The DP chairman calls for a political trial for Alia A firm “no” to the Socialists’ proposal for a coalition CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “Fatos Nano must submit himself to justice, and until his trial takes place, he must step down from his position as party chairman. He cannot compromise the political credibility of all the Socialists just to defend himself.” Eduard Selami, chairman of the Democratic Party, responds to the proposal for a coalition and dialogue made by the Socialist leader. And his answer is a firm “no.” “He is not asking for political dialogue,” Selami says. “He is simply asking to enter government in order to restore a neo-Communist system. He wants to move from the harsh dictatorship of the past to a softer dictatorship. That is why we must reject his proposal: to protect democracy.” But Fatos Nano’s tone seems more conciliatory... “As long as their sole objective is to take part in government. The problem is that the entire political force of the Socialist Party has been usurped by a group of people personally selected by Ramiz Alia and Nexhmije Hoxha, headed by Fatos Nano himself. His conduct is unbelievable following the serious corruption allegations arising from the aid scandal raised by the Control Commission: he should have resigned and made himself available to the investigators to prove his innocence, but instead he hides behind his party. As long as he remains the leader of the Socialists, we cannot begin any dialogue with them.” Does that mean that if Fatos Nano were no longer there, you would form a coalition government with the Socialists? “No, but dialogue could begin. We could sit around a table and compare ideas. The problem is that human relationships include friendship, love and marriage. They claim they want marriage; we do not.” How do you respond to the accusations Fatos Nano has made against you? “It is a baseless accusation, since I have not yet been investigated. If I were corrupt, I would not be living in a dormitory room in the Students’ City. But rest assured, as soon as the current criminal proceedings against him are concluded, I will report Nano for the accusation he initially made. I have nothing to fear; he does.” Nano does not intend to submit to the investigators, because he says he does not believe in the independence of the justice system... “That is false. In fact, I will tell you more: the justice system is an institution traditionally linked to the old dictatorial system. A cousin of Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi was convicted only after his family relationship with the Democratic figure came to light. Justice is certainly the weakest point in our democratic apparatus today, precisely because it has still not been properly reformed.” Do you think democracy has been achieved in Albania? “Absolutely not. It is still very young. We are trying to limit the mistakes.” Are abuses being committed? “Unfortunately, yes. One of the main efforts we must make is precisely to choose the right people to create a new concept of politics. The legacy of the past is very strong.” Today it seems that divisions in the country are growing... “That is the impression created by reading today’s press and seeing the current level of disagreement among the highest political ranks. But at a lower level, among ordinary people, I do not think much has changed. Our voters certainly criticize us, and we accept that. But greater friendship, greater openness and greater freedom are, I believe, undeniable achievements. That is why people criticize us but also place their trust in us.” At the closing rally of the 1992 election campaign, you called for Ramiz Alia’s arrest. Would you make the same political demand today? “Alia was the symbol of the red mafia; he was an obstacle to the development of democracy. In this context, I would make the same statement, but I stress that even today Ramiz Alia and his close circle of collaborators should face a political trial—a trial before the courts. This is, of course, only my opinion. I do not know whether the justice system thinks the same.” So you do not believe in the possibility of forgiveness and national reconciliation? “Social reconciliation cannot begin with justice. And the concept of forgiveness is based, first and foremost, on justice. To exonerate the heirs of the politics of a dictatorial system is to teach people an immoral lesson: that even criminals can be forgiven.” Eduard Selami, chairman of the Albanian Democratic Party, in a photograph taken in January 1992, one day after his party’s electoral triumph

