Aleksandër Frangaj facing Saliu Zhuli Soon another comedy begins, one of the many comedies we are experiencing in this period of transition. The editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper «Koha Jonë» is being dragged before the dock of the accused on the charge of publishing allegedly false information that incites panic, for the notice that tanks were moving toward the North. The charge was made by the Ministry of Defence. According to the article to which the charge refers, the editor-in-chief of «Koha Jonë» may be sentenced to five years' imprisonment. But the penalty goes to the extreme: the death penalty. The article in question is from the criminal code of the communist era. It should be noted that although the communist state had included such an article in its law, no one has been sentenced to date on its basis. Yet. What the communist state did not do with its own law, the democratic state now seeks to accomplish. It is clear that the retrial[?] against the editor-in-chief of «Koha Jonë» is a badly staged absurd farce. It is part of the ongoing efforts of today's party state to silence the free press. With its opposition stance toward the arbitrary actions of power, the newspaper «Koha Jonë» has caused it no small amount of trouble. And for that the state cannot forgive it. The blindness of this state goes so far that it believes that by punishing the editor-in-chief of one newspaper, it will frighten the entire Albanian free press. Will the Albanian state be able to condemn all journalists and shut down all opposition newspapers? Any such attempt would lead us to dictatorship, and dictatorship has outlived its time in Albania. Through acts like the trial against Aleksandër Frangaj, the present authorities do nothing but reveal their true anti-democratic face. The collective of journalists of «Zëri i popullit» condemns this sorrowful farce by the state against the Albanian free press and its proven head, Aleksandër Frangaj. This trial is revealing panic.

Once again Albania is being “governed” by Blerim Çela and the foreign delegations These days too, our highest officials, out of concern to put in order the world that had been separated from Albania, have spread out to nearly all the continents. As is known, the first among the leaders is the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. As soon as he arrived in Turkey he learned the terrible news for the people of that country. Nevertheless, at the airport he declared (as written at the top of yesterday’s page in «RD»): «We had set off for a joyful visit to Turkey, but now the purpose of our visit has changed. I was obliged to convey to the President of the Republic, Mr. Salih Berisha, on behalf of the Albanian people, the condolences appropriate to the occasion.» However, on the same day when RD was at the «Demokracia» printing house, President Mr. Sali Berisha[?] ... – SALI BERISHA, PJETËR ARBNORI and ALEKSANDER MEKSI are all abroad at the same time (thank goodness PJETRI has returned) – ... he sets off for Istanbul. Apparently the President's office no longer respects the PD newspaper. We recommend to the colleagues of that newspaper that they keep in touch through the displaced branches of the State Bank, where the presidential staff changes dollars (an action carried out with pride yesterday around 11 o'clock). Or at least ask their colleagues at television, who are more favored by the office. As readers are informed, for days now Prime Minister Meksi has also been away to take part in the inauguration of a museum in America. He too declared the purpose of the visit in a television magazine, but in that evening’s news the studio could not prepare the report, although it had in fact been ready, because the news did not have what it needed. It may happen that during this week the head of state will leave the post empty and at least three or more ministers will depart all at once; one of them, if the foreigners know that he has intervened in an important place, may be replaced[?]. We do not know who the substitute of the substitute[?] of the substitute is; judging from the substitutes and offices that operate[?] at night with faxes[?], it is quite difficult to assign responsibility. Who carries out the task of cooperation with the NATO government[?] ... BRAHÖ DRAVA[?]

The editorial board of the newspaper «KOHA JONË» announces that the trial against Aleksandër Frangaj will not take place tomorrow, that is, on 23 April 1993 at 10:00, but has been postponed to another date that has not yet been set. This was also confirmed to us by the judge in the case, Mr. Arben Ristani, who clarified that the criminal file concerning the accused Aleksandër Frangaj has still not arrived from the court of Lezhë. The editorial board of this newspaper published the date 23 April, 10:00, because the court of Lezhë itself issued the said notice. With the transfer of the file from Lezhë to Tirana by order of Minister Ruçi Çela[?], protocol number 4453-1 cë- si[?] appointed Judge Arben Ristani.

Yesterday morning Parliament discussed and in principle approved an amendment to the land law. According to the land law, time is being applied to members of agricultural cooperatives on the basis of the headcount, regardless of the amount of agricultural land they had before the agrarian reform. The new amendment changes the physical division that has so far been made of land in the countryside on the basis of the law. At the same time, it recognizes the right of former owners to be compensated by the state in value and not in land up to 15 hectares. As soon as the discussion in principle of this draft law began, it became clear that it would be approved without any difficulty. This confidence was created by the statements made on behalf of the parliamentary groups of the PD, the PS and the PSD themselves, all of whom, with regard to the essence of the problem (compensation in value), had no essential difference. Immediately after this discussion, Mehmet Çeliku, the only deputy of the Republican Party, took the floor and expressed his party’s position, which was against the land law. He demanded that the land be returned to its former owners and said that this draft law is in contradiction with the law approved 5 days earlier on the return of property to former owners in the city. Continuing, Mr. Çeliku expressed the view that the return of property should not be immediate but over time, e.g. after 20-30 years, since the new type is a copy of the Hungarian model, also from the newspaper «Zëri», and therefore may need to be accepted. The PD deputy Mr. Elezi said that a struggle would be waged for the defense of property. Deputy Vasjar[?], opposing Mr. Elezi, said that physical compensation is carried out for agricultural land, for agricultural land to land wherever there is the possibility. After Mr. Elezi, who said he was fighting for the defense[?] of everything presented, the next speaker was Deputy Lati. He stated that he was against the land law, which he called communist both in conception and in aims. Approval of the amendment. (Continues on page 3) Read on page 3 The position of the Socialist Group on the additional amendments to the Land Law

