Today he will speak about the aid scandal The former president as a witness in the Nano trial courtroom CARLO BOLLINO TIRANE — The last time we saw him was in January of last year: he was standing before the bench, his hands in his pockets and tears in his eyes. He answered the judges’ questions without ever looking them in the eye. Hoxha, the dictator’s widow, accused of having received excessive privileges when her husband Ramiz Alia was in power, appeared briefly, and what she said that day was — in her intention — to defend the old honor, and later to denounce, as last year, Alia, the former dictator and former president, once again in a courtroom as a witness. Today, at the trial in which, too, the judges are involved, are the defendants Fatos Nano, Sokrat Plaka and Robert Gini. It is the first time that Ramiz Alia is being questioned about this serious case. He defended himself yesterday through more than 3 sessions of testimony before being brought, as a question. Ramiz Alia will enter the courtroom in the presence of the hands: since last summer — after a long stay in Tirana prison awaiting trial for serious crimes committed during the regime period. As usual, since the beginning of the trial, security measures will be tightened and access to the courtroom will be highly selective. There is great curiosity about Alia’s statement: since the democratic turning point of 22 March, after the Party on the 22nd went into opposition and Ramiz Alia took over the office of President of the Republic, today’s is the first face-to-face confrontation between Fatos Nano and Enver Hoxha. Today in the courtroom, which is expected to be packed as usual, the two will again see each other eye to eye for a few moments. Linked by a political past that had many shared moments, later reaching its peak in the transitional government, when Alia entrusted Nano with the office of prime minister (the government accused in this case of manipulating Italian aid), Alia and Nano later lived different destinies. Alia remained tied to his image as a dictator and never knew — nor wanted — to distance himself from the regime. “Yes, there have been mistakes,” he likewise stated in an interview with Gazeta Shqiptare a few months ago — “but Enver Hoxha’s figure cannot be dismissed with a hasty criticism. No, I would not do otherwise if I were him.” Fatos Nano has publicly maintained his links with the regime but has not been able to convince the democratic majority, which accuses him of still representing the politics of the past. Today the destinies of the two men will cross in the same room. Alia will be the only witness: in this and the indictment’s absence — although in the aid scandal, Fatos Nano was prime minister and Ramiz Alia was President of the Republic. Of course, Alia knows a great deal, perhaps more than anyone else, about this case, but what will he be willing to answer? So far no judge has made him a defendant over the aid affair, but two questions remain: the main ones for which he must have been called to answer by the defense and the prosecution: how and by whom was the distribution of the aid organized, and who wanted what to benefit from “Levant Co”, what had to be distributed or. Alia will know more than any minister: in the end of the aid scandal, Fatos Nano was prime minister and Ramiz Alia was President of the Republic. His answers could affect the fate of Fatos Nano’s trial and that of the other defendants. Just as they could also affect his own fate, Alia will be summoned for the second time to the Ministry of the Interior in a few days. Another major issue is linked to this trial: the possible situation of the overthrow of the lawful government. Today’s hearing is scheduled to include the questioning of eleven defendants. In addition to Ramiz Alia, former deputy prime minister and Minister of Public Works Arben Imami, deputy minister of Order, Health Minister Zana Bako, then Ridvan Bërxolli, Sh.A. Kodra, Shkelqim Cani, Vladimir Pula, Harilla Goga and Dritan Selo will be heard. The accused will be defended, as always, by prosecutor Arben Qeleshi and Genc Gjokutaj. Former Albanian president Ramiz Alia

