According to the interview with lawyer Zgjoi NAFIZ BEZHANI Once again the curtain falls, and the Shkodra trial is being prepared to resume; its long odyssey has in no way managed to make the painful events of 2 April 1990 recede into the distance. Not only in Shkodra’s public opinion, but more widely, the question is now on everyone’s lips: “Who killed the demonstrators of Shkodra?” In any case, no small number of people have worked to prepare an answer to this question: more than 23 investigators and 16 prosecutors. The result? It remains for this new trial to confirm it; it faces two possible alternatives: to find the real culprits and prepare their punishment, or: “We would not want this trial to have ‘scapegoats.’” TRUTH SINKS, BUT IS NOT DROWNED “THE SHKODRA TRIAL: Does it accuse the victims or the defendants?” Based on an interview with lawyer Zgjoi NAFIZ BEZHANI Once again the curtain falls, and the Shkodra trial is being prepared to resume; its long odyssey has in no way managed to make the painful events of 2 April 1990 recede into the distance. Not only in Shkodra’s public opinion, but more widely, the question is now on everyone’s lips: “Who killed the demonstrators of Shkodra?” In any case, no small number of people have worked to prepare an answer to this question: more than 23 investigators and 16 prosecutors. The result? It remains for this new trial to confirm it; it faces two possible alternatives: to find the real culprits and prepare their punishment, or—“We would not want this trial to have ‘scapegoats.’” However events unfold, a number of dark points are already apparent, especially in the formulation of the indictment. It is a fact that formulations from the former Shkodra Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of the same name at that time still remain in the indictment. It is still considered appropriate to call the “Shkodra movement” “a separatist movement that developed under the slogan ‘Shkodra-Republic,’” when to this day it is and remains a spontaneous movement, a revolt against the injustices and misery into which the PPSH reduced our country. For example, on page 5 of the indictment it says: “They (the demonstrators) grew to thousands, chanting the slogans ‘Shkodra-Republic’” (this has been repeated several times). The security forces continued firing weapons, while the demonstrators threw stones; during this, B. Bishanaku was killed and 57 other citizens were wounded. The end of page 5 says: “The slogans ‘Tirana has fallen’ and ‘The Central Committee of the PPSH has been occupied’ were chanted.” Why is all this necessary? To justify the police action? No testimony indicates anything of the kind. Are the authors of the indictment seeking to accuse the victims with these formulations, or are they seeking to accuse the defendants in the dock? On page 7, third paragraph, concerning the defendant B. Dymylya, it says: “he once again remained indifferent (!), silently joining in the actions of the police.” How can one call the first secretary of the KP, the commander of the district defence headquarters, “indifferent,” when at 10 o’clock he called for the army to oppose the people? How can one call him “indifferent” when, even after 13:30, when around 60 people had been killed and wounded, Xh. Dymylya went to the DPB and asked that the KP building not be allowed to fall into the demonstrators’ hands? What does this mean? It means putting a machine gun in the KP and having it shoot whoever comes in front of it. Well, this is not indifference. What we have here is a distortion of reality. One cannot accept such a formulation in the indictment, much less agree with the content of page 8, second paragraph, which says: “All these ongoing and interconnected positions and actions show that, although he did not desire the death of 4 citizens and the wounding of 57 others, through the events he allowed... (Continued on page 3) when today, all day long, it was and remains a spontaneous movement; a response to country. In phase 5 of the indictment, for example, it says: “They (the demonstrators) increased by thousands, chanting slogans of ‘Shkodra—Republic’” (this was repeated several times). The security forces continued firing with If this is so, gentlemen who drafted the indictment, then we are dealing with a change in the legal classification of the crime, which means that the wording of the charge at the beginning and at the end of the indictment… (Continued on page 3)

