By now, only the old and new leaders of the PS are unconvinced of Nano’s guilt—a guilt that has been proven beyond any doubt by every level of the Albanian courts. To the red flock of owls, the Enverist hordes, yesterday was added the appeals prosecutor, Skender Demiri. What drove this prosecutor to turn into a zealous defense lawyer for Nano? And furthermore, why did this man turn into an arithmetic shopkeeper, making some ordinary percentage calculations? Love for Nano, or the nanodollars being handed out without restraint...?? Of the people who know Demiri, few believe in the first possibility, while most are convinced that the second version is closer to reality. Naturally, to work with percentages, you need a good knowledge of market economics—a line of reasoning that yesterday weighed heavily on Albanian justice. But thanks to its honesty and high professionalism, the panel of judges rose above the dirty tricks and unscrupulous manipulations. Yesterday, as I listened to the prosecutor’s arguments, my faith in justice wavered for a moment; my opinion of its people was devalued. A person’s opinion may change, of course, but it takes on different dimensions when that happens within someone wearing the robe of justice. More than once we have reported on the PS’s fundraising campaigns in support of Fatos Nano and Co. These claims have been accompanied by the question: Where does all this money go, where does it end up, all these dollars?! Are they added to the money stolen from the Albanian people, spent on building villas, on the Nano family’s weekends abroad? Yesterday we became convinced once and for all that nanodollars also circulate in Tirana’s market, even reaching individuals who work in important institutions of Albanian democracy. But justice nevertheless proved yesterday that it is capable of rising above political passions, above nanodollars. Yesterday Skender Demiri asked for the protection of the man who robbed the people at the height of their poverty; yesterday Demiri trampled on his professionalism, on the customs and traditions of the region he comes from. Yesterday Skenderi was transformed as he recited endless figures with a single aim: to free the mafioso Nano! Yesterday prosecutor Demiri defended Nano more than Sanxhaku did, so much so that, for a moment, in that courtroom sweltering in the July heat, Sanxhaku called Demiri by the other’s name, and vice versa. As for Sanxhaku, you would think Nano paid his salary; as for Demiri, only God knows. Everyone, absolutely everyone, was astonished yesterday by the arguments Demiri presented—everyone except Sanxhaku, Nano, and his close associates. The rumors circulating in recent days at the PS’s Marxist headquarters—that the prosecutor would seek Nano’s release—proved not to be baseless. So there is little more to say. which yesterday weighed heavily on Albanian justice. Nevertheless, yesterday justice gave proof that it is capable of changing. D.KARAJ Here, what is it that has not changed? The trial panel is appointed today (21 July 1995—editor’s note).

From the visit of the PDSH delegation to Italy Successful Meetings of the PDSH Delegation in Italy —Shehu and Fini call for increased cooperation between the two parties —Kazini: We are politically interested in strengthening bilateral relations between the two parties —Fini: I will come to Albania in September as a friend of the PDSH and the PR —Shehu and Dosti extend greetings to the National Alliance’s National Assembly The congress of the Italian People’s Party has begun its proceedings in Italy. At the invitation of the PPI’s national secretary, Mr. Roko Butilione, the proceedings are also being attended by a PDSH delegation headed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and including its deputy chairman, Tomorr Dosti. The proceedings of the Congress are being attended by delegations from the Democratic and Christian Democratic parties of Europe. Yesterday, during the Congress proceedings, the main report was delivered by the PPI’s national secretary, Mr. Butilione. He addressed the political outlook for the future, the need for cooperation between the centre and the right, “their grouping to halt the revanche of the left and the crypto-communists,” and other matters. Also yesterday, the PDSH delegation, headed by Secretary-General Shehu, met with the secretary-general of Italy’s Christian Democratic Centre Party, On Kazini, as well as the president of that party, Mr. Mastela. During the meeting, Mr. Shehu gave his Italian interlocutors an overview of political, economic and social developments in Albania, and briefed them on the PDSH’s role in establishing and strengthening democracy and the market economy, and in expanding individual freedoms and rights, etc. Mr. Shehu called for close cooperation between the two political forces, which belong to the same political spectrum. In his remarks, Mr. Kazini said that he was familiar with and appreciated the developments, the reforms undertaken, and the role of the PDSH. Mr. Kazini expressed his willingness to establish close cooperation between the two parties and gladly accepted Mr. Shehu’s invitation to make a working visit to Albania. two parties and, as a European parliamentarian, I will support you in your needs,” Mr. Kazinis concluded. Also yesterday, at the invitation of the chairman of the National Alliance Party, Xhanfranko Fini, the PDSH delegation attended a session of the National Assembly of that party. The PDSH Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and deputy chairman Tomorr Dosti were invited to address the National Alliance Party’s Assembly; their greetings were met with applause from those present. After the session, the PDSH delegation was received at a separate meeting by chairman Xhanfrako Fini. The PDSH Secretary-General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, briefed Mr. Fini on the achievements of the political, legislative, economic and social reforms, etc., in Albania. Mr. Shehu also discussed the situation in the Balkan region and, between the in the Balkan region and Albania’s policy of peace and stability in the region. Discussing the very good relations between the two countries, Mr. Shehu emphasized the view that strengthening the cooperation begun between the two parties would have a positive impact on Albanian-Italian relations. In his remarks, the chairman of the National Alliance Party, Mr. Xhanfranko Fini, praised democratic developments in Albania and the role of the PDSH, and expressed agreement with Mr. Shehu on strengthening relations between the two parties. Mr. Fini praised Albania’s role as a factor for peace and stability in the Balkans. He accepted Mr. Shehu’s invitation to visit Albania and confirmed that in September he would visit Albania as a friend of the PDSH and the PR. PDSH Press and Information Department