The chairman who convicted the journalist is also removed A storm in Justice 6 judges dismissed The decision was taken by the High Council TIRANE — A storm in the world of justice. In an unexpected decision at noon on Wednesday, members of the High Council dismissed 6 judges, a prosecutor and several assistant judges from office. Among those dismissed is also a very well-known name: Arben Ristani, who a few days earlier had chaired the bench in the trial against two journalists from “Koha Jonë” and two military officers, accused of revealing state secrets. A trial that had ended with a conviction and with Frangaj being acquitted on the spot. The news of the severe measures taken against the judges was confirmed to Gazeta Shqiptare by a member of the High Council of Justice. “Ristani has been dismissed for serious violations of the law — explains the jurist — and his conduct had long been the subject of criticism even from the Presidium of the Tirana Court itself.” It seems that the irregularities linked to Ristani have to do more with a financial-crimes case, in which the judge “took a biased stance toward one side,” and not with the Italian aid file or another case. So far it has not yet become clear exactly which case Ristani is considered responsible for. One thing, however, is made clear even in light of the investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office. Today the release of editor-in-chief Aleksandër Frangaj will be verified. The Prosecutor’s Office has begun preparing a document contesting this decision, which is described as unfounded, and is requesting an appeal to open a new trial. As is known, the judge can impose a fine within the special framework placed before the High Council, which can remove it to allow possible investigations around the doors. Dismissal from office is the harshest measure that can be taken by the Council, and it automatically implies the granting of immunity. The most important recent trial conducted by Ristani was, as stated, that against the journalists of “Koha Jonë” and against the two military officers. Against them, decisions were issued in the first instance. The High Court judge failed to determine what the leaked secrets were and declared only Frangaj innocent. This caused numerous reactions. c. bo.

IN THE BERAT COURT THREE FILES GO MISSING — The Ministry of Justice has ordered the dismissal of a chief clerk and a secretary at the Gjirokastër Court. The reason is a mystery surrounding three files from the court hearing. The files may have been taken from the court by internal employees and the disappearance of these two has been under 7 [unclear] of handling. This remains to be verified. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS DECISION ON SETTING CEILING PRICES FOR SUGAR AND GASOLINE — On the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, the Council of Ministers has approved a draft decision setting a ceiling price for the sale of sugar and fuel. After calculations made to curb further price increases of this good, sugar will be set at 60 lekë per kilogram nationwide; the ministers set a ceiling minimum — until 31 May 1994 — also for gasoline at 70… “78E LUSNJE STARTED OPERATIONS A PRIVATE COMPANY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GARMENTS — The company “Danielo-Shpk” is the second business to emerge in the field of garment production in our country. Before this, “Rina” had been opened, where, with the help of Veshjet, a contract was concluded with the Italian “Danilo-Shpk” to produce shirts, “pas de chupa” and other garments. So far this private Albanian firm has employed 40 women and girls.

Bouvard: TIRANE — Very optimistic messages for Albania in Loik Bouvard’s speech. The President of the North Atlantic Assembly addressed Albanian parliamentarians. At the same time, Bouvard expressed to Albania the bridges and the readiness shown in implementing the decisions of the international community on the embargo against the former Yugoslavia. Assessing Albania’s measured policy with its neighbors as very positive, Bouvard sent clear messages about the possibility of Albania being admitted to NATO in the future.

A new draft will soon be approved TIRANE — A new wind is blowing in relations between Greece and Albania. It seems that the issue of Albanian emigrants is also moving toward a solution. “We are finalizing a draft agreement for the legalization of Albanian refugees,” was the latest statement made this week in Tirana by Gjitonas, the deputy minister of Public Order of Greece. Thus, relations between Albania and Greece — which after the visit of Greek Foreign Minister Papulias had been steadily improving — seem to be taking a strongly positive turn. The legalization of Albanian emigrants in Greece would provide a solution to one of the problems that from time to time had led to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The expulsion of Albanian citizens at the border and the denial of visas — caused by the police, according to the deputy prime minister — would also help, among other things, to isolate those few criminal elements. The draft agreement — which is nearing completion — will soon also be submitted to the Albanian Government. For the Greeks too, this act will constitute “a concrete expression of cooperation in all fields.”

After 3 years BERAT — A gang of thieves has ended up, after a long investigation, in the hands of the criminal police. Its four members — Petrit Qosja, 35 years old, Fatmir Seli, 39 years old, Brendan Gimi, 34 years old and Arben Qerja, 29 years old — are from the city of Berat. From the investigations carried out after the arrest up to today, it has emerged that over its 3 years of activity this gang robbed 17 different places, such as private commercial establishments in towns and villages and state institutions such as the customs building or a nursery school. Their preferred targets were also citizens’ homes. The value of these thefts is 22 million lekë. H. T.

