Couples / Here’s why men and women are more unfaithful today Divorces have increased in Albania Couples / Here’s why men and women are more unfaithful today Family and infidelity Divorces have increased in Albania ARMAND MERO TIRANA — A phenomenon is threatening Albanian families. And it is not only the economic situation or emigration, but a new fashion: marital infidelity. Divorce cases are increasing, and confirmation comes from the courtrooms. “Yes, it’s true,” the judges themselves acknowledge, “most of the cases brought for divorce are because of infidelity.” Often, the reason for infidelity is that one of the partners does not show proper care for the other. “A woman cheats on her husband,” one judge says, “because the latter didn’t wash often and didn’t dress well.” Although men continue to be more unfaithful than women, divorce figures show that this, too, is changing. During just the first months of 1993, women filed 705 divorce petitions, while men filed 639: because in most cases they had been cheated on by their wives. The overall number of divorces is continuing to rise. From 2,480 marriages dissolved in 1992, the number is expected to approach 3,000 this year. In the first 6 months of 1993 there were 1,344. Tirana is once again maintaining this year the record it set in 1992, when it accounted for a quarter of all divorces in Albania. In the capital, one out of every three couples who marry ends up in court. This has been a particularly bad year for families in Telena: within the first 6 months, they exceeded by 150 percent the total number of divorces for 1992. Gramsh, meanwhile, seems to have resolved its family problems and quarrels last year: from 27 divorces, this year it has not gone beyond 4. The greatest surprise, however, came in Shkodër. The number of separations is zero. So only one thing remains to be clarified: either the people of Shkodër have found ideal partners, or the Ministry of Justice department that keeps the lists of all cases has not wanted to tell the truth. The statistics also bring to light another curious fact. For Albanian couples, the curiosity of both partners is strong and paramount during the period in which they get to know one another. The most frequent separations also occur after the second year of marriage. Perhaps this is connected with the fact that most divorces occur among couples who have no children or only one. Although women and men seek divorce in almost equal numbers, children are not entrusted to the father but are more often left in the mother’s care. In only 1 out of 5 cases does the husband manage to get the child. Like every phenomenon, this one has some solutions. First: you must not be unemployed. Statistics show that 50 percent of divorces occur when one of the partners is not in employment. And if you don’t want your marriage to end in a tragic separation, then join the army. Apparently military discipline affects marital relations. Among couples in which the partners are military personnel, only one divorce has occurred this year. So officers are not only capable strategists, but faithful husbands too. The crisis in relationships within the Albanian family is caused not only by economic factors, but also by infidelity and quarrels. In the photo, a family quarrel.

Theft? TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — Two footballers from the champion team Partizani have ended up in the detention cells of Tirana’s First Police Station. Captain Shulku and striker Hoxha were detained by police officers on Tuesday morning, and an investigation into them began immediately. According to officers at this Police Station, the well-known Partizani and Albanian national-team footballers are accused of using another person’s car without first obtaining permission. “Yes, footballers Shulku and Hoxha are being held at Police Station 1,” the station officials confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare on Tuesday evening, “but because of the investigation we cannot provide more detailed explanations.” According to them, the reason Shulku and Hoxha were detained was a citizen’s report that two people had stolen a car. The incident apparently occurred two days after Partizani’s triumph over league leaders Flamurtari, in which Shulku and Hoxha were the main protagonists. Fans hope that the incident will be resolved within the detention period—which lasts 48 hours—so that this story can end and they can see the players in the final match of the First Phase: Lushnja-Partizani.

Proposal for the supply of cash registers The tender will determine which company will supply them Proposal for the supply of cash registers Computers could also be assembled in Albania The tender will determine which company will supply them EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — For the first time, computers could also be assembled in Albania. A letter of intent signed between the Army Electronics Enterprise — Llokacioni — and the Italian company “Sarema” also provides for other household electrical appliances to be assembled in the facilities of the Albanian military enterprise. The Italian company is participating in the tender to be held tomorrow by the Ministry of Finance, which must also announce the company that will undertake the production and assembly of cash registers for tax receipts, soon to be used throughout Albania for all commercial activity. The Llokacioni plant had almost ceased operations for two years, putting more than 300 of its employees on assistance. The enterprise’s managers told “Gazeta Shqiptare” that they have all the facilities, premises and qualified staff needed to make it possible to produce cash registers—electronic tills—at their enterprise, in cooperation with the company “Sarema”. According to them, this activity would also mark the reopening of operations at the Llokacioni plant. But many other competitors are also taking part in the tender to be organized by the Ministry of Finance. For the first time, Samsung is also trying to produce cash registers in Albania—at the Durrës Directorate, formerly URT—an enterprise with 90 percent foreign capital and 10 percent Albanian capital. Other companies have also submitted bids for this tender. Tax activity based on accounting documents had led the Albanian Government, months ago, to draft a bill on installing electronic cash registers across all production, trade and liberal-profession service activities. “By the beginning of next year,” officials at the Accounting Directorate of the Ministry of Finance told “Gazeta Shqiptare”, “5,000 cash registers will be installed in Albania.” This is also because immediately equipping all businesses with these devices is considered impossible. Now that everything has been decided, all that remains is for the tender to conclude and the winners to be announced. Very soon, for the first time, Albanian customers will be required to receive from the seller, after making a purchase, a receipt for the goods they bought there.

