INTERVIEW The President of the Court of Cassation explains the mistakes of the Referendum: the role of PD, the rallies and that article about the heads of religious communities. “The vote expresses the future balance of political forces” “The Constitution, the politicians’ fault” Brozi’s “indictment” ARMAN[D?] MEKO TIRANE — “The Democratic Party should not have come out carrying the banner of authorship of the draft Constitution, claiming the work of others. It should have been its collaborator.” Just one day after the official results of the Referendum were published, Zef Brozi, President of the Court of Cassation, criticizes the mistakes which, in his view, accompanied the entire voting process on the draft Constitution, and also explains and offers his assessment of the position of Albania’s fundamental law. “I am glad that the people voted as they wished. But the results are not their assessment of the Constitution,” Brozi tells the Albanian Gazette, “but an assessment of people’s attitude toward PD and PS and the other parties that expressed themselves for or against it. It was more of a political vote, expressing the future balance of Albanian political forces.” What were the reasons that led to the draft being rejected? “First of all, the procedure followed during the campaign for the draft Constitution was wrong; it was a partisan electoral campaign, excessively politicized. The people were not given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the draft. I am aware that some of those who stood on platforms during the campaign had not even read it. Then the setting of 6 November as the date was also very rushed. On the other hand, I think the Referendum was very useful, since it taught Albanian politicians that the people can also tell them ‘no’.” The draft will now be reviewed. In your view, what should be corrected? Is parliament capable of doing this? “Now it is up to the parties to sit down at the negotiating table seriously, with commitment and honesty, and without prejudice. The task is not difficult. The draft was put to the Referendum with few changes; I am convinced it is very good. In my view, the article concerning the heads of religious communities should not be included. This should be dealt with in accordance with international practice, without undermining national security and constitutional principles. The chapter on the judiciary should be reviewed. Judges’ salaries should be set by law, as should the courts’ budgets, which they should administer themselves. And greater guarantees should be established against the dismissal of High Court judges.” What should its composition be? “The commission should include as many jurists and specialists as possible, people free of passions and united by one concern: to produce a Constitution as worthy as possible. Politicians should return to parliament and continue their work, since enormous expenses have been incurred—time, work and other things—in a completely unjustifiable way. The myth of results being determined by rallies has now been broken. If the new draft is also to go to a Referendum, this must be carefully considered. Rallies must absolutely be prevented, and the people must be allowed to study it.” How do you assess Berisha’s initiative to consult with the political parties? “I welcome it. This is how work on the draft Constitution should have begun, too. If things had been done this way, the results would have been very positive.” A commission will now be formed And the President’s powers? “I think the discussions about this were more inflated than serious. Compared with the powers he has today, the draft did not bring any fundamental change. The procedure for dismissing High Court judges is more open to debate. Nevertheless, I am not in favor of having a puppet president, as that would be more harmful.” positive.” A new commission will now be formed. the people must be allowed to study it.”

TIRANE — For the first time in Albania, a joint military exercise will be held involving Albanian and American military personnel. The maneuvers will take place somewhere in the southeast of the country, on a date that has not yet been set. The announcement was made on Friday by official news outlets. The exercise will take place within the framework of the “Partnership for Peace” initiative, which Albania joined some time ago. According to the announcement distributed on Friday, only American officers and non-commissioned officers will take part in the maneuvers. First aid, logistics, topography, movement in small groups, evacuation in emergency situations and other field operations will be among the tasks that Albanian military personnel, with the help of their American counterparts, will try to perfect in the upcoming exercise. According to the same sources, American military experts will accompany all the field activities of their Albanian colleagues. In a second phase, they will assess the results of the exercise. The American military personnel will then take part in the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Liberation.

Shkodër, drowns in the Lake Tragedy in the fuel trade Lake Shkodër SHKODER — Fuel smuggling has claimed its first victim. In the waters of Lake Shkodër, 37-year-old Murat Dash, from Gruemira, lost his life in a tragic accident. The fatal accident occurred in a boat loaded with diesel fuel that he was taking illegally to Montenegro, accompanied by a 12-year-old child who fortunately survived. The tragedy on the lake has caused grief and tears among his family and fellow villagers. His body is still lying at the bottom of the lake—the livelihood and sorrow of this peasant family—and the Police are now searching for it. The incident happened on Wednesday—but the fuller details about [unclear in source] were reported at the same time by the newspaper [unclear in source]. The motor he had installed made the boat reach a dangerous speed. The boat lost its balance, its front rose into the air, and after only a few meters of sailing it capsized. Its cargo of diesel fuel went down with it. The victim’s own long fisherman’s boots also helped complete the cruel act. Filled with water, they unfortunately hastened the farmer from Gruemira’s painful death. The only consoling moment in this incident was the rescue from drowning of the 12-year-old child who was traveling with the victim. It was precisely this child, also helped by luck, who has and his wife. The body remains somewhere at the bottom of the lake—the livelihood and grief of this peasant family—and the Police have now launched a search. The incident took place on Wednesday—but details about it have only become known now—at around 15:15. Somewhere near Vraka—a zone crossed by the routes of oil tankers—Dashila was transporting his load in his boat, with his wife aboard, in order to earn a living: 8 barrels of fuel. Details of the tragic accident were clarified only after the Police’s preliminary investigations. Sources from the Shkodër Police Commissariat told Gazeta Shqiptare the story of those terrible events. Dashi drowned 300 metres from the shore after his boat capsized. As he was rowing to get to [?] Sadly, only the farmer from Grue[m]ra’s [?] were saved. The sole survivor of this incident was the 12-year-old child who had been travelling with the victim. It was precisely he, helped by luck, who managed to swim the distance separating him from the shore. The life-saving swim lasted 15 minutes. The child had to cover the 300 metres. He immediately alerted Dashi’s family and fellow villagers, who raised the alarm with the police. Despite the many people who jumped into the water to search for the body and all the efforts of the diving specialists, the corpse remains swallowed by the cold water. The lake, a golden route to income for many residents of Shkodër, has now unfortunately also become a “graveyard”. Arlinda Çusholli

