Limited registrations for studies For the first time, a law on higher education in Albania TIRANA — For the first time since the return to democracy, the higher education system in Albania has its own legal framework for organization and functioning. The newly approved Higher Education Law — consisting of 47 articles — includes a host of rules aimed at creating better conditions for education, new structures, and more decentralized mechanisms. The most debated issue among the deputies concerned the way students are admitted to universities and higher schools. From the clash between the two extreme positions — for and against entrance exams — a third position emerged and prevailed. It is established that admission to higher education institutions is generally done through a competitive exam, a wording that also leaves room for handling special and justified cases. The procedure for choosing university rectors was also much discussed. Finally, the law includes the right of universities to propose to the Council of Ministers the member and the basis of their revenues, and the corresponding appointment. There are also new elements regarding the organization of this system. For the first time, the National Council of Higher Education appears. Made up of 42 members — heads or elected representatives of the councils of higher education institutions — this council will be a consultative body for the Government and will examine and propose the main issues that concern the higher education system. After it, in the hierarchy of the system’s bodies, comes the senate. As the representative and broad body of an institution — which will later be led by an elected rector — it will decide on studies, approve the curriculum plan, and rule on the rights and duties of teachers and students. Another solution concerns the problem of creating private universities or separate higher schools in Albania. Although the higher education law has been approved in general, this act regulates only the life of state higher education institutions. In any case, it does not prohibit the creation of such an institution, should the opportunity arise. In addition, in line with the requirements of the market economy, universities and higher schools have been granted the right to benefit from the state budget and to obtain income from activities they may carry out, from third parties, whether private or public. Among other rights, there is also the right of higher schools to freely enter into relations with foreign higher schools or institutions that support the development of education. Important places in the law also concern the organization of post-university education. The higher education system will be extended with one or two institutions to be determined by decision of the Council of Ministers. University of Tirana Am. St.

"After 50 years, we have a law on higher education. The new things it brings are many. University autonomy is guaranteed, as are academic freedom, the right to connect with foreign universities, the use of budgets to some extent independently, and the securing of other financial resources through economic activities. Another important right is the choice of the management staff. In many respects, our universities will therefore have features that European universities also have. It is a modern law, and it is also in line with the Council of Europe. So, as regards the progress of students and universities and higher schools, for the time being — one of the material conditions — the use of a competitive exam has been secured. But the tendency for the future will be that — as in universities around the world — admission will be open. The law does not include the problems of private higher schools. I think this is because there will be demands for their creation, and work should be done on a separate regulation or statute."

"The newly approved law is timely and valuable for the present and the future," Mehmet Çeliku, Rector of the University of Elbasan, tells Gazeta Shqiptare. "It gives higher education institutions their own autonomy and statutes. Academic autonomy is needed and is strengthened by this law; unlike in the past, professors will have the right to express their opinions in the lecture hall. Perhaps it would have been better if the law on the education system as a whole had been approved first, because higher education is only one link in the national chain of knowledge. I think that enshrining student admission through competitive exams in the law is the most appropriate solution for the moment. The law also makes possible special treatment and includes exceptional cases where people with intellectual productivity or literary output, for example — book authors — are admitted even without an exam. In any case, the issue of private higher schools is left open by the law. In the future it could be supplemented by a range of provisions, because I think that Albania too will have its private schools or universities in the future."

“No treating and no gifts for favors or honors” A code of ethical and moral norms comes into force ARMAND MERO TIRANA — Rules drawn up for the employees of State Control. From now on, everyone working in this body must meet a series of conditions related to their abilities and morality. All of this is set out in 18 articles of an internal regulation, "On the ethical-moral norms and responsibility of the employees of State Control," recently approved. Under the new 100-point evaluation system, each employee of State Control will be assessed every month. Only those scoring 70 points or more are eligible to be employed in this body, and even that within the prescribed salary scale. Below this threshold, no one may remain employed. Reaching 80 points opens the possibility of receiving bonuses, while to be paid in the higher categories one must reach 90 points. The doors of this institution are fully open only to those who reach the maximum: 100 points. Only in this case may they enjoy responsibilities inside and outside State Control. The system is nothing more than the assessment of a series of characteristics — defined in the specially drafted regulation — through which every employee will be filtered. These are conditions and rules that are based on the purity of moral character and the determination of each official, who "must place the interests of the country above personal interests..." Here is the point-based evaluation system for State Control employees 1) Dedication to work and ability - Compliance with working hours and absences without reason - Readiness to go to remote, difficult sites - Compliance with the orders of superiors 35 points 2) Honesty - Refusal of gifts from the persons being inspected - Not involving state bodies in solving problems through social channels 35 points 3) Ethical-moral code in relations during and outside working hours - The outward appearance of State Control employees - Human relations with other inspectors - Quarrels over trifles, insults with street and trench language - Proper conduct in the various demands of the supervised subjects - Keeping office and home spaces and equipment tidy - Not drinking beverages and not throwing cigarette butts in inappropriate places - Use of different cars 30 points Note. Since State Control carries out its activity to verify compliance with legality in various entities, both from the legal and financial point of view, its employees are prohibited from taking part in matters that affect their own interests; those of entities where they have previously worked or in which they intend to be employed in the future. Any effort to hire others during working hours at State Control may be considered a serious offense. Likewise, its employees are prohibited from buying lottery tickets or taking part in various games. Inspectors are allowed to accept only gifts worth up to 1,000 lek. Even this only in cases with "special motives" otherwise marked and ceremonial. "Receiving gifts intended to influence them and affect the performance of their duties is incompatible with the status of an inspector." Inspectors are forbidden from entering nightclubs. They must avoid visits — not only during working hours, but also outside official hours — to nightclubs. Shame is considered a kind of mirror against which each employee must measure their behavior. Before taking any action, the official must know precisely whether he would be willing to discuss that action publicly in the press," concludes the regulation.

