NO DOUBT: Today voters in the communes of Libofshe, Zall-Req, Zall-Herr, Igracan and Greshice voted for candidates for commune chairperson. In geographical and quantitative terms nationwide, these four communes—without wishing in any way to belittle them—do not alter the current political balance. Nevertheless, the DP has rated them of the utmost importance, with the aim of winning. This is not simply a matter of ambition or party competition, but an opportunity or chance for it and for the communes holding elections to consolidate the great victory of 22 March 1992 and give a new impetus to the unstoppable and irreversible process of reforms. In this context, the elections in these communes take on national scope and significance; they are a psychological and political test or survey of the electorate, as well as of the reputation and achievements of the political forces represented by candidates. In these respects, even without undertaking an in-depth analysis, it is easy to understand that the DP is superior to all the other rival forces. In power since 22 March 1992, and consolidating and establishing itself as the political force with mass support and the greatest capacity to accomplish and construct, the DP has a concrete program and is consistently fighting to implement it. It conducted an honest, open and concrete election campaign. Knowing the circumstances and needs of the residents of the communes holding elections, it built its campaign not on promises but on commitments and concrete works, included in the program that won broad popular confidence on 22 March 1992. Common to these communes are problems of shortages or inadequate supplies of drinking and irrigation water, of opening or paving roads between villages or connecting them to towns, and so on. Two months ago, “RD” published in several issues the full extent of the water-supply systems and roads to be built with state investment during 1994–1996. Some of them have been completed, while work on the others continues and will continue until people are freed from hardships and concerns that the socialism of E.Hoxha, R.Alia, F.Nano, N.Dokle and S.Pellumbi failed to resolve for 50 years. Thus the DP did not hurriedly draw up a special, emergency program for the areas voting today; it referred to its promises and objectives of 22 March, which it has striven, and will continue to fight, to turn into reality and concrete works for the benefit of the people, democracy and Albania, for present and future generations. Now in Ngracan and Greshice, in Libofshe, Zall-Herr and Zall- [text in source is corrupted]—for Now in Ngracën and Gresibucë, in Libofshë, Zall-Herr and Zall-Reç, the farmers see with their own eyes and judge with their own minds the realization of their long-held dreams and wishes, promised in the speeches of E Hoxha and at the congresses of the PPSH, but left as words in the wind or piles of paper. In this way, the farmers of these communes are becoming increasingly convinced of the necessary difference between the DP and the PP or PS: the DP is a serious, committed political force capable of delivering on its promises and objectives. Like people throughout the country, the farmers in these communes are also aware that, although the DP took power on 22 March when Albania had been reduced by R.Alia and F.Nano to the state of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, historic transformations, indisputable at the time, have taken place during its two years in government. In a short time, they have touched, seen and begun to enjoy the first fruits of democracy. Above all, they have gained true freedom, dignity and the security of being the lawful owners of their land, labor and property; they work and earn for themselves and their families, for the present and the future.

