After two years, the investigation concludes inquiries into 10 former officials Trial within 30 days TIRANA — The ten highest-ranking former officials of the old regime will be tried within 30 days. After months of investigations, the Tirana Prosecutor's Office has now forwarded the investigative files to the Tirana Court. They are Qirjako Mihali, Pali Miska, Besnik Bekteshi, Prokop Murra, Llambi Geprifti, Muho Asllani, Vangjell Çerrava, Foto Çami, Vangjel Çerrava, and Lena Çuko, who will appear before the court under the joint charge of “Violation of the equality of citizens, in complicity, through the creation of unlawful privileges.” EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The ten highest-ranking former officials of the old regime will be tried within 30 days. After months of investigations, the Tirana Prosecutor's Office has now forwarded the investigative files to the Tirana Court. They are Qirjako Mihali, Pali Miska, Besnik Bekteshi, Prokop Murra, Llambi Geprifti, Muho Asllani, Vangjell Çerrava, Foto Çami, Vangjel Çerrava and Lena Çuko, who will appear before the court under the joint charge of “Violation of the equality of citizens, in complicity, through the creation of unlawful privileges.” But the files sent to the Court omit the most prominent figures of the old regime. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the cases of Ramiz Alia, Adil Çarçani, Hekuran Isai, Simon Stefi and Manush Myftiu — all in Tirana Prison — have been separated because of other charges against them. Investigations into former senior party and state officials began as early as June 1991. The first arrest was made on August 31 of that same year, when Manush Myftiu ended up in Tirana Prison. However, the first trial was held against Hoxha's brother on the charge of “embezzlement”; following the first-instance proceedings and the Court of Appeal, he was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. The investigation of the others, meanwhile, continued for a very long time. Four months ago, the Deputy Prosecutor General told the public that the trial of the former officials in the case of the communist elite would take place in August. But even that deadline proved difficult to meet. The special group of investigators in the General Investigation Directorate, which handled the investigation into the former elite, was forced to curtail its work—not because it was difficult to uncover facts, but because of the time period, as work was being done to bring the 1956–1985 judicial proceedings to a conclusion. These investigations led the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, on August 19 of this year, to arrest within a few hours and send to Tirana Prison Ramiz Alia, Pali Miska, Prokop Murra, Foto Çami, Vangjel Çerrava, Muho Asllani and Besnik Bekteshi, some of whom had previously been under house arrest. Of the ten people in the file just submitted to the Tirana Court, three are not in prison: Llambi Geprifti, Hajredin Çeliku and Lenka Çuko have so far been investigated under house arrest and an order not to leave. Under Article 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure—the provision under which they are charged—the maximum sentence is only eight years' imprisonment. Now only the decision of the Tirana Court is awaited. Foto Çami photographed in prison Who are the accused? 1) Qirjako Mihali: Born on May 13, 1929, in the city of Korçë. Former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Finance; 2) Pali Miska: Born on May 19, 1931, in Bradvicë, Korçë. Former member of the Political Bureau and Speaker of the People's Assembly, First Secretary of the Elbasan Party Committee; 3) Besnik Bekteshi: Born on August 11, 1941, in Shkodër. Former candidate member of the Political Bureau and Deputy Secretary of the Council of Ministers; 4) Prokop Murra: Born on November 24, 1921, in Tirana. Former member of the Political Bureau and Minister of People's Defence; 5) Llambi Geprifti: Born on February 14, 1942, in Pogradec. Former candidate member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Industry and Minerals, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Tirana District; 6) Muho Asllani: Born on October 17, 1937, in Bërdicë, Shkodër. Former member of the Political Bureau and Minister in the Council of Ministers' apparatus, First Secretary of the Durrës District Party Committee; 7) Hajredin Çeliku: Born on May 4, 1927, in Peshkopi. Former member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Industry and Mines; 8) Foto Çami: Born on October 4, 1925, in Labovë, Gjirokastër. Former member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour; 9) Vangjel Çerrava: Born on February 4, 1941. Former candidate member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour; 10) Lenka Çuko: Born on July 8, 1938, in Fshati i Ri, Lushnjë. Former member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour. Lenka Çuko in a photograph from 1985