Commenting on Mr. Namik Dokle’s statement to the Voice of America this morning that two judges on the Court of Appeal’s panel had been replaced, the spokesperson for the Court of Appeal declared that this was simply an irresponsible fabrication by Mr. Dokle. The truth is that the panel appointed to hear Nano’s case has not changed. The panel was appointed today (21 July 1995—editor’s note) at 8:30, with the Court of Appeal’s Deputy Chairman, Mr. Fatos Qato, as presiding judge, and Mr. Zyfli Beqo and Mr. Lefter Jahja as members. The case rapporteur, Mr. Zylfi Beqo, had been assigned to study the file as of 14 July 1995. Neither the rapporteur nor the members and presiding judge hearing this case have changed.

President Berisha expressed his satisfaction with the very good political relations between our two countries and said that there is ample scope for comprehensive cooperation, in which Albania and Slovenia, as countries working for stability, are deeply interested. “I am pleased,” he continued, “with the continuation of the (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday morning, at 9:30, the hearing of Fatos Nano’s case began at the Court of Appeal. As is known, Fatos Nano was found guilty and sentenced by the Tirana District Court to 12 years’ imprisonment for committing two criminal offenses: 1. Misappropriation of state property in large sums, in cooperation with others, through abuse of office. 2. Forgery of official documents. This ruling was also upheld by the Appeal and Cassation courts. With the new Penal Code coming into force on 1 June 1995, he was given the right to request that the offenses committed be reclassified in accordance with this code. The Tepelena Court reclassified Nano’s offenses, while keeping the previous sentence in force. At the Court of Appeal, where yesterday’s hearing took place, the lawyers’ prejudged arithmetic aimed at freeing Nano was joined by the “zealous contribution” of the prosecutor in the case, Mr. Skender Demiri. According to this prosecutor, Mr. Nano is guilty, but subsequent developments—the remission of 2 years by decree of the President of the Republic, the amnesty approved by Parliament, and the new Penal Code—reduce his sentence, so he requested F. Nano’s immediate release. The panel of judges, however, withdrew to reach a decision, which it announced at 16:00, and did not agree with the lawyers’ and prosecutor’s erroneous arithmetic. The panel ruled that Nano must serve a further 2 years, 11 months and 28 days. In this way, his request was granted only in part, namely only with respect to some of the claims set out in it. In the decision announced in the afternoon, the panel, chaired by Fatos Qato, with Zylfi Beqja and Lefter Jahja as members, ruled to overturn the decision of the Tepelena District Court and to reclassify the two criminal offenses of which Fatos Nano is accused. Article 62 of the old Penal Code, which concerned misappropriation of state property, was reclassified under Article 135 of the new code, theft through abuse of office, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment; the forgery of documents was reclassified under Article 186/2, which provides for a sentence of up to 7 years in prison. Adhering to the ratios between the sentences under the old code and those Nano must serve under the new code, the Court of Appeal decided to impose new sentences on Nano: 9 years for the first charge and 2.5 years for the second. By combining the sentences, the appeal court set the total sentence at 11 years, that is, one year less than his previous sentence. The court’s calculation shows that Fatos Nano still has to serve almost three years in prison.

