INTERVIEW The President of the Court of Cassation explains the delays in the commission’s work. “We have been discussing for months only because of the whims of a few.” Quarrels, intolerance and divided parties... Brozi: “I want a referendum” “This Parliament cannot make a Constitution” ARMAND MERO TIRANA — “I am pessimistic that today’s Albanian parliament will manage to give Albania a new and dignified constitution.” This is Zef Brozi, President of the Court of Cassation and member of the parliamentary Commission for preparing the Constitution, who appears to be making a new accusation. For months this issue has been the subject of controversy and debate among Albanian deputies. In fact, it was Prime Minister Meksi himself who, in a special interview, gave explanations and reasons for the delay in presenting the draft constitution to parliament. “Actually, Brozi explains to Gazeta Shqiptare, there was a chance for the draft to be examined in the quickest possible way. What then was preventing it? “The review would have been faster if all the commission members had been willing to draft a modern and as useful a constitution as possible. What is noticeable is that a spirit still persists that in the past was individualistic and revolutionary. Thus, when the President of the Constitutional Court [??] comes two or three days late, or for the others in this court this becomes a reason for the work to be delayed for one or two months. That is generally the issue. This chapter of the Constitution has had very many discussions. At first, the idea was put forward that there should be no Constitutional Court, but that was rejected. Then another view emerged, that this Court should have more limited powers than today and in no way be above Parliament, that is, it should not have the right to annul laws but only to send them back for review when they are found to be in conflict with constitutional provisions. Did the presentation of two different draft constitutions influence the process? “This has affected the work of the commission and quickly triggered unhelpful debates; indeed, it has served as a pretext for extending or postponing meetings. For me, the first draft presented in January 1993 is better than the one presented much later to parliament. That draft concretely realized the separation of the three powers, thus avoiding the possibility of one power becoming absolute over another. When might the Constitution be ready? “I cannot speak about deadlines. I can only say that I do not see any objective obstacle to completing the drafting of the Constitution in the commission. For work, I am pessimistic not so much because of procedural elements and all the language of understanding, and to give Albania a dignified constitution, among the best in Eastern Europe, as in the first version”. Why this pessimism? “I base this on the political climate, which depends on tolerance and understanding among political parties, and that is the first condition for approving the Constitution. The group of jurists behind the January draft, with some improvements made in the commission, offers Parliament an excellent program. But this is done only for members. The Constitution, as a political and legal document, needs the support of all political forces. The very tendency observed to weaken and undermine constitutional powers by praising them with the specific names of certain political forces is a primitive psychology. In drafting legislation, we must start from a real concept: the law of powers is not made for particular individuals but for Albania”. So will they continue to remain without a Constitution? “To tell the truth, it must be said that Albania is not without constitutional provisions. Since 1991, a series of constitutional laws have been approved that regulate the necessary spheres of social and political life. However, Albania needs the new Constitution”. How does the procedure for approving the Constitution look? “This is the most critical point. I believe that the new Constitution should be approved by the whole people in a referendum, or at least by a Constituent Assembly”. Zef Brozi

Eurosport soon on screen too TIRANA — Soon, two more satellite television stations receivable on the sets of the capital’s residents will be added to the current number. Sources from the Tirana Municipality have announced the next step the technicians will take; very soon the new stations will appear on Tirana’s screens. There is a strong possibility that one of them will be the well-known sports channel “Eurosport”, while the other has not yet been fixed. The good news comes immediately after the first controversy began over the effectiveness of the choice of these stations. Many dissatisfied citizens expressed the view that the selection could have been different. For some, the solution given seemed more like a “diplomatic step” than a move aimed at truly serving the capital’s residents. In fact, “Italia 1” is a station very close to the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, CNN one of the most powerful American stations, “RTL” and “France 2” are state stations of some of the most powerful European states, and so on. It is an open debate and certainly does not diminish at all the value of the technical choices made by the Municipality, one of whose officials has stated that “in choosing the stations, the recommendations came from above”. p.n

The victim returns to Albania KUÇOVË — The funeral ceremony of Mirela Hazizi, the 20-year-old woman killed in Greece while traveling together with her fiancé and another group of Albanians, has been held. The news of her death had earlier been made public in an official statement by Ludmilla Pojo, press spokesperson for the Albanian Ministry of Public Order. Hazizi was unable to survive despite treatment in the hospital in Janina. The bullet that penetrated her head seriously damaged the brain’s vital functions. The incident had occurred a few days earlier on Greek territory when a burst of automatic gunfire was opened in the darkness of night against the car in which the group of Albanians was traveling. The victim’s fiancé had been held in isolation for two days in the police cells of Delvinak until his innocence was proven, but it could have been different. For some, the solution given seemed more like a “diplomatic step” than a move aimed at truly serving the capital’s residents. In fact, “Italia 1” is a station very close to the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, CNN one of the most powerful American stations, “RTL” and “France 2” are state stations of some of the most powerful European states, and so on. [mixed text [?]]

