— The pretext: “The Nano issue” — The “Nano issue” has for some time been used by a certain group within the PS as a “strong card” for achieving its political aims. Nano, who himself leads this group, seems to have had his ties with the real world severed by his cell and “isolation.” But when someone’s mind is occupied solely by fantasy, it is difficult for him to be counted among normal people. Thus Nano has become convinced not only that he can get out of prison without a trial, but also that he can overthrow the government from his cell. The misfortune, however, does not lie here, but in the fact that there are people outside the cells who, in their devotion (and certainly without logic), are trying to carry out ideas sent to them from the fantasy world of their leader. The fact is that, following orders, at a leadership meeting they decided to declare a “National Day”; they also decided to bring the old republics out “once again” at rallies, and through them to free Nano and immediately put him on the throne from his cell. I do not know how, but this reminds me of a scene from a film in which a man managed to force a large group of people to carry out his “strange” ideas, and at the very moment when these people had come completely under his command, an ambulance arrived. Two nurses forcibly put the man in question inside and informed those present that he had escaped from a psychiatric hospital. The revanchists themselves, the entire PS, admit this openly. Thus the PS deputy chairman, L. Hajdaraga, when asked about this matter by “KJ,” said, among other things: “I am certain that the 900, 800 or 700 days the President says remain until the next elections will not be as many as he has predicted.” So, according to Hajdaraga, the PS “National Day” will also decide on early elections. But, as I mentioned above, although Hajdaraga moves freely through the streets of Tirana, he speaks according to the fantastic ideas that come out of cell 47. — THE PS LEADERS

It seems that the PS leaders have formed the absurd conviction that they can create today a situation like the one that brought about the overthrow of communism and the Nano government. That they are so narrow-minded is their own misfortune. Perhaps there is no need to compare the two periods, but in any case I will remind you emphatically that in ’90 and ’91 hundreds of thousands of Albanians rose up to overthrow a system that was socially criminal and had failed completely economically. They overthrew the clowns whom they had not themselves chosen to lead the state, but who had risen to power on the basis of their criminal “merits” under Hoxha’s regime. But today, for what purpose, what goal, would the PS rouse the Albanians? To free a former communist prime minister accused of theft?! Think of the shopkeepers who would close their shops to go to the PS’s illegal rally, where they would shout: “We want him, we want him, we want ‘E. Hoxha’! E Ho-xha!” “The Communists are strong!” and so on. This is the main scene that unfolded for about two hours on Wednesday in Kuçovë, in the presence of the “iron” G. Ruci. The last of the old dynasty, the only communist in the PS with such great power, “held council in the Lab dialect” with the overwhelmingly communist majority in the hall. It is a fact, and we are not abusing the word when we…

The attempt to organize rallies one day before Nano’s trial is an overt attempt to put pressure on the justice authorities; it is therefore an unlawful act. The Socialists have held “rallies” before, and nobody has prevented them, but illegal rallies cannot be allowed to take place in support of unlawful demands such as the PS’s latest demands. THE SOCIALISTS WILL PROTEST ON 5 MARCH FOR NANO’S RELEASE AND ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF STALIN’S DEATH Perhaps you have forgotten that 5 March was the day of the death of “dear friend” Stalin. That was all the PS “democrats” needed…

— From the speech delivered at the lunch in Ishull-Lezhë on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the Assembly of Lezhë — Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chairman of the City Council. Dear friends and guests. Esteemed clergy and Your Excellencies, ambassadors. On your behalf, I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart the authorities of Lezhë and the people of this district for organizing and commemorating this event. I thank the Academy of Sciences and the Institute of History for the interesting symposium devoted to this event, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most glorious in the Albanian nation’s history. The Assembly of Lezhë and Lezhë itself may seem somewhat displaced in our history, but we must understand clearly that Lezhë and its Assembly must be considered in their proper dimension in the history of this nation and this country, because the Assembly of Lezhë, with its powerful resonance throughout the history of our nation, is and remains relevant to Albanians in every era. The Assembly of Lezhë is the great pledge of faith that Albanians gave one another and to freedom, and that Albanians gave to their allies. I would say that without the Assembly of Lezhë there would have been no wars of Skanderbeg, and without his wars there would have been no Albanian state. Had the Assembly of Lezhë not existed, the Albanians would have been left without a community and would have ended up in history’s abode of oblivion. But their wisdom, courage, bravery and daring enabled them to gather and decide to fight some of the greatest battles in European history, which are undoubtedly a great and precious legacy and an indisputable guarantee of our future. The message of this Assembly is profound. Its message is that, united in their struggle for freedom, Albanians can raise their name and the name of Albania ever higher. Today Albanians are living through a difficult but very important period in their history. Just as Skanderbeg raised the name of the Albanians and Albania by fighting for freedom and knowing how to choose alliances, by taking the right side, so too is it in the hands of Albanians today, on the path to democracy, to raise their name and Albania’s ever higher. Nothing elevates a country, nation, state or individual more than freedom and the struggle for freedom. Today we are swept up in the momentum of freedom. We are, of course, making our contribution at a time when half of the nation lives in hardship and under occupation. Milosheviç did not allow any legitimate official representative of Kosovo, nor any Kosovar scholars, to come and take part in this celebration. He may indeed prevent one, two or five people or delegations from coming, but he can never put an end to the all-encompassing principles of Lezhë shared by all Albanians wherever they may be. They are the principles of the Albanian’s struggle for freedom. On this occasion, I extend a special thank-you to His Holiness; Albanians have seen and continue to see the Vatican as their natural, longstanding and faithful ally, and they will remain faithful to it.

