FINANCE / Petrela: "But I will continue to do the job I have" The Minister of Finance had dismissed him for "incompetence at work." Director: "We have always had bad relations with each other" Head of Customs dismissed Dishnica signs the decision The Minister of Finance had dismissed him for "incompetence at work" Director: "We have always had bad relations with each other" TIRANE — A decision by Finance Minister Pirro Dishnica has shaken the head of the country's customs service, who was appointed to the post three months ago by the minister himself. The minister's justification: "Inability to perform the duty." The minister's reasons have not convinced Director Petrela at all, who meanwhile continues to be regarded as an employee, although he has said: "My dismissal does not convince me, even though the minister communicated the decision to me in writing." It is Arben Petrela, Director General of Customs, who was dismissed by a decision sent to him last Friday by Finance Minister Pirro Dishnica. A blow that this time has come to customs from the top. The reason — according to what was communicated to the responsible parties in writing? — was the inability Petrela showed during the period he headed Albanian customs. In fact, Dishnica — who as Minister of Finance had under his authority the appointment and dismissal of the director in question — wrote in the letter that Petrela had previously also received a warning for poor work. But despite the order received from his direct superior, Petrela continued as usual to run Albanian customs. "The reason for such a suspension lies simply in our poor relations throughout the period we were under his authority — Petrela tells Gazeta Shqiptare — This has nothing at all to do with my work, which I have evaluated as satisfactory. I am calm and I will continue to work." Meanwhile, on the part of Minister Dishnica and the apparatus of his ministry, no further comment is given on the event. The dismissal story came last Friday, precisely on the day when the ministers of the Mekshi government — including Dishnica — were placed on the list for dismissal from their posts; immediately no official reason was given for the causes of the removal from government. A few days later, as the Chairman of the State Control, Pirro Cela, had said, who interpreted that Petrela had taken on the responsibilities of the news for [? have drowned in Vlora the? People's one had assessed that?] [? The Central Committee of the Party have drowned in Vlora. The People’s one had assessed that? the sources made in customs stand. A delicate sector that they are making — even temporarily — says Bollino, in advance in Petrela, but also other officials of customs branches in Tirane and in the districts. Arben Petrela was appointed to the post of Director General of Customs in September of last year, later in place of Pirro Dishnica, only a short time after the latter replaced Genc Ruli in the post of Minister of Finance. A collaboration that, instead of functioning in a constructive way, turned out to be unserious. Gjergj Pilka

The death sentence is carried out. The President rejects the pardon Executed on Amnesty Day The death sentence is carried out. The President rejects the pardon Firing squad at midnight Executed on Amnesty Day Tirana Cemetery EDMOND LAÇI TIRANE — Justice has struck once again. Precisely on 27 November '94, Amnesty Day — when dozens of Albanian prisoners left their cells to return to their families — Besnik Axha was taken out from there, but only to be executed. At midnight on Sunday in the eastern cemetery of Tirane, a single shot finally separated from life the man who had been sentenced to death three times by Albanian courts. Only five days earlier, his pardon had been definitively rejected, which he had requested immediately after the Cassation ruling. The President of the Republic. After denying life to two other people, Besnik Aks[?]hami has been subjected by Justice to the same deprivation. Sunday midnight had already awaited him since August of last year, when Aks[?]hami had killed — after a property dispute — his uncle and his wife, while the uncle's mother, former spouse and parent of the three children. In December '93 the Kukës district court handed down the death sentence, which after being upheld by the Appeal Court was definitively confirmed by the Court of Cassation on 28 September of this year. Since that day Aks[?]hami had lived in terror awaiting his execution, waiting — as usual — with hands and feet bound, even with a hood on his head; this arrangement was made to prevent any attempt to escape. The long wait — a full 60 days — ended at midnight on 27 November. When the iron door of his cell was opened, a selected squad from that moment Besnik Aks[?]hami had only two thirds of a short journey through the streets of the capital. After the final leaving ... in his file, next to the name Besnik Axhami, the word "executed" was entered. Thus another death sentence by Albanian courts is carried out. Although in 1994, after approval of life imprisonment — it experienced capital punishment much less often. Nevertheless, it still exists.

