For the first time since the lifting of his immunity, Fatos Nano speaks Appeal to Berisha for dialogue Parliament grants the Prosecutor’s Office the right to proceed against Nano. He is accused of abuse of office and document forgery. The Socialists were absent from the chamber CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “There is nothing extraordinary about the decision to strip me of parliamentary immunity; I was prepared for this too. And I am prepared for anything, because anything can happen today. But I am sure of one thing: what is happening to me, the accusations being levelled against me, continue to be nothing but a political challenge.” As Parliament decides to accept the request submitted by the General Prosecutor’s Office to lift his parliamentary immunity and now entrust the matter to the courts, so that his responsibility in the aid scandal can be assessed, Fatos Nano speaks out. He wants at all costs to show that he is calm; he continues to defend himself, declares his innocence, maintains that he is the victim of a political plan, and says that he is ready for anything: “If they arrest me,” he says, “I would be proud to be arrested. But I am sorry that this is happening at the expense of Albania’s democratic development.” Have you been in contact with the investigators...? “Yes, I had a very serious conversation with them. I asked them to close many gaps left open during the investigation. I also asked for a confrontation with all those who were supposedly my collaborators in the aid case.” Why did you not previously say that you would show the judges some very important documents you have produced? “Yes, some of the documents are in their hands, but there are others that can be made public.” What exactly are you referring to? “I am referring, for example, to meetings held in Italy between the Secretary of the Democratic Party, Eduart Selami, and the Christian Democrat MP Castagnetti.” This is an accusation that is already known and widely discussed. But it seems to me that your assessment of the decision to remove your immunity is the opposite of the highly critical view you have expressed of them. Do you now have more confidence in them? “I have confidence only in those who have the courage to defend justice and believe that it is possible to build a just state. Unfortunately, I find them very cautious. Today I am accused of having violated the law, and the laws ... In the important decision to lift parliamentary immunity, the decision came after the immunity had been lifted. The Socialists were absent from the parliamentary chamber. — and the Italian investigators as well. A very serious Republic Prosecutor was dismissed, and the person who replaced him ended up in a psychiatric hospital. And just a few hours before the General Prosecutor signed the request to lift my parliamentary immunity, the police answered me on the phone: ‘You haven’t found it!’ “What you are saying is very serious...” “I don’t care whether it is serious or less serious: it is simply the truth. Very serious things are happening in Albania today. And I invite President Berisha to reflect on this and also to agree to a conversation, to hear me out and give me the opportunity to build a dialogue. Albania cannot remain in this politically and economically truly explosive situation.” What is your party’s position on the recent rally, and what is different about it? “We have decided to fight on, to the end, to bring about a normal situation and, above all, allow dialogue and keep adventurers out. And I will try to bring this about.” We all hope that this will happen by peaceful means... “I hope so too. We are part of the Balkans, and I would like Balkan intolerance to end its official presence in Albania as well. This must be clear: the opposition is against intolerance.” You are clearly afraid of an escalation of tensions. Are you afraid? “I am not the one who should be afraid of tensions, but the person provoking them. We are only trying to protect this people from injustices and abuses.” Do you have anything to say...? “Yes, I appeal for calm and urge the people not to lose courage and faith, because I too am very calm. But I cannot help urging these people to assert themselves even more in order to defend Albania, to protect the new society and the old society as it renews itself, from those who control power and exploit democracy.” What do you think will happen from tomorrow onwards? “From tomorrow a new phase will begin. A serious phase that must serve to finally separate healthy politicians from sick politicians.”

FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — It has now been decided. By a majority vote, Parliament has authorized the Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute Fatos Nano. The leader of the Socialist opposition will appear before the investigators, who have been investigating the “material aid scandal” for some time. “Abuse of office and document forgery” are the latest charges against Nano. The important decision was taken by a Parliament in which, once again, Socialist MPs were absent. Only Namik Dodë, chairman of their parliamentary group, appeared to read a statement hurriedly signed. “It is a political attack against integrity; it is the essence of the dignity allowed by Dokle.” The Democratic majority does not think so, however. Its MPs had no difficulty voting in favour of lifting Nano’s parliamentary immunity. For Eduard Selami, chairman of the Democratic Party, the accusations against Fatos Nano have nothing to do with political struggle: “What the Socialists are declaring is very serious and very damaging — it is wrong — this way of reacting is further proof that they have not reformed. This is economic abuse, and he must stand trial for it.” Even before the latest decision by Parliament, it seemed that the matter had been moving much faster: “The only point I can criticize is that the decision is simply late; in any case, I consider it entirely fair.” Social Democrat Gago Apostoli considers this a straightforward case of corruption. “Without a doubt, Fatos Nano bears responsibility for the corruption that we have in the economic sphere, and everyone must answer for it.” But he does not forget to add something about corruption in his own ranks: “Stricter measures must be taken, and ...” For the chairman of the Republicans, Sabri Godo, there should be no distinction in the investigation of corruption cases between politicians and other suspects: “For me, what matters is that the law and corruption be dealt with, whether it involves 1 billion Italian lire or 10 billion lire, and that the same standards and treatment apply to everyone in court.”

