AID SCANDAL / The first hearing for the PS leader and the three other defendants, Plaka, Gjini and Hallka, opens in a tense atmosphere 9:00 a.m.: Fatos Nano arrives at court AID SCANDAL / The first hearing for the PS leader and the three other defendants, Plaka, Gjini and Hallka, opens in a tense atmosphere Biography of a trial 9:00 a.m.: Fatos Nano arrives at court EDMOND LACI TIRANE — The trial, perhaps the most awaited of the year, opens today at the Tirane Court. After a month of investigations, accompanied by political controversy and tension, the aid scandal finally passes into the hands of those whom it has accused, to choose between guilt and innocence. Today at 9:00 a.m., four of the people accused of involvement in the aid scandal, including the socialist leader Fatos Nano, face justice. "We are awaiting the trial to put an end to the interpretations of public opinion regarding the Nano case," says Genc Gjokutaj, one of the two prosecutors handling the case, a few hours before the trial for Gazeta Shqiptare, "so that we can legally tell the truth also about the aid scandal." While rumors are still circulating in the capital that Nano's lawyers — unable to study all the case files — would not appear in court, they themselves deny it: "We will definitely go to the trial," lawyer Agim Tirana tells Gazeta Shqiptare, "only the evening hearing of the trial will be completed by our client himself." As for the continuation of the trial that begins today, Nano's other lawyer, Përparim Sanxhaku, cannot give precise predictions: "This will be determined only in the courtroom," Sanxhaku explained. 9:00 a.m., when the aid scandal trial is also due to begin, may be the last moment of the political tensions that have accompanied this trial for a long time, even intensifying on Friday in the final hours. And if outside the courtroom the climate of mutual prejudice still prevails, the protagonists remain measured: "We will carry out the legal defense of our client," assures Nano's lawyer, Agim Tirana, "while he himself, treating this as a political trial, has the right to mount such a defense." Prosecutor Gjokutaj also categorically denies the existence of a political trial: "The essence of the charge against Nano and the other three defendants has nothing at all to do with the political plan which they deliberately won in Albania — for us this charge concerns a political figure, but that does not mean the trial itself is political." In any case, the positions of the prosecution and the defense in the Nano case are diametrically opposed. "We are fully convinced that all the legal procedures will be clarified, and fairness will prevail," says Nano's lawyer Sanxhaku with confidence. On the other hand, the reply is just as firm: "We are determined to look the truth in the eye and judge it," says prosecutor Gjokutaj. The Nano case is also tied to the aid scandal itself, a story that for many months has shaken public opinion on both sides of the Adriatic. Used in this way initially in Albania — while the Italian investigations are still continuing — four people are defendants in today's trial. The socialist leader Fatos Nano was sent to trial by the Prosecutor's Office with the charge of "appropriation of state property on a large scale, as an accomplice, and falsification of official documents." Sokrat Plaka, Robert Gjini and Hasan Hallka are charged with "abuse of office." Only a few hours remain until the start of the trial, which will undoubtedly shed light on the mystery of the Italian aid scandal sent to Albania during its time of hunger. A story that has implicated many Albanian and Italian former officials and raised suspicions of aid diversions amounting to millions. In any case, the time has finally come for the chief of the defendants to pass into the hands of those who truly hold the authority and pen of guilt or innocence. And for the final discovery of the truth, of that which until today has been accurately prejudged. Former Prime Minister Fatos Nano: the trial begins today

Prosecutors Qeleshi and Gjokutaj ARBEN QELESHI: He completed his higher studies at the Faculty of Law in 1983. He then worked as an investigator in the Mirdita district until 1991, when he moved to the Tirane Investigation Office. That same investigator worked for some time in the General Prosecutor's Office, until on 30 July he left in the role of investigator. Later — in 1993 — Arben Qeleshi [?] became a lawyer and took the prosecutor's place. Today he will be one of the accusers together with the other prosecutor of the Tirane Prosecutor's Office, Genc Gjokutaj. First he accuses the possession of criminal offenses; he said for the first time, in the first opinion on the arrest of the Prosecutor of Crime and not on court proceedings. GENC GJOKUTAJ, Prosecutor: He is one of the two prosecutors who will support the prosecution in today's trial. Gjokutaj, 26, completed his higher studies at the Faculty of Law in 1990. He was appointed to the Tirane Prosecutor's Office in September 1990, where he still works today. He is assigned to the trial, important for his career and which has made him known to the public, are those of the guilt of B.C., chairman of the National Unity Party, the blocking failures or even the methyl alcohol case.

Lawyers Sanxhaku and Tirana PËRPARIM SANXHAKU, lawyer: He graduated in 1978 from the Faculty of Political and Legal Sciences, Law Department. After four years of work as an assistant prosecutor in the Lushnja district, in 1982 he was transferred to the General Investigation Office. He began practicing law in September 1991. Sanxhaku, 42, is married and lives in Tirane. In public opinion he is known as one of the most prepared and reputable lawyers. Among his best-known clients is Kino Bixheli, while the most delicate case is that of the Arsil scandal. AGIM TIRANA, lawyer: He completed his higher studies at the Faculty of Law in 1978, after having worked for eight years in the city of Durrës. In August 1991, the 40-year-old jurist left state positions — Deputy Prosecutor of Kukës and later in the districts of Përrenjas, Pukë and Lushnja — and obtained his law license. Among his clients is also the journalist Martin Leka. In these years of his career as a lawyer, he has at times won acquittals for his clients and has appeared in many arrest proceedings and trials. He is married and lives in Tirane.

