A MANEUVER? On pages 12–13

THE HELSINKI ALBANIAN REPORT SHEDS LIGHT ON OUR CELLS “It is forbidden to make love with your husband or wife.” This is one of the deprivations faced by Albanian prisoners, and, in quite a few cases, by women prisoners too. Although international practice grants all married prisoners the “freedom” of a special visit, and although special rooms exist in Albanian prisons and the relevant law does not prohibit it, women prisoners in Albania can only shake their husbands’ hands. In short, it has been observed that women do not have the right to a special visit, just like men do. The official justification is that “such a thing could result in their becoming pregnant and, consequently, the correctional institution would not be able to cope with such a situation.” “This is discriminatory,” states the monitoring report of the Helsinki Committee. On the other hand, the only logical consequence of such a deprivation.. On page 9

In Albania they see me as a monster; in Italy they will convict me . Otranto captain seeks asylum in Belgium. The commander of the ship “Kater I Radës,” which sank on 28 February 1997 during a collision with the Italian military vessel “Sibilla,” causing 86 deaths, has sought political asylum in Belgium. Namik Xhaferi, who has been arrested. On page 17

the editorial Today marks the fifth day that Meta’s decision to dismiss two ministers from his cabinet has been on Meidani’s desk. Everything suggests that signing will use up the entire period allowed by the Constitution for him to sign the decree. Meanwhile, an undeclared war of nerves is emerging between the Prime Minister and the President. The country’s fundamental law provides that, following the Prime Minister’s request to dismiss members of the government cabinet, the head of state must decree the proposed government changes within seven days. The Constitution also gives Meidani the right to reject the Prime Minister’s request. In such a case, the government loses its legitimacy and the majority must propose another prime minister. But the legal possibility that Meidani will not decree the dismissals signed by Meta is ruled out. First, because the two dismissed ministers themselves, Zogaj and Preçi, have publicly stated that they no longer want to remain in this government. The head of state also cannot ask the majority to find another prime minister. For a year now, the opposition has been calling for early elections and five governments. Ilir Babaramо. Continued on page 3

“It is forbidden to make love with your husband or wife.”