JUSTICE / 22 innocent people were executed without trial The indictment against the ten former communist leaders once again brings back the incident at the former Soviet Legation. Çarçani, Myftiu and Marko are responsible EDMOND LACI TIRANE — “The families of several reactionaries, recently executed for terrorist activity against the people’s power, are to be sent to that town, after being expelled from Tirana. See to their housing arrangements, and also find them work so that they can earn their daily bread.” This is one of many documents that are now being used as evidence of the accusation. Signed — on Enver Hoxha’s orders — by Adil Çarçani on 2 March 1951, then Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, it had been distributed to the executive committees of Fier, Vlorë, Berat, Skrapar and Lushnjë. Included in the indictment against the ten former leaders and senior officials of the communist regime — which is expected to bring them before court — the document clearly denounces responsibility for the killing of 22 innocent people, accused in connection with the incident at the former Soviet Legation. A history accompanied for 40 years by mystery, distortions and suffering. Now — among the accused still alive — only Çarçani, Myftiu and Marko remain, and they will also have to defend themselves against the other charge, which states: “intentionally and in collusion they ignored this serious criminal episode of abuse of office, causing cri- The mass grave in Mnik The Prosecutor’s Office has now also accused them — apart from the other episodes — over the mystery of the events of 19 February 1951 in the yard of the former Soviet Legation. An event that led to the immediate arrest of more than 100 people, the summary execution of 22 of them, and the sending of others to concentration camps in Fier, Vlorë, Berat, Skrapar and Lushnjë. More than innocent. The three innocent victims on the evening of 19 February 1991 — included in the 1991 file — the Plenum of the Supreme Court had declared innocent the 22 people who had been executed and buried in one night by the organs of the State Security and in the village of Mnik. But this innocence and the suffering of the relatives — along with the truth of this episode — now implicate the people of Justice. The primary responsibility lies with Hoxha, Shehu, Haznedari, Balluku, Haxhendari, Çuçi, Panajot Plasari and Sokrati[?], but — according to the indictment — also Adil Çarçani, Manush Myftiu and Rita Marko. The latter may still have to answer for the charges and the others in connection with the “bomb” incident at the former Soviet Legation. The document signed by Adil Çarçani for the internment of the families of the 22 executed people — according to the indictment as well — becomes the starting point for uncovering who the real authors were who had thrown dynamite into the courtyard of the former Soviet Legation. But the collective crime of the communist leadership — the investigative bodies now have also uncovered — includes the preparation of false documents from the investigative and judicial proceedings by the then leaders for other acts. Such are the record of 27 February 1951, concerning the trial, and a decision of the court of Junx[?] Kacel, meanwhile he had apparently committed suicide a few days earlier by jumping from the heights of the former Security offices, during violent questioning. Likewise the amnesty decree of 26 February of that year, “On the prosecution and punishment of the activity of terrorist organizations”, even though this decree was not used even against the real perpetrators who had thrown dynamite into the courtyard of the former Soviet Legation. In any case, the trial — to be held soon — will be the final page of a truth that had been missing for years, covered by the very people who had organized it and many other crimes of that dictatorship.

TIRANE — Parliament has just approved its work programme for the period 4 May to 16 June this year. Among many legislative acts, the programme also includes an interpellation with Prime Minister Meksi concerning the problem of corruption and the fight against it. The interpellation will also be held with ministers Bitiçi, Kuka, Serreqi and Agostin on issues in the sectors they oversee. During this period, the temporary parliamentary committee appointed to examine the events of 14 January in the city of Shkodër, known as the “Çekini case”, will also report. The deputies will discuss several amendments and additions to existing laws. In this context, debate will concern the law “On forests and the forestry service police”, “On the privatization of state-owned housing” and the law “On excise duties in the Republic of Albania”. Parliament will also examine some changes to the state budget for the current year. The programme also includes the approval of several new draft laws. Thus, the draft law “On the valuation of agricultural land for compensation purposes”, “On the crime of cocaine trafficking, pensions”, as well as the one “On an amendment to the law on the revaluation and redistribution in value of the property of former agricultural cooperatives” will be discussed.

7,000 registered at the Embassy TIRANE — More than 7,000 requests have been sent to the Italian Embassy by Albanian citizens asking for war pensions. But so far none has been accepted. Those writing to the diplomatic office are former servicemen or their children or relatives — people who, up to the Second World War, served in the Italian Armed Forces and now are claiming a benefit once granted by Rome. Of the 7,000 requests, about 3,000 have been forwarded to the General Pensions Office at the Italian Ministry of Defence, but the answer for all of them has been negative. For the more than 4,000 remaining requests, checks are still under way; the main problem — Italian officials explain — is that the validity of these claims must be proved. In Albania, no ministry or public office is able to provide the documentation needed to show which Albanian citizens performed military service in the Italian army. Things are not much better in Italy either. At the Italian Ministry of Defence there is only a list, and an incomplete one, of soldiers. The rest of the documentation has been lost or destroyed. Among the requests received at the Embassy there are many that are suspected to include false declarations. Others contain statements issued by local administrative authorities that are considered invalid by the Italian military authorities — and often the proof submitted consists only of a photograph showing the Albanian soldier in Italian uniform. But the main problem is above all legal. In Italy, in fact, the pension system itself is very complicated: the war pension is granted, if applicable, not to the Albanian soldier who served in the Italian armed forces[?] but to those covered by the 1946 decree. This decree, issued at the time by the Provisional Head of State, makes clear that entitlement to a military pension required at least 14 years, 6 months and 1 day of service. Given that the Italian presence in Albania covered those years, it is clear that this law was designed precisely to deny anyone — or at most a very small minority — the right to the war pension. The only ones who benefited were those Albanians who, by 24 July 1940, had settled in Italy and acquired citizenship. But — considering the political situation of Albanians in Albania — they certainly represent a minority. Today, at the Ministry of Defence in Rome, they tell me that a solution will be found, but when and to what extent? The state, then, is complicated. (p. re.) Italian Embassy in Tirane

