THE DEFENDANTS ARE NOT DISTURBED BY THE STATEMENT ASHI PIPA Today in the hall of the opera and ballet theater at 10 in the morning, the public trial began against Ramiz Alia, Nexhmije Hoxha, Muho Asllani, Rita Marko, Simon Stefani, Prokop Murra, Lenka Çuko, Hekuran Isai, Adil Çarçani and Llambi Gegprifti. From the first statements made by the defendants in the courtroom, it became clear that they had not come to repent, but to defend themselves with political and legal arguments. From the outset, they rejected the accusations that they had caused damage to the state, trying to minimize their personal and political responsibilities. There were numerous reactions in the hall from the citizens present, who had come to hear how the former top leaders of the communist regime would respond before justice. The defendants did not appear to be disturbed by the statement of Ashi Pipa, which had been widely commented on in public opinion and in the press. The trial is expected to continue in the coming days with the prosecutor’s questions, testimonies and the relevant confrontations. (To be continued on page 2)

At Saturday’s meeting of the government, the main focus was the discussion of the draft decision that must be submitted to the next session of the People’s Assembly regarding the privatization of agricultural land, a decision based on the relevant law. The draft decision states that land assigned or to be assigned to peasant families for use shall become their property, with the exception of land occupied by buildings and plots as well as land that, by decision of the Council of Ministers, will be granted in ownership or use to domestic or foreign legal or natural persons. Likewise, fruit-tree and olive plantations as well as vineyards are to become the property of the agricultural family, with the exception of those included in the state forest fund, which are used according to the criteria to be determined by the Council of Ministers. Agricultural land, vineyards and orchards that will pass into ownership are valued according to quality. Meanwhile, peasant families will not be recognized as owners of forests, pastures and meadows. Agricultural land transferred into the ownership of the agricultural family may not be alienated. The restrictions and criteria for transfer, even within the circle of natural persons, will be determined by law. The fragmentation and physical division of a plot of land as a result of inheritance is also prohibited. The draft decision also stipulates that natural or legal persons, domestic or foreign, who wish to acquire agricultural land in ownership or use, must submit a written request with the relevant data to the district council. Foreigners who take the land on lease are granted the right of sublease for carrying out agricultural activity. Whereas domestic legal or natural persons who wish to acquire the land in ownership must also submit the sales contract with their request. District councils give the final opinion on the transfer of ownership of agricultural land in favor of domestic legal or natural persons. For foreign legal or natural persons, the decision is taken by the Council of Ministers. The draft decision also provides that natural or legal persons, domestic or foreign, who wish to acquire agricultural land in ownership or use, are obliged to adhere to its intended purpose, for which they requested it. They must also not leave the land uncultivated and must exploit it according to the technology and agricultural practices of the time, so that its fertility is neither reduced nor diminished. Otherwise, according to the draft decision, the owner or user, whether domestic or foreign, is punished with a fine, the amount of which is left to the government’s competence. The Council of Ministers also examined the problem of the sale and purchase of plots. This issue will be submitted to the People’s Assembly for approval together with the draft law on the privatization of state plots. This draft law has been drawn up on the basis of the law on the sanctioning and protection of private property, approved last month by the People’s Assembly. According to this draft law, state plots may be privatized only when they contain legally regular private constructions. The price of plots will be 80 percent of the market price, a price determined by the district council depending on their geographical position and distance from city centers or other populated centers. Meanwhile, the draft law also sets out the procedures to be followed, as well as the documents that interested persons must submit in order to buy plots.

TODAY?! Mr. Azem Hajdari “I am sure that the Spartan resistance to the looting of the market by some pseudo-businessmen linked to the import of detergents of very low quality and of dubious origin, as expressed in the protests of Tirana’s merchants, will receive the deserved institutional and professional support. This institution is, and must always be, very close to the problems of the various social groups. We must encourage and support the initiative of Tirana’s traders to assert their professional identity, and not leave them at the mercy of speculative ‘businessmen’. What has made the situation worrying is also the inability of the Chamber of Commerce and the tax authorities to provide this layer of society with the proper support and guidance in these extremely difficult moments. Once again expressing the anxiety and concern of the representatives of the Albanian Chamber of Commerce regarding the problems of Tirana’s traders and assuring them of full institutional and professional understanding, I express my conviction that this concern will be resolved responsibly through professional consultations and institutional action...”

“The Pashko affair”- debates in parliament In small things he gnaws away at the vote. The right-wing votes are not the problem of ideology; their politicians are. I can tell the democrats, Mr. Pashko has caused unbearable damage. This issue must be taken seriously by each one of us...” [?] Mr. Pashko will either be a Shakespeare or will come out with some priest, in order to appear on some foreign television station here and there and declare that the Albanian government is not implementing democratic reforms. But he must understand that he is lying only to those who do not know Albania. As for the differences with Mr. Pashko, they are clear. He did not come into politics for pluralism, but came into politics with the mission to rule at any cost. He may be ready even to make a pact with the devil and sell national interests, as long as he rules. That is what his people are doing now. Heaven forbid that Albania should happen today!. Mr. Pashko, before speaking in this language, if he were a man of responsibility and democratic culture, should at least engage in self-criticism for an anti-reform government that left so many wounds in our country and that was led by none other than himself as deputy prime minister and minister of economy. (To be continued on page 2)

for Kujtim Spahivogli 60th anniversary of birth year of death