Doctors concerned VLORA — “Chernobyl radiation continues to cause damage in Albania.” Such concern — somewhat unexpected so many years after the nuclear incident that shook the whole world — was raised at the latest meeting of the health governing board of the Vlora district. One of the city’s well-known doctors, who has long studied the effects of nuclear radiation on human health, Dr. Kodheli, considered one of the factors behind the noticeable increase in congenital anomalies recorded in this city to be precisely those “sneaky” rays that came from distant Ukraine. A problem that seems to have been forgotten for a long time, after the reassuring statements that came following the first measurements. The chief nurse of Vlora hospital, a person with more than twenty years of service in the city’s health structures, added another element to this: environmental fatigue caused by toxic smoke imported during the years of the monist regime. Over the last ten years — more or less since the time of the nuclear accident — a troubling phenomenon has emerged: many young mothers do not become pregnant immediately. This prolonged infertility, premature births, and births with defects and anomalies have become the subject of discussion at the health board, on the level of the list and Gazeta Shqiptare. During their meeting, the doctors in Vlora raised a problem on this occasion. Many of them praised the fact that products imported, especially those originating from Eastern European countries, are checked by specialized state bodies, but they demanded that such checks also be carried out in the city’s environment. Such a thing, at least as emerged from the doctors’ discussion, has still not been done. St. M.

— Two road accidents and two deaths in the same day. This bitter toll has recently been confirmed in Fier. In the village of Visokë, near Ballsh, a car left the road and plunged into a deep ditch. In this accident, the driver, 26-year-old Arjan Shepa, a resident of the “Apolonia” neighborhood of Fier, was killed, and the passengers traveling with him were seriously injured. In another incident, on the Fier-Seman road, 15-year-old Albert Kola crashed while riding the motorcycle he was driving and died. ma. ll.

Fuel oil crosses the border PATOS — “The Municipality of Patos has entered the fuel trafficking business.” The matter, which has caused a stir in the city’s public opinion, is expected to soon move into criminal proceedings. According to information confirmed so far, the municipality had authorized various private people to collect the fuel oil needed for consumption by the population of this area. By taking advantage of this “fake” authorization, a total of 237 tons of fuel oil were then taken away by them. The colossal shipment of fuel oil then took the road to foreign markets, where it was sold. Now it is expected that the responsibility of the specific people in the municipal administration for abusing this trade, which has even helped to deprive parts of the population, especially the district’s population, of the valuable fuel oil — obtained with difficulty — for foreign markets that certainly paid better than the current economic situation of most local buyers would allow, will be fully clarified. m. ll.

On the day he returned from Italy Elbasan, murderous husband arrested ELBASAN — It was supposed to be a day of joy after seven months of separation between the spouses, but it turned into a tragedy. At one point it shocked all of Elbasan. After a long absence caused by the departure to Italy — precisely on the day of his return — the husband of 26-year-old Adelina Salla attacked his partner because of another suspicion. Adelina was killed by strangulation in the throat at the hands of her husband. Along with her, the seven-month-old child Adelina was carrying in her womb also lost its life. The Elbasan police immediately arrested the author of this murder. According to preliminary investigations, the cause of the quarrel between the two spouses was an old complaint filed by the victim over ongoing disagreements with her husband, who had badly mistreated his wife in Italy. In any case, the full causes are still unclear and only the final investigation will fully shed light on this serious event. M. Kl. The city of Elbasan

From the EC TIRANA — New European aid for Albanian agricultural education has arrived. Through the PICU/PHARE program, the European Community has donated this day to the Agricultural University of Kamza and the pilot schools in Korça and Berat 30 new agricultural machines, including a 70-horsepower tractor, seed drills, irrigation systems and modern cultivators. According to Piro Veliu, head of the Department of Agricultural Mechanics at the Agricultural University, the amount of this funding is 150,000 ECU. Soon, from another EC program, these schools will receive additional equipment for the crop production and livestock production branches. Ir. Ra.