They have once and for all escaped the bogeymen who terrorized them for 50 years and turned Albania into a hell: the bogeymen of class warfare, bread, the cooperative, collectivization, chairpersons and brigade leaders, operatives and campaigns to build castles in the sand. In these two years, the DP has restored many of the assets and values that the party and system of E.Hoxha, R.Alia and F.Nano forcibly took from them and denied them. Consistent in this mission, despite inheriting from the socialist era a fog, a wound and obstacles, as well as a hysterical, destructive opposition, it has committed itself to ensuring prosperity for Albanians and their worthy integration into Europe. Naturally, it has not promised, nor does it promise demagogically and manipulatively, to turn Albania into Switzerland or Sweden in four years. But every realistic and objective person can see, understand and feel that we have embarked on the right, proven road to make this epochal leap. Albania at the end of May 1994 is entirely different from Albania of 22 March 1992. It is developing rapidly, undergoing transformation and rebirth. The world too recognizes this highly expressive reality. Only the regimes and actors behind Albania’s economic and spiritual ruin refuse to see and acknowledge it; only those who applied a scorched-earth policy right up to the eve of 22 March, which wrested their half-century-long hold on power from them; only the nihilists, harbingers of disaster, destroyers of hope and faith, communist-socialists and hysterical nostalgics for Enverist-style socialism. Since 23 March 1992 they have declared and begun a campaign to sabotage the reforms undertaken by the Meksi Government. They fight openly, unscrupulously, amorally, and often illegally and criminally, to prevent the seedlings of democracy from taking root and growing, and to keep Albania paralyzed and wandering in the whirlpool of their socialism. The successes achieved over these two years and the steps forward are troubling and frightening to them, because they indefinitely postpone the realization of their insane dream of regaining power. Opposite the DP, which builds roads, water-supply systems and so on, during this election campaign they fought with their old weapons: lies, slander, demagoguery, primitive and base behavior, destructiveness, blackmail, and physical and psychological threats. Their absurd, anti-human or even anti-national message for the other local elections and for all Albanians has been: a frontal assault for early elections, to take power back from the democratic coalition, to clear the way for F.Nano and his return to the prime minister’s chair. Their history and destructiveness are so hostile that they themselves, or through a voluntary parrot such as Idajet Beqiri, call on voters not to value or accept the works built by the DP, but to be satisfied with the PS’s promises left hanging in the air. But the demagoguery they turned into an art over 50 years has now been exposed. Today Albanians judge and honor you by the works done for their benefit, not by beautiful words that are empty promises. They have long been convinced that the PS, just like the PK or PP, is capable only of deceit and blackmail. That is why the overwhelming majority of realistic and objective voters in the communes of Libofshe, Zall-Herrit, Zall-Reçit, Greshices and Ngracanit are going to the ballot boxes today without hesitation, fully convinced that they should give their votes to the DP candidates, who in a short time—two years—have given them more than the PK, PP or PS did in 50 years. XHEVAT MUSTAFA

The match was also watched from the stands by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, who presented the cup to the winning team . Yesterday afternoon, at the national “Qemal Stafa” stadium in the capital, the second final match was played between the two best teams of this football season, champions “Teuta” and “Tirana,” runners-up in the championship. Winning 1–0, with a goal by Malko in the second half, Tirana was thus crowned winner of the Republic Cup for the seventh time. At the closing ceremony of the event and the crowning of the winners, the cup was presented by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. “RD” correspondent

Foreign Minister Mr. Serreqi also spoke at the conference being held by the EC in Paris on stability in Europe. Among other things, Mr. Serreqi said that Albania wished to be a model for minority rights in the Balkans. He said that the Greek minority in Albania enjoyed full freedoms and rights, adding that reports by a pan-European High Commissioner for minority rights proved this. Minister Serreqi said that he understood the Greek government’s interest and concern regarding the Greek minority in Albania, but warned that manipulation involving the Greek minority and other minorities was dangerous and unacceptable. Mr. Alfred Serreqi called on Greece to accept the 1913 Protocol of Florence, which guarantees Albania’s borders. He said at the conference that a just solution to the Albanian question constituted a key problem in the Balkans. “Albania supports the principle that borders must not be changed by force, but seeks a democratic space for Albanians in neighboring countries.” Meanwhile, the Greek minister responsible for European Affairs, Teodoros Pangalos, said that the Greek minority in Albania did not have freedom of speech and stressed Greece’s anger over the six ethnic Greeks arrested in Albania last week. The “Stability in Europe” conference was organized by France and subsequently chaired by the European Union, with the aim of creating a program that would enable countries with disagreements to avoid conflict through negotiations. The meeting ended with a decision to establish two groups to discuss matters at round tables: one on the Baltic states and Russia, and the other on Hungary and the Hungarian minorities in Romania and Slovakia.

Statement by the U.S. Department of State U.S. State Department spokesman Michael McCurry issued a statement yesterday, in which, among other things, he also spoke about relations between Albania and Greece. On this issue, he said: “As regards abuse of the law in the case of those accused of espionage, the United States of America calls on Albania ‘to apply the rule of law scrupulously in the case of the six Albanians of Greek origin accused of spying for Greece, and to ensure that they receive a fair and impartial trial,’” McCurry said. “We have been concerned by recent reports that six Albanians of Greek origin, including an American citizen, have been accused by Albanian authorities of working for the Greek secret service and engaging in espionage,” he said. McCurry noted that the United States sees policy of oppression against the Greek minority. This is an accusation, he pointed out, that has been made by the Greeks.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Albania, Safet Zhulali, is taking part in the annual meeting of the Ministers of Defense of NATO and the countries of the “Partnership for Peace.” During his stay there, Minister Zhulali has held a series of meetings with counterparts from the participating countries, at which they exchanged views on bilateral cooperation. Mr. Zhulali also took part in the inauguration ceremony of the new Partnership for Peace center at the Allied Command Europe headquarters in Mons. In the speech he delivered there, the Minister of Defense emphasized, among other things, that the Republic of Albania attaches special importance to cooperation with NATO. Support for and signing of the Partnership for Peace at the highest level by President Sali Berisha, he said, (Continued on page 4)