8 DECEMBER – ALBANIAN YOUTH DAY – MONDAY The working week did not begin, as usual, at 5 p.m. After about an hour of a meeting of the Assembly Presidium, the chairmen of the parliamentary groups met, and by consensus it was decided that the following agenda would be presented to the Assembly: 1. At the President’s proposal, a draft law declaring 8 December Albanian Youth Day. 2. A vote on the Prosecutor General. 3. The motion concerning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4. A draft law amending the law “On Prices and Tariffs.” 5. A draft law on the privatization of state housing. 6. A draft law establishing the Italo-Albanian Bank. 7. Question session for the Prime Minister. 8. Question session with the Director General of RTV. 9. The request of the PD parliamentary group to replace deputies who have left the PD. Meanwhile, various deputies held discussions, raising concerns and calling for draft laws on the return of formerly privately owned housing and compensation for former landowners to be urgently brought before the Assembly; they also raised the issue of deputies’ telephones and their connection to the press, the issue of RTV, the issue of coexistence among the three religions, and so on. It was also proposed that the Assembly proclaim the religious holidays as soon as possible. After the agenda was approved, discussion began on the President’s proposal to declare 8 December Albanian Youth Day. Speaking on behalf of the PSD, deputy Laço objected that a proposal of such importance should be submitted to the Assembly in good time and not in such a hurry. After making his observations concerning this day, he said that the PSD group approved the draft law with this proposal, in principle and article by article. Speaking on behalf of the PS group, deputy Ulqini recalled the history of communist youth during the LNÇL. He expressed reservations and “jealousy” about why the President had not sought the views of both youth forums on this proposal, but had consulted only one person. Deputy Ulqini also expressed reservations about the procedure followed. Speaking on behalf of the PD group, deputy Ali Spahia said that 8 December did not diminish anything in the history of our people; rather, on precisely this day, it gained a new memory. “I invite Parliament,” he concluded, “to approve this proposal of the President unanimously.” After deputy Lika spoke in connection with this event, there was a brief exchange between him and deputy Ulqini. Meanwhile, the draft law declaring 8 December ALBANIAN YOUTH DAY was approved unanimously. A majority of votes then also approved the candidacy of Mr Alush Dragoshi as Prosecutor General of the Republic of Albania. The session then concluded its proceedings. Tuesday — MOTION CONCERNING THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANCELLED DUE TO TV FAILURE... — As Socialist deputy Bashkim Zeneli began reading the motion of the PS parliamentary group concerning the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the TV studio control room, which was recording the session, announced a technical fault. The session was suspended for half an hour, but this was not enough time to fix the problem. Under these circumstances, the morning session could not continue its work. In the afternoon, proceedings continued with the next item on the agenda: discussion of the draft law amending the law “On Prices and Tariffs.” “RD” correspondent.

On 10 December, the First Session of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Black Sea Economic Cooperation will begin its work in Antalya, Turkey. This represents a regional initiative for cooperation among a group of countries, most of which have only recently embarked on the path to a market economy. Albania is a founding member of BSEC, whose principal objective is to achieve a higher degree of integration of these countries’ economies into the world economy. (ATSH)

. The Tirana District announced these days that it had met its annual targets for budget revenue from the tax system. In this connection, the head of the district tax department, Luan Pustina, reports: Revenue from Tirana District accounts for about 24 percent of the state budget, and this figure is constantly increasing. Revenue collection from state and private entities during the second six-month period was achieved as a result of staffing the tax offices. As a result of the effectiveness of the work carried out, the level of state budget revenue in this district has increased by 15 percent from the private sector, compared with 7 percent at the end of the first six-month period. revenue of revenues, revenue of revenues, revenue of revenues, revenue of revenues, of revenues. The amounts expected to be paid into the budget by state and private entities for 1992 have been exceeded by more than 100 million lekë. Targets have been met and exceeded in all categories. Thus, turnover tax has been exceeded by 1 percent, excise duties by 48 percent, and profit tax by 27 percent. the small index 23 percent, likewise taxes, etc. In a ... (ATSH) called for the fulfillment of the annual revenue targets for the 1992 budget. As a result of the efficiency of the work carried out, the private sector’s share of state budget revenues in this district has increased by 15 percent, six-month period. Revenue obligations have been met by both state and private entities. Particularly notable for meeting their obligations punctually were the general energy directorates, the beer production enterprise, and the private firms “Al-babul,” “Eurokol,” “Almat,” etc. (ATSH)

On 7 December, the MEDRAP-II Conference (the Aquaculture Development Project for the Mediterranean Region), organized by FAO and UNDP, began its session in Tirana. Representatives from 18 countries participating in this project are attending the conference, as well as representatives from the University of “Stirling” in Scotland, Ghent in Belgium, and the Haki Institute of Hungary. The MEDRAP project has been operating for 10 years, while Albania has been a member for almost 2 years. The conference was opened by Aleksandër Flloko, Director of the Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, who is also the national fisheries coordinator for the MEDRAP II projects. At the conference, the annual review of MEDRAP-II will be conducted and the most important directions for aquaculture for the coming year will be planned. The conference’s tasks are also important for our country, in order to harmonize the national fisheries strategy with the overall interests of the European Community, of which the Mediterranean region is also a part. (ATSH)

The second conference of the PD branch in Lezhë, held in recent days, focused its work on reorganizing the PD and bringing more intellectuals into the party and its leadership. In his report, the branch chairman, Mr Gjergj Gjomi, assessed this as a demand relating to the consolidation of the party and its future, and analyzed in all its complexity the membership in the PD of educated people and its most committed supporters. “Although more than 300 members in our branch have higher education,” it was stated at the conference, “it would be good and necessary for intellectual thinking to prevail in the leadership and throughout its entire life; together with goodwill, this would ensure progress in the economic and political reform that is being sought.” Various speakers who took the floor, speaking in connection with the disaster caused by the flooding of several villages, praised the readiness of the government, the army and the law-enforcement authorities, which had a positive and relieving effect on the residents of these areas from the first moments of the event. Mr Agron Çika, a member of the PD Governing Council who attended the meeting, observed that the main problems troubling people were being sidelined: full privatization of the land, the recovery of economic power by red officials. With the same concern, the speaker spoke about the decline— (Continued on page 4)

