Its chairman, a name unknown in Albanian politics News of a group’s request to form the New Socialist Party—a request submitted to the Ministry of Justice in order to obtain the right to exist—could hardly fail to attract the interest of the country’s political circles and the mass media. This is all the more so given that we are on the eve of the start of the election campaign, in which the battle is expected to be fierce. The fact that more than 20 MPs from the current PS parliamentary group are among the party’s founding group further aroused public curiosity. Although the relevant offices of the Ministry of Justice are prohibited by law from making public the names of the members of the founding committee of a party that has applied for legal recognition, the mystery surrounding the New Socialist Party has nevertheless begun, in a way, to be unraveled. More on p. 4

SO THIS ONE TOO TURNS OUT TO BE ONE OF OURS, BY JOVE!..

Isai once again in the role of witness Once again together with Alia and Ruçi Isai once again in the role of witness The truth about February 1991 Once again together with Alia and Ruçi Yesterday at midday, for about two hours, Hekuran Isai found himself without handcuffs. Under an order from the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, a police escort brought him from house arrest, where he has been since 18 December last year, to testify as a key witness about the events connected with the toppling of the dictator Hoxha’s monument, the attempted military coup at the United School, and the development of events up to the moment when Ramiz Alia dismissed him from the post of Minister of the Interior. In order to establish an account of these events as close to the truth as possible, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office heard the testimony of former Interior Minister Isai for two hours. Central to the statements was his failure to carry out the orders issued by the Political Bureau in its final days and, first and foremost, his explanation of the circumstances surrounding the death of a “sampist” two days after the monument was toppled. Isai also explained the circumstances of was toppled. This is the second time H. Isai has been questioned as an important witness outside the genocide charges against him, for which he is held responsible for a number of expulsions, internal exiles and… More on p. 4

Shamil Basajev, one of the best-known commanders of the Chechen guerrillas, has warned Moscow that Chechen fighters possess the atomic bomb and are ready to use it if necessary. In an interview quoted in a Turkish daily newspaper, Basajev once again confirmed that the separatists possess powerful weapons. Meanwhile, Russian federal forces have begun bombarding the Chechen village of Goiskoe with artillery and aircraft. It is located 30 km south of Grozny. A large number of Chechen fighters have taken shelter in this locality, which has been abandoned by the civilian population.

The Constitutional Court in a difficult position A member of the Constitutional Court resigns. Returning to the Court of Cassation was the wish of Metush Saraçi, a member of the Constitutional Court, who left his job at the Court of Cassation after relations with its then-chairman, Brozi, became strained. Leaving Zef Brozi did not cause him any upheaval, since a few days later the High Council of Justice gave him the post of member of the Constitutional Court. Indeed, Metush Saraçi was the first to publicize the scandals of his former boss Brozi, who also accused Saraçi of backroom dealings. But unexpectedly, a year after this event, Saraçi is asking to leave the Constitutional Court and return to the Court of Cassation because, according to him, he had the opportunity to study at that court and feels better suited to serve on the High Court. Although the decision on this move had been made earlier, Parliament, as a formality, approved Mr. Saraçi’s wish unanimously on its penultimate working day. On the other hand, his departure has made the work of the Constitutional Court difficult: with one fewer member, it cannot make decisions when, on 2 April, it is due to rule on the constitutionality of the electoral law adopted on 28 January 1996. The appointment of a member of the Constitutional Court is the responsibility of the High Council of Justice, which does not plan to meet before 2 April 1996; consequently, the ruling on the constitutionality of the law remains in doubt. Another member of the Constitutional Court, Manol Konomi, has also sought to resign on the grounds that he is affected by the genocide law, but the High Council of Justice did not approve the request. Meanwhile, the Socialists’ pressure on the president of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Rustem Gjata, has increased considerably, with his past work as a prosecutor or judge being cited as grounds for applying the “anti-genocide” law to him. Yesterday, the Socialist daily “Zëri i Popullit” published part of a report on human rights in Albania, which focuses specifically on Mr. Gjata, the death sentence he handed down against a cleric and, above all, how the present-day state will respond to Mr. Gjata and his past. B. M.

To all Branch Presidencies and District Electoral Commissions The Central Electoral Commission of the PRSH orders all district branches and their electoral commissions to submit to the Party’s Central Headquarters in Tirana, by 10:00 a.m. on 1 April 1996, the complete documentation for every PR candidate for parliament. A candidate for parliament must meet the following requirements: 1) 2 photographs (postcard size) 2) Brief autobiography (two copies) 3) Declaration accepting candidacy for the PR (three copies) 4) Completion of the request for an official background check, using the form below: FORM The presidents of the district branches and electoral commissions will be held responsible if the required documentation is not submitted on time and in full. The Central Electoral Commission of the PRSH No. Name, Father’s name, Surname Place of birth Date of birth Current occupation Schools or courses of three months or longer completed Places of employment over the years, position, years, district What office are you standing for Newspaper “REPUBLIKA,” “Sami Frashëri” Street, near “Petro Nini Luarasi” High School, Tirana, Tel/Fax 259.88