As Parliament grants it new anti-corruption powers TIRANA—The State Audit Commission aims to become a court. Not just any court, like those we have seen so far, but a Court of Accounts. The news was confirmed yesterday to the Gazeta Shqiptare by the Commission’s own Chairman, Blerim Çela. And while the draft law that will make this transition possible is being prepared, Parliament is granting the State Audit Office its first superpowers. It now also has the right to impose fines or repeat tenders in which it verifies that violations have occurred. On page 5: Chairman Çela

TIRANA—“A law is being drafted to turn the State Audit Office into a Court of Accounts, thereby incorporating it into the judicial system.” It is the Chairman himself, Blerim Çela, who explains to the Gazeta Shqiptare how this new Court will be organized; in the future, its plenary body is expected to be almost on the same level as the Court of Cassation within the ordinary court system. Experts are now working on drafting the proposal, which will be submitted to the Government. Why move from the Audit Commission to a Court of Accounts? “The Court of Accounts is a collegial system; in practice, it is a genuine court, with its own judges and its own decisions.” What powers will it have under the draft law being prepared? “The Court of Accounts is envisaged as having three tiers: the first tier will have three judges, the second five, and the third, called the Plenum of the Court of Accounts, will be equivalent to the Court of Cassation. The system we are building here is a Latin system, like the one used in Europe. Our current organization is modern, but remains monocratic. This is precisely the most important point. Decisions should not be made by one person alone, but by an entire panel. That would be more appropriate for the circumstances and conditions in which our country finds itself.” When is it expected to be discussed by the Government? “I cannot say exactly, but we expect it to be in the autumn or toward the end of the year. There is still work to be done to complete the drafting of the bill on the Court of Accounts.” Do you envisage anything else with the creation of this Court? “The Court of Accounts will be a political body, and its head will not be announced immediately, whether it is Blerim Çela or someone else. In other words, it is a court that will enter the judicial system without becoming involved with political parties in any way. Although the State Audit Office has so far enforced the law, and only the law—not only in substance but also in carrying out its duties—we are certain that the new Court of Accounts institution will be trusted by all Albanians. I emphasize this because today, despite the Audit Office having done its job, various people, and the opposition in particular, believe that this body views and judges issues from a party-political perspective. That is not at all true. The Court of Accounts will definitely and finally put an end to this problem.” Arlinda Çaus(h)olli

A baby in a bag at the maternity ward door FIER—They put the baby in a small bag and left it by the doors of the maternity ward. This was the way a mother chose to abandon her newborn. She left the baby on the ground and mysteriously went away, leaving no sign or clue. Hospital staff later found the poor infant, who nevertheless spent only a short time without a family; the baby was adopted by a couple who had been without a child for 14 years. The rare incident shocked the maternity ward, although it was accustomed to such events. The baby had been abandoned inside a small woman’s handbag, which was left beside the hospital kitchen door. Its top was zipped up, leaving open only a small gap—just enough for the newborn to get air. At first, none of them noticed the bag’s presence, or even the child’s first cries. But when the cries of the poor boy grew louder, nurses passing nearby heard them. When they opened the bag, they saw the unusual “parcel” that shocked them. No one could say whose baby it might be; only rumors circulated that an older woman had been seen leaving the bag outside the kitchen doors and hurrying away. Accustomed to caring for young children, the maternity ward staff immediately found a place for the abandoned boy among the other newborns. They took care of him and provided all the necessary services. They even tried to think about the child’s future: he should be given to a couple who had for many years dreamed of hearing a child’s voice in their home. Within a short time, all the necessary procedures were completed to give the abandoned child parents. Now the little boy will have a mother and a father, even if they are not his real ones. But the child does not know that. Enkela Myftari

Power of attorney for the lawyers to seek a new sentence On Thursday at 2:30 p.m., the application is submitted to the Tepelena Court TIRANA—The saga of submitting the socialist leader’s application to the Tepelena Court comes to an end. On Thursday, at 2:30 p.m., at the registry of this court, the lawyers of

Republicans’ protest TIRANA—“Unknown individuals have threatened our activists who are working on the petition.” The Republicans are protesting these actions by people who remain mysterious and are calling on their supporters to keep calm. On page 3 PETITION AGAINST THE DRAFT LAW ON THE BUYING AND SELLING OF LAND, but how many ...

