The tragic event in Shkodër is at the center of public attention

To head the Greek delegation at the fourth meeting of the Albanian-Greek ministerial committee, which will be held from 18–20 January, the Deputy Minister of the National Economy of Greece, Yianos Papantoniou, arrived in Tirana. Below we publish a brief biography of him: Mr. Yianos Papantoniou was born in 1949. He studied economics at the University of Athens and the University of Wisconsin in the USA, and history at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He defended his doctorate in economics at Cambridge University in England. In 1977–1978 he worked as a special economic expert in a department of economics at the University of Athens. At the same time he was working in the endekonomin [?] (To be continued on page 4)

Why is PRESIDENT BERISHA silent? A man was killed in Shkodër. That is all in one week. The press has spoken and is speaking a great deal about this event. There have been comments, guesses, threats, accusations. Among those mentioned and held responsible is also the name of the number one person in our state, President Sali Berisha. Specifically, MP Arben Imami has stated: “Berisha also bears special responsibility in the earlier case in Shkodër when he declared that ‘they want the Socialists in Shkodër, they want the Alliance in Shkodër to fall’; one can say whatever one wants, as if Shkodër belongs only to the PD, only to Sali Berisha.” We expected President Berisha to make an immediate statement. We expected it because our officials and those on our side, because of their many shortcomings, never miss a chance to speak or appear before the media, even when the occasion is a tractor appearing before Mr. Arbnori. We expected a statement from Mr. Berisha because he is the president of this country and it seems that Berisha wants to save what matters least in life, as a type of shield, even television before New Year. We expected a statement without excess words, also because all those accused by Mr. Imami rush to make declarations that deny Imami’s accusations. We expected a statement from Mr. Berisha also because he has declared that he has the situation completely under control. A week is passing and the president remains silent. It is his legal and moral duty, in such a case, to say his word and act as befits a president. This despite the fact that our president has been presented as someone who says what he thinks. It is strange how he can remain silent about an event that has been called another 2 April, about an incident in the city by some members of the political forces and others, which resulted in a murder. We are speaking about the unity of the people. Is there a greater obligation than the effort to strengthen the unity of the people, from a president? That our honorable president seems to have drunk alfalfa juice cannot even be discussed. In this case we will express only one wish: God forbid he speaks as he did about the Shkodër event of 18 June last year. Here is what the Amnesty International report, based in London, says about the 18 June event in Shkodër: “At the same time, the political leader of this country has generally done little to develop a culture of tolerance. For example, in June 1993, when the Socialist Party had received authorization to hold a meeting in the city of Shkodër, its opponents violently prevented the meeting from taking place. Rilindja Demokratike, the newspaper of the ruling party, reporting this incident, wrote that Fatos Nano was taken...! The Socialist Party was ‘greeted’ accordingly and the vote was overshadowed... This newspaper concluded that ‘Shkodër once again showed itself to be a model of democracy.’ As for the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, commenting on the incident at a press conference, he appeared as a defender of this way of expressing political opposition. The President’s statement is awaited with great interest, BEQIR SKRELI

IF IT IS NOT A POLITICAL MURDER, THEN WHAT KIND OF MURDER IS IT? – We ask the television to at least leave him alone. – – But the killing only benefited those who planned it. – Yesterday we were in Shkodër, at the home of Qeki Velezëri; relatives, friends and companions find there, deeply grieved over the murder of Gjovalin, expressed their indignation and rejected the two statements from the Ministry of Public Order and the investigative group regarding this event, which has shaken television. Gjovalin’s brother, Pal Çekini, says: “It is not true that there were public insults or curses outside when the meeting ended by supporters of the Democratic Alliance, as stated by the Ministry of Public Order. The fact is that the insults and abuse directed at the participants who had taken part in this meeting and were coming out of the cinema were made by those who later carried out the murder of Gjovalin. They said so in the presence of the police; one of them there even wanted to publicly display a weapon. While the police did not react to them, they acted against us, although we had not even a single weapon. This one left, waving his hand toward Radio Shkodra, while the police continued dealing with us. Also, when I learned that my brother had been killed, I hurried to catch the police minibus that had taken him to the hospital. And after extraordinary insistence on my part, I managed to accompany him to the hospital, because the police did not want to let me. It is also not true that the relatives’ home was not allowed to undergo expert examination. On the evening of that fateful night, the team of experts arrived accompanied by Viktor Kacensi, who entered the room and carried out all the necessary formalities with the body. This lasted half an hour. From the outset, we said the brother could undergo an autopsy. Edmond Cekni, Gjovalin’s nephew, says: “No one among us was killed. The authors of this event took revenge on us, they waited outside and began to shower with filthy words everyone who had taken part in the Democratic Alliance meeting. These insults were repeated several times, mainly by the same person. There were four of them, all armed with pistols. They were heading toward Gjovalin in an open square, not as stated in the reports given on television. Gjovalin set off toward them with the sole aim of preventing them from shooting at the crowd. They had pistols of the everyday-produced ‘TT’ type, and not pistols as such. The killers themselves fired with ‘TT’s. I was there myself with the police – I said, the killer, as they call Gjovalin, while the police were protecting against him, the killer walked away freely with the weapon in hand toward the sun. The police behaved very one-sidedly; it did not act against those who were armed, but against us, who had taken part in the meeting of the defeated Party. It is good that television, since it does not have the courage to come and interview us here, at least leaves us in peace.” So speak the relatives, and others say the same. We spoke about this event, saying that this murder was definitely organized, since in Shkodër everyone knows that there are various groups and clans operating, for which people with power have also been accused, but they are afraid to make denunciations, because this mafia terror awaits them, as our comrade experienced. It is strange that it has still not appeared in the press or in the news (To be continued on page 4).

