Forty inmates leave their cells. Rita Marko and Qirjako Mihali are also released Ministry experts: “Only a reduction”. Lawyer threatens to file a complaint THE NEW PENAL CODE Forty inmates leave their cells. Rita Marko and Qirjako Mihali are also released Alia’s release from prison: controversy erupts Ministry experts: “Only a reduction”. Lawyer threatens to file a complaint TIRANA - Controversy over the release of Ramiz Alia erupted immediately. Yesterday, on the first day the new Penal Code came into force, specialists from the Prisons Directorate denied that the former President’s name appeared on the list of those being released from prison. The move was strongly challenged by Kleanthi Koçi, Alia’s lawyer, who had declared just a few hours before the Code came into effect that his client should have been set free. But while Koçi’s claim was rejected, the Prisons Directorate announced the first figures for other prisoners who left their cells yesterday: 40 people, including Rita Marko and Qirjako Mihali. A. Mero on page 3 Ramiz Alia Rita Marko Ramiz Alia; Rita Marko

They were quoted five percent higher than a week earlier TIRANA - Privatization bonds are attracting the attention of traders. They have now begun to compete freely on the open market, just like foreign currencies in exchanges for lekë. It is precisely on the free market for the latter, in front of the Bank of Albania, that securities—those which have been distributed to pensioners and people with disabilities for the past month—are now also being traded. Yesterday, privatization bonds were valued at around five percent: 20,000-lekë bonds were bought for 3,000 lekë and sold for 3,400; 15-lekë bonds were bought for 2,400 and sold for 2,500. Gj. Pilika on page 5 REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA STATE SECURITY PRIVATIZATION BOND Usable until June 30, 1996

Women call for it Women call for “Sexual harassment in the Labor Code” TIRANA - Sexual harassment in Albania? “There is no doubt that it exists, but people generally do not recognize it and there are no reports about it.” Delina Fico, Coordinator of the Women’s Center, tells Gazeta Shqiptare that this phenomenon is now also present in Albania. “At the many meetings we have had with women, they have spoken about the pressure they often felt from their supervisors or employers at work to have sex with them.” Although such a crime is already provided for in the new Penal Code, the Legal Group of Non-Governmental Women’s Organizations has recommended that Parliament also provide, in the draft Labor Code, protection for Albanian women from sexual harassment at work by employers. They are calling for a paragraph to be added to the current draft stating that “employers shall show particular respect for female employees. They are prohibited from engaging in any act that constitutes sexual harassment toward her and must not allow other employees to engage in such acts.” “Including this protection in our labor legislation,” Fico explains, “would also protect Albanian women in the workplace. In this case, a woman as an employee would have special protection.” Sexual harassment is currently a very serious problem worldwide, and developed countries have enacted special laws to protect women from this very phenomenon. Albania may now have this law too. Gjergj Pilika

Police blitz: six people detained TIRANA - An underground “visa office” has been uncovered. Passports, stamps, Albanian and neighboring-country visas, as well as other forged state documents, were discovered last night at a TV station, following a “blitz” operation by the Kavaja Police Station in cooperation with Interpol Albania. Six people were detained last night, currently facing charges of forging official documents. A motorboat was also seized, and it was through it that the extensive forgery network was uncovered. extensive network of forgers. On page 3

Elbasan — Celebrating with friends in Divjakë Elbasan Celebrating with friends in Divjakë Tragic outing: two high-school graduates drown ELBASAN - They wanted to celebrate an important event in their lives: finishing their final year of high school, but amid their celebration they drowned in a ... and the reports that have reached Elbasan are still unconfirmed, so no one can say the exact names of the two. So far, all that is known is that the two victims were swim-

Vlorë On page 3 Vlorë Police shut down driving schools: documents to be reviewed On page 3 Balkans

ELBASAN — They wanted to celebrate a milestone in their lives: the end of their final year of high school, but they met an absurd death at the bottom of the sea. A boy and a girl, both high-school seniors at the school in the village of Gostimë in the district of Elbasan, drowned yesterday while peacefully spending time at the beach on the Divjakë coast. The bodies of the two unfortunate young people have still not been found, despite the frantic searches that began immediately after news of the tragedy spread. Yesterday, the graduating students from Gostimë had set off for the beach. Not only the hot weather, but also the chance to spend a festive day together—the years they had spent quietly at a youth center were over—had prompted them to organize an outing to the unspoiled beach at Divjakë. At first everything went well: the students enjoyed playing in the clear sea water until they noticed in alarm that two of their friends were missing. It happened, and the reports that reached Elbasan are still unconfirmed, so nobody has been able to give is known is that the two victims had been away from the group of friends for a short time. It is still unclear exactly how it happened, but the fact is that both young people drowned at sea. Their friends waited in vain for them to return to the shore where they were staying. The alarmed teachers immediately notified the Divjakë police, after which the frantic search began, but the young people’s bodies had already been swallowed by the sea. The search continued until nightfall without any concrete results, while the group of students returned to their village carrying the news of the tragedy with them. A similar incident had taken place in the same village almost a year earlier, when two pupils from an eight-year school in Elbasan had drowned on the same coast.

Gjirokastër, investigations into forty cases A tenant’s assets seized The Sejdia phenomenon is sweeping southern Albania. There are dozens of cases and people who gave their money to various individuals who have now disappeared—left Albania—or are no longer returning it. On page 5

TIRANA — Two days to bring Agim Saliu back in a calm state. Eight hours and more were not enough for the former head of the National Commercial Bank, whom the curiosity surrounding his protocol in the “Arsidi” case had driven away. On page 3 Agim Tarani

TIRANA — The Ministry of Justice is seeking the right to administer the funds of the judicial system. It was precisely this request, במסגרת of a special draft law, that was discussed in parliament yesterday, and which will bring about several changes to the state budget. At the end of the session, after some debate among the MPs, much more modest amendments were agreed upon. According to Genc Ruli—who submitted the relevant comments on behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Laws and Finance and Economy—the budget funds for the judiciary should include funding for the three levels of courts. “This is unconstitutional.” On page 3

DURRËS — The people of Durrës welcome their heroes in celebration. A triumphant procession accompanied by hundreds of cheers, applause and joy for their beloved team, another procession that has crowned the team with glory. All this for the winners of the 42nd Albanian Cup. The square in front of the Palace of Culture was far too small to contain the joy of those who, over the past four years, have taken pride in competing among the elite of Albanian football, with two runner-up titles, one championship title and, for the first time, the Albanian Cup. The triumph was worth twice as much to Teuta’s boys: a moral victory, together with 15.5 million lek, donated by the Albanian Football Association and several private companies, including “Kronem-burg”. Teuta celebrates after the victory (photo: H. Pustina)

Today GAZETA Treg On page 7

Tensions flare up again between Greece and Turkey On page 2 Bosnia UN proposes a new plan On page 2