“In ’90 the PPSH did not choose violence” The ideologue of the old regime speaks from his cell Foreign lawyers for Nano EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — Two more former high-ranking officials of the old regime have ended up in prison. Rrapi Mino, former Prosecutor of the Republic, and Zylyftar Ramizi, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, were arrested on Monday. Both have now been taken to Tirana Prison, pending the conclusion of the investigations against them. Although the charges have not yet been made public, it is thought that they were arrested on charges of “abuse of office.” Rrapi Mino, 61, served longer than anyone else as Prosecutor of the Republic during the last 50 years in Albania. He held this position from 1977 to 1990 and was replaced by Petrit Serjani at the time of the major student movement. On Monday, at 12:30, Mino was escorted by police from the General Prosecutor’s Office — where he was informed of the charge and his arrest — to Tirana Prison. Only a few hours later, Zylyftar Ramizi was arrested on the same charge. That evening, at 19:30, the former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs also ended up in one of this prison’s cells. Ramizi, 55, had been dismissed from his post immediately after the statue of dictator Hoxha was toppled in the center of the capital; he had served as deputy to Hekuran Isai, who has also been in prison for some time. The former Deputy Minister was appointed to this post in the 1980s, immediately after arriving from Berat; before that, he had also worked as a teacher in Mallakastër. The initial theories about their arrests relate to the very important duties Mino and Ramizi held at the time. It is quite possible that Zylyftar Ramizi is being investigated for internments and deportations, which were so widespread in Albania at the time. During that period, he submitted the files on all those who had the misfortune of being forcibly removed from their places of residence, most of them solely because of their opposing political beliefs. If this theory were accepted — it has not yet been confirmed, although the investigation is being conducted discreetly — the simultaneous arrest of former Prosecutor of the Republic Mino and Ramizi would be linked to their legal cooperation in these internments or deportations, in the course of their official duties. In particular, it is still unclear what actions by Mino and Ramizi formed the basis of the charge. The arrest of these two former high-ranking officials of the old regime comes only two months after almost all the members of the PPSH Political Bureau had ended up in the same prison, also accused of abuse of office and large-scale misappropriation of property. TIRANA — Two foreign lawyers have also come to Fatos Nano’s aid. Immediately after the investigation into the “aid scandal,” involving the leader of the Socialist Party and three former senior officials, was concluded, a French lawyer and another from Greece arrived in Tirana. On Saturday — a day after arriving in Albania — the two foreign lawyers consulted with Nano’s Albanian lawyers, Sannzhaku and Tirana. But the purpose of Nano’s two lawyers’ secret visit to Tirana remains a mystery. The most likely theory is that they came to consult with their Albanian colleagues, although, under Albanian law, they are not permitted to defend their client Nano directly in court. Everything is expected to be clarified by 10 November — the deadline in Nano’s trial — when the panel of judges presided over by Agim Bendo will also examine the defendant’s accusations of abuse of office and falsification of official documents. Sella e Heterështë in Tirana Former Prime Minister Fatos Nano

TIRANA — Two foreign lawyers have also come to Fatos Nano’s aid.

Sella e Heterështë in Tirana

More than 100 applications in Tirana, but the plan does not allow it The Ministry has already issued 12 licenses TIRANA - (Ar.Me.) — Operating licenses for 12 private fuel stations. Another 50 are under construction. The large number of applications submitted has repeatedly exceeded the planned number. “The significant increase in the number of vehicles — Enver Karapici, the oil supervisor at the Ministry of Energy, told the newspaper — made it essential to establish various fuel supply and distribution stations.” Keeping it under the “monopoly” of a state enterprise had often created many anomalies. A single strike by these workers was enough for the consequences to be felt inevitably. There are many applications for this new activity. They are first submitted to the municipality of the relevant district, which then organizes an auction and selects the best offer. The winners of the auction obtain the right to the land and to build. An application is then submitted to the Ministry of Energy, which assesses and approves the technical requirements. Once construction is complete, a commission from the same ministry checks that the technical requirements have been implemented and met. Only after this stage is the bureaucratic process completed and the appropriate license issued. So far, technical approval has been granted for 62 stations, and 12 of them have begun operating. They are located mainly in the border areas of Korçë, where four have opened, as well as in Pogradec, Gjirokastër and Shkodër. Fier is an exception to this “rule.” The owners of these stations are mainly Albanian, though there are also joint ventures. They obtain their raw materials locally and through imports. “Nevertheless, given this situation,” Karapici says, “we will not be able to adhere entirely rigorously to this plan.” In Tirana, the rapid expansion is also hampered by the issue of land. The competent authorities want to avoid cases in which, after approval and a building permit have been issued, it turns out that the land belongs to someone else. So far, the Ministry has issued no approval for projects in Tirana.

