In this speech, Mr. Kamdesy, after emphasizing the necessity of the free market and the continuation of reform, analyzes one of the countries of Eastern Europe. Regarding Poland, he emphasizes that the pace of economic growth is the second-highest among the countries of Eastern Europe, with annual inflation of 30 percent. Regarding the Czech Republic, Mr. Kamdesy says that it has a successful record of developing the private economy, reducing inflation, and changing structures. Mr. Kamdesy says of Albania: Albania, whose situation was particularly difficult less than two years ago, had the fastest economic growth in Europe in 1993, with a growth rate of around 10 percent and inflation comparable to Poland’s. Its growth is expected to continue this year. Who would have expected this in 1991? Further on in his report, the IMF Director emphasizes that progress has also been made in Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, etc. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

Albania will continue to have the support of the European Community in the future as well “I am pleased to express my profound gratitude for the assistance that you personally, the European Community, and its member countries have given and continue to give Albania,” President Berisha tells Mr. Andriessen. “I would also like to thank the European Parliament for its request to the Commission of the European Union to begin negotiations with Albania on an association agreement. We support this request of the European Parliament and consider it justified both by the development of democratic processes in Albania, by its economic achievements, and by the results of its cooperation with the European Community. According to IMF data, Albania ranks first in terms of overall production growth, which was around 10 percent in 1993; its currency has stabilized and is convertible, and it is fully committed to the privatization process. In this context, it needs assistance in developing infrastructure and more broadly.” Taking the floor, Mr. Andriessen said that he was pleased with the changes and the results achieved by Albania. He supports the European Parliament’s resolution on reaching an association agreement with Albania and assured them that Albania would continue to receive the support of the European Community in the future as well.

—We will not be indifferent if the conflict spreads to Kosovo— —Conservative forces have usurped the SP— The Chairman of the DP, Mr. E. Selami, and Messrs. T. Shehu and D. Shehi in Mallakastër The day before yesterday in the morning, as part of the now institutionalized meetings of the leaders of the Democratic Party of Albania in agricultural areas, irrigation, improvement of the electricity network, paving the road connecting the village with the center, etc., but they are the representatives ... Regarding the concerns raised about the local authorities’ failure to implement the laws, Selami replied: The law is binding on everyone. Its non-partisan nature means that, regardless of the fact that the socialists won in your municipalities, they must implement without delay the laws passed by the Albanian Parliament. This is what the rule of law that we are establishing in Albania entails. Secretary General Tritan Shehu, speaking about relations with the SP, focused in particular on the ideas put forward at the SP conference held recently. As on previous occasions, at this conference the socialists exerted pressure over the “Nano issue,” continued to call for stopping the privatization process and the development of economic reform, as well as for Albania not to integrate into the Council of Europe, etc. And worst of all, they once again did not dare, and did not want to—because they could not—distance themselves from the dictator Enver Hoxha. This clearly shows that the SP continues to be dominated, even strongly, by the conservative forces that have usurped the party. This makes it absolutely necessary for the true socialist forces within it to distance themselves from their leadership and play a more positive role for the good of Albania. In his speech, Minister Dashamir Shehi explained the social policy pursued by the new Albanian state. “The social state we are building,” the minister stressed, “has nothing in common with the socialist state. The social state protects that part of society which, for one reason or another, cannot keep pace with others in becoming prosperous. That is precisely why we have created a system of laws and institutions to protect these sections of society and not leave them at the mercy of fate.” Through their questions and open, free, and entirely democratic discussions, participants at the meeting raised problems affecting the people, such as the local authorities’ failure to fully implement the law on land distribution, frequent power outages, shortages of [fuel?], etc. Minister Shehi, on behalf of the Government, as well as the main leaders of the DP of Albania, promised the villagers that funds would be released as soon as possible to repair and pave the road connecting the village of Greshicë to the national Ballsh–Tepelenë road. This prompted extraordinary enthusiasm and the natural joy of the hundreds present at the meeting.

The District Prosecutor’s Office announces that on 15.02.1994 the investigation into criminal case No. 1118/1 against the defendants was completed: 1. Fatos Nano Nano 2. Sokrat Spiro Plaka 3. Robert Ilaski Gjini 4. Hasan Halim Halko The last three defendants, Sokrat Plaka, Robert Gjini, and Hasan Halko, are accused of committing the crime of abuse of office, provided for under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, causing the state economic damage in the respective amounts of: -73,780,000 lekë -399,390 lekë -144,821 lekë The defendant Fatos Nano is accused of committing the crime of embezzling state property on a large scale, in the role of accomplice, in the amount of 9.4 billion lire, or 73,780,000 lekë, as well as falsifying official documents—criminal offenses provided for under Articles 62 and 110 of the Criminal Code. The charge against the defendant Fatos Nano concerns Italian aid granted to Albania in the amount of 23 billion lire during the period from February 1991 to June 1991, when the defendant Fatos Nano held the senior position of Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Through his direct and continuous actions, such as: ○ Appointing the company “Levant Co” S.P.A. Bari, with Xhuzepe Pemiolene as executive director, to deliver the aid allocated by the Italian Government, in violation of the procedures (tender) prescribed by Italian law. ○ Directly bypassing specialized institutions and bodies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Trade, etc., and unilaterally assigning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle the aid, while following the requests of Xhuzepe Pemioles, which were conveyed through faxes sent by the defendants Ramiz and Arben Aliaj, his accomplices. ○ In deliberate violation of Regulation No. 243 of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, dated 21.1.1983, he deliberately set aside the state’s initiative to conclude bilateral agreements; the absence of such agreements gave the defendant Fatos the opportunity to appoint Xhuzepe Pemioles’ company “LEVANT CO” as the supplier. ○ Appointing Hajdin Sejdisë, who was the defendant’s personal adviser on economic and financial matters, as the freight forwarding agent in Albania. ○ According to discussions with the Italian side, represented by Italian Ambassador Torquato Cardili, he ordered a change in the composition of food and pharmaceutical goods, replacing those that were essential with products that did not meet the emergency needs. ○ Failing to issue a bylaw on the procedure for taking delivery of aid goods, despite this being the first time aid had arrived, unlike the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 91 of 12.3.1991, “On the organization and distribution of aid,” thereby creating a real opportunity to cover up the discrepancies. All the matters mentioned above, as well as the mechanisms by which “Levante Co” obtained illegal benefits, were reported in writing by various witnesses who held senior state positions and had informed [the authorities] about ... the dishonesty of Levante Co. ○ The failure of the bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Trade to take action. ○ The prices of the goods received were several times higher than Italian retail-market prices. ○ The change in the composition of the goods, from emergency supplies to non-essential goods. ○ Grossly inflated sea-transport expenses and payments for transport that was not carried out. ○ Nevertheless, the defendant, acting as an accomplice, ignored all these written reports and ordered his subordinates to oversee implementation, and took no official action to prevent the illegal embezzlement by his accomplices. ○ The defendant also approved two Council of Ministers decisions without holding the relevant meetings and without the participation of all members of the Government, thereby committing the crime of forgery. The defendant Fatos Nano committed this criminal offense in order to create privileges and benefits in the form of a reward for the role “played” by Hajdin Sejdia as the freight forwarder for aid delivered by “Levant Co.” Pursuant to Article 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the materials of the investigation against the defendants will be submitted for trial to the Tirana District Court. SPOKESPERSON OF THE TIRANA DISTRICT PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