Operating room for cardiac surgery at the Tirana hospital Photo Hektor Pustina

The victim was from Durrës, the driver in prison GJIROKASTER — Another public order employee has given his life in the line of duty. This time the tragic event happened in the city of Gjirokastër. While carrying out his duty, police officer Shpëtim Kambolli was struck by a speeding car driven by a citizen; Kambolli suffered serious injuries and died. The 32-year-old man — married, with two children — originally from Durrës — was on duty with his colleagues at a main checkpoint near the city of Gjirokastër. A vehicle with incorrect license plates approached them. The officer signaled for the car to stop, but when he approached, the driver accelerated and hit him, throwing the officer onto the road. The Gjirokastër police needed some time to catch the perpetrator of the accident. Yesterday morning he was taken to the city hospital where he remained in a coma for several days. But unfortunately, there was no improvement and he died on Tuesday. On Wednesday his body was transferred to Durrës, where the funeral ceremony was held. Meanwhile, the Gjirokastër police also detained the 26-year-old driver from the village of Kambollis. However, the reasons for this act are still unknown and there is no confirmation of his motives. So another serious act is recorded against the forces and employees of Public Order. Some time ago, another employee of these forces — in Orosh in Mirditë — had lost his life in the line of duty. And a few weeks earlier another police officer had been killed in a clash with a band of criminals in the district of Shkodër. Ar. Me.

The Dean of Medicine responds to the appeal of “Gazeta” Tirana assures Peshkopi: “We will save that woman” TIRANE — “We can save that woman.” This is the appeal Albanian doctors are making for the 54-year-old woman from Peshkopi who suffers from heart disease. And Gazeta Shqiptare also feels responsible for this week’s appeal, in which help was requested to save her in this way. Please help us with her address — the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, who had called the Gazeta Shqiptare newsroom, was asking the Medical faculty — the operation to treat this woman can be done here in Albania with heart surgery. The surgical intervention in question is called a “By-pass”. It is an operation through which the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the heart is eliminated. “Our doctors have been applying this type of operation for some time — Meksi says — and their interventions have been successful. In fact, now we can also set aside some other hopeless Albanian patients.” But besides the operation for treating this disease, another method is also being used today in Albania, which they scientifically call balloon “dilatation”. “This type of intervention, which has been carried out for 10 months in free countries using a balloon where the narrowing has been identified — Meksi explains — began to be performed here in August last year, and so far nearly 50 have been done. But while the ability of Albanian doctors is at a very high level, the conditions and environments in which they work are not. It is enough to mention here the fact that the operating rooms for heart surgery and the patients receive the same conditions as other surgical interventions. Meanwhile, the building planned for the cardiac surgery hospital still remains only as a building. The aid for this ward that was promised for this hospital by the Italian Government, the agreement is still written; a year and a half ago it was signed by Minister Colombo. Or with the full help of the Italian side, no law has been attached to the promises and all of this has remained only on paper. Ar. Me.

Bosnia, Muslims and Croats ready for peace Albanians are mistreated ON PAGE 2 The “Revolution” does not break up the Albanian family Survey among students ON PAGE 3

TIRANE — The courtroom for the aid scandal trial is being moved. Starting this morning, the hearing will be held in a room near the “Shqipëria Sot” exhibition and no longer in the small courtroom. The decision was made by the judges to allow a larger number of people to attend the hearing and not hinder the normal work of the court, which in the first days of the trial was completely paralyzed. The street vendors on Durrës Street will also be pleased, since because of the strict security measures that were necessary, during the days of the trial near the exhibition they had numerous restrictions. At today’s hearing, eleven defendants are scheduled to be questioned. In addition to Ramiz Alia, former deputy prime minister and Minister of Public Works Arben Imami, deputy minister of Order, Health Minister Zana Bako, then Ridvan Bërxolli, Sh.A. Kodra, Shkelqim Cani, Vladimir Pula, Harilla Goga and Dritan Selo will be heard.