80% of Albanians say newspapers do not tell the truth TIRANA — Albanians do not trust the press: more than 80 percent of the population has no confidence in Albanian newspapers. It is a very high figure, provided by the European Community and recalled by President of the Republic Sali Berisha during a press conference. The meeting was held specifically to announce his decision to sign the Press Law, recently approved by Parliament, against which eleven newspapers have just concluded a protest strike. “Politically, I would be against a Press Law,” President Berisha explained, “but speaking with the people, I understood that I must accept the will of the people. But one thing is certain: I will never sign any law that goes against the European Convention on Human Rights.” The new law — which, according to the President, does not restrict press freedom but, on the contrary, allows it — is intended to restore credibility to the world of information. “In a democratic country, the press must be important,” Berisha explained, “but it can be so only if it respects everyone’s freedom and tells the truth. But what role can the press have here in Albania if 80 percent of the population does not trust it?”

TIRANA — “The next political elections will be in 1996: people do not want early elections, which create only chaos and anarchy.” President of the Republic Sali Berisha made the statement, refuting some rumors — few, in fact — according to which Albania was preparing for early elections. “The 900 days separating us from the vote,” the President added, “can be put to good use, including by the opposition forces, to develop the Reform projects for which the Democratic Party, together with the other governing parties, has laid the foundations.”

Marsel Skëndo speaks. Tonight he will be on RAI 2 ANDREA STEFANI TIRANA — An Albanian on RAI 2. But that is not the only thing that may particularly intrigue Albanian viewers and lead them to watch the well-known program Central Express with interest. This is about an ordinary Albanian, but an Albanian who is rich. “In Tirana, an Albanian who wins on TV?” “Tirana: Marsel Skëndo appears in an unprecedented event” are almost the program’s headlines, while CNN journalists are prepared through cooperation with RAI and Europa News, in cooperation with RAI 2. The headline highlights the millionaire, but on RAI 2 there is also a name for whom he is accessible to the community. “I’m Skëndo and I reject this version. I’m the number 1 millionaire in…,” he says with a smile. “I’m on TV and I’m talking to journalists…” [partly illegible]. A great many newspaper headlines and government accusations connected with this young man immediately come to mind. In fact, the ADA company, which does more than advertising and food-related activities, has been made famous by accusations of various kinds. Meanwhile, Skëndo reflects as follows: “I’m in a democracy,” he says, “and only in a democracy can you be accused, can you be blocked and can you spe…” It is noteworthy that Central Express, which tends to portray the more difficult and interconnected aspects of the transition in the countries of Eastern Europe, in Albania’s case focuses on the only Albanian millionaire. Nevertheless, it should be added that the program was filmed in December 1992. Since then, Skëndo has become in Albania has evolved and the real millionaire and from the rain. In this sense, one can consider the question of whether Skëndo has become number 1.

NEW WORK PROGRAM OF THE ALBANIAN RED CROSS — The new work program of the Albanian Red Cross was approved at a meeting of its General Council. The meeting included a critical review of the Red Cross’s work to date, and the new work program for the organization’s future, covering the period 1993-1998, was discussed and approved. The program includes several important areas: health, disaster preparedness, and blood donors. This program will be made possible thanks to the support of various Red Cross humanitarian associations. SEMINAR ON THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD IN ALBANIA — “The state of agriculture and food in Albania and other trends in transition” was the topic of a seminar organized in Tirana by the Subcommittee on East-West Development of the Agriculture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the OECD. Specialists from Albania and various countries in Western and Eastern Europe took part. The importance of land privatization as a fundamental element of economic reform was emphasized. The seminar’s purpose was to learn about the countries of the former Eastern democracies and the steps they have taken toward privatization. LAÇI LIBRARY ENRICHED WITH BOOKS — Since yesterday in 1991, the Laçi Library has felt the lack of books. There are few books and gymnasium students in this town are organizing to fill this gap in the collection. At the same time, books have arrived and continue to arrive from various cities in Albania, thereby contributing to the enrichment of this library. Italian libraries also contributed to this initiative with scientific books and dictionaries.

Foto Cami The former ideologue the PPSH did not choose violence» ON PAGE 3 Italy, many scandals; the president intervenes Long meeting on the secret services ON PAGE 2