Dragoshi: “I want official confirmation for ‘Levante Co’ from Italy.” He seeks Brozi’s recusal, but the judges refuse “A file is missing”: Nano trial postponed The Court of Cassation Plenum puts the imprisoned PS leader’s case off until autumn TIRANA - There is no hope for the imprisoned Socialist leader, at least until autumn. That is all we heard about the initiative of the members of the Court of Cassation - whose term ends on September 1 - as the Plenum decided to postpone consideration of the Nano file until its next meeting, perhaps in September. The mysterious absence of the Court of Appeal file concerning Nano has caused further anxiety in the Socialist camp, whose members are forced to believe, until September, two troubling versions: yesterday’s decision by the Court of Cassation Plenum to postpone consideration of the Nano file, and the scandalous state of the current Code of Criminal Procedure, which, as of August 1, ’95, no longer provides for meetings of the Court of Cassation Plenum.

Nano

“Here’s what happened an hour before Nano’s Appeal hearing” BURREL - “I cannot explain what happened.” BURREL - “I cannot explain what happened. I had spoken with my chief, Marenglen Rrapi, and he agreed with me about the request I was going to make for Nano’s release. But just one hour before the proceedings began, he told me I had to change my mind. I refused and told him what I thought: under the law, Nano should be released…” Only after five days of silence has Court of Appeal prosecutor Skënder Demiri agreed to speak with journalists and respond: “Am I going to report what I have made up? This matter in the press,” he says from his home in Burrel, where 42-year-old Demiri has gone for a few days. And after the tense night of the postponement, he felt the need to clarify the issue of Nano for the public, dismissing the claims of others who have commented on the legal proceedings, so that the people too can judge. It all goes back to the morning of July 21… Yes. That day I entered the courtroom 30 minutes late. The reason: an argument with my chief, Marenglen Rrapi, who, less than an hour before the proceedings, told me to change my mind, although he had previously agreed with me… And you followed your own reasoning? No, the reasons set out in the law, according to the relevant provisions. Referring to the new Penal Code and the law bringing it into force, I stated that whenever this case involves more than one kilogram… Did the circumstances change during Nano’s trial? “Apart from the others and my chief, I had asked the Court of Appeal… I did not experience any kind of pressure or threat because of what I requested during the proceedings. The intention was also that I should be treated as important — in a way — and that a request should be made on my behalf, and then see where the matter stood….” But the Court of Appeal judges rejected your request for Nano’s release? “Yes. I took responsibility for the decision once and for all. I could say that the decision was [unclear] my request, but that it changed the sentence. The latest similar news? The decision, but I say that the judge has entered the testimony of the complaint — perhaps a decision was made — it should not go beyond what [unclear]. When I was talking with the others, and in order to object to a decision, things happened and I can come out and speak like that… It all goes back to the morning of July 21… Yes. That day I entered the courtroom 30 minutes late. The reason: an argument with my chief, Marenglen Rrapi, who, less than an hour before the proceedings, told me to change my mind, although he had previously agreed with me… And you followed your own reasoning? No, the reasons set out in the law, according to the relevant provisions. Referring to the new Penal Code and the law bringing it into force, I stated that whenever this case involves more than one kilogram… “I have no such links with the Socialists. I was actually the first chairman of the Executive Committee from the PD. Meanwhile, my [unclear] wish was for the District Council to support the PD. But the Nano case has become excessively politicized.” Edmond Laci

INTERVIEW Gjonaj responds to Brozi’s accusations: “I did not block the file...” On page 3

Yesterday, the Court of Cassation Plenum

Malaj: “They offered me money several times” “In ’91 the mafia came to Vlora” The former military officer’s account VLORA - “The Italian mafia has spread its roots everywhere in Vlora, and I have serious doubts that its connections reach all the way to Tirana.” This is the most serious statement by a former senior Albanian military official, who describes the presence in Albania of Italian criminal organizations and their organization in cooperation with Albanians. He is the former commander of the Border Battalion of the Brigade in Vlora. His name is Zigur Malaj. From September 1991 to July 1992, he was a senior officer in the Vlora coastal regiment, where he had worked for 21 years. On page 5

TIRANA - New oil exploration work will soon begin on Albanian soil. The powerful company “Albania-Shell Exploration-production B.V.” will launch a project to carry out seismic surveys, which will be conducted by the German company Geoc-Prakla. This further increases the presence of powerful foreign firms in the exploration of Albania’s underground resources. Since the beginning of the ’90s, a large number of companies, among the best known in this field, have begun operating in Albanian territory in search of hydrocarbons. This time the company in question is the German multinational SHELL Petroleum Kompany, one of the best known internationally. In an Anglo-Dutch partnership, this company began its activity in our country in cooperation with the Hydrocarbons Agency. Albania-Shell Exploration-production B.V. is the company headed by Geoc-Prakla. According to the contract, it will operate. It will also [unclear] and carry out agricultural [unclear] surveys in the area where it operates in Albania. This company will be used by a Ministry of Energy and in cooperation with other firms for oil exploration. It is planned that the work will use highly advanced technology for oil and gas exploration, provided by Geoc-Prakla, which is in an Anglo-Dutch partnership.

Yesterday Parliament approved the draft law TIRANA - The old Code of Criminal Procedure will continue to coexist with the new Code, which comes into force in a week. Parliament decided this yesterday by approving a special draft law during its morning session. The approval was accompanied by extensive debate and disputes between the PD and PS groups, which opposed and criticized its passage and the conflict between them. Since all the provisions of the old Code and Paloka have clashed with one another. The draft presented provides that cases under investigation and trial will continue to be examined under the old Code, but since the first day of the coming year [sentence unclear]. The draft is being put forward because some cases require [unclear], and the Code makes things easier. One example is the limitation period, which is six months in the old Code and three months in the new one. For some MPs, this draft constitutes a violation of human rights. Supporting this view, PD MP Alvardi Lloshi asked: “Why isn’t the Ministry of Justice being asked to resolve this legally? Now we will have two Codes, and that is not right.” According to Halit Shamata, “that is not true, because only one [unclear] of the Codes will coexist.” The PD MP expressed reservations and said that the minister, the PS’s Vladi Mari Metani, had stated that the period being sought was two months longer. “Within this period, Metani must clarify the relevant matters and make decisions.”

THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE SHKODRA - Mysterious crime at the lake of Vau i Dejës. Two days ago, police found the mutilated body of a young girl. Tied to stones, she appears to have been thrown into the waters of the hydroelectric lake by her killers after first being shot with a firearm. The shocking story remains shrouded in mystery. On page 5

DURRËS Second drowning at Currila DURRËS - The second death at Currila. Just 24 hours after a young man drowned on Monday, another person lost his life in these waters on Tuesday. He was a 32-year-old man from Divjaka, whose body was found drowned and washed ashore by the sea waves. The incident happened in the afternoon, around 17:30. The 32-year-old L.Kaja drowned while swimming in the sea. It is not known whether the incident claimed the life of a holidaymaker from Divjaka, but according to initial checks by the police, the drowning appears to have been accidental. On page 5

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On page 3

Agreement “Shell” extends to Albania

“The dismissal of eight lecturers could lead to a political purge” On page 3 University of Tirana

LDSH “The sale-and-purchase decision is a robbery”