Parliament confirms: Homosexual? The law punishes you. The Criminal Code provides for sentences of up to three years in prison. TIRANA - Homosexuality in Albania will continue to be treated as a crime. After extensive debate, Parliament has finally decided: in the provision setting out the punishment for this act, the sentence will remain up to three years in prison, just as proposed in the draft. The penalties have been somewhat softened compared with those initially envisaged, but remain harsher than what Albanian and foreign homosexuals had sought. They are organized, albeit operating underground, in an association that seeks to defend their rights. Thus, even the most liberal code Albania has ever had, whose advantages all the parties have endorsed, has shown no mercy to homosexuals. Now that this article has received final approval, the public is waiting to see how international bodies will react; last summer they had protested the presence of what they considered harsh penalties against homosexuals. International gay organizations, human-rights groups, and bodies of the Council of Europe had repeatedly sent letters of protest to Albania’s most senior public figures, starting with President Berisha, Speaker Arbnor, and then Minister of Justice Kudret Çela. The Council of Europe had even reminded Albanian officials of Romania’s example. According to them, the obstacles to Romania’s admission to the Council of Europe had included the harsh treatment of homosexuals, alongside several other provisions of the Criminal Code then in force that were considered excessive. At Friday’s session of the People’s Assembly, which continued late into the night, there was also extensive debate over the specific article concerning the punishment of those who commit sexual abuse of minors. Would these people also face the death penalty or not? After much discussion, it was decided: in addition to imprisonment for up to 15 years and life imprisonment, the death penalty will also remain in force under this article. It seems that the coexistence of the death penalty and life imprisonment will be the main characteristic of this Code. Perhaps only in this way will the courts have greater freedom to avoid administering justice by taking human lives, even those of criminals. (p.re.)

DIRECT TV The mystery of the document promising 50,000 lekë for reporting escapees: the Court’s seal was fake The reward scam New alarm in Albanian prisons: “No one will be released.” Fears of other forged documents TIRANA - Television has been deceived. This time by people who managed to forge the most valuable attribute of the Tirana Court: its seal. A false, highly mysterious statement—mysterious in its purpose—was broadcast live during the 8 p.m. news on Thursday. But it remained on air for only a few hours, because at midday on Friday the Tirana Court immediately denied it: “The announcement broadcast by TVSH stating that the Tirana Court would reward with 50,000 lekë everyone who reports escapees from Tirana Prison was not issued by us.” That alone was enough for investigators, who soon confirmed that the seal on the statement delivered to TVSH was indeed forged. While TVSH has fallen “victim” to truly unusual information, a new alarm has arisen for Albanian prisons, now on special alert. The hypothesis—also borne out by the false statement delivered to TVSH—that a counterfeit Tirana Court seal exists has immediately compelled the General Prison Administration to suspend releases of prisoners ordered by judges in the capital. “Whether this was a seal that could have ‘deceived’ anyone, and thus released a prisoner, is not known,” officials at the General Prison Administration told the Gazzetta Shqiptare, “but we have issued the relevant notice that, for the time being, no action should be taken until the matter is fully clarified.” (Ed.La.) Tirana Court (photo H.Pustina)

The lawyers’ request “ Meksi too in the Arsidi trial” TIRANA - Meksi too in the Arsidi trial? The Albanian Prime Minister will be asked to testify in court about everything he knows regarding the $1.6 million scandal and the people involved in it. The lawyers for Agron Saljut and Agim Tartari told the Gazzetta Shqiptare that, after the announced witnesses have testified, they will submit a request for Meksi to be called to testify as well. “This is because the Prime Minister’s name was mentioned during the witnesses’ accounts,” the lawyers explained. “For example, after learning about Arsidi in Washington, Ruli informed Meksi. What was his reaction?” But the current Albanian Prime Minister does not appear to be the only one. Along with him, Saljut and Tartari’s lawyers want to bring Blerim Çela and Agim Bendo, the head of the Tirana Court, into the courtroom. “However, we will consult our clients about this,” the lawyers said, “and will make our requests only with their consent.” a.m.

History SHKODER - The age-old custom of confinement has returned. In just the last few days, 11 men from the Hilaj family of the village of Kukël—a locality about 22 km from Shkoder—have confined themselves to a tower to protect themselves from their blood enemies. The Hilajs, all male members of the family—among them even infants—have chosen the [?] of the isolated village as the only suitable place to remain faithful to the unyielding custom of the Kanun. Those surrounding them are the Gegajs. They will not leave their family’s land willingly; only this way will they feel safe. The story began in December last year, when Rrok Hila and Tonin Gega, both residents of Kukël, had an argument one night [?]. Gega accused Hila of stealing his livestock, the only source of food for his family. Rrok denied everything. Later, it seemed that the quarrel between them had been forgotten. But for 49-year-old Rrok Hila, celebrating New Year with his family was the last time. On January 11, his body collapsed lifeless in the center of the village, cruelly riddled with bullets from Tonin Gega’s rifle. This is where the old mechanism of revenge came into play. Everyone is aware of this act; they quietly follow every move of the two families. Two days later, someone knocked at the Gegajs’ door. In that night, amid the commotion, only two shots were heard and, within moments, suspicion—or perhaps the consequences—of Tonin’s [?] was washed in the blood of Tonin and his 24-year-old son. The killers are now known. They have left the familiar traces of blood feud. Their feet follow only one path: that of the high mountain. To save the men of the Hila family, confinement in a tower far from their home is the only hope of sparing their relatives the anxiety and terror of losing another one of them. Among the 11 confined there are infants, to whom nature has given the “misfortune” of being boys. The confinement will continue for years. They are all forced to watch the days pass only through the loopholes, unable to go outside. And the children will spend part of their childhood playing not with toys but with the rifles of the elders. In Shkoder, the sad news of the confinement of 11 men has spread; some even said that they had been killed and were dead. Fortunately, the rumors that reached the city were unfounded. Nevertheless, the bitter taste left by this sad act of these men remains. Arlinda Causholli

- Four officers of the National Intelligence Service have appeared before the court in Pogradec. The charge against them is “abuse of office.” Because of the secrecy surrounding the investigation, we have been allowed no further information, and cannot penetrate the wall of silence. The first hearing was held on Tuesday, but the trial was adjourned until the end of the month. The presiding judge... The presiding judge was forced to make this decision because no witnesses and one of the lawyers had appeared in court. The trial has attracted attention in Pogradec because of its unusual features. The investigation into the four SHIK officers began two years ago. (m.k.)