Chronicle from the courtroom The trial in the criminal case against the 9 defendants continued yesterday morning as well. Courtroom chronicle THE TRIAL CONTINUES AGAINST RAMIZ ALIA AND 8 HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS OF THE COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP Yesterday morning, too, the trial in the criminal case against the 9 defendants continued. Ramiz Alia, Hekuran Isai, Manush Myftiu, Rita Marko, Simon Stefani, Aranit Cela, Rrapi Mino, Zylyftar Ramizi and Veiz Hadeti, accused of the criminal offense of violating citizens’ equality and misappropriating state property on a large scale, etc. At the beginning of this session, the lawyer for defendant Ramiz Alia, Kleanti Koci, protested against the lack of specificity he had noticed in the court’s written announcement concerning the previous day’s session, without giving any facts as to what this lack of specificity consisted of. Next, defendant Aranit Cela presented his statement. For a long period, he had held the positions of President of the Supreme Court and Prosecutor General. Rejecting the accusation, he tried to explain the criminal activity of the dictatorship, which, according to him, had been based on the law. He explained that the activity of these bodies represented ... [?] of the tools and ... [?] with acts does not explain, whether also ... [?] fact ... [?] (Continued on page 4)

-The SP uses RTV to defend crime -Faced with the farmers’ demands, the SP offers only one alternative—the release of Nano “There’s an SP press conference.” “What about?” “Nano.” “Oh, I see.” This was the dialogue between two journalists on Saturday before the latest press conference of the SP leaders. The point of this dialogue became clear from the journalists’ attendance at the press conference. To tell the truth, the hall was full (as seen on TV); and, to tell the truth, there were also a few journalists in the hall. Also present were press officers from the Greek embassy and the Yugoslav Federation. But why had journalists’ interest declined? The SP conference was held immediately after the proceedings at the Court of Appeal, proceedings that journalists had followed and reported on. As for what would be said at the SP press conference, everyone already knew. Empty slogans would be put forward and nothing new would be offered, just as in fact happened. The fact is (and the SP leaders must have understood this) that everyone is fed up with the repetitions, which do nothing but defend crime in principle. Indeed, the SP continues to discredit itself by appearing on TV to defend crime. They loudly demanded TV coverage and protested that their activities were not being reported, especially now, during the election campaign; yet when it comes to it, they appear on TV only to defend crime. They seem to have no other alternative, no other opposition, apart from “Free Prometheus.” Where were the alternatives that the SP leaders had “in the state ...” [sic] presented on TV before these elections? The fact is that even in the leaflets they have distributed in the communes, they proclaim: “Don’t vote for those who convicted Nano.” Faced with the election campaign and the DP, the alternative the SP presents for solving the farmers’ problems is Nano’s release. Their campaign does not emphasize ... [?] ... [illegible text] The SP leaders have nothing left to do but repeat “Free Nano” and legalize crime. E.P.

