- Hon. Silvio Berlusconi invites the PDSH delegation to attend the proceedings of the National Assembly of Forza Italia - Shehu: Strengthening relations between the two parties has a positive effect on relations between the two countries - Hon. Berlusconi: In Albania this autumn as a guest of the PDSH - Buttiglione: PPI ready to cooperate with the PDSH As we have reported, a PDSH delegation headed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and including Vice-Chairman Tomorr Dosti, is attending the proceedings of the PPI congress at the invitation of its Secretary-General, Mr. Roko Buttiglione. Yesterday morning, the chairman of the Forza Italia Party, Hon. Silvio Berlusconi, invited the PDSH delegation to attend the closed session of the National Assembly of Forza Italia. At the start of the session, Hon. Silvio Berlusconi introduced the PDSH. In his introductory remarks, Hon. Berlusconi praised the role of the PDSH in Albania’s democratic developments and stressed the need for the Forza Italia Party to support the PDSH. Messrs. Tritan Shehu and Tomorr Dosti greeted the National Assembly of Forza Italia. In their remarks, they expressed the PDSH’s regard for Forza Italia and its chairman, Berlusconi, and for their role in strengthening Italian democracy. Messrs. Shehu and Dosti also briefed the Assembly on the development of democracy in Albania. Those present applauded the greetings delivered by the PDSH leaders. At a meeting held yesterday between the PDSH and Forza Italia, the two parties—close to one another and belonging to the same political spectrum—discussed bilateral cooperation. The chairman of the Forza Italia Party, Silvio Berlusconi, welcomed Mr. Shehu’s invitation to make a working visit to Albania and confirmed that it would take place this autumn. The PDSH delegation also met with other leading figures of Forza Italia. The delegation then resumed attending the proceedings of the National Assembly of Forza Italia. Yesterday afternoon, the PDSH Secretary-General, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, addressed the congress of the Italian People’s Party. Speaking on behalf of the PDSH, its Secretary, Mr. Shehu, highlighted the great importance of cooperation between the PDSH and the parties of the centre and centre-right in Italy for relations between the two countries. At the end of his speech, Mr. Shehu wished the PPI success. His speech was warmly received by the PPI delegates. Yesterday afternoon, the PDSH delegation held a meeting with Mr. Roko Buttiglione. The two sides discussed the possibilities and practical means of cooperation between the parties. Mr. T. Shehu’s remarks also focused on this. Mr. Shehu stressed that both parties, as members of the Union of Christian Democratic Parties and the European People’s Parties, must[?]

Brozi: Fatos Nano is guilty Question — (K.J.): “The Socialist Party is calling for Nano’s release, the Council of Europe votes for Nano’s release, while the Albanian prosecutor’s office sends the case to court for theft. What can you tell us?” ZEF BROZI — I regret that it seems things continue to be misinterpreted. There was a time when being in power meant you could say that the law did not apply to you. And there is evidence of this. I want to clarify that for Mr. Nano, the chairman of the Socialist Party, for the chairman of the largest opposition party, to be convicted of theft means that the prestige of a political party has fallen very low. I regret this. Personally, I respect all political parties, but I do not respect anyone who, while holding high state office, abuses the law and career opportunities to obtain benefits for themselves or for their friends and associates. Take Italy, an example of dignified justice that does not ask whether someone is a minister or prime minister, and makes no distinctions in holding them legally accountable. I will say that anyone who calls the crime of theft under Article 62 a political crime is, first and foremost, not well-intentioned toward justice. Anyone who does not want justice does not want what is best for themselves, because in churches, mosques and courts, all people are judged. If there are people interested in protecting crime in Albania, we will not ask them.” Brozi: “A flagrant interference in the work of the judiciary” Brozi’s statement on Albanian Television (TVSH): “Just when, thank goodness, the justice authorities are taking steps to break through this shell, international organizations—and people here at home too—rise up. One thing is certain: administering justice is the duty of the designated authorities. Therefore, I publicly declare that the European Parliament’s decision is a flagrant interference in the work of the judiciary in Albania.” Brozi: “The decisions of the three courts, insofar as they found the defendant Fatos Nano guilty of the criminal offense of misappropriating state property, carrying the serious penalties stipulated by Article 62 of the (old) Criminal Code, are not correct. These decisions resulted from the incorrect application of the law.” Analysts link the reasons for these changes in Mr. Brozi’s statements to the narcodollars and the nanodollars. This newspaper will make an effort in coming issues to document what compels Mr. Brozi to defend the thief. “Cannot be part of the judicial panel” (In the newspaper “K.J.”) Zef Brozi: “I cannot be part of the judicial panel because, as a lawyer and member of parliament, I have stated my position on Nano’s guilt.” Zef Brozi defending Nano “Z.P.”, 15 July 1995 — Zef ... politics. And there are facts to support this. I want to make clear that if Mr. Nano, the chairman of the Socialist Party, the chairman of the largest opposition party, is convicted of theft, that would mean that the prestige calls theft a political crime; I will say that this is among the duties of the designated bodies; blatant interference in the affairs

