Industry still poses a danger to workers The Women’s Association conducts the study. It will soon make recommendations to the authorities Work and poison for women in Elbasan. Along with their wages, hundreds of women workers in industry also take poison from the factories and plants. The huge clouds of smoke and various gases released during work processes in industrial complexes have introduced chemical compounds dangerous to their health into their bodies. On page 3

TIRANA - There ought to have been many more, but the usual daily bustle has not kept away the flowers that have become the symbol of the traditional women’s holiday. In fact, 8 March began yesterday; fate has decreed that the annual celebration of mothers and sisters in Albania should be tinged with that of teachers, a category in which more women than men work, at least that is how it appears on the surface. Visits to one another, colorful clothes, smiles and laughter—it really is cold, but each woman can show off her best clothes—a fruit juice or a drink in a café with the city “friends,” all add to the song of peace and festive atmosphere that began to prevail in Tirana yesterday. We are sad, genuinely sad, that our report on the 8 March celebrations has to be accompanied by another story concerning women and girls. A troubling signal comes from Elbasan, making us turn somewhat away from the reality we see every day with our own “capital-city” eyes: women in Albania are first and foremost working every day to secure their own existence and that of the families they belong to; they are factory workers, village teachers who face life’s hardships every day, and young girls burdened by the load of [unclear]. The festive scenes that can undoubtedly be found in the cities are a joyful sight, but they should not make us forget what is repeated across most of the country. Albanian women live in a particular situation, between their aspirations and the real opportunities to create a more dignified life, a life in which they feel equal in every sphere.

The government extends the deadline TIRANA - Families living in refugees’ homes will be able to live in peace for another year. A recent government decision has extended the deadline for vacating the refugees’ homes by another year. By 31 December this year, they must have found their own way to find accommodation. Thus, calm—albeit temporary—has returned to the families of the squatters. More than 2,000 families have been living for four years in homes left behind by families who had abandoned the country, following a government decision. On page 3

Yesterday its leaders decided at the plenary meeting A petition to the presidency for a referendum on the form of the state will soon be submitted On page 3 Sabri Godo

He had killed in Germany He had also been wanted by Interpol for three months Had killed in Germany TIRANA - The young man who had killed his fellow countryman in Germany has been arrested. A. Strazimiri was detained by police three days ago. The killer’s son has been placed under arrest and remanded in custody. Strazimiri was also wanted by Interpol for various thefts in Dusseldorf, Germany, where he had gone as an emigrant. Meanwhile, for two months he had also been wanted for the murder of 32-year-old Ilir Kozel from Tirana, who was also a refugee in Germany. On page 5

KORÇË - The bomb planted in Tirana a week ago was repeated in Korçë, but under completely different circumstances. On Tuesday morning, an unusual paper bag was found on the desk of the principal of “Raqi Qirinxhi” high school. In the girls’ hands was a bomb! Terror and panic seized everyone, and the police were immediately alerted. Special units sealed off the high school, and police officers, risking their lives to defuse it—the bomb could explode at any moment—went into the toilet to find the deadly device. But it was not long before the place of the frightened pranksters was revealed... At school, among the imaginary terrorists, a girl in the second year and a boy in the third year had decided to amuse themselves by frightening their classmates. They summoned the most talked-about “character” among Albanians these days, the bomb, as if to test their peers’ nerves. But it took only a few moments for them to realize that their joke had gone too far. The police arrived, and the terror experienced by the young people was enough to make them understand their mistake. It was too late to get away with just an apology. Police took one of the female students to the station; imitating what she may have heard about attacks on television, she had decided to stage an “attack” with a warning. The severity of the punishment is not known, but it is expected that at least her teachers will not forget her bomb joke. Elsa Koçiu

Every step toward the center costs a fistful of money A journey through the capital’s apartment business On page 5

TIRANA - The case file of journalist Ylli Polovina has arrived at the court. Soon, around the 12th, he will appear before the judges to answer the now familiar charge against him: “Public incitement to violent acts.” Polovina was arrested on 26 February this year, the day a car bomb exploded in Tirana, causing the tragedy. The charge against him concerns an article he published a few months earlier in the newspaper “Populli PO”, entitled “A bomb in Shkup could explode in Tirana too”. Polovina will thus be the first person arrested in connection with the tragic attack in Tirana to appear before justice. On page 5 Ylli Polovina after his arrest (H. Pustina)

Dairy products cost more TIRANA - Inflation in consumer goods reached 127.45 percent in February compared with December 1993. TIRANA - Inflation in consumer goods reached 127.45 percent in February compared with December 1993, [unclear], having risen by 1.7 percent compared with January. Compared with the same period of the previous year, the inflation index in Albania rose by 5.71 percent. According to data from the Institute of Statistics, this resulted from a 2.4 percent rise in the price index for the “food, beverages, tobacco” group. On page 7

From the World Grozni’s fate at a critical point On page 2 Women of Grozni protest (REUTERS)

Yesterday its leaders decided at the plenary meeting Berat sports fans threaten to invade the field Fans: “We disagree with the punishments” BERAT - Following a series of FSHF sanctions, Berat coach Kristaq Mile made a statement calling for the Albanian Football Federation’s decision to punish two Berat players to be overturned. The decision has sparked a strong reaction and protest in the Berat camp. Under the ruling, the two Berat players, Zëre and Dinos, will miss two and four matches respectively. The FSHF decision has provoked a reaction from ultras fans and local officials in the district, who gathered at the stadium yesterday during the afternoon training session and angrily urged the players to boycott their next match against Besëlidhja. Otherwise, they threatened to invade the field and prevent the match from starting. The harshest accusations, however, came from the management of “Tomorrow”. Coach Mile said: “The punishment of my footballers is prejudged.” The manner [of the decision] cannot be justified; it has prompted many people to take a stand against injustice. For once, the FSHF and the sporting public really reacted, in a statement published in “Tomorrow”. “Flamurtari” became angry and tense before the match because of the provocation by volunteer supporters. In the 51st minute, and I say openly and publicly that midfielder Rusi was deliberately injured by Lako, after Lako’s challenge; this is not where the management’s decision and the match officials’ responsibilities should end. All these referees must be able to confirm the response, including from the FSHF, and [unclear]. Thus, with [unclear] at work, the public and everyone [unclear] against the departure, ensuring the championship’s provocateur. This has nothing to do with the names Qafa, chairman of the municipal council, who stated one night during the meeting, in response to the FSHF’s request: “We have no other absurd decision.” Cup Winners’ Cup “Parma” defeat the French On page 8

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