Fear for 3 people who received blood from the seropositive Plasma taken from the donor infected with the virus had been used regularly until after April TIRANA — Fear and a worrying sense of concern for three people [...]. Fear for 3 people who received blood from the seropositive AIDS, infected by mistake? Plasma taken from the donor infected with the virus had been used regularly until after April TIRANA — Fear and a worrying sense of concern for three people who received blood from the blood donor from Tirana who, it has been established — a few days ago — was infected with AIDS. Urgent tests will be carried out on all three in order to verify whether they have been infected by the virus of the transmissible disease. According to specialists, the very period of blood transfusion up to now allows the test used to verify AIDS to definitively show their condition. The discovery of the fifth AIDS case in Albania has once again, and rightly, been accompanied by a great alarm. The fact that the seropositive man had been a regular blood donor — and that many others may therefore have fallen victim innocently — has immediately mobilized the medical services themselves. The last time the 31-year-old from Tirana, who according to specialists was infected through sexual routes (he was homosexual), gave blood was in April. Since that period, according to checks carried out in hospitals by specialists from the AIDS office, only three people have been found to have received blood from the seropositive donor. These people — one from Tirana and two others from the districts — have now been identified and will undergo special anti-AIDS analyses and tests. The analyses that will be carried out will show whether these people have actually been infected, Besim Nuri, deputy minister of Health, explains to Gazeta Shqiptare, because the period of crisis for the human antibodies that may have the virus has now passed. This period ranges from 1 week to 2 months". The identification of these three people, although they will be in a state of anxiety until the special tests are completed, is on the other hand news that relieves the dozens of others who, hospitalized for various illnesses, have been forced to receive blood. In fact, in recent days, immediately after the publication of the news, many people have appeared concerned at the doors of the wards to inquire about this issue. Armand Mero

Ruling-opposition clash TIRANA — "The so-called lack of a Constitution can hardly be grounds for violating citizens' rights, because the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms exists, adopted in full compliance with the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights." This was Prime Minister Meksi's counter-argument to Socialist MP Abdiu's thesis that "the absence of a Constitution creates dangerous spaces for the violation of human rights". It seems as if the summer season is the most suitable pretext for Parliament to discuss the Draft Constitution. As happened a year ago, the debate among MPs over the draft law has been reignited. And once again the Socialist Party MPs — having put aside, for the moment, their drastic concerns — have called Prime Minister Meksi several times over the past two months to an interpellation to give explanations on the progress of the work drafting the Constitution. And once again the same arguments and counterarguments were presented by both sides. On one hand, the need expressed by the Socialist Party for the submission of the draft to Parliament and the deliberate delay by the commission tasked with preparing it. And it was Meksi — this time in his position as chairman of the special commission for drafting the Draft Constitution — who rejected this accusation and even blamed the Socialist Party for the obstacles it has created in solving this important problem. Meanwhile, he reiterated the determination of the Democratic Party to draft the Constitution as one of the primary tasks of its program. It seems that this year’s course of events has not helped bring the draft Basic Law closer; it remains on the horizon of the new legislation. In fact, at the beginning of 1994, the impression was created that the document — so widely discussed — would soon be presented to Parliament for review. It was Parliament Speaker Arbnori himself who declared to Gazeta Shqiptare in January of this year: "Soon the Constitution will be submitted to the Albanian Parliament, and the fundamental chapter for us will be protected." And it seems that the last two chapters, the final provisions, are the ones that the preparatory commission has been unable to overcome for more than 6 months, and which will put an end to accusations, doubts and mutual allegations. Andrea Stefani

WORLD CUP USA 94 The Wednesday service before this afternoon's match Two matches for the first semifinalists Curiosities from USA '94 World Cup On page 3

The “incident” is clarified BARI — Moments of tension and concern on Thursday morning between the Albanian delegation led by the Minister of Local Government, Rexhep Uka, and the Vice-President of the Puglia Region, De Lucia. The incident arose from a major blunder made by De Lucia, who "accused" Minister Uka of not respecting an agreement between the two countries in the roads and communications sector. The reference is to the project that should be financed by the European Union, for the construction of the Durrës-Skopje-Istanbul highway, strongly sought by Albanian authorities. But De Lucia accused the Albanian delegation of supporting the construction of a highway to Greece, which would therefore harm Puglia's interests. The position of the Italian regional authorities was completely unfounded, and the blunder was clarified only in the late afternoon hours after a second meeting. The first, in the morning, had ended on very sharp terms. The "Interreg" project, which is supposed to finance parts of both highways, provides for financial contributions for the countries of the East (and therefore for Albania) and for the other countries in question. The problem is that the European Commission decides with the President of Greece — it has not yet decided whether it should also consider Italy a border country with Albania (they are separated by the sea), while it certainly considers Greece as such.

TIRANA — "Thank you, Clinton." Thus, Serreqi, the Albanian foreign minister, greeted — during the meeting in Warsaw — Bill Clinton, President of the USA, expressing to him Albania’s gratitude for the support that America has given during these years of transition. And when Serreqi thanked him, the American president replied with an embrace: "Albania deserves our attention and our help. You have done a lot in a short time." Then the Albanian foreign minister made a successful political-economic greeting in the country. He gave particular importance to Albania’s issue of respecting the rights of national minorities. "There are the rights of a small Greek minority, but there is no problem concerning this minority, because it enjoys all rights according to international standards." TIRANA — The agreement that emerged some time ago between the Central Agency for the Registration of Artistic Books (AÇLTA) and the Turkish College in Tirana will go toward a solution. The conflict was caused as a result of a contract signed a few months ago by the School Book Agency — which, according to AÇLTA, is illegal — that gave the Turkish College the right to use part of the premises — magazine and garages — belonging to AÇLTA. It even went so far that the Turkish director declared the police of his own premises against AÇLTA. "All this is incomprehensible and unjust," explains Luti Toto, director of AÇLTA, to Gazeta Shqiptare. "The contract signed by the School Book Agency is illegal. According to the approved urban plan, these spaces belong to us. Therefore, now let justice resolve this matter."

