— 17 days without carrying out a single investigative action — It has been 17 days since the Chairman of the Socialist Party and member of the People’s Assembly Fatos Nano was arrested in violation of all the laws. And as if all this were not enough, to please the Rhapsode and the cowardly, corrupt people in power, his unlawful treatment continues, as does the police’s psychological pressure. More specifically: it has been 17 days since Fatos Nano was last questioned by investigator Fatos Dervishi. In violation of the law, he has been deprived of the right to receive the press; his books, letters and everything else of this kind have been confiscated. The isolation room—or, in other words, the prison cell—has its own rules, and no one is opposed to the observance of rules and laws. But in the case of Fatos Nano, who is also a member of the People’s Assembly, no law or regulation is taken into account, just as is the case with other prisoners. Today’s rulers, pitiful, frightened and afraid, were forced to arrest Fatos Nano in the hope that they might feel more at ease. But instead of diminishing, their fear has grown even greater, and their insecurity about tomorrow is driving them to further inhumane actions. But will Fatos Nano’s arrest prevent their downfall? Will the harsh police isolation in cell no. 5, where the Chairman of the Socialist Party is being held, save the PD, stolen by the kalakuajt and kalakujat? And finally, will it greatly prolong the agony of the disfigured ones who keep dragging out, without cause, the investigations related to the unsubstantiated accusation against Fatos Nano? Certainly not. Therefore, Mr. Berisha and you other Berishans! Put aside your grudges and acts of revenge! Stop the violence and unlawful pressure, because you will gain nothing! Your actions not only violate all the laws in force in Albania, but are also in open conflict with all international conventions on the treatment of prisoners. With all this, you once again demonstrate the falsity of the accusation you have concocted; you show that you have no evidence or documents whatsoever; you show that you have entered a dead end from which it is difficult for you to get out. SPARTAK BRAHO Lawyer

MR. MALLTEZI WAS WRONG: “Absolutely no documents were found in the waterlogged crates” (Statement by Mr. Malltezi) — After “successfully” completing the underwater search, he is now continuing the search in the sterile rooms — — GERMO, TELEMALLTEZ, GERMO — — Mr. Malltezi states: “We have materials underfoot… Documentation is not simply dumped underfoot. Not a single document was found in any of the crates recovered from underwater. — But the document that was not found there, underwater, is lying underfoot. Underfoot, we caught a glimpse, as we passed, of a paper that said “Secret.” — Interview with Kujtim Nako, the official responsible for the archives of the former Central Committee of the PPSH, given to editor Hamdi Jupi — . MR. MALLTEZI WAS WRONG: “Absolutely no documents were found in the waterlogged crates” (Statement by Mr. Malltezi) — After “successfully” completing the underwater search, he is now continuing the search in the sterile rooms — — GERMO, TELEMALLTEZ, GERMO — — Mr. Malltezi states: “We have materials underfoot… Documentation is not simply dumped underfoot. Not a single document was found in any of the crates recovered from underwater.” — But the document that was not found there, underwater, is lying underfoot. Underfoot, we caught a glimpse, as we passed, of a paper that said “Secret.” — Interview with Kujtim Nako, the official responsible for the archives of the former Central Committee of the PPSH, given to editor Hamdi Jupi — Under what circumstances were the water-covered crates discovered in the basement of the former Central Committee of the PPSH? Did you know that these crates existed? We, as the archive, knew nothing about their existence. I am using the word “basement” because the director of the archives used it on television. But in fact, these are not basements; they were proper offices intended for occasional use by the PPSH. They are equipped with lighting and all the other necessary facilities, although the lighting does not work today. As far as I know, until recently there was no water in them. I do not know where that water came from and cannot comment on it. Who administered these premises? When the premises were handed over to the Tirana municipality, the municipality sealed off the area, and about five months ago the doors were also sealed by the SHIK. Before the municipality took them over, I do not know who administered them. But I do know that they were never administered by the archive. Indeed, the archive did not even know what function those offices had. How were these premises opened in recent days? They were opened with a key, and there were materials inside. Seven were empty. Water had got into them, but the materials were undamaged because they were blank, unfilled materials belonging to the statutes sector. These materials were uncompleted membership cards for members and candidates of the PPSH, alphabetical cards, and some very small forms containing information such as father’s name, first name, surname, date of admission to the party and other data. The crates were opened at the premises of the General Directorate of the State Archives, in the presence of many people, including me. Since these were things of no value, at least while I was present, no record was drawn up. The Director General of the archives says that materials of archival character are “underfoot,” that is, in corridors and so on. What is your opinion? I want to speak in the language of a document specialist. It is true that there are materials “underfoot.” But it is also true that none of the materials verified so far belongs to the archive of the Central Committee of the PPSH. There are about four or five sealed crates bearing the initials “Finance,” for temporary use; according to former finance employees, they contain the wage books of employees who… worked in the former Central Committee apparatus and who have insistently requested them recently because they are interested in their assistance payments, those who have gone on assistance. They need them to establish what their salary was, their years of service, and so on. The municipality has told them that the crates will be brought out when an inventory of the premises is made. From the cursory examination that has been carried out, as Mr. Maltezi also said on television, there was a packet of personnel documents, among which was a photocopy of a 1976 Political Bureau document giving instructions— (Continued on page 3) to the Municipality of Tirana, the municipality sealed them off, and around five months ago the doors were also sealed by SHK-u. who had been administering them. But I know that they were never administered by the archive. In fact, had served. How were these premises opened in recent days? The Director General of the Archives, Mr. Maltezi, came and asked me whether there were archive documents in the basement. I told him, with full responsibility, that there was nothing in those basements belonging as an institution. I did not rule out the possibility, I told him, that someone else might have hidden documents there, but they were not under my administration—that is, the archive’s. He told me he had heard information that there were documents in the basement and that it was filled with water. He obtained permission from those who have the authority to grant it. That is how the basement was opened, with me present. There were 12 crates in all, of which five were