Code of Criminal Procedure ready Here is how The new Justice will move TIRANE — Another important document has arrived at the doors of Parliament. The draft Code of Criminal Procedure — now a necessity for the changed Albanian society — is expected to be approved by the deputies. The approval and subsequent implementation of this code will bring a completely new spirit into Albanian justice. It is a voluminous body of material of more than 160 pages, prepared by Albanian specialists and later also consulted by experts from the Council of Europe. According to the rapporteur who accompanies the many pages of the code, it will be a scheme built on the Italian model with some changes adapted to Albanian reality. The code aims more toward the systems called by jurists "inquisitorial" — different from the "adversarial" one that operates in the Anglo-Saxon world — in which the prosecuting party has a greater role and where the court is not only in the hands of the body? it can act on its own initiative to gather evidence and resolve the court case. One of the variants set out in the code foresees an important change in the organization of first-instance courts. In addition to district and military courts, a court for serious crimes is to be set up, also known as the Assize Court. Also dependent on it will be the proposed establishment of the juvenile court, another idea that had long remained under discussion. If the draft submitted to the deputies is approved, the police will be given an existing duty: judicial police. Its task will be to become aware of criminal offenses, identify the perpetrators and conduct investigations. Sections of the new police will depend on the district prosecutors. Carabinieri? of selected persons? by the Prosecutor and commit a criminal offense will also act as judicial police. The Prosecutor's Office will have to be informed — by the judicial police within 24 hours — and submit within 48 hours from the moment of arrest the documents of the arrested person before the judge. Is this the center? for one to decide? whether the arrested person must be tried or released, after both have happened? The code will also set out procedures in cases of arrest on the basis of initial suspicion and in the absence of flagrante delicto. One of the first novelties — there are many and it is practically impossible to gather them in a few lines — is also the treatment of extradition and the rules on which its implementation will be based. Fatos Baxhaku

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA A rare gesture by a hunter from Saranda. While he was shooting to kill the two brothers from Kolonja, he spared their lives. According to the voice in the hospital — admitted immediately after the quarrel that had broken out and ended — he turned to the Police authorities to ask that no measure be taken against the perpetrators of the crime, while feeding his own, declaring that he agrees to forgive them.

Cholera has struck two new villages in the Kavajë district. In recent days the epidemic has appeared in Vorrozen and Kryet? and has affected many residents. Most of them were in mild condition and were treated by local doctors. Others were urgently taken to the infectious diseases hospital in the capital. Meanwhile, in the district, starting Monday, inspections of the wells began, the only source of drinking water supply for these two villages.

NATIONAL TEAM Overpaid football NATIONAL TEAM Every day, 70 dollars Overpaid football TIRANE — The issue of treatment and compensation for the players of the Albanian National Team has reached the Government. And as of when they are made — when the Government approved the project of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports — the footballers of the squad that will be gathered before the next international matches will have at their disposal for their upkeep an amount equal to 70 dollars per day. With this amount all members of the National Team will be treated — the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Vesel Rizzvanolli, tells Gazeta Shqiptare — including those footballers who come from foreign championships, since during the time they are gathered in Albania their allowances are stopped by their club." But while the treatment issue has been definitively settled, the rewards have been decided differently. Thus, in point III of the project — which has now gone to the Government — it is stated that for special matches, the use of special bonuses will also be made available, which — after the proposal submitted by FSFH — will remain the exclusive right of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. "The beauty of these special bonuses — Rizvanolli concludes — is that, after the successful contracts for television broadcasting rights and advertising, FSHF has every opportunity to be independent from the state budget in rewarding the team." (E.L.)

