An atmosphere of uncertainty on the eve of the Nano trial PS asks the Court for help An atmosphere of uncertainty on the eve of the Nano trial “No illegal rally” PS asks the Court for help TIRANA — The socialist rallies that were refused are ending up in the Constitutional Court. Luan Shahollari, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the PS for Tirana, commenting on the negative response from the public order authorities — also regarding the rally announced for today — hopes that the Constitutional Court will now rule on "the repeated violations of legality by the public order authorities". Thus, in the days before the trial of Fatos Nano, which the PS Steering Committee had described as a "day of protest throughout the country against violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms of man", its officials are forced to issue an appeal not to organize "illegal activities". In any case: "We will continue to request permission for the rally, even though so far the negative responses have been arbitrary," says Servet Pellumbi, deputy chairman of the PS. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Order — through a statement — will publicly stress the breaking up of illegal gatherings on the eve of Nano’s trial, thus warning without further notice that it "will act with the force of law" against anyone who seeks to put pressure on the Albanian justice system. The public notice for today’s gathering in Skanderbeg Square was initially distributed through leaflets from the socialist organ Zëri i Popullit. On Tuesday, according to PS leaders, the security council and those responsible for preventing this rally from taking place were the Minister of Public Order, as well as Police Commissariats 1 and 2 of the capital. "For the March 4 rally we will act in accordance with the law — Luan Shahollari tells Gazeta Shqiptare — but we will also denounce these negative responses in our own press." As Pellumbi also states, the notices are published day by day despite the negative replies, and he once again appeals: "Our orientation is that in every case the law be observed, while avoiding any confrontation." Meanwhile, while the Tirana rally has already received a negative response from the public order authorities, in many other districts the PS steering committees have requested the same thing for their respective cities. "As decided by the PS Steering Committee — Pellumbi explains — almost all the protests have asked for peaceful gatherings to be held, but so far we have not been informed that they have been approved in the cities." On the other hand, the Ministry of Public Order, through its spokesperson’s statement — as if referring to the PS and its press organ, which "continuously calls for and incites illegal gatherings, precisely on the night on the eve of the trial of Fatos Nano, Ramiz Alia and the other bloc figures". The Ministry of Public Order, in cooperation with the justice authorities, has guaranteed order, calm, and stability in their activity, and has also warned: "All violators will answer before the law, whoever they may be." Police stop demonstrators at Fatos Nano’s rally

Within March TIRANA — The walls of the illegal constructions built in the Tirana district will fall back to the ground. "Within the month of March all of them must be demolished." This is the decision taken by the Government, which this time seems firm: "any opposition will be dealt with according to the legal provisions in force". Thus, many walls will be brought down by this decision. The number of illegal buildings — erected over the last three years — in the Tirana district is believed to be quite large. The only exact figure that can currently be mentioned for the past few months is the one announced some time ago in Parliament by Blerim Çela, Chairman of the State Control Commission, who spoke of 1,800 cases, of which 100 were dangerous. The operation to demolish illegal buildings had been undertaken first by the Municipality. The last one was carried out in September on the outskirts of the capital. Government meetings are increasingly focused on this issue. This time, the force of law is expected to act with strictness. Meanwhile, for those who will be left without homes because of this demolition, the government decision makes available some alternative construction sites, including nearly 500 hectares of land in the Cerkëza area.

Around 140 thousand volumes without readers In the National Library 8 thousand fewer members Around 140 thousand volumes without readers Albanians now are abandoning books In the National Library 8 thousand fewer members TIRANA — Books are circulating less and less every year among Albanians. Fewer and fewer people are registered in libraries or attend reading rooms. This phenomenon is broadly reflected in the statistical data on the activity of the National Library. From 1989 to 1993, the number of registered users there fell drastically from 9,720 to 1,631. Overall, the number of titles — from the collection of about 1 million volumes in this library — taken up by readers has also decreased significantly. From 201,529 volumes circulated in 1989, in 1993 that number dropped to 87,572 volumes. The numerical decline has been reflected in all categories of readers, both in terms of age and profession. From 2,789 students in 1989, only 666 students were registered in 1993. Likewise, the number of teachers fell from 587 to 63, of schoolteachers from 316 to 34, of engineers from 887 to 90, of military personnel from 318 to 41, and of doctors from 312 to 61. While among all age categories of registered users the decrease has been more marked, the phenomenon is most pronounced among those aged 30-39. In 1993 only 233 of them were registered. Meanwhile, among ages 16-29 there were only 993 registered, in the 40-49 group only 169, and 69 in the 50-59 age group. The number of female readers has also declined sharply during the same period. It fell from 2,768 to 529. The factors specialists cite to explain this abandonment of books are economic, psychological, and social. But the dominant one is the economic factor. It is this reason that has forced many intellectuals — who once made up the overwhelming majority of readers — to abandon their profession and turn to ordinary activities that do not require much study. It is also the lack of financial means that prevents the Library from enriching its collection with much contemporary literature. The only sources of this kind have been occasional gifts from foundations or foreign embassies. Here are the statistical data on the number of readers and the circulation of books in the National Library: Years Readers Volumes circulated Total political scientific literary 1989 9,720 201,529 - - - 1990 9,497 187,465 94,080 51,744 41,641 1991 6,335 126,032 33,079 65,249 27,711 1992 4,532 124,321 25,996 32,995 23,817 1993 1,631 87,572 58,284 12,167 17,021 1994* 1,065 - - - - * for two months Andrea Stefani

