From the trial of the former Bllok leaders This was the stance taken by all three former Bllok leaders who spoke at the second session of the trial being held over the crimes of the dictatorship. Rita Marko did not hesitate to declare that she had worked all her life only for the “class” and that this was a politically orchestrated trial. In fact, R. Marko (in Nano’s style) began complaining about procedural violations and prison conditions. “There is no doubt that we are dealing with a flagrant violation of human rights,” Marko said. It is truly the height of tolerance to hear those in the dock accused of horrific crimes protesting about “violations of rights” and manipulation. As far as R. Marko was concerned, everything they had done was lawful. In other words, the killings without trial, embezzlement, internments and imprisonments—everything they had done—was proper. Carçani said more or less the same things. After giving a lengthy retrospective of his life, he said that for 50 years he had worked only for Albania, while claiming he knew nothing about the campaign against religion. The defendant M. Myftiu was represented by his lawyer, Zamir Stefani. Regarding the embezzlement, the reasoning was: “I did not rob the state, since I regarded them as facilities provided for the work we did in the service of the people.” On the abuse of office resulting in violations of citizens’ rights, M. Myftiu, like the others, said he saw nothing illegal. His lawyer reinforced this argument. Although young, he tried with the utmost seriousness to argue that the campaign against religion was a struggle waged by the youth against backward customs. “We have seen documentaries in which young people stood up and themselves demanded that religion be fought,” the lawyer Zamiri calmly declared. M. Myftiu was chairman of the internment commission from 1977 to 1989. There is no Albanian who does not know what that commission represented, but M. Myftiu says: “I consider its activity lawful.” Then came another interesting statement: “We did not look at people’s biographies,” says M. Myftiu. In short, the second session of the trial was madness. No remorse from those who destroyed and massacred a people. To them, everything was proper and lawful. They found it unacceptable to be accused of a few killings of “enemies,” of some internments (around 60,000 people), and of a few deaths under torture. Indeed, for these “services” to the people, they should have been “rewarded” and given privileges—and there was nothing illegal about that. At first glance, this might look like a trial of senile or insane old men, but let us not forget how much bloodshed and suffering their madness caused. E. PALOKA

The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, met on Sunday morning in the city of Pogradec with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov. This was their fourth meeting, but this time it was an informal one. President Berisha and his wife welcomed President Gligorov and his wife at the government residence in the city of Pogradec. The talks between counterparts Berisha and Gligorov focused on cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the region. They subsequently made statements to the press. President Berisha, describing the meeting as very warm and friendly, stressed: “We held open and friendly talks. We discussed in particular cooperation between our two countries and agreed that we should work hard to expand it. We discussed expanding links between our communities, and the establishment of an air connection is a success in this respect. Both sides consider it very necessary to sign a number of other agreements, including agreements on the transport of goods and passengers and on connecting the two countries by rail. Albania is ready to offer, and has offered, the Macedonian side facilities for storing up to 1.5 million tons of fuel in Albanian ports, as well as facilities for one million tons of other goods. We also consider it very important to abolish visas in the two border areas within a distance of 20–25 km, as the experts may determine; this would be a first step towards the complete abolition of visas. The signing of a series of other agreements on economic cooperation and investment guarantees will serve the determination of the two countries to expand cooperation and develop friendly relations. “We also discussed political cooperation and relations, and the situation in the region. Personally, I welcome Mr. Gligorov’s efforts to carry out the population census and determine the law governing the census in Macedonia. I also welcome his efforts to expand the freedoms and rights of Albanians in this Republic. The daily publication of the newspaper ‘Flaka e vellazerimit,’ the decision to expand the media on radio and television, the opening of a teacher-training faculty in Skopje, and the expansion of the secondary-school system will increase the role of the Albanian factor in Macedonia’s stability and development. We also encourage the contribution of Albanian political forces to Macedonia’s stability and to the governing coalition. “As for developments in the region, both countries are determined to work towards their integration into Europe and European and Western institutions. Both countries are determined to make efforts to overcome the situation through dialogue. Cooperation between Albania and Macedonia is a contribution not only bilaterally but also regionally.” In his statement, Macedonian President Gligorov first spoke about the prospects for further cooperation between the two countries. He stressed that “it is not normal for there to be no railway line between the two countries. This mode of transport, as well as the opportunity offered by the Albanian side to use its ports, will serve to expand cooperation between the two neighboring countries.” President Gligorov told journalists that the Macedonian state was prepared to sign agreements between the two countries. “These will concern,” he said, “economic cooperation, guarantees for mutual investments, the abolition of double taxation, cultural cooperation, and joint efforts to ensure security at the border, allowing the citizens of both countries to move freely between them.” Regarding the Balkans, Gligorov said: “We have many reasons to strive to preserve stability and peace in the region. It is also to our credit,” he continued, “that Albania and Macedonia have avoided being drawn into the conflict.” President Gligorov described the carrying out of the population census in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an opportunity to remove any kind of agreement from the agenda; he further considered the census very necessary and essential. He described cooperation between the two countries as “successful and with firm prospects.” After lunch, Presidents Berisha and Gligorov, together with their wives, went on a visit to the city of Ohrid, where they visited the gallery of original icons of the city and the Church of Saint Clement, which dates to the 13th century and is located beside Samuel’s Fortress. For about half an hour they walked through the streets of this tourist city, filled with people enjoying this weekend. President Gligorov then invited President Berisha to visit the government residence in Ohrid. President Berisha returned to Tirana later that day. ATA

