Unmanageable rush at the inspectorates. Will there be fines? From tomorrow, drivers under threat Today is the final deadline for re-registration Tirana: of 25,000 vehicles, only 2,000 have been issued new circulation permits EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA - From tomorrow, thousands of Albanian drivers will wake up under threat of fines. According to an instruction from the Ministry of the Interior, today is the deadline for completing the re-registration of all vehicles travelling in the country, as well as issuing them new circulation permits. But the intensive work of the district inspectorates—as well as the willingness of vehicle owners—has not kept pace with the expiration date, namely 31 March 1995. Thus, the only option is to extend the re-registration deadline once again—within the limits of the inspectorates’ capacity—so that tomorrow does not become a real threat to thousands of Albanian drivers who have still been unable to comply with the latest instruction from the Ministry of the Interior. “It is impossible to get through this extremely long queue,” a group of drivers who have been waiting for hours, blocking the road in front of the “Albafilm” headquarters, told the Albanian Gazette—and the 1 April deadline for re-registration is drawing near. In fact, the same concern is felt within the walls of the Capital’s Road Traffic Inspectorate. According to Alfred Sollaku—now head of the central office for checking and verifying the driving qualifications of vehicles and their drivers—of the capital’s approximately 25,000 vehicles, only nearly 2,000 have been able to re-register. “Every day, through this procedure,” Sollaku told the Albanian Gazette, “we can process a maximum of 250 vehicles.” The Records Office also acknowledges that issuing new circulation permits for all these vehicles is a challenge, although—as the supervisory body—they cannot give a definite answer as to whether drivers who have not yet been able to re-register will be fined tomorrow. The emergency has already forced Road Traffic Inspectorate employees to work in two shifts, as well as simultaneously processing all three types of license plates, A, B and C. The revolution in the vehicle-registration system has been under way for days across the country. Computerization will also benefit drivers, who will now have circulation permits that are not annual but open-ended. Nevertheless, one concern has also been raised: “Among those who have still not managed to re-register are some who are doing so deliberately, because their documents are irregular.” Indeed, this hypothesis has already been confirmed in 4–5 cases, as their documentation proved to be forged. But the anxiety of thousands of drivers—which may be put to rest today if the deadline is extended—is in fact connected to a highly necessary revolution in the road-traffic system. The change will also benefit vehicle drivers themselves, who until now carried in their pockets circulation permits valid for one year, forcing them to return to the inspectorate offices every 365 days. Re-registration also entails the introduction of open-ended circulation permits; in any case, it will be of enormous value to the registration system, which for the first time in Albania will be computerized. As they say at the Tirana Road Traffic Inspectorate, completing the registration process will mean fewer fake plates and documents, as well as fewer stolen cars, perhaps even the disappearance of these phenomena, which have become quite widespread alongside the huge influx of vehicles into Albania. A “non-stop” terminal system can verify in just a few seconds whether vehicles and their documents are genuine or not. This system—which has existed for years in all European countries—reveals all the vehicle’s details and characteristics, as well as its true owners. A long-awaited revolution, but one with a threatening deadline. Unless the senior road-traffic authorities extend it. of the capital, only nearly 2 thousand the three types of license plates, A, B and C. carry in their pockets displayed, together with the flows— pushed it. A long queue in front of the Inspectorate (photo: H.Pustina)

The biggest scandal in the Judiciary in recent times Sensational resignation of three chief judges Bendo, Zeneli and Çeliku accuse Minister Frashëri Sensational resignation of three chief judges of the capital. Late last night, a statement issued by them to the press announced the resignation from their senior posts of Agim Bendo, President of the Tirana Court, and his deputies, Artan Zeneli and Andi Çeliku. According to them, the decision was made immediately after a meeting of the High Council of Justice—which ended yesterday at around 18:00—which had dismissed two judges of the Tirana Court and appointed several others. But this time the capital’s chief judges have also made serious accusations against the Minister of Justice, Frashëri, who, they claim, had previously been convicted of a criminal offence. In any case, their decision concerns only resignation from their senior posts, not from the profession of judge; among them is Andi Çeliku, who tomorrow will preside over the well-known Arsidi trial. “Our resignation is a protest against the decisions of the Minister of Justice,” the President of the Tirana Court, Bendo, told the “Albanian Gazette” late last night. The head of this court since 16 May ’92 also commented on his serious accusation against Minister Frashëri, even making available original materials from the Tirana Court’s ruling in the case against him. The two 27-year-old deputy presidents, Zeneli and Çeliku, have also joined the President of the Tirana Court in solidarity. The resignation and latest accusation against Frashëri are considered the biggest scandal in the Albanian Judiciary in recent years. Edmond Laçi

