The Ministry blames the Maternity Hospital. Staff defend themselves Tirana, around 140 cases in 1994 ARMAND MERO TIRANA — Death strikes life in its very first days. Figures from Tirana’s Maternity Hospital show terrifying numbers of newborns who lose their lives before they have even had a chance to know life. The situation appears particularly severe this year, when infant mortality—from 0 to 6 days of age and thereafter—has ranged from 15 to 20 babies a month. In figures, by the end of September alone the total is approaching 140 cases, whereas in the years on record around 100 deaths were registered over 12 months—a figure specialists consider extremely high and deeply worrying. The reasons behind this situation still do not appear to be entirely clear, remaining “hidden” amid mutual accusations and justifications between the Ministry of Health, on the one hand, and the maternity hospital’s own administrators, on the other. According to specialists from the Ministry’s Directorate of Family Planning and Maternal Care, following an inspection they carried out, the “culprit” is within this hospital. An accusation rejected by director Mira Neziri, who has not yet been in the post for a year: “The current figures are nothing new,” she told the Albanian Gazette, “because this is the first time they are being reported truthfully. I have put an end to their activity, and now everything that has happened is being reflected.” But this is not enough to convince the Ministry specialists in their defense. “We were there ourselves,” says Teodor Todhe, “and noticed many shortcomings, not only organizational but also technical. For example, there is no accurate record-keeping for monitoring the treatment of babies. The practices used after birth are also outdated. There are deficiencies in hygiene and sanitation, too.” What also stands out is that a large proportion of the deaths involve premature babies (those born before the nine-month term), and Ministry specialists consider the maternity hospital responsible. “We inspected the situation and saw that proper care was not being provided to premature babies, but [we saw] the number of deaths among them.” Neziri, however, believes the causes should be sought in the shortcomings of the healthcare system during pregnancy. “Nowadays, [pregnant women] hardly go to the clinics, and when they arrive at the maternity hospital we do not know about their pathological conditions. On the other hand,” Neziri explains, “many families from the northeastern areas have moved to Tirana this year, and they have not been monitored by a doctor.” But Ministry specialists again disagree, asserting that the director’s explanations account for only part of the problem: “Our investigations at the Maternity Hospital do not show an increase in pathologies among pregnant women.” And while arguments, explanations and justifications follow one another, many cries of newborn babies continue even today to be silenced by the terrifying metastases of death. FROM 1987 TO TODAY MORTALITY 1987 59 1988 51 1989 59 1990 72 1991 98 1992 96 1993 102 1994* 140 * The figures refer to the last 9 months

Appeal Court reduces prison terms TIRANA — The Tirana Court of Appeal has reduced the sentences of the five members of “Omonia.” Four of them received sentences one year shorter than those imposed at first instance. Only one of them, Irakli Simo, benefited from a two-year reduction in his sentence. Thursday’s ruling once again provoked Athens’ anger. Greek Information Minister Evangelos Venizellos again spoke in an angry tone before journalists. “The Albanian government has missed the opportunity offered to it,” Venizellos said. “The appeal hearing was more of a mockery of the International Community.” According to Venizellos, “the Albanian government has still not understood that maintaining tensions worsens the situation throughout the Balkans and that it must bear responsibility for this.” The ruling of the Tirana Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the court of first instance. The “five of Omonia” had been charged with “high treason against the Homeland in the form of carrying out the duties of foreign agents, and possession of weapons without a permit.” The Appeal Court found the prosecution’s evidence valid, but took into consideration the health and family circumstances of each of them. Just one day earlier, on Wednesday, news agencies had distributed a statement by Eduard Selami—the chairman of the Democratic Party and head of the Albanian Parliamentary Delegation at the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe—who had not ruled out the possibility that President Sali Berisha might pardon the five. According to these agencies, Selami said at a press conference for an Albanian delegation, organized the day before yesterday by the Council of Europe’s mass-media section: “The possibility cannot be ruled out that, in the event of a new sentence on appeal, the five members of the Greek minority may be pardoned by the President of the Republic.”

