BLACKOUT Two patients in the capital’s hospitals were at risk of dying because of the power outage. The troublesome phenomenon is also present in many other towns across the country. Winter, cold and darkness. Electricity: around 700 faults a day in Tirana. TIRANA — There are more than 700 faults a day in the electricity network in Tirana alone. Power cuts have now become commonplace in many other towns across the country as well. According to specialists, the existing network cannot cope with the demand for electricity. In the capital, the project with Italy’s ENEL to stabilize the situation is still not bearing fruit. Meanwhile, two patients were at risk of dying because of power cuts in Tirana’s hospitals. For several days—ever since it became clear that winter had fully set in—power cuts have started again. The situation is no better than last year, and the specialists’ answers remain the same: “the network is under enormous strain and cannot cope with the current demand.” According to specialists, the increased use of household electrical appliances and the use of electricity for heating have made the situation worse. Meanwhile, Tirana had hoped for some improvement. Cooperation with the powerful Italian electricity company ENEL was expected to change things somewhat. So far, however, only a few kilometers of 20-kilovolt cable have been laid—the existing cable was 6 kilovolts—which has strengthened the network in a few places. But the substations also need to be duplicated, which would ease the distribution of the load. “The lines absolutely needed to be renewed,” explain employees of the Tirana Electricity Enterprise. “Very little work was done on this during the summer. The lines are old. Around 250 faults are checked during a single shift.” Power cuts are also putting people’s lives at risk. Two alarming cases occurred a few days ago in Tirana’s hospitals. Alfred Marku, 25, from Berat, who was in intensive care in the Neurology ward, was transferred to Emergency at Hospital 2; because of the power outage—which lasted five days—the equipment supplying the patient with oxygen had not worked. Only luck also saved Naile Kulli, who narrowly escaped becoming a victim of technical failures. On 17 November, the 51-year-old patient underwent heart surgery. During the operation, the power went out in the laboratory where tests were being conducted, making it impossible to carry out blood gas analyses (determining the main blood parameters). According to the surgeons, the blood gas analysis—which is performed many times during an operation—is vital. This patient, however, had only two tests performed, at the beginning, over the course of several hours. How much energy is produced... Electricity production per person, KWH: 1950 18; 1955 63; 1960 124; 1965 183; 1970 442; 1975 685; 1980 1800; 1985 1900; 1990 1030; 1991 1170; 1992 1047. Electricity exports, MWH: 1970 102; 1972 305; 1974 450; 1976 366; 1978 98; 1979 176; 1981 1783; 1982 535; 1983 758; 1984 730; 1985 2138; 1986 746; 1987 750; 1989 192; 1990 568; 1991 531. The charts—compiled by the Ministry of Energy—show the trends in electricity production and exports by year. The highest levels of per-capita energy production and exports were reached in 1990. In subsequent years, as a result of drought and the economic crisis, these indicators fell significantly. In particular, having a complete system consisting of 11 hydroelectric plants and 9 thermal power plants, the electricity sector showed signs of revival in 1993. sonave—whose questioning has been approved by the Albanian authorities—who are to be questioned by the Rogatory Commission and Canale herself. On Tuesday, after several hours of work, Canale and In the photograph: Prosecutor Canale with her Italian colleagues leaving Kafe Europa.

TIRANA — (el.) — Prosecutor Evelina Canale’s investigations in Albania are continuing. Arriving at midday on Monday, the Italian prosecutor immediately began her intensive investigations. For Canale, a welcome lunch with her Albanian colleagues at the Hotel “Dajti” was enough, followed by a quiet night in room 114 of the hotel, before she began in Tirana what she had started in Italy. The following day, investigations began immediately, and on the first day they were conducted at the capital’s Prosecutor’s Office. Because the investigation is confidential, the names of the people—whose be questioned by the Rogatory Commission and Canale herself have not yet been made public. On Tuesday, after several hours of work, Canale and her Albanian colleagues Denish and Qeleshi—who are investigating the aid scandal in Albania—took a short break at “Kafe Europa.” Prosecutor Canale herself has chosen not to make any statements to the press until the end of her mission in Albania. According to a confirmation, the name of former Prime Minister Nano—suspected of being involved in the aid scandal—does not currently appear on the list of witnesses or defendants to be questioned by the Italian prosecutor. Evelina Canale is accompanied on this mission by an Italian colleague and an assistant. Caption: Prosecutor Canale with her Italian colleagues leaving Kafe Europa

TIRANA — 1 December, International AIDS Day, is also being celebrated in Albania. A show evening will be organized for the occasion by the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection, in cooperation with Albanian Radio Television. The evening—which will be broadcast on Tuesday, 30 November—will be built around interviews and various discussions. There will also be many singers and artists. Many prominent figures from various fields of Albanian science and politics have also been invited to take part in the event.

PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE DISMISSAL AND APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS — The People’s Assembly approved the decree of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, on the dismissal and appointment of ministers. A few days ago, the dismissal of Genc Ruli, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Artan Hoxha, Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, had been announced, along with the appointment of the new Minister of Finance, Pirro Dishnica; Minister of Trade and Industry, Selim Belortaja; and Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources, Abdyl Khaja. NEW LAW “ON OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS” PROMULGATED — One day after Parliament decided that 28 November should be designated Albania’s Liberation Day, President Berisha promulgated the law “On an Amendment to the Law ‘On Official Holidays.’” The announcement of this promulgation was made by the Press and Information Office of the President. SEMINAR IN TIRANA ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS — “Freedom of the press—the dignity of people” was the theme of a seminar held in Tirana by the German foundation “Friedrich Ebert.” Kurt Braun, a lawyer specializing in press issues for the foundation, also spoke at the seminar and introduced those present to the press law of Westphalia, which was also adopted and approved by the Albanian Parliament. PRIVATE PARKING LOT ROBBED IN SHKODËR — A “Benz” car with license plate SH 0702 A was found stolen five kilometers from the city: this is the first theft from a private parking lot in this city. The incident—which remains mysterious—has created the first sense of insecurity among the 1,500 cars parked each night at the private lot.

TIRANA — “The state must put this injustice right,” says the Albanian Helsinki Committee regarding sentences imposed without legal defense by the monist regime. Even today, many convicted people are serving lengthy sentences which, according to the Committee, do not meet the standards of justice in a democratic regime. Many convicts have personally petitioned the President of the Republic in an effort to resolve this problem. “This cannot be the solution,” the Helsinki Committee stresses. “A special provision of a general parliamentary nature is needed.”

Bad weather in Tropojë TROPOJË — (e.l.) Bad weather and very low temperatures in northern Albania. Snow—which reaches a depth of up to 1 meter in some villages of Tropojë—is now also putting villagers’ lives at risk. A 66-year-old woman from the village of Luk i Zi has been missing for seven days, and is believed to have disappeared near the border post. Finding Mirë Zef Hyka, who is being searched for by her children and relatives, is proving almost impossible because of the heavy snow. In some villages in the district of Shkodër, unusually heavy snowfall has endangered many small livestock and temporarily interrupted lessons in schools. The Shllak commune is feeling the worst effects of the bad weather, where the snow—over 50 centimeters deep—has been accompanied by strong winds. The unusually early conditions have also made it difficult to supply families, especially with flour, while 500 small livestock are left without pasture and are at risk from the cold. Vehicle traffic has also been halted, and the only means of transport available to residents of this commune is the boat that operates at the Koman Hydroelectric Power Plant. The villages facing the greatest difficulties are Qerret, Toplan and Telum.

TIRANA — (p.re) — After the bat, the black cat: the Parliament Hall continues to see animals coming and going, and the MPs should inspect their practice of spiritual prayers. Less than two weeks ago, a bat flew over the parliamentarians’ heads, and many of them wondered what it meant: does it bring good luck or bad luck? Then [unclear], and in its place—on Monday evening—a cat appeared. The journalists gathered in their reserved corner and intent on attending the discussions about the new date for Liberation Day grew a little tired trying to identify the exact color of the animal, which—unaware of the seriousness of the circumstances—walked calmly [?] toward the Speaker’s chair[?]. The previous day, the cat had been seen at the entrance to Parliament. Then everyone agreed: the cat was certainly black. And then enough with prayers, curses, and magic formulas. A black cat, even when it stays still, does not reassure the superstitious. Just imagine a black cat crossing from one corner to the other through the Parliament Hall, thereby—actually—blocking the law’s path. What can be done in that case? If it were a car, they would build a road, but what if there is nothing in the Parliament Hall to change direction? In the end, it was the cat that chose its escape route and calmly—climbed onto the chair—crossed the corner and slipped behind the large partition that opens onto a curtain at the end of the hall. The proceedings continued normally; the cat was even approved and speaks calmly.

1 December YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA Helsinki Committee Bad weather in Tropojë INSIDE

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