HEALTH / The Ministry will prepare a special draft law Restrictive measures are planned HEALTH / The Ministry will prepare a special draft law Control over abortion Restrictive measures are planned TIRANE — Albania is preparing to take restrictive measures against abortion. The controversies that have erupted in many countries around the world over this increasingly controversial phenomenon, now on the eve of the International Conference on Population in Cairo — where an Albanian delegation led by the Minister of Health, Çuli, will also take part — do not seem to have gone unnoticed in Albania. Soon work is expected to begin on drafting a special bill on abortion, which will set out all the measures that should be taken to prevent it. "The policy of the Albanian government — explains to Gazeta Shqiptare Fiqdor Kallaku, director of the Family Planning Directorate at the Ministry of Health — is not to encourage abortions". It is precisely to support this policy that the drafting of the new bill is planned; it will fill the gaps in the government decision from a few years ago that left abortion almost completely unrestricted. The drafters’ aim is to allow it only for pregnant women up to 12 weeks. Before the medical procedure, mandatory preliminary counseling with sociologists and psychologists will be required. The counseling is expected to serve to show the pregnant woman the negative aspects of the medical intervention, medically explaining ways to avoid such a phenomenon. "So, we will develop the medical conditions and social, psychological assistance — Kallaku explains — and we will draft this bill because current management must be improved; we think there is a basis for doing such work." In fact, concern about abortions in Albania is thought to have deep roots, linked to the way the phenomenon is known and reflected in the limited statistics available regarding surgical intervention in many parts of the country. Thus, in Tirana alone, around 30 abortions are performed in a single day, a figure that is equal to the number of births. Across the country, some 30,000 abortions a year are estimated. However, according to specialists, the drop in the birth rate and the lower level of family planning policy implementation have cost doctors dearly. According to Kallaku, the number of women using contraceptives has increased. Only during the past year, 5 percent of women aged 15 to 49, or 30,000 women, regularly use these preventive methods. "Family planning cannot accept abortion as one of its methods — Kallaku adds — we are for preventive means through contraception and raising the level of sex education." Religion has now also intervened in the abortion issue, and this line of thought is expected to be taken into account in drafting the bill as well. Recently Frano Ila, representative of the Albanian Catholic Apostolate, called on all religious communities in the country and on the Parliament and government to fight against abortion. Perhaps if the state authorities adopted the concept put forward by the religious communities on this problem, to save a child — of course — a stronger local and other guarantee should be made — even more forcefully. Armand Mero

For the 5 members of «Omonia» For the first time in the Albanian justice system, the Prosecutor’s Office presents recordings with the testimonies of witnesses who do not appear in the courtroom For the 5 members of «Omonia» Witnesses from the screen: video is shown during the trial For the first time in the Albanian justice system, the Prosecutor’s Office presents recordings with the testimonies of witnesses who do not appear in the courtroom TIRANE — For the first time in a trial in Albania, television videos are also being used. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has chosen precisely the case of the five members of "Omonia" to introduce, in the Albanian justice system, a completely new and original way of supporting the charges brought by it. There are five videocassettes containing statements — made during the investigation — by witnesses who are no longer in Albania. This happened at the end of Tuesday’s hearing, when witness Kosta Shanaj — through a fax sent from his current place of residence in Greece — claimed that his former testimony before investigators was not true. Thus the request by the defendants and their lawyers to confront witness Shanaj was addressed by the prosecution, which showed in one of the halls of the Tirana Court the sound recordings of Shanaj’s statements, which are now being denied. In addition to the official findings and information in Albania — which this time were wrongly denied to the official press — these recordings are also in the possession of the five defendants and their defense lawyers. Together with the television videos — also in Tuesday’s session — the prosecution presented the material evidence, which the judges may use in reaching their final decision. (t.p.e)

