Three failures in the Nano affair —Socialists abandon the far-left extremists After the Nano affair was examined by the Cassation plenary, the far-left extremists who today lead P(P)S suffered their second disappointment of the year. They were unable to secure approval of the proposed amendments concerning Nano in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. But “the communists do not give up.” After their betrayal had passed, reflected in heated debates such as how many deputy chairmen would remain and who would be removed, or whether Dokle had betrayed Fatos Nano (remember Dokle’s separate press conference), the far-left extremists brought out the Cassation card from their arsenal and “found” a completely transformed Brozi, from Nano’s zealous “prosecutor” to his ardent defender. Brozi’s failure, followed by the failure of prosecutor Demiri, sealed together the failure of Nano and the collapse of justice. The ordinary criminal Nano could not emerge innocent, as the far-left extremists’ scenario had planned. The Nano-dollars failed. Shocked and sunk in nervous brooding, the PS leaders tried once again to unveil their scenario of destabilization, anarchy and antigovernment actions. At a special meeting of the leadership, they decided to occupy the squares (with or without permission, whether or not in violation of the law). It was the “brave” Ulqini who announced that the socialists would occupy the squares too; the Dokle clone went further, declaring that he would not be able to control the socialists in the streets (districts). To carry out the scenario, it was decided that the “Grand Rally” would be held in Tirana. Tirana was chosen deliberately, to set an example in defending crime and putting pressure on the judiciary. “If we do it in Tirana, you in the districts must not even question it”—that was the message conveyed by this action by Pellumbi and Co. Maximum preparations were made. Instructions were issued that family members and relatives must attend. The call went out not only to former covert State Security structures, but to all socialists and eurosocialists. Indeed, it was extended to all the people of Tirana. But what did we see? As the saying goes, the grand affair dwindled to a mere morsel. The hall was filled only with the children of the PS leadership (ordered to be sent to the front rows), former State Security agents, relatives of Dokle, Ruci and Co., and former loyal officials. There were also the expected and the unexpected. The Dutch eurosocialist Jurrien appeared to greet the artists plainly: “For Albania…”; they censored him and subdued his voice in ZP. Mr. Meta was jeered; 3,000 shouts of “burn” were too few, far too few, for the scenario that had been prepared. The honest socialists of the capital and the wise people of Tirana boycotted far-left extremism, destructiveness and the defense of crime. A few days later, all Albania would boycott it too, bringing about the third failure. A major bluff by the far left in Krujë. Albanians show extremism its rightful place In large letters, under the headline “The massive socialist electorate demands the release of Fatos Nano,” it was claimed: “The same thing in Krujë: a large peaceful gathering of socialists.” ZP of 5 August exposed the great bluff of the far left. It marked Nano’s failure, the failure of ordinary criminality. On that same day, the Ministry of the Interior, in a press statement, denied the sensational report and informed the public that no rally whatsoever had taken place in Krujë. This was also the failure of another malicious aim. News of an artificial rally in Krujë served the far left not only to spread disinformation, but to encourage socialists in other districts to turn out for monstrous rallies in support of crime. The failure in Krujë was accompanied by failures in all the other districts, throughout Albania. This was the end of the far left’s latest scenario for destabilization and anarchy. This was the third failure in the Nano affair in a short period of time. “ZP” and Burma After the congress, the failures and bluffs of their Nano-style politics at home were followed by another move: the entire PS leadership ordered the militants of “ZP” to return once more to the point where they had failed even more badly, on 29 August of this year. And the militants who churn out these news items remind us of 20 August, when, according to them, Albania was supposed to answer before the Council of Europe for Nano’s release. “ZP” may “forget” that the European delegates at the Council of Europe’s Assembly did not even agree to consider and adopt any matter called the “Nano” issue, but Dokle certainly has not forgotten; he nearly paid dearly for the Strasbourg failure. Dokle, in particular, can refresh the deputies’ memory about this so they do not make such bluffs again. As for Burma, which “ZP” placed ahead of Albania because it had released political prisoners, “ZP” should know that Albania has no political prisoners—not for political views, nor for the PD; moreover, it is proud of having emerged from the PP’s totalitarian regime—and that “PS” should open the doors of political prisons. If the reference is to the ordinary criminal Nano, the government would do well to learn that the matter has not yet been concluded, given his political activity.

