Today, 20 February 1998, at 12:00, in “Skënderbej” Square, the Union for Democracy will organize a peaceful gathering. The day the symbols of the communist dictatorship fell. Citizens of Tirana! The dictatorship is being reinstated! Everyone to “Skënderbej” Square to defend democracy and oppose this national calamity! UNION FOR DEMOCRACY

Banks are waiting for new money to pay for the wage increases ON PAGE 5

The convicts are demanding extradition from Greece ON PAGE 4

The era of torture in prisons is returning. The torturers brutally beat Gjergj Deda in his cell. He had been arrested on the orders of Ceka and Havari because he had exposed and fought smuggling

Seven years ago, Albanians dragged the toppled bust of the dictator through the streets of Tirana, heralding the imminent end of the most brutal communist regime in Eastern Europe. It is truly painful to see that, seven years later, new symbols of neo-dictatorship are rapidly being erected in Albania, threatening to plunge the country into another abyss like that of fifty years of communism. Albania’s political and economic transition was brutally interrupted by last year’s armed rebellion, which, besides thousands of deaths, fires and destruction, darkened hopes for the country’s recovery. During these seven years, it was the highest leaders of today’s state who, in most cases, had the firebrands in their hands. On the anniversary of the dragging of Hoxha’s bust through the streets by the hundreds of thousands of protesters of that time, political prisons and repression—including the physical elimination of political opponents—are returning to Albania. Beginning as in 1945, when the group of deputies was executed, the heirs of Enver Hoxha, Koçi Xoxe and Josif Pashko are now uncovering the opposition’s “terrorist gangs”. The Parliament, which still reeks of gunpowder from last year, because most deputies in the governing coalition personally fought with weapons in hand to come to power, is calling for the imprisonment of opposition leader Azem Hajdari, who seven years ago led the crowd that toppled the dictatorship. After swallowing himself with five bullets, marking the unique case in the world of a deputy being killed inside parliament by one of his colleagues, the gunmen who won votes with Kalashnikovs are calling for the imprisonment of the opposition and for the destruction of the unwritten December constitution, which was established after the Nano, Gjinushi, Meidani and other governments were brought down. In less than a year of Fatos Nano’s bloody rule, the opposition has also been killed, imprisoned and terrorized in parliament, in the streets and everywhere. The only ones untouched by this barbaric history are those politicians who have either never been in the opposition because of their character, or those appointed to it by the government, most of whom are the dregs or refuse of the Democratic Party. But the most threatening fact is that a kleptocratic state is being institutionalized in Albania, seeking to institutionalize a political police force as the only means of consolidating its power. When opposition deputies and activists are attacked with weapons by those supposed to maintain public order, and then, in a poor imitation of the “escape” scenes from churches in 1945–1950, are accused of being terrorists, this means that ordinary citizens in this country should fear neither the street thugs nor the bandits, but those who attack the state. Just look at the violence now, with hundreds of pieces of evidence in Tirana: Ceka, Gjinushi and others have called people to arms and dressed up monsters and cold-blooded killers in uniform—people accused or suspected of past and widespread crimes. The world has not understood these events, but they have demonstrated their abilities in Tirana, Patos, Tropojë, Laç, Milot, Librazhd, Fier and elsewhere, and not only against ... (Continued on page 2)

Deputy Azem Hajdari responds to the request of the Committee on Mandates and Rules The puppet government of Fatos Nano does not impress me at all, nor does the anemic Prosecutor General, a vassal of this government and not of the law. I am ready to prove under any circumstances the legitimacy of myself, my party, my ideas and the companions who were with me ON PAGE 3

The IFAD-3 project is cancelled There will be no launch of the IFAD-3 project, which, according to discussions with the Meksi government, would have extended investments to the districts of Librazhd, Gramsh, Skrapar, Mallakastër, Tepelenë, Vlorë and Delvinë ON PAGE 5

The “Nano 3” scandal is exposed. Vehbiu: Italian aid intended for Albanian prisons has been stolen Kondi makes documents for 173 packages of aid disappear ON PAGE 2 Kurbini stages a powerful protest against state terror Ceka’s police commissioner urged to resign The police siege of Deputy Azem Hajdari and the transfer of the criminal case to Tirana are condemned, as the justice authorities in Kurbini, where the incident occurred, are being ignored ON PAGE 2

Breaking news According to highly reliable information, the head of SHIK complained to the President of the Republic about the Bezhani Commission, following the latter’s statement about verifying the backgrounds of SHIK officials. “If we have decided to check the security employees who work among the citizens, that does not mean there is no room for us to see and learn what has been done and what little we have done in that body,” the head of SHIK declared. “Then all that remains is for you to dissolve my organ completely,” the head of SHIK concluded. “I have nothing to do with your organ, because I don’t have time to deal with everyone,” the president replied, without specifying which organ he meant. The prime minister is expected to clarify this meeting.

The Interior Minister is openly lying on TV about the Milot incident “We were not present at Ceka’s police ‘operation’” ON PAGE 2

Berisha: “State terror against the opposition will fail” The National Council of the Democratic Party will discuss today recent European developments, state terror against the opposition, and its position on the violation of local government powers. Yesterday, at a press conference, PD chairman Sali Berisha announced a joint meeting of the National Council to draft a central platform against violence and state crime, which now more than ever threatens the complete elimination of the Albanian opposition. ON PAGE 3

The PD chairman received Greek constitutional expert Tsatsos. Berisha: The Constitution should be a process of compromise that brings people together rather than dividing them Yesterday, PD chairman Berisha received the distinguished Greek constitutional expert, Mr Tsatsos, with whom he discussed constitutional problems and difficulties. At the meeting, Mr Tsatsos sought to learn Mr Berisha’s opinion on the constitutional process. The PD chairman, Mr Berisha, after expressing his pleasure at receiving a distinguished Greek constitutional expert such as Professor Tsatsos, emphasized that there are two concepts involved in the constitutional process. “Our concept,” Berisha said, “is that the Constitution should be a process of compromise that brings people together rather than dividing them. The governing coalition, however, has presented the Constitution as a government passport, something it is difficult to find an opposition willing to agree to.” Mr Berisha went on to emphasize that he would contribute to constitutional dialogue, and that both sides should therefore discuss the composition of the commission, the procedures and the deadlines for adopting the Constitution. Constitutional expert Tsatsos asked in detail about possible forms of compromise on the Constitution. He appreciated the views expressed on this matter by the politicians present. He said that the Constitution cannot be a party matter, but must be a compromise and a commitment by the opposition and the entire people. Photograph of Sali Berisha and those present at the conference.