CURSIVE REALITY GIROKASTËR — In the center of Gjirokastër, it seems, the Municipality has declared “war” on these animals that are filling the streets with barking and disorder, blocking the way in the middle of the center and especially for children. For once, the streets and walls are now a game with these animals, and the authorities are dealing with the management of the “stray” animal problem. Otherwise, it began and one could solve this burden. Such a meeting was left at the municipality, since these central areas are being managed with measures and care shown also by the special colony with the police pension, independent of the society for animals, the center is once again meant to serve the Municipality, which took on the extermination of ownerless dogs. Now, against the dogs, local media tools have also been mobilized, such as Radio Gjirokastra and even the Municipality itself. In one city, it has appealed to citizens to keep their dogs properly and in accordance with the regulations, even reminding them that otherwise, for these dogs, there is also law. According to Çuli, Gjirokastër seems to have been “occupied” by village and house dogs. The dogs are with parts of the cells and in the street, with the moon and even at the center in play, becoming a danger especially for parents with children, he said. He said that the dogs, because of the lack and poverty, were left by residents, while without walls in front of the houses many of them were left in the streets. Ra. Ko.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF DOUGLAS HOGG’S VISIT TO TIRANA — The head of the Foreign Office, Douglas Hogg, will pay an official visit to Albania. The program of his visit, announced by the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, includes meetings with President Berisha and Foreign Minister Serreqi, as well as participation in the signing of the agreement between the Albanian Institute of Archaeology and the British School of Archaeology in Rome. After Perry’s arrival, Hogg’s visit is seen as the second time a high-ranking diplomat has come to Albania. ELBASAN, REPORT CARDS DISTRIBUTED AFTER THREE YEARS — At the end of this school year, regular report cards have finally been distributed to students of all categories of schools in Elbasan. For the first time in the last three years, schools are returning to another form of normality: report cards listing students’ results in different subjects. Not long ago, because of lack of funds, report cards were issued in a makeshift and cumbersome way; students’ grades were written on scraps of paper or as photocopies without seals. The absence of report cards had become a formal obstacle for many students, especially final-year pupils who wished to continue their studies at other universities. AUTUMN FESTIVAL KRUJË — A film week has started in Krujë. The event dedicated to the Children’s Song Festival has brought together talents aged 6 to 14 from the district. The winning voices in different categories will represent Krujë at the national children’s song festival. The event is organized by the House of Culture.

Argentina, bomb at the Israeli center Dozens of people under the rubble ON THE LAST PAGE The law on “corrupt politicians” passes to the Chamber Italian government crisis avoided ON PAGE 2

LOOKING TO SELL SOMETHING? LOOKING TO BUY SOMETHING? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message—we are ready for 15 words/an announcement from our addresses: In Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370, or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State in your message what you want and what you offer, your name and address FOR RENT — A four-story building in the city of Korçë (former Borova hotel). It is located in the city center with essential conditions, near the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. For information contact Tirana at phone number: 2777, 1341. In Korçë, contact Meli [?], no. 1490. n EXCHANGE — my existing apartment, 1 room and 1 kitchen with annex, balcony at the entrance of Allias, third floor (70 square meters) for a 1-room apartment with 1 kitchen, annex and balcony on the first or second floors in the central block. Phone 42615 (from 6:00 - 7:30 or 9:00 - 23:00) in Tirana. EXCHANGE — apartment with 1 room and 1 kitchen with annex, second floor in a building near the Municipality, for a 1-room apartment with kitchen located in the area of the “Dinamo” Stadium or “21 Dhjetori”, with price difference. Contact phone number 2822. FOR SALE — a self-unloading truck with a capacity of 29 quintals, Fiat On type, in very good condition, with customs duty paid. Price 320,000 lek. Address: Destan Kokoshi, Rruga “Kongresi i Lushnjes”, no. 24 (“21 Dhjetori”) in Tirana. FOR SALE or FOR RENT — two premises, 180 square meters (former “Holliday” disco). Address: Rruga “Bajram Curri” 121. Interested parties should contact phone number 2471. FOR SALE — a high-quality printer at a very reasonable price. Contact Ado at phone number 2533 in Tirana. The printer is a Canon BJ 10 sx and is universally usable.