At a time when a convention banning torture is being signed, when Edi Rapsodi… and the with other prisoners. (Continued on page 3)

Statement by the Chairmanship of the Socialist Party of the Laç district. The Chairmanship of the Socialist Party of the Laç district expresses deep concern about the events of August 13 and 14 in our town. expresses deep concern about the events of August 13 and 14 in our town. As has been reported, on the 13th a citizen wounded Ilir Dosti, a police officer in the public-order force. Such an act, whatever the circumstances in which it occurred, is condemnable, and we firmly dissociate ourselves from it. That same day, in response to this act, citizen David Leka was detained; violence was used against him and, as a result, he tragically died. We consider this act by some members of the law-enforcement forces extremely serious and unprecedented. and several other PS leaders. All the circumstances and facts show that neither the Socialist Party nor these comrades were involved in this event. This is so clear that Deputy Chairman Albert Xhuti was not even in Laç that day, yet he is being treated as the organizer of the rally or illegal protest. We vigorously protest these unprincipled accusations and politicization, which are equally base and ridiculous. We also protest the arrests that have been made, which have not calmed the situation but have instead heightened the tension; they do not serve to restore order and calm, but to destabilize it. On behalf of the socialists and our supporters in the district, we offer our condolences to the victim’s family, as well as our regret over the injury to the police officer. Concerned about the situation that has arisen, the district PS Chairmanship calls on all realistic political and social forces to remain calm and not fall prey to political manipulation and speculation; it calls on the relevant authorities to act with prudence, realism and honesty in resolving the situation. The Chairmanship of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of the Laç district. LAÇ, 15.8.1993. On the 13th, a citizen wounded Lir Posti, a public-order police officer. members of the law-enforcement forces extremely serious and unprecedented. After this event, like all the residents of Laç, we too witnessed that on the 14th, the following day, crowds gathered, angered by the ugly act of the law-enforcement forces. Intervention to disperse these gatherings was justified. What is strange, however, is that the official statement of the Ministry of Public Order speaks of manipulative gatherings organized by certain political forces, thereby implying the Socialist Party of this district. Acting in accordance with this version, they detained the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the district PS, Shpëtim Cami, and the deputy chairman, Albert Xhuti,

