G.B. from Tirana, who even drank alcohol for cars, because raki seemed too mild to him. Nevertheless, Albania’s statistics (4–5 liters of alcohol per person) are below the European average (7–8 liters per person). There is an explanation for this. “While Albanians — says Stratobërda — drink strong alcoholic beverages, which prevents them from consuming large quantities, in other countries people mainly drink beer and relatively mild beverages, which allow them to consume larger amounts.” Drinks and wines on display in a shop in Tirana

The Alliance explains: «A courageous political act» While Selami denounces it as: «An anti-national act» Serious accusations against «AD» after the visit to Belgrade EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Controversy and accusations erupted after the Democratic Alliance Party returned from Belgrade. In Tirana and Pristina, two strongly worded statements opposing this visit were presented to the sensitive Albanian public on both sides of the border. A day earlier, two members of the AD delegation — Imami and Ngjela — had to face a barrage of questions from local and foreign journalists. But statements criticizing the visit had begun earlier. While the AD delegation was holding talks in Belgrade with politicians from both the government and opposition, the Albanian Parliament — through the PD parliamentary group — had approved a statement condemning the visit by members of this party to Serbia. “It is an anti-national and anti-democratic act that favors Milošević’s regime,” said Eduart Selami, Chairman of the PD, in his statement. On the same day, Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Republic of Kosovo, also spoke out strongly against the visit, which, according to him, was “a complete blunder.” Rugova went further, saying: “That party has no right to speak on behalf of Kosovo anywhere, or for low political purposes.” In fact, the AD itself described the act as an “example of courageous politics” in a press release. In responding to the invitation from the Belgrade Institute of International Politics and Economics, the AD representatives also arranged meetings with prominent figures in contemporary Serbian politics; the only one absent was the leader of the Serbian regime, Milosheviç. “We did not meet Milosheviç,” Ngjela explained, “because we thought we were not at the political level to meet him, and also because a high level of trust has begun to develop in Albania between the President of Montenegro and the Albanian President.” One of the strongest points made by Imami and Ngjela at the press conference was that their party was setting a precedent, referring to the reception of Bulatoviç in Albania by our officials. “To sit at the table and come to the aid today of Milosheviç’s Socialist Party,” Selami objected in his statement, “is a gesture that rightly hurts all Albanians, as well as the anti-national democratic forces.” Controversy was also sparked by the fact that Belgrade’s propaganda had described the AD as the largest opposition party in Albania. “This visit was carefully planned and was fully exploited to prolong the days of Milosheviç’s criminal regime,” Selami accused in his statement, commenting that the AD visit to Serbia had given them an opportunity to mislead both domestic and international public opinion by presenting themselves as “negotiators for a peaceful solution.” The visit to Belgrade by Ceka, Imami and Ngjela is the first such instance — at least since 1981, when Serbian repression in Kosovo was also brought to an end — of Albanian politicians travelling to hold bilateral talks with the Serbian side. Even after pluralism was declared in Albania, no party had taken such a step. The only exceptions were the visit of former Serbian Prime Minister Paniç to Tirana and the Berisha-Bulatoviç meeting, also in Tirana.

A panorama of Foggia

TIRANA — Construction work on the Factory Complex in the city of Vorë has been suspended. The Territorial Council of Albania has decided to halt it until the complete factory project is submitted. For several months, work on this complex, undertaken by Kato Aromatic, an Egyptian company, has been at a standstill. So far, only the foundations have been laid, for which the company says it has spent around 250 million dollars. Meanwhile, the president of the company has been asked to submit the complete plans. The existing plans include only the layouts of some of the project’s other main buildings, such as the warehouses and canteen.

Today readers will receive, free of charge, the third panorama in the series distributed every Sunday together with Gazeta Shqiptare. Today’s panorama is a reproduction of an old painting of Foggia. A panorama of Foggia

TIRANA — Another collaboration in the field of Defense. Minister Zhulali signed a memorandum of cooperation the day before yesterday between the Ministry of Defense of Albania and that of Great Britain. Recognizing England’s important role in NATO, Zhulali noted that the signing of this memorandum is also significant for developments in the region and beyond. After the agreement at the Pentagon, this memorandum is the second important agreement signed in the field of Defense within the space of a few days. The Albanian Army has also just begun the third phase of its restructuring in recent days.

TIRANA — Perhaps there will no longer be queues outside the Italian Embassy, at least for those seeking to have their documents legalized. In fact, starting next week, people will no longer need to queue to submit the documents that are being processed and are to be legalized at the Consulate, so they can be forwarded to the relevant office. Until now, only 40 people could get in. Some of the legalized documents can be circulated and used in all offices. The possibility of making this available to everyone is also being studied, because the service is provided every day by staff who, as the Embassy explains, “cannot be expected to wait in line for everyone who then, when they do not get into the office of …”, leaving without their problem being resolved. Queue at the Italian Embassy

LITTLE HOPE FOR A QUICK RESOLUTION OF TIRANA’S DRINKING-WATER SUPPLY — “It will take another two years for Tirana’s residents to receive a regular supply of drinking water,” said Astrit Hana, Director of the Water Supply Company, at the consultation held at Tirana City Hall. This consultation was the sixth possible [meeting] to organize a regular drinking-water supply. The awarding of contracts, increasing the amount of water, and reducing technical losses were identified as some of the ways to stabilize the current situation. THE NEED FOR FURTHER COOPERATION WITH THE EC REITERATED — “A further commitment by the European Community to support economic reform in Albania is very important,” Prime Minister Meksi stressed at a special meeting with Elio Germano, Ambassador of the European Community in Albania. Germano, for his part, noted that every opportunity exists for a new, higher-quality level of cooperation. A FRENCH CULTURAL CENTER TO OPEN SOON IN SHKODËR — A French cultural center will soon open in the city of Shkodër. The center, which is being opened at the initiative of the Committee for Freedom and Democracy in Albania, will have around 5,000 French books and a computer, and will organize specialized courses introducing the fundamentals of marketing and finance. STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS IN GERMANY FOR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES — The German Embassy in Tirana will award several scholarships for study in Germany. These scholarships will be short-term for students and long-term for graduates or researchers from various fields of science.

Debate erupts after the draft law is approved by the Government The department seeks oversight of the activity ON PAGE 3 A bomb explodes in the Padua Court No one injured, extensive damage ON PAGE 2