– Interview with Fatos Nano’s lawyer, Mr. Agim Tirana, given to the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” – Question: How do you understand President Berisha’s statement that he guaranteed some open, transparent and fair trials? Answer: Before that matter is decided and goes to trial, it is necessary for President Berisha to guarantee a full, comprehensive and objective investigation of the case. In my opinion, this legal obligation has not been fulfilled by the investigative group and the prosecutor. Serious and systematic procedural violations have been recorded, with consequences for the case and for Mr. Fatos Nano. This has led to our claims being prejudged all the way up to the prosecutor general; unjustly and arbitrarily, almost all of them were not taken into account. Thus, the vast majority of the facts with which we defended the case and sent it to court were left unclarified by the decision of 9.10.1993, because the necessary investigative actions had not been carried out. The investigative group and the district prosecutor handling the case had the same bias. The district court ordered the case to be returned for further investigation and allowed a deadline of a little over two months; even now, after 3 months, it has not managed to complete it. This, among other things, fully confirms the correctness of our claim about the prejudiced attitude of the prosecutors’ decision-making and our request for their replacement. You cannot speak of guaranteeing an impartial trial when the defendant’s file has not yet decided whether or not it will be sent to trial; otherwise it is unenforceable. The competence to send a case to trial or not lies with the prosecution. Nevertheless, if it has already been decided that the case will be sent to trial, although the performance of the necessary investigative actions has still not been completed so that the truth can emerge in a fair way and in the court investigation, President Berisha’s appreciation calls for an open and transparent confrontation. This trial, by virtue of the importance and public interest of the case, cannot be held behind closed doors, in small rooms, or with information being withheld. Here I have in mind that it concerns a member of the People’s Assembly and the Chairman of the largest opposition party, who has been kept imprisoned for 6 months. Question: Mr. Oçhsi stated on 20.1.1994 to “Gazeta Shqiptare” that “it is true that accounting experts have started work; in fact this work is nearing completion.” What is your opinion on this new statement about the case? Answer: I believe Mr. Qeleshi has spoken in the spirit of this statement. The decision to carry out the accounting expert examination was brought to our attention on 7.