○ Former Prime Minister Nano will soon stand before justice. ○ An ordinary thief, an ordinary criminal, a forger and a fraudster. ○ Defending corruption and criminalizing the party—the basic line of the extremist leaders of the SP. ○ Now is the time for people of integrity, with genuine socialist ideals, to separate themselves from criminals and the corrupt. ○ The triumph of justice is inevitable. The extremist, left-wing and corrupt leaders of the SP never called for Fatos Nano to be tried, for justice to deliver its verdict and find him guilty or declare him innocent. In a chorus of [unclear] and threats that went as far as destabilizing the country, they demanded only one thing, in an ultimatum: Fatos Nano’s immediate release. They tied the whole life of the country, the development of democracy in Albania, its relations with the world, and its prestige inextricably to this one individual. Nano thus became a symbol of the existence or nonexistence of Albanian life. Such absurdities can be expected only from those who have never known, and still do not know, the law; who, in their time, lined up justice and commanded it according to their whims and desires in a completely arbitrary manner; who deprived it of the right to defense, leaving their victims completely exposed to the cruelty of the dictatorship. Such absurdities can be expected only from those bound together in an insoluble Gordian knot of crime and ordinary criminality and politics, theft, open or secret robbery, clans or gangs of thieves, murders and mysterious or blatant disappearances, etc. [Unclear text] Fatos Nano is clear. Soon the former Prime Minister Nano, who, in collaboration with Ramiz Alia and his son, trampled on the needs of the poor—on our people, on their right to exist and to receive enough food to live on from the humanitarian aid of friends—will stand before justice. According to the accusation, he has [??] state property on a large scale [?] is an ordinary thief, an ordinary criminal and not a politician, a forger of documents, who [??] with the aid of the people in misery [?] millions into the pockets of [..] in domestic and [..] today in defense of [..], [..] before a barricade and [..] The Albanian mafia, in collaboration with the foreign mafia, is trying to deceive people by fabricating all sorts of situations and spreading all sorts of disinformation at home and abroad, with the sole aim of saving Nano. These methods of operation are not original and, consequently, have been used before in similar cases by Nano’s masters and mentors and their company. Never, in any instance, have the extremist and criminal leaders of the SP—or even the rag “ZP”—refuted with logical arguments or facts the documented accusations made public against Fatos Nano. One thing is true: legally, no one can be convicted or exonerated before a court rules. But another thing is also true: regardless of the court’s decision, a criminal is a criminal because he has committed the criminal act, even if it is never discovered or his crime is never tried for lack of evidence. In this regard, we can say quite openly that Fatos Nano is an ordinary thief who stole the daily bread of a hungry people, exhausted by the dictatorship, whose pampered son he is. It is for the justice system to prove this with facts and documents and to decide, using legal reasoning and making no concessions. In any case, one thing is clear. No deception by anyone can save the thief from being punished. Nano, in collaboration with R. Alia and the others, ordered the bloodshed on 2 April 1991 in Shkodër to preserve their privileges and rule. Nano [..] and his son [..]. Likewise, in logic. It will take place, this [??] after an agreement has been completed and with the protection and careful preparation of the meeting [..] Albanian-[..] mixed economic [??] In democratic Albania, gangs of ordinary mafiosi, extremely dangerous to the fate of a country and its people, especially when they also wield power, can no longer make the law. They can appeal across the planet, even into interplanetary space, just as [unclear], but it is all in vain. The law-based right is invincible in a state governed by the rule of law. The moon is destined to [??] in darkness, regardless of whether [unclear] want it. The law is destined to punish crime, regardless of whether mafiosi may pose as its victims. Throughout the recent campaign against justice and to save Fatos Nano, it has become clear that defending corruption and criminalizing the party are the basic lines of the extremist leaders at the helm of the SP. The facts show that the socialist leadership has allocated large funds to Nano’s defense, while the Albanian justice system accuses him of large-scale theft. These positions and actions make it all the more necessary and urgent themselves from the perpetrators of crime and the corrupt leaders of the SP, who, for fear that their criminal past will catch up with them, are defending their own crimes bought off by others. They “forget” that the present is an age of justice and democracy. They “forget” that the stone they lift to defend justice and democracy will fall on their own heads. The “socialist” mafia is applying a great deal of pressure, organizing press conferences, blackening the pages of “ZP,” and sending out a [??] campaign of emissaries with money stolen from the Albanian people. But despite all this, the triumph of justice is inevitable. Nothing will turn Albania and Albanian justice back into a slave of the not-so-distant past. THE OBSERVER

