In Albania, the election law and OSCE standards concerning electoral practices were not respected. A 14-page report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has also expressed strongly critical views regarding the procedures and atmosphere surrounding the parliamentary elections in Albania. The authorities were unable to meet the electoral law’s requirement for a free and fair campaign, concludes the report, which is based on information from more than 40 foreign observers who monitored the campaign throughout Albania. On page 5 The OSCE document on the right

“A fair revote, but we are waiting for the OSCE” The latest position of the White House regarding the electoral situation in Albania arrived in Tirana yesterday. On page 3

EURO ’96 The Englishmen’s adventures... The championship took a break yesterday, but not the beer and gin A championship without strikers? Lots of pressing and a high tempo of play, but little beauty and very few goals. Only two teams, Germany and Italy, have scored twice. The teams are at an almost equal level, with five of the eight matches ending in a draw. The men in black are in the firing line. Major criticism of refereeing that is far from competent, and especially much criticism of its harshness. The disciplinary rules have also swallowed up the scandals and the antics. Hakani walks away from the match along with all the precious earnings, while three English players got drunk immediately after the match with Switzerland. On page 6 Sheringham drinking beer and gin

TIRANË On page 5 BERAT

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ENTRANCE EXAMS TIRANË - What opportunities do this year’s high-school graduates have to get into the country’s universities? How many places are available across the many faculties t…

“We asked for its mediation” The leaders of the “Center Pole,” Ceka and Gjinu-

Controversy flares between the churches ELBASAN – The saint’s remains have reignited controversy between the two churches in the heart of Elbasan. After previously arguing over their position on Archbishop Janullatos—the Church of Saint Mary had declared itself against him, while the Church of Saint Athanasius had declared itself in favor of the Greek archbishop—the churches are now bitterly disputing ownership of the holy reliquary, or the coffin containing the remains of Saint Joan Vladimir. It was the celebration of this saint, held on June 4, that in fact caused the unrest. On June 3, the priest of the monastery church in Shijon asked the Church of Saint Mary for the coffin containing the remains of Saint Joan Vladimir. When the coffin was handed over, a report was also drawn up, according to which the Church of Saint Athanasius undertook to return the reliquary to the Church of Saint Mary immediately after the ritual ended. But after the celebration, the reliquary was not returned to the Church of Saint Mary. After making inquiries with the monastery council, the priests of the Church of Saint Mary received a wholly unexpected reply from their colleagues at Saint Athanasius: “We made a second decision and issued a statement according to which the holy relic was sent to the archbishopric in Tirana.” While it is not known what will become of Saint Vladimir’s remains, the latest decision by the leaders of the Church of Saint Athanasius seems to have further inflamed the controversy between the two churches in Elbasan, which split from one another almost a year ago over their opposing positions for and against Archbishop Janullatos. Bledar Starova

TIRANA – What are this year’s high-school graduates’ chances of getting places at institutions of higher education? How many places are available at the faculties this year, and what are the exam dates? How many students will begin the first year at Albanian universities? How many are from Albania, and how many from other Albanian-inhabited territories beyond its borders? An entire special page has been devoted specifically to giving young people aspiring to higher education information which, we believe, they should receive now, so that they can plan their goals, wishes and opportunities as well as possible. The special page on entrance competitions contains detailed information for all young people in this category. The page is also useful to education authorities, so that communication between them and young people can be as effective as possible.

The leaders of the “Centre Pole,” Ceka and Gjinushi, speak from Athens: “Here is what we discussed in meetings with Greek officials and politicians” The Albanian opposition has also asked Greece to act as mediator between it and the Council of Europe. The three opposition leaders, Namik Dokle, Neritan Ceka and Skënder Gjinushi, repeatedly reiterated their “surprise” request for Greece to mediate with the CoE during all of yesterday’s meetings with politicians from the neighboring country. This was one of the formulas proposed by the opposition trio, who also made sure to submit their other proposals to their Greek colleagues. On page 3

ELBASAN – The saint’s remains have reignited controversy between the two churches in the Elbasan district. ELBASAN – in the Elbasan district. After arguing some time ago declared itself in favor of the Greek archbishop—the two

4 killed, 12 injured Perpetrators still unknown On page 2 Moscow, moments after the explosion (Photo: REUTERS)

Every week, dozens of cases in court TIRANA—Women emigrate, men seek divorce. The breakdown of the family, a wound that is increasingly taking on worrying proportions, now has an additional, previously unreported cause: women are abandoning their families by emigrating to various European countries. For this reason, it is now the men who are seeking divorce. Is it their resentment toward a wife who lives and “works” alone in a foreign land, or their own and their children’s need to have a woman at home? Perhaps both together are driving men to turn to the courts. Curiously, notices from judges are posted on the walls of the Tirana court. “Since the defendant ‘X’ is in Greece, at the defendant’s address, we hereby announce this petition…” These are cases filed by men seeking divorce. Each week around 30 cases are registered at the capital’s court, more than half of them brought by men. Judges say that most seek divorce for the sole reason that their wives have abandoned their families by emigrating to various countries. Emigration has become a paradise-cum-misfortune for dozens of married couples. Men who emigrate and do not return to Albania are betrayed by their loved ones. Women emigrate without an address and without leaving a forwarding address. What do these women do, and what becomes of their love? What do these women do in foreign countries? The men do not seem to care at all, since no one can be sure that their love is still alive. Somewhere, it has taken another path; everything was gathered together with the sole aim of bringing the mother back to the abandoned children, but these are rare cases. The others go to court, get divorced and “break up the family.” Mentor Kilja

Observers’ report arrives in Tirana yesterday: criticism of irregularities in the campaign and manipulation

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FROM THE WORLD ALBANIA OF THE METROPOLITAN, WOMEN TOO ABANDON THEIR FAMILIES