Draft law now before Parliament TIRANA — The draft law “On the Referendum” has been submitted to Parliament. Approval of this legal document is the first step toward organizing—for the very first time in Albania—a referendum on the Constitution recently proposed by President Berisha. Its 5 chapters and 42 articles aim to clarify the substance and procedures of referendums, how they are to be organized, and the rights and qualifications for participation in them. As one of the forms through which “the people exercise power by means of universal, equal, direct and secret voting,” the draft law proposes holding referendums to approve the Constitution, on other matters of particular national importance, and on important matters concerning the country’s administrative-territorial units. Article 1 recognizes the right to participate for all citizens who have reached the age of 18. Under the draft, the initiative to call a referendum belongs to the President of the Republic, who submits the proposal to the People’s Assembly. The latter will decide—by majority vote—whether or not to organize the referendum. If the Assembly votes in favor of a referendum, it is once again up to the President of the Republic to announce that it will be held and to set its date. In the draft’s second chapter, alongside the arrangements for organizing a referendum—voter lists, polling-station committees and the relevant procedures—citizens, political parties and various organizations are granted the right to campaign in favor of the option they have chosen. Violations of the referendum rules are classified in the draft as administrative offenses and are proposed to be punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 lekë. And for the first time in Albania’s history, almost in parallel with this draft law, President Berisha has called for a popular referendum on the law of laws, the Constitution. Seat of Parliament Andrea Stefani

Agriculture devastated LEZHË — The already grim toll of the damage caused by the violent floods that swept through Lezhë and its villages in recent days has become even more troubling and severe. According to information presented at the District Council meeting held on Thursday morning with the commune heads, 3,400 hectares of land in 6 communes were under water, 67 houses were destroyed, 20 bridges connecting villages and three [bridges] collapsed, 2 schools were damaged and 6 others put out of use. Agricultural and livestock products were not spared either. Water entering the warehouses damaged 1,500 quintals of grain and 2,500 quintals of hay. Meanwhile, 1,200 ha were ruined and 30 head of livestock died. To eliminate the consequences of the flooding, with mud and runoff from the stream covering the roads, the District Council has taken immediate measures. “We will mobilize the army for transport, ves-…” [the rest of the line is unclear] … In a statement to the Albanian Gazette, … the District Council … “Once the damage has been assessed in monetary terms, funds will also be allocated on the basis of the information.” LEZHË — The already grim toll of the damage caused by the violent floods that swept through Lezhë and its villages in recent days has become even more troubling and severe. According to information presented at the District Council meeting held on Thursday morning with the commune heads, 3,400 hectares of land in 6 communes were under water, 67 houses were destroyed, 20 bridges connecting villages and three [bridges] collapsed, 2 schools were damaged and 6 others put out of use. Agricultural and livestock products were not spared either. Water entering the warehouses damaged 1,500 quintals of grain and 2,500 quintals of hay. Meanwhile, 1,200 ha were ruined and 30 head of livestock died. To eliminate the consequences of the flooding, with mud and runoff from the stream covering the roads, the District Council has taken immediate measures. “We will mobilize the army for transport, ves-…” [illegible] … In a statement to the Albanian Gazette, … the District Council … “Once the damage has been assessed in monetary terms, funds will also be allocated on the basis of the information.” Ir. Ka.

Fear of thefts GJIROKASTËR — The municipality of Gjirokastër is in a tight spot. The rubbish bins that have finally arrived from abroad could be stolen before they can serve the public. The reason: fear of theft. The issue was discussed at length at a meeting on the environment held in recent days, but no concrete solution has yet been reached. In fact, just a short time ago the Municipal Enterprise had conducted a trial, which only heightened the fear. Of the 90 bins that arrived, 9 were distributed. Very soon they disappeared without a trace. Now the remaining 81 bins are forced to wait in the warehouse, instead of solving the city’s rubbish problem. The director of the Municipal Enterprise, Fredi Muçi, has himself brought this headache before the Municipality. A headache for the Municipality director, with bins or without bins. Indeed, many have begun asking themselves: “Wouldn’t it have been better if the bins had never arrived at all?” (R.K.)

Control Commission LUSHNJE — They abused kerosene sales to obtain illegal income. The State Control has proposed criminal proceedings against four people and disciplinary measures against 18 others, employees of state enterprises. This was the conclusion of the inspection carried out in Lushnjë by the State Control. The announcement issued by the official news agency mentioned, among other things, the case of the Village Trading Base, which appropriated state subsidies without submitting documentation proving the sale of 361,000 liters of kerosene to the population. The list of enterprises that received undeserved subsidies also includes the Village Municipal Enterprise and the Housing Municipal Enterprise. Some private entities irregularly obtained kerosene fuel for sale to the public but sold it to private companies instead.

The court drops one charge TIRANA — Sulo Gradeci’s ordeal with the Albanian justice system has ended with a four-year prison sentence. On Thursday, the Tirana Military Court found 73-year-old Gradeci guilty of “abuse of office” and, in response to the request made the previous day by the defense counsel for the prosecution to impose the sentence. TIRANA — Sulo Gradeci’s ordeal with the Albanian justice system has ended with a four-year prison sentence. On Thursday, the Tirana Military Court found 73-year-old Gradeci guilty of “abuse of office” and, in response to the request made the previous day by the defense counsel for the prosecution to impose the sentence, removed more than half of it. This was thanks to the dismissal of the case on the charge of “misappropriation of state property,” which, if proven, could also have resulted in a fine of nearly 83 thousand dollars. Gradeci — former Commander of the Service for the Physical Protection of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PPSH — was arrested on July 7, ’92, and only after two years of investigations was he able to explain himself before the judges. Meanwhile, his case file is now considerably “lighter” than it was on the first day of the trial, when the prosecutor read out the indictment. (p. re.)

