A firm proposal from the parliamentary commission on the mass media "The Steering Council should be dismissed" A firm proposal from the parliamentary commission on the mass media Cyclone over Radio and Television "The Steering Council should be dismissed" The meetings were intense, with harsh criticism from representatives of the three parties taking part in the parliamentary commission that also oversees television. Finally, at the fourth meeting, held on Tuesday from 10:00 to 13:00, all discussion came to an end: according to the members of the commission, the RTSH Steering Council has had more “sins” than successes, and so, almost unanimously, it was decided to dismiss the council elected more than two years ago. Under the existing law, in fact, the council must still remain in office for a period, but from time to time in the last two years in the law — but perhaps this was not possible earlier. Now, after the storm of the October referendum, criticism has been voiced from time to time even by the majority, and it seems that the council — together with the three top managers who are members of it — can no longer stay in their posts; they must step down to make room for a new structure, which Parliament will elect urgently. TIRANE — The stormy problem that has engulfed RTSH is not a new one that will be resolved urgently. On Tuesday the parliamentary commission on television met. In the fourth meeting, which lasted until 13:00, after much discussion it was concluded that the institution’s top managers had failed. It was noted that since 1992, when the council was elected, it has not functioned properly. Representatives of the political forces agreed that the current leadership must be removed and new managers elected. The Assembly, the Council of Regulation and the existing law provide the possibility for television to have a new council. It is mentioned that one of the strongest critical voices was Musa Ulqini, one of the opposition representatives on the commission. “There was harsh criticism from all the political forces present,” said Ulqini, “the remarks being made to the council are not about a single issue, but about a general lack of professionalism, extreme politicization, and the undermining of the role of leadership based on merit, instead of bringing in figures with scientific and cultural backgrounds.” There was also severe criticism of General Director Buka, who according to some deputies had reserved a flawed formulation in the accusations of lack of transparency. According to the commission, the management of public television cannot be left in the hands of a few people. New candidates for the council and for the institution’s leadership were also mentioned. Television headquarters in Tiranë RTV Director S. Buçpapaj

VLORE — Explosive materials once again targeted by thieves. A very large quantity of detonators has been seized from the explosives depots in Naskët të Gurit — near a quarry that supplies raw materials to the cement factory — in the Vlora district. These are 150,000 dynamite caps — with a value approaching 100,000 dollars — which the thieves loaded into a car. According to the spokesperson of the Vlora police station, it is suspected that the incident may have occurred at night and that the perpetrators knew very well the place where the detonators were stored. The police has begun an investigation.

TIRANE — “Radio and television must gain a new status: that of public service.” Just one day after the cyclone unleashed on the RTSH Steering Council, it was President Berisha himself who put forward the idea of a television that is no longer state-owned. The head of the Albanian state appeared before journalists with a press conference in which he spoke about the most important problems of his country during the year now ending. First and foremost, Berisha drew attention to the work of the government and the independence of RTSH from spring 1995, foreseeing the privatization of private stations. “The government’s initiative will lead to a platform for public media and no longer state media,” he said. The fundamental changes Berisha mentioned concern the media, economic reforms and the consolidation of institutions. He said that 1994 marked an improvement in governance and stressed that, despite the difficulties, Albania had moved forward. As for control over the media, the president spoke in favor of a system in which public television would coexist with private initiatives. The measures taken against corruption and to curb smuggling were also mentioned in the year-end review. In closing, Berisha also spoke about the challenges of the coming year and the need to modernize the country.

The Assembly will also elect the new director TIRANE — The new director of RTSH will be elected directly by Parliament. An old idea, raised earlier as well, but which for some reason had remained unmentioned, has come back onto the scene. The second unanimous step of the parliamentary commission on culture and mass media was precisely this: to propose to Parliament that it amend article 7 of the law on Radio and Television. Parliament will again be the body to appoint the Steering Council, but this council will have its own chairperson elected by its members and no longer a chairman-director as before. The council will thus be a kind of counterpart to the Director on the cardinal issues of the institution and of the largest information body in Albania.

ELBASAN — They are suspected of having taken part in a horrific crime for property-related motives. Two people have been placed in the dock for the murder of a woman, with the aim of taking her house. According to the investigation, the घटना occurred after a long conflict. The prosecution has requested a severe punishment for the suspected perpetrators.

TIRANE — Only a few days after the meeting with representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Albanian Helsinki Committee also called for the release of PS leader Fatos Nano, who has been in the Bënça prison in Tepelenë for several months. “The time has come for the spirit to soften,” said a statement distributed by KSHH activists on Tuesday — at the same time a sign that only some old prejudices and trial evidence, but also the lack of sufficient evidence to define the sentence, directly implicate him in the crime, and, given the passage of time, the decision is not convincing.” According to KSHH, it is up to President Berisha to take the first step. “The first step would be Nano’s release after a prejudice. This falls within the President’s powers, at least at this stage,” says the same statement.

Shijak: Municipality in enterprise New market for Kavaja Mass in the ancient Rozafa Shijak: Municipality in enterprise Recently, in the offices of the Municipality of Shijak, it was decided that the Municipality of Shijak would reconvene and begin work. The Mayor of Shijak said that measures have been taken to organize public services. New market for Kavaja Now the merchants of Kavaja will have their own organized market. The final plan for this area has been completed and construction is expected to begin. Mass in the ancient Rozafa It is the Church of Saint Stephen in which, after 550 years, a special mass was celebrated. The church located inside the Rozafa fortress in Shkodër carries the history of the city in its walls.

VLORE — Linda Radioi before the tests. Since for days this current event — and not so illegal, but much discussed recently in Albania — has entered an unformed and unclear adolescence of private equipment, the Vlora station, the first of its kind in the country, has begun broadcasting. In the coastal city, the signal of the new radio has spread its waves for a small but curious audience. The program of this radio consists almost only of music and voices reading announcements. According to the article, the broadcast is being made without a license, which makes the station private but illegal. Nevertheless, the phenomenon is attracting attention as a sign of the changes affecting the Albanian media market. Sh. Ma.

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Gjanica of Fier The influx of rubbish diverts the river: flood risk ON PAGE 2 A "flying bomb" over the French capital Worrying terrorist plans uncovered ON PAGE 2 Foreign investors: more leave than stay Out of 500, only 20 are working ON PAGE 3

SEEKING — To rent a private house or an apartment in Tiranë. The price is 17 million old lek. SELLING — A house with an area of 60 m2 and a yard of 500 m2. Price 6 million. FOR RENT — An apartment in Vlora. SELLING — A kiosk in Shkodër. SELLING — A 2+1 apartment, second floor. SELLING — A 2+1 apartment with corridor and bathroom, first floor. [Other partly illegible announcements?]