The “Alia-Nano-Dokle-Ruçi-Benci” scandal In every respect, the 400,000 dollars are the object of a crime The “printing press” contract and Hardial Benci EDI PALOKA Investigations continue at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office into the Solidarity Fund scandal and the 400,000 dollars for the “ZP” printing press. So far, the case has seen several developments, if we refer to how it began. Initially prompted by the fact that 150,000 dollars were sent to Canada and disappeared soon afterward, it would very soon be established that the remaining 250,000 dollars had also been misused by the leaders of the PS, who, meanwhile, were increasingly concocting one lie after another. The latest developments (namely, the discovery of new facts proving that, contrary to the statements by the “PSSH spokesperson,” PS deputy chairman S. Pellumbi, and N. Dokle himself, the 250,000 dollars were in the “ZP” bank account, the money had been withdrawn for trade and personal gain) seem to have caused the first steps in this scandal to be forgotten, although in terms of significance they are on the same level. Initially, we asked several questions about the fate of the 150,000 dollars sent to Canada, as well as the role of the former chairman of the Communist Party of Canada, Hardial Benci, in this affair. So far, none of the PS leaders has mentioned the latter’s name, even though some of them met him several times. Hardial Benci was the central figure in Canada in this scandal. Only a short time after he left Albania, the “printing press” case began to “move.” As is now known, the Solidarity Fund, set up at the Central Committee of the PPSH and funded in foreign currency from the state budget, served to pay for… [the text is garbled here]. Asked by journalists whether he knew Hardial Benci, Dokle tried to avoid answering by making “jokes” about Benci’s physical appearance. But this evasiveness may save Dokle from a direct answer to a “persistent” journalist; before the courts, however, he is obliged to show the contract—the contract that nobody has seen to date, not even those who went to Canada with Dokle. It is pointless for Dokle to wait for a fax from Edmond Bogdani, whom he deliberately sent to Canada as soon as the scandal broke. Even if Bogdani does show up with some fax, Dokle would be well advised not to attempt to commit the criminal offenses of fraud and document forgery as well, because that would not be good for him. Meanwhile, some PS leaders continue to release smoke bombs which, more often than not, blow up in their hands. They began their lies when this case first started and continue them today. At a time when Bufi was telling Albanians that there was no more than a week’s worth of bread left, PS leaders were traveling around the world with the “printing press” money. During the days when the country was gripped by a deep crisis, Alia, Nano and Dokle did not hesitate to withdraw even the last dollars from the banks, to use them in the service of their nefarious aims. Thus, even if for a moment we accept as true what the PS leaders say—that the money was given for the “ZP” printing press in 1990—this act in itself constitutes a crime. At a time when Albanians needed bread to eat, the PPSH and today’s PS leaders were investing in blowing things up. So even if we accept the PS leaders’ lies about this scandal as true, they cannot come away clean before the Albanian people and the courts. Their actions, viewed from every angle, constitute a crime against the Albanian people, and they must therefore be held accountable.

Inside “I’ll put everything into liquidation for ’96” By LORENC LIGORI The offspring of the bloc direct politics at the newspaper “Koha Jone”

The Don Quixotism of Communist-Socialist militants

A delegation of the National Alliance Party at the DP headquarters Yesterday, a delegation from Italy’s National Alliance Party arrived in our country, led by Mr. Giuseppe Tatarella, chairman of the National Alliance Party Parliamentary Group, and Mirco Pierantonio Tremaglia, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies. The delegation was received at the Democratic Party headquarters by Secretary General Tritan Shehu, Deputy Chairman Tomor Dosti, and Press and Information Chief Pjetër Pepa. Mr. Shehu expressed his pleasure at the visit and gave them an overview of democratic developments in Albania in the economic, social and political fields. He focused mainly on the role played by the Democratic Party and the government formed by it in these processes, which, despite the many difficulties and obstacles, had been successfully carried out, as demonstrated by specific figures and facts. “Our philosophy,” Mr. Shehu said, “is: ‘Privatization, liberalism, democratization.’” Messrs. Tatarella and Tremaglia also acquainted Mr. Shehu with the activities, foundations and strength represented by the National Alliance in Italy. “Our party,” Tatarella said, “is the third-largest in Parliament by number of members, but it is also the most serious, most capable and most reformist political force in Italian politics.” In their remarks, they too placed particular emphasis on the importance of relations and establishing cooperation between the two parties. “Looking at the achievements and the successful progress of reform in Albania, we hope and trust that the Democratic Party will win again in the upcoming elections. We will work to define clearly the concrete objectives of cooperation with the PDSH,” Tremaglia continued. The two sides agreed that as many contacts as possible should be arranged. The Italian guests promised to work immediately to organize an Albania Day in Puglia in the near future. A possible visit by FINI to Albania was also discussed. Gjinushi has been spouting nonsense lately. In Shkodra, he declared himself nothing less than a dyed-in-the-wool Serbophile when he said that “Milosevic receives and sends off more delegations than the Albanian state does.” In the newspaper ASD, 30 May ’95, under the signature of Mentor Gjini (we have reason to believe it is an article by Gjinushi), he says: “Berisha’s methods of governing are typical of the far left.” These and other things, which we will not mention here, were followed by the delegation once again praising the democratic youth for its important role in Albania’s democratic processes, strengthening the links between its structures and the Democratic Party, and conveying the message of Albanian youth to support democracy and say no to the return of neo-communism to power.

