Yesterday, the first proof of the impartiality of the Albanian judicial power was given He is released in the courtroom The first proof of the impartiality of the Albanian judicial power was given yesterday Journalist Aleksandër Frangaj found not guilty He is released in the courtroom As the Albanian public and international opinion have been informed for some time, the former editor-in-chief and journalist of the newspaper «Koha Jonë», Aleksandër Frangaj, had been accused and placed under house arrest because of his work as a journalist. Yesterday, Friday, April 30, at 10 o’clock, the trial concerning this case began at the Lezhë court. The presiding judge was Arben Pistani; the prosecutor was [text unclear: “ftuar gazete”]. For the prosecution, Depali appeared, and the defense lawyer was Spartak Ngjela. In this account of the nearly six-hour court hearing, we will try to present some of the main points, without claiming to provide a detailed analysis like the one conducted at trial, since it would be impossible to do so in a short time and in the limited space of a newspaper. Aleksandër’s defense was a defense of press freedom Immediately after the presiding judge, Mr. Arben Pistani, opened the hearing and the prosecutor for the prosecution read the indictment, journalist Aleksandër Frangaj, charged as the defendant, was given the floor and asked whether he accepted the charge. Aleksandër answered briefly and firmly: «No, absolutely not!» He then began his defense. “I feel it is my duty,” Aleksandër said, “to state that in what I did at the newspaper, I did nothing other than my duty as a journalist. I paved the way for the publication of more accurate and truthful information. What was written in the news item published in the newspaper is exactly as it was written; it really happened, and many people saw it happen. I too saw the tanks traveling along the road from Tirana toward northern Albania. Who can prevent me from publishing in a newspaper a report about something that can be seen and proven to be happening? Have we really gained so little in our freedom of speech and of the press? “As for whether the news item was true or not, this has been proved and is being proved by many, many residents of Lezhë, who have signed their statements about it and are ready to come and testify here in court too, if it is considered necessary for them all to come. As for the interpretations made by various people, whether high-ranking officials or not, whether interested in this matter or not, I bear no responsibility for them. I do not bear, and should not bear, responsibility,” Frangaj said, “because if I accept that, then I can ask again what we have done to change even a little the face of a press that is [text unclear: “i djegshëm”], in the service of the morality of the Party-state. “Aleksandër Frangaj focused on one of the formulations in the indictment, which stated: ‘He disseminated false information that causes panic.’ He said he had no connection whatsoever with such formulations, since, first of all, he said, he had nothing to do with ‘informata.’ Frangaj said: ‘I am a journalist who receives and transmits information, but not “informata.” As all of you know, in Albanian usage “informata” refers to what the State Security used to receive and pass on, and perhaps what SHIK does today. But journalists and newspapers have nothing to do with such formulations about bits of information gathered in secret corners. Therefore, on behalf of my colleagues,’ he said, ‘I ask that we not be insulted with such formulations.’ “Frangaj declared that he was completely innocent and therefore asked that this acquittal not be delayed. He said that he had confidence in this outcome. “Lawyer Ngjela calls once again for a good first step in justice “The well-known lawyer Spartak Ngjela, not only through his broad legal knowledge, strongly influenced by the ancient Anglo-Saxon legal tradition, but also through his manly and trustworthy stance on justice, brought complete silence to the courtroom. He regarded the accusation against journalist Frangaj as pressure being exerted on the free press and freedom of the press in our country. He said at the outset that Frangaj was completely innocent and that this right should— Continued on page 2

On Thursday, the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Defense, Public Order and SHIK, Mr. Azem Hajdari, accompanied by MP Rudolf Marku and Tonin Alimëhill, as well as by deputy border commander Thimi Remoqka and local officials from these districts, went to offer condolences to the five families of those killed by Serbian forces in the village of Morinë. He also went to the village of Padesh in Tropojë. Among other things, Mr. Hajdari said that this was a political massacre by the Serbs against Albanian citizens, a response directly opposed to the Pope’s visit to Albania. While the Pope spoke in Tirana’s square about peace, humanism and the virtues of the Albanian people, Serbian policy resorted to its weapon, terror. These shameful schemes, Mr. Hajdari said, call for vigilance among Albanians, especially those living in border areas, so that they do not fall victim to such provocations.