TIRANA: The President of the North Atlantic Assembly, Mr Lois Bouvard, who recently visited our country, sent a telegram to Mr Pjetër Arbnori, which reads: I would like to thank you very much, with great gratitude, for the reception you reserved for me and for the quality of the services you provided during my recent visit to Albania. Your personal interest in this visit demonstrates the solidarity of the ties that unite the Albanian Parliament with the North Atlantic Assembly. I was particularly touched by the invitation to address the Albanian Parliament. You gave me the rare opportunity to speak publicly before representatives of the Albanian people about what I experienced (felt) toward your country as President of the North Atlantic Assembly and as a French deputy. The discussions I had with you, as well as with the representatives of the state who welcomed me, convinced me of the need for the countries represented within the North Atlantic Assembly to pay greater attention to your country and to support more strongly the effort toward stability, which is very important for everyone’s security. Hoping that I will have the pleasure of seeing you again, I express my highest esteem and sympathy, the telegram concludes.

EDUARD SELAMI AND MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF SARANDA -We will be loyal to our promises and your requests -MP R.Peshkepia has not met with his constituents since 22 March 1992 EDUARD SELAMI AND MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF SARANDA -Konispol supported democracy because it had continually been forgotten by the dictatorship. -We will be loyal to our promises and your requests -MP R.Peshkepia has not met with his constituents since 22 March 1992 On Thursday morning, the chairman of the DP, Eduard Selami, and ministers Ukaj, Musaraj and Spaho met with residents of the Municipality of Konispol, at the country’s southernmost tip. “It is our duty not only to meet and hear your suggestions and requests,” Mr Selami told those present, “but also to thank you for the support you have given us from the very beginning. Konispol supported democracy also because it had continually been forgotten by the dictatorship. Those things are now past, just as your initial requests were fulfilled, and just as they have diminished, so too has our concern to fulfill them again. I am glad,” Mr Selami continued, “that you do not have that small group which, when it comes to the achievements of these two years, attributes them simply to time. Of course, times have changed; democracy as a system has incomparable advantages, but it was the DP and the other democratic forces that designed and defined the legislative and practical scope for change and improvement. We are responsive,” Mr Selami continued, “also to resolving the problems which the DP identified from its very beginnings, and this also brought about the progress of the Greek government. Minister Ukaj acquainted those present with the official vision for developing areas such as this, which is achieved through the Swiss model of development. He assured them of the democratic government’s commitment and its care and assistance for these projects. Tourism Minister Mr Spaho, after outlining tourism-development projects for the district of Saranda, convincingly explained the indirect benefits for Konispol. We will continue with discussions, suggestions and requests from the area’s residents. The Municipality’s chairman, Mr Fadil Kasa, praised the constructive nature of such meetings in resolving problems and pointed to visible shortcomings in legislation. He asked that Konispol become a prefecture centre for the other municipalities as well. The speakers then praised the meeting and denounced the area’s MP, Peshkepia, for his indifference, saying he had not shown up in these areas since 22 March. They asked the senior state and DP leaders to open the customs post at Qafa e Botës, pave the road to Konispol, and improve the drinking-water network for Konispol and Markat. In their remarks, they also noted shortcomings in local government in the municipalities and the district, and the unjustified delays in implementing laws and government decisions. For example, the village of Vërv had not yet received social assistance, although the central government they voted for on 22 March recognized this right. Mr Selami and the ministers present considered the requests concerning drinking water and roads justified, denounced the local authorities’ delays, and promised priority solutions to the issues raised by the people of Konispol. At the city cinema in Saranda, the citizens and intellectuals attending from the district… Mr Selami spoke about the strength of support for the DP, President Berisha and the democratic government. Naturally, after two years, you can judge and appreciate things better; they bear witness to the seriousness of our main ideal: Albania’s progress. I would like to thank you for our relations with one another. The minority, some of whose members have also joined the DP’s structures, has found in the DP a serious partner in meeting its requests. Viewed in light of Albania’s current economic and social development, its rights have been fulfilled to a high and commendable standard. Support for democracy and its development in Albania, and active participation in it, will be the way to meet the minority’s growing demands. The education law now being prepared also respects, according to international standards, the minority’s right to education. “But it is regrettable,” Selami stressed while discussing relations with Greece, “that in some cases we, as Albania and as the DP, have encountered intolerant and passionate positions from Greek representatives and the ‘New Democracy’ party in international institutions. We are grateful for the assistance given, but this must not be conditioned on outdated ideas and mentalities. I assure you,” Selami continued, “that relations between the states will not condition our democratic stance toward the minority.” Assessing the progress of economic reform in the district, DP chairman Selami drew the attention of the Minister of… Mr Uka also drew the local authorities’ attention to the fact that they had obstructed privatization in Ksamil. He expressed optimism about Saranda’s economic-development prospects. The Minister of Public Order, Mr Musaraj, assured