On the trail of the ARCHIVE scandal - Luan Malltezi calls from Koblenz, Germany. - Butka of the DP wants to verify the accuracy of what was stated by ATSH. - The director of the Archive fills a sack with materials and leaves the country. Could the director of the Bank fill a sack with gold? A swift police operation. Azem Hajdari and police director Agim Shehu. At Rinas, 2,500 pages of archival material are impounded. Luan Malltezi and Nevil[a?] Nika, like a beaver cutting off its tail to save its head, leave the country, abandoning their bags of documents. The issue is raised in parliament. The propaganda media at home and abroad took it up. The state prosecution and investigative authorities remain silent! So far, everything remains obscure. To shed at least some light on the issue, we went to Mr. Vehbi Agolli, director of the Control and Management Directorate at the Central Archive, who was quoted by ATSH. Mr. Agolli told us that he knew nothing at all about the documents that were to be taken out of the archive, or what had happened to them at Rinas involving Luan Malltezi and Nevila Nika. He said he had heard about it when the journalists came to ask him questions. Agolli also told us that two days earlier he had spoken by telephone with the Director of the Archives, Luan Malltezi, who is in Koblenz, Germany, and had asked him what was going on. Malltezi had told him that he had taken some photocopied materials with him to deliver to France, but they had been stopped at Rinas. When Agolli asked how he had taken these materials out of the Archive, with or without a document[?], or had he been working under pressure?! Strange—but while we were discussing this matter with Agolli, DP deputy Uran Butka approached. He signaled to Agolli to come a little closer and, two meters away, asked him: “Is what you told ATSH accurate?” Could it be that Butka, too, sees a contradiction in these statements and counterstatements? In our conversation, Agolli stated that, under the regulations, specific documentation had to be kept when materials were taken out of the archive. In fact, none of the materials taken out of the archive had been registered. Moreover, according to him, there had been no request from any archive in France for any particular material to be sent to it. In other words, materials are taken out without being registered and without a destination. They could have gone to France, or to Italy, South Africa, or anywhere Luan Malltezi and Nevila Nika wanted. Some Archive employees later told Agolli that the documents had been collected and photocopied in great haste because Nevila and Luan were in a hurry and did not want to lose even a single day of the time they had to spend in France. Those who photocopied the documents, he told us, as I later learned, do not know what the materials contained, because they did only the mechanical work. At the meeting to establish the Association of Historians of Albania, as we learned in a conversation with a historian, Luan Maltezi stood up and forcefully demanded that historians support the president and the government. And this is how Luani supports the president and the government. Together with Nevila Nika, he has scandalously violated state law by taking materials of who-knows-what kind out of the archive, to send them wherever only they know. Maltezi, who is in Koblenec, Germany, and had asked him what was going on. Maltezi with him to take Agolli asked him how he had taken these materials out of the Archives, with or without a document, Maltezi had told him that «he would deal with this problem himself». So Agolli found out that Maltezi and Nika had taken photocopied documents to France from a telephone call with Luan Maltezi[t]. But here is where the strange thing happens. This Agolli, who «knew nothing», told ATSH that they were photocopied materials and that they were to be sent to France?! Did Agolli make this statement, or did ATSH? Could it be that Agolli had known about the matter beforehand?

- The reinforced-concrete products enterprise for the mines in Tirana is sold through the mediation of the Chairman of the State Control Service, Blerim Çela. - - Direct ties with the “Prespa” company. - - Government positions terrify the foreign company “Nur”. - - 7 million lekë end up in the pockets of those in power. - - The National Privatization Agency, headed by Mr. Përparim Dervishi, meticulously carries out orders from above. - - Dragush Prespa threatens the workers: “If you don’t come to work on Monday, I’ll lock up the enterprise and throw you out onto the street.” - The facts are very stubborn. They put yet another chief inspector into the “bag” of the corrupt—Mr. Blerim Çela. One such case is the one we will present below, concerning the privatization of the reinforced-concrete products enterprise for the mines in Tirana. Here is the story: With the good intention of putting production and the resolution of the workers’ problems on the right track, the managers, together with the independent trade union, decided to contact powerful foreign companies with the idea of joint ownership. As it happened, toward the end of the year— As a result, It so happened that toward the end of the year— (Continued on page 3)

