6 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF PUBLIC INSULT AND DEFAMATION Yesterday at midday, in the Tirana District Court, the judicial panel chaired by Judge Artan Ze- [sic] announced its ruling concerning the defendant Idajet Beqiri, based on the lawsuit filed by the Tirana Prosecutor's Office for the protection of legality. Pursuant to Article 183 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the judicial panel found the defendant Idajet Beqiri guilty of the criminal offense of public insult against official personalities. As was established during the trial, the defendant committed the criminal offenses of insult and defamation against the President of the Republic. Under the relevant article of the CCP, the judicial panel imposed a sentence of 6 months' imprisonment. «RD» correspondent

Yesterday morning, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed. After expressing his great pleasure at this visit, the President acquainted his guest with Albania's desire to establish and develop friendly relations with Malaysia and other friendly countries. President Berisha spoke about the reforms undertaken in Albania to stabilize the economy and privatize it. He thanked Malaysia for the assistance it had provided by accepting Albanian students and expressed Albania's wish that relations with Malaysia expand in the political, economic and cultural fields, as well as in other areas of common interest. The President stressed that your visit marks a historic event in relations between the two countries and asked Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamed for Malaysia to support Albania politically and economically in international institutions, and for the Malaysian government to encourage private investors to come to Albania. Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed said that one thing our two countries have in common is that they each have several religious communities, but fortunately, in both our countries, there is peaceful coexistence and tolerance in interfaith relations. He also outlined Malaysia's economic reform, where the privatization process began in 1981 and has now almost been completed, since the vast majority of state enterprises that were not making a profit were privatized. The state now earns greater revenue by collecting taxes. In Malaysia, telecommunications, electricity utilities, roads and seaports are now privately owned. He also expressed his pleasure at welcoming Albanian specialists to study this experience. Bank employees can also visit Malaysia, since courses for specialists from all the countries of the East are organized in this country, which has a developed banking system. The same could be done for oil specialists, a highly developed sector in Malaysia. He undertook to begin private talks in his country to arrange their arrival in Albania. «Textile manufacturers in particular could come here, since you have export quotas for the EC without duties,» he said. President Berisha acquainted his guest from Malaysia with Albania's views on the situation in the former Yugoslavia and the region, stressing the danger posed by the creation of a Greater Serbia. Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed expressed his agreement with this. The meeting emphasized that the opening of an Albanian embassy in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, would serve to strengthen relations between the two countries. Press and Information Office at the Presidency

– For Fatos Nano there is only one way: voluntary surrender into the hands of justice and a sincere confession – – The sooner corrupt people leave the leadership of the SP, the better for the SP and for democracy – For months, our public and international opinion has been kept informed about Nano, about the deeds and misdeeds of the leader of the PSSH, Fatos Nano. As is now well known, within a very short period of governing—a mere six months—he took it from the mouths of the hungry Albanian people. At the end of this, the Albanian people learned that it was 8 million dollars. Without a doubt, given the extremely short period of time and the large amount involved, he will appear, door to door, on the long list of defendants in cases of state corruption around the world. Meanwhile, in the hierarchy of socialist corruption toward the end of this century, he will occupy a place of honor. He may deserve to be declared a classic, the newest and greatest example of red corruption. As a typical hybrid of the Enverian cadre incubator, he is also singular in his response to the accusation, which is backed by a voluminous file full of authentic, irrefutable facts. He has the fortune of sharing the same drama as such well-known figures around the world as Andreotti, Craxi, De Michelis... But, being an unwavering loyalist of his spiritual fathers Enver Hoxha and Ramiz Alia, he does not follow the example of these stalwarts of international corruption, but breaks new ground. While Andreotti, Craxi, De Michelis and the others are acknowledging and personally facing their own drama, the Albanian Fatos, from the outset—indeed, as early as 23 March 1992, sensing the storm—galvanized and mobilized the PSSH to defend at any cost, by any means and at any price, his honor and his badly stained seat. His missionaries or lawyers arose at home and around the world, trumpeting that their leader «is as innocent as a lamb» and that he is the predetermined victim of a political game; that he is the PSSH; that without him there is no Albania and no democracy; that he is one of those legendary leaders born once in a millennium. According to this logic, if the «star» Fatos Nano were extinguished, the sun would no longer shine or give warmth—not only in Albania. Thus the fanatical and half-blind communist-socialists, culpable for old and new crimes, both known and undiscovered, have joined shoulder to shoulder to defend Chairman Nano with their chests and their lives. They are leaving no mercy or means unused in the final struggle to overthrow the Meksi Government before justice puts him in the dock. Although the articles were propagandistic, strikes, demonstrations and ultimative petitions were staged. Through special and new channels, urgent help was sought from historically anti-Albanian circles in Belgrade and Athens, to exert not only political pressure. Let Albania be set on fire, let it suffer worse than Bosnia, as long as they can all save their leader Fatos Nano and put him back in power. But, unfortunately for F. Nano, both at home and around the world, their words, writings, complaints and statements vanish like a voice in the desert. Very few people hear them, and far fewer believe them. But we all understand them very well. Even the body of sincere and honest PSSH members, who have clearly understood that Fatos Nano robbed, insulted, mocked and shamed them, is now convinced that he fully deserves to be put in the dock and receive the punishment he deserves, before he does even greater harm to the country, the nation and democracy. OLTON BARDHI

Yesterday at 12:00, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, received the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Muhamed. With the victory of democracy, said Mr. Arbnori, Albania has now become known in the world. We are a European country, but this does not prevent us from establishing relations and making acquaintances with distant countries such as Malaysia, for which we have special respect because it has managed to progress and reach high levels in technology and engineering. With the victory of democracy in our country, Prime Minister Muhamed pointed out, we have found ourselves following the European system model and, unlike some other states that passed into totalitarianism and thus lost the possibility of prosperity, we have achieved success and have prospects. Mr. Arbnori expressed his wish to establish ties between the two parliaments. He welcomed the Malaysian Prime Minister's interest in visiting this country's parliament. The two Vice-Chairmen of the Presidium of the Assembly, Messrs. Tomor Malasi and Shaqir Vuçak, also attended the meeting. Press and Information Office at the People's Assembly

The students left and the buildings were closed. So that the «Studenti» city would not get bored, the neighborhood's private shepherds nearby came to mind. Some with cows, some with sheep, some with horses or dogs, some with scythes and sacks, they are present mornings and afternoons in the beautiful gardens of the «Studenti» city, right by «Demokracia» Square. The landscaping workers responsible for the gardens seem to have decided that livestock are the better option; there is nothing to mow in the students' nine-month city. And best of all, the cows have begun grazing on their own without a shepherd at their head, which shows that they have sorted things out with the landscaping workers!

Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the renowned director of Greek origin Kosta Gavras and his wife. «I have followed your films for a long time, such as the one about the activities of Greek intelligence abroad, which knew how to present the true reality of Greece in the 1960s and 1970s, and knew how to do so through the exploitation of fear and dictatorship,» the President told him. «Your work has always been compelling to me.» Director Kosta Gavras said he was pleased and impressed by Albanian hospitality and by his contacts with intellectuals. My colleagues in Albania, despite working under harsh and difficult conditions, have made propaganda through cinema. [sentence unclear in the source] During the conversation, the situation in the region was discussed. Mr. Gavras said that war is madness set in motion by a handful of people, the consequences of which, unfortunately, everyone will pay for. The future of the Balkans, he said, lies solely in cooperation and the integration of the countries of the peninsula. Only a peaceful Balkans can join Europe. He condemned the nationalist spirit that is also appearing in Greece and is adversely affecting Greece's relations with other countries. Press and Information Office at the Presidency

GAQO APOSTOLI UP FOR AUCTION Flash from A.K GAQO APOSTOLI UP FOR AUCTION Although he has spoken out against auctions, the intellectual named Gaqo has put his entire legal and economic baggage up for auction. These days, «Alternativa SD» calls the methods of privatizing state property «illegal»! In Enver's time, Gaqoa told us that the free-market economy was anti-proire [sic] and preached the socialism of axioms. In Ramiz's time, when Apostoli ran the PPSH from the armchairs of the district plenary, he advised us to practice the self-management of socialist collectives. But now, in a democracy, Gaqoa and Apostoli, under the name Gaqo Apostoli, tell us that «the auction is illegal». Which one is legal? Socialism, collectivization, the collectives, self-management, or privatization by auction? Or does G. P. consider every method and commission in which he himself does not participate illegal? Come on, decide what you people want, because the auction is going ahead.

The newspaper «RD» has received a letter concerning a very troubling problem, which the State Control Service should take note of. TO MR. SALI KELMENDI MAYOR OF TIRANA FOR INFORMATION: «AGROEKSPORT» DIRECTORATE TIRANA

In recent days, imported beef from a good-quality batch from France has arrived at Tirana Cold Store No. 3. Italy, Iceland and other European countries meet the standard requirements. This meat has been distributed in the city of Tirana, and the impressions of consumers and tasters have been... [sentence unclear in the source]. On 1 July 1993, four refrigerated containers carrying dozens [of consignments?] from France, with proper documents, brought about 1,200 kg of turkey meat as aid through the «Agroeksport» enterprise of Tirana. We have learned that about 18,000 quintals of this meat have been allocated to Tirana. Sanitary-veterinary testing of this meat by control specialists, together with the enterprise's technologists, shows that it has been kept in French cold stores for 18 months to two years, exceeding the maximum technological storage limits for this product. It has a high ammonia content and abnormal color, taste and odor, indicating its age, as well as a considerable loss of nutritional value. At this time, our opinion is as follows: 1) If possible, the planned imports of this product should be stopped for the reasons mentioned. 2) As for the quantity already received, we believe its price should be reduced by 30–40 percent to reflect the loss of nutritional value caused by exceeding the storage period. 3) It should be sold as soon as possible, because our cold stores have different cooling capacities from those in France (minus 40 degrees in France, compared with about 18 degrees here). Please, if you consider it appropriate, and in order to avoid problems in the future, intervene with the Ministry of Trade and explain the matter to foreign suppliers to ensure the best possible food for Albanians and the people of the capital. Respectfully, on behalf of the Municipal Veterinary Office, SELAUDIN HAXHIHYMERI

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