Fines for vendors TIRANA — The sale of bread in fruit-and-vegetable shops under suitable hygienic and sanitary conditions has become a concern for Financial Police officers in the Tirana district. TIRANA — The sale of bread in fruit-and-vegetable shops under suitable hygienic and sanitary conditions has become a concern for Financial Police officers in the Tirana district, prompting changes to the location. The concern has also been heightened by the appearance of several cholera outbreaks in the area. This seems to be the reason that checks have been carried out and fines of several thousand lek imposed in some districts, such as Tirana, Berat and Elbasan, according to reports from the General Directorate of the Financial Police. Thus, in Tirana, a financial police officer conducted an inspection and imposed fines of up to 2,000 lek at several retail outlets. The reason was precisely the sale of bread together with fruit and vegetables, which, according to hygiene specialists, can become a source of various infections. Meanwhile, the General Directorate of the Financial Police has ordered all its district branches to carry out inspections and prohibit the sale of bread outside the units approved for this purpose.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA At the proposal of the Committee of Former Political Persecutees, the Council of Ministers has just adopted a decision concerning the status of people from the former senior nomenklatura who were sentenced by the communist regime. Under this decision, the status of convicted person and former political persecuted applies to people from the senior nomenklatura who were sentenced for political reasons to more than 10 years, were persecuted, or were deprived of personal rights for political reasons for more than 10 years. People years are excluded or entitled. Meeting with the German delegation Deputy Foreign Minister Stavora received this morning the government economic delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany, headed by Parliamentary State Secretary Wighard Härdtl. The Germans — as did Stavora during the meeting — said that the discussion had covered the current situation and the possibilities and process, as well as political and economic issues. In the future … [the lower part of the text is unclear].

Five people arrested in Italy (2 Albanians) VLORA — An organization involved in transporting hundreds of Albanian clandestine migrants, and which allegedly used the «Peshkatari» restaurant in Vlora, run by Petrit Shembolli, as a base, has been dismantled by the Italian police, particularly thanks to the cooperation of Albanian citizens. The gang, which also had bases in Puglia, was broken up in an operation… VLORA — An organization involved in transporting hundreds of Albanian clandestine migrants, and which allegedly used the «Peshkatari» restaurant in Vlora, run by Petrit Shembolli, as a base, has been dismantled by the Italian police, particularly thanks to the cooperation of Albanian citizens. The gang, which also had bases in Puglia, was broken up in an operation that ended with the arrest of five people, including one in Brindisi, by the local authorities and prosecutor Nicola Pieroneto, who coordinated the investigation on the basis of constant reports from Albanians. The five people who ended up in prison, accused of conspiring and collaborating in organized crime to smuggle clandestine migrants into Italy, include two Italians, Vincenzo Russo, a 39-year-old, and Antonio Di Monte, 42, both from Collino near Brindisi. Two Albanian citizens are also in prison: Nexhmedin Danaj and Shpend Hitaj, both from Vlora, aged 27 and 29 respectively. Astrit Hita, Shpend’s brother, and Shkelqim Selami were arrested as well; they may be tried in Albania. According to investigators, the organization arranged for Albanians to travel clandestinely in refrigerated trucks as well as in cars with their exhausts? lowered, charging between one million and one and a half million lire, one million and two… The investigations began in Italy with an anti-clandestine-migration check several months ago. A police unit unexpectedly went to Vincenzo Russo and found an Albanian inside the van. The police found a considerable sum of money there, along with many blank passports, stolen from the municipality of San Marco. Russo excused himself by saying that the documents belonged to his former activity as president of the football team of that town. On the basis of this and the statements of this repentant witness, the Italian prosecutor placed Russo’s telephones under surveillance and thus uncovered evidence of this powerful organization. The place where the clandestine migrants gathered before setting out for the Italian shores was reportedly the «Peshkatari» restaurant in Albania, while in Italy they had a company called «Peshkatari» in Di Monte. The latter, together with Astrit Hita, was involved in transporting the clandestine migrants. The remaining part, according to the accusation, was the responsibility of Russo and the other Albanians.

Damage assessment Fear of thefts Protectionism Control Commission Lushnje: “They have... Court drops a charge For Grada Fines for sellers The bread that... INSIDE Are uncovered

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