Yesterday in Strasbourg: the Legal Affairs Committee of the CoE votes against examining Albania’s application; tomorrow in the Parliamentary Assembly The vote ended with 14 against, 11 in favour and 3 abstentions Dokle: Arbnori refused yesterday to let Nano return to politics Unfortunately, the Legal Affairs Committee of the CoE was unable yesterday to make a positive decision on Albania’s membership of the CoE, thus disappointing the Albanian delegation as... [text cut off] ...berg, the voting result was 14 votes against, 11 in favour and 3 abstentions on referring the matter to the Assembly on Thursday, thus risking a postponement of the discussion on Albania’s membership until September, during... [text cut off] ...the lack of time makes it impossible for us to verify these facts, which have reached us only in recent days, Kolumberg said after yesterday’s meeting, which was also attended by Pjetër Arbnori, Ali Spahija and... [text cut off] 6 observations by the Legal Affairs Committee 1. The budget of Albania’s Court of Cassation, which has been placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice— only for expressing criticism of the regime and his political views 4. Information that the police... [text cut off] the CoE, thus disappointing the Albanian delegation as well as all Albanians who were expecting a YES from the CoE. Kolumberg, the chief rapporteur on the Legal Affairs Committee, presented a report on the latest information from Albania, which apparently overturned yesterday’s vote to Albania’s detriment. After hearing Kolumberg, the vote was 14 of the discussion on Albania’s membership until September, during the next meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly. Kolumberg is said to have raised not just a few reservations, but exactly six, some of them repeated, such as the one concerning the fate of Socialist leader Fatos Nano. by Pjetër Arbnori, Ali Spahija and Namik Dokle. Eduard Selami, meanwhile, was present at the proceedings of the Committee for Non-Member Countries, which expressed support for membership of the CoE. The objections raised by Donel Kolumberg, who has drawn up three different critical reports on Albania over the past few months, are: 2. The 30-page Amnesty International report, which describes instances of torture in Albanian prisons as well as five deaths. 3. The case of Ilir Hoxha, the son of the former dictator, who was imprisoned solely 4. Reports that the secret police (SHIK) continually monitor the press in Albania. 5. The level of reform in the Prosecution Service and the courts. 6. The Nano case, which gives grounds for criticism. (continued on page 3)

Strasbourg Moldova becomes a conditional member of the CoE Respect for human rights is required The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday conditionally approved Moldova’s application for membership. Council of Europe officials who discussed the situation in the country decided that Moldova must wait for full membership until it meets some of the conditions set by the Parliamentary Assembly. Among other conditions, Moldova must immediately halt the executions of prisoners sentenced to death and, within three years, abolish the death penalty altogether. Moldova must also, within one year, ratify a number of European agreements as well as human rights conventions, including a European Convention guaranteeing the rights of minorities, which obliges it to put an end to the mistreatment of dissidents in the rebellious Dniester region. Once these conditions have been met, the Council of Europe will gradually admit Moldova as its 35th member.

After the arrest of a police officer suspected of shooting in Shkodër The 2 April trial reopens Socialist MP Fehmi Abdiu at the Prosecutor’s Office today page 2 THE MURDERERS OF SHKODËR BEFORE THE COURT

The Albanian base is ready for Bosnia’s observers Spy planes over Albania again Around 100 Americans will serve at Gjadër in Lezhë to operate unmanned surveillance aircraft page 4

EuroBasket: Day VI Croatia - Finland 92-77; Yugoslavia - Israel 72-59; Russia - Spain 78-94; Slovenia - Turkey 93-74; Sweden - Lithuania 73-96; Germany - Greece 79-83. Croatia - Finland 92-77 Yugoslavia - Israel 72-59 Russia - Spain 78-94 Slovenia - Turkey 93-74 Sweden - Lithuania 73-96 Germany - Greece 79-83 Leading In Group A, Yugoslavia and Greece have 10 points each. In Group B, Croatia and Spain have 10 points each; Yugoslavia and Croatia are still unbeaten. Sweden and Finland have yet to win a game, while Slovenia recorded its first victory. A. D.

Unfortunately, the Legal Affairs Committee of the CoE was unable yesterday to make a positive decision on Albania’s membership of the CoE, thus disappointing the Albanian delegation as well as all Albanians who were expecting a YES from the CoE.