— Yesterday in the Tirana court: former Prime Minister Vilson Ahmeti, former Commercial Bank director Agron Saliu and former deputy chairman Agim Tartari charged with abuse of office in complicity, as provided for by Articles 106 and 13 of the Criminal Code, resulting in 79,275,000 lekë in losses to the Albanian state. — While in Italy MP Alessi directly accuses Ilir Hoti, Genc Ruli and Sali Berisha of embezzling 400,000 dollars, the Albanian prosecution’s indictment mentions Ilir Hoti’s name only once, and then only briefly. — Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari refuse to give explanations before the court. “Since the law considers us innocent until the court announces its verdict, it is for the prosecution to present evidence substantiating its accusation against us; we will give explanations after the witnesses have been questioned.” — Ilir Hoti does not appear as a witness. By court order, Messrs. Xhyheri, Fullani and Luniku will appear before it on Wednesday. Vilson Ahmeti raises doubts that the submitted payment order is a forgery; it is a photocopy of the original, which the court does not possess — Yesterday, at around 9:30, the trial of Vilson Ahmeti, Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari began at the Tirana court. They are charged under Articles 106 and 13 of the Penal Code with abuse of office in cooperation, as a result of which the state suffered damage amounting to 79 million 275 thousand lekë. The defendant appeared before the panel of judges, comprising presiding judge Spahiu and members Uk Cana and Aktea Gjyzari, as well as prosecutor Ilir Marku, and was represented by attorneys Përparim Sanxhaku and Pajtim Hoxha. At the very first question, attorney Pajtim Hoxha requested that the two Vilson Ahmetis be separated from the trial, on the grounds that both defendants would thereby be granted relief ... Also, under Article 17 of the procedural rules applicable at the time, information was provided concerning the appointment of other negotiators for the money for Arsid. As a preliminary point, he said, this procedure was simpler than the one carried out by Vilson Ahmeti. The prosecutor accepted the other requests and rejected the request to sever the case. Attorney Sanxhaku supported his colleague Hoxha’s request to separate the case. Judge Kreshnik Spahiu rejected the attorneys’ request to separate the case of Vilson Ahmeti from that of the other defendants. She also set the order of the judicial investigation, stating that it would begin with the defendants’ explanations and then proceed to questioning the witnesses. Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari objected to this decision and refused to give explanations, upholding what attorney Sanxhaku had said: “We consider ourselves innocent.” Throughout these ...[?] Attorney ...[?] ... requested ...[?] ... prosecutor Ilir Marku, who presented the prosecution’s indictment. It states that the defendants, acting in cooperation with one another, committed the criminal offense of abuse of office, thereby causing damage amounting to 79,275,000 lekë. The indictment then describes the chronology of the actions of Nikolla Arsid and the defendants. It states that during 1991, the defendants Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari [lartësuan] from Par'a with Nikolla Arsid, who had expressed a wish to bring foreign investors to Albania. After discussions, they appointed him as a condition of their bank. Arsid then requested that the negotiat... be done ...[?] ... for 1 million 600 thousand dollars, signed by Ilir Hoti. Payments were made, the first of 640 thousand dollars by the Commercial Bank, which instructed the «Xhiro Centrale» bank in Vienna to credit this amount to Mr. Arsid’s account, transferring it to Luxembourg. On 24 April 1992, the «Xhiro Centrale» bank in Vienna was again instructed to make another payment of 945 thousand dollars, which, together with the first amount, brought the total deposited into Arsid’s account to 1,585,500 dollars. On 27 April, the bill of exchange for 800,000 dollars given to Arsid by the Bank of the Albanian State was discounted. In July 1992, Agron Saliu and later Agim Tartari left their posts as director and deputy director, and he kept the documentation himself. On 20 September 1992, the date corresponding to the bill of exchange’s maturity, they handed over these documents. (Continued on page 3)

— Yesterday in the Tirana court: and çeizin Alizoti for the criminal contravention At 9:00 yesterday, the defendants Bashkim Rama, Përparim Seitari and Gëzim Alizoti appeared before the judicial panel presided over by Gëzim Zenell. They were accused of the criminal contravention of assembling at an illegal rally. After the judicial examination, hearing the witnesses and receiving the defendants’ explanations, the court ruled: Gëzim Alizoti ...[?] Bashkim Rama and Përparim Seittari were fined 1,000 lekë. Përparim Seittari was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of 500 lekë. The case against Fatmir Kumbaro, Bilal Semanaj and Ilir Ismailati continues in the Tirana court. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”