The young man, the first victim of the deadly virus? HEALTH / The symptoms suffered by the 18-year-old: high fever, weakness... ARMAND MERO TIRANA — An Albanian seropositive man has died. Perhaps he was suffering from AIDS. The victim, P. B., is an 18-year-old young man from the Vlora district who died just a few weeks ago. According to specialists, the signs he displayed fully match the clinical signs of AIDS as a disease. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health has now begun the necessary medical investigations—his medical records have been collected—to examine more closely and step by step the course of the disease in the 18-year-old, who until his death had been classified only as the seventh seropositive case in Albania. Now he may be the first case to have died. The dreadful shadow of AIDS hangs ever more ominously over his death. The 18-year-old from Vlora—who had previously worked in Greece for a long time—was, until June, just another patient as far as doctors were concerned. He was first admitted to Hospital No. 1 in Tirana—he had a high temperature of 38.5-39 degrees that would not come down and diarrhea—to the Hepatology-Gastroenterology department, where diseases of the stomach, intestines and liver are treated. After he had spent several days in this department, doctors diagnosed hepatitis. His condition did not improve here either; in fact, it continued to get worse. His temperature remained high and the signs of severe diarrhea did not abate. Meanwhile, the young man from Vlora kept growing weaker; his body no longer accepted food and he suffered extremely severe weight loss. Ultimately, the specialists recorded the following diagnosis in his medical file: “secondary anemia, diarrheal syndrome, uremia, malabsorption and third-degree cachexia.” But something else was added to this sad condition. Tests confirmed that the 18-year-old boy was infected with AIDS. From that moment, everything was seen in a different light. Could his symptoms be those of a clinical case? No entirely accurate answer can yet be given. But according to specialists, his diagnosis is a classic case indicative of AIDS, since in fact AIDS itself is not a specific disease. AIDS appears in many different forms. Its characteristic is that it considerably lowers the immunity of the human body, which no longer has the strength to fight the diseases that arise in it, and the organism no longer responds. On 11 June, the young man from Vlora ... this had only been a kind of ... [?] Not even two weeks passed before he died. A death that has now caused great concern in Albanian medical circles. This time AIDS appears to have struck very hard, taking a human life. The death of this 18-year-old, perhaps the first from AIDS, does not represent the first case in which this disease has appeared with its clinical signs. For many months, another person, or the second Albanian seropositive individual, has been suffering from symptoms ... TIRANA — AIDS made its first appearance in Albania in June 1993. The seventh seropositive person was a blood donor from Tirana. Just one month later it appeared again, this time in another blood donor. A short time passed and then there was another young man—he had been in Greece—who was found to be infected. Meanwhile, at the end of November, the first AIDS patient was recorded. The tragic series continued to grow, and in the first months of 1994 the fourth case was registered: a woman from Shkodra. She had lived in Italy for some time. Several months of false calm passed, but in July came a heavy blow: the fifth case. He is a 31-year-old blood donor from Tirana. He contracted the virus sexually. Through transfusions, two innocent people were also infected by him ... An AIDS patient

TIRANA — AIDS made its first appearance in Albania in June 1993. The seventh seropositive person was a blood donor from Tirana. Just one month later it appeared again, this time in another blood donor. A short time passed and then there was another young man—he had been in Greece—who was found to be infected. Meanwhile, at the end of November, the first AIDS patient was recorded. The tragic series continued to grow, and in the first months of 1994 the fourth case was registered: a woman from Shkodra. She had lived in Italy for some time. Several months of false calm passed, but in July came a heavy blow: the fifth case. He is a 31-year-old blood donor from Tirana. He contracted the virus sexually. Through transfusions, two innocent people were also infected by him ...