PETITION AGAINST THE DRAFT LAW ON THE BUYING AND SELLING OF LAND, but how many?

The World Bank in favor of Albania TIRANA - Another chance to pay off Albania’s external debt. Following its acceleration, achieved after many negotiations, another positive news item was published yesterday: the World Bank has granted Albania a non-repayable sum of 25 million dollars to pay off the debt. On page 5

He wanted $9,000 and the lottery balls TIRANA - For three months he claimed to have won nearly 9,000 dollars in the “6 out of 45” ball lottery. But they did not believe him at the Sports Lottery Center and—this time—neither did the Tirana Court. Durrës citizen Fiqiri Çepalaj now has no choice but to appeal to the Court of Appeal, perhaps hoping for a belated miracle. On page 3

Italian Football On page 2

Reality Kursi GJIROKASTËR - A woman is seeking a divorce from her husband, who has left for Greece. The hardship of emigration has recurred—a situation Gjirokastër’s judges have faced within the span of a week. In all cases, the couples have separated even though one of the partners was not present. It was V.M. who yesterday sought a divorce from her husband, whom she had married two years earlier, in December 1999; after a short time, Dh. Muho had left for Greece. “Since then, he has not shown himself,” the young woman said. She has now decided to end their relationship for good: she will marry someone else. The proceedings did not take long. In the courtroom, the woman who had requested the separation stood alone before the judge; her partner did not appear. The requests of women seeking divorce in the absence of Dh. Muho have been declared inadmissible, as he did not attend any hearing. Yesterday’s case has merely added to a long list. Almost all the time, at the doors of the Gjirokastër court, one sees notices for people who are being summoned to appear, including husbands, because their partners are seeking a divorce. But no one has appeared. Perhaps, when they decide to return to Albania after some time, they will be surprised to find their spouses alongside other people. In this way, they will see themselves as victims of emigration. Ra.Ko

TIRANA - The Albanian servicemen convicted after the Peshkopi massacre remain at home. The Military Court of Appeal has decided to uphold the previous ruling, rejecting the Military Prosecutor’s request, which had sought harsher penalties and increased sentences. Although... TIRANA - The Albanian servicemen convicted after the Peshkopi massacre remain at home. The Military Court of Appeal has decided to uphold the previous ruling, rejecting the Military Prosecutor’s request, which had sought harsher penalties and increased sentences. Although, in the first trial at the Albanian military court, only two had managed to leave without handcuffs—having received suspended sentences or been released in the courtroom—the others also benefited from the first trial’s decision. The Court of Appeal found them with their families. On page 3

Imitates his father but injures an 11-year-old child FIER - A boy got into a car and a tragedy was narrowly avoided. The protagonists of this incident, which shocked residents and passers-by in a neighborhood of Fier, were two children: one 9 years old and the other 11. The older boy narrowly escaped the car driven by ... his 9-year-old friend. Fortunately, the incident ended well, but the initial fright made it difficult to forget what had happened. It all began when the older brother parked the car in the yard near the children’s home. The younger boy, passionate about cars like most of his peers, managed to get into the unattended car, and simply turning the key left in the ignition was enough to set it in motion. It is still unclear how, but fortunately the car stopped after a few meters, in front of a friend of the little “driver.” That day proved truly painful. Taken immediately to the Fier hospital, the boy’s condition improved quickly. What remained was the fright caused at the moment of the incident, which spread to all the parents, as well as to the 9-year-old “driver,” who suffered in hospital the consequences of his frightening “adventure.” “I didn’t mean to do it, forgive me,” was all he managed to say. The whole story happened ... and may serve as a lesson to everyone. Now cars have become an inseparable part of Albanian towns, for everyone, young and old. This should make everyone think...

Nano during the trial

Attorney Sanxhaku: “We were forced to make the request” On page 3

PETITION concerning the DRAFT LAW on the PURCHASE AND SALE of LAND, for members of ...

The senior state official announces a plan for his commission: a Court of Accounts

On page 7