Albania and the former Yugoslavia excluded from EC aid for Mediterranean countries Will Albania once again remain on the periphery of Europe? Tirana page 3

Tirana – “The grenade trial” Four years in prison for the authors of the “disappearance” of 222 thousand dollars intended to purchase a considerable quantity of tear gas grenades for the emergency needs of the former Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1991, which have still not arrived. Thus, yesterday, on the final day of the proceedings, after the lawyers for the defendants—Muharrem Sako, former director of the Economic Directorate at the former Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Gjergji Toto, former employee of Teknoimport (an enterprise of the Ministry of Justice)—had sought acquittal for their clients, and after military prosecutor Petrit Shehu had requested 3 years for the first and 2 years and 6 months for the second, the panel of judges presided over by Ms. Fatmira Laska upheld the decision. The two defendants, charged with abuse of office as a result of which 222 thousand dollars transferred to a Swiss bank on behalf of the Frenchman Zhylien Rosh had vanished—the man with whom a verbal contract had been made to bring these weapons to Albania—were found guilty by the Military Court and each sentenced to two years in prison. The panel also ruled that the defendants, who had sought acquittal, must pay the state the sum of 222 thousand dollars. Z.D

Albanian Helsinki denounces irregularities in the trial of the five page 3

Seeking a pledge of allegiance is an anachronism Interview with PS deputy chairman Mr. L. Hajdaraga page 5

Durrës He was beaten and detained by the police He had shouted: “I’m with Fatos Nano” As part of the meetings to inform the public about the Constitution—which look more like an election campaign—in recent days several leading figures from the government and the Democratic Party have arrived one after another in Durrës. First came Prime Minister Meksi, with his 45-minute meeting at the Sports Palace, followed by MP Hajdari in the Shijak area, and yesterday Mr. Tritan Shehu, accompanied by MP Mira Kaurri, who were in Ishëm, where the people gathered asked less for explanations about the Constitution than for information about the village’s current situation and problems. But in response to their questions, Mr. Tritan said that today they had come only for the Constitution. At that point, one of the villagers who had asked a question, the young F. Dishna, stood up and shouted: “You are deceivers, I’m with Fatos Nano.” The police took him by force in a police car, beating him with rubber batons and, as his relative N.M. says, then took him to the police station, where he still is. M.SH.

A. Imami: I think he deliberately concealed the exact date... Leo signifies power, while Libra—cunning... N. Ceka: He cannot personify the unity of the people. To do so, he must have only one date of birth page 3