Police rescue the 13-year-old. Two sisters arrested Girl abducted for Macedonia Police rescue the 13-year-old. Two sisters arrested Trap in front of the school Girl abducted for Macedonia TIRANA — This is a dramatic story that could have turned into a tragedy. This time the police managed to intervene in time, but the ordeal of little Neda S., 13 years old, kidnapped on Saturday to be taken to Macedonia as a prostitute, must be told. Because similar events have happened before and because everything must be done so that they never happen again in the future. The people responsible for the abduction have been arrested, are in prison, and they are two girls, in fact two sisters. Flutura R., 15 years old, Luljeta R., 18 years old. TIRANA, and Noruzi (Gjeleshaj), 24 years old, from Magellara in Peshkopi. Two very young girls involved in a terrible scheme that has now ended in prison. A tragedy within a tragedy. Neda is a seventh-grade student at the "Kater Dëshmorët" school in the capital. In the morning she studies the usual subjects, and in the afternoon attends a music school. It was precisely her, in front of the mosque entrance, whom the two sisters approached the day before. They were very kind, invited her to go for a walk, then made the proposal: "Do you want to come with us to Macedonia? You will have a lot of fun. Then we will go to Switzerland." Neda is a very lively girl for her 13 years: a beautiful figure, lively eyes, and long hair. She thinks for a moment, then agrees. The two new "friends" accompany her to have a photograph taken; they have to prepare a false passport for her, showing her as an adult, otherwise she cannot leave Albania. Everything is now ready, but Neda is afraid to leave alone. So she tells the plan to her classmates, Ornela P. and Mimoza H.: they too will be taken the same way, nicely, and then go "all the way to Switzerland." The fourth agrees to accompany them. The meeting is set for ten o'clock in the morning, in front of the train station in Tirana. The friends go to school as usual, then at 9:30 they sneak out and hurry toward the adventure. Waiting for them are two girls and a man — who is supposed to have the two as planned. As for Ornela and Mimoza, he shouts angrily: "No, not them!" Perhaps he is afraid to make the acquaintance of younger girls, or perhaps — more likely — Ornela and Mimoza are far too young and unsuitable for the trade that awaits them. Neda leaves alone, with tears in her eyes, while her two friends go back to school. When they returned, their teachers realized that the two girls had been absent and repeated questions. Neda’s math teacher, Mimoza Selënica, was worried — and when only the two of them came back, they immediately asked what had happened. They understood everything and raised the alarm. From Police Precinct 31, the capital’s police issued an alert to border posts. After less than 48 hours Neda was found, locked in a house in the village of Mqed? [?], near the border with Macedonia. It was the police checks that made the criminal plan collapse. For her — simply — a dream was extinguished, one that would soon have turned into a nightmare. (p. re.) A news item that calls for reflection TIRANA — An old man kidnapping a little girl would be just a nasty news item. A little girl abducted by another little girl is enough to make you shudder. Neda is 13 years old, Flutura was 15; they are the two main protagonists of the story being told today. In this story we have chosen to devote a large space, because it is meaningful and alarming. Because perhaps Neda was exploited? abducted? by Flutura, who did not oppose the young ones, it was precisely the tragedy of two children that wanted — and Luljeta may have played the role of the kidnappers. Both victims, both to learn from and to protect. It is a story that should shake everyone’s mind: parents, teachers, friends. In everyday life we discuss politics, while these struggles go unnoticed. These victims of trafficking and prostitution, of the streets, must not only be rescued, but also prevented.

Diplomacy TIRANA — Five points and five amendments have been raised, which summarize the latest Resolution through which the European Parliament, at its meeting on 3 February, defined relations with Albania. The Parliament, while welcoming the first steps toward democracy and economic growth, expressed its conviction that "communism and totalitarian power have been definitively eliminated", although it warns that "attempts at authoritarianism may cause the successes of the democratic process and of Albania’s integration into Europe to fail, something that is being spoken of" [?]. The European Parliament and the member states are developing a community effort to provide broad assistance to Albania, for the country’s industrial, agricultural, tourism, energy, and banking infrastructure. To the initial report by MEP Langër, several amendments have been added, particularly concerning respect for human rights. MEP Alavanos, on behalf of the United Left Group, managed to have three amendments added concerning the imprisonment of Fatos Nano, for whom "release has been requested until the Court has ruled on the charges", while the Albanian Government has been asked for "explanations regarding the reasons for the arrest".

