No decision: “First we need the platform” The heads ask the state for a new budget No decision: “First we need the platform” Public RTV: “What is it?” The commission wants clarifications The heads ask the state for a new budget By last September, RTSH had earned 170 million lekë from advertising and rights TIRANA - The idea of creating a public television station was discussed for the first time in the mass media commission. Yesterday morning, at an expanded meeting of the commission chaired by its chairman, Uran Butka, three issues were put up for discussion: RTSH’s programme platform; the issue of the budget the state should make available this year for the only television station in Albania; and, last but perhaps most debated, the idea of creating public television, which President Berisha himself has recently strongly supported. Yesterday’s meeting was more one that scheduled further discussions than one that made concrete decisions. On the first point—the programmes—it was considered that this falls within the remit of the RTV Governing Council, so discussion of this point did not go any further. The idea of setting up a public television station was discussed somewhat more. Chairman Butka asked the meeting to approve a commission that would undertake a more detailed study of the television of the future in Albania. “What is intended by this term, and what is the meaning proposed by those putting forward this idea?” was the question raised by one of the Socialist representatives at yesterday’s meeting, Musa Ulqini, who then asked for an explanatory document on this point to be presented in the coming weeks, a proposal the commission took into consideration. On the budget as well, the commission asked RTV to substantiate its requests, after which the members would discuss them concretely. In the last months of 1994, RTV had reported the following financial targets for 1995 to Gazeta Shqiptare: a state budget of 344 million lekë and projected revenues of 158 million. According to the same source, during the first nine months of the previous year RTSH had received more than 201 million lekë in state funding, while earning 170 million lekë from its activities. The projected earnings for this year turn out to be lower because of the increase in the prices of many services, among which the price of the competitor and electricity have a considerable impact. fa.bax./gje.pi. The Albanian Television building (photo: H. Pustina)

INTERVIEW “That marine grabbed me by the arms” The accused man’s fiancée speaks “When he came home, he told me everything that had happened.” INTERVIEW “That marine grabbed me by the arms” “Here’s why my fiancé shot at the American soldier that night” The accused man’s fiancée speaks “When he came home, he told me everything that had happened.” DURRËS - She was the first to learn everything immediately after the American soldier was wounded at Bar “Olimpik” in Durrës. It was Ermir Dervishi himself, the 24-year-old, who, before being questioned by the investigators, confessed everything to her in secret. Arta Dolia had just celebrated her engagement to the young man from Durrës, Dervishi, with a banquet held at Bar “Olimpik” on the eve of the notorious incident. “I still can’t believe,” Ermir’s fiancée tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “that the very day we exchanged rings would end like this.” What really happened that day? “Ermir is an only son and, although his parents were in a difficult financial situation, they had decided to hold a banquet for his engagement. Since I have many relatives, it was decided to book Bar “Olimpik”. We enjoyed ourselves there for a few hours, and no one had a chance to get drunk, since the banquet had been arranged with only desserts and other light drinks…” What did the Americans have to do with your celebration? “Nothing. As the banquet was ending—since we had only one car—our guests began leaving one by one. The last ones left were me and Ermir, as well as one of his friends with his fiancée. While we were cleaning up and gathering what was left from our party, groups of Americans, dressed in civilian clothes, began entering the nearly empty venue. We learned later that they had just come out of the “After Dark” nightclub. In fact, they seemed a little drunk, perhaps also because they were laughing and talking very freely and loudly.” Was that all? “At first I felt someone touch me lightly with a hand. I turned my head and saw one of them—a Black American—who kept talking and laughing. I paid no attention and continued what I was doing: Ermir hadn’t seen this incident, so I thought I’d let it go, to avoid a possible quarrel. After we had finished everything there, I took Ermir by the arm and we got ready to leave. At that very moment, that American came in front of me again and grabbed my arm tightly. Ermir immediately grabbed his hand and pulled it away from my arm. But although everything had calmed down by then, the American, who seemed amused and drunk, called after Ermir, who—strangely enough—headed for the door. Inside the venue, the American, who had finally given Ermir a light slap on the neck, continued laughing and telling his friends something.” Was that where you parted ways with Bar “Olimpik” and the Americans? “In fact, we thought everything was over. Ermir walked all three of us to the car, but then he himself went back… He got home at around 20:30, while [the source text is unclear] days earlier what had happened during those minutes. laughing and telling his friends something.” “Gë.To.” Photo taken inside Durrës hospital: one of the American marines wounded by his companion (photo: H. Pustina)