Scandal over a lesson at “Q. Stafa” high school The students defend her. Who filed the complaint? TIRANA — (br. ca.) They started fighting AIDS. Controversy erupted. It was just one lesson. It was an illustration of the topic “How to fight AIDS” during a sociology lesson in the first years of the “Qemal Stafa” General Secondary School. The slides brought by the association “Fight Against AIDS” and used during the lesson caused a scandal. Someone called for these lessons to be stopped. But who? Perhaps a frightened parent, worried that their child might be “educated by looking at images like these,” or a teacher jealous of the lesson's success? Meanwhile, “Fight Against AIDS” became an issue even at the Ministry of Education. Lydra Biçoku, headmistress of the “Qemal Stafa” General Secondary School, is accused of “being responsible for this shameful lesson.” From her point of view, the problem seems purely bureaucratic. She tells the newspaper: “For the association ‘Fight Against AIDS’ to intervene in a lesson and shed light on the development and conditions of the teaching process, it must have a permit. The permit is issued by the Education Directorate of the municipality or district. This association has now been brought between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. The association will help conduct lectures on AIDS, but in special sessions after classes.” But how do the students themselves react? “Julinda Stambolliu, a first-year student at this high school, replies: ‘It was a useful lesson, since we knew general things about AIDS, but nothing concrete.’” “It was more than timely,” Enri Mulla interjects, “an interesting lesson.” Of course, there was some giggling in the classroom, but these were apparently reactions of students smiling and lowering their heads. According to the results of a survey of 104 students at this school by the Health Education Directorate, students say they know very little about the disease of the century. Asked how AIDS is transmitted, 72 percent answered incorrectly, for example: “The city's roads infect us with AIDS.” Asked how to protect themselves from AIDS, 85 percent answered, “I don't know.” Perhaps learning how to fight AIDS is useful to someone. Talking about AIDS can save lives TIRANA — (c. bo.) Sex is frightening. It is an ancient fear, older than humankind, which has survived and remained concealed since the earliest times. But people have used shame to hide their intimacy. And it was precisely this exaggerated shame, lasting thousands of years, that turned sex into a mysterious instinct, difficult to live with. Times are changing now, and a new social emergency has arisen in connection with sex: AIDS. It can be fought only by talking about it. Only by bringing the secrets of sex into the open can the disease of the century be eradicated. It was precisely in these pages, together with the Ministry of Health, that throughout the year we published a campaign on measures to prevent AIDS, the first of its kind in Albania. It was the first step. The second should have been sex education in schools, because young people are precisely those most exposed to the risk of the disease. But someone has protested against this scandal, denounced the headmistress who allowed sex to be discussed in class and agreed to project images related to sex. It is the ancient fear that is threatened, the shame that has been contradicted by the very existence of protecting people's lives. It is true: talking about sex is difficult; it is a matter of mentality, education and culture. But the positive response from “Qemal Stafa” school in Shijak has arrived: young people, those adolescents whom their leaders may regard as a scandal (the “superiority of the young”), and the “Gazeta”—and others—why should they be deterred by those who have intervened to try to “turn the discourse of education in the opposite direction”? Who was it? Perhaps a conscientious parent. That is how they understood it. But they also have a duty to understand what their children need. No, this initiative must continue, because it harms no one; on the contrary, it is necessary. Shame must be put aside. In the interest of students, parents and young people.

TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — The 22,000-dollar scandal at the Tirana Court. Muharrem Sako, former Director of Economic Justice at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, appeared in Court—at his own request—to have the detention order that had sent him to Tirana Prison months earlier revoked. But he himself and his lawyer withdrew this request before the Court. The reason, according to them, is that the investigations are now nearing completion. Along with Sako, Gjekë Toto, a former specialist at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, was arrested on the same charge. They are accused of being responsible for the loss of 220,000 dollars that had been earmarked for the purchase of tear-gas bombs in 1990.

A government decision is awaited on continuing at the Faculty TIRANA — (ed. la.) — The six-month course to train employees of the Prosecutor's Office, Investigative Police and Courts has ended. But although the trainees have not taken any exams for two months, many of them are still unemployed. They have not even returned to their previous jobs. Of the 420 participants in the intensive law course, only 70—who had worked in the Investigative Police—have returned to their profession, along with another group in the investigative bodies. The rest are now anxiously awaiting a government decision that could order their enrollment in the Faculty of Law, while allowing them to sit exams under adapted arrangements. The course began on April 1 under a decision of the Council of Ministers, which, through the Ministry of Justice, provided a sum of 13 million lek from the middle of summer 1993 to cover expenses. According to this document, trainees had to be no older than 40, have a higher education degree—not in law—or be current students at the Faculty of Law. During the six-month course, the 420 participants were taught by some of the best lecturers in jurisprudence. According to the trainees, all exams in the subjects taught that year at the Faculty of Law were taken before the designated examining boards, in accordance with faculty procedures. The issue is now at an impasse, even though the Law on the Organization of Justice requires higher legal education for anyone who may work as a judge or prosecutor. At present, trainees may work in the Investigative Police or in the courts, but only as assistant judges and prosecutors, or in the Prosecutor's Office, but not as prosecutors. Some of them, who came to the course from the profession of investigator, have now returned to it. The rest—the larger group—are waiting for a government decision. The trainees are asking to be enrolled in the Faculty of Law, while being allowed to sit exams under adapted arrangements.