A strange letter from Montenegro “That visa is in order,” a travel agent writes to his lawyer A strange letter from Montenegro A new document in the Lani case “That visa is in order,” a travel agent writes to his lawyer SHKODËR — The mystery surrounding Sulejman Lani, a diplomat originally from Shkodër and first secretary at the Albanian embassy in Belgrade, who has been in prison for about three weeks, has become more complicated. He is accused of issuing an illegal visa to a Yugoslav citizen who was apprehended by police in Albania. Now a mysterious letter has reached his lawyer, Spartak Ngjela. It was written by a citizen of Tuzi, Montenegro, near Podgorica, who claims that he was the one who handled the application and completed the paperwork for this visa. “Sulejman Lani is innocent,” the document says; it has also reached the Gazette. “I submitted the application for an entry visa for that person.” The letter is signed by Bajram. G. — whose true identity has not been confirmed — who says he owns a travel agency. “To obtain a visa from the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade,” he writes, “until a few months ago you had to spend 40 dollars, which for us is almost two months’ wages. So many citizens, in order to at least reduce their transport expenses, asked to authorize a local representative to issue the visas. I was entrusted with this task, since for many years I had handled these procedures through my agency.” “The name of the person for whom Sulejman Lani ended up in prison,” Bajram. G. writes, “is also in my records. I was the one who submitted the visa application and handled the paperwork. And I remember that this was an Albanian citizen living in Podgorica.” Here the letter’s account differs from what the Albanian investigators confirm: “Lani,” explains lawyer Spartak Ngjela, “is accused of issuing a visa for a period longer than the law allows to a Yugoslav citizen who is not of Albanian origin.” Bajram. G. continues: “A friend of this person personally handed me his passport and the certificate proving his Albanian nationality. I am ready to provide all the documents that confirm what I am saying.” However, since the letter reached the lawyer, the mysterious Mr. Bajram. G. does not appear to have kept his word. Added to the charges against the diplomat is now the question of the letter’s author. Does he really exist? Is it a falsehood? Or is what was written true and, therefore, is Sulejman Lani innocent? The letter must be delivered to the investigators in the case. It is up to them to assess it and decide.

Police in the Students’ City TIRANA — The police post in the “Students’ City” detained student A.P. from Kukës. The young man, a first-year student at the Faculty of Geology and Mining, is considered by the police responsible for 12 thefts that took place in the student dormitories in this city, while most of the dorm residents had gone home to prepare for the examination session. A.P. was detained after another student from the Geology faculty in Librazhd was caught in the act early the previous morning. He admitted to police that he had received the stolen items from his fellow student. The police immediately searched the room of the student accused of committing 12 thefts, where they found 20 counters, 15 sheets and clothing and other items, all stolen from students’ rooms. “Confronted with the stolen goods, the student admitted that he was responsible for the 12 thefts committed recently,” Lefter Vogli, a criminal police inspector in Police Region 1 in the capital, told the Gazette. Another student, K.V., from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, was detained for selling a Tirana resident the television set belonging to the building where he lived.

CSCE: “Privatize the publishing houses” PRISHTINA — After 11 days, the “Sakharov” Prize laureate, Adem Demaçi, decided to end his hunger strike. Shut inside the Prishtina Press Palace, Demaçi had been on hunger strike for 257 hours to protest the Serbian authorities’ closure of Albanian-language media outlets. In a press statement, he informed the public of the reasons that led him to end the strike. According to Demaçi, CSCE representatives have now given assurances that Albanian press publications in Kosovo will henceforth be registered as private newspapers and magazines, and that there will therefore be no further difficulties. “But the matter still remains in the hands of the Serbian bureaucracy,” Demaçi added. “Since I was convinced that the registration process would take a long time, I called on my brothers who had joined me in this strike to leave me alone to continue it until the moment of registration. But they refused and insisted that they would not leave me until death. This narrowed my options.” Adem Demaçi had previously urged his supporters to end the strike and resume their normal activities, but despite this, the hunger strike by Kosovo Albanians grew in scale and spread to many places in Europe and to the United States. Adem Demaçi was reluctant to assess the achievements of his hunger strike, which was joined by many Kosovar intellectuals, mainly journalists and other press workers. “It is not for me to say what this strike has achieved; that is for others to say,” he said. The end of the hunger strike caused great emotion among the strikers and other employees of the “Rilindja” publishing house. One of them declared: “This is the end of Rilindja.” As Demaçi’s hunger protest ended, Serbian military aircraft flew low over the Press Palace in Prishtina. The situation in Kosovo remains tense. Demaçi’s hunger strike further aggravated the conflict between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, who continue to demand guarantees of their national and human rights.

Inside Bari: the fishing trawler hit by the Serbs returns The mystery of the illness among American Indians Football: Albania loses 4–0 to Denmark

A group of Italian children invites several pupils from Tirana on holiday FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — They are making their final preparations to leave: A group of pupils from schools of telefecare “Konferencë e Paqes” in Tirana will set off in the coming days for Camucia, in the Province of Arezzo, Italy. Following the first contacts, made with the help of parents, and the provision of school supplies, the headmistress of the “P. Benetini” school in Camucia, Guillarona Bianchi Caleri, organized a party which was offered by the children to “Tirana,” around ... fifty? [unclear] from the school ...? A group from the school is setting off for Italy to spend the holidays at the “P. Benetini” school in Camucia. This will also serve as an opportunity for cultural exchange. A group of teachers will accompany the children. “Everyone ... one?” Andrea Topare, the school director in Tirana, explains the history of the ties between the two schools. It is a story of solidarity and sincere friendship, something that often happens among children. “Since we established contact with this school,” says director Topare, “we have benefited greatly in school life and teaching. But the most important thing, and what the children have felt most, is the friendship shown by Italian families toward their young Albanian friends.” For eight months, many families from the “Konferenca e Paqes” school have been corresponding with the children of Camucia. But correspondence is not enough for a friendship. The children of Camucia decided to take the first step: “Come to us,” their invitation says. The trip by the young Albanian visitors was made possible with the help of the municipality of Camucia, as well as with money contributed from the savings of the children and the “P. Benetini” school. That is how this trip came about. For the pupils from Tirana, it will undoubtedly be a wonderful adventure in a friendly place, and another opportunity to talk with their friends—this time about their lives and daily concerns. Tomorrow, as a gift, the large photograph of Milan

In today’s environment column, we will write about the issue of marine protected areas and their importance. Before examining the situation in Albania, let us see how other countries have dealt with this problem. With industrial progress, the need to protect the marine environment is becoming increasingly apparent. By its nature, it is highly exposed to all polluting factors. For this reason, economically developed countries, where such problems have begun to emerge, have drawn up special legislation to protect and preserve the marine environment, including the establishment of marine protected areas. The terminology chosen by different states to name them and the criteria for their administration vary, as do the functions and objectives for which they are established. Despite this, their main purpose remains the protection and preservation of natural biocenoses. France, which has 16 protected areas along the mainland coast and in Corsica, is the country that has contributed most to the preservation of marine ecosystems—not only through their number, but especially by organizing a careful and effective plan to protect marine protected areas. The protected areas are of four main types: “Cantonnement” and fish-rearing centers fall under the Directorate of Maritime Fisheries and are intended to increase fish stocks. Nature reserves have different regulations depending on the area and the purpose for which they were established; in addition to their conservation role, some of these also give a fundamental place to cultural, scientific, and tourist activities. The best-known is the national park at Port-Cros, in the Hyères Islands archipelago, which includes the island and the surrounding sea. Marine reserves are found at Banyuls-sur-mer and in Corsica (the Lavezzi and Scandola islands). Parks and nature reserves have their own specialized laboratory facilities, visited by researchers, students, and curious tourists. The marine reserve of the Principality of Monaco is also worth mentioning. Scientific research is highly organized in French marine parks, and this is one of the reasons these institutions have been successful in France. Besides the marine park at Port Cros, which has extensive documentation on marine fauna and flora, special laboratories have also been set up in the other parks, staffed by specialized scientific personnel capable of working effectively both with researchers in various fields of marine biology and with students interested in these subjects. In the former Yugoslavia, environmental legislation, which made no distinction between the terrestrial and marine environments, did not provide for marine parks as separate units, but rather as constituent parts of terrestrial parks. The categories included state national parks, nature reserves (under the authority of municipalities), and special reserves (which, for a specific purpose, may be used for fishing and aquaculture (Leme Channel, Malloston).

Police in the Students’ City CSCE: “Privatize the publishing houses” Yesterday in Albania Inside ROAD RESTRUCTURING TO BEGIN Thus, it ends amid tears

RESTRUCTURING OF ALBANIA’S ROADS TO BEGIN — Albania has the highest number of accidents per thousand inhabitants per kilometer of road in Europe. This was one of the reasons why the World Bank board approved a fund of 18 million dollars on May 20 for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of sections of the main roads connecting Tirana with the cities of Durrës, Elbasan, Krujë, Lezhë and Shkodër. This fund, together with Kuwaiti aid of 6.4 million dollars, administered by the National Development Agency (IDA), will be used to reconstruct 91 km of main roads. Work on the project is scheduled to begin after June 15, following its publication in the World Bank’s “Business Journal.” A tender has been opened to select the most advantageous design proposals from both Albanian and foreign firms. “Talks have been held about building highways, but we do not yet have the projects,” said Fatos Pojani, director of the roads directorate. “On the other hand, building them would require billions of dollars, which the state cannot provide.” This could be done by powerful companies that demand guarantees of returns after completion. CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ANNULS LAW ON LICENCES TO PRACTISE LAW — Following a request by the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Albania’s Constitutional Court recently decided to annul a law passed by the People’s Assembly in January 1993. The law called for the establishment of a commission to reassess licences to practise law and amend a law from December 1991. This decision annuls all the decisions of that supervisory commission for the legal profession, which had revoked the licences of several lawyers to practise their profession.