THE GOVERNMENT APPROVES SEVERAL NEW DRAFT DECISIONS — There were several different draft decisions that the Council of Ministers approved at its latest meeting. Thus, for former prisoners and political persecuted persons, a draft decision was approved granting them an annual compensation of 120,000 lek. Meanwhile, the government decided to authorize the Agency for Enterprise Restructuring to begin procedures for closing the textile combine, gjeçit in Elbasan and the Soda Factory in Vlorë. During this meeting the Council of Ministers also took several other decisions. YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SHKODËR MEET POPE JOHN PAUL II — There are 20 young people from Shkodër who met Pope John Paul II in Italy, who gave them a special greeting and they give their help to the youth of the homeland[?]. The young people from Shkodër are in Italy to attend a course for educators of children with brain injuries. After this course — organized by the Deha[?] “Madonnina del Grappa” — the young people will work in hospitals and schools to be restructured by this same centre. IN SARANDË A NEW MANUFACTURING COMPANY BEGINS OPERATIONS — A new manufacturing company has now begun operating in Sarandë. It has targeted production of various food items such as salami, bread and different drinks. The company plans over time to meet the needs of the southern markets. ADOLESCENT: A NEW BOOK IS PRESENTED FOR TIRANE — A new book for adolescents has been presented in Tirane. This book by the French author Donata[?] Dubi is titled "Adolescents" — translated into Albanian by Feride Papleka — and has been published by the publishing house "Dita". The book is a message addressed to parents, children and young people who deal with this very delicate age.

TIRANE — The ownership issue concerning the company “Shpresa” has now been definitively settled. A decision by the Court of Cassation has determined that Rafale Nikolli’s partners in the company will not be only Aleks Luarasi and Come Cini, but Parrucino[?] Shkupi. It has therefore overturned and left in force the decisions of the court of first instance and that of the Court of Appeal, which had “duty-bound” to request a change to the statute and the founding contract of “Shpresa”. This change is made because “Luarasi and Cini worked at the beginning simply as administrators of the Republican Party,” states the court decision.

City council decision for the town’s bars and cafes ELBASAN — The municipality of Elbasan has declared war on the sale of alcohol in the late hours of the night. An ordinance issued by the City Council provides for heavy fines for vendors who sell alcoholic beverages after 21:00. Another clause of the ordinance also forbids the use of loud music in venues after the same hour. The first fines have now been imposed and the public-order authorities are determined to enforce this ordinance strictly. In this way, the aim is to reduce the number of accidents and cases of public disturbance. The municipality’s latest decision has sparked different reactions in Elbasan. It was first welcomed by the public-order authorities, who considered it a significant help in their work to maintain public peace. The head of the Order Section at the city police station, Kiço Frani, told Gazeta Shqiptare: “We welcome this ordinance. It makes our work easier for keeping a better eye on order and peace, because a large part of crimes and accidents have been committed by drunk people, especially in the late hours of the night.” There has also been a reaction from the other side: the taverns. Many of them have described the decision to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages as unfair. Meanwhile, the first fine has already been imposed by the police. A police patrol fined a trader 600 lek, after he was caught for the second time selling such drinks at 23:00. Three customers who were in the venue at the time of the incident also did not escape the police fine — 2.00 lek —. Although the municipality’s latest decision does not provide fines for customers, they were taken to the police station, where they were held for around 12 hours. “This had nothing to do with their glasses,” the police explain, “but with their improper behavior. They insulted our patrol, and one of them even struck a police officer while he was working to enforce this ordinance.” Mentor Kikia

CURSIVE REALITY TIRANE — The chronicles of recent days have been filled with reports about damage to cultural monuments. Now, even this much from the Prosecutor from the Government has been justified for the protection of cultural heritage. This is in an increasingly bad situation. These times the focus has been entirely on cultural monuments. A few days ago this Institute announced a tender, namely to occupy and protect these monuments, even through commerce. The winning company has the right, by carrying out restoration work on the building, to leave other reversible elements and use them for other purposes. For this purpose it will have the obligation to increase the tourist contingent and to use the expenses for tourist publications on this point. And thus, an original blend of business, tourism and restoration. It is expected that many cities and centres will do what the state, with its limited own means, has not managed to accomplish. An original idea that may perhaps give life to many old historical and tourist sites in the country. Butrint Amphitheatre

After the President’s decree pardoning four journalists TIRANE — Journalist Martin Leka has regained his freedom after several months in prison. President Berisha, by means of a presidential decree announced on International Press Freedom Day, released four journalists from their sentences — who, together with Leka, had been convicted on various charges. Martin Leka was declared innocent by the Tirane Court after an article published in the newspaper "U. A joyful atmosphere surrounded the journalist’s exit from the gate of Tirane prison on Wednesday morning. The embrace between Martin Leka and his companion at the moment he left Tirane prison (Photo Hektor Pustina) The embrace between Martin Leka and his companion at the moment he left Tirane prison (Photo Hektor Pustina)

Newspapers burst forth for young people and children From “Soros” a debate on the press ON PAGE 3 Middle East, a historic peace accord Moments of hesitation before the signing ON PAGE 2