They will be 20 percent higher. The Council of Ministers makes the decision
There will also be an increase in pensions
They will be 20 percent higher. The Council of Ministers makes the decision
Salaries raise their “heads”
There will also be an increase in pensions
TIRANA For Albanians, pensions and salaries are set to rise. Starting this month, workers and pensioners will receive 20 percent more in their wallets, according to what was announced earlier. This was the most important decision made yesterday at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, among the many approvals of ministry proposals. This average increase will begin to be implemented starting April 1—as stated in the document—and is expected to be followed by another during the second half of this year.
Greater benefits for low pensions and those in rural areas: they will increase by 25 percent. The minimum old-age pension will now reach around 3,600 lekë
Prime Minister’s Office
On page 3
DURRES
Fires revolver: policeman arrested
On page 5
Gjinushi and Ceka “put a ring on it”
The leaders of PSD and PAD signed the first Resolution for cooperation
Yesterday, the Centre Pole was formalized
The leaders of PSD and PAD signed the first Resolution for cooperation
Gjinushi and Ceka “put a ring on it”
Yesterday, the Centre Pole was formalized
Democratic Christians gather in Tirana
The Union meeting on Sunday
“Analysis of the work done so far” was the main item on the agenda, where the Christian Democrats focused two days ago during their meeting
Gjinushi
Ceka
On page 3
Defence leaders: “A peaceful Balkans”
Yesterday the ministerial conference concluded
The Defence Ministers “poured” water on the Balkan powder keg. During the eight hours of the summit of Balkan defence chiefs, which concluded last night in Tirana, projects and proposals, initiatives and conclusions were put on the oval table. Concrete objectives for projects in bilateral relations emerged from Zhulali’s diplomatic briefcase; although he is “for cooperation and dialogue,” he sounded a note of “caution” regarding disagreements over collective security in the region.
SOUTH BALKANS DEFENCE MINISTERIAL MEETING
SOUTH BALKANS DEFENCE MINISTERIAL
The Defence Ministers “poured” water on the Balkan powder keg. During the eight hours of the summit of Balkan defence chiefs, which concluded last night in Tirana, projects and proposals, initiatives and conclusions were put on the oval table. Concrete objectives for projects in bilateral relations emerged from Zhulali’s diplomatic briefcase; although he is “for cooperation and dialogue,” he sounded a note of “caution” regarding disagreements over collective security in the region, which for him means “dividing spheres of influence and returning to old practices.” Bulgaria showed readiness for Balkan peace, which for Minister Pavllov means “cooperation in every direction, regardless of political, religious and historical differences.”
Defence Ministers at the Tirana summit
On page 3
“Tirana” in debt: ship to repay 750 thousand dollars
Remains detained in Turkey
DURRES - The ship “Tirana” remains detained in the Turkish port, meanwhile
Këndella is beaten: reports the policeman
GJIROKASTER - Beaten and badly mistreated at the police station. It is Arben Kën[?]
reports the police officer
GJIROKASTËR - He was beaten and badly injured at the police station. He is Arben Këndella, president of the “Këndella Manzo” company in Gjirokastër, who says he was summoned for a clarification and beaten by a police officer inside the Gjirokastër police station.
On Saturday, perhaps, Këndella, who is also a sponsor of the Shqiponja basketball team, argued at the sports palace with the son of the police station’s personnel chief. According to him, the 25-year-old had insulted the athletes, whom their sponsor had stood up to defend. The intervention of law-enforcement officers ensured that the incident was quickly brought to a close, with no consequences that day. A few months earlier, another incident had also occurred between the businessman and the young man, but for entirely different reasons.
Just 12 hours later, on Sunday morning, a police Ford arrived at Këndella’s offices and he was told that the chief of the crimes section wanted him at the station for a clarification. The businessman agreed to get into the car, but at the station he was met by the personnel chief, Rushan Veliu, the father of the young man he had argued with the previous day. Veliu struck and badly beat Këndella, who was saved only thanks to the intervention of other police officers. He was released, but decided to take his complaint against officer Veliu to the Gjirokastër military court. Al. Pe
The anti-genocide proceedings get under way
April 16. Kondi, Mihali and Bushati open the series
The anti-genocide proceedings get under way
Court sets trial dates
TIRANË - The start date for the anti-genocide proceedings has been set. In just over two weeks, on the 16th of this month, proceedings against the former communist leaders will begin at the Tirana Court. The heads of this court have now distributed the case files and set dates for their review. Judge Gjin Gjonaj will be the first to open, on the 16th, the files of the three former communist leaders accused of genocide: Piro Kondi, Qirjako Mihali and Sul Bushati.
During the proceedings concerning the arrest of the former communist leaders (H. Pustina)
Mother Teresa with a broken ankle
The well-known benefactor is forced to cancel another trip
Mother Teresa with a broken ankle
She had slipped and is now hospitalized
CALCUTTA - Mother Teresa has been hospitalized with a broken ankle. A minor accident caused Mother Teresa to slip; her condition is considered good. This was confirmed by a doctor at Woodlands Nursing Hospital, where the 85-year-old founder of the Missionaries of Charity was admitted yesterday morning and is under observation.
The accident forced Mother Teresa to cancel a trip to Calcutta airport to receive 50 tons of medicines and medical equipment worth 12 million dollars, sent by “Heart-to-Heart International,” an American charitable organization based in Olathe, Kansas.
Mother Teresa’s sisters now number 4,500 and work in 126 countries. On the occasion of Holy Week, a house of the Missionaries of Charity will also be inaugurated in Beijing, the Chinese capital, to shelter the poor and the sick.
In an interview given to the Milan Jesuits’ magazine, “Popoli,” Mother Teresa says that the Chinese government has appreciated and welcomed this initiative. “We recently opened a house of our own in Vietnam as well, and we have had no problems. Everyone knows the work we do to help the poor and the sick. China too, like all the countries where we work, has welcomed us... We never refuse anyone; everyone is welcome.” Despite her advanced age, and even an occasional “misstep” like yesterday’s, Mother Teresa continues to work and devise further charitable plans for the future.
VLORE
Sunday
VLORE
On page 5
VLORE
Sunday
Bloodshed:
two people
killed
On page 5
SHKODER
Fire breaks out:
house
burns down
On page 5
FIER
Dispute
over land:
he beats his wife
and kills her
On page 5
The ship will pay off 750 thousand dollars
DURRËS - The ship “Tirana” remains impounded at the Turkish port, while it appears that no solution has yet been found in Albania regarding its fate.
On page 5
G7, SOS over unemployment in Europe
From the World
G7, SOS over unemployment in Europe
Chirac at the Lille meeting
The seven Western nations seek solutions
On page 2
The Italian league in figures
SPORT
The Italian league in figures
Data, commentary and curiosities
On pages 6–7
UEFA Cup:
Bayern and Barcelona today
On page 7