We are referring to his willingness, readiness, and rules for holding press conferences. He rightly regards these as mutually productive conversations: for him, as President, they provide a direct and practical way to take in the greatest national and international concerns of journalists of different convictions and positions; for the press organizations they represent, they provide an opportunity to learn about and frequently and transparently report the personal opinions and official positions of the country’s highest state officials. By becoming warm and frank conversations, this has made President Berisha the authority closest to journalists and most communicative with them. But this positive experience has not become part of the routine, and our journalists are not following it. Most of them, although they are at the forefront of discussions, have not held a single press conference. It is an odyssey to manage to meet some of them, because they are either abroad or swamped with meetings, phone calls, files, appointments, and so on. Why, then, do these statesmen remain so distant and cold toward journalists? Press workers have many questions to ask and many personal or government-wide concerns to convey. At press conferences they may indeed find themselves facing a difficult examination; but their high level of expertise in understanding the problems of their sectors, and their skill and transparency in presenting them, would see them through with flying colors. Referring also to foreign experience, first and foremost European experience, journalists have made it a rule—coordinated and even obligatory—for officials to appear before the media and their journalists at least once a month. Let us hope this will happen here too, with all our senior state officials, XHEVAH MUSTAFA

Expected to arrive in Tirana: In exchange for the visit made to Poland in September this year by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Fatos Bitincka, the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Zbigniew Jovareski, is expected to arrive in Tirana in the coming days. The purpose of this visit is to specify the areas of cooperation. The final text of the intergovernmental agreement on transport will be drafted and approved, and in particular the possibility of cooperation between the shipyards of our two countries will be studied. This month, the Slovenian Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Marian Krajnc, will come to Albania to sign the maritime transport agreement between the two countries. Mr. IL

On 5.12.1992, by the Chairman of the PS in Fier. Regarding the accusations made in the article published in the newspaper Zëri i Popullit on 5 December 1992 by the chairman of the Socialist Party of Fier, the legal adviser to the President, Theodhori Solla, clarifies that they are unfounded. (Continued on page 4)

1. During the period from 09 November to 05 December, at the request of the Extraordinary Commissioner for Emergency Aid, appointed by the Albanian Government, “Pelikanik” transported: — RICE — 2,156 tons to the state warehouses of: Gjirokastrës, Përmetit, Tepelenës, Kukësit, Çorovodës, Vlorës, Sarandës, Bulqizës, Peshkopisë, Korçës, Tiranës, Pogradecit, Kuçovës, Pukës, Elbasanit, Lezhës, Beratit, Skraparit, Fierit, Lushnjës, Kavajës, Mallakastrës, Shijakut, Bilishtit, Shkodrës, Koplikut, Peqinit, Fushë Krujës, Laçit, Rrëshenit, Matit, Delvinës, B. Currit, Durrësit. — SUGAR — 4,572 Currit, Durrësit, Librazhdit, Kolonjës, Krujës, Pogradecit. — WHEAT — 4,711 tons to the state warehouses of: Tiranës, Shkodrës, Vlorës, Durrësit, Bulqizës, Peqinit, Laçit, Kavajës, Lushnjes, Fushë Krujës, Brrylit, Korçës, Rrëshenit. — OIL — 1,414 tons to the state warehouses of: Corovodës, Ersekës, Durrësit, Matit, Pukës, Tiranës, Kuçovës, Mallakastrës, Peqinit, Beratit, Librazhdit, Koplikut, Elbasanit, Fierit, Rrëshenit, Vlorës, Shkodrës, Kukësit. — MISCELLANEOUS GOODS — 150 tons to the state warehouses of: Korçës. Covering 533,238 km with its own vehicles. The total quantity of goods transported by “Pelikanik” since it began operating is 305,734 tons. 2. At the Durrës Polyclinic and at Vlora Hospital, the medical staff of “Pelikanik,” working in cooperation with Albanian doctors, carried out 6,347 medical procedures. 3. The helicopter unit logged 49 flight hours, including: — Transporting Mr. ILIR RASIM ELEZI, who was involved in a car accident, to receive treatment at the Bari Polyclinic; — Rescuing 4 residents in the flooded area of LEZHËS; — Transporting emergency food supplies for the populations of LAÇIT and GALLATËS, which were isolated because of the flood that occurred on 18 November 1992.