Printing of the newspaper «Lajmëtari» is blocked In the wake of the efforts of today's authorities to block the free press, the printing house «Migjeni» in Shkodër decided to block the publication of the independent newspaper «Lajmëtari». When asked by the newspaper's editors about the reasons for its non-publication, the director of the printing house, Mr. Kola[?], replied only this much: «I am not authorized to answer you. I have my superiors.» For this arbitrary and anti-democratic act, the newspaper's editors informed the secretary of the Shkodër district council yesterday. They have also decided that, if this problem is not resolved within a short time, they will appeal for help to all relevant organizations at home and abroad. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Minister Kalakula prefers not to speak as a minister because, after taking the armchair, he no longer has the courage to speak as an owner. The people say, «Strong rakia can make even the drunkard cough,» whereas today Kalakula follows the principle, «A soft armchair, a gentle minister." At the interpellation session of former minister Uka, the Socialist Group held him responsible for inaccurate figures concerning the distribution of land and for «blunders» in the implementation of the law. At that time the PD group defended Mr. Uka and his actions. But after Mr. Uka fell from the armchair, the old tune began again. He is called unjust by his communist democratic colleagues, incapable[?], determined to enforce the communist land law. What is the truth of his position? Did the PD deputies split with the portfolio that was given to Mr. Uka?

On 20 April 1993 in Tirana, officials of the Ministry of Defence were handed a bus, an ambulance and four trucks donated by the Government of the Republic of Turkey. To the Ministry of Defence of Albania. Together with the materials intended as humanitarian aid that were inside them, their value is 472,800 dollars. The sending of such humanitarian aid will continue in the future as well.

Tonight at 19:00, the Opera and Ballet Theatre opens Verdi's opera «Traviata». In the leading roles perform E. Mihalla, K. Tusha, A. Duro. This performance will be conducted by the Japanese conductor Koichi Inone[?], who comes to our country after a successful tour across Europe. Opera and Ballet Theatre

The book «Pelegrini i vonuar» by Dr[?] Agolli is still on sale at many bookshops in Tirana and other districts. Many of the sellers deserve recognition for the good work they do in this regard. They have promoted the book and know what to say to the many readers who ask for it. However, it has been noted that some sellers, contrary to the agreement they have made with our Publishing Center, have raised the price. We draw attention to the need to be more correct and more humane. The selling price of this book is 60 lek.

We are seeking for immediate purchase or rent a warehouse (depot) or plot of land measuring 500-2000 m2 as close as possible to the center of Tirana. It must be private property, equipped with the relevant legal ownership documentation from the land registry. Interested parties should contact ALBATEX S. A. at the following address: Rruga «Asim Vokshi», No. 123 and telephone number 237-69. ALBATEX S. A.

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE ANNOUNCES All the citizens who are interested in renting out single rooms, flats or villas on a long-term or short-term contract basis to foreigners coming to Albania are kindly requested to contact this office and provide all the necessary details at the following address: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE Konferenca e Pezës St. Tirana TEL: (0035542) 33214; 27791 FAX: (0035542) 32027; 32035 TLX: 2231

On 18 April the company «PANTEON AS» began operating with its ship «La Vikinga» in the Adriatic and Ionian seas on the Durrës-Bari-Durrës and Durrës-Vlorë and Otranto-Vlorë-Durrës routes, according to the timetable below. Day MONDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SUNDAY Departure Port DURRËS BARI DURRËS BARI DURRËS VLORË OTRANTO VLORË DURRËS BARI DURRËS BARI Destination BARI DURRËS BARI DURRËS VLORË OTRANTO VLORË DURRËS BARI DURRËS BARI Departure Time 8.00 16.30 8.00 16.30 8.00 10.15 13.00 16.15 8.00 16.30 8.30 16.30 Arrival 11.30 20.00 11.30 20.00 9.45 12.00 14.45 18.00 11.30 20.00 12.00 20.00 Speed, comfort, service and Albanian seriousness are among the distinctive reasons, especially for our country, that ensure you a journey on the fast ship «LA VIKINGA». LEON AS VIK FAST FERRY Ove Kurt Kleppa

AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE ANNOUNCES All citizens interested in renting out rooms, apartments or villas under long-term or short-term contracts are invited to contact this office and provide the necessary details at the following address: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL SERVICES Konferenca e Pezës St. No. 11 TIRANA Tel: (0035542) 33214; 27791 FAX: (0035542) 32027; 32035 TLX: 2231 The American Express representative will be at your disposal every day from 08:00 until Saturday from 08:00 to 14:00