— (p. re) — Terrorist attack on the Durrës-Tirana highway. Several people, not yet identified, fired a volley from their car, killing a passerby and injuring two others, one of them 14 years old. According to the Durrës Police Station, the heinous act occurred near the village of Sallmone, and witnesses said only that the shots came from a dark-colored car, a “Benz”. Both the victim and the injured arrived separately, which indicates that the act may not have been motivated by revenge.

The 1992 winners are leaving When will this year’s competition be concluded? TIRANA — (br. ca.) — The recipients of short-term scholarships will soon leave for Italy. These are scholarships for 1992-1993 which, due to financial constraints, can only be taken up during 1994. There are 13 students who will study for short periods of three and four months at the universities in Siena and Perugia, Italy. The students leaving for Perugia are: 1) Gentiana Bitri (4 months); 2) Gentiana Nako (3 months); 3) Artan Alushi (3 months); 4) Blendi Reso (3 months); 5) Alfred Shestani (3 months); 6) Arben Ramaj (3 months); 7) Alma Balli (3 months). The students leaving for Siena are: 1) Brikena Cani (3 months); 2) Ardian Ismailati (3 months); 3) Melis Ballata (3 months); 4) Kejda Kostreci (3 months); 5) Rezarta Binaj (3 months); 6) Vasil Shamo (3 months). The Italian Embassy informs the students listed above that on December 4, 1993, at 10:00, they should report to the Cultural Office of the Embassy, bringing their passports and four photographs, in order to complete the necessary procedures for obtaining visas and receive the necessary information. The Embassy has also taken steps to notify those concerned by telegram. The courses in Siena and Perugia for these students begin on January 10, 1994. By the first days of January, the students listed above will have been issued their visas and will leave. Their fields of study will be literature, language, history, geography, and architectural history. Each student’s field of study was determined on the basis of forms provided by the Embassy and completed by the students themselves. In the first days of November, students who will pursue long-term studies at various universities in Italy left for the country. These students, too, should have left last year. But financial constraints caused their departure to be postponed until this year. What about the scholarships for the 1993-1994 academic year? No decision has yet been made. It is the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that must give the go-ahead.

A pavilion is transformed into a hotel exclusively for foreigners TIRANA — (Ar. Me) — They have come up with an original way to adapt healthcare to the market economy. For more than a month, one pavilion of Tirana Civil Hospital has been turned into a hotel—though not for everyone. And the first results have not been lacking. So far, this activity has brought in more than 80 dollars. The first pavilion to be turned into a hotel is Pavilion 12 of Hospital I. In a short time, its facilities have been nicely improved. There is a double room, three bathrooms with showers and bathtubs, and an arua that serves as well as immediately free; you can have it—for one night—for just 1,500 lekë. However, not everyone can use this hotel: it is intended only for foreigners connected with healthcare. And if the foreigner is in one of the hospital’s wards, then they can sleep for free. But it seems to me that this policy is perfect at this time. On the door of one of the rooms, a sign in English points the way with an arrow: “the water here is difficult” (here it is difficult to get a waiter).

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SUPPORTS WHEAT PLANTING IN SHKODËR — The European Community is supporting 10 farmers from Shkodër through PICU — its center at the Ministry of Agriculture — to plant wheat. For this purpose, they have provided funding for seeds, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, as well as the costs of working the land. PICU intends to spread the experience these farmers will gain—distributed across 10 different areas—to other villagers as well. IN KUKËS, 50 PERCENT OF THE FARMERS GET BREAD FOR FREE — The Albanian state continues to subsidize the less-developed areas. In Kukës, around 50 percent of farmers get bread for free. State support in this district—and chiefly in the less-developed areas—has also consisted of technical assistance to increase agricultural production. SUBSTANDARD ALCOHOLIC DRINKS SEIZED IN BERAT — The Financial Police in Berat halted the sale of alcoholic drinks at the Hotel-Turizëm establishment. These drinks were below the standard permitted for sale. Tests showed that they had been diluted and that their alcohol content was 7 to 10 percent lower. NEW WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM INAUGURATED IN BULQIZË — A new water supply system was handed over to the town of Bulqizë. The approximately 13 million lekë spent on its construction had been allocated by the Government. Pjetër Arbnori, Speaker of the People’s Assembly, and Safet Zhuli, Minister of Defence, attended the inauguration ceremony. This water supply system will ensure a regular supply of drinking water to Bulqizë. In this way, the problem in this town will be resolved for the next 20 years.

Andreata for Gazeta Shqiptare «This is what the new Europe will look like» Kosovo at the center of attention ON PAGE 2 Rognerr risks being blocked? Former owners seek justice Five families want their properties ON PAGE 3