The “flirtations” of the Albanian chief justice with the newspaper “Koha jone” are time bombs in the temple of Albanian justice From time to time, in the pages of the newspaper “Koha jone,” which is inclined toward sensational scandals, slander, fabrications and some of the most monstrous lies, alongside several familiar faces—Nano, Pellumbi, Dokle, Ceka, Hajdaraga, Gjinushi and Co., faces that have long been staring us in the eyes and have wearied us with their demagoguery and nihilism—the face of Brozi also appears frequently, tucked into a long robe. Before the Chief Justice of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi, has even embarked on a new adventure, it is immediately reflected in the favorite newspaper of the head of the Court of Cassation, “Koha jone.” The latter has often stroked Judge Brozi’s ego, bestowing on him such epithets as to create the impression that Zef Brozi is a symbol of justice, absolute in his decisions, the only man fighting for the independence of the Albanian courts, which are being trampled by today’s democratic state. But whom is Zef Brozi fighting against? Brozi has long been fighting those who gave him the right to become the number one judge. Brozi has long been confronting, with Don Quixote-like courage, the laws of today’s democratic state. He has long accused the state, the Government and the President of violence against the judicial organs. Brozi has long echoed the bells rung by certain jurists implicated in the barbaric laws of the former communist dictatorship, such as Fehmi Avdiu and his associates. Brozi knows very well how deeply the Albanian legal system was tainted by the past, and instead of fighting for the implementation of the new laws passed by the Pluralist Parliament, he is “flirting” with the newspaper “Koha jone”—flirtations that are nothing other than time bombs in the temple of Albanian justice. For only a blind person cannot see today whom the supposedly independent newspaper “Koha jone” serves—a newspaper that never misses an issue without slandering the President of the Republic, and so on. The President is the head of the High Council of Justice. Brozi has surely read the insults against President Berishaj in the newspaper “Koha jone.”

Advance payment of the Albanian Newspaper Die Balino published in “Gazeta Shqiptare” the news that Luljeta Petani would preside over Fatos Nano’s trial. He also sounded the “alarm,” as though the judges’ names had been kept secret and were confirmed only the day before yesterday. In reality, Balino has deceived readers. Luljeta Petani had not been appointed to preside over the trial. But Balino, who is Nano’s bad lawyer, deliberately misled people about who would head the trial panel. He offered Dokle an advance opportunity to go on foreign radio that evening and say that “the trial panel was changed.” Bolino’s wretchedness lies in the fact that he has become involved in the circus of Nano’s servants. But what brings the Mezzogiorno newspaper together with Sanxhak and Nano, the Song of Pernioles? D.HATA.

President Berisha received yesterday the Vice President of the International Union of the Blind, Mr. Kabati, accompanied by the President and Vice President of the Association of the Blind of Albania. Various issues concerning this institution were discussed. Several requests from the Association of the Blind of Albania were presented to President Berisha, who considered them justified.

The Albanian-American joint exercise Sarex ’95-2 concluded successfully. It was the largest in Central and Eastern Europe, involving numerous complex operations, large forces and powerful equipment; analyses of the exercise were also carried out. The findings were first discussed in groups according to the forces involved: land, naval and air. They highlighted the high level of planning, coordination and cooperation between the parties. Special maneuvers aboard American and Albanian ships, the joint training of isolated platoons, and search-and-rescue operations were assessed. In all the groups, the very good and practical experience of the American special forces, based on the practice of search-and-rescue operations in Bosnia, was emphasized. The American commander highlighted the exercise’s shared value and the work involved in training personnel at all ranks. Meanwhile, the commander of the 24th American unit, Barnet, said that in Albania “we found hospitality, friendship and brotherhood.” At the closing ceremony of the exercise, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, General Sheme Kosova, conveyed to those present the greetings of Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali. After recognizing the complete success of this important exercise, General Kosova mentioned the experience our troops gained in the numerous complex maneuvers and operations. The army and the people welcomed the American troops as peace envoys. In this context, General Kosova pointed out that cooperation between our two armies would be further strengthened, as well as the need to hold further joint exercises within the framework of Partnership for Peace. The troops, vehicles and weapons were loaded back onto the large ships Kersage and Neshvill by means of powerful cranes. ATSH

The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, received yesterday in Prishtina the chargé d’affaires at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, Besnik Konci, on his first visit to Kosovo. At the meeting, they discussed the grave situation in Kosovo as a result of the Serbian regime’s systematic repression of Albanians. They also discussed how to resolve the Kosovo issue and developments in the region, on which there is complete consensus among Albanian institutions and political entities. The chargé d’affaires at the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade is accompanied on his visit to Kosovo by Shkelzen Imeraj, third secretary at the embassy. ATSH

President Berisha expressed his satisfaction with the very good political relations between our two countries and said that there is ample scope for comprehensive cooperation, in which Albania and Slovenia, as countries working for stability, are deeply interested. “I am pleased,” he continued, “with the continuation of the (Continued on page 2)

Court of Appeal Fatos Nano in prison for another 3

On Monday, a delegation of the Department of State of the United States of America, headed by Mr. Eric Newsom, Assistant Deputy Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, is arriving for a working and familiarization visit. In talks to be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, views will be exchanged on the situation in the region and regional security, as well as on issues of bilateral cooperation. SPOKESPERSON OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS