President of Albania Sali Berisha paid his respects beside the coffin of former Turkish president Turgut Ozal at the final official funeral ceremonies. The President of the Republic of Ireland, the Greek prime minister, and former US Secretary of State Mr. Baker also attended the ceremony. After the tributes, Ozal’s body, on a gun carriage, was taken to Ankara’s principal mosque, the Ekshitepese Mosque. Thousands of Turkish and foreign citizens attended the ceremony. Ozal’s body will be laid to rest in an area of Istanbul, near the place where another distinguished man, Menderes, is buried. ATSH

Working meeting at Army General Staff The NATO military delegation, headed by the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, General Xhejms Dejvis, continued its visit to our country with a working meeting at the Army General Staff, attended by senior and high-ranking officers. The Chief of the General Staff of the (Continued on page 6)

-Former communist prime ministers accused of corruption and genocide- -PSSH membership cards No. 1 and No. 3 among those accused- -Operation “Clean Hands” dominates Mediterranean politics- The “socialists” have lost in Albania. They have lost in most Eastern countries; the socialists have lost in France. European justice is accusing hundreds of officials, ministers, parliamentarians and diplomats from the European left of corruption and illegal bribes. Scandals in France, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Greece, Spain... financial scandals involving socialists in Albania too. Since political pluralism was declared in Albania, six governments have changed, five of them belonging to the “renewed” former communists, and the last to the Democrats. Of the six prime ministers of the Albanian state during these two years, the record is deeply painful. Adil Çarçani, prime minister and aPP(S)SH deputy, had his immunity lifted and was arrested on corruption charges. His fall from power dates to 20 February, the mass civic protest against the dictator Hoxha and the communist system. The second former prime minister, Fatos Nano, who came in as Çarçani’s replacement, formed two cabinets within a few months; their achievements amounted to the closure of the National University, the mass exodus of March ’91, and the planning of the tragic massacre in Shkodra. His governments, too, were brought down by mass civic protests. F. Nano is now publicly accused of corruption involving Italian aid granted to Albania and of providing financial and political support to “Iliria Holding” and “Levante Co”. This clearly shows the high degree of corruption and degeneration of the political power of the PP(S)SH, and particularly of its leaders, among whom the party’s membership card holders No. 1 and No. 3 are today accused before the justice systems of two democratic countries: Italy and Albania. Betino Kraksi, the highest-ranking official of the PSI, was arrested, while Fatos Nano, the highest-ranking official of the PSSH, publicly accused of corruption, takes the road to China. When the press and the courts accused Kraksi of corruption, the PSI and the Italian parliament stripped him of his party membership and parliamentary immunity. Will the PSSH and the Albanian parliament have the courage and good sense to do the same with the opposition leader, F. Nano? The transition in Albania, as in most Eastern countries, was accompanied by speculation by individuals and social groups. As the heir to former communist rule in Albania, the PSSH represented the infamous Italian in Albania, Torkuato Kardili, otherwise a declared friend of Nano and Ramiz Alia’s son. Kardili’s authority collapsed; Nano had worked closely with him, and the arrests of De Mikelis, Kraksi, Marteli and company forced F. Nano to defend himself. In self-defence, he publicly stirred up factional conflict within his party and, on the other hand, urgently, without foundation or due consideration, publicly called for the resignation of the Meksi government. Nano also called for early elections, hoping for political turmoil and a shift in the balance between the PS and PD in the imaginary elections. Even for most PS members, the call for the resignation of the Meksi government came as a surprise, which left them in an inferior position. Kardili was replaced, and Italian justice did its work. It was precisely during this period that he handed out some bags of raincoats for orphans; instead of meat, he gave them fruit drinks... Then there was an F. Nano who lied to the EC and to 3 million Albanians, who had been driven from the markets; for the motherland, he put on the glasses of corruption and deception. When thousands of Albanians, exhausted to the extreme by dictatorial torture, were asking for help and European brotherly solidarity, F. Nano was signing away justice. When Albanians believed in God and prayed for help and mercy, Fatos Nano was handing over dollars to Ajdin Sejad and especially to “Levante Co”, a company he made known as the centre of the dome of the post-communist Albanian red mafia. The illegal cigarette trade, unlawful favouritism toward children, foreign companies’ private ventures at sea and on land, later driven away by enrichment and corruption involving the firms “Levante Co” and “Iliria Holding”; the trade in food and humanitarian aid; the privatization and criminal appropriation of property by the PSSH leadership caste; the trade in visas and study scholarships... all of these are inextricably linked to the names of the former communist prime ministers, now socialists. An economist revealed a few months ago that a large investment in dollars is held in the name of F. Nano’s granddaughter and her fiancé in the major Iloton of Austrian television, and it is said that accounts have also been opened in these names at Swiss banks. the mass protests involving Italian aid; they were accused of corruption involving Italian aid, accused of corruption involving Italian aid, Italian aid, accused of corruption involving Italian aid. The third former prime minister of the previous government, in the second half of 1991, Y. Bufi, is remembered as the direct cause of the second tragedy of 1991, in which 36 innocent citizens died; as the cause of the collapse of the Albanian economy; as a catalyst for corruption and a fanatic of 80% destruction. He, too, was brought down by mass civic protests and is now accused of genocide. The last communist prime minister, Vilson Ahmeti, aware that social-communist rule in Albania was coming to an end, is remembered for bringing the economy down to zero. He was brought down by the massive civic referendum of March 22, and less than a year later was arrested for corruption and illegal bribes. The last was the Meksi cabinet, which came to power with the support of 70% of the Albanian electorate and continued to lead the reform of the free-market economy and the rule of law. This brief chronology presents the mass protests involving Italian aid, accused of corruption involving Italian aid. accompanied by speculation by individuals and social groups. The Socialist Party of Albania (PSSH), as heir to the former communist power, took the properties of its predecessors for itself, publicly declaring the loss of its political and economic identity. During the rule of the PS leaders, Albania experienced only mass exoduses (over 5,000,000 citizens emigrated), extensive debts (over 500 million dollars), mass and unlawful unemployment (over 72 innocent victims), and, above all, organized state and private corruption. The millions of dollars that were not accounted for under the law and were given to N. Arsid provided the justice system with the evidence it needed to detain for investigation and trial the last communist prime minister, Vilson Ahmeti. It was precisely during this period that the socialist leader F. Nano began to feel the shadows and sighs of his dealings. He tries to forget them, but the Albanian press and an “unconvinced” Italian journalist will under no circumstances accept corruption, brutality, demagoguery and [unclear]. For most PS members, too, the calls for the Meksi government to resign came as a surprise, which led them to take an inferior stance. Kardili was replaced, and the Italian woman in charge made it her own. It was precisely during this period that the changes to the Meksi cabinet were described by Nano as sufficient, even though the press undertook to publish precise information about the scandal involving Italian aid given to Albania. F. Nano’s name was tainted by the staggering sum of 9 million US dollars, which appears to have been stolen unlawfully. When Albania was asking for aid to survive, when people believed in God and in Italian charity, when thousands of poor Albanian families were begging for European alms, when Italy was seen by Albanians as a “respected lady,” a diplomat named Kardili and a corrupt state official named Fatos Nano were found who, instead of brotherly aid, gave Albania an inoculation of the mafia; instead of food to survive, they gave it marmalade; instead of bread, they gave it discarded fruit juice; instead of laboratories and scientific books, they destroyed it with political turbulence and the balancing of relations between the PS and PD ahead of the elections a few months later. [Fragment unclear] In the names of F. Nano and his fiancée, there is supposedly a major investment in dollars in the Austrian television lottery, and it is said that these names are also linked to numbered accounts in Swiss banks. It was precisely because of this fatal news about the socialist leader that the economist was attacked by unknown people and beaten until he fell into a coma!! How far do the roots of corruption in Albania reach? Former prime ministers Çarçani and Ahmeti have been arrested! Former prime minister F. Nano is close to facing justice, accused of high-level corruption! When will Nano, holder of PSSH membership card number one, share the fate of B. Kraxi, holder of PSSH membership card number three, and leave the stage before the rule of law? When will the party of corrupt people, PSSH, and its newspaper ZP, find the courage to purge from its ranks those who are corrupt and accused of genocide, and speak not as Marxist-Leninist philosophers, but as the legal institutions of a democratic state such as Albania? How long will “ZP” continue to defend corruption? How long will the opposition continue to be led by an ambitious and corrupt person? How long... because justice will take action... AFRIM KRASNIQI

Mr. Eduart Selami arrived back in his homeland yesterday. In his capacity as chairman of the PD and of the People’s Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs, he had made a working visit to Brussels and Strasbourg. During this visit, Mr. Selami held important meetings with senior figures from the European Community, the Council of Europe and NATO, aimed at speeding up Albania’s accession to these important international organizations. During his visit, Mr. Eduart Selami was received by the President of the European Parliament, Egon Clepps; the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mrs. Katerine Lalumier; and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mr. De Francos. Mr. Selami described his visit as very successful. “RD” CORRESPONDENT

For days, a dense fog has spread over Tirana and its surroundings regarding the purpose of the visit by PSSH chairman Fatos Nano and his return to Albania. Many conjectures, assumptions and rumours are circulating. Apparently, this “historic” visit by chairman Nano to the homeland of chairman Mao has stirred the imagination of many of his well-wishers and opponents. According to some, he went to China to learn from the Chinese experience how to shut the doors with a wall against peaceful efforts and himself. On his return, he will work out a strategy to outlaw the PD and the other democratic parties, which will be his first great undertaking after retaking power. Others say that he was sent by the red businessmen on a special mission to secure large and continuous supplies of balloons, rice, arijn and Panda bears, snakes, fireworks (which will make the day of the great victory of social-communism), medals and badges reading “Victim of democracy,” “Exemplary continuer of the ideal and work of Enver Hoxha,” etc. According to another group, he boarded a plane and flew to distant China because he had first been informed that his unforgivable deeds and traces of corruption had been uncovered. Since he does not feel safe even in Beijing, they say he will hide in one of Tibet’s historic palaces. So far, then, it cannot be said with certainty who he is or what he will do. But one thing is certain: where he is and whether he will return at all. But one thing is certain: he is using his time with great productivity and efficiency to fulfil completely the “historic mission” entrusted to him by the red army of old and new Enverites. They say he has also sent the message: “I will return rich and with full pockets, and [for] the overthrow of the democratic government and my restoration to power.” And if that is so, it goes without saying that he will not return again.

From the speech by deputy Hasan Halili, on behalf of the PD group, on the draft law “On compensation in value for former owners of agricultural land” A few days ago, we passed two laws of great importance for Albanian life: the Law on Human Freedoms and Rights and the law on the return and compensation of property to former owners. Time will judge the steps we are taking, but up to now we have acted in accordance with the PD’s electoral program before 22 March. This parliament, therefore, leaves us with a clear conscience that we are making efforts to remain true to those who gave us (Continued on page 6)

. My trip to New York was linked to a particular date, one that marked a high point in the history of our nation: the 72nd anniversary of the Great Highland Uprising and the raising of the Albanian flag by Dede Gjo Luli and his companions after nearly 500 years of Ottoman rule. From Kennedy Airport, my friend Tom Ulaj, who had come to meet me there, and I set off for the hall where our compatriots, Albanians in the USA, had gathered to celebrate this anniversary. As soon as we entered the hall, we heard Professor Qosja speaking to the participants. I do not want to dwell on what Professor Qosja said. Everyone has their own opinion, and opinions should be respected. There is something else that deeply offended me, and I will try to describe it just as it happened, without comment. Let the reader judge for themselves. Since the Great Highland Uprising was inseparably linked to the raising of the Albanian flag, before leaving for New York I took an Albanian flag with me from Albania, intending to give it as a gift to the organizers of that day’s gathering. When those around him informed the hosts of this, their response was strange! They said it would not be possible for me to give such a gift because Professor Qosja did not agree. This seemed unbelievable to me, so I went and spoke to Professor Qosja myself. Fortunately, the professor [unclear] after I introduced myself. The following dialogue took place between us: — Professor, I wanted to give the organizers of this gathering a flag as a gift, but they told me you did not agree. I wanted to know the truth. — I am a guest here and I do not make the decisions, but what flag were you going to give? — Not a Serbian flag, Professor—a flag of Albania. Here is the Albanian flag; why should there be another one? — I think another one beside it would only add to its beauty. — We are not at war, distributing flags. A flag is not given as a gift! — I think the most precious gift one can give is a flag. — What kind of flag, a clan flag? — Is that what you think of the Albanian flag, Professor? I am sorry! You are a respected man. — Not in your eyes! — Why do you think that? Because of some articles published in “RD”? Professor, are you taking your grudge against the newspaper out on the flag? — No! — Anyone can make a mistake, Professor! You are not infallible either. If you think otherwise, that is where your mistake begins. — You cannot teach Rexhep Qosja about patriotism and being Albanian! — I do not presume to teach anyone, Professor. — If the President wanted to give a flag, he should send it with the Albanian ambassador. — Leave the President out of it, Professor. This is a flag that “Rilindja Demokratike” wants to give as a gift to this gathering. — Why? Does “Rilindja Demokratike” have its own flag? — It does, Professor: the Albanian flag, which, it seems, you do not want to be honored. Farewell, Professor. BASHKIM TRENOVA

From the People’s Assembly . OF AGRICULTURAL LAND” WAS APPROVED. — The treaties of friendship and cooperation between Albania and Bulgaria and Turkey were approved — The draft law “On certain amendments to the law ‘On the procedure for setting wages’” was approved. Under it, wage controls will be carried out by ministries, municipalities and communes, and not by the Ministry of Finance as they have been until now. The night before last, at around 8 p.m., after discussion and approval article by article, of agricultural land” was also finally approved in its entirety. Thus, former owners will receive full compensation for up to 15 hectares of land. For areas exceeding this amount, the additional compensation will be calculated using coefficients of 0.1 and 0.2 of the assessed value. Compensation will be made through securities, with priority given to pre-emption rights. Yesterday morning, the Assembly held its final session of the week. At the beginning, it approved the treaty “On friendship (Continued on page 6)