After 24 days of judicial investigation During the «Omonia» trial TIRANA — There are only 24 days, but what a whole era for relations between neighbors in the truly Balkan reality. Today — in the early hours — the Tirana Court will issue its final decision on five minority members of "Omonia", also signaling the end of this 24-day "era" in Albanian-Greek relations. Some 45,000 refugees returned by the Greek authorities, statements made up to presidential level, Greek leaflets that reached the Albanian capital by land and air, the introduction of a 24-hour regime at the Kakavijë border crossing, Greece's blocking of the 35 million ECU loan planned by the European Community for Albania, the poorest Albanian country, to take on a moratorium in order to improve military facilities on the Albanian-Greek border, or Athens' refusal after Tirana's call for dialogue — all within 24 days — perhaps for the first time forced even the highest officials in Washington and Moscow to shake their heads over this part of the Balkans. And so only a few hours remain to close the 24-day cycle of Albania-Greece relations. This afternoon, Martin Deda — Vice President of the Tirana Court — will announce the decision on the five members of "Omonia", against whom not only the charge of "treason against the homeland in the form of placing themselves at the service of the orders of a foreign agency" hangs, but also 41 years in prison, requested by the Tirana prosecutor, Arben Çelaku. Judge Deda's word thus remains the final mystery, before moving toward the new Albanian-Greek era. An era that, with its final ... already focused on the judges, will fix only the faces of politicians.

Vlora, 10 tons seized Financial Police uncover undeclared cargo VLORA — It seems that yet another product has become the target of smuggling. The matter is still not fully uncovered, but it is now known that in Vlora an attempt was made to pass a large quantity without declaring it — expensive items. Luxury bottles with the labels "Ballantines", "Wodka melone", "Martini" — all sold at a high profit margin in Albanian bars — have been seized by the financial police of the coastal city. The financial authorities have even requested the dismissal of the customs officer whom they consider guilty of failing to enforce customs law. The incident happened a few days ago, but only now has it been reported. A Mercedes-Benz vehicle with Vlora plates had been loaded regularly, like hundreds of others, from the loading area of the "Lindje Lautro" line. The vehicle passed through all border and customs procedures without being stopped, but was detained at the last moment by inspectors from the financial police. According to them, only 10 percent of the goods in the vehicle's body had been declared to the customs authorities. They had tried to smuggle in the branded goods illegally. Thus, 10 tons of assorted beverages among the most expensive, valued at 12 to 15 dollars. In the car were the driver, a man from Vlora, and an Italian. The documentation for the goods, which originated in Italy, was in order, but the two travelers had thought it would be easy to pass the inspection in Albania, a hope which in this case fortunately did not materialize. Durrës, 400 illegal televisions DURRËS — The case of smuggled drinks in Vlora is not an isolated one. In the same port, the financial police have recently blocked a truck with foreign plates that was supposed to be unloaded in Durrës, where the aim was to try to pass it through without customs clearance. And this time too, in the largest port on the Adriatic, in Durrës, it was the customs authorities who discovered the color televisions. 400 Samsung television sets have been seized by customs on suspicion. They had arrived in Durrës from Ancona aboard the ferry "Espresso Venezia". In the accompanying documents, the word television was not mentioned at all. The cardboard packages had been declared to customs as "350 pieces of eskalabazra". For Durrës Customs, the case was a typical case of smuggling and therefore the goods were seized. The shipment was addressed to a private company in Durrës.

Four years in prison for 260 grams of marijuana plant found in his personal suitcase He had been tried while free TIRANA — He had come from home to attend his trial, but ended up in the cells of Tirana Prison. And so it happened: the Greek national Kostandinos Kalafatas no longer had the consolation of being under house arrest, but was jailed after the decision of the Tirana Court, which found him guilty of unlawful possession of drugs. Thus, two days ago the defendant, caught with 260 grams of "Cannabis Sativa", was sentenced to four years in prison. The story of Kostandinos Kalafatas with the Albanian justice system began in mid-June of this year, when officers from Police Station 1 in Tirana had discovered in his personal suitcase — inside a house on "Bregu i Lumit" street — in a plastic bag, 260 grams of "Cannabis Sativa", a narcotic plant used for the preparation of marijuana. At that point the district prosecutor's office intensified the investigation and had forced the Greek national to remain in Albania at least until the 19th — so that he would not leave Tirana before his trial. Almost a month after the conclusion of the trial — on 5 September — the prosecutor, Ardian Leka, calling the 26-year-old Kalafatas guilty, also requested his arrest in the courtroom. This request was immediately approved after the defense by Judge Igli Toska, who decided to sentence Kostandinos Kalafatas to four years in prison. In the ruling, this was the strictest measure in the prison regime, which — although it acknowledged the fact that the narcotic substance had indeed been found in his suitcase — never admitted ownership of the act. In any case, only an appeal to the Court of Appeal now remains. (e.1)

TIRANA — Admission exams have begun at all the country's universities. Candidates registered across the faculties, in the final and busiest hours, underwent the competition conditions for about 34 hours. Upon completing secondary school, they faced the competition questions, perhaps just as they had done in the competitions that followed. In the lecture halls, candidates with 107 lines and 70 points pass the entrance exam, and with 91 lines from secondary schools. If the average grade from secondary school is 7 or below, then the candidate receives zero points. The average grade counts accordingly: for every point above the average of 7, the secondary-school average is converted into points. Thus an average grade of 7.91 earns 9 points, a 9.5 average earns 25 points, and so on. Students who have completed secondary school with the "Gold Medal" have the right to bypass the test and continue with 5 more points than all those young people who have published artistic books and achieved success in literature and journalism or won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize in international olympiads in physics, chemistry, or mathematics and are competing in corresponding fields. (br.ca.)

Sarandë SARANDA — Emigration is a cause of divorce. In conflicts over property, cases involving the dissolution of marriages are what concern the Saranda court. Marriages are dissolved mainly because of adultery — Judge Arben Ndroqi tells Gazeta Shqiptare — and one of the contributing factors is the fact that husbands or wives have emigrated to Greece. And marriages generally are dissolved in the absence of one of the parties. The latest case handled by this court concerns a 12-year marriage with 2 children. It was citizen F.M. who requested the dissolution of the marriage because her husband — an emigrant in Greece — had married another woman. (Ra.Ko)

First time in Albania TIRANA — In Albania, scanner devices for imaging diagnosis of brain diseases are arriving. An investment from the World Bank and the European Community has made possible the purchase — $500,000 — in the United States of two such machines with highly modern technology. One of the scanners, which diagnoses tumors, hemorrhages and other traumas, has just been installed at the University Hospital Center of Tirana near the neurological service department, and the other device will be installed after it arrives in the country, also at the Military Hospital. Their capacity is around 10–15 patients a day and it is believed that they will significantly meet the needs of local patients. Until now, the cost of these devices has forced many Albanians to be examined in Greece for a fee of around 300 dollars.

SOS for donors S. O. S. for donors New strategy against AIDS by the National Commission TIRANA — The situation regarding AIDS in Albania is critical. This is the assessment made by the National Commission for the prevention of the disease of the century. At present, the commission in question has called for the organization of a systematic campaign to shift from paid blood donation to voluntary donation, which would prove much more effective against the main routes of AIDS spread. Another focus of the commission's work is public information for the entire population on preventing the spread of the virus through sexual relations, while a group of specialists is continuing to examine the issue of protection and social support for seropositive people and those suffering from AIDS.

CURSIVE REALITY LEZHË — It is not a good idea to climb a fig tree because there is a fairly high probability of falling from it. But it seems that people cannot resist the temptation aroused by the sweetness of the fruits that have now ripened. And in order to enjoy a little pleasure, they climb its deceptive branches, seriously risking their lives. Within a span of 20 days, three patients have been admitted to the Lezhë district hospital with the same diagnosis: they fell from a fig tree and suffered serious fractures. Two of them — a woman and a 23-year-old young man — still remain unrecovered. And after examinations at the Lezhë hospital, they were sent accompanied by a medical team to Tirana, and one to Janina. Meanwhile, the third patient has passed the danger; the treacherous tree's "branching" was greater and he still finds it difficult to walk, the sick man from home. In any case, these bitter episodes continue to give value to the old warning not to climb the fig tree. (Dr.Ra.)

Residents appeal to the authorities Panic in central Tirana: «Remove the farmers’ market» TIRANA — Residents of the capital against the farmers' market. The issue concerns the area on "Durrës" Street, behind the building long known as "Flora" — which has been turned into a highly unsuitable and noisy place as a result of the farmers' market established there. And it is the residents of these blocks who have addressed a protest to the authorities over the scandalous condition of the environment in this area, almost in the center of Tirana. We are forced to ask for your help — the residents say, among other things, in their letter — in order to avoid some major harm such as epidemics, signs of which — diarrhea, vomiting and high temperature — have been seen especially among children. A strong stench has initially forced people around the market to keep their windows constantly closed. Day and night, heaps of wrapping paper and other market waste are burned without interruption, covering the apartment blocks. The entrances of a shelter have been filled with rotting fruit and vegetables, while the sidewalks between the buildings have been destroyed. (s.rr)

Cinema: Venice gets to know «Lamerica» The film about Albania is presented ON PAGE 3 Turkey threatens Greece with war Disputes over the Aegean intensify ON PAGE 2

DRAFT LAW ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVED — The draft law on science and technological development was among the draft laws approved at the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers. This draft law aims to regulate the basic and general principles of science and technological development, the method of financing, and other matters. At this meeting the agreement on research, development and production of hydrocarbons in Shalqërdri and the draft decision on statistical cooperation between the Albanian Institute of Statistics and the Italian one were also approved. AID FOR SELENICË HOSPITAL IN VLORA — This was an initiative of the Italian Pietro Roglatti — who lived for a long time in Selenicë in Vlora — which, as early as last December, resulted in considerable financial resources being raised for the hospital in Selenicë. The project to secure the transfer of Italian equipment continues further for the future in Selenicë, the mines that have taken on an important role with regard to Albanian exports. Pietro Roglatti was given a euro of the appropriate kind to serve emigrants in the field of humanitarian aid. A NEW ROAD WILL CONNECT ELBASAN WITH THE TOURIST SPOT OF KRASTA — The construction of the new road that will connect the city of Elbasan with the tourist point of Krasta among the pine forest is part of the program of the city's Territorial Planning Council. For this, 25 million lek have been allocated for 1.7 kilometers of road. The study approved by this council also foresees the organization of a tender to determine the companies that will deal with the installation of modern traffic signs. HUNDREDS — THOUSANDS OF CARS HEADED TO DURRËS BEACH DURING AUGUST — During the month of August alone, the number of vehicles that visited the beach of Durrës was twice as high as in previous months. This is because the Durrës coast is frequented not only by its residents but also by Albanian and foreign visitors. On Saturdays and Sundays the congestion has been even greater, days which on the Tirana-Durrës road have also been accompanied by accidents, but apparently there have been none.

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