The German specialists are coming TIRANE — The bureaucratic procedures for the removal of German pesticides from Albania are nearing completion. On Monday another delegation from the German Ministry of the Environment arrived in Tirana to talk with the Albanian side about the details of the operation to remove the toxic poisons. It is an operation that will involve representatives from both sides and will begin at the start of September. According to the initial forecasts made during the talks in July with the previous delegation, it will be completed in the third week of November this year. To cover the costs of removing the pesticides — which arrived in Albania in March 1991 — used and stored mainly in Bajzë and Milot and distributed in small quantities in other districts, the German side has offered 10 thousand marks. From these areas, the toxic waste will be collected and packaged — under the direct supervision of German specialists — in hermetically sealed containers. The Port of Durrës, where they will be loaded onto a special ship. On its side, the Albanian side will make use of army equipment — engineering trucks — to carry out the transport to the Port. At the same time, specialized forces from the army’s chemical units will cooperate with the Germans in packaging the contents of the cracked drums. Thus, the three-year odyssey of the pesticides in Albania, often burdened with concern and alarm over the danger they pose, is heading toward its epilogue. a.m.

GJIROKASTER — The Greek "sweep" has not spared Albanian prostitutes either. On Monday, 46 of them were transported by the Greek police to the Kakavijë border crossing in a special bus, without being escorted together with the large group of other expelled people. Frightened and desperate about their bad luck — although they were still wearing their "work clothes" — they said they had not been mistreated by the Greek police. "We were not allowed to wear our clothes in the police corridors," one of them told Gazeta Shqiptare, "they even gave us cigarettes." The punishment of the Albanian girls has provoked a reaction from the Greek owners of the establishments where they were employed, although from whom it has been difficult to explain the police action toward them. The others, those who were not so lucky, were forced to take the road back home. Armand Mero

Tragedy in Vlorë VLORE — The tragic fate of a 25-year-old young man, K.N., from the city of Vlorë. For several hours he had been dragged, with his feet tied by a rope to a calf. At his arrival he was later in his room at the hospital. The young man, from the "11 January" neighborhood, had gone home on Monday at midday to untie his calf. By mistake, while freeing the animal, the rope became tied around his legs. Meanwhile the calf, once free, began to run, dragging the boy for several meters. The animal’s relentless running caused the young man a fracture in the lower part of his leg. With the help of people who were nearby at that moment, he was taken immediately to the hospital. But the doctors’ intervention could not prevent the outcome. The 25-year-old lost his life due to a blood clot in the lungs. St. Ma.

Elbasan, tourists attacked ELBASAN — A new customs "tax" for tourists coming from Macedonia has been reported these days along the national road toward the beach of Durrës. This time, however, the initiative belongs to some armed thieves, who near the entrance to Elbasan forced the bus truck drivers to hand over money in exchange for "a few marks". It was the intervention of the police and the law-enforcement authorities that saved the tourists from the new customs tax. The foreign travelers then asked for explanations all the way to Durrës, since — according to them — the robbers had told them of another "roadblock" at the exit of the city. This episode — though not very widely known — was a new warning a few days ago, when at the entrance to the capital some robbers had stolen the vehicle of an Albanian couple from Macedonia. (Me.Ki)

SARANDE — The drinking water problem for the city of Sarandë is becoming increasingly worrying. For the past two weeks, the residents of the "Kodër" neighborhood, the most densely populated part of the city, have not seen even a single drop of water coming from their taps. Previously, residents were used to filling water at 10:00 p.m. Now, still hoping, they wait for that hour, and when they see that no water will come again, they load up their ever-present buckets and head to neighboring districts, where the situation is somewhat better.

COURSES REALITY TIRANE — An SOS sent out over the airwaves has proved far more successful than bureaucracy, and far more powerful than bureaucracy. It and the rare human solidarity it has inspired have made it possible for a child suffering from kidney disease in one of the districts of the city of Tirana. The appeal broadcast on the radio program of "Tirana" and made public mobilized an Italian ambulance, which was transported under four requests. The child, in serious health condition, will be transported and treated in Italy at the expense of a hospital in Pescara. The 11-year-old Hermal Radake has one kidney severely affected, and the other two broken, and he did not have the means to cover the many expenses required in such cases. Fortunately, the desperate appeal of the Albanian radio amateur was picked up by an Italian colleague, who immediately set in motion the activists of the International Center of the Voluntary Service Federation in Florence. In the end, after several efforts, a hospital in Pescara proved willing to receive little Hermal. The long odyssey was completed quietly. A case that bureaucracy, with its usual "confusions", would have made very difficult to solve.