Teachers and doctors “Përgatësim

The North under siege

Janullatos in hospital

Teachers and doctors TIRANA - Nearly half of Albania is threatening to launch a general strike. The trade unions for education, healthcare and Telecom—three of the country’s most important sectors—are preparing to boycott their workplaces to demand a 35 per cent pay rise and wage indexation in line with inflation. The decision was taken by the Union of Independent Trade Unions, which has set 6 April as the final deadline, when it will determine the strategy of the movement to achieve its demands. Meetings with government representatives also seem not to have produced what the trade unionists expected. “The meeting on 28 March with the Minister of Labour, Engjell Dokle, the Minister of Education, Xhevat Teliti, and the Minister of Health, Maksim, has not found a satisfactory solution to the two main demands: a 35 per cent pay rise and indexation to inflation,” Ylli Kallan, deputy secretary-general of the BSPSH, tells the Albanian Gazette. The first to begin mobilizing for a general strike are the teachers. Activities organized in Pogradec, Berat, Elbasan, Krujë and Durrës, and now continuing in other districts of the country, will culminate on 6 April, the day of the National Education Assembly. Around 50,000 teachers are stopping their daily work to achieve the main demand: increasing each teacher’s salary from 9500 to 7000 lekë. “It is ridiculous that, the more I am on strike as a teacher,” says Ismail Jollashi, secretary-general of the BPA, “1.7 per cent goes to health insurance and 1.3 per cent to social insurance. The real wage has fallen by 12.5 per cent.”

Kukës, plunged into darkness TIRANA - Northern Albania is gripped by an icy cold. Roads blocked by the layer of snow, which has begun to thicken, and especially high-voltage power lines cut by faults caused by the storms: this was the first picture emerging from the news coming from the North. A worrying notice from KESH yesterday signaled a serious situation in the electricity supply to mountainous areas. Kukës, Rubik, Spaç and Kalivaç remained blocked yesterday evening not only by the weight of the snow, but also by darkness. Puka and Fushë-Arrëz were freed only yesterday afternoon, following an intervention by specialists, who continued working to repair other lines as well. In Kukës the depth of the snow, especially in mountainous areas, has increased considerably: 1 meter in Shishtavec and Bushtricë. The unseasonable cold has created serious problems for traffic: all the roads leading out of Kukës are now blocked. Livestock farming, the basic economy of these areas, has been completely paralyzed. The blanket of snow also spread to Shkodër in the morning, which is still suffering from frequent power cuts because of the sudden increase in residents’ consumption.

He was urgently transferred from Tirana; doctors: “His life is not in danger” TIRANA - Having been urgently transferred from Tirana, the Orthodox Archbishop of Albania, Janullatos, was admitted last night to Athens’s “Evangelismos” Hospital. According to sources in the Greek capital, the serious health condition of 70-year-old Janullatos also led to the postponement of his meeting with President Kon-stantin Stefanopulos. Nevertheless—while he remains under intensive medical care—it is now being stated that “his life is not in danger.” The health problems that prompted the urgent departure of the head of the Albanian Orthodox Church and his son are related specifically to a complication affecting the respiratory organs.

Fier, 15-year-old sets himself on fire He set fire to his room and became engulfed in the flames, intending to burn himself as well. The tragic incident happened in the city of Fier. The body of 15-year-old A.B. was found burned in his home. The cause of his suicide was a moment of depression that the unfortunate boy ended with a dreadful death. Devoll, district council chairman on trial The former chairman of the Devoll council, Vladimir Kello, appeared before the court on the charge of “abuse of office.” Kello was indicted a year ago, but only now, after three court hearings, was a decision made about his fate. According to the testimony of various people, the charge of “abuse of office” was determined to be “innocence in office,” and Vladimir Kello was stripped of the right to hold public office. Berat, accident: two seriously injured Two people were seriously injured in a car accident in Berat. It happened as a car carrying four people was entering the Morava Bridge. The car overturned because of the driver’s carelessness and caused serious injuries to Dhimitër GJavara—who remains in danger—and his son, Arian GJavara.

Gjirokastër, request to change Albanian names GJIROKASTËR - “We want to take Greek names, the names we were baptized with in the Orthodox Church.” The news may seem strange, but it is true. It happened in Gjirokastër, whose Municipal Council has had to deal with this delicate issue. At a recent meeting of municipal councillors, a report from the city registry office was presented, setting out requests submitted by 20 families from Gjirokastër to change their names in the civil registry. The requests were all signed by the children’s parents, although the children officially still bear Albanian names. This latest issue has put most of the municipal councillors in a difficult position, as they have wavered over the dilemma of whether or not to approve the Hellenized names. The list is very long, and part of it is repetitive; a list made up of just a few lines is almost impossible, but only a few examples of the requested changes are cited here. The idea is quite easy to grasp. In many cases, at least a distant resemblance to the old Albanian name has been preserved; at least the first letter of the name has been retained, but there are also cases where the changes are very noticeable. Thus, it has been requested that Alban become Kristjo, Meruhja take the name Maria, Edmond become Evan-gjelos, Arbri become Spirodhon, Elion become Kosta, Erjon become Panajot, and Arvina become Katerina. Girls who bear the distinctive name Boronica are to retain the origin of their name, but from now on they are to be called by the more modern name Margaritë.

