There will be boards and electronic voting systems One million $ for computerization TIRANA — (An. St.) — Millions of dollars are set to bring about radical changes in the chamber of the Albanian Parliament. The number of deputies, groups and committees will remain the same, but their activities—debates, statements and counterstatements, votes, motions and interpellations—will be monitored accurately and impartially by computers. Uran Butka, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Culture and Mass Media of the People’s Assembly, told Gazeta Shqiptare about the start of this technical revolution in the Parliament building: “It is an assistance program of the American Congress,” he says, “which will include automation and computerization of the main chamber, enrichment of the library, installation of a printing press for Parliament’s publications, and training for the Assembly staff and parliamentarians.” For some time, Parliament’s working procedures have been at odds with the inherited technology—or, more accurately, its absence—to such an extent that this has become a source of debates and clashes, already numerous as in any other parliament in the world. The sound system is so primitive that—in almost every session—presiding officers and deputies are forced to “wake it up” with the now-famous call: technic[a?]. Even more intolerable is the state of affairs with the multicolored cards that deputies have to hold up until they are counted by secretariat staff walking back and forth through the chamber. The lack of technology to measure the length of speeches has also caused no small amount of trouble and friction. One could say that in the ancient Greek Areopagus—where the measure of the length of speeches was the time it took for a small vessel of water, with a tap at the bottom, to empty—this problem had been solved better. But apparently these difficulties are nearing an end. A new electronic system is on its way and will soon be installed. Every deputy will have a voting unit and microphone fitted on the desk. In addition to the chamber, the other rooms in the building will also be equipped with loudspeakers. Two large electronic boards will display Parliament’s proceedings: deputies’ attendance, voting on each article and on the bill as a whole, the title of the law under discussion, additions, amendments, the length of speeches, as well as the topics for the week and the month. All this technology will be operated by a specialist who will replace the current secretaries. Implementation of this project began with the Parliament Library. There are 300 encyclopedic and library-related books from the Library of Congress—their contents and cataloguing have been computerized, enabling every deputy to obtain information quickly and accurately. Meanwhile, the type of machines and the location where Parliament’s printing press will be installed have been determined[?]. It will publish the Official Gazette, proceedings and all parliamentary literature. Nine American specialists—the latest of whom arrived a few days ago—have been in contact with representatives of foreign and local firms to purchase and install all this equipment. With the completion of this project—by the end of next summer—the chambe[r?] …the clashes which, even without this, are numerous, as in every primitive that—almost at every session—presiding officers and members of parliament “technician!” Even more unacceptable is the voting procedure. It is done by clapping hands. The sound system is so crude that, as in every done by means of …

TIRANA — (Ed. La.) — Armed robbers have appeared even in the center of Tirana. — (Ed. La.) — Armed robbers have appeared even in the center of Tirana. On Friday, at around 1 p.m., three robbers forced 13 people in the offices of the “Swissair” airline agency to keep quiet while they seized a considerable amount of money. Law-enforcement authorities were notified by the staff just seconds after the robbery, and work is still under way to identify and apprehend them. According to the agency’s managers, it is too early to give a final figure for the amount stolen, as the accounts must first be tallied. At the time of the robbery, in addition to the three staff members, there were also 10 customers present. According to the initial reports, the robbers—around 20–25 years old—entered the agency’s offices unmasked and took only the cash that was in plain sight. Perhaps their lack of professionalism also saved the agency from losing the money in the safes, since their keys were on the desk. Because the investigation is being kept confidential, it has not yet been disclosed whether the perpetrators have been identified, nor have other details been released. The “Swissair” offices are a few meters from the National Historical Museum in the center of the capital, and this seems to have led its managers not to use special security measures. After the latest robbery, “Swissair” immediately entered negotiations, seeking the services of the Private Police.

