Halimi: Here are the procedures for pardon of sentence THE MINISTER “REPLIES” TO TOPI: PARDON, NOT JUST FOR THE HOLIDAYS Within the week, proposals for reducing or releasing prisoners will be submitted to the presidency. One-third of all convicted persons across Albania applied By VALENTINA MADANI The Ministry of Justice has prepared the requests of convicted persons for pardon, which will be sent within a few days to the head of state, Bamir Topi. In an interview given yesterday to “Gazeta Shqiptare”, the Minister of Justice, Eduard Halimi, explains the new legal procedures being followed to complete the files and criteria. In addition to the proposals for rejection that have been sent to the President, there will also be proposals for acceptance. According to Mr. Halimi, “pardon” is an attribute of the President of the Republic. He clarifies that the current law does not provide a fixed time as to when the pardon of convicted persons must be made, thus also responding to statements made a few days earlier by President Topi that there is no proposal for amnesty in his office. “Within this week there will also be proposals from the Ministry for acceptance of requests, in addition to those sent for rejection”... says Mr. Halimi. Continued on pages 2-3

Durrës-Sarandë, 1 ton of hashish seized, they were headed to the EU (In photo): The drugs seized yesterday in a pickup truck in Sarandë The “TRIO” file: those arrested are part of an important international network that transported cannabis to Western Europe Hashish, weapons, bullets, drug-cutting machinery and a “Hummer” were found on the arrested Leonard Dushi, Agim Hasaj, Leonard Sterkaj, Ervis Bici On pages 8-9

THE FULL INSPECTION REPORT On pages 4-5

Opinion of the Day By AHMET SHQARRI On ceremonial occasions or special events, especially during the holiday season at the end of the year, gifts have become so commonplace that sometimes... Gift paradox! Continued on page 22

Opinion of the Day By ILIR DHIMA Among various scholars, the compound word formed by joining the past and present tense, “gossip,” is explained as slander,... Rumors with an empty sack Continued on page 23

“INGRES’S VIOLIN” CREATED IN 1924 Postcard, Edi Rama sends holiday greetings with a nude photograph On page 6

VISIT TO DURRËS On page 3

THE DECISION Court: 1.6 years in prison and a fine for Paro Laçi On page 14

THE FIRST NOVEL Fatos Kongoli: Tirana insulted me, while Prishtina did not On pages 20-21

HOSPITAL INFECTIONS On page 11