The first time this has happened in Albania There were 2,707 cases compared with 2,682 for '93 The first time this has happened in Albania Elbasan, more abortions than births There were 2,707 cases compared with 2,682 for '93 ELBASAN — The number of abortions in Albania is exploding. And, for the first time, a city overturns the national average figures in the birth-abortion ratio. During 1993, 2,707 abortions were recorded in the Elbasan district, while births were only 2,682, whereas the official figures for this year speak of a ratio of two births and one abortion throughout Albania. "Patients have found abortion to be the most effective way not to burden the family economically," explain the district doctors, while acknowledging that the high rate of abortions stems from unwanted pregnancies. But even though voluntary terminations and modern contraceptive methods have developed less than 1 to 1.5 months in hospitals, the interventions are accompanied by "New Mothers", which has taken on the service for this category of children. But, according to doctors, worrying cases remain those in which abortion is carried out in the first months of pregnancy, especially among underage girls and older women. "There are few patients," they explain, "who are aware of the damage abortion causes to the female body. Sexual education is still lacking, while prevention with modern means is still limited." A panorama of Elbasan While abortion has been legalized and supported by modern technology, the number of illegal births is also on the rise. In these cases, after the children are kept in hospital for about 1 to 1.5 months, they are sent to the association "Nëna Tereza", which has taken on the sheltering of this category of children. But the worrying problem for the district’s Family Planning center remains the way to control unwanted pregnancies. This center — established seven months ago — is still not widely attended by mothers. "If they were advised earlier," its officials say, "unwanted pregnancies could be completely avoided and no one would give birth against their will or have to abort." According to doctors, family-planning rules are a bigger problem, and the mothers’ own health is at greater risk. Curious statistics from the Elbasan district mention some areas where women have given birth to between 14 and 17 children. Thus the problem of uncontrolled population growth, as well as the high number of abortions, has pushed specialists toward preventive measures, especially educational ones. The year '93 in Albania showed an increase in the birth-abortion ratio in favor of abortions. Thus, if in 1992 this ratio was 3.1, in 1993 it became 2.1, which translated into a monthly increase in abortions of almost 30 percent. Although abortion is still below the levels of countries that are independent in supporting population growth, at 2.0 percent, while the European average remains at 0.4 percent. (M. K.)

TIRANA — Adem Demaçi — a symbol of Albanian resistance — could be one of the most likely candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 1994. The Nobel Institute’s announcement has listed the "Mandela of Kosovo" separately as a person "who has fought for the protection of human rights in the Balkans". Alongside him — on the list of the most likely candidates — are Arafat and Rabin. The nominations proposed for the Prize, which will be awarded by the committee this year in Oslo, Norway, include 66 individuals, 30 organizations, and 21 additional citizens.

Investigations begin in Gjirokastër GJIROKASTËR — Another police officer has been placed under criminal investigation by the prosecutor’s office of the Gjirokastër district. A few weeks earlier, the investigative bodies had also detained him and he had been handed over to the investigative authorities. The incident occurred in one of the city’s neighborhoods. Police officer Edmond Prela had fired at a young man. The victim, Agim Shuaipi, was killed as a result of the blow. Forces of order immediately went to the scene to arrest the perpetrator of the crime, Police officer Prela. He was accused of premeditated murder for petty motives. Criminal proceedings were immediately opened against him. In addition, the forces of order caught another person a few days later. The detained man, Ruzhdi Emin, has been accused of involvement in the crime committed by Prela. Some time earlier there had been another police officer in the Sarandë district against whom investigations had been initiated. He had mistreated a detainee until the latter died.

PS outlines its political projects TIRANA — Coalition? Yes, but only after the early elections. Thus, perhaps for the first time, the desire for early elections has triumphed for the largest opposition party in Albania, PS — over that of a coalition with the parties currently in government. "If the situation is tense, and all the parties existing in Parliament, a centrist coalition cannot be sought. Whereas early elections allow us better to create a constitutional coalition" in order to pave the way for a possible coalition, more effectively explained". This was the explanation given by Servet Pëllumbi, Vice-Chairman of PS, during Friday’s press conference, organized after the conclusion of the work of the Second National Conference of PS — who answered the question of which would be more preferred by them, holding new early elections or creating a coalition. Thus, after PD — which declared from its birth that it would not accept a coalition with PS — now PS too is the one that definitively denies the possibility of such a coalition. (Ed. La.)

