. Ministers protest: “Too little money for the ministries” TIRANA - Yesterday’s meeting was not enough for the Government to approve the draft budget law for 1995. Almost all the ministers raised various objections to the figures presented in the tables, but nevertheless had one point in common: the request for greater funding for their ministries. The arguments put forward by the finance specialists did not seem sufficient to satisfy the ministries’ “appetites” for more money. The draft has been returned to its authors so that the necessary changes can be made. And it seems that the ministers will meet once more around their joint table, to enable the draft budget to be approved and then submitted to the deputies for approval. The most debated item is the ministries’ operating expenditure. Although overall—compared with last year’s plan—funding from the budget for the equipment required for this expenditure is 10 percent higher, the ministries have continued to request amounts of funding that finance specialists consider far beyond actual means. Thus, in total, requests for operating expenditure—according to an explanatory report accompanying the draft budget—reach 23 billion lekë, far exceeding the 1994 plan. Many ministries have submitted requests beyond the budget’s actual means, from the ministries of defense, public order and local government to that of culture. In fact, the draft presented shows an increase in funding for the ministries’ expenditures. Thus, compared with 1994, education is projected to receive 10.3 percent more, health 7.8 percent, defense 5.5 percent, public order 4.9 percent, transport and communications 4.6 percent, and agriculture and industry around 20 percent. The finance officials’ view is that, given the still-tight budget, requests for funding above these levels should be met over a longer period. They have even proposed that some of these requests—actually calculated at a high percentage but beyond the capacity of domestic financing—be met by including foreign credit and aid programs. But everything remains open, and another meeting of the Council of Ministers will finally set the 1995 budget figures, before handing the matter over to Parliament.

The walnut scandal reaches Parliament TIRANA - Perhaps this afternoon the fate of two of the best-known Democratic Party deputies will be decided. Immediately after the debate on the Code of Criminal Procedure, Parliament will vote on the immunity of Genc Ruli and Rexhep Uka in connection with the Prosecutor’s Office’s accusations concerning their responsibility in what has come to be called the “walnut wood scandal.” The most important parliamentary groups have met beforehand. On Tuesday, the Democrats apparently reached no firm decision on the position they would take. After the groups split into camps for and against the immunity of Ruli and Uka, the Democratic Party group decided that each deputy would vote according to his personal convictions. Ruli and Uka, meanwhile, seem to have achieved something important: they have secured Arb-nori’s assurance—as Ruli himself confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare—that the vote on their immunity will be secret. Yesterday, Socialist deputies also discussed the position the most important lawmakers would take. Here, too, no firm decision was reached on Ruli and Uka’s fate, but it seems that within the Socialist group opinions were divided between considering the two guilty or innocent, and the fact that they are still two of their best-known political opponents.

Genc Ruli: “It is true, an arrest warrant has been issued for Artan Hoxha” On page 3 fa.bax.

A special task force established at the Hygiene Institute The virus affects all age groups A special task force established at the Hygiene Institute Albania in the grip of flu: over 400 cases a day in Tirana The virus affects all age groups TIRANA - Albania is gripped by flu. The epidemic wave has spread to almost all districts and continues to hit hard. The “wild” virus—its type has not yet been identified—has forced people of all ages to spend entire days in bed with a high fever. In Tirana alone, the number of people diagnosed with flu symptoms has reached more than 400 a day: in February, the overall figure indicated nearly 6,000 people affected. The situation is serious in other areas too. In Fier, the spread of the epidemic, mainly among children, has led to strict monitoring measures being taken at the pediatric hospital. Kruja is also on alert. The Health Directorate there has requested a detailed report on the spread of the disease, which has reached almost all districts. The flu wave has brought high temperatures ranging from 38.5 to 40 degrees. This condition lasts for three to four days. According to doctors, in mild cases it may pass even sooner. But one should not neglect treatment at the first signs: the illness may worsen and lead to other complications. The widespread outbreak of flu has alarmed Albania’s senior health authorities. A special task force has been set up at the Hygiene Institute in the capital and is responsible for monitoring the entire situation. However, so far the data arriving from the districts and held by the Ministry of Health, which is to provide information on diagnosed cases, are very limited and do not allow an accurate picture of the situation in the country. Work has meanwhile begun to identify the type of virus circulating in Albania. This process was undertaken because of a bureaucratic odyssey involving samples—sent by the WHO—that are needed to conduct the appropriate research analyses. The flu epidemic is not a phenomenon limited to Albania. The latest data from the World Health Organization indicate that it is spreading in many European countries. Armand Mero

TIRANA - The wounds of the old regime reopen.

TIRANA - All persons convicted of various crimes will be extradited from Turkey to Albania, and vice versa, this year. Every Albanian citizen will now be equal to every Turkish citizen in terms of their rights and claims under the laws of both countries. This is provided for in the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil, Commercial and Criminal Matters between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Turkey, signed yesterday at noon in Tirana, at the Ministry of Justice. Citizens of both countries, the Convention states, have the right to apply freely to the courts and other competent legal institutions of both countries, under the same conditions and formalities as citizens of the other party. At the same time, they will be able to enjoy the same legal protection for themselves, their property and their interests. The Convention—based on the principles of sovereignty, national independence, equality of rights and non-interference in internal affairs—was signed by Albanian Justice Minister Hektor Frashëri and the Turkish ambassador in Tirana, Omekol. p.re. with amendments. Now every Albanian citizen will be equal to every Turkish citizen in respect Judicial noon in Tirana, at the premises of states, have the right to freely apply countries, under the same conditions and formalities as the in internal affairs—was signed by the Albanian Minister of Justice himself,