After censoring the PS’s friend, it now makes him a target of ZP-style speculation The PS, having more accurately cultivated a season of absences—both moral and spiritual, as well as political—now seeks to draw its friends who have come from afar into this same rut. The Dutch eurosocialist, Mr. Jurrines, at the “rally” of 3 August, did not hesitate in his welcoming speech to emphasize Albania’s achievements over the past year and to bring them up. What he said before that, although applauded by the crowd, “was not heard” and was omitted from the PS press. The anachronistic machinery of the Albanian socialist leadership, with censorship as its sole link, is undoubtedly trying to confuse its own foreign friends about matters that are unclear. An interview with the representative of the Dutch Labour Youth is published, but not this matter? (?) Now that is strange! Asked how he knew about the “Nano affair,” Mr. M’Laughlin replied to “RD”: “I do not understand the ‘Nano affair’; I have only heard about it. I heard it from the PS.” Did he say that M’Laughlin and Jurrines are so alike that they can be confused?! Still engaged in speculation and disinformation, Mr. Nindini, as if to emphasize his perceived position without the slightest doubt, turns European eurosocialists into a “sock” [sic]. When speculation becomes a way of life, the doors are closed to honesty and, even more so, to professionalism. This is just one of the many articles in “ZP”.

There is no such thing as an accidental misinterpretation After publishing a “sensational scoop” that shook not only Albanian public opinion, under the headline “Cannabis conquers Albanian villages” on 6 August ’95, an article whose figures and presentation of the “facts” created the impression that Vlora had become the center of the world mafia, “Gazeta Shqiptare,” with enviable calm, explained in its issue of Tuesday, 8 August ’95: “These inaccuracies were caused by the UNINTENTIONAL MISINTERPRETATION of information during its transmission by telephone from Vlora.” These “UNINTENTIONAL MISINTERPRETATIONS” keep happening in “Gazeta Shqiptare.” They recur often, supposedly with “heroic responsibility,” yet they are deliberate, driven by anti-Albanian racism and by a desire to escape the law on the press, which, to tell the truth, has no teeth or the force for which it was adopted when it comes to this newspaper’s violations. Gentlemen of the editorial office, we do not know how you understand Albanian, but when you say that these inaccuracies, which you acknowledge in every issue of the newspaper, were caused by unintentional misinterpretation, and formulate it in this way, you are merely justifying yourselves—and it is true that you do not know Albanian and are not genuinely Albanian-speaking. In Albanian, the word “misinterpretation” means doing so deliberately, and this… Oh, yes! This is an approach that misinterprets history, and can it be believed that Mr. Bollino does this UNINTENTIONALLY? Judging by these facts, we have the right to place a big question mark over the purpose of this newspaper’s second arrival in Albania, in 1991, to sow the seeds of fascism. And apparently during the years of fascism. And it seems that “Gazeta Shqiptare,” which was first published in Albania in 1991, published articles, and was later published for the first time in Albania in 1997? So, was it thought that Albania…? As for “Gazeta Shqiptare”: Mr. Bollino says that in 1927–39 the newspaper came to Albania to establish friendly ties between the peoples on the two shores of the Adriatic. Yet the truth about this newspaper is that it enthusiastically propagated fascism, worked to overthrow fascism in Albania, and greeted the fascist invasion of Albania by Duce’s armies in the most pompous manner. All of this is a misinterpretation of history, and can it be believed that Mr. Bollino does this UNINTENTIONALLY?