PRESIDENT BERISHA TAKES PART IN THE INAUGURATION OF THE KAVAJË MOSQUE — President Berisha also took part in the inauguration of the city of Kavajë’s new mosque. The inauguration ceremony was organized on the occasion of the first day of Ramadan. After the first prayer, which brought together all Muslim believers for their celebration — President Berisha took part in the first Friday prayer. The Kavajë mosque — the construction of which had begun last February — was built with a much-lobbied aid package of 120,000 dollars from the World Islamic Relief Organization. THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ADOPTS PROTEST AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF THE KOSOVO ACADEMY — A decision taken these days by the Serbian authorities in Belgrade and the Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, they are bringing down its building and all the equipment it possessed. Regarding this act, the Academy of Sciences of Albania strongly denounced it in a statement. In this statement, the action undertaken by the Serbs is considered the most regressive and anti-civilizational act, as well as an unprecedented act that is added to other equally horrifying and tragic deeds committed by the Serbian authorities in the various regions of the former Yugoslavia. IN KUKËS, COURSES OPEN FOR RAISING THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL — The closure of the general level of the high school has been in the state of the seminars of the Kukës authorities. Their evening development with teachers of all levels has brought a visible improvement in raising the educational level. These seminars — also considering the fact that textbooks are now lacking — helped in the teaching process. MEMORIAL SESSION IN TIRANA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 186TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF IBRAHIM LIN-KOLNIT — The Faculty of Tirana and the King is setting up an activity related to Abraham Lincoln. This activity was organized by the Department of General History in the Faculty of History and Philology in cooperation with the American Culture Institute. In this session several lectures were held dedicated to the great figure of Abraham Lincoln.

Serbian artillery is withdrawn from Sarajevo Blue helmets between Serbs and Muslims Belgrade threatens ON PAGE 2 Loans of more than 3 million ECU for manufacturing enterprises The SME Foundation will advance the EC program ON PAGE 2

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO BUY? It is enough to write a single word, as for classified ads. Send your message, no longer than 15 words, to one of our addresses in Tirana: Rruga Bogdani Curr, 370 or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State in the message what you are looking for and the value, asking price, and address. FOR RENT a private house in the center of Tirana, near the 1st district, with five rooms, kitchen, bathroom, courtyard with an area of 240 square meters, as well as storage and garages with metal doors. The house also has a telephone. Interested parties may call 4621, from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. SELLING A WOODEN? ALME surface 650 square meters. Address: Rruga Thanas Ziko, building 65/3, staircase A, apartment 2, Tiranë. FOR RENT apartment near Durrësi restaurant, second floor, with a living room, kitchen with annex and balcony. Address: Lala 49, Rruga Ferrit Xhiku? building 59, staircase 1, apartment 4, Tiranë. SELLING a house, one room and one kitchen, on the first floor, on the main national road; in front of the house there are 50 square meters of space for a shop, which is connected and can be made, together with the house, into a shop, (total) 100 square meters. Address: Altin Diepaxha, Salo Halil 1 neighborhood, "Vasil Shanto" street, building 986, shkora? Durrës or FOR RENT a 200-square-meter premises, near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (on the ring road), interested parties are welcome. For rent in a central? premises in Tirana, near sh. with five rooms, kitchen and bathroom, interested parties write to receive further information. SELLING a one-room apartment with kitchen, annex and balcony. The apartment is on the second floor with a size of "Çiti" [?], Fier. This entrance is sold together with 1000 square meters of land, according to agreement and according to the buyer’s wishes. The land is planted with trees, the price will be reasonable. Interested parties should contact the family of Astrit Shehu, N.B. Cifligj, Fier. SELLING a 2-storey house? with two entrances and usable bo? If included? there are? 6 rooms and two bathrooms. The house is newly built and not yet occupied. In the yard two garages can be built. Address: Rruga 39, near the Theater of Mbro? 4? with center? of the Ministry of Defense. SELLING OR FOR RENT a house built by Italians, in the center of the city. For information, tel. 22039, Tiranë. FOR SALE OR RENT a renovated house by Italians in a very central area. For information tel.22039, Tirana

Zattere 1411 - Tel. 0039/41/781611 - Fax 781805 - Tlx 410045 Passenger, car, and truck ferries DURRES - BARI - ANCONA TRIESTE - DURRES From DURRES to BARI: every Tuesday departure at 22.00 every Thursday departure at 12.00 From DURRES to ANCONA: every Sunday departure at 12.00 From DURRES to TRIESTE: every Wednesday departure at 19.00 every Saturday departure at 20.00 Agency in ALBANIA DURRES: DETARE SHETITORE Tel. 052/22233 - Fax 22911 - Tlx 4148 Agency in ITALY: BARI: AGESTEA Srl - via Liside, 4 Tel. 0039/80/331565 - Fax 330628 - Tlx 810043 ANCONA: MARITIMES AGENCY Srl - Via XXIX Settembre, 20 Tel. 0039/71/204915 - Fax 202296 - Tlx 560022 TRIESTE: AGEMAR Srl - Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi, 2/a Tel. 0039/40/363222 - Fax 77723 - Tlx 460059