Yesterday morning, at the DP of Albania headquarters, under the direction of the Party chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami, the national conference of the Democratic Party was held, attended by the branch chairmen. The conference assessed the work carried out to date, as well as the progress of the political, economic, social and legislative reform undertaken by President Berisha and the democratic government. The fact that Albania is now the country with the highest growth in economic output in Europe is a highly significant and encouraging indicator. It shows that the Democratic Party is fulfilling its promises to lead Albania, as quickly as possible, onto the path of progress and integration with the world. At the same time, the conference stressed the need to accelerate the pace of privatization and to improve the efficiency of the state administration at both local and central levels. Speaking at the conference, Mr. Selami stressed that the continuous and rapid increase in the number of DP members is itself a direct expression of growing confidence and support for the Democratic Party, as a party that not only overthrew the harshest communism in Europe, but is also shaping its identity as a political force driving the success of reforms in post-communist Europe. However, Mr. Selami continued, it is essential that the process of expanding the Democratic Party’s membership continue with intensity in the future as well. This expansion must be accompanied at the same time by an increase in the scope of work of the DP sections and branches. Speaking about the current political situation in Albania, Mr. Selami singled out the feverish efforts by the PS’s overheated leaders to destabilize the situation, disregard the law, and come to the defense of crime and corruption. Using the same language and methods that oppressed Albania for 47 years, the same methods with which they opposed the birth of democracy, and with the shameful, hysterical counter-rallies of the Enverists, they are still trying to prevent justice from having its say on the corruption of the former communist prime minister Nano. But their time is over. Today is the time of democracy and the rule of law, not of theft, crime and fraud. THE PS’S DESTABILIZATION STRATEGY IS DOOMED TO FAIL — Statement by the DP parliamentary group — These days, the left-wing extremists and the leaders of the Socialist Party are leaving no means unused to artificially increase social tensions in the country. Their aim…

Someone reminded me that 5 March is the day of the death of “dear friend” Stalin. So it seems that Nano’s “socialists” will protest not only for Nano’s release, but also over the death of the “Father” of the “Father” (that is, the grandfather), and will demand the resurrection of the devil and his son. EDI PALOKA

-The last of the old guard, Comrade Gramoz Ruçi, in Kuçove- -The truth, often repeated—that the elderly make up most of those attending these meetings—is plainly evident in Kucove as well- -Stale arguments, half-baked logic, maximum zeal to exonerate F.Nano and get him out of the hands of the court without a trial- -In Kuçove there are few socialists and more bloodthirsty communists- Large photographs, small photographs, cries of “Fatos Nano! Fatos Nano! “PS!PS!” colorful slippers and hats, fish in the air, a few women, a few young people, and Qamilja, an old woman, shouting “E. Hoxha! “E Ho-xha!” “The Communists are strong!” etc. hours on Wednesday in Kucove, in the presence of the “iron” G.Ruci. The last of the old guard, the only communist with such great power in the PS, “held council in the Lab dialect” with the overwhelming communist majority in the hall. This when we say it (Continued on page 4)