TEPELENË - A child kidnapper has been arrested by Tepelenë police. - A child kidnapper has been arrested by Tepelenë police. A swift operation enabled them to catch the person who had abducted a 9-year-old girl. For the sake of further investigations, the Tepelenë Police Commissariat did not wish to disclose his name. All that is known is that he is a 40-year-old man who had previously been convicted for abducting minors. The police also suspect that there is an entire group of people organizing such kidnappings.

We, the heads of the Tirana District Court, Agim Bendo, President, Artan Zeneli, Vice-President, and Andi Çeliku, Vice-President, declare that as of 31.3.1995 we resign from our managerial duties at this Court for the following reasons: First, we disagree with the tutelage that the Minister of Justice, Hektor Frashëri, and his deputy, Vladimir Kristo, are attempting to exercise—tutelage that these gentlemen are trying to impose through actions that openly contravene the law on the “Organization of Justice” and the law “On the Powers of the Ministry of Justice,” as well as the well-known principle of the independence of the judicial branch. More specifically, under the Ministry of Justice is entitled only to administratively supervise the Court. But, contrary to this, Hektor Frashëri and his deputy, Kristo, have directed this supervision—out of both incompetence and malice—toward the court’s handling of specific judicial cases and procedural actions by judges, such as decisions to discontinue proceedings, suspend them, order expert examinations, etc., even though it is known that such actions by a judge and the Court are subject to review only by the Court of Appeal, the Court of Cassation and the Plenum of the latter. We raised the relevant objections with the Minister of Justice in the presence of the Court’s staff when the conclusions of the inspection were presented in February of this year, emphasizing that these actions openly violate the well-known principle of the independence of courts and judges, undermine the objectivity of trials and create the impression that court rulings are dictated by the executive branch (the Ministry and the Government). But Minister Frashëri stated that “he would act in the same way in the future, as he was the minister and knew his own business.” The minutes of the relevant meeting with the judges held on this occasion can be checked. Second, Minister Frashëri and his deputy, Kristo, have tried to impose their tutelage over the Tirana Court and its leadership by monopolizing the appointment and dismissal of judicial and administrative staff. Meanwhile, the matters described are objectively within the competence of the High Council of Justice. The Minister of Justice has only the right to make proposals. His proposals in all cases have been subjective and unsupported by any undermine the objectivity of the judgment and create the impression that court decisions Government). For his part, however, way in the future, as he was a minister and knew his own business.” This can be verified in the minutes of the meeting, despite the recordings made on that occasion. Secondly, Minister Frashëri and his deputy, Kristo, have tried to place the Tirana Court and its leaders under their tutelage staff. Yet matters concerning the judicial cadre fall Minister of Justice only has the right to make proposals. His proposals in every case have been subjective and based on no criteria. When measures are proposed against various judges of this court or appointments are considered, the opinion of the court’s leadership about the people working there is never even requested; Minister Frashëri considers this unnecessary. Moreover, it is astonishing that a minister or deputy minister has, arbitrarily and openly in violation of the law, taken over the appointment and dismissal of administrative personnel as well—secretaries, clerks, drivers, ushers, etc.—displacing the leadership of the Tirana District Court. Indeed, he is acting in contravention of the Justice Minister’s Order No. 1048, dated 17.5.1994. Thus, by monopolizing all personnel matters, including dismissals, Minister Frashëri and his deputy, Kristo, are trying to keep the courts, judges and administrative staff under threat of losing their jobs, seriously undermining the organization and management of work because of the merely formal role left to the court’s leadership in this situation. Finally, we, the leaders of the largest court in the Republic, have no confidence in Mr. Frashëri, who was also convicted by a criminal judgment of the Tirana District Court for the offense of “gambling” in a group of fifteen. In our view, at least on moral grounds, he cannot be our minister. Nor do we have confidence in his deputy, who during three years of working at the Tirana Court was present only twice and never carried out his duties; indeed, he was biased against this court. It is enough to mention that the assistance of this ministry has been entirely absent: apart from an inspection once a year, it has not performed its most important function, the training and professional development of judges. Under these circumstances, it has become impossible for us to lead, so we publicly declare our resignation from these leadership positions, committing ourselves solely to the sublime duty of being judges. Tirana, 31.3.1995