-The Italian journalist, 28-year-old Carlo Pizzati, who followed the trials of Nano and Alia in the courtroom, has published his articles in the newspaper “La Repubblika”. At the opening of the trial of former Communist President R.Alia, the 28-year-old Italian journalist Carlo Pizzati of the newspaper “La Repubblika” was in the courtroom alongside other Albanian and foreign journalists. Later, he was also present at the Court of Appeal, where he followed the proceedings against Nano. At the opening of the trial of former Communist President R.Alia, the 28-year-old Italian journalist Carlo Pizzati of the newspaper “La Repubblika” was in the courtroom alongside other Albanian and foreign journalists. Later, this journalist was also present at the Court of Appeal, where he followed the proceedings against Nano. On May 22 and 24, his two articles were published in “La Repubblika”. Since we are unable to publish them in full, below we provide excerpts from these articles: in today’s issue, from the article about Nano, and in tomorrow’s issue, from the one about R.Alia. “Clean Hands in Tirana” “Behind bars: F.Nano, former prime minister accused of taking kickbacks.” This is the headline of the article published on May 24, and Carlo Pizzati links it, not by chance, to the “Clean Hands” operation against corruption in Italy. Referring to S.Plaka’s position, Pizzati writes: “His fault was that, when he was deputy foreign minister, he signed a letter stating that the company Levante Co of Bari had previously worked in Albania and was a reliable firm. Lev Co had never set foot in Albania. Of the 20 billion that the Italian Foreign Ministry paid it for Italian aid, according to the Albanian court, only half crossed the Strait of Otranto. Sokrat Plaka pointed an accusing finger at F.Nano, the secretary of the SP who brought down our former Albanian communist.” Further on, Pizzati writes about the proceedings at the Court of Appeal, describing the exchange between the presiding judge and Nano during the latter’s statement. Explaining Nano’s words during his defense about the arrival of the aid, Pizzati mentions the point made by the defense at the outset: “former Foreign Minister De Mikelis said that there are many such expenses and that no one can tell what was promised”; but “There is no mention of the fact that De Mikelis is also under investigation in Italy in the ‘Levante Co’ case,” Pizzati writes. And further on: “His lawyer (Nano’s, ed. note) lists details of the contracts between the Italian Foreign Ministry and Lev Co: ‘Contracts,’ ‘Invoices,’ ‘De Mikelis’ (these are words Pizzati lists to create as much of an impression as possible, ed. note). And then lists and figures, claims and invoices multiply magnificently, until even the defendants exhale. Nano listens, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, chewing gum and smoking nervously. Then an unexpected shout comes from the judge, and Nano’s face reddens. For a moment, it is suspected that the shouts are coming from the crowds of socialists who, on July 26 last year, after hearing of his arrest, two hours before a rally at the stadium, marched through the streets of Tirana demanding his immediate release. But they were only the shouts of the soldiers who had taken over the security detail (Continued on page 4)

-No facts, no evidence to refute the accusations against Nano -The PS press conference also confirms that the “Nano dossier” is closed The accusations against Nano were quite clear and fully consistent with the chronology of events. Nano ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by filtering false information about Lev Co, to insist on appointing it as the supplier of aid—a fact confirmed by De Mikelis himself and the Italian side. What evidence did Nano produce to refute this? None. Nano was accused of bypassing the competent trade authorities to handle aid in Albania, and he cannot refute this either. Nano was accused of changing the list of goods at Lev Co’s request. This is easily established by Sh.Korbeci’s list and by Perniole’s evidence. What did Nano offer against this accusation? Only the lawyer’s empty words—and the absurd, nonexistent claim—that the list had not been changed. In a court of law, saying “I am not guilty” is not enough to be declared innocent. Evidence is needed, and the prosecution has presented the evidence. Nano is accused of forgery, and the accusation is proven by minutes and witnesses that cannot be dismissed with the lawyer’s confused explanations that the presence of two ministers at a meeting of the Presidium gave Nano the right to sign his decision as a decision of the Council of Ministers. Two ministers do not constitute the Council of Ministers. Nano is accused of ordering that only declarations be made upon the arrival of the goods (as Lev Co had requested), on the basis of which Lev Co was subsequently paid by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; this has been proven by documents and witnesses. What did Nano offer against this accusation? Nothing. What new evidence did Nano produce to prove that the prices were not high? His lawyer merely said that the Albanian experts should not rely on a bulletin that changes every month, since the aid arrived in different months. But do prices double or triple from one month to the next? Why did he not produce a more convincing document proving that Lev Co’s prices were normal? The contracts made between those now facing criminal prosecution in Italy over the same issue, and Perniole’s words, are not evidence, because it is well known that accomplices will defend one another. That there is nothing new in Nano’s favor was also evident at the PS press conference, where they merely repeated slogans about the injustice of the court’s decision and so on. As for the conduct of the trial, let us leave the floor to a foreign journalist who followed it. I do not believe the PS Presidium would think that the foreign journalist, in his reporting on the case, had also taken orders from the DP.