Sampdoria and Juventus win The other Serie A results. The results of the Albanian Cup. The 1994 World Cup schedule (on page 5)

IRAN: 18 DEAD, 32 INJURED AT WEDDING CELEBRATION — During a wedding celebration, the ceiling of a building collapsed, killing 18 people and injuring 32, near Saghez, in Iranian Kurdistan. None of the 50 people attending the celebration escaped the disaster unscathed. USA: VIOLENCE SHAKES AMERICA’S SECURITY — With three killings on the night between Saturday and Sunday, the total number of homicide deaths in Washington during 1993 rose to 454, surpassing the previous year’s record of 451 and marking Washington as the American capital of violence as well as politics. GERMANY: THEY TRY TO EXECUTE CLASSMATE IN CLASS, “IT WAS A JOKE” — To the astonishment of the rest of the class, which did not react, three boys aged between 15 and 18 apparently tried to execute a younger classmate in the classroom: the incident occurred at a school in Saarbrucken, in southwestern Germany near the border with France. The central figure in the case, a fifteen-year-old, had still not been apprehended as of today. FRANCE: “GALERIES LAFAYETTE” ALSO IN CRISIS — Paris’s famous “Galeries Lafayette,” the largest in France, with several department stores throughout the country and ranked alongside Harrods of London and Macy’s of New York, have been caught up in the crisis that has engulfed commerce throughout the West.

Legal producers go bankrupt TIRANA — (An. St.) — The first victims of an illegal activity are becoming apparent. The firms “Albusvenier” and the record company “Adelina P” are now doomed to go bankrupt in the face of the destructive competition from counterfeit cassettes. “ ‘Adelina P’ no longer exists as a business,” its owner sadly told Gazeta Shqiptare, “because I have just submitted the paperwork to the Court and to the District No. 1 Tax Office.” The company, together with Albanian Radio and Television, was among the pioneers in producing audio cassettes of Albanian songs. But gradually their cassettes—produced according to international standards—began to be copied unprofessionally by many illegal producers and sold throughout the country at lower prices. The concern was brought to the attention of the Financial Police, but, strangely—according to owner Peshkëpia—around four months after it carried out its first inspections, the sale of counterfeit cassettes has multiplied. Most Albanians are not troubled by the counterfeit audio-cassette sets. Nor is anyone concerned about the situation that has arisen, even as it leads them to bankruptcy. For “Albusvenier,” this means 5,000 unsold cassettes worth around 10,000 dollars.

STORM HALTS FERRY TRAFFIC ON THE FIERZE–KOMAN ROUTE — Both ferries transporting passengers and vehicles from Fierzë to Koman have been immobilized. The severe storm that swept through the area made it impossible for them to operate. Transport links have also been interrupted in the villages along the banks of the Drin, where extensive flooding of agricultural land has occurred. IN LEZHE, FISH AT RISK OF DISAPPEARING DUE TO DYNAMITE FISHING — Dynamite fishing has put fish at risk of disappearing from the coast of Shëngjin and the surrounding lagoons. Numerous reports have drawn attention to this illegal fishing, but fish in the lagoon are now also at risk. The Police authorities are continuing their investigations. To prevent further incidents, a police patrol has been assigned to monitor the coast. 10 MEAT SHOPS TO BE BUILT IN KORÇE — Ten new shops for selling meat will be built in the city of Korçë. Expanding the retail network and the lack of proper hygienic and sanitary conditions at the existing outlets were the main reasons for the decision taken by the Municipality. THE WORK OF PEOPLE’S ARTIST ANDREA SKANJËTI COMMEMORATED IN SHKODER — An event was held in Shkodër in honor of People’s Artist Andrea Skanjeti. Skanjeti—one of the most important figures in Shkodër’s arts—has staged 19 dramatic works.

He escapes death, but not prison EDMOND LAÇI. TIRANA — Perhaps the most unbelievable sacrifice occurred last week in Tirana. A black-and-white television set sent a man tumbling from the third floor of one of the apartment buildings near “Myslym Shyri” Street in the capital. No one ended up after this acrobatic feat of falling on his own with a fracture in his leg, but he did end up in Tirana Prison after being detained by officers of the Tirana Police Station. It took only one phone call for the Police car to approach the house where the television theft was being attempted. The burglar, like an acrobat who had watched the scene from the window, followed the fall from the third floor. And indeed, he survived. But he only escaped with his life, because he could not move his leg to escape the Police officers as well; they also took him to hospital, where doctors confirmed that the spectacular fall had caused only a fracture in his leg. Then the “king of the art” was taken to Tirana Prison, accused of “stealing another person’s property.”

Footballers Attilio Lombardo, Ruud Gullit and Alberigo Evani (from left to right) embrace after the goal

Yllka Mujo returns after two years in emigration. “Art in Your Own Language.” Coming soon to the stage of the Theater. ON PAGE 2. Thirty works at the 1993 Festival. This time, the songs of the year at the Palace of Congresses. ON PAGE 2.