A series of articles from the seminar “On Parliamentary Procedures” A series of articles from the seminar “On Parliamentary Procedures” Parliamentary transparency, a distinguishing feature of democracy In the democratic world: — Everything said in parliament becomes known to public opinion — — MPs and the opposition have the opportunity to communicate with the people through radio and television whenever they consider it appropriate — Citizens are given every opportunity to make a realistic assessment of parliament’s work — In Albania: — Parliamentary activity is kept secret from public opinion “for its own good,” the DP MPs emphasize. — “You must learn from the experience of democratic countries; otherwise, you will have to pay the price for your mistakes,” declares Mr. Worms, co-chairman of the Steering Committee of the East-West Parliamentary Practice Project. As has been reported, the seminar “On Parliamentary Procedures” was held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana from 5 to 7 July. The event was funded by the EBRD and organized by the Steering Committee of the East-West Parliamentary Practice Project. The aim of the seminar was for members of the Albanian parliament, through an exchange of experience with specialists and MPs from the USA, Germany, France, the Netherlands, England, Finland, Russia and Hungary, to acquire elements of democratic parliamentary culture. One of the issues discussed with concern was the relationship between parliament and the mass media. At first, the two MPs appointed by Mr. Arbnori, Messrs. Butka (Continued on page 3)

After a year since a crime A few days ago in Krujë, the painful first anniversary of two lives cut short at the start of their blossoming was commemorated with profound grief. A 16-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy soaked the streets of their town with their innocent blood. The criminals’ bullets pierced the young girl’s heart as she had set out to buy bread, while she was still protecting her little brother under a hail of bullets; they pierced the heart of the boy, who had been taken by surprise and left his games with his friends unfinished. They still remember him with grief today. Two families opened their doors to receive relatives, so they could ease the burden of an uncomforted grief. The loss of innocent children, the loss of a friend and companion at the age of blossoming, the loss of a nephew and niece, relatives’ loss of two young people full of dreams for tomorrow—dreams that forever remained dreams cut short—is made even heavier by injustice. The two lives were covered with earth, two knives were plunged into two families, while the criminals are still free. When two innocent lives fell victim to crime, it was election campaign season. That is why the respected President Berisha hurried to those families. He made promises, and the bereaved parents were consoled. With the great faith of ordinary people, they said: “He eased our pain. The state will avenge the innocent.” But the election campaign ended. The strengthened state became a caricature and lined its own pockets. The justice system released those who had been detained. No one remembered again the young girl and boy whom crime had made its victims. Today, a year later, their voices can be heard in those two families: Why didn’t you keep your word, Mr. President? How long will you leave the criminals free to cut people’s lives short? Two innocent lives, cut short by criminal hands, demand justice.

Observation Mr. Selami strikes poses as a government official This is not the first time Mr. Eduard Selami has astonished us with his statements, which have also caused confusion in public opinion and even outrage at the irresponsibility with which he has spoken. With his party currently in crisis, he is trying to be as active as possible, both at home and abroad. A few days ago he made a lightning visit to Italy; he went there, he said, in his capacity as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the People’s Assembly, at the invitation of his counterpart. We heard the first surprise from Mr. Selami’s mouth on television as soon as he landed at Rinas, where he pointed out that he had given the “Italian Democratic Party guidance on how to emerge from the crisis.” Of course, he did not use the word “guidance,” but the tone of the interview and the way he spoke left that impression. In an interview published on the front page of the latest issue of RD, however, he says verbatim, in connection with his recent visit to Italy: “This was a friendly visit at party, parliamentary and governmental level.” We know that Mr. Selami is chairman of the DP, just as we know he is chairman of the Assembly committee, but we do not know of his holding any government office. So on what grounds does he assign himself such a role? There is now no doubt that Albanian diplomacy is in a profound crisis. But it is hard to believe that its revival can be expected to come from Mr. Selami’s lightning visits, even to friendly countries such as Italy. Could this latest statement of his be connected to the rumors circulating in Tirana that he is preparing to take a ministerial post? We do not think so. Rather than an ambition on Selami’s part, we would prefer to call it one of his blunders. We need only recall that he has gone through the school of political reality, where a party official speaks as if he possessed powers that do not belong to him.

