Armand Mero TIRANA - A pedophile in handcuffs, children raped, followed by a suggestive trial that closes the painful story with one of the harshest sentences. Alarm bells have sounded throughout Europe. And in Albania, too, this shocking phenomenon is not passing unnoticed. Within a short time, two foreigners were arrested in the country, including an Englishman—one accused of having sexual relations with minors. Justice will deliver its verdict on the perpetrator today. But pedophilia is no longer an imported crime. A few years ago, an Albanian pedophile was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and proceedings are under way against several others. The serious crime of abusing minors is accompanied by another unusual phenomenon. Despite the evidence—some of the most compelling that could be available to the justice system—not one of the pedophiles risks more than five years in prison. This is the limit stipulated by Albanian law. But isn’t that rather lenient? Without presuming to offer an opinion or enter into legislative debate, and considering only the human aspect—the sanctity of the crime and the consequences it leaves behind—we say that in Albania pedophilia remains “pampered” in the world of crime. A whim may be indulged often and invoked more in the name of change; it can destroy a child’s life, while the person responsible gets only five years. And if he admits his guilt, his sentence is reduced by a third. Is that enough to atone for what he has done? Moreover, is it enough to prevent further perversions of an unacceptable kind? One thing can be said of them all. The psychological shock the child may suffer can be fatal to their future as a person. On the other hand, unlike a thief, murderer, or robber—who might even change after serving a long time in prison—a pedophile is driven by sick instincts that accompany him throughout his life. After three, four, or five years in prison, the likelihood that he will return “normal” is very small. In America, on the other hand, he was sentenced to 12 years for the same thing; in Albania, if he admits guilt, he risks no more than three years. Is it right to let monsters raise children?

The pedophile had been sentenced to 12 years in prison by an American court TIRANA - The English pervert in court. On Tuesday, in the Tirana court, the Londoner Paul Tomson was in the dock for indecent acts involving two Albanian minors. Meanwhile, the prosecution announced information received from the Interpol office, stating that Tomson, apparently an inveterate pervert, had previously been convicted of pedophilia. In 1985, an American court sentenced him to 12 years in prison for raping two underage twins in the USA. He admitted the charge and requested an abbreviated trial Pedophile Tomson in court

Vlorë: 4 crates of TNT VLORË - Four crates of TNT were stolen from a military facility in Vlorë. Unknown persons entered the facility and disappeared with the valuable “goods”—it is suspected that they ended up on the black market. Criminal proceedings have been opened against several military personnel, while others have been dismissed from their posts. The police have nevertheless managed to identify two of the thieves and have issued a wanted notice for them. They are believed to be accused of breaking into a military facility and stealing weapons without authorization. On page 5

The beauties arrive for the big competition Miss Italia (Photo: H. Pustina) TIRANA—The girls competing for the Miss Europa crown arrived in Albania yesterday. They were welcomed at Rinas Airport with a simple ceremony celebrating Albanian hospitality: bread, salt, and heart. The girls—accompanied by chaperones—are staying at the Tirana International Hotel. On page 4 Miss Italia (Photo: H. Pustina)

Roundtable at the Social Democrats’ headquarters. The parties present their demands A new election date should be agreed by consensus Roundtable at the Social Democrats’ headquarters. The parties present their demands Opposition: “Postpone the elections” A new election date should be agreed by consensus Parliament approves the law TIRANA - “Postpone the dates of the local government elections.” This request was made by seven opposition parties during a meeting they held yesterday at the Social Democrats’ headquarters. The opposition expressed its wish that a new date be set for the elections and that this be done through a consensus among the political parties. Yesterday, the opposition noted with concern that “in Albania there is a grave climate, unprecedented in history, for guaranteeing free and democratic elections”; through its request to postpone the local elections, it also explains its other demands. On page 3 From the opposition parties’ roundtable

TIRANA - The punishment has been reduced, but the measure that drew the most attention was the three-year prison sentence for those who abandon voting commissions and election commissions. This was one of the most contentious provisions of the draft electoral law, which was passed yesterday in Parliament. In a two-hour vote, the MPs said “yes” to the basic document that will govern the entire electoral mechanism for the local elections in October. Meanwhile, MPs Hajdari, Godo and Sel- voted against [partly illegible] On page 3

KORÇË - Family tragedy: the parents divorce but also abandon their baby. Neither the mother nor the father agrees to care for the four-month-old infant. It seems that her future home will be an orphanage. But after the divorce of the two young people, the prosecutor’s office has opened another case, this time criminal. Her mother is accused of abandoning the child and failing to comply with a court order. They could no longer bear to live together and went to court to divorce. The judges signed off on the separation of the couple from the village of Miras, but the real problems then came to the fore. D. H., 25, and L. H., 23, also had a four-month-old baby. The court ruled that the mother would care for the child, but she refused to do so. She gave no reason for objecting to “living together” with the infant. The child’s father also refuses to take care of the innocent baby, but he was in conflict with the decision. “I can’t raise the child. My mother is also too old to take the child in.” Nevertheless, for the time being, the infant, who understands nothing of this world, continues to stay with her elderly grandmother. But the matter has become serious. The question of who will take responsibility for the baby’s welfare now requires an answer from the prosecutor’s office. And the charge sheet goes on to describe [partly illegible] concerning the girl and the child, whose court order has already been violated twice by her mother. [partly illegible]

UNUSUAL STORY Elopement for love: she runs away with her cousin The police are looking for the young couple. Their parents reported them DEVOLL - An elopement for love: a sixteen-year-old minor leaves home with the young man she loves, who is also her cousin! Although she knew this, the girl insists that love is stronger than what is lawful and says they decided to leave. “I never had problems with my parents about doing what I wanted, but my parents insisted that I not leave.” The young people left one day [partly illegible]. The parents went looking for the two young people in the village. The police decided to help establish their whereabouts, but the girl and her cousin—who was [unclear] in handcuffs for robbery? [partly illegible] And months later, “the cousin” as her partner. “They [left] willingly because I love him,” the girl said. I saw no value in the warnings and responsibilities raised as problems for the families involved—because of the reasons they seek—and the accusations made. The two young people were determined to go to the altar. The police were forced to withdraw because nothing extraordinary had happened and they could only have been witnesses to the exchange of gold rings. Elda Koçia Korça

“Albania” celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding TIRANA - The newspaper Albania celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding yesterday. Gathered at the Rogner Hotel, the staff of the daily, which was launched a year ago “to continue the tradition of the magazine of the great Albanian publicist Faik Konica,” invited journalists, media figures, and the country’s senior officials to its anniversary celebration. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, and the Speaker of Parliament, Pali Berisha, also attended the “Albania” celebration. [continues in the illegible section] On page 3

Cup Winners’ Cup: “Paris SG” confident Easy matches for the favorites in the first round of the Cup Winners’ Cup. On page 7

Legal in Italy: cooperates with the police The Italian law on clandestine immigration is amended. On page 2