Although these two issues appear to have no connection, in essence the first is a consequence of the second. This is particularly so if we bear in mind Brozi’s “new,” paradoxical stance on Nano’s “guilt” and his Labourite political position in recent times. Zef Brozi, acting as a politician in the service of the Socialist Party, has now made two political moves that have exposed him as a jurist who abuses his position as President of the Court of Cassation for nefarious purposes. His requests for the resignation of Prime Minister Meksi and for criminal proceedings against Deputy Prime Minister Vrioni are two actions that do not accord with his function. Moreover, the timing of his statements and the circumstances provide grounds for others, if not Brozi himself, to call for his resignation. Mr. Brozi has taken on the role of political herald for the Socialist Party, which, through its actions over the past two years, has defended corruption and opposed and failed to respect the rulings of the judicial bodies at all three levels. Through these actions, the Socialist Party leadership has failed to abide by either its statute or its program, both of which proclaim the party’s respect for the rule of law. The Socialist Party’s self-defence of Nano constitutes a violation of its constitutional obligations because it protects ordinary crime and corruption. With these worn-out political manoeuvres, Mr. Brozi is trying to revive them through an impressive effort to stir up socialist public opinion, now tired and fed up with the tale of “innocent Nano.” But Brozi’s latest political statements have an even more straightforward purpose: to create the impression among the judges and prosecutors of the Court of Appeal and the Plenum that he (Brozi) wields absolute power and authority, not only as a judge but also as a politician, and that he is powerful enough to make life miserable for them. Through this megalomania, Mr. Brozi is attempting to put pressure on the prosecutors and the Plenum’s judicial panel so that his idol Nano can once again be free among his comrades-in-arms. It is to the honour of the Plenum’s judges to remain free of their chairman’s influence. Their impartial judgment would enhance the prestige of our courts in a democratic society, by undertaking, with a strong sense of responsibility, to punish crime and corruption. M.SHEHU

An unusual season for the jurist, the symbol of truth. The “Brozi season.” Unexpected and capricious. Frequent press conferences, countless replies and polemics in the press. Not only journalists but even the most casual observers have noticed that at these conferences the jurist Brozi behaves very much like a party chairman. He likes to draw attention to every issue, certainly beyond the scope of his mandate as a jurist on the Court of Cassation. Brozi increasingly declares that this matter should be handled this way, and that this should be done that way. Yet every jurist, and all the more so a President of the Court of Cassation, has the primary duty always to say only: “The law says this, and only this.” It seems that Mr. Brozi has long since replaced the mantle of the law with that of politics. Why? And whom does he seek to serve in this new guise? Time will tell. Mr. Brozi thinks that the time has now come to talk about the revival of the red veterans of the Socialist Party, whose ranks, by the looks of it, make Brozi feel more at home among the extremist nostalgics of the nation’s darkest era. In any case, Brozi is rushing into these new steps he has been taking lately. And why? Because justice has already delivered its verdict more than once on the deeds of the common criminal Nano, a thief, on the basis of incontrovertible evidence. Now Brozi, from his Court of Cassation chair, seeks to defy the justice authorities—a challenge that is doomed to fail completely. Brozi’s metamorphosis is now clear. From a fervent advocate of stripping the Socialist Party leader Nano of his immunity, he has astonishingly turned into a red-star partisan of Nano’s innocence?! Brozi’s metamorphosis from jurist into prodigal politician stems first and foremost from the qualitative deterioration of his values as a jurist, as he tries to find his place in the corridors of high politics. Yet his debut in this new genre is weak and lacking in character. An infection of the infallible leader has clouded his eyes, giving him an extremely provincial megalomania, so that even in his dreams he sees his own name and ideas spread across the pages of every newspaper and the radio and television news. Is the jurist Brozi prejudiced? Of course he is. There can be no doubt about it. If he were otherwise, a good teacher and jurist, and a son of Mirditë whose cause, that of Nano, has impoverished him almost to the point of legend, he would not intervene or openly and so noisily take the side of crime and the misappropriation of aid for the benefit of third parties, causing the poor Albanian state losses of millions of dollars. But let Mr. Brozi be sure of one thing: public opinion will give him the lowest mark, entirely without prejudice, as a jurist who insists on keeping the Socialist Party’s leader, Fatos Th. Nano, corrupt to the core, at liberty. DYLEJMAN KARAJ

Last night, on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the July Revolution, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Ahmad Nabawy Issa, hosted a dinner. Members of parliament, ministers, diplomats, and journalists from the press and radio and television were invited. The Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, was also present. For two hours, guests at the Linza motel-restaurant spent the occasion in a warm, friendly atmosphere, marking this important day for the Egyptian people. “RD” correspondent

The Tirana Fuel Enterprise, for the first time in its activity, managed to secure 2,600 tons of kerosene destined for the port of Durres. There is nowhere to unload it because the storage capacities are occupied by private entities. Petrol - Impekski, which has been tasked by the government with supplying the people with kerosene, while supplying Mjeda and Lac by train, has not brought any kerosene to Tirana for two months. At present, this same enterprise has 1,500 tons of kerosene in stock and is not bringing it to Tirana. Why isn't a depot in Durres being given to the Tirana Fuel Enterprise by the Directorate of Reserves? At the very least, why isn't priority being given to unloading the kerosene brought by the Tirana Fuel Enterprise, which is in a position to guarantee the supply of kerosene to Tirana and Durres?

Tornado aircraft in Italy By LORENC LIGORI Cracks in the Socialist Party: will there be a birth or another abortion? By MEHMET ELEZI Milošević’s speech closed the doors to dialogue By RUDINA XHUVANI

“Z.P.”, 15 July 1995 — Zef