In September, the repatriation of Albanian refugees begins in stages ON PAGE 4

Elbasan bloodied once again. Thursday: one dead and 9 wounded ON PAGE 4

The Council of Europe calls for the protection of the judiciary ON PAGE 4

The Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the bank and Farudin Arapi confiscate the pyramid firms. Citizens’ money begins its journey to the headquarters of the Socialist Party. The investors shut their doors to the administrators

Pyramid schemes have once again taken the stage in Albania. This time not with the cudgel and fire hoses against those who managed to set up investment companies, but with decrees and laws that do the same job as the cudgels and fire hoses did in January, February and March of this year. These days, the destruction of people’s savings is not coming from below but from above. It starts with Prime Minister Nano, who appointed the administrators and chief administrator a few days ago—the latter being the Socialist Party’s chief executioner—and continues with the Minister of Finance, who is ready to shut down all the pyramid firms, completing the cycle with the newly appointed Governor of the bank, whoever that may be.[?] Anyone who had hoped that one day they might get their money back now has three places to ask for it: the Socialist Party headquarters, from which the chief administrator comes; the Governor of the bank, who knows the way money travels, both when it leaves and when it comes in; and the Albanian Prime Minister, who is in the same headquarters as the Minister of Finance. Those who have no hope of ever getting their money back can also address themselves to these places, since there is, in any case, a connection between these people and the money that has been lost. During the election campaign, the Socialists won votes by promising to return the money, not by promising that everyone’s money would be lost—including the money of those who had not lost it. All their actions, decisions, laws, meetings and maneuvers so far have not only failed to promote transparency regarding the pyramid schemes, but have deepened the problem further, leaving it ultimately unresolved. Along with the loss of any prospect of a transparent solution, those firms that had combined borrowing with major and serious investments are also being nailed down. Two days ago, the president of “VEFA” declared that it had the ability to repay its creditors and also said that it would not accept an administrator at its company. A harsh approach that has targeted one of Tirana’s money firms has also been extended, to a greater or lesser degree, to all the other pyramid firms. The problem does not seem to lie so much in fear of the administrators’ deputies as in fear of a negative outcome. Those tasked with ensuring transparency have left so many question marks behind through their approach that the firms’ own people no longer trust the specialists brought in from above, from the Socialist Party headquarters. Almost all the investors are aware that their money or assets could end up funding Socialist Party rallies or those who carried out acts of arson or killings throughout the country. The election season gives them reason to fear this, in proportion to the responsibility they bear toward those from whom they took money in exchange for interest. If Socialist administrators are still in place at the firms where a large amount of citizens’ income has been deposited, if they take part and if they take a share of it, then it is clear that the money will end up benefiting the Socialist Party. In the absence of accountability, under the laws and orders currently in force, nearly 540 billion of all Albanians’ savings are on the verge of disappearing. But the Socialists and their government are not clarifying the mechanism for this transfer of responsibility. So far, the term has been revealed through the 16-day strike. Nano’s decision instructs the Ministry of the Interior to create working conditions for the administrators.

Meidani’s infamous amendment—unconstitutional With Meidani’s unconstitutional proposal to revise the justice system under political authority, approved by Parliament, he now has the opportunity to enact it as a law that not only concerns the head of the judiciary, but is based on unconstitutional and counter-constitutional reasoning. The President of the Court of Cassation declared yesterday that no one had consulted the judges about the amendment that was made. Numra Meidani remains a legal turning point from the infamous communist-era prosecutors and judges who consecrated justice as a political instrument serving the established regime. Meidani, who claims to be an impartial president between the branches of power, has acted unconstitutionally in a matter covered by law, proving that the courts too are to serve the political system and the executive power installed by the party. As President, through his own conduct, he knowingly undermines constitutionality and the proposal that he be an obedient servant of the majority and the executive, to the detriment of all his suspicions about the powers, with this act. The President understood that by setting the precedent himself, he…

The president of the Group of the People’s Parties expresses solidarity with Arbnori’s hunger strike The Mandate of Europe, Pjetër Arbnori, received a letter yesterday from Mr. Walter Schwimmer, chairman of the Group of the People’s and Christian Democratic Parties in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which says: “We learned from a letter Mr. Genc Pollo sent us on 21 August 1997 that you had decided to go on a hunger strike to draw public attention to the violation of rights, which are protected by the law on freedom of expression and information in your country.” In my capacity as President of the Group of the European People’s Party and Christian Democrats in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I declare my solidarity with your action. Your commitment to democracy and your struggle against the totalitarian regime have been exemplary in the past. If you consider a hunger strike the only way to act against the suppression of democracy and the violations of democratic principles in your country, this shows that democracy in Albania is at risk. During the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly in September 1997, the People’s and Christian Democratic Group will ask the Parliamentary Assembly to address the situation in Albania. We will also ask the Monitoring Committee to intensify the monitoring procedure for Albania. It is essential that your country respect the commitments it has signed with the Council of Europe.

The leader of the DP, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, invited for an official visit to France The President of the Senate of the French Republic, René Monory, in a message sent to Mr. Berisha, after confirming that he had received his message, invited him for an official visit to France. In his message, the President of the French Senate thanked him for informing him about MP Arbnori’s hunger strike and expressed his full interest and deep respect for MP Arbnori’s courage, commitment and dedication in defending freedom and its values. “All Albanians benefit from Mr. Arbnori’s efforts to raise awareness, as well as from my solidarity with his action,” Mr. Monory writes. “I have conveyed this to the President of the Republic, Mr. Meidani, and to Prime Minister Nano.”

Health bulletin on hunger striker Pjetër Arbnori At 17:40 on Friday, 29 August, the tenth day of the MP and Mandate of Europe Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike, his health suddenly deteriorated and worsened; according to the doctor, his life is at risk. A sudden drop in blood pressure and a rise in temperature have been observed, accompanied by dizziness and nosebleeds. In the morning, the hunger striker was given intravenous fluids, but nevertheless his health deteriorated significantly. Message to Arbnori from the President of the Senate of the Republic of France, René Monori MP Pjetër Arbnori received a message from the President of the Senate of the Republic of France, Mr. René Monori, who, after expressing his sadness about the hunger strike in the Albanian capital, affirmed his concern and solidarity, as well as his great appreciation for the extraordinary struggle Mr. Pjetër Arbnori has waged for democracy, which is cherished by the French people. The President of the French Senate, Mr. Monori, invites MP Arbnori for an official visit to France. ON PAGE 2

With the money given for democratic reform, Fatos Nano sends the refugees back ON PAGE 3

The RTV Governing Council censors the opposition At yesterday’s meeting of the RTV Governing Council, the issue of allocating three hours to political segments was not discussed. The opposition was dominated by Socialist militants, with the result that the Governing Council could not give democratic opposition activities any space, especially when the opposition was discussed only briefly in broadcasts and airtime. Most participants noted and expressed the need for—and a historic step toward—space and proportional representation for newspapers; in short, this became a sign of the choice made within a few hours by numerous actors. Although the opposition has repeatedly requested time to respond on RTV, the segments suggested here were meant to make other alternatives heard, different from the positive ones. Perhaps the failed organization by RTV of this “democracy” is of no interest. Perhaps RTV will take refuge in its own claims; on this RTV supports the other sides [?]. The request of Abit [?], political, also appears in the response of the head of the Governing Council and in the scheduling of the program?

Today is the 11th day of Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike. Berisha is invited to Paris