those present that peace and public order would be maintained, as citizens and foreign investors wished and welcomed. “I am glad,” Musaraj continued, “that you acknowledge the achievements of the law-enforcement agencies, but I ask for your help and for cooperation from public opinion.” Tourism Minister Mr Spaho’s address was received with particular interest. He gave information about cooperation with two Italian companies to build two tourist villages with capacities of 1,500 and 1,000 beds; the major investment project by the Maltese company “Anhelo Shuerp” in the southern part of Ksamil; the European Community’s grant of 1.5 million dollars to promote small businesses serving tourism; the German project for a tourist port with around 300 berths for boats; the five-year project by an English company to restructure the archaeological site of Butrint, and so on. “We aim,” Minister Spaho concluded, “to begin carrying these projects out during this year.” MP Toto presented his, the DP’s and the Government’s efforts to provide material rehabilitation for the politically persecuted, and praised their association’s constructive approach and its activities. The meeting continued with questions from those present, which Mr Selami and the members of the Government answered. The members of the Government. RD CORRESPONDENT …marked not only for the people of Kavaja, but for all Albania, the following also came to their city: DP Chairman Mr Eduard Selami, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, Minister of Public Order Mr Agron Musaraj, Education Minister Xhezair Teliti, Tourism Minister Edmond Spaho, accompanied also by the Director of the National Enterprise Restructuring Agency, Mr Grigor Dhaskali. At 11:00, a meeting with the citizens of Kavaja was then held in the city cinema to commemorate 26 March 1990. On the ceremony’s platform, alongside the distinguished government and party guests, seats were also taken by (Continued on page 4) The central government they voted for on 22 March recognizes Saranda, the participation of the citizens and intellectuals attending from this district was not understood… regarding the provision of electricity and lighting during the meeting. This interest, he stressed, by radiogram dated 14.02.1991 Grafini. Not only… ON THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ANTI-COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATION KAVAJA RETAINS THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE “CAPITAL” OF DEMOCRACY - Messrs Selami, Meksi, Musaraj, Teliti and Spaho also take part in the 26 March celebration - SELAMI: “The DP has neither forgotten Kavaja nor abandoned it. If Tirana is the capital of Albania, Kavaja has entered history as the ‘capital’ of democracy… It deserves to be declared a ‘Torch of Democracy’ city…” MEKSI: “History is not made with words, but with facts, and they begin here… The Government has worked for Kavaja and Albania, hoping that other districts will also become like Kavaja… I will propose to the President that you be awarded the title ‘Torch of Democracy’…” Kavaja has traditionally been sensitive in its ethnic identity, its cohesion also accounting for the resistance it offered to the communist system from its very beginnings. Its historical memory is also sensitive, and linked to it is 26 March 1990, which has entered its more recent “file” of history—that of the era of democracy—as the day of the first anti-communist demonstration in Albania. Yesterday, on its fourth anniversary, the people of Kavaja once again commemorated this “privilege” of theirs. To take part in this day, significant Order Mr Agron Musaraj, Education Minister Xhezair Teliti and Tourism Minister Edmond Spaho. The gentlemen named above first met with local-government leaders, party officials, heads of enterprises and departments, and specialists from various fields in the district. The MPs for the district of Kavaja, Messrs Shamata, Skugi, Ramadhi and Ferizaj, also took part in the meeting. An open dialogue and exchange took place there between the government representatives and those discussing the problems concerning the district of Kavaja. After presenting the programmes and projects in which the Government had not left Kavaja out of its attention, the government representatives promised to commit themselves to resolving the problems they were able to address for Kavaja. party guests international. We are grateful to them for the assistance provided, but this must not be made conditional that relations between states will not be conditioned by our democratic stance toward the minority. While commending the progress of economic reform in the district, PD chairman Mr. Selami drew the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture to the need to help complete the division of land in the district, a point also supported in his remarks by Minister Uka. [For the] party of aid, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a payment of 23 billion lire to the company “Levant Co”. As was established, as early as 14.2.1991, when the defendant Fatos Nano was serving as Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the latter was Prime Minister, witness Adil Çarçani, was not informed; only his colleagues, witness Shkelqim Cani, were. Keeping the Prime Minister uninformed about this extremely important issue, namely emergency food aid, and not discussing the matter in the Council of Ministers either, issue and his desire for this activity to be channeled through unlawful procedures. Not only that, but on 28.2.1991 that the aid would be delivered made no effort technical aspects of transporting the aid and how it would be carried out. It was precisely during this period that Albanian side’s wishes that “Levant Co” should deliver the aid. In this context, the former Italian ambassador in Tirana, Torkuato Kardili, following 4.03.1991 with the text of a note in Italian, on behalf to entrust the transportation of the aid it had granted to the Bari-based company “Levante Co”, on the false pretext that the Italian-Yugoslav joint venture in Albania of Xhuzepe Perniola had worked in Albania, was an established operation, and had facilities for carrying out this operation because its relations with the Albanian administration were very good. The designation of “Levante Co” as the aid-delivery company meant that, on the part of