Yesterday he asked the court of appeal to transfer the civil claim… Lawyer Sanxhaku ACKNOWLEDGES his client’s guilt, Fatos Nano. Yesterday he asked the court of appeal to transfer the civil claim (i.e. the payment of the sum) to Pergniola, who received the profit. But Sanxhaku knowingly sidestepped the fact that, if Pergniola did not split the sum earned from the privileges created equally with his collaborator Nano, he did give him a good part of it as a fee for this highly profitable business. So what is the exact amount Nano received? Clearly, the people who know this better than anyone are the masters of this business, Pergniola and Fatos Nano.

The fruits of democracy over these two years remove people’s doubts about whom to give their votes to. They will be cast with full conviction for the DP candidates, just as on 22 March 1992, because the DP is bringing the country out of the abyss into which the communist-socialists threw it and leading it towards progress, prosperity and well-being, and towards worthy integration into Europe. Who are the DP candidates? In Ngracan, Mr. Qani Faslli Salia. Mr. Qani Faslli Salia was born in the village of Ngracan, in the Mallakastër district, on 22 July 1948. He completed higher studies in History and Geography at the University of Tirana. After graduating, he worked as a teacher for two years in the village of Aranitas. He then taught in his native village of Ngracan until 1991. Since 1991, Mr. Qani Salia has been the principal of Ngracan’s eight-year school. Throughout his years as a teacher, he has stood out for his high level of preparation and impeccable moral character. As a well-educated intellectual, Mr. Qani Salia devoted himself to the democratic movement from its very beginnings in December 1990. The people of Ngracan and Riban know him as a well-prepared intellectual, deeply committed to his work and duties. During these many years, the Ngracan eight-year school has been among the best in the Mallakastër district, both in the standard of teaching and in its upkeep and general order. For these good qualities, the DP has selected him as its candidate for commune chairman, convinced that the villages of Ngracan and Riban will give their support to their finest son, Mr. Qani Salia. In Greshice, Mr. Jonuz Rakip Metaj. Mr. Jonuz Rakip Metaj was born in the village of Greshice, in the Mallakastër district, on 20 February 1961. In 1987, he completed higher education in Veterinary Medicine in Tirana. After graduating, he worked as chief veterinarian in the former Dameës cooperative, then in the Selitë cooperative, and since 1990 in Greshice. He is currently employed by the Mallakastër district Agriculture Directorate. The people of the Greshice commune know Mr. Jonuz Metaj well as a well-trained intellectual, dedicated to his work, a cultured person with high moral character. Above all, he stands out for his ability to form close personal bonds with people, thanks to his humanitarian nature. For all these reasons, Mr. Jonuz Metaj enjoys particular affection and respect among the residents of Greshice and the wider Mallakastër district. As an intellectual with new ideas, he committed himself to the democratic movement from the outset and supported the government’s economic reforms. Since he enjoys the unreserved respect of all the villagers of Greshice, he accepted the candidacy put forward by the DP for commune chairman. There is no doubt that the people of Greshice will give their votes in the 29 May elections to their finest son, Mr. Jonuz Rakip Metaj. Qani Faslli Salia; Jonuz Rakip Metaj

—“Yesterday” he wrote reports about “the happy life”; today he displays nostalgia— —“Yesterday” was better than “today,” he tells the people of Libofsha and villagers in general— . —“Yesterday” he wrote reports about “the happy life”; today he displays nostalgia— —“Yesterday” was better than “today,” he tells the people of Libofsha and villagers in general— It seems that Bashkim Koçi is taking on the propaganda burden of the PS. These are his efforts to fulfill a task rightly assigned to him. Bashkim Koçi has spent his entire life on the pages of “ZP”; he wrote about the happy life in the socialist village and the benefits of collectivizing livestock. Bashkim Koçi sent open letters to villagers from Kukës and Skrapar in “ZP,” through which he tried to convince them that protesting against the cooperative system was unjustified. So Bashkim knows the countryside, because he himself is a villager… (Continued on page 4)

. ZP, that infamous newspaper of the communist dictatorship, just as it never stopped for 50 years trumpeting the “great achievements” of socialism and the testimonies of the civilized world, still does not stop today from singing socialism’s praises and trying to fight the Democratic Party, the political force for which the majority in Albania voted, thus waging a campaign to denigrate the DP and obstruct it in its noble mission. And for this it does not leave (Continued on page 4)

. —The people of Myzeqe will vote for those who build roads and water-supply systems, not for thieves and those who spin tales into the wind.— Being myself a son of the muddy lands of Myzeqe, I believe I know the nature of the Myzeqar well, and I have the right to portray it, with its virtues and “weaknesses,” without offending anyone else or setting the Myzeqar character against anyone. The people of Myzeqe are gentle and easygoing, as they are often called, “God’s sheep.” Peaceful and friendly people, they have made room and created space for all newcomers—and even foreigners—to live in peace and friendship. When faced with violence and evil, they prefer “the path of discussions” and, when that is not possible, avoiding and moving away from evil. This has often made them retreat, to hide away in remote, marshy areas where others would scarcely agree to live. Stoic and steadfast in suffering and hardship, they are reserved by nature and cold on the outside, but those who know them well find in them loyal friends who know no betrayal and are willing to sacrifice for their companions and friends. So true is this that in almost every case Albanian princes, kings, and rulers kept Orthodox Myzeqars close to them as trusted men. Skeptical by nature, they do not give their trust easily, but once they do, they do not let go readily—except in the face of irrefutable arguments. An intelligent and exceptionally education-loving people, they are hardworking and keen observers. The Myzeqar does not readily embrace new ideas without being convinced of their advantages. You cannot convince them with enthusiasm or cheers, but with logic and arguments. So true is this that, even for the bloodthirsty dictator Enver Hoxha, the people of Myzeqe neither sang songs while he was alive nor mourned when he died, although the party leaders were not in this region to witness the “widespread” enthusiasm throughout it. They are people who do not say, “you can’t fill up on an empty spoon.” Another sign of their stoicism, generosity, and resistance to violence, which has continually impressed me, is (Continued on page 2)

. Informing the public that, at the meeting of the European Union Ministers of Economy and Finance on 16 May 1994, the representative of the Greek Government blocked the decision to grant Albania 35 million ECU in aid for its balance of payments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its regret at this action, which is contrary to the recommendation of the European Commission and the European Parliament’s unreserved approval. Furthermore, no other representative of the Twelve objected to granting this aid at the aforementioned meeting. We emphasize that this aid had also been recommended by the IMF. We would like to point out that such an action is inconsistent with Greece’s current EU Presidency, with the good-neighborly relations that Greece claims to maintain with Albania, and with the efforts being made to improve relations between Albania and Greece. The claim that the Greek authorities are dissatisfied with respect for the rights of the Greek minority in Albania cannot be considered sincere or serious, since these issues have been examined by the Commission and the European Parliament and that (Continued on page 4)