OSCE, consultations on the law “On the organization of the judiciary” ON PAGE 3 OSCE, consultations on the law “On the organization of the judiciary” Minister Kondi walks out of the meeting ON PAGE 3

The assassins of the DP deputy are promoted. After Havari’s appointment, Pjerin Ndreu, former head of the Lezhë police station, is appointed police director in Shkodër, burned by the sigurims Azem Hajdari denounces plots to eliminate the opposition: “My family and I are not leaving here, because we are not afraid of Nano and his gangs” Today marks one year since the murder of Lekë Qoku and Besnik Hidri. Seven others were killed by Albanian communists in February ’91

The DP responds to the statements and threats of the paranoid prime minister The prime minister and his party are the inspiration behind the political attacks carried out against the DP, its members and activists. Nano, said the DP deputy chairman, bears direct responsibility for the February ’91 massacre, 2 April ’91, last year’s March catastrophe, and the attacks on Berisha, Hajdari, and other DP leaders and members ON PAGE 3

Today marks one year since the murder of Lekë Qoku and Besnik Hidri. Seven others were killed by Albanian communists in February ’91 in February ’91 February, a month of blood for Nano Besnik Hidri Lekë Qoku On 28 February, one year ago, two SHIK officers, Besnik Hidri and Lekë Qoku, were killed by communist gangs in the city of Vlorë. Both were seized by Vlorë bandits, massacred and abused in front of the so-called hunger strikers. They were tortured before their eyes until they died, and right in front of them two vampires drank the blood of the SHIK officers. Even the screens of repulsive films had never shown such a macabre scene, and it was with such a macabre scene that the Albanian communists’ revolution began; its product is today’s government officials and Prime Minister Fatos Nano. After this event, the Socialist Party’s all-out armed action against the Albanian state began, with consequences including around 3,000 dead, 6,000 wounded, economic damage worth over one billion dollars, a total collapse of people’s trust, the obstruction of democratic reforms in Albania and, worse still, the political restoration of the old political class, overthrown seven years earlier. The killing of two state employees of integrity, who remained at their posts until their deaths, was also a duty of the state authority that will continue for a long time in this country. This was also the price that an upright Albanian had to pay for the return of communists, bandits and sigurims to the seats of state power. February has entered the history of the country as the month of killings by Fatos Nano’s party and his clan against the first democrats. Seven years ago, too, during the days of February, while Nano was leading the Socialist Party and the government, Artan Lenja, Artur Daka, Spartak Deliu, Pellumb Tahiri, Mikel Laro, Ismail Copani, and Lulezim Barzha were killed. But February ’97 added an even graver episode to this black chronicle: the attack against the state and the killing of its officials. In general, February has been laid at the door of the people who stand today at the head of the government, as the month in which Albanian democrats’ blood is shed by Albanian communists’ bullets. It is Fatos Nano himself who, two nights ago, just as in ’91, once again issued from the prime minister’s chair the order to punish and eliminate the opposition. Those killed in February are the conscience calling for the communists and bandits to be removed from power as soon as possible. The very killers of Lekë Qoku and Besnik Hidri have now been summoned to the police and SHIK and placed in important state positions, while those who gave the orders have become ministers. But these are also the killers of Lenja, Daka, Deliu, Tahiri, Laro, Copani and Barzha in ’91. For the sane people of Albania, 28 February is a call to restore the dignity of the country and the state, to overthrow the communists and bandits from power, and once again to place democratic ideals at the foundation of the democracy society seeks. The gangs that killed in February are today clothed in power. They have trampled over the bodies of young people in Albania. As such, they are knives in the wounded body of the country. These knives will draw blood for as long as Albania bears them in its body. The ideals of those killed in February were entirely different from what exists today. S. NEZA

Purges at the Bank of Albania. Another 30 employees dismissed The dismissed employees have completed more than 40 years of training abroad and have been thrown out onto the street solely for political reasons working in Albania’s banking system. By order of Shkëlqim Cani, more than 30 distinguished specialists of the Central Bank and well-known financial experts in the country’s banking system have also been dismissed. They are known as some of the most qualified employees at the Central Bank, and together they have completed more than 40 years of training at home and abroad. Shkëlqim Cani’s order comes immediately after the Albanian prime minister’s statements against the DP and as part of the political purges carried out during the seven-month rule of the former communists. All the dismissed employees are known for their competence and diligence at work, as well as for being the most talented part of the Central Bank. Political motives alone were the reason these people were put out on the street—people in whom not only the Albanian state but also the international community had invested. For five years, Albania received technical assistance amounting to around 200 million dollars, through which the three infrastructures for economic reforms in the country were prepared. And now Nano’s government has managed to throw out onto the street around 170 million dollars invested in Albania’s infrastructure. The remaining portion could disappear within a month. The communist revanche continues unabated, while their replacements arrive from the provinces with experience from former agricultural cooperatives. LS ON PAGE 5 A purge of Democrats working in Albania’s banking system.

Bullets against the opposition ON PAGE 2

The Social Democrats against Nano: The statements incriminate those who make them ON PAGE 3

Creditors are beaten by police in front of the company’s television station. The government accuses the creditor hunger strikers of being fraudsters ON PAGE 5

Late-breaking news Two or three weeks ago, at a meeting of the government and directors from state television, Nano delivered a programmatic speech in which he backed some of his ministers into a corner. “From today on, for every failure of ours, we will no longer blame Berisha and the opposition, but ourselves,” Nano said publicly, inviting Albanians to share this stance. Yet last night there was another televised meeting broadcast by state television—Pope Nano delivered a programmatic speech: “For all our failures, Berisha and his associates are to blame,” Nano declared solemnly, forgetting what he had said just a few days earlier. For the Albanians who heard him, it was an unprecedented meeting. Not a single word was heard about when things had been good, about comfort, or about one thing or another? This time, let it prove the amnesty [?]

Powerful protest against the Government Today, 28.02.1998, at 12:00, in the annex of the “Selman Stërmasi” stadium The Union for Democracy, the anti-communist association of former political prisoners, the Youth Forums, the Democratic Women’s League, the Independent Miners’ Union are organizing a peaceful protest gathering: All protesters are invited to assemble in front of the Democratic Party headquarters at 11:45, from where the march will set off. Against the terror and political imprisonment being inflicted on the opposition. Against the massacre and extreme poverty being brought about by coalition rule. Against the government’s failure to index the salaries of all public-sector employees and pensioners. Against the censorship and massive deception the government is perpetrating on the Albanian people through the tele-shame. CITIZENS OF TIRANA Everyone, come to my defense of democracy and against the reinstatement of neo-communism. UNION FOR DEMOCRACY