Soon they will discuss the «government» of the EC The «ministers» await official appointment ON PAGE 2 Review of last week’s prices Tomatoes down by 60 percent ON PAGE 3

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO BUY? Time to place your economic notices. Send your message, up to 15 words, in a letter to our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370, or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State in your message what you are looking for and offering, your name and address FOR SALE — a new two-storey villa built with modern design and materials. The villa has 5 rooms, 2 bathrooms, balconies, a veranda, garage and yard. It is located in the new construction area, near the "Vasil Shanto" block. For information: Rruga "Gurakuqi" no. 6. Telephone 42515. FOR SALE — a 3-room apartment and 1 kitchen, on the fifth floor near the Army Ensemble. The price is reasonable. For information Rruga "Luigj Gurakuqi" no. 6. Telephone 42515. FOR SALE — a private house with yard, 2 rooms and 1 kitchen. Address: Rruga "Haxhi Imbrahim Dalliu", no. 9 in Tirana. Price 240 thousand lek. FOR SALE — a "Benz" car (manual, 16-ton, insulated, thermos type). Address: Myslym Kullolli, FOR RENT — a two-room apartment with one kitchen on the third floor. Address: Rruga Zolel Baboci, no. 8 in Tirana. FOR RENT — an apartment which is the combination of two apartments with two rooms and one kitchen, one fitted out to be used as an office. Address: Rruga "Ferit Xhajko" Building 59, Staircase 1. Apartments 7 and 8, Tirana, (near the Durrës Mosque), telephone 32372. FOR RENT — a two-room apartment with one kitchen, in annex. Address: Rruga "Sami Frashëri", Building 14, Staircase 1, Apartment 25, Tirana. For information you may contact by phone 24084. FOR RENT — a two-room apartment with one kitchen, on the third floor. Address: Rruga[?] "Kongresi i Manastirit" (near the "Xhemal Dalliu" school), Tirana. Interested parties should contact the kiosk beside the National Theater. LOOKING FOR — to buy a used washing machine, but in good condition. Address: Former Party School, telephone through the switchboard, number 210, ask for extension 210 FOR RENT or FOR SALE — a two-storey house with 4 rooms on each floor. Yard area is 400 square meters. It is usable. Contact at Rruga "4 Dëshmorët" number 4. Telephone 24586 in Tirana FOR SALE — a used vehicle, minibus, for which the declarations are made by the director and the directorates and the electronics equipment companies

TWO HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS ARRIVE IN TIRANE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONSIDERATION OF ALBANIA’S REQUEST FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE — According to joint announcements, arrived in Tirana The Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stanislav Dakonov, and the Director of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe — and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarschys. This two-day visit is being made in the context of examining Albania’s request to join the Council of Europe. Meetings are scheduled for the afternoon and in Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. Meetings with the President and other high-level Albanian figures are planned for the senior European officials. THE ALBANIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE CONDEMNS THE CONDUCT OF GREEK AUTHORITIES — "Public opinion in the country is not surprised and is deeply indignant that the recent protests by well-known Albanian intellectuals regarding the situation of human rights and minorities have not been taken into account, and the Albanian Helsinki Committee strongly condemns the difficult situation of Albanian emigrants in Greece and especially the protests against actions against them. Through a letter from its chairman, the Committee has addressed the relevant states." AT LEAST 27 TIRANA THIRD GROUP OF THE PEACE CORPS HOLDS AN INTENSIVE MEETING — In order to prepare for a special undertaking for the start of Albanian language teaching — which, according to the members, will also stimulate their bilateral activity in new business.