Special commission begins TIRANA - The first steps have been taken toward independent television in Albania. A commission established specifically for this purpose is studying the drafting of the relevant bill, which will make fully private mass media possible. The working group—which operates under the direction of the Parliamentary Commission for Culture and Mass Media—includes members of parliament, radio and television specialists, and technical experts. The absence of private radio and television had sparked debate and reactions in public opinion. Many had considered it necessary, given the country’s current circumstances, to take the first step in this direction—that is, to create the legal framework that would subsequently allow alternative electronic media to take shape. Later, President Sali Berisha himself, during a debate with specialists in the field, had proposed the creation of these structures; the idea was subsequently taken up by the Parliamentary Commission. The commission’s work is still at an early stage, but plans are to establish a special committee with the authority to issue licenses, which will then be assigned specific frequencies by the state bodies responsible for this field. p.re. Albanian Radio and Television headquarters

Court ruling “Defrauded”: one year in prison for Koçi II TIRANA - Another of the Koçi brothers has appeared before the courts. Yesterday, Shkëlqim Koçi appeared in the dock at the Tirana Court and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. He will have only ten more days to serve: nearly a year has passed since he was arrested at a venue in the capital during a blitz by the police forces. The charge against Shkëlqim Koçi was “fraud.” The case involved nearly 5 million lekë that he owed to other people, from whom he had borrowed money at interest. Only a short time ago, police in Tirana had arrested Fatmir Koçi, Shkëlqim’s brother. But the judges had been harsher with him, sentencing him to more than three years. Nevertheless, the Koçi family’s odyssey through the offices of the Albanian justice system is not over. The third brother, Skënder—now a citizen—is also wanted by the Police. a.m.

Collecting materials for their homes SHKODËR - Hours of horror in Shkodër. Two 16-year-olds were crushed to death beneath the weight of the walls of a dilapidated building while collecting bricks for their homes. It was a task they did every day, but this time it cost them their lives. Heavy concrete slabs slid down, crushing the young bodies of the two friends and leaving them no chance of escape. For several more hours, Ermal Beqiri and Gëzim Debreja remained trapped beneath the rubble until they were found later, completely disfigured. The horrific deaths occurred at around 14:45 on Monday. It all happened within a few minutes. In the Kiras neighborhood, where the victims lived, stands an old building in utterly unacceptable condition: it was once the Food Processing Center. As they tried to take some bricks from the ruined walls to use in construction at their homes, the concrete slabs, which were on the verge of falling, buried the two teenagers, who were absorbed in their “work.” They remained in this terrible state for several hours, until the parents noticed that the children were late and, some time later, received the news of the building’s collapse in shock. After digging beneath the heavy concrete slabs, the sight of Ermal and Gëzim—their bodies crushed so badly that no shape could be made out—was truly macabre. A long procession of people accompanied the bodies of the unfortunate boys to the city cemetery. Arlinda Çausholli

TIRANA - She had killed her husband on the very day of her own celebration, March 8. Nevertheless, this did not save her from prison. One day after the incident became known, she was arrested by officers from the Shkodër Police Station and special officers of the Ministry of the Interior. Besides Çardaku—who had killed her husband Skënder Velija—two other people who had long been wanted for murder have also ended up in prison: Ndoc Mark Voci, 28, and his brother Gjoni, 38, who are now accused of having killed a 35-year-old man last December. The Voci brothers, residents of the village of Toplan in Dukagjin, are also accused of wounding their victim’s three-year-old son. (p.re.)

After a four-year absence, feature films are competing TIRANA - The Albanian feature film festival is returning. After a four-year break, the big screen has finally had the chance to show its latest achievements. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, in cooperation with Albafilm, has decided to hold the 10th film festival from May 8 to 11. Eight feature films, both long and short, produced in recent years, will compete. There will also be several competitions by number—without a specified number of animated films. The festival will take place at the Palace of Congresses. A special hall has also been set aside for a retrospective of Albanian cinema, where successful feature films produced in earlier years will be screened. The last Albanian feature film festival was held in September 1991. The film “Balada e Kurbin...” won first place and the festival cup; its director was Kujtim Çashku. Albafilm’s central building

After years “I shot him because he had tortured me in internment” TIRANA - The wounds of the old regime reopen. This is perhaps the first incident of its kind since 1990 to have taken place in the Albanian capital in recent days, involving a victim of the communist regime and a former security-service employee. The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has arrested Hysen Shyti from Kukës, accusing him of “attempted murder,” while the victim of his crimes has been taken, seriously wounded, to the Central Military Hospital. The now almost fatal incident belongs to a story that began a long time ago, back when Hysen Shyti was suffering forced internment, ordered by the regime’s leaders. And the revenge that had lain dormant for years and years awoke in 1995, when Shyti happened to arrive in the capital and saw the person who—according to him—had mistreated him while he was serving his sentence, pushing [something?] at the wholesale market. That alone was enough for Shyti to head back to Kukës, this time to get his shotgun without a permit. On the morning of March 13, Shyti fired a gun at the former security-service employee—now retired—seriously wounding him. Although the investigation has only just begun, the initial charge against Hysen Shyti remains “attempted murder for trivial motives,” while further details about this unusual incident—provided by the accused himself as well as the injured man—may shed more light on what happened. Edmond Laçi shed light on ...? Edmond Laçi

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