PLEA HONORABLE JUDGES! In several court hearings, this court tried the criminal case against the four defendants: 1. Fatos Nano, accused of the criminal offense of embezzling state property on a large scale, amounting to 73,780,000 lekë, and of falsifying official documents, offenses provided for under Articles 62 and 110 of the Criminal Code. 2. Sokral Puka, accused of the criminal offense of abuse of office, causing the state economic damage of 73,780,000 lekë, provided for under Article 106 of the Criminal Code. 3. Kuget Gjinaj, the state economic damage of 399,440 4. Besnik Hallka, the state economic damage of 144,821 At the outset, we state our opinion that this trial was conducted by this court in strict observance of the rules laid down by the Code of Criminal Procedure, something which fulfilled the lawful requests of the parties participating in the proceedings and also guaranteed their procedural rights and contributed to the objective assessment of the evidence. The court’s impartial and objective conduct ensured that this trial brought the language of the law to light. During the proceedings, the severe economic situation that had engulfed Albania at the beginning of 1991 was clearly established. This situation compelled the government of the time to contact other states to secure aid. In the context of specific requests and such a grave economic situation, based on the initial circumstances arising in 1991, Aleksander Grafini, who represented Albania in the Italian Government in matters concerning Albanian relations, undertook to provide food and other aid worth up to 30 million lire. On this basis, on 14.02.1991 the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by radiogram, instructed the Albanian ambassador in Rome, the witness Dashnor Dervishi, to confirm with the Italian government the promise made by Grafini. Not only that, but through the same telegram the witness was instructed to ask the Italian government that the company “Levant Co” S.p.a. of Bari, represented by its executive director Xhuzepe Perniola, handle the aid; Perniola would forward the aid in question through the company “Iliria Holliding” S.A, whose president was Hajdin Sejdia, who undertook to distribute it in our country. On the same date, the ambassador in Rome was sent radiogram No. 131, stating that the first aid would amount to 20 million lire, to be disbursed immediately, while the remaining 20 million lire (and the rest) would be provided later. It was precisely these obligations imposed on the Albanian government that the defendants Fatos Nano and Hajdin Sejdia violated, thereby putting our country… It further emerged that the ambassador in Rome, the delegate, had reported by radiogram No. 161 would be provided later. As was proved, as of 14.2.1991, when the defendant Fatos Nano held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, he had been informed of the value of the aid, but the then Prime Minister, witness Adil Çarçani, had not been informed; only his colleagues, witness Shkelqim Cani and others, were. The fact that the Prime Minister was not informed about this cardinal matter—emergency food aid—and that the issue was not discussed in the Council of Ministers clearly and unequivocally demonstrates this defendant’s involvement in the aid matter and his desire to channel this activity through unlawful procedures. Moreover, although the former Italian ambassador in Tirana, Torkuato Kardili, confirmed on 28.2.1991 that the aid would be disbursed by 31.3.1991, the defendant Fatos Nano, by then Prime Minister, made no attempt to resolve through state regulatory acts and legal channels the technical arrangements for transferring the aid and the manner in which it would be delivered. This was precisely the period when the Italian authorities were requesting an official act conveying the Albanian side’s intention that “Levant Co” be entrusted with delivering the aid. In this context, former Italian ambassador in Tirana Torkuato Kardili, acting through diplomatic channels, appeared at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 4.03.1991 with the text of a note in Italian, in the name of the Albanian government. The note asked the Italian side to entrust the delivery of the aid it had allocated to the company “Levante Co” of Bari, on the false pretext that the Italian-Yugoslav-Albanian company of Xhuzepe Perniola had worked in Albania and was established there, had facilities for carrying out this operation, and enjoyed very good relations with the Albanian administration. The designation of “Levante Co” to deliver the aid meant that the Italian authorities were requesting an official act to convey the Albanian side’s intention. In fact, the legal instrument by which the defendant Fatos Nano accepted this aid on behalf of all Albania was deficient and irregular. This… …The the National Enterprise Restructuring Agency, Mr Grigor Dhaskali. Photo 1. A. Babani

The DP split in the Greek government. We will be loyal in our claims and requests. Minister Uka acquainted those present with his vision for the development of such areas, which is close to projects. Musaraj did not have much to say at this meeting; the work of the law-enforcement agencies was praised and commended by those present, for… Kardili, following behalf of

ON THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ANTI-COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATION - Messrs Selami, Meksi, Musaraj, Teliti and Spaho also take part in the 26 March celebration -

Cartoon.

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