Berisha returns from Ankara TIRANA — The two-day visit of the Albanian President, Sali Berisha, to the Republic of Turkey has ended successfully. At the center of the talks Berisha held with the highest Turkish authorities were the development of bilateral relations, as well as the tense situation in the Balkan region. In a television interview given after his return to Tirana, the Albanian President described relations between the two countries as very positive. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ciller had assured President Berisha that Turkish investments in Albania are also expected to reach the level of political relations. Sali Berisha

Dokle: “He agrees with our positions” After the court declared him guilty TIRANA — Even from Tirana prison, Fatos Nano has continued to lead the Socialist Party. "Although the Police allowed us only limited contact, we had the possibility to communicate with Fatos Nano," Namik Dokle, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the PS, told Gazeta Shqiptare a few minutes after Tuesday’s press conference. "He is even fully up to date with the decisions we are taking in the party." Thus Nano — as publicly declared by the PS — will continue to remain the leader of the party, even after being declared guilty at first-instance trial. For the socialists, he is innocent and the trial was staged. "Only the Congress can decide whether he remains party leader," said Nano’s deputy, Servet Pëllumbi. After the extraordinary meeting of their Steering Committee, the socialists have decided to intensify their campaign for early elections. The means they have chosen to achieve this objective — which they consider the only political solution — is cooperation with other parties. "Some political force has begun to understand the need for new solutions," said Pëllumbi, without specifying which parties the PS could cooperate with. fa. ba.

The two colleagues accuse each other before the judicial authorities. While awaiting the unusual trial, the teachers are transferred to two different places Elbasan, a “pedagogical” incident in a secondary school ELBASAN — It often happens that there is a quarrel in schools and that a teacher gets injured, even beaten. But in a secondary school in Elbasan, the opposite happened: two teachers ended up quarreling with each other, while the principal, I.B., had struck the deputy head and teacher with an axe on behalf of his colleague B.K. Everything had begun after disagreements over a grade in physical education, but as the tension increased it reached the point where, as may be said, words about "minor physical punishments" were exchanged. In any case, the two teachers have now turned to the judicial authorities, while the Prosecutor’s Office has just sent their case file to court. The teacher accuses the principal of "violence against a subordinate," while the principal himself accuses his teacher of "beating and insulting his staff." In anticipation of this rare judicial process, the Directorate of Education in Elbasan has taken the preliminary measure of transferring the two teachers, sending them to two different schools. View from Elbasan M. K.

1,200 ampoules disappear from the pharmacy Suspicions of illegal trafficking of narcotics to Greece TEPELENE — After the seizure on the Apulian coast of 500 grams of heroin coming from Albania, drugs once again return to the center of the news. This time the main suspect is the network of illicit trafficking abroad. In Tepelenë, the theft of a considerable quantity of narcotics from the city pharmacy safe led to the theft of a large number of morphine ampoules. Around 1,200 ampoules filled with the medication that was meant to help but that people use as a drug had disappeared without a trace. The head of the crime investigations unit at the Tepelenë police station told the state news agency that the likely foreign market was Greece. In fact, demand on the foreign market for ampoules containing narcotic substances is constantly increasing. Concern over the disappearance of morphine this time is compounded by another issue. A significant quantity of medicines has also been stolen, which, if not used under medical supervision, can cause severe intoxication. Apparently, the thief considered these medicines to be similar to morphine. (to be continued)

DESTRUCTION OF FRUIT TREES AND VINEYARDS IN HAS — The phenomenon of cutting down and damaging trees is continuing again. This time, fruit trees and the village vineyards have fallen victim to this destruction. More than 20,000 trees and 24 hectares of vineyards have been completely damaged. But thousands of other trees and large areas have been left to their fate and are deteriorating. For now, the only solution proposed by specialists is to protect the fruit trees — even free of charge — for the villagers. SPECIAL PRIZE FOR THE PEOPLE'S ARTIST, DURSAKU GJERGJ VLASHI — It was a special "Torquato" prize, one that was given to the People's Artist Gjergj Vlashi — the award granted to the city’s artist for being the most distinguished personality of art and culture in our country. The jury of specialists — under the care of the deputy dramaturge Minush Jero — awarded this prize to artist Vlashi, the founder of the city’s variety theater and puppet theater. Vlashi is also known as a talented translator, writer, and screenwriter. CLOSED-DOOR TALKS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE DELEGATION — The meetings of the "Ad Hoc" delegation of the Council of Europe with representatives of the Albanian political parties were held behind closed doors. The talks were held with Parliament and with the journalists nearby. The delegation, chaired by the vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, also held meetings with other high-level Albanian political personalities.

Greece in trouble “warns” Albania The trial over the embargo against Skopje is postponed ON PAGE 2 “I believe in horoscopes and I obey them” Survey with school students ON PAGE 3