The Ministry of Health sends a team to the infected area A patient from Erseka dies in hospital. Other cases are also being confirmed in Kukës ARMAND MERO TIRANE — Alarm in the health sector. The danger of hemorrhagic fevers has reappeared in Albania. The disease has already claimed its first victim: just a few days ago, at Tirane’s infectious diseases hospital, Ismail Mezini, a 50-year-old from Erseka, died as a result of it. Mezini was brought to Tirana hospital on Saturday and Sunday. According to specialist doctors, his condition was very serious. Blood loss — which can also appear, among other signs, as nosebleeds or on the skin (hematoma) — was the most obvious symptom. In such a situation, the doctors had practically nothing left to save him. Mezini died on Sunday — after 24 hours — in the intensive care unit of the infectious diseases hospital. Meanwhile, other cases are suspected. There has been concern in the Kukës and Has areas. For this reason, the Ministry of Health has also sent a group of specialists to observe the real situation. Hemorrhagic fevers are considered by doctors to be a very dangerous disease that in many cases also leads to the patient’s death. “It is widespread in the Balkan area,” Jorgo Kosta, a specialist at the Ministry of Health, explains to Gazeta Shqiptare — “it is caused by viruses found mainly in rodents — mice — or forest animals and ticks, insects that cling to animals. Its virus — as the incubation period is 12-30 days — appears from March-April until September. Hemorrhagic fevers come in different types. One is associated with severe kidney damage and the other, Congo-Crimea, is accompanied by high temperatures, headaches, nosebleeds, hematomas and more. The first clinical signs came from the hospital in Kukës, where several people were hospitalized who had been affected by this disease. It is still not known exactly to what degree the disease has appeared in these patients. One of them was immediately transferred to the infectious diseases hospital in Tirana 22 days ago. The patient is a nurse who contracted the disease while caring for other patients who were hospitalized. “I do not want to say that he was affected by hemorrhagic fevers,” he tells Gazeta Shqiptare. His condition is now much improved — the disease had appeared with vomiting, blood from the nose and on the skin — although doctors have not definitively established whether this is this virus or Congo-Crimea. The analyses have now been sent to Switzerland for a final determination. In fact, the more dangerous one appears to be Congo-Crimea, since it can also pass from person to person. Such was also the case identified in Berat five years ago. A nurse who had caught it together with others and had also died some time after the others’ deaths. Hemorrhagic fevers first appeared in Albania in 1987. “It has been most widespread in the area of Bajram Curri and Kukës,” Kosta explains — “as well as in Tiranë, Librazhd, Pogradec, Gramsh, Ersekë and Gjirokastër.” Tirana hospital Previously... YES, CASES OF HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN ALBANIA In 1987 — 13 cases In 1988 — 1 case In 1989 — 17 cases In 1990 — 9 cases In 1991 — 0 cases In 1992 — 6 cases

TIRANE - The Serbian president??[?] in prison, accused of high? Alia and eight former senior Albanian officials are expected to be tried together on Friday, which was immediately decided, by the bench. The serious health condition — perhaps poisoning — of one of the three judges initially caused the trial to be postponed by 10 minutes. But even after the end of this medical intervention, the condition of Judge Ar ben Kostandini did not improve, and eventually for the first time the Chairman of the Bench, Andi Çeliku, was asked to postpone the last session — the delivery of the verdict — by four days. According to the statement from the Tirana Court, it was initially thought that the sudden worsening of Kostandini’s health would last only a short time, forcing Çeliku to postpone the curious verdict-delivery session from 17:00 to 18:30. This time the intervention of the medical team that arrived immediately at the Tirana Court did not allow the commission to continue to risk proceeding with him, since the delivery of the verdict required at least 60 minutes of the panel’s presence. In this condition — also under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code — Çeliku chose to postpone the verdict. According to this procedure, it is categorically forbidden to replace judges who have taken part in a trial once they have withdrawn for the delivery of the verdict. Thus former President Alia and the other nine defendants had to wait until the health condition of their judge improves. (e.l)

Draft law in Parliament It serves to free land for roads, bridges, and important construction projects TIRANE — The government will have the right to expropriate the property of legal or natural persons in the public interest. A draft law prepared by specialists from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Construction is expected to be approved by MPs during July. Thus, one of the words that awakens painful memories for many returns once again to the vocabulary of Albanian law. But no fear — the specialists assure — the draft has been drawn up on the basis of models from foreign states and with the help of experts from the World Bank, the European Community and other similar organizations. Expropriations will always be carried out on the basis of compensation, and furthermore the law will respect the owners’ right to appeal in court. Every immovable property will be compensated at full market value, at the value that may be determined at the time of execution of the expropriation decision. Payment will also be made to the beneficiary of this act. The only state authority that will have the right to declare expropriation will be the government. According to the experts who prepared the explanatory report accompanying the draft law, it has been judged that only the government can keep in mind the harmonization of public interests with private ones. Expropriation in the public interest mainly concerns building land. A special article of this text states that expropriation in the public interest concerns plots for the construction of new roads. Construction of roads, bridges, railways, airports, ports, water facilities, water supply systems, improvements or construction of electricity and water networks, construction for the search and discovery of minerals, schools, hospitals, state housing, sports facilities — in all these cases the government will decide on expropriation in return for compensation. The entire measure is foreseen for the purposes of national defense and for the protection of historical and archaeological values. A separate procedure has also been defined for notifying the owners who are the subject of expropriation. No later than 30 days after the decision has been taken by the Government, the municipality or commune where the property to be expropriated is located must notify the owner. With authorization from the local authorities, technicians and other persons involved in the technical procedures for starting the works may enter the expropriated property. Heavy fines are предусмотрed for those who obstruct: 10,000 to 50,000 lekë. Parliament building Fotos Baxhaku