Six masked men threaten staff VLORA / Yesterday, a spectacular robbery in the city center VLORA - Spectacular robbery in the center of Vlora. Yesterday’s victim was the Central Savings Bank, from whose main entrance a sack full of money was carried out. Six masked people—after threatening all the women on the bank staff—immediately headed toward the soda-wood forest and, after taking the van they had used in the robbery, disappeared in the direction of ... They were familiar with the bank’s interior, since they immediately took control of the alarm system as well. The fact that the entire staff consisted of women gave the robbers greater freedom to act, although they did not spare the three bank employees from the barrels of their automatic weapons being held over their heads. In any case, this time no shots were heard, and the panic was confined to the victims’ trembling; the robbers continually used the order to— Savings Bank, from whose main entrance a sack emerged under automatic gunfire — containing an amount of money equivalent to about 30 thousand dollars. Six masked people, after breaking through the bank staff’s first cordon, immediately headed toward the Soda forest and, after also in some direction to escape the police pursuit. Everything happened at 11.30 yesterday. It lasted almost only five minutes. And as witnesses to this scene confirmed, the six masked people — all dressed in the same outfit — looked extremely…

POLICE

KORÇË - This time, the attempt by the “hunters” of money ended badly. - This time, the attempt by the “hunters” of money ended badly. All three people who had wanted to rob G. Sardi, the Korçë merchant who had just withdrawn 3 million lekë from the Savings Bank, have now been arrested. All three followed Sardi to near his home in the village of Këmbëtherr, where they threatened him: they were armed with shotguns and axes. Sardi, who managed to escape and get away, then made a report to the District Police Station. The report led to the robbers being put in handcuffs. E.K

Soon on Albanian soil TIRANË - “Sarex ’95” will be the first joint Albanian-American maneuver in Albania, with troops from the USA and other NATO member countries taking part. Final confirmation was given by the Minister of Defense himself, Safet Zhulali - during yesterday’s press conference - who also provided other details, including that it will begin on January 26, ’95. More than 1,000 troops will come from the USA alone, while Zhulali said that Albania will also deploy 600 infantry forces. Minister Zhulali also said that the replacement of ranks in Albania will be completed in just two days, and that the problem of free food for Albanian military personnel has also been resolved. Minister Zhulali (photo H.Pustina)

Gjirokastër, was in an incubator GJIROKASTËR - Power cuts are now claiming lives. This time the innocent victim was a baby just a few days old in the Gjirokastër maternity hospital: a sudden blackout cut short her life, turning the incubator she was in into a chamber of death. The little baby had been born only a few days earlier. Because of her below-normal weight, doctors had decided to care for her in an incubator until she regained her strength. Placed in the small glass compartment, the baby was fed and was living normally. But the power cut… …power cut proved fatal for her; within a short time, she lost her life. The burning of a transformer also put a patient at the Gjirokastra hospital at risk. At 9.30 the lights went out in all its wards. The operating rooms were also left without power. The doctors were even forced to interrupt an operation midway on a woman, whose wound they had been stitching, and return her to her room — fortunately without any consequences. Meanwhile, according to the technicians, the damage is very serious and will take time to repair. Ra. Ko.

In Fier FIER - Six members of a farming family were badly burned by an explosion that occurred in their home. They had gathered around the fire to protect themselves from the cold when suddenly an explosion came from the flames. The similar incident happened in recent days in Cakran, in Mallakastër. Six members of the Llanaj family - including three children - are hospitalized in serious condition at Fier Hospital. According to Drita Llanaj, the explosion was caused by an old bomb carelessly thrown into the fire. (e.m.)

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PR: Alliance with the right The Republicans are seeking to strengthen the right-wing front. At the meeting of the National Council, cooperation with all the other political forces of the right-wing orientation was at the center of discussions. The members of the National Council of the Republican Party also reviewed its economic activity. Piktin: children are his weak spot He began the day with those he loves most. Hundreds of children from various institutions in Tirana met Piktin and spent time with him. The No. 1 Pediatric Hospital, the Qendra e Shpresës and the Qendra Pikëtin - së pajtura - organized receptions for Norman Wisdom, with simple performances by the capital’s children. Fier, the park in danger The only park located in the center of the city of Fier is gradually disappearing. Axes are cutting down the pines to clear the land where kiosks will be built, and Fier is expanding into what was once open countryside.

Former national team player now devotes himself to religion Bugej puts on a turban ON PAGE 3 Every horoscope prediction for SAGITTARIUS this year Here are all the predictions ON PAGE 4

Currency Commercial Bank Albakredi shpk Free market Buying Selling Buying Selling Buying Selling Dollars 93.60 95.00 94.00 95.00 94.40 95.00 Marks 60.30 61.60 61.20 61.80 61.20 61.50 Lire 57.70 59.80 57.40 58.00 57.60 58.00 Drachmas 37.86 38.80 39.00 39.30 39.00 39.15