The chairman of the remaining PSD, Mr. Gjinushi, continues his torrent of insults and ordinary thuggery. The only new thing in Gjinushi’s latest statement is his pose as a “brave man.” He talks about lawsuits, makes threats, slanders, takes revenge, and so on. RD reminds him once again of its opinion of him, an opinion that goes no further than calling him a miserable braggart. RD invited Mr. Gjinushi to court so that he could show the public his missions and activities, both in the past and today. RD is not withdrawing its invitation; it stands by it. It was not without reason that RD reacted harshly to the ravings of Albanian social democracy’s Gjinushi. The reason is precisely that Gjinushi, in his newspaper ASD and in other left-wing newspapers, has insulted us—even using the word “mother”—when no one had given him cause to do so. And Gjinushi would do well to learn that no Albanian will forgive him for this. In this reply, we are not listing all his insults and abuse against us. This time we are being careful, along with your mentors. As for your sins, they are many. Your only sin, it seems, is that you voted for Berisha. Your red soul is being sincere this time. It could not be otherwise: you were connected with the others, with the PPSH and its notorious institutions, which rated you “very good.” Finally, perhaps you can find some time to come… [text ends abruptly]. Someone other than RD suggested it to Mr. Gjinushi. Someone else, Gramoz Ruçi, has compelled Gjinushi to take such positions. Well, “it’s our fault.” Mr. Gjinushi should also know that the newspaper “RD” does not make statements lightly. Experience shows that what RD has said and alleged has been borne out by the truth. Once again, let us remind you, Mr. Gjinushi, that RD did not put you on the platform at the shameful rally of July ’90, just as it has not put you on the platforms of the recent insulting and hysterical rallies. Demand an explanation from someone else. But in this case, we warn you that we are entitled to sue you for your insults and abuse. So be careful, together Your only…

used “move.” As is now known, the Solidarity Fund, established foreign currency from the state budget, served to pay… “jokes” about Benci’s physical appearance, but this evasion may spare Dokle and they must therefore be held accountable. The toppling of the statue of Hoxha, the bloody super-dictator who turned Albania into Europe’s Somalia and ascended the throne of hell over thousands of corpses and acts of bloodshed, marked liberation for most Albanians at a time of cruel misfortune; for a group of fanatics, many of them in the ranks of the PS, it was a threshold moment which, if not restored—as the disciples of Enverism are doing these days—risked leaving them caught unprepared beyond it.

Yesterday at midday, the Minister of Justice, Hektor Frasheri, left for Romania to take part in the Conference of European Ministers of Justice, which is being held on 6–7 June 1995 in Bucharest, according to Justice Ministry spokesperson Agim Niza. The main issues to be addressed at this conference concern the role of ministries of justice in coordinating the legislative process and international cooperation. The meeting will seek to improve the work of the Ministries of Justice and strengthen their role in leading the rule-of-law state.

The international congress on productivity is being held in Istanbul from June 5 to 7. More than 1,000 dignitaries and representatives from various countries around the world will discuss issues concerning the increase of economic efficiency. Our country is represented at this congress by Selim Berlotaja, State Secretary for Foreign Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rustem Gjata, the outgoing President of the Constitutional Court, was re-elected to the post. According to a statement from the court, at its plenary session yesterday the Constitutional Court elected Mr. Rustem Gjata as its president by secret ballot. Having completed his three-year term as President of the Constitutional Court, which ended on May 19, Mr. Gjata, re-elected by secret ballot, will hold the post for another three-year period.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, the draft law on the privatization of the electricity sector was reviewed. After the necessary additions of other legal acts, it will be submitted to the People’s Assembly for approval. At the meeting, the draft law on competition, prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Transport, was also reviewed; it will soon be submitted to the People’s Assembly for approval. The draft law ratifying the loan agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), amounting to USD 9 million, to support the project for rehabilitating irrigation works, will also be submitted to the People’s Assembly for approval. At its meeting today, the Council of Ministers also reviewed and approved decisions on the privatization of the state’s ownership stakes in commercial companies; short-term forecasting of the labor market; the creation of industrial parks; determining the use of water from the Terkuze River in the Tirana district for supplying water to the population and irrigating agricultural land; the distribution of funds obtained from the sale of television rights to sporting events; creating the necessary fund as the Albanian party’s contribution to the cooperation project with Germany for establishing small and medium-sized enterprises and creating jobs in small and medium-sized industry; carrying out construction work on the Bathore village settlement for residents who will be relocated from the Bovilla reservoir; by the government of the Russian Federation; and the agreement approving a loan of USD 5.5 million from the Islamic Development Bank for a rural development project in the northern areas.

Yesterday morning, at the PDSh headquarters, the National Council of FRPDSH held a meeting chaired by Krasniqi. First, Mr. Afrim Krasniqi briefed the participants on the progress of the reorganization and election campaign within the youth forum. The expansion of FRPD’s ranks, the election of leaders with higher education, and the consensual nomination of young people to leadership structures in the branches of the Democratic Party were the most significant indicators of the campaign so far. From a political perspective, the campaign, as the speakers and discussants stressed, once again raised democratic youth’s awareness of their important role in Albania’s democratic processes, strengthened conveyed no to the return of neocommunism to power. The meeting then proceeded to organizational and technical matters, as well as the future political and socio-cultural activities of FRPD branches throughout Albania.

Today—Albania in the Midst of Great Change The prestigious Euro News channel devoted one of its programs to developments and democratic reform in Albania. Through film footage shot in Albania, as well as reports, commentary and explanations by its journalist, Euro News highlighted the increase in government accountability, the decline in inflation, the fight against small businesses, and conveyed the optimism of politicians and young citizens as they seek to challenge their painful past and reach the standards of today’s civilization. Albania wants to become the Taiwan of today’s Europe, Euro News noted, but with greater natural resources. It is significant that the grim reports broadcast three years ago by various foreign television channels, depicting Albania’s wretched conditions and poverty and identifying Albania with beggars and bunkers, have given way to reports about the situation in a new Albania: an Albania undergoing major changes, where people are working, hoping and believing in the system of democracy and the market economy.