TIRANE — The final report of the Association for Democratic Culture (SHKD), which had observed the early local elections of 29 May 1994, is being released. It is eight pages long, in 52 columns of movements that SHKD has presented with everything in which the observations on the areas of Kishin? Tiranë, Fier and Mallakastër are described. The first part of this final report is written in the decision on “requests” and has followed the way of judging once again important issues concerning “procedural irregularities” and “conclusions and recommendations”. There are 11 cases described in detail for incidents that occurred during the conduct of the first and second rounds of the elections. The analysis is asked to cover polling station commissions, entries with two or more people, explosions, beatings, threats by people in power, counter-rallies, withdrawals of candidacy, vote buying, as well as the use of fictitious votes. SHKD denounces these case by case in the final report. As stated further — it is written — a number of serious problems occurred and there was no evidence that these difficulties affected the election results. SHKD does not even question the results in any of the districts, although it suggests additional measures for the administration of future elections. (e.l)

TIRANE — By now the press chronicles, the know-how, will be filled by the next new magazines, and moreover news of this kind now seem to make less and less impression on people. But if people are told that the legendary publication has resumed and that, in fact, it is truly a cultural event. The famous “Hosteni” will once again be among readers, coming back to life, it remains etched in satire? at least somewhat the troubles of everyday life. On Tuesday afternoon the publisher received a new issue of the magazine. “Hosteni” had previously been closed? when? this time later everyone? more known for humor. Gazeta wishes the entire publishing team success. Making people laugh is a noble but also difficult task. We believe that “Hosteni” will be an even greater success than before.

SHKODER — Strict security measures for the two former Shkodër police officers accused in an arrest operation with the Public Order Branch. The two former policemen are now accused of a series of crimes, some of them very serious, that had caused concern in public opinion in the city — they are being kept isolated in the internal security area of the city prosecutor’s office. Investigations into the case of the former order officers continue with all means. One of the accusations concerns other serious crimes. These are precisely what first raised suspicions, although the two murderers came to the place “to investigate.” “Their unauthorized investigations were the first spark of suspicion for the investigators. This is how the story of one of the greatest successes of the Shkodër Police in recent times began. Shkodra

An Italian fan wearing a Mexican-style hat in the match against Mexico Comment on Italy’s qualification Germany, champions under pressure Figures, results and curiosities On page 3

Çekrezë, 161 hectares are allocated to 2,200 families TIRANE — All houses built without a permit in the suburban area of the capital will be “transferred” to the village of Cekrezë. Yet everything seems to be starting from scratch. The Territorial Planning Commission — after the Council of Ministers’ decision to demolish all houses built without permits — leaves these people the possibility of taking other properties around them. There are around 2,200 families — according to the records of the Tirana Municipality — which now have at their disposal about 161 hectares of land in the village of Çekrezë, 15 kilometers northeast of Tirana. The urban study, prepared especially for the settlement of unauthorized constructions in the suburban area of the city of Tirana, has now also been completed; it foresees the entire road system and the profiles of these constructions, especially housing. Thus, a reserved plot of 500 square meters will be recognized, while there are also lacking the necessary territories for gardens, schools, roads, squares, commercial service centers, and even reserve areas. (e.b)

Sick and poor on the invalid’s cart A total of 26,000 people injured at work ON PAGE 2 Clinton will meet with Albanian diplomacy Before the Naples meeting ON PAGE 2 Urban study approved Unauthorized constructions in a new “house” Çekrezë, 161 hectares are allocated to 2,200 families

SELAMI IS GOING TO STRASBOURG — PD chairman Eduard Selami will take part in the proceedings of the next session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held in Strasbourg. Selami has accepted the invitation? of the Albanian parliament to the European organ of the Council of Europe. IN SHKODER AN EXPRESS TRAIN DURING BEACH SEASON — It has begun to carry the first vacationers from Shkodër to Lezhë, with express locations that will operate throughout the hot season. The purpose of these trains? is to help those who wish to go to Shëngjin beach. The first trips will be made ? but, once again, the tracks will make on the road divided for vacationers the possibility for the new line to operate even during the low days of the week. It is first intended to change station times from time to time; so far this method has been used more on the Tirana-Durrës line. HE HAD STOLEN AT HOME AND ALSO A HOTEL AND PRISON — The Delvinë court has sentenced D.K., a resident of a village near this city, to three months in prison; he was accused of having stolen from one of his fellow villagers. On the charge which the court deemed well founded, it sentenced D.K. according to the law.

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