If PS rally TIRANA — (Ed.La.) — News of the lifting of immunity from the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, has heightened tensions in Tirana. A loud bang — caused by an explosive substance — was heard on Tuesday morning in front of the “Struga” café, not far from the Parliament building. In the afternoon, as the People’s Assembly voted to lift Nano’s immunity and the PS Steering Council had just begun an extraordinary meeting, large numbers of police officers deployed in the capital’s main square. Perhaps this was because PS supporters had asked on Monday to hold a rally in support of their leader. “The PS request for a rally came on Monday,” says Tirana Police Chief Tonin Vocaj. “They asked for the rally to be held on 29 July. Although our authorities are very busy, permission for the rally was granted for 30 July. Like rallies held by all the other parties, this one will take place near the ‘Selman Stermasi’ stadium (formerly Dinamo).” Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether PS supporters will comply with the official response from the Tirana police. Because in Selanik on Thursday the Socialists will say: “With or without permission, we will hold the rally as we announced.” Regarding the explosion, it is reported: “It was 9:45 when the bang was heard. The explosion was powerful,” says Avni Skënderi, a bookseller who works near the “Struga” café, “but fortunately nobody was injured.” At Tirana Police Station No. 1, they say that the explosive substance that caused the loud bang on Tuesday morning had no connection with the Parliament building. “Nevertheless, our response team went immediately to the scene,” officials at the station confirm. “They found only a small hole and scissors. It has not yet been determined what explosive substance caused the bang or who may have thrown it there, deliberately or by accident. In any case, it was insignificant.” The latest incident occurred only a few days after an anonymous phone call to Tirana’s Central Post Office reported that a bomb had been planted on its premises. An immediate inspection by the specialist police units responsible for protecting public buildings found that the anonymous call was false.

TIRANA — Within the same few minutes, the number of immunities lifted by the People’s Assembly reached four. The latest — on Tuesday evening — was that of the Socialist Party leader, Fatos Nano. Here are all the immunities lifted by Parliament and the reasons for them: Azem Hajdari (PD) — For insulting and abusing the head of the PD Administration, Sokrat Shijaku. The Tirana Court sentenced him to a “social reprimand”, and his parliamentary immunity has now been restored. Ilir Meta (PS) — For responsibility in organizing and leading the illegal rally in Poliçan. After the investigation was concluded, Meta’s parliamentary immunity was also restored; Vasil Plaku (Deputy Chief of the Republic) — For unjust decisions — in connection with 97 imprisonment trials — made while he was Deputy Chairman of the Tirana Court. He is now in Tirana Prison; Fatos Nano (PS) — For “abuse of office and forgery” while he was Prime Minister. He is being investigated over the aid scandal, and the Prosecutor’s Office has not yet decided what measure will be taken against him.

A TECHNICAL ARCHIVE WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION — To prevent the misuse of valuable projects for personal purposes, the Ministry of Construction has asked the Government to establish a “Central Technical and Construction Archive”, which will come under the authority of this ministry. “There is certainly a great deal of misuse for narrow personal interests,” said Construction Minister Ilir Manushi. The Ministry’s latest measure is specifically intended to prevent such abuses. Another aim will be to preserve the value of many existing projects. The Ministry holds construction projects dating from 1926 to 1973. A CONSTRUCTION POLICE FORCE WILL BE APPROVED — The Council of Ministers has prepared a draft law that has been sent to Parliament. This bill provides for the creation of a special construction police force. This police force will assist local authorities in the fight against illegal construction. IN BILISHT, 1 MILLION LEK IN FINES AND SEIZURES — In the first six months of this year, the Bilisht financial police imposed fines and seizures worth 1 million and 137 thousand lekë.

TIRANA — The prosecutor drops the robbery charge, while the judge convicts them on that charge. The unusual court case took place on Tuesday at the Tirana Court, as the guilt of two young men suspected of having helped rob the Italian owner of “Filanto” was considered. The panel ultimately sentenced Fatmir Shanku, 22, to 10 years in prison and Taulant Bilai, 20, to 8 years. The case against the alleged main perpetrator of the robbery — who is being sought by the police — was separated.

Help sought from Italy and Greece TIRANA — (Ja.ba.) — In response to the AIDS alarm, Albania will cooperate with Italy and Greece, its two neighbouring countries where its emigrants may be found and who are considered potentially at greater risk. The Ministry of Health has asked the World Health Organization to conduct a joint study with Italian and Greek doctors on the lifestyle of its emigrants. The organization has given a positive response, and the possibilities for financing the project are now being examined. This is not the first time such cooperation has been noted. Some time ago, the Ministry of Health and the Greek Embassy in Tirana agreed on a form of cooperation in campaigning against “the disease of the century”; it was decided that Greek information materials about the disease would be translated into Albanian and distributed to the many Albanians living in Greece.

They were false alarms EDMOND LACJ TIRANA — This time, although the cat and the mouse have often changed banks, they preferred to play their game in the ... The matter concerns the banks, both foreign banks? The National Bank and the Savings Bank. The mouse played with the electronic system devices guarding the National Bank, while at the Savings Bank there was ... and the alarm sounded — in ... where the culprits were found: the cat and the mouse. On Monday, late in the afternoon, the electronic systems of the National Bank — a well-known institution in the country — sounded the alarm: “Catch the thief.” It would have been the first time that a thief fell victim to the sophisticated devices ... ... They keep watch day and night to protect the National Bank. After the rapid inspection by specialists from the Public Order Department, they concluded that the alarm was false. The “thieving mouse” had disappeared after its game. But only a few hours passed before, at 2 a.m., as ... the alarm was raised, another alarm went off from the electronic system. This time, a few dozen [meters] above the National Bank, at the Savings Bank. It seemed that the thief — who had previously escaped after making off with ... millions of dollars from this bank — had finally fallen into the trap. But it was the same story again with the Public Order Department specialists. The only difference was the “thief”: it was not the mouse this time, but its greatest enemy, the cat.

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