RTVSH imposes an embargo on the Socialist Party – Those who organized 2 April, those who organized 18 June also did it on 14 January, once again repeating the road of Shkodër and miracles – it was said in the statement of the Presidium of the Socialist Party, – published in the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” on 18 January 1994. This statement was also sent to other institutions for public disclosure. However, despite the fact that it was also sent to RTV and the Albanian Telegraphic Agency from that moment until noon on 18 January, that statement was not published anywhere. With the lawful relevant declaration, we addressed Mr. Sakajava to tell us the reasons for the non-publication. On the phone he replied that we do not publish statements of political parties. The same answer was given to us by Mr. Artur Papleku, the director of the Saturday broadcast; thus it has been decided by the board of directors. As for ATSH, the institution’s reply came: Mr. Ilir Zhilla informed us that the news is being processed and will appear in the next bulletins. The non-publication of the statement of the PS presidium by the mass media organs is not accidental, because it is a continuation of the political censorship these institutions carry out against the Albanian opposition and especially the Socialist Party. In this statement, the Socialist Party demands that such acts of violence be brought to an end, characterizing them as a political crime with grave consequences. Even though the heads of these organs gave us such an answer, it is not given that it should be believed. Precisely in their editions, at every opportunity, statements by the ruling party are published. We would do better to remind these gentlemen that they are mistaken if they think that the real private publication of Mr. Selami in the USA is more important than the event of 14 January. The publication of RTV should always be a political force, and the Socialist Party does not see the truth. They only show their position as tools in the hands of power. Especially the moments of 14 January and the response to the roads of Shkodër is an appeal. A. M.

Interview with the prisoner, MP and Chairman of the PS, FATOS NANO Interview with the prisoner, MP and Chairman of the PS, FATOS NANO “KJ”: It has been more than two months since we last spoke. What can you tell us to begin the conversation? F. Nano: First of all, let me wish you and your readers directly: “A happy new year.” Secondly, I thank you for the spontaneous, and therefore natural, appreciation expressed for your time commitment – 2 months. Well, in fact I have 4 months, from 16 June until now, because it has been wrongly put, not only for me, especially not, but it shows that our first conversation (8–9 September 1993) apparently became this set of bad luck, while my continuation here precisely when I learned, I was thinking about the irony of that “raised hands,” but it seems he was right about many things; above all I want to affirm to you once again that my character was not broken in this trial, I have it in my soul, I was encouraged to behave with me, as with many of you, just like the Committee of Malësia. I have known many “fobëza” around these hills [?] dressing feet to head, while the mind and spiritual behavior. But in all I have been offered many friends. These last 14 I close without forgetting the people, with the soul, with logic and with myself wherever I am. “KJ”: It is said that in the first days of January Fr. tos Nano will go to trial. What does this fact bring to you – joy or sadness? F. Nano: The case of Nano- is expected. Only the real first, truly, because those who are paid to make, hold, tur mu, do not dare, they are in fact afraid, they do not come to face the “criminal,” the thief of millions, the political crime coupist, and other fairy tales that are used as they let out, like a man walking alone in the forest and shouting to conquer fear. Since 9 October 1993, no representative of justice has met with me. And do you know why? Because my guilt did not emerge anywhere, neither here nor across the Adriatic, but they do not have the courage to tell this to their accusers and my inquisitors. Çelesh says that “I am a corrupter and of the law,” but in words against the ruling party Dervishi with his companions do not know what to do with the “Nano file,” no players after the PD of P. Martin, M. Rrapi, Z. Brozi, etc. who are being calibrated in the presidency, you say “take him to court.” Meanwhile A. Bendo, placed in “provas,” after the resignation is not accepted because “you have not made proof.” They are truly to be covered up, when (To be continued on page 3)

- Press statement by MP Sabit Broka - In two days, first RD and then the propaganda organs of the PD, Radio and Albanian TV, attacked the Albanian citizen’s response in order to create the impression that S. Broka, etc. had supposedly been involved in the Italo-Albanian intergovernmental corruption. For this, according to them, there was a case from the Italian prosecutor’s office. In fact, all this was based on the request of the Italian prosecutor’s office to be questioned as a witness and not as a suspect. Meanwhile prosecutor Dervishi, eager to appear on TV to say whether this is true or not, with and without it being requested as a witness and not for implication, therefore from the response of RD and Mr. Dervishi’s words, clearly it is. I find it necessary to clarify: For Italian aid there was a government commission in operation. In the Ministry of Health it was not represented by the Minister of Health, but the Ministry of Health had set up a commission for the aid, and this commission did not include the Minister of Health; the Minister of Health had no contact with the respective Italian commission, neither on funds nor on procedures, nor on any government issue. The Minister of Health seeks, with some suspicion, a relevant commission, to be organized according to the degree of urgency and to request reporting when the aid arrives (within the framework of grants and the coordination of other aid). All actions were carried out through the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Only ten days before the government attacked and removed the Minister of Health from office, he, together with the Albanian delegation, held a meeting in Italy with members of the Italian aid commission, where he requested the creation of an agreement for Albania. In that meeting, the “representatives” from Italy allegedly said they would tell the Albanian government commission that a portion of the overall funds should go to health. That is all, and without any agreement, any document. “The claims and assessments regarding my name, it has been made known, were discussed in Parliament in plenary session and in two broadcasts on TV and in the newspaper. The role, the relations, and the mechanism of operation of the aid offered no other possibility and at the same time did not make the direct participation or charge of the minister necessary. This information explained clearly how. Prosecutor Dervishi can also be given it without taking permission from the Assembly, and without propaganda noise, as in other cases. The PD is attacking something in silence once it is over, and then under the instructions of the Italian prosecutor. (To be continued on page 2)

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA