TRIAL The Bllokmen change places in the dock The first phase of questioning comes to an end. The Trial Panel has heard the ten defendants. They all insist on their innocence. The court also sits on Sunday. The last to speak is Lenka Çuko, the only woman under accusation. Explanations by witnesses and accounting experts resume on Friday A strange obstacle for reporters in the courtroom A report or just commentary? CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — The trial of the Bllokmen is just beginning, but a decision by the Trial Panel is prompting discussion: reporters have been prohibited from publishing the statements of defendants and witnesses until a decision is reached. The presiding judge of the Trial Panel, Zeneli, explained the decision to ATSH, citing Article 40 of the Law on Freedom and Human Rights, which provides for restricting the presence of the public and information bodies during a court trial when required by “the interests of public order, public morality, national security, respect for private life, or the interests of Justice.” We do not know which of these interests the publication of a report on the trial might actually harm. The only possibility that seems plausible to us is the interest of Justice, since so far there has been no discussion of public order, morality, national security, or respect for the defendants’ rights. But a court trial is public, and no document in the case file remains secret from the investigation once it is brought into the courtroom. This is evident from the fact that the lawyers and the defendants themselves can consult the file, and even the prosecutor can do so in public. So why keep secret something that, under the Law, is no longer secret? We have been — amid controversy — among the main supporters of the Press Law. And it is precisely this Law that guarantees freedom of publication, eliminates any restriction not provided for by the Constitution, and accepts — as the sole exception — the case in which a news report “hinders, makes impossible, or compromises the proper conduct of a court trial.” It does not seem to us that reporting statements made in the courtroom (and thus made public) by a defendant or witness could harm the proper conduct of the trial. On the contrary: trials are public precisely to strengthen Justice and make the proceedings transparent. We are not lawyers, only journalists, and we ask to be able to do our job as well as possible, while seeking to respect the law. But we invite people to reflect: a report on a trial — especially an important trial like this one — is essentially made up of statements by the defendants and witnesses. Prohibiting their publication permits personal opinions and interpretations, which — as is well known — distort reality. We believe the Press Law was passed, on the contrary, to encourage journalists to report only the truth. Which path, then, should be chosen? Silence, thereby violating the moral and legal obligation to perform the public duty of informing? Or a report made up only of commentary, failing to respect the legal or professional duty to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth? EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The Bllokmen have changed places in the dock. For three consecutive days, ten of the highest-ranking former officials of the communist regime have contested the charges that brought them into the courtroom. This brings to an end the first phase of the trial concerning those whom the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has called “violators of citizens’ equality through the creation of privileges.” Meanwhile, much about the alleged misappropriations charged against them remains unclear, although the civil suit, initiated on the first day of the trial, will also depend on this. Friday’s hearing ended after the questioning of Qirjako Mihali and Pali Miska. But the other eight defendants gave almost identical explanations; the last was Lenka Çuko, the only woman accused in this trial. The court, which sat on Sunday for the first time, concludes the first three-day session of the trial this year, with judicial investigations set to begin again next Friday, in another listed round. By now, however, the ten defendants have given their version of the charges and have also been questioned by the prosecutor and the presiding judge of the Trial Panel. The arrival of 62 witnesses is now expected, but even more so that of the accounting experts. “The sums presented in the indictment,” many of the defendants’ lawyers told the Albanian Newspaper, “relate to 17 people — the other seven were separated out by the Prosecutor’s Office — and not just our clients.” According to them, the figure of 15 million dollars is very high because the sums listed beside the defendants have been artificially added together, while — they explain — the amount attributed to etc. “The issues concerning the defendants’ civil liabilities will be clarified definitively by the experts,” replies Genc Gjokutaj, the prosecutor in this trial, who was also the one who proposed bringing the civil suit. The Tirana Court

Juventus and Sampdoria fall Lazio-Juventus: Juventus forward Roberto Baggio during a duel with defender Di Matteo

CHILE, CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT ELECTED PRESIDENT — A sweeping victory for Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei, with almost 60 percent of the vote, in Chile’s presidential election. Right-wing candidate Arturo Alessandri, who won about 24 percent of the vote, was defeated. Frei’s success, however, is still not enough to amend the Constitution and thus remove General Pinochet from his post as Commander of the Armed Forces. MAFIA, FBI DIRECTOR IN PALERMO — The director of the U.S. FBI, Louis Freeh, visiting Italy (it is the first time an FBI director has traveled abroad), arrived in Palermo on Sunday morning to pay tribute to Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were killed in the two Mafia massacres at Capaci and Via D’Amelio. CHELSEA MAKES HER BALLET DEBUT, CLINTON EMOTIONAL — A punctual and emotional American, Bill Clinton was present on Sunday evening for his daughter Chelsea’s debut as a ballet dancer: the U.S. president, together with his wife Hillary, appeared to be on tenterhooks during the performance by Chelsea, who was performing with the Washington Ballet in Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” MYSTERIOUS SANTA CLAUS GIVES AWAY DOLLARS AND DISAPPEARS — Dozens of people in Boston are convinced that Santa Claus really exists. For days, a mysterious old man has been appearing unexpectedly in several parts of the city in a red suit, in which he usually distributes 50-dollar bills to small crowds, and then disappears.

100 NEW APARTMENTS IN ELBASAN FOR FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS — One hundred newly completed apartments in the city of Elbasan are being distributed to the families of fellow sufferers of former political prisoners. The problem nevertheless remains acute, because many villages in this district were used as internment centers in the past. Meanwhile, 45 apartments nearing completion will be allocated to the residents of building number 26, which is at risk of collapse. MEETING ON CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN KORÇË — A meeting focused on care for people with disabilities was held at the “Thimi Mitko” library in the city of Korçë. Participants at the meeting — parents, educators of people with disabilities, and representatives of the authorities — discussed resolving the social and health problems of this group, as well as organizing assistance for them. 72 PROPERTIES PRIVATIZED BY AUCTION IN BILISHT — The auction method has accelerated the privatization process in the district of Devoll. Through four recently announced auctions, 72 properties of various kinds have been privatized. Privatization is due to be completed in the coming months, while the warehouses of the commercial trading enterprise remain a problem; large quantities of packaging materials are stored there. DIFFICULT WORKING CONDITIONS AT KAKAVIJË CUSTOMS — For quite some time, a large movement of people and vehicles has been passing through Kakavijë Customs, which is on its feet and operating without a regular telephone connection, drinking water, or electricity. Construction has just begun on a separate electrical cabin with a dedicated generator for this customs point. Meanwhile, the problems with the telephone connection and water supply appear more difficult to solve.

Agreement ELBASAN — (p. re.) — Another twinning between Albanian and Italian cities. This time it is between Elbasan and Bologna. And soon there will be an important event: a fair of Italian products will be organized in Elbasan. “We have begun preparing the premises where the Fair will be held — Ndriçim Allaj, Chairman of the District Council, tells the Albanian Newspaper — we have made available a warehouse of more than 2,000 square meters.” Meanwhile, a number of projects in the fields of education and culture are being finalized. An Italian-Albanian friendship chamber has also been established and is operating in Elbasan.

Mother and baby from Vlora among the victims DURRËS — (p. re.) — Tragedy at sea, far from the Port of Durrës: a motorboat carrying 12 people who were trying to flee to Italy was capsized by a storm. A woman, her one-year-old son and a man drowned. The tragedy occurred on Sunday morning at around 11, near the village of Vil-Boshtova in Kavajë, not far from the Port of Durrës. The group of clandestine migrants had set out from Vlora on 10 December, trying to escape and reach the shores of Otranto. Their motorboat was captained by Selman Roçaj. After several hours of sailing, the weather conditions worsened and the sea reached force 8. In a severe storm, a wave capsized the motorboat. Afërdita Haxhi Ymeri, 31, drowned along with her son, one-year-old Fatbardh (both were from Vlora). Bujar Tefik Loshi, 34, from Gjorica in Bulqizë, also drowned in the accident. The tragedy was discovered on Sunday morning. The nine people who survived are now being detained. The bodies of the three victims are in the morgue of the city of Durrës.

Appeal to the population: remain calm BUDAPEST — Hungarian Prime Minister Jozef Antal died on Sunday in Budapest at the age of 61, as a result of an incurable illness. This was announced by the government spokesperson at an extraordinary press conference. Six years earlier, he had been admitted to hospital three weeks ago. Interior Minister Peter Boross announced the news on television, urging the population to remain calm and to respect the rules laid down by the constitution. Hungarian Prime Minister Antal

First results from an important Sunday election Russia: double victory for Eltsin “Yes” to the Constitution, majority turnout MOSCOW — A close associate of Russian President Boris Eltsin announced the approval of the new Constitution, which was passed in the referendum held on Sunday in Russia alongside the legislative elections. Since 50 percent of voters had voted, the referendum was deemed valid. As for the first results of the legislative elections, according to the «Ostankino» television channel, the pro-Eltsin bloc, called «Russia’s Choice», is in first place, with a slight lead over the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovski. «Russia’s Choice» won 17 percent of the votes in the Primorsk region (the Far East, including Vladivostok and the Pacific coast), compared with 14 percent for the LDP and 13 percent for the Russian Communist Party of Ghenadi Ziuganov. The «Iabloko» bloc of reformist economist Grigori Iavlinski is in fourth place, with 11 percent of the votes. President Eltsin as he votes ... the right to ...

Other Serie A results (on p. 4) Albanian Cup results (on p. 3) Milan loses the Cup in Tokyo (on p. 4)

ALBANIAN POST The first Albanian stamp was issued 80 years ago Those miniature paintings ON PAGE 2 Blood is shed over the Albanian couple’s honeymoon Ismail Kadare’s latest novel ON PAGE 2