“They have taken over our premises”

— A spider bite almost cost a 35-year-old farmer his life. Lying in the field while guarding his land at night, the farmer from the Durrës area was bitten on the arm by the dangerous black widow spider, known worldwide as one of the most dangerous biters. His condition became alarming immediately as he began to lose coordination and consciousness of his limbs. Only the intervention of doctors at the Toxicology Center in Tirana saved the farmer from a disease that, although minor, created major concerns. Ar. Me.

The woman survives TIRANA — After nearly 5 hours of uninterrupted surgery, doctors have finally managed to remove more than 21 kilograms of tumor from the body of Suzana Tafa, 36 years old. The successful operation was performed a few days ago by Edmond Celli, head of the surgery department at the Tirana hospital. Tafa, who had come from Shkodra, had been suffering for more than 6 months from a large mass formed in the lower part of the abdomen (ovarian tumor, or as it is also called, a cyst). Previously it had been considered difficult by surgeons and, logically in American style, she had received the negative reassurance that there was no explanation. But her hopes were reborn — after the long surgery carried out when the intervention was taken over by specialist E. Celli. A. M.

A witness also recounts the massacre by the Germans VLORE — The mass grave contains the skeletons of 80 Italian officers massacred by the German army in 1944. They belonged to the "Perugia Division" and were sent to be burned, because they were shot while preparing to return to Italy. The undiscovered grave has been located by envoys of the Italian Ministry of Defence sent by Major Cantore Ciro, and excavations to collect the bones will begin very soon. It is in the village of Kuci, 92 kilometers from Vlora, and it is believed to have been identified by an elderly Albanian woman, Eshe, 80 years old, who was a witness to the massacre. "Italian soldiers were butchered between Saranda and Porto Palermo," the woman says. "They had white flags and surrendered without resistance. They were taken and hacked to pieces, as if in a gruesome war. The Germans tied up the soldiers, sometimes cut off their legs or heads, and then carried them around as 'trophies' in the villages of the area to show the Albanians — because the Italian soldiers had protected hospitality — what could happen to them too. It was the same woman who told Major Cantore that 115 soldiers were shot, buried in three mass graves. Two graves had been discovered earlier in 1964 and 1988 by communist rulers. The Italian Minister of Defence was accompanied by General Bandin. At that time the bones of 35 Italian soldiers were found. Now only 80 remain in the area, perhaps the last soldiers are being discovered. Excavations are expected to begin in September. Italian soldiers during the War

PRIME MINISTER MEKSI'S MEETING WITH THE DELEGATION OF SAUDI ARABIA — Yesterday Saudi assistants will serve the development of projects that prepare interests for the Albanian economy — Prime Minister Meksi said among other things in the talks he had with the delegation from Saudi Arabia. Near M. Bin Saubin Abdullah Saud — who headed the Saudi delegation — assured Meksi that all projects signed by the two sides would be implemented within a short time. DIPLOMA CEREMONY AT THE "LUIGJ GURAKUQI" UNIVERSITY OF SHKODRA — In the central hall of the "Luigj Gurakuqi" University, on Saturday, a ceremony was organized in honor of the 14 students distinguished among the 261 students who graduated this year. In addition to the teachers from Vlora, the Rector of Shkodra, V. Mazi, and Ilia Vrioni, Prefect of Shkodra, took part. The event was also accompanied by a concert by the student music quartet "Priz Mako" and the artistic ensemble "Martin Gjoka". "WITH WORK, A PERSON WANTED FOR YEARS HAS BEEN STOPPED" — The criminal police of Delvina have arrested the citizen Genc Petrit Dervishi, declared wanted since 1987 on the charge of murder in complicity in 1957 and resident in a nearby village, on charges of complicity while drunk, theft of another's property in complicity and misappropriation. The victim of the theft was in neighborhood no. 4 of Saranda. Delvina and Gjirokastër. NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPION QUALIFIES IN SVKI IN THE BALKANS — 10 chess players from 17 districts of the country competed in the final as national champion and runner-up. Among them also played 4 young female chess champions. Kallëz, finished as Albanian champion, while in second place was Kallëz, while in second place was Menphiti of Egypt. Meanwhile the doctors rose in boycotts. The first champion was proclaimed in Albania, to be ranked on the world chess ladder with representation in Geneva.

PORTUGAL SPAIN MEDITERRANEAN SEA ALGERIA Ouhrou Costantino Seven Italian sailors butchered in Algeria They were on a merchant ship ON PAGE 2 With Russia, the Naples meeting becomes G8 Yeltsin: a great success ON PAGE 2

It is announced that the final selection for the contest that Gazeta Shqiptare is carrying out to select journalists from different districts of the country has been completed. In particular from the cities of Durrës, Gjirokastër, Korçë, Shkodër and Pogradec. Essential requirements: age 19-32, higher education completed, knowledge of a foreign language, stable residence in their city, telephone number. Participants must prepare a 30-line article on any subject of their choice and submit it personally by 15 July. Submission must be made at the Tirana editorial office, on Bajram Curri Street, 370, every day except Saturday, from 17:00 to 19:00.

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