President Brozi explains the latest decision “No weapons inside the Court” New rules at Cassation “These are measures against corruption” TIRANE — No direct contact with judges. The only answer for citizens and state officials seeking justice will be the court ruling. “All of this,” Zef Brozi, President of the Court of Cassation, tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “is meant to prevent any possibility of corruption in the courts.” A new notice issued by the Court of Cassation on 10 January aims to establish some new rules for the work of its bodies. There are five points in this document, intended “to protect the interests of the parties to a trial objectively and to discipline the work better.” Thus, it will be the court ruling that, through these regulations, hastens to clarify that discussions and debates will be allowed on the spot. “The court decision will be the only answer that this Court must notify to every defendant and every party in the trial.” But there is also a special decision in this document. From now on, entry into Court premises by persons carrying weapons will not be allowed. This applies to everyone, even those with a weapons permit. “It is a fairly well-known practice and one applied by courts around the world,” Brozi explains, “now firmly, the Police authorities and the other means will carry out checks. This measure is taken because there have been cases in which various armed persons have entered even the courtroom, causing disturbances.” So, this notice is another effort to avoid irregularities within the Justice system itself. It was Zef Brozi who, for the first time — through Gazeta Shqiptare — had sharply denounced corruption in the courts, stating that this phenomenon “plunges it into the right vortex.” A struggle that is certainly necessary to continue. Police outside the Court entrance Here are the decisions Here are the main points of the notice: 1 — At the Court of Cassation, there are no meetings with parties or persons interested in specific cases. Appeals against decisions of the Court of Appeal must be made in writing, and it is in the complainants’ own interest that the appeals be clearly formulated. 2 — The Court of Cassation will reply to neither citizens nor state officials except through the court decision. 3 — Complaints about non-enforcement of court decisions must be made to the President of the District Court and to the Minister of Justice. 4 — The announcement of hearing dates will be made 20 days in advance, no less than 5 days before the day of the hearing. The Secretariat will not answer citizens’ requests on these matters through any other channels. 5 — Entry into courts by persons carrying weapons is strictly forbidden, even when they have a permit.

A turn after the discovery of the pipes Threat? “It may be one of the reasons for my decision” Shkodër, head of the Financial Police resigns SHKODER — Threat? “It may be one of the reasons for my decision.” Muhamet Gradeci, head of the Shkodër branch of the Financial Police, suddenly resigns. It is a decision — in the early hours of Tuesday morning — made by him personally after the sensational discovery of secret pipelines transporting oil from Shkodër to Montenegro, through the Buna River. Naturally, the discovery was also a success for the Financial Police, whose forces — until Tuesday — were led by Muhamet Gradeci. “What pushed you to this sudden resignation?” “The reasons are personal. I no longer want to work.” Do they also have to do with your position at the head of a body that may be asked to account for these matters? “A person has some things that he wants to keep only to himself and to no one else. I repeat: personal reasons forced me to speak only to the Minister of Finance and the Director General of the Financial Police. Is it true that before resigning you had some contacts with the local leaders of the Financial Police?” “Yes, I had contact with them because of the work in that post. But let me explain, you understand, the situation is extremely tense.” In any case there is also a public reason, because until today you were also Head of the Financial Police branch... “I don’t want to be that anymore; I announced my decision.” Did you suffer threats while doing your work? “Yes, I did.” Is this also the main reason for the resignation? “It may be one of the reasons for my decision, but I stress once again, the main one is the personal reason.” Was your sensational discovery of the secret pipelines in the Buna River received negatively or positively? “The pipelines were discovered thanks to the work done by the colleagues. But the Financial Police does not have that authority, because Border Police works on this. It is the border’s responsibility if these pipelines functioned for a long time. These very responsibilities have created the whole current situation, because if the border had been properly guarded, nobody would have taken the road to come all the way to the summit of Shkodër.” It is not for us to judge the work of the Border Police. But according to you, what is the solution? “In a democracy, the border is not guarded with bullets and people cannot be killed. For that, the Financial Police can intervene only if the border policemen. Then we have a very weak legal framework, it is rather outdated to combat smuggling. A new law for the Financial Police has been prepared for some time, and is expected to pass Parliament — something that would have a very strong effect. At present we work with a law signed by Ramiz Alia in January 1991. Now things have evolved and this law cannot fight with [them].” Do you believe they will accept your resignation? “I do not assume to prejudge the actions of those who will decide. In my resignation I wrote that it is clear. Please fulfill this request for us as soon as possible.” For now I am waiting for the response to begin the handover. Edmond Laçi