Ship in Bombay The Indian incident involving “Arbëria” DURRES — Yesterday an incident in India occurred on the Albanian ship "Arbëria". While the Albanian ship was unloading a cargo with containers from the port of Bombay, a major collision occurred caused by a crane. A blow that caused serious damage to the ship as well as to a[?] Acc[?]ident immediately led to a dispute with the port authorities of Bombay. While "Arbëria" seeks to find direct repair, to carry it out in its own port a [? lock it. It is still not known how this event will end, and whether the Albanian ship, which a year ago left Durrës and is now working on behalf of a Turkish company, will be able to continue. (O. T.)

Peshkëpi massacre five servicemen in court GJIROKASTER — The trial of five Albanian servicemen, accused immediately after the Peshkëpi massacre, has begun. Arrested in April of this year — a few hours after a Greek commando had terrorized an Albanian border barracks — the five accused had waited for days for the day of the trial, blocked due to the absence of judges and lawyers. Finally, also the day when the first hearing of this trial was set. — The chairman of the court panel was ill and the prosecutor charged the accused, claiming? the Albanian state? must be defended against charges of "abuse of office" and "violation of guard service regulations". (L. L.)

Black out Parliament and Government in darkness TIRANE — The lack of electricity — the most widespread phenomenon of the Albanian winter — has not spared even the country's most important buildings. On Monday, at lunchtime when the offices were still working, a fault in the grid interrupted the power supply to one? 60? where the Council of Ministers and part of the apparatus of the Presidency and the People's Assembly are located. Although the fault was repaired? in a short time, it showed that this 10? "Albanian heart" was not helped by? as? outside? for a while with e char[?] ta.

Scientists in doubt, but the veterinarian confirms the event A strange birth of a domestic animal Scientists in doubt, but the veterinarian confirms the event Librazhd, the miraculous mule A strange birth of a domestic animal MENTOR KIKA LIBRAZHD — Miracle or mistake? In a stable in Librazhd, a mule is said to have foaled. A case that classical science rules out. A mule is a hybrid between a donkey and a mare and as such cannot reproduce — but the villager said he saw it with his own eyes. In fact, the one who accompanied it, according to him? sig? has? from? during? [? Mullari? happened? a few days earlier in summer. The villager Jakup Muharaj was working in the field, watching a dove? and? was being pulled by his happy animal? into the mule. While Bixhka was lying down normally, suddenly the animal stopped and sat down, straining and with effort — says Muharaj. Worried, he went straight to the official? to? see whether it had given birth. But, to everyone's surprise, the veterinarian of the area said that the mule had no chance, but that hybridization gave birth, and to the amazement of both of them it had given birth to a 4-month-old male. One among? the? usual? like all the others, but which nevertheless died because it was in a ripe? age? of ours. Although unusual, it has made an impact and has added roads with the considered humanity. In fact, in the opposing police now specialists and veterinarians have also spoken. According to the claim? [? self that? is? in? search? of the branches? specialists? of the region? It is in contrary? in? the specialists of Elbasan do not? saw the event? poles? [? This?]. Others? do? cannot? [? explained the chief veterinarian of the district. — As? in the event, this is a first case?". Meanwhile the village service? where? was born? know? ? [? while? he has? and?] sch? in? [? Born? he? do not? help? [? Born? he?]. But? with? di? m? district? e? in? [? And? the specialist can? put? with? the mouth: "Eh, what a mule gave birth!"

Gjirokastra, the tower "attacks" the city The houses of the stone city are threatened by the gate of the old castle. Repeated landslides have put its stone wall in danger. A few days ago part of the cobbled road that leads to this great entrance of the fortress collapsed? with some? citizens from inside one self? as prefect? deputy? in [? It was immediately thought to place? by? Kaste which they were affected? of? to go? to? and?]

Human rights: Greece accused Cyprus files a lawsuit against Turkey ON PAGE 2 Italy, a "mystery" over the Berlusconi investigation After a Cassation ruling ON PAGE 2 Hope for the balance sheet Greece retreats in Brussels Unblocked aid will be activated ON PAGE 3

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