Tried in absentia, including fugitives ANTI-GENOCIDE / Investigators submit case files on officials of the dictatorship The first case file of those accused of genocide has arrived at the court. Earlier today, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office closed the case file on six of those arrested, which is now in the offices of the Tirana Court. The date for the start of the trial has not yet been set, but the first six are expected to take their place in the dock soon. The first photo: Prokop Murro, Muho Asllani, Zef Loka, Dilaver Bregasi and Gaqo Nesh[o?] will make up the first group of those who will open the doors to the genocide trials. Thus, the major season of anti-genocide trials at the Tirana Court will soon begin. All six of the first protagonists face the joint charge of committing genocide in collaboration. They are accused of having, while serving in high state offices, signed orders for the mass internment and deportation of various families and individuals for political reasons. On page 7 The anti-genocide trial season is about to begin. Almost the entire former high-ranking leadership of the Party of Labour will take their place in the dock to answer for the internments and deportations. The Bloc members in court (photo: H. Pustina)

Shehu puts on a show on the field GAZETA SPORT “Kastrati” - “Tirana” match 0:0 “Tirana” and “Teuta” maintain the gap between them. A tropical-style victory for “Partizani” in Fier The teams at the bottom of the standings held their ground at home. Just two goals by the visiting teams On pages 5-6 “Kastrati” - “Tirana” match 0:0 (photo: H. Pustina)

KORÇË On page 7

VLORË On page 7

First hearing held yesterday in Tepelenë The case between the Municipality and the Prefecture continues on Saturday TEPELENË - The judges will now decide the fate of the “Honorary Citizen” decoration of Tepelenë, which the municipal council of this city awarded to PS chairman Fatos Nano. Yesterday morning, the chairman of the Tepelenë court himself, P. Vehbiu, took up the complaint filed in this matter. It was the Prefect of Gjirokastër, Fatos Gjylezi, who, immediately after news of Nano’s decoration was announced, decided to turn to the court with a request to overturn such an award. At yesterday’s first preliminary hearing, the parties presented their arguments. The representative of the prosecution, the prefecture’s legal counsel, A. Poshi, requested that Nano’s decoration be revoked and declared invalid, on the grounds that such an act was a step-

The association’s appeal to the Ministry and the Red Cross TIRANË - “We will stop donating blood if our demands are not met.” The appeal comes from the Albanian Blood Donors Association-

Minister Frashëri: “The judge should be dismissed” TIRANA – The Minister of Justice urgently convenes the judges of Tirana. A letter from a citizen about the lengthy delays in one of his cases has prompted Minister Frashëri to call a meeting at the Tirana Court this afternoon and warn of the dismissal of

The driver reports the police officers: “they beat me” On page 7

Americans offer campaign advice On page 3

After intensive hearings in the trial of the crime Tel Aviv, Jigal Amir, even after the court’s ruling, declares that in his actions he was guided by the hand of God On page 2 Jigal Amir (REUTERS)

TIRANA – “We will stop donating blood if our demands are not met.” The appeal comes from the Association of Blood Donors of Albania, which currently has 11 thousand members and is in an ongoing dispute with the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. TIRANA – met.” The appeal comes from the Association of Blood Donors of Albania, which currently has 11 thousand members and is in an ongoing dispute with the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. They are the main source of blood for our hospitals, and such an appeal poses a serious threat to many people’s lives. On page 7

TIRANA – The Minister of Justice urgently convenes the judges of Tirana. A citizen’s letter about the lengthy delays in one of his cases compelled Minister Frashëri to call a meeting at the Tirana Court yesterday afternoon and warn of the dismissal of a female judge. TIRANA – A citizen’s letter about the lengthy delays in one of his cases compelled yesterday afternoon and warn of the dismissal of a female judge. “I will not allow any delays in cases or in the courts. The court must act swiftly in resolving their problems,” he declared at the meeting yesterday. The reaction to the citizen’s letter was severe. Minister Frashëri declared that at the next meeting of the High Council of Justice, he would propose the dismissal of Judge Majlinda Demollari. It seems that people’s anger over the lengthy delays in court proceedings has erupted. Hundreds of people go up and down the steps of the Tirana Court every day to resolve, mostly, property disputes. Proceedings are delayed because the litigants do not appear, witnesses do not appear, and so on; but in some cases the judges themselves have also been responsible for these delays. In any event, there is a limit to delays. Besides the limit of a person’s patience, the legal limit is also set by the New Code, in force from March 1. Cases will now be examined according to their classification within the time limits set by law, which may not be exceeded. The law also provides for sanctions: the judge will pay for the proceedings if they are not completed within the prescribed time. The judges opposed this practice yesterday, while Minister Frashëri deemed it fair. “Courts must not be a terror for citizens; otherwise, we are destroying the legal system before we have even built it,” Frashëri said yesterday. The letter that prompted him to convene the court meeting concerned a property case whose hearing had been postponed for 15 consecutive sessions. Të më indheh e kësaj? The collected [?] to examine Judge Demollari’s case, Frashëri showed no tolerance at all in the measures proposed. “Dismissal from office” will be his proposal (M.Kika)

In the trenches of peace On page 2 Zhulali (photo: H. Pustina)

The problem of privatizing the Duhan Cigareve Durrës factory remains unresolved . The case was brought by the enterprise’s management against the Property Restitution Commission, which was protesting the division of the enterprise between the workers and the former owners, in the proportion of 15 to 85 percent, in favor of the latter. On page 7

He had forged a diplomatic passport, but his attempt failed Police Arrest Fake Diplomat Tried to leave illegally for Italy TIRANA — A fake diplomat has been arrested. He had forged a diplomatic passport to make it possible to travel illegally to Italy. However, he was unable to complete his journey, as the “diplomacy” he was hiding behind was exposed during an inspection by the Border and Customs Police. A 35-year-old from Lezha, G.Bica, was detained by police a few days ago while trying to make the trip to Italy. He had a diplomatic passport with him, which proved to be forged. His passport had been issued by a foreign state, for emigration from Albania. Crossing the border clandestinely, traveling clandestinely by sea on a motoskaffe [?], etc.—these are the most common methods used to leave, for those who cannot obtain a visa for Italy or other countries. Meanwhile, many others have tried to leave using passports with fake visas; visa forgers have often ended up in police custody. The most recent case led to the arrest of a person who was issuing fake visas for Greece. Lezha native Bica had also found a more luxurious way. He had forged a diplomatic passport, hoping that a diplomat would not be questioned too closely. But this method, too, failed: his diplomacy was uncovered, and he must now face justice. (m.k.) Prime Minister’s Office