They ask for salary increases Kavajë teachers boycott classes KAVAJE — The education system of the city of Kavaje is on a general strike, leaving the teachers' economic demands outside — paid and properly. The strike, has been sent to the Ministry of Education and which, later, have been made for a wage increase. The strike was started a few days ago by the teachers of the 8-year school "Rilindja" and was immediately followed by their colleagues from the school called "Naim Frashëri". The strength of the strike, including that of the teachers of the secondary schools, gave it broader dimensions at district level. Meanwhile, while the strikers signed none of their full demands, the strike leadership has announced that it will continue until the day their demands are met. It is also learned that the chairman of the teachers' union in the district has not commented on this strike and the unionists' demands.

AT THE DEFENSE ACADEMY THE NEW OFFICERS GRADUATE In the premises of the "Enver Hoxha" Defense Academy the ceremony for the graduation of the young officers took place. Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi — present at this ceremony — greeted the young officers on behalf of the President of the Republic and the People's Assembly. In his address he valued the work of the young officers as an important achievement for the Army. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS GROUP TV I ALB IS SIGNED The chairman of studies in the fields of hydrometeorology, environment and engineering, development of water reserves above and below ground as well as the use of transport. These are the objectives of the agreement just signed between the Albanian Academy of Sciences and the International Consultants Group TV i Alb. They first define the two countries to be coordinated in a clearer way and for more proper cooperation at the levels of study and implementation for the Academy of Sciences.

Justice Salary increases for prosecutors and judges TIRANE — Judges, assistant judges, prosecutors and investigators will now receive higher salaries. Parliament has just approved a draft law increasing the salaries of this category of justice workers, the effects of which will apply from 16 January 1994. Under it, the President of the Constitutional Court will receive a monthly salary of 20,600 lekë, while its members will receive 18,000 lekë. The President of the Court of Cassation will be paid 19,600 lekë and a member of it 17,450 lekë. The lowest salary — 11,200 lekë — will be that of the assistant judge in the district court. Also, the salary of the Prosecutor General has been set at 19,600 lekë, while that of an investigator at 12,400 lekë. In raising these salaries, account has been taken of the difficult nature of the work of judges, prosecutors and investigators. Charles de ga [?] is also treated and investigators will be valued more in the district and the difficulties.

TIRANE — Great curiosity has surrounded the trial that begins in a few hours in one of the third-floor courtrooms of the Tirane Court. Until 9:00 a.m., when 75 people holding entry permits — because of the small size of the courtroom where the trial will take place — this curiosity will be limited not only to the public outside. JOURNALISTS: Of the dozens of journalists, photojournalists and reporters, local and foreign, only 75 may be able to secure direct participation in the courtroom, at least for the first day of the trial that begins today. LIVE TV BROADCAST: Requests have also been made by the PS Parliamentary Group for a live TV broadcast. The Tirane Court has replied that this will depend only on the decision of the trial panel. In any case, TV reporters will be present in the courtroom. NANO'S CLOTHING: Since Nano's outfit has also arrived a few hours before the trial — brown in color — with which he had planned to appear for the first time. THE CHOSEN ROOM: Although small in size, it is the most suitable courtroom of the Tirane Court. It is located on the third floor of this building and has been closed for several days before the trial, with no other proceedings taking place. ORDER AND CALM: Perhaps because it is Saturday, no other trial will take place at the Tirane Court, except that in the third-floor courtroom. The Ministry of Public Order has assured the judicial authorities — through a notice on Wednesday — that order, calm and stability will be guaranteed in their activities. TWO PROSECUTORS: For the first time in the history of Albanian justice, the accusers will be two: the Tirane Prosecutor, Arben Geçi, and a prosecutor of this Prosecution Office, Genc Gjokutaj. Although not previously applied, Albanian legislation allows this solution. Tirane Court

TIRANE — Here is the history of the Nano case and the aid scandal from its beginning to today's trial. After the damning report of the State Control Commission, Nano is summoned by investigators for the first time at the end of June '93, but this time — with parliamentary immunity — only for a "conversation". On 27 July, the Albanian Parliament, by majority vote, strips Nano of his parliamentary immunity and on the 30th of that month he is arrested by the Tirane Prosecutor's Office. On 10 August, the Constitutional Court deems the arrest of the socialist leader Nano justified, following the protest of the PS Parliamentary Group. A few days later, the Tirane Court upholds the arrest order against the defendants, deeming the arrest lawful. On 26 October, the Tirane Court sends the Nano file and the aid scandal case back for further investigation. Albanian prosecutors travel to Italy where, for a week, they would investigate with the Rogatory Commission. On the scandal. On 16 February 1994, the Tirane Prosecutor's Office sends the indictment of Nano, as well as of Plaka, Gjini and Hallka, to the Court.

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