Private property is more protected The draft will soon be discussed by Parliament TIRANE — One of the most important acts of the legislative reform now under way in Albania has already arrived in the Albanian Parliament. The Civil Code, which sets out the fundamental principles and rules governing a market economy based on private property, the full expression of property rights and the freedom of contractual relations, is now being studied by the deputies who will approve it soon. The Civil Code — prepared by specialists in Justice and by the Ministry of Justice — has now been divided into separate parts: “General Part”, followed by “Things and ownership”, “Inheritance”, “Obligations” and “Special contracts”. Some of the provisions have been made specifically legal and applicable to acts concerning private property. The Code considers private property to be irrevocable wherever this right can be strengthened. It then provides a definition of the legal person as well as the main principles on which the activity of associations that do not have economic purposes is based. All other organizations that are now aimed at business will find themselves reflected in another document, the Commercial Code. One of the most important sections is “Things and ownership”. Here it is fully established that the right of ownership can be restricted only when legitimate public interests require it. But even this can be done only when the state provides prior and full compensation. It also sets out all the rights linked to ownership, as well as the duties owed to the state and to neighbours. One of the most delicate points is dealt with in detail in this part of the Code: the agricultural family and the way it is managed. According to the Code, no member of this family can be denied the right of ownership even after leaving it. In determining how the share belonging to the member who leaves the extended family is to be divided, the jurists have taken into account the concrete reality of our countryside. In order to prevent agricultural land from being divided into excessively small plots, certain restrictive measures have been introduced, without denying in principle the right to partition. One of the rights unjustly denied only a few years ago, inheritance, is dealt with in a special section. It is now provided that the right of inheritance extends as far as sixth-degree cousins, instead of only third-degree relatives as in the old Code. Adopted children or those born out of wedlock are now placed on an equal footing with legitimate children in inheritance rights. In fact, with exceptions and naturally in the cases in which the heir will not be affected. In this case the testator cannot decide freely as he wishes, counsel, etc., thereby giving this a considerable value for the family. The CVC will also consider the right of use of the agricultural family in this case. The new Civil Code will also have an important impact in bringing order to Albania. Specialists at the Ministry of Justice see this issue as an expression that addresses the shortcomings of the past. It is a decision that appears to have been taken on the basis of the specific circumstances and legal experience of our country. In different countries these problems have been solved differently. The handling of family problems — among the most delicate and complicated in today’s world — is also the trend that prevails today in the world. It is thought that only in this way can there be a more solid contribution to solving the many problems of the family in modern society. (cont. next) Parliament Chair

Diplomacy TIRANE — Athens is cancelling the meeting planned between its foreign minister Papulias and his Albanian counterpart Serreqi. The decision of the Greek government was communicated to the Albanian side during a meeting that the Greek ambassador in Tirana had — at his own request — with Minister Serreqi. The pretext used by the Greek side was the accusations hanging over the 6 Albanian citizens of Greek origin and members of Omonia. “In this situation the planned meeting between Albanian and Greek officials cannot take place, and even less so the meeting between the foreign ministers of our two countries,” the Greek ambassador said. “Greece’s decision is a hasty reaction and an expression of a lack of goodwill for cooperation,” Minister Serreqi said in response, describing the Greek claims as “interference in the internal affairs of the country”. Greece’s stance — which in recent days has also appealed to several international organizations, describing the arrest of the 6 Omonia members as a political act — has not found the support it expected from these bodies. The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department called the Greek accusations against Albania unfair and unfounded: “There is no reliable evidence that the Albanian democratic government is violating the rights of the Greek minority,” the American spokesperson said.

So far only victims from other countries Concern among pilgrims’ families The tragedy in Mecca: «No Albanian» So far only victims from other countries TIRANE — The first reassuring news has arrived regarding the health of the Albanian Muslim pilgrims in Mecca, after the tragedy that occurred there last Tuesday. According to a notice from the Embassy of Albania in Riyadh and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirane, by evening there had been no report from the Saudi authorities of the presence of Albanian citizens on the list of the dead and injured caused by the stampede near the holy site. Although this does not fully dispel fears of any possible harm to the Albanian pilgrims, the news coming from Riyadh is the first positive sign about their fate. The readiness of the Saudi authorities in such cases is well known — similar events have happened before — as is the possibility of errors in identifying the victims of the incident beyond the small number. On the other hand, in Riyadh the identification of the victims is still unknown and the Albanian Embassy has not yet made direct contact with Albanian citizens. Only that could dispel the doubts of family members about what happened. The first worried family members had begun heading to the headquarters of the Albanian Muslim Community as early as Wednesday morning. “Meqind arit kanë vdekur gjatë zhvillimit të ceremonisë së vajosjes me gurë të djallit. Burime nga të huajt njoftuan se mbi 700 të vdekur ndërsa Riadi ka njoftuar një bilanc paraprak prej 252 vetësh”, iy[?] The holy city of Mecca Such incidents happen because of the place from televised broadcasts[?], from foreign channels. The Islamic Community itself — also worried — has not been able to contact its embassy in Mecca directly and has turned to the Foreign Ministry for help. Finally, after many hours of waiting, the reply arrived, somewhat reassuring the pilgrims’ families. The group of Albanian muhaxhirë set off for Saudi Arabia a few days ago. This year the trip was made collectively by bus and entirely at the expense of the believers applying for the hajj. Each of them paid 850 dollars in order to be able to perform the sacred rite. The tragic incident that caused hundreds of victims is not the first to be recorded in Mecca. Four years earlier, in 1990, the number of victims was many times higher: 1,400. Thousands of unfortunate worshippers were trampled by the crowd on a passageway leading to the holy site of Muslims. According to statements by the Riyadh Ministry of Health, the latest incident was caused by the unexpected number of believers flooding in from all over the globe. More than 2.5 million people took part, about 500,000 more than the Saudi authorities had anticipated. Fotos Baxhaku