Veterans, pensioners, families of martyrs, citizens from Pogradec, and residents of the Hudënisht commune commemorated with deep respect the 50th anniversary of the glorious epic of the Battle of Pojskë. The festive gathering was attended by Member of Parliament Jemin Gjana; district council chairman Zyko Zeqallari; Pogradec mayor Zhan Treska; veterans’ committee chairman Llazi Shkurti, as well as leaders of the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the Legality Movement. The meeting in the field of Pojskë was opened with a brief speech by the chairman of the Hudënisht commune, Arefi Hallili, who highlighted the heroism of the partisans of the Mokra, Dumarës and Bërzeshtë battalions against the Italian-Fascist occupiers and their collaborators. In this bloody battle, the commander of the Mokra Battalion, People's Hero Reshit Çollaku, and nine brave partisans fell on the field of honor. Veteran Aleks Gush[o] shared his recollections of this epic of the National Liberation War. Veteran Vangjel Gobani also recited a ballad by the renowned Pogradec poet Lasgush Poradeci. As a sign of honor and respect for the ten martyrs, fresh-flower wreaths were laid beside the memorial by the district council, the municipality, the veterans’ committee, and the political parties.

Peaceful PUK rally in Tirana Yesterday morning at 10:00, around 5,000 people, members and supporters of the PUK, took part in a peaceful protest rally organized by this party’s Tirana branch in the square near the «Dinamo» station in the capital. The protesters held banners reading «Freedom-Democracy», «Release Idajet Beqiri», «All assistants», «Government resignation, etc.». The peaceful rally was opened by one of the PUK activists in Tirana, who said in his speech, among other things, that for more than a year Idajet Beqiri had been being punished without having been convicted, in protest against the unjust sentence imposed on the PUK chairman, Idajet Beqiri. The PUK chairman, Vjon Andrea, representatives of this party from the districts, and others then took the floor. In their speeches they criticized the government, the president, and the judicial authorities, and criticized the inability of today’s officeholders to get the country out of its current situation. They stressed their conviction that freedom of speech and the expression of dissenting opinions are being threatened by repression in Albania. A message from PUK chairman Idajet Beqiri, addressed to the rally, was also read aloud. Mr Beqiri himself was not present at the rally, as he is under house arrest. On behalf of the Socialist Party of the Tirana district, the rally was greeted by the chairman of the Steering Committee of the PS in this district, Member of Parliament Mehmet Loci. Among other things, in his speech he called on the judicial authorities and the President of the Republic to judge wisely and prudently, and to acquit Mr Idajet Beqiri. The rally was enthusiastic, and throughout it chants could be heard: «Down with dictatorship», «Enough of the innocent», «Freedom, democracy», etc. The rally participants behaved properly. However, during the rally, the nervousness of the law-enforcement officers present was conspicuous. Their nervousness showed in their eagerness to confront people without cause. The police detained three rally participants, apparently because they were chanting slogans that had not been approved in advance by the police authorities. The detainees were released a short time later. When the rally ended, people dispersed peacefully.

I read in «RD» dated July 15, 1993, the article «Interpol on the trail of Bardhyn Fasko». This is a copy of a threadbare story made up months ago and published in this same newspaper, and also broadcast by RTV. At the time, I heard the authors’ reports with amazement in Italy; now I am hearing them while in Albania. I was astonished that Interpol was looking for me and could not find me, and had apparently turned to the newspaper «RD» for help. I went to the newspaper’s editorial office, and for two days in a row I could not find the author of the article. Raki Shehu, Meanwhile, I also went to the Ministry of Public Order so that, as part of its cooperation with Interpol, they could notify them in order to catch me. But no one there was waiting to see me... At last I met Mr Sulçe, who excused himself by saying that the information had been provided by the Minister of Public Order himself, Mr Musaraj... I was not surprised that in our police state even a newspaper serves as a means of intimidation and pursuit. I am an ordinary citizen, and I do not like it when a state minister makes excuses on behalf of Sula, Sidokofët; I am making this announcement to tell my well-wishers that I am here, doing honest and decent work, while Minister Musaraj should take responsibility for his own actions—Sula or me. Respectfully, BARDHYL FASKO

Mr. Selami strikes poses ...

So far, 145 new admissions to the Socialist Party have been made in the Pogradec district. The best work in this regard has been done by PS organizations in the neighborhoods of the city of Pogradec, where 19 new members have been admitted; Bucimas, 18; Verdovë, 15; Selishtë, 11; Rodokal Poshtë, 8; and in Zalltorë, Slatinë, Gurash, etc. Most of those admitted are 18–25 years old. During the new election campaign, four new party organizations were also established, in Buçimas, Golik, Vërdovë, and Neighborhood 2 of the city.