-The President’s Decree “On the dissolution of state arbitration” is also approved- Briefly from the People’s Assembly “One more opportunity for less injustice”—that would be the axiom against which the value of the six articles of the draft law “On the salaries of judges, serving assistant judges, prosecutors and investigators” would be measured; the People’s Assembly gave it preliminary approval at its final plenary session of the week. The main constitutional provisions, international experience, the particular nature of the judiciary’s work, and its unfavorable situation make it necessary to bring before the Assembly, for approval by a specific law, the salaries in this sector. Taking into account the state’s difficult economic situation, as well as the comparison with the other branches of government, the newly approved bill places the judiciary where it belongs, specifically ensuring that its salaries reflect its capacity and are higher than those of the corresponding categories in the executive and legislative branches. The law sets salaries for investigators, prosecutors and judges, both civilian and military. The latter will receive only the rank supplement under their military status. Also, taking into account the difficulties of prosecutors’ and investigators’ work, the law establishes a specific provision and period for this category of employees. Specifically, in the Constitutional Court, the president will receive a monthly salary of 20,000 lek, while members will receive 17,000 lek. In the Court of Cassation, the president will receive 20,000 lek, vice-presidents 18,000 and members 17,000 lek. For judges and assistant judges, from court presidents down, salaries vary according to the categories of courts, within a range of 16,400 lek to 11,200 lek. Prosecutors’ and investigators’ salaries range from 19,000 lek to 11,400 lek. The financial cost of covering these changes for 1994 is estimated at around 40 million lek. We note that the newly approved law enters into force immediately and its effects apply from [text unclear]. work, the law establishes a specific provision concerning the period for this category of employees. Given the legal-administrative and economic circumstances of the time, state arbitration could no longer exist. It was precisely to give legal sanction to this challenge to the logic of another system that, at this same session, Decree of the President no. 682, dated 4.11.1993, “On the dissolution of state arbitration,” was also approved. At the end of the session, the chairman of the PD parliamentary group, Mr. Ali Spahia, read a statement on behalf of the group. The People’s Assembly will resume its work in plenary session on Monday afternoon, when discussion of the 1994 draft budget is expected to begin. “RD” CORRESPONDENT

-Statement by the PD parliamentary group- The left-wing extremists, together with the leaders of the Socialist Party, have these days been leaving no stone unturned to artificially heighten social tensions in the country. Their goal is clear: to destabilize the political situation in Albania at any cost. From the day this parliament stripped former Prime Minister F.Nano, accused of corruption, of his immunity, the leaders of the left-wing extremists threatened to crack their opponents’ skulls and drag them away. Later, they continued with open calls to overthrow the order by force and hold early elections. To obstruct the justice system’s action against corruption and the leadership of the communists and socialists in the Alia-Nano clan, they incited petitions and illegal rallies, whose sole demand was to prevent justice from acting against corruption, to dismantle the rule of law, and to seize by force the power they had lost in free elections. But by now it is clear that this destabilizing strategy is doomed to fail. The Albanian electorate is determined in its demand that the fight against corruption be pursued to the end, that the rule of law be preserved and strengthened, and that democracy continue to develop. We believe that today we need stability more than ever. The justice system must be allowed to judge, far from artificial tensions and any kind of pressure. We must all firmly oppose efforts to destabilize Albania. We are confident that forces within the PS that have no connection to corruption and the communist remnants who have built nothing but a name will also contribute in this regard. Albania belongs to everyone! Tirana, 2.3.1994

CRIMINALS! UNITED AROUND FATOS NANOS. REPORT MR. JANO. FREE F. NANO. PS

people had come completely under the orders of a man, an ambulance arrived, and hospital. — THE PS LEADERS ARE “CERTAIN” ABOUT EARLY ELECTIONS That the “Nano issue” is being used as a pretext to achieve political aims

The Association of Former Political Prisoners and Persecutees, as the sole organized representative of the body of former political prisoners and persecutees, closely following the events of recent days organized by yesterday’s criminals and today’s thieves, who have changed their name and now call themselves “socialists,” solemnly declares: We will not forgive the blood of our grandfathers, fathers and sons. We will not forgive the groans of those buried alive; we will not forgive the shackles, the shooting, the beatings, the castrations; we will not forgive the poverty; we will not forgive the degradation or forced servility; we will not forgive the rape of our mothers and sisters. We will not allow ourselves to be enslaved again; we will not reconcile with you as long as the dictator E.Hoxha and the last criminal have not been condemned. In truth, we have always shown our understanding and tolerance for the sake of national interests. But you do not deserve our generosity, because you took it for weakness and, instead of repenting, you have stirred up violence, answering for other deeds, as you now wish to drag us into a confrontation born of hatred. Not even the fiercest revenge can wash away your crimes. Do not think we have forgotten you. Shudder when you remember us! NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS AND PERSECUTEES OF ALBANIA CRIMINALS! You are sailing on a sea - March 4—the day of shame for you, defenders of crime and corruption - You who yesterday defended Enver’s bust today defend Fatos’s corruption. - Justice will show Fatos and all those who have become tainted like him and defend him where they belong. - For Fatos and a seat of power, Nanoists are ready to turn Tirana into Sarajevo, Mogadishu and Beirut CRIMINALS! UNITED AROUND FATOS NANOS REPORT MR. JANO FREE F. NANO PS