Each electoral entity will have its own representatives
TIRANA - The much-discussed draft election law will soon be changed. It is still being processed, but the first step has now been completed. Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee has formulated the amendments it intends to make and, apparently, these give a chan[?] every chance of gaining the right to “citizenship.”
A document of just a few typewritten pages will be discussed in Parliament today. It is not yet known whether the parties that have so far fiercely opposed the draft submitted by the PD parliamentary group will or will not be satisfied with the latest amendments.
The parties at the table on the law
On page 3
Godo hands the statement to the PD
On page 3
PS “knocks” on embassy doors
On page 3
The Constitutional Court upholds the anti-genocide law
The request by the socialists and Gjinushi is rejected
Following yesterday’s ruling, dozens of politicians, party leaders and members of parliament are barred from being re-elected to senior bodies.
TIRANA - The Constitutional Court rejects the requests of the PS and PSD. “The law on genocide is based on constitutional provisions; the requests of the PS and PSD are unfounded.” This is what the Constitutional Court ruled yesterday on the requests of the two political parties, PS and PSD, to declare some of the provisions of the anti-genocide law unconstitutional.
On page 5
Yesterday at the Constitutional Court
Yesterday at the Constitutional Court (photo: H. Pustina)
Protest
“Jehovah denies the Flag”
BERAT - “Jehovah’s Witnesses are rejecting the national anthem.” Concern and protest over this widespread religion in Berat have been voiced in recent days by Engjëll Qafa, head of personnel at the Education Directorate in Berat.
In a letter addressed to the President, Minister Laco and the newspaper, entitled “A religion that rejects the flag is not needed by the Albanian people,” he has protested vehemently and called for measures to be taken to prevent the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who, through their preaching, “become harmful to the nation and national culture. No religion rejects its homeland, knowledge and culture.” Qafa’s concern has to do with the departure of many students who refuse to sing the national anthem in the choir on Mondays, with those who are willing even to leave school rather than violate Jehovah’s principles, apod[?], and with the female teachers who left the lesson when the anthem was being sung. “I maintain that foreign gentlemen are poisoning our children with the theories of their faith; we are Albanians and no religion has ever rejected its homeland, except Jehovah. If these theories are allowed ...” “if these theories are permitted, future generations will not forgive us,” the letter concludes, from the ... head of personnel of the Education Directorate. Ha.Ta
One killed and five injured
FIER
On page 5
[MALESI E MADHE]
A “Constitution” for the securities exchange as well
The Government is reviewing the draft to be approved by Parliament
Ambassador Elio Germano speaks
“The Albanian economy ...
Tension in Allias: battle with the police
Several families refuse to vacate the apartments
TIRANA - Clashes in Allias. A violent confrontation broke out between people identified with the police forces and the residents of an apartment building in the city in the early hours of the mor[?]. Bricks and stones were thrown at the police officers and
Several injured
18 detained:
MALESI E MADHIT
Resignation of the head of Public Order
On page 5
VLORA
The escapees “imprison” two police officers
On page 5
KRUJE
Enforcement officers carry out justice
On page 5
Ambassador Elio Germano speaks
“The Albanian economy is too fragile for immediate association with the EU”
TIRANA - “Reforms have been carried out in Albania. But the Albanian economy is still young and too fragile to withstand an immediate association agreement with the EU.”
This is the gist of the discussions and decisions made by the European Union two days ago, as now confirmed by its Ambassador in Tirana, Elio Germano. The EU’s highest-ranking representative in Albania explained to Gazeta Shqiptare the details of this decision and the particulars of the new step agreed between Tirana and Brussels.
On page 3
The buyers’ law is back before the Government
On page 7
Mo... the securities exchange
Mo... bursën e letrave me vlerë
Battle with the police
Several injured, 18 detained: among them, a “KJ” journalist
TIRANA - Clashes in Allias. A conflict was about to erupt between the police forces and residents of an apartment building in the new neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital.
Bricks and stones were hurled at the police officers, who retaliated with rubber batons in an effort to force the residents out of their homes; several people were injured and 18 were detained at Police Station No. 1 — among them a journalist from “Koha Jonë” — this was the scene that unfolded throughout the day in Allias. There are 33 families of formerly persecuted people who, according to the Municipality, had moved in arbitrarily. Notified a few weeks ago, today they found themselves facing police forces, which arrived yesterday morning at the Municipality’s request to evict the occupying families from the apartments. But the situation immediately turned ugly.
On page 3
The “Levante Co” case resumes
Aid scandal: De Michelis under investigation
ROME - The story of Italian aid in 1992 and “Levante Co” has returned to the spotlight once again.
These are not new investigations in Albania, but in Italy, where a special court proceeding will begin on June 13. Yesterday in Rome, the special committee on parliamentary mandates authorized the Prosecutor’s Office to begin investigations into a well-known political figure from those years. The person in question is former Foreign Minister Gianni de Michelis, who is now accused of “abuse of office.”
On page 3
“Made in Gabi”: sales are falling
TIRANA - Huge piles of clothes stretch for several kilometers along the ring road.
They are second-hand, come from Italy, and for several years have provided clothing for a considerable portion of the population.
On page 7
Tirana, justice takes stock of ’95
“Judges are unprotected”
TIRANA - The Tirana Court takes stock of 1995.
Thousands of cases: criminals being sentenced, problems involving houses and property, divorces and reviews of contracts. These are, more or less, the cases that fill the offices of the court’s distinctive building every day. For the first time, to review what has been accomplished and the difficulties, Tirana’s judges met yesterday for about four hours, in the presence of Justice Minister Frashëri, for their annual work review.
On page 5
Colombo, 50 killed in explosion
From the World
(REUTERS)
On page 2
After the explosion in Colombo
They demand co-ownership. Organizer detained
Fier, buses brought to a halt
Drivers declare a strike
FIER - Drivers’ strike in Fier.
But it was accompanied by the detention of the strike committee chairman. The owners, who are also drivers at the bus depot, have declared a one-day strike. The reason for continuing their protest is the immediate increase in the company director’s share of the profits; he is also a co-owner.
When the company was privatized, it had been agreed that an amount equal to 10 percent of the profits would go to the director, but soon such an agreement began to give way to a dispute. The director has put not just a little, but 60 percent of the company’s profits into his own pockets. That has not been enough for him, since the share of the profits due to the workers has also not been paid for some time. This was another reason enough to provoke protests by the workers, which have reached the highest level. Thus, following yesterday’s warning, it was decided to declare a one-day strike. The law-enforcement forces were also present at this “spectacle,” to prevent any possible clash between the director and the drivers. However, according to eyewitness accounts, the police received a radio message ordering them to take one of the strikers to the police station; he had not been released by late evening. Hu.Rre.