The day before yesterday in the morning, as part of the now institutionalized meetings of the leaders of the Democratic Party of Albania with different areas of the country, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Eduart Selami, along with Mr. Tritan Shehu, the party’s secretary general, and Dashamir Shehi, Minister of Labour, Emigration and Social Support, held a meeting with residents of the villages of Ngracan and Greshice in the Mallakastër district. with different areas of the country, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Eduart Selami, along with Mr. Tritan Shehu, the party’s secretary general, and Dashamir Shehi, Minister of Labour, Emigration and Social Support, held a meeting with residents of the villages of Ngracan and Greshice in the Mallakastër district. Despite the cold weather and falling snow, the villagers of Ngracan, far from the district center, welcomed the meeting with the representatives of the DP of Albania, Mr. Selami and the gentlemen accompanying him, with particular interest. After thanking them for their warm welcome, the chairman of the DP of Albania, Mr. Eduard Selami, said: “You see and are becoming convinced every day that there is no better path forward than the one along which the democrats are leading Albania. This is also evident in the growing support you continue to give us, for which I thank you all on behalf of the Democratic Party. I especially congratulate the new members and assure them at the same time that the DP will implement its program and continue to fulfill the promises it has made. “Furthermore, the chairman of the DP assured them of the care and support that the Democratic Government shows farmers and villagers, who through their work and efforts, while supporting [unclear] and the opportunities that democracy [unclear] in recent meetings, [have increased] agricultural production by increasing the production of vegetables, livestock farming, irrigation, improving the electricity network, paving the road connecting your village with the center, etc.; but it is your representatives in local government who will deal every day with solving your problems.” An open discussion then took place between the party and government leaders and the residents of Ngracan, who spoke about the improvement in the welfare of Albanian farmers over the past two years and raised their concerns about land, improving the electricity network, paving the road, etc. * * * At midday on 16 February, Mr. Selami and the other gentlemen continued their meetings with residents of the Greshice commune. Taking the floor at this meeting, Mr. Selami said: “I am pleased that here, as everywhere, the DP is welcomed and continues to expand. Support for it has rightly increased because what we have said is being put into practice every day. You are welcome; it is never too late to contribute to democracy. “The well-known patriotism and Albanian spirit of the people of Mallakastër bring them closer to democracy every day. I repeat,” said Mr. Selami, “that our greatest and most fundamental concern is Albania.” Responding to those present who were also interested in foreign-policy issues and the crisis in the Balkan region, Mr. Selami said: “The foreign policy of President Berisha, the Democratic Government, and the Democratic Party is to be welcomed. It aims not only to integrate Albania into the European Community and beyond, but also makes the defense of Albanian issues its first priority. Milosevic and [??] ... if the conflict spreads to Kosovo, Kosovo, or to our lands of thousands of years; we are the oldest people, with our language, traditions and [??]. We have survived and will always live.” Speaking about democratic reforms in local government and the forthcoming elections in Albania, he said that the villages of Mallakastër stand together with the town [..] and your welcome as [..] the harsh [??] of the people of Mallakastër [..] months [..] against the calls of the socialist [??] Kastori Islami [..] everyone. Taking the floor, the Minister of Labour and Social Support, Mr. Dashamir Shehi, focused mainly on the problems concerning Albanian villagers today. “The Democratic Government,” Minister Shehi emphasized, “will always be here for you to resolve your problems, such as technical assistance, agricultural machinery, your problems.” * * * [..] in Kosovo; if the conflict spreads to are the oldest people, with our language, traditions and [??]. We have survived and will always live. “We have spoken in favor of peaceful elections, but are the oldest people, with our language, traditions and [??]. We have survived and will always live.” DY JLEJMAN KARAJ

Reports continue to arrive from DP branches in the districts about people joining the Democratic Party. These days, the Delvina DP branch reports 150 new members, around 30 of whom are intellectuals. Today the Second Conference of the FRPD begins its work. We wish the Democratic Youth success at its assembly, for the good of democracy, for the prosperity of the Homeland, and for an even happier life for its parents.