TIRANE — Today RAI TRE will talk about Albania in Gazeta Shqiptare. The program “Mediterraneo” of the “Radio — Nuovo Giorno” of this Italian television station will host today the editor-in-chief of our newspaper, Carlo Bollino. The program “Parola”, which has begun to include the content of Gazeta Shqiptare in its review of the foreign press, will this time speak in a special way about the reality of our country. In addition to the fact that recently this program has been one of the few with an Albanian theme, it will soon be broadcast immediately after the Saturday weather forecast.

Study by the Ministry of Justice TIRANE — The Ministry of Justice has decided to put an end to the passivity shown in collecting fines imposed for misdemeanours or criminal offences on various subjects by bodies such as the financial, forestry, electricity or even sanitary inspectorates. A group of specialists from this ministry is working on drafting a bill aimed at normalizing the situation in this sector. Among other things, it is planned to create a special body that will be specifically responsible for collecting all kinds of fines. To carry out this task, this body — with at least fairly broad powers — would also act on blocked roads, the accounts of those fined in banks, and the confiscation of their immovable property. However, it will be difficult to put this into practice, as the situation remains quite problematic, causing not only financial damage but, above all, weakening the force of the law against offenders. Last year, out of 14 million lekë in fines for administrative offences imposed by the Forestry Police, only 4 million lekë were collected. Likewise, by December only 30 percent of the fines imposed by the Sanitary Inspectorate had been collected. (p. re.)

Ramiz Alia and Hekuran Isai TIRANE — The voice or the Tirana Court, Ramiz Alia and his testimony. “Ilira” seven days ago, the prosecutor against the former President and the state regime’s former high-ranking political officials, are now gathered in plenary at the summit. For the first time Ramiz Alia will respond to the accusations brought against him by Albanian Justice. The charges expected in full are state-owned assets in cooperation, to the tune of 2,803,502 lekë, and abuse of office in cooperation, resulting in the illegal collection of free and damaged basic assets of the strata, with an economic damage amounting to 184,778 lekë — the two accusations that Alia had categorically denied from the outset of the proceedings. It remains for him to argue — as Çorri, Cani, Ndojla and Marko — his opposition to the charges brought by the Prosecution authorities. Meanwhile, another testimony, that of Hekuran Isai — former Minister of the Interior — is awaited with considerable interest and may perhaps be possible precisely today, even for the release of the dossier[?] it is the first he gives to public opinion, bearing in mind the mystery that still exists about the crimes of that regime of Ubt[?] of dictator Hoxha from the square of the capital. (t. b.)

A quirky reality KORÇE — A rare passion of Albanian traders. It is becoming increasingly clear that they lack no imagination at all when it comes to making the places where they operate as attractive as possible. Here, from Korça, comes the most original example: beyond the beaches and various streets, traders offer customers even more than they could wish for. For those who enjoy such an environment, the city, and many others too, where even for a coffee or lunch in a bar there is no need, has a small counter of porridge, with a rope by which they let it down. It itself on the road, accompanying its travellers who meanwhile drink coffee or other different drinks that the bus has not exposed. Even the service with which it moves is in the evening, so as not to disturb the customers in this way. Unfortunately, the state-run café’s expansion does not seem to have lasted long. After only a few days of trial, the bus has gone out of service. It is not known whether the cause was a possible defect in the bus or whether this new way of service did not have the desired success and fell out of favour at this hour. View from Korça

Le Monde Foreign Minister Serreqi at the European Conference “Le Monde” polemicizes against Greece ON PAGE 2 Now in Albania too, rock music day Initiative of the Albanian Youth Forum ON PAGE 3

BURREL, 875 FINES AGAINST DRIVERS OF VEHICLES — There are 875 fines amounting to more than 200 thousand lekë that the traffic inspectorate in Burrel has imposed on vehicle drivers. Most of these fines — which concern only this period — are for technical defects, speeding, or lack of documents. TIRANE, MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LAW COMMISSIONS — It has left a bad impression, as the Parliamentary Law Commission, in fact with chairs at its meeting, was finalized in drafting the bill “On groupings”, which was decided to enter for consideration. Likewise, instead of moving on to the draft law “On the enrichment of society through activity in the orchard”, which was proposed to be made secondary at the meeting. TEPELENE, THE YARD OF A SCHOOL AS A PARKING LOT FOR CARS — Every day, at the entrance from the city center to the “Abdyl Frashëri” secondary school, many drivers turn its yard into a parking place for vehicles. The school hours, for cars and vehicles that block the road entrance, make this danger even greater. KUKES, A FLOWER-GROWING ENTERPRISE — That is the enterprise for growing flowers in Kukës. It is now working mainly with seedlings and woody plants, while it is also being partly supplied and its flowering[?]

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