—The 4th Conference of the PD Branch held its proceedings —The deputy chairman of PDSH, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, participates Mat: The 4th Conference of the PD branch in Mat convened after several notable successes for the Council of Europe and in the EUCD and DEMYC, the cancellation of foreign debts, the enactment of the law on the transfer of land, etc. At the beginning of his report, the chairman of the PD branch, Mr. Abdi Llozhi, presented the work carried out since the 3rd Conference on behalf of the leadership. It is precisely these achievements, incomparable with the past, that have given our work, our efforts and our PD membership in Mat new inspiration and complete confidence in the effectiveness of the reforms undertaken by the democratic government. Moreover, these achievements and the work of the leadership of the PD branch in Mat have also laid the foundations for the improved functioning and restructuring of all our structures, the return to the PD ranks of around 200 members, the re-establishment of closer ties between the PD and various political parties and associations of the right-wing spectrum… And further, the appointment of new section leaders and branch members on the basis of professional qualifications—in public services, mines, telecommunications and factories—as well as the expansion of propaganda work by better organizing the distribution of our press to all sections and sub-sections of the district, including the most distant areas, etc. In his report, Llozhi stated that the conference found the PD in Mat with around 826 new members, of whom more than 250 have higher education. The significant growth of the PD electorate in Mat is overturning the mistaken view spread by the nostalgics of the steppes that the PS has an overwhelming presence here. As for the leadership of the branch, some directorates should have worked harder, primarily to deepen the democratic reforms. The delegates at the Conference raised a series of questions on numerous issues, and the answers to them supplemented the report presented. Among those who spoke, we single out Mr. Mustafaj Cikaj, who addressed the secretariat. Cikellini, secretary of the Mat district council, underlined the anti-reform, destructive and deliberate activity of… (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, in one of the halls of the Palace of Culture, the chairman of the PD in Laç, Mr. Sami Metalia, in cooperation with the PDSH Organization Department, organized a seminar for the chairs of the PD sections and sub-sections in Laç. The seminar was led by the PD’s friend, Mr. Stewart of the British Conservative Party. Two topics were covered: 1. Party membership and the selection of candidates. 2. Practical experience during election campaigns. Mr. Stewart spoke concretely on both topics, drawing on his experience in the election campaigns of the British Conservative Party. During the seminar, participants asked questions about specific issues relating to these two topics. Mr. Donald Stewart was accompanied by the head of the Organization Department, Mr. Mirush Mati. After the seminar, the guest from England, accompanied by the chairman of the PD in Laç, Mr. Metalia, visited Krujë Castle. M.SH.

Activities of the renowned actor, Xhejms Belushi “I am in Albania because it is the country I come from, and although this is my first visit, I feel at home.” These were the first words of the well-known American actor of Albanian origin, Xhejms Belushi, at the press conference he gave yesterday at QNK for journalists and friends of the arts. The star of many roles in films, comedies, theater and TV SHOW appeared in direct conversation with representatives of the Albanian media, bringing humor and human warmth as he spoke about his relationship with cinema, his family and Albania. Albania, the birthplace of Mr. Belushi’s father, and also a country that has now cast off isolation and made successful progress, was of private and professional interest to the Albanian-American actor Xhejms Belushi. Cooperation with Albanian television and the production of a feature film, according to Mr. Belushi, both had every chance of success. “The departure from old principles makes everything easier and leads to more fruitful cooperation,” the well-known American actor emphasized in his remarks. The friendship with the great American director… PHOTO: A. BABANI

The new leaders of PD branches as guests at RD Interview with Mr. Bujar Isak, Chairman of the PD Branch in the Korçë district “We are seeking a dignified association” The national question in Albanian politics

Manipulation of the public, or democracy under control The newspaper “Koha Jone”’s front page: unscrupulous deception “Let everyone do their own duties”

USA Joint large-scale maneuvers begin The sixth exercise under the Partnership for Peace program, involving around 3,800 military personnel, is the first to be held in the United States. Forces from NATO member countries—the United States, Canada and Britain—together with military forces from 14 former communist countries, began joint training maneuvers at Fort Polk in the state of Louisiana. The exercises are intended to improve multinational peacekeeping operations. Albania has sent a contingent of 50 people, including an infantry platoon, logistics specialists, observers and a search unit. Russia is not taking part in these maneuvers, although Moscow has signed the Partnership for Peace program. The commander of NATO’s Atlantic forces, General Xhonshi Hen, said Russia’s absence is only a matter of time, since Moscow signed the program very late. The Canadian deputy said that the troops taking part in this exercise would acquire the skills needed to maintain peace in any country.