Story FIER - Abandoned by her mother in the first days of her life, she is now continuing to grow up in the maternity hospital in Fier. They call her Ina—the name was given to her here at the hospital—and she is only 5 months old. Since the day she was born, she has seen neither a home nor her parents. The only people around her are the midwives and doctors at the maternity hospital, who take care of her: they feed and bathe her and bring her a toy now and then. It is still not known how much longer she will remain in the hospital: bureaucratic procedures, as always, leave matters unresolved, and the little girl’s future is in question. Little Ina’s misfortune began on the day she was born. Her mother is now not even known by name at the hospital—as soon as she brought her into the world, she quickly left, leaving the baby alone. At first this did not surprise the medical staff or the midwife: such cases are not rare. But while the other children go home once the necessary period has passed, little Ina has remained there. The days have gone by and now, after almost 5 months, the little girl’s situation has become more difficult. The maternity hospital no longer has suitable food for her: the only thing available here is powdered milk. The concern has become serious for the maternity hospital’s director as well, who now finds herself facing closure. What is to be done? The orphanage in Vlora replies that the child must have complete documentation; the parents’ names. Meanwhile, those in Fier shrug their shoulders helplessly. Ina continues to grow up in the hospital beds.

“We don’t want displaced people in Durrës” DURRËS - “We don’t want displaced people from the North coming to our city.” The morning after the government’s visit concerning the transfer to the Durrës area of around 1,200 families whose land has been flooded by hydroelectric reservoirs, controversy and protests broke out in the city. A petition sent to Parliament and the President by the “Durrësi” association—in the name of all residents—has openly opposed the plan and refuses in any way to have land and residential sites given to newcomers from other districts. The issue was also discussed at an expanded meeting of the District Council and Municipality—attended by MPs—where the association’s representatives were emphatic: “We will organize a large rally and, if our demands are not taken into account, we will go on hunger strike.” At the meeting, it was said that the many newcomers to the city of Durrës are causing serious damage: occupying land and [unclear], cutting down trees, damaging the electricity network through the use of electrical equipment in homes, and other similar things. The association’s representatives considered the displaced people’s claim that they should be given 500 square metres of land absurd. Currently, Durrës—the city with the highest population density—has more than 40,000 residents who have arrived in recent years amid the mass displacement of people coming down from the North. Gë. To.

PD Secretary Shehu TIRANA - The Democratic Party appears set to go it alone, without allies, in the new 1996 elections. “We will continue the dialogue and cooperation with the center-right and right-wing parties,” PD Secretary Ytani Shehu stressed at yesterday’s press conference, “but alliances with the other right-wing parties will be based on … their … in the elections.” Meanwhile, Shehu addressed the other issues discussed at the meeting of this party’s National Council, which had already been covered in the press. The meeting focused more on further discussions than on making concrete decisions. As for the first item—the programs—a clarifying document on this issue was to be presented, a proposal that was taken into consideration by the commission. As for the budget, the commi… f.a/bax./gje.pi.

Two dead in Shkodër and Berat TIRANA - The lack of a regular electricity supply causes only distress and additional trouble. In some places, it has even continued to cause real tragedies. Just yesterday, two people lost their lives; both died from fatal electric shocks, and both had been trying to repair faults that kept their homes or their family members’ homes without light. The first victim was 35-year-old Haxhi Fisheku, father of two, from the village of Cajde in Berat. The incident occurred yesterday in the early hours of the morning in the village of Murriz, Lushnje, where his father-in-law lives. After switching off the cabin’s breaker, Fisheku tried to repair a fault that had persisted for a week. Fisheku lost his balance on the pole, but, trying to save himself, grabbed the power lines, which unfortunately turned out to be live. He was brought down from the pole almost completely carbonized. The death occurred several hours later, at 17:15, this time in Shkodër, in another similar incident. Kol Marku, 34, a resident of the “3 Heronjtë” neighborhood, died while trying to connect a “bridge” for his neighbor. The managers of electricity companies had repeatedly warned against unauthorized interventions. Ha. Ta.

Murder in Fier FIER - The land issue has once again caused deaths. The day before yesterday in Fier, a 25-year-old young man, Myqerem Zasa from Sicaq, was struck with an axe by a fellow villager, A. Bajrami, after an argument over the division of land. The two young men had quarreled over a small area beside the stream. After exchanging words, Bajrami shot him with a double-barreled shotgun—a large number of pellets were found in his body—leaving him dead at the scene. Tasi Bajrami is being held by the Police authorities. e.m.

TIRANA - Yesterday began the new month of Ramadan, an important one for all Muslim believers. During this holy month, many have begun the traditional fast, a religious tradition revived along with the recovery of religious freedom. According to Muslim belief, fasting—which translates as “silence”—is a process that serves to “connect the person fasting with God.” Ramadan has days and hours that must be observed strictly. The editorial staff of Gazeta Shqiptare wishes all Albanian Muslims “Happy Ramadan, wherever you may be.”

Parliamentary Presidium decides: Brozi on the agenda Parliament has set its weekly work program. At a meeting of the Presidium and the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups, discussion of the Prosecutor’s Office’s request to lift the immunity of the President of the Court of Cassation was also placed on the agenda. PD discusses the return of property The issue of property, its restitution and compensation, was discussed at a special meeting of the Democratic Party parliamentary group, held yesterday, which was also attended by the President and Prime Minister Meksi. Accelerating the procedures for returning property to its owners, or compensating them in kind—when tourist areas or other available areas are concerned—was one of the main tasks assigned to the Government, to be resolved as soon as possible. Shkodër, two injured Two people were injured in Shkodër on Monday. In the morning, a villager from Velipoja, whose identity has not been disclosed, was seriously injured near a village. The villager did not want to say more about his misfortune. Several hours later, a 20-year-old was injured in the city.

Fier, ceremony for Saint Kozma FIER — The case of the disappearance, still shrouded in mystery to this day, of the remains of Saint Kozma is no longer just a matter of discussion between the Church and the local authorities. The Prosecutor’s Office has now also launched an investigation to clarify the many questions surrounding this unusual story. Meanwhile, in Fier—and not only here—discussions have intensified, often becoming heated, about the fate of the remains revered by thousands of Orthodox believers. The latest protest, following that of the village elders of Llbofshë, was directed to the local authorities by a number of Orthodox believers from the same district. They again called for their swift intervention to find the sacred relics, and announced that a religious ceremony—a memorial service—would be held in memory of Saint Kozma. News of the saint’s remains disappearing has also spurred discussion about his true age in Albania. These discussions may perhaps subside only if the fate of the sacred remains is fully clarified. En.My.

Protest “Post-election alliances”

Here is how they will be created

Here is how joint-stock companies will be established ON PAGE 3

TV Programs on your screens ON PAGE 4

Currency Banka Tregtare Buying Selling Dollar 93.50 95.50 Mark 60.50 61.20 Lira 57.60 58.50 Drachma 38.25 39.25 Albakrediti shpk Buying Selling 94.00 94.80 61.30 61.60 57.60 58.40 39.20 39.40 Open market Buying Selling 94.10 94.30 61.50 61.70 58.00 58.10 39.25 39.35