During 1994 alone, 37 cases of illegal arms trafficking and 11 cases of drug cultivation were uncovered Minister Musaraj presents the figures Statistics on criminal offenses committed and solved in the first six months of 1992, 1993 and 1994 CRIMINAL OFFENSES First six months of 1992 Committed Solved % Crimes against persons 946 902 95.3 Murders 149 128 85.9 Attempted murders 139 138 98.5 Serious bodily injuries 110 102 92.7 Minor bodily injuries 436 432 99.1 Rapes 94 93 98.9 Crimes against property 4806 3397 78.7 Theft of state property 2636 1828 69.3 Theft of private property 1408 972 69 Damage to private property 140 91 65 Robbery of private property 189 157 83.5 Robbery of state property 46 34 73.9 Crimes against state activity 180 176 97.8 Crimes against MRP personnel 180 176 97.8 Other crimes 402 327 81.3 TOTAL 6334 4802 75.8 First six months of 1993 Committed Solved % Crimes against persons 1037 999 96.3 Murders 125 111 88.8 Attempted murders 170 168 94.01 Serious bodily injuries 123 121 98.4 Minor bodily injuries 512 502 98 Rapes 78 78 100 Crimes against property 3302 2405 72.8 Theft of state property 1297 937 73.8 Theft of private property 1688 1191 70.6 Damage to private property 168 127 79.4 Robbery of private property 131 118 90.1 Robbery of state property 16 12 75 Crimes against state activity 259 257 99.2 Crimes against MRP personnel 159 159 100 Other crimes 597 574 96.1 TOTAL 5195 4235 81.5 First six months of 1994 Committed Solved % Crimes against persons 1003 974 97.1 Murders 123 113 90.4 Attempted murders 159 150 94.3 Serious bodily injuries 150 146 97.3 Minor bodily injuries 484 480 99.2 Rapes 73 73 100 Crimes against property 2318 1732 74.7 Theft of state property 547 386 70.6 Theft of private property 1234 888 72 Damage to private property 126 94 74.6 Robbery of private property 107 93 86.9 Robbery of state property 10 6 68 Crimes against state activity 221 216 97.7 Crimes against MRP personnel 197 192 97.5 Other crimes 465 448 96.3 TOTAL 4007 3371 84.1 TIRANA — Indicators of the fight against crime in Albania have been published. The Minister of Public Order, Agron Musaraj, presented comparative statistical data on trends in criminal offenses and the rate at which they were solved over the past three years at a press conference. The figures show—comparing the first six months of each of the three years—that the overall level of crime this year has fallen by 38 percent compared with 1992 and by 28 percent compared with 1993. This phenomenon was explained by “the easing of certain factors that encourage criminal offenses, as well as the strengthening of the police’s preventive and investigative work.” The figures presented at the conference show that during the first six months of 1994 the rate at which law-enforcement forces solved crimes was 84.1 percent. For the same period in ’93 it was 81.5 percent, while in ’92 it was 75.8 percent. It is also noted that—in absolute numbers—the law-enforcement forces managed to solve fewer crimes in the first six months of ’94 in almost all the listed categories than in the same period of ’93. Thus, 25 fewer cases of “crimes against persons,” 773 fewer cases in the category “crimes against property,” and 303 fewer cases of “theft of private property” were solved. Almost all the other indicators also fell. Thus, while the number of crimes decreased, the number of cases solved by law-enforcement forces also decreased. Perhaps this indicates that crime in Albania has also begun to become more sophisticated, which seems to have made it even more difficult to maintain the success levels achieved during 1993. Meanwhile, it is a well-known fact—as was also stated at the conference—that Albania’s opening to the world is accompanied by ...

At a service station GJIROKASTER — A robbery attack on a service station in Gjirokastër and the police’s attempt to stop the thieves resulted in its complete destruction. The incident occurred at night, when a group of thieves attacked the service station from all sides, attempting to steal the materials stored in its warehouse. Meanwhile, someone at a neighboring warehouse immediately heard the alarm. A criminal police unit was dispatched to the scene. In a panic, and so as not to be caught alive, the group of thieves set fire to the service station. The guard, who was attacked during the incident, received medical treatment and is out of danger. Ra. Ko.

TIRANA — Tensions are high over the hunger strike declared by the association of former persecuted people throughout the country. On Friday, the Tirana Court declared the strike illegal following the filing of a lawsuit by the government. On Friday evening, however, Kurt Kola, the association’s chairman, told Gazeta Shqiptare that they would take the case to the Constitutional Court, considering the Tirana Court’s decision illegal. Meanwhile, the first day of the strike was marked by clashes with police forces in Durrës, Fier and Shijak, where officers intervened to stop the strike. In Durrës, following a confrontation with law-enforcement officers—after they were prevented from holding the strike, the strikers barricaded themselves inside a city bar—five strikers were taken to hospital, while the rest ended up at the police station. (a.m.)

REALITY CURSIVE ELBASAN — A female passenger has been the victim of a serious armed attack. Now, what is it? Hit by a bullet in the shoulder, 40-year-old Fatime Myrbeti is being treated at Elbasan Hospital, but fortunately is out of danger. ... A Financial Police motorcycle. ... loudly, terrifying the ten unfortunate passengers. The Police? They were on the scene and gave chase; at one point one of them fired, apparently hitting the tire of the fleeing car. But instead of hitting its mark, the bullet struck the woman’s body, perhaps in the leg? The police have opened a criminal case; the suspect is being pursued while at large. In fact, the wounded woman was not the only unfortunate person involved; there may have been several other passengers. The bullet that was fired could have hit any one of them. Me. Ki.

THE NEWSPAPER STRIKE COMMITTEE MEETS THE DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER — The meeting between the strike committee formed by several Albanian newspapers and Deputy Finance Minister Robert Ceku lasted almost an hour. Agreement was reached on some of the newspapers’ demands—reducing the tax on newsprint, distributing advertisements equally among all newspapers, including advertisements placed by the Committee of [?] which until now went only to certain party publications, and reviewing the tax on advertising—but the government representative categorically refused to abolish the 15 percent turnover tax. Nevertheless, it was agreed that another meeting between representatives of both sides would be held on 15 August. CHAIRMAN OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY IN TIRANA — A prominent figure in Turkish politics, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly Husamettin Cindoruk is in Albania. In his speech before a broad forum of Albanian politicians at the “Dajti” hotel, Cindoruk praised the old and new ties between the two peoples. His visit is expected to be important for relations between the two countries. ... LIZË, MAN OVER 82 FALLS FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR — He has remained ...

All Albanian newspapers are back on sale today, following a three-day strike against certain taxes on the press. The committee of journalists on strike has another meeting on August 15.

Due to an unexpected interruption in international sea routes, some Gazeta Shqiptare newspapers were not put on sale. We apologize to our readers. The newspaper will resume publication today.

NATO planes condemn the Serbs. Positions around Sarajevo are bombed. ON PAGE 2. A storm over the referees: two sent off. ON PAGE 7