Republican Giuliani, the new mayor of New York Democrats fail after 28 years ON PAGE 2 Images from Albania reach Africa After November 15, RTSH on satellite ON PAGE 3

TIRANA — Russia's Minister of Education, Evgeni Sidorov, will arrive in Albania today. During his two-day stay, he will meet with Albania's highest-ranking figures. Evgeni will also be received by President of the Republic Berisha and Prime Minister Meksi. He and his counterpart Aganosti will also sign an Agreement Protocol in the field of culture. The visit by this representative—the first to Albania—of the Russian side is considered a further step in relations between Albania and Russia.

TIRANA — (An.So) — After two months of waiting, the Constitutional Court informed representatives of the Free Property Association that the case concerning the constitutionality of the Law on the Settlement and Compensation of Former Owners' Properties had been suspended. TIRANA — (An.So) — After two months of waiting, the Constitutional Court informed representatives of the Free Property Association that the case concerning the constitutionality of the Law on the Settlement and Compensation of Former Owners' Properties had been suspended, until the Association legally confirms the parties before the Court. Veli Buda, a member of the Constitutional Court, confirmed the news to the newspaper. The legal grounds for suspending the case are a Protocol “On the Return and Compensation of Properties” submitted to Parliament by the Association for Property Justice of Former Owners.

A new fashion is emerging in Albania, aided by technology A special gun is used in a jewelry shop in the capital TIRANA — Fashion is winning over all Albanians. The latest important news, brought every day straight from the great European metropolis, is that earrings are now for boys too. Men's fashion has arrived, with Albanian ?matërgan, to people's surprise, but earrings were being shown even on a one-year-old. And although technology serves fashion, here's another invention: the “gun” for ears. Yes, it is precisely a gun used to pierce an earlobe that creates the symbol of modernity. Of course, it is a gun that causes no pain. Indeed, it makes it quick and easy for an apprentice artisan (though this practice is reserved for women) to put in earrings. The manufacturers of jolohut? For grandmothers and boys, then? For consumer spending, in fact, use? Is there a famous bra? that time? even and past with a vilipër? is? very fast? A few hours? pain and the cosmetic operation was done. Today, however, in the beautiful city of the capital, fashionable ear piercing is possible without pain. The “special” gun is a legitimate needle? into which an earring is automatically placed and secured in a few seconds. Everything is over. Fashion has been served.

PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS GIOVANNI GALLONI — President Berisha received Giovanni Galloni, Vice President of Italy's High Council of the Judiciary. He thanked his Italian guest for the assistance his country is giving Albania in many areas, particularly in the field of justice. For his part, Galloni, a leading figure in the field of justice, conveyed his warm greetings from his meetings with Albanian jurists and spoke of cooperation between the Italian judiciary and the Albanian justice system. He also expressed a willingness to help with the EUA ARESTI — FESTIVAL OF SONG HELD IN VLORË — It was the song “Dhe ta di si dhe endërruar,” composed by Artiur Dhamo, that won first prize at the Song Festival 03 held in Vlorë on November 2. The only event of its kind at the festival was sponsored by the “Travel tour” Festival and the “Travel tour” Maritime Agency 12 with the “Boros” Foundation; 12 songs competed. The jury included 12 composers from Vlorë and the surrounding area, and there were 12 songs. A ballet group and the singing group “Crazy Diamond” also performed. THE SECOND MEDICAL-SURGICAL SEMINAR IN TIRANA — Familiarization with the use of cooperation between 24 foreign doctors from American and Canadian medicine and doctors from health institutions in Tirana, Vlorë and Shkodër was the subject of a two-day seminar held in Tirana. It was organized by the Ministry of Health, the Queen of Medicine and the association “Health Projects for Albania.” During the seminar, held in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses, health workers and educators from all the country's districts discussed various topics concerning issues in their field. These included hypertension, polyarthritis, shock syndrome and the treatment of fractures with polytrauma. Seminar participants discussed the issues raised in these topics.