SHKODER — Another Albanian journalist has fallen victim to violence. This time it is Gjergj Zefi, deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper Aleanca, who was severely beaten by an unidentified person. It was evening when Zefi was walking toward his home in Shkodër. A person stepped in front of him and immediately struck him on the head with a hard object. After the blow, Zefi lost consciousness and fell to the ground, leaving behind traces for several passersby who took him to the hospital. According to doctors, Zefi is out of danger, but he has suffered a serious injury to one eye.

Entry of tankers is restricted KORÇE — Another restrictive decision by the Greek authorities. Now, at the customs posts with Albania, less and less fuel will be allowed through. This decision — which began to be applied last week — will allow passage only for controlled quantities. This also presents, and this measure is believed to be linked to, the issue of Macedonia, against which Greece has declared an "embargo". It all started last week. For two days in a row, tanker trucks loaded with fuel that sought to cross the Greek border into Albania were blocked. Later, this strict measure was changed, allowing passage only for fixed quantities. Now the customs authorities have begun allowing the passage of tankers — according to Gazeta Shqiptare, Sulejman Mesini, a customs officer at the Kapshtica post — but they are allowed to come for these tankers per day. Meanwhile, through this customs point — according to the customs officers themselves — 4 tankers per day transit. A tight situation is also present at the Kakavijë post, where the number of tankers that can pass is higher and reaches 4. The measures taken have immediately been reflected in the concern of Albanian and Greek traders involved in fuel trade. Many of them wait near the customs posts for their tankers to cross. "I have been waiting for several days," Vasil Çapuran[?], a trader, tells Gazeta Shqiptare. "Three of my tankers have been stopped by the Greek side at the Kapshtica customs post." The issue of relations between Greece and Macedonia is believed to be the main reason for the measures recently taken by the Greek customs authorities to limit the quantities of fuel entering Albania. This measure is linked to the hypothesis of using Albanian territory to later transport fuel into Macedonian areas. Meanwhile, the Albanian Government’s favorable stance toward Macedonia — opening its ports and roads for passage — is thought to have been one of the reasons for the new expulsions of Albanian emigrants from Greek territory.

A flight from Mount Dajti over the sky of Tirana A new sports association is born A flight from Mount Dajti over the sky of Tirana Parachutists over Albania A new sports association is born EDMOND LACI TIRANA — Parachutists have now landed over Albania as well. The Albanian Free Flight Association has just approved — thus becoming the founding body of a sport previously unknown in our country — the first members of the association "Fluturuesve", while also bringing help in the profession of pilot. The very curious program for the preparatory school was initially inaugurated on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the International Olympic Committee, a celebration that will also be marked in Albania in the spring, around June of this year. Thus, for the first time, parachutists jumping from the heights of Mount Dajti will descend over the center of the capital or even onto the green field of the National Stadium "Qemal Stafa". The highly unusual spectacle that this association, as the Albanian Free Flight initial group, aims to realize, has already found the support of Francesco del Ango, director of the Roman school for this type of sport. The new fashion of display now — according to the leader and advocate — will also involve assistance in organizing Albanian sport, but also in those schools of the lower cycle.

THE 550TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC ASSEMBLY OF LEZHË WAS COMMEMORATED — In the city of Lezhë, the Assembly of Albanian princes, held 550 years ago in the same city at the initiative of the national hero of the Albanians, Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, was commemorated. At the rally organized on this occasion, President Sali Berisha and other government authorities also took part. In the speech he delivered, Berisha highlighted the historical value of this Assembly as well as its current messages in the process of Albania’s democratic rise. 150 ALBANIAN PUPILS AND STUDENTS SET OFF TO STUDY AT THE MILITARY SCHOOLS OF GREECE — At the ceremony organized at the Army Cultural Center on the occasion of the departure of 150 Albanian pupils and students to study at the military schools and academies of Turkey. Present were also the Minister of Defense zinalis and the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Albania, Melkin Örnekü. The development of this series of assistance from the Turkish Government as a contribution to the preparation of armaments for the Albanian Army and to strengthening fraternal relations between the two countries. WORK ON DRAFTING THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION NEAR COMPLETION — The drafting commission has just taken under discussion during its last meeting two concrete variants proposed for the chapter on the Constitutional Court. This is chapter twelve of the Draft Constitution and it is hoped that it will be completed very soon. In this way, this document — whose absence a few months ago threatened to create a parliamentary crisis — will soon be presented to the highest legislative body.

Washington, agreement on the partition of Bosnia After four days of talks ON PAGE 2 Virginity no longer matters for Albanian youth Sexual morality is changing ON PAGE 3

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