PRESIDENT BERISHA GREETS THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS ACCREDITED IN ALBANIA — “I want you and your families to have a good year, continually enjoying the respect and friendship of the Albanian people,” said President Sali Berisha during the reception organized for the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Albania. President Berisha expressed his conviction that Albania is taking important steps in consolidating democratic institutions and the market economy. GJIROKASTER, SCHOOL IN FLAMES — Two classrooms of the “Bajo Topulli” school in Gjirokastër are burned almost completely. The fire, which broke out early this morning in the first hours of the morning, also endangered other parts of the building, while the nearby buildings that had also fallen victim to the flames were saved. According to the school authorities, the cause of the fire was a careless act. DIBRA — A MONTH WITHOUT CRIME IN PESHKOPI — “Throughout the entire month of December and the first 3 days of January, there was not a single criminal act or serious incident in the Dibra district,” declared the chief of the district police station, linking this situation to the increased readiness of the public-order structures. Last year 256 crimes occurred in the Dibra district, 233 of which were solved. The curve of crimes against the person also fell by 35 percent.

And a woman too TIRANE — Public order officers also detain two people suspected of kidnapping a girl. Thus the parents also come onto the scene in the problem of child abductions: the mother had risked being the one. In the neighborhood known as Karaj, the 14-year-old from Nika of Krujë, Mida, among those detained figures — together with 22-year-old Altin Beqo — also a woman: Majmonda Nacakçi, 30 years old and resident in Korçë. Regarding the incident that occurred on 21 December, “it is also suspected that another person, now being sought by the Public Order authorities, was a collaborator in this abduction.” c.l.

The contract with the investor is signed Handovers of the premises begin at the hotel The contract with the investor is signed Workers win: “Tirana” starts work Handovers of the premises begin at the hotel TIRANE — The conflict — which began a few days earlier — at the highest Albanian hotel is finally resolved. On Tuesday morning, in the premises of the “Tirana” hotel, the handover of the rooms, the bar and the restaurant began. The night before, the 182-member staff of this hotel had managed to secure everything: the signing of the contract with the representatives of the Italian company “Di Vincenzo Esteri”. From Monday morning until late in the evening, debates — in the entrance hall — involved representatives of the Union, accompanied by those taking part in the investment and reconstruction of this hotel, as well as the Minister of Tourism himself. “If we managed to achieve all our demands,” staff members of Hotel “Tirana” tell Gazeta Shqiptare, “now we are waiting only for the completion of the reconstruction.” Under the new contract, throughout the period of work in the hotel, the staff will be paid according to the existing salary. In addition, during this time a number of training courses with the relevant specialties will be held for them. And most importantly, the staff will have the possibility, after the completion of the construction works, to return to their previous positions. b.re.

— The museum city of Berat is also becoming a victim of damage. Its old neighborhoods — more than 25 structures — are undergoing one destruction after another. Here in Berat — one of the candidates to come under UNESCO protection — its characteristic features are being lost day by day. A long-standing protest about how copper is the same as iron, houses façades that are being destroyed, and the stones of the castle being used for construction are indicators of this destruction. And in the face of this alarming situation, the competent authorities seem to remain powerless. So far, almost none of the buildings that have been damaged has been paid for.

A firm response from the Ministry of Defense Serious incident on the maritime border A firm response from the Ministry of Defense Sarandë, the Greek ship fires Serious incident on the maritime border SARANDA — “What happened constitutes a serious provocation and our naval forces are ready to act. Since they are ready to act.” Thus declares the Ministry of Defense a day after the incident in the Strait of Corfu, in the south of the country. Here on Sunday, a Greek military ship fired on an Albanian fishing vessel, seriously damaging it and making further action by the crew difficult. “The use of firearms without declaring oneself Albanian,” declares the Ministry of Defense in a communiqué addressed to the Greek authorities, “is in blatant contradiction with international laws and conventions. The episode constitutes a provocation that undermines the relations of good friendship between the two countries.” Monday’s incident follows two other border violations on 4 January (one is reported by Gazeta Shqiptare), when an Albanian fishing boat was fired upon with a machine gun by a Greek ship. On 6 November of last year the military ship “Matti”, also Greek, illegally entered 8 miles into Albanian territorial waters. So far there has been no justification from the government in Athens regarding these events.

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