State Audit investigation KOLONJË — A storm is brewing over the highest officials of the Kolonjë district. The conclusion of the financial investigations—conducted by the State Audit Service—has just been announced; it uncovered serious violations at the District Council, the Ersekë Municipality, and also the National Privatization Agency. Millions of lekë in [unclear in source], fictitious rents, “free” privatizations and serious financial violations in the district’s operations have prompted the State Audit Service to seek criminal accountability for local officials, in addition to dismissals from their jobs of [unclear in source] and a warning of dismissal for the Mayor and the District Chairman (eh)

SARANDË — The only people who do not “welcome” the removal of the border fences may be the shepherds of Sarandë. For the vast forests across the border—in Greece—are costing Albanian shepherds dozens of head of livestock. The “clandestine” waters leave such large numbers of victims in Albania almost every week that shepherds are now forced to keep watch as well. “We were not so worried before,” says the well-known shepherd All Aljazi. (Ra. Ko.)

“There are no conditions” KAVAJË — Padlocks on the doors of the village eight-year schools. And it is precisely the harsh hygienic and sanitary conditions that have compelled the education authorities in the district to close the village schools in Vilë and Bashtovë. The eight-year schools in the villages of Kazaz, Rrilej and Kualës may suffer almost the same fate, where pupils are forced to sit on the floor to listen to their teachers, while the approach of winter—with windows made of plastic sheeting—offers no security even for the little ones in such schools. Under these conditions at Colaka. Under these conditions, and at risk of closure, classes at the other schools continue, waiting to see whether the companies that won the restructuring tender can start work. (Qe Ca)

Elbasan, young people’s car overturns Two young people travelling in a car near the city of Elbasan have suffered serious injuries. On Thursday, because of excessive speed, the vehicle driven by one of the two 18-year-olds lost control and ended up dozens of metres off the road. Its driver suffered serious spinal injuries. The other passenger was luckier, suffering injuries that will heal within a short time. Kavajë, Caritas donates an ambulance The new ambulance built in Kavajë cost 150 million lire. “Caritas” of Cervinjola and Monopoli in the Apulia region contributed to it. The new health centre has two treatment rooms, an examination room and its own pharmacy. In addition to treating residents, it will also serve as a training and cooperation centre for Albanian and Italian doctors.

George Bush Giulio Andreotti TIRANË — Two “former” big figures on the international political stage have made Albania their focus for two nights. Former US President George Bush and former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti have arrived in the Albanian capital on private visits. Bush—famous for his success in the military operations of the Gulf War against Saddam—left Tirana and also visited Shkodër. Andreotti—former President of [..] and former Albanian President Berisha with the entire staff of the Albanian state delegation for the active visit [?]. The interior door follows protocol, as for an active president [?] there, but a former Albanian Albanian. And a year and for the entire delegation [?] in Shkodër to see the cherished [?] and in [?] Albania. Bush arrived [?] in Tirana and in Shkodër [?]. The former American president, who will return to Durrës, which d[?] in the castle of [?] of the country, with which he will forge a language [?]. George Bush; Giulio Andreotti

TIRANE — Once again, Zef Brozi expressed his opinion, with great courage and clarity. He also offers an analysis: the Referendum was lost by the forces that supported it because the Constitution had been turned into a political object. Once again, Zef Brozi showed the courage to speak, a quality possessed by all people in power. Brozi says politicians should get on with politics, and he is right. Albania needs a Constitution. But the Constitution is a very important law that cannot belong to this or that kind of banner; otherwise, it risks not being the same for everyone. It cannot be the law of a single party, but must belong to the whole country and guarantee its survival regardless of the majorities in power. Through their vote, the people have made this very clear. Now the politicians must understand it too.

State Audit investigation “There are no conditions” Schools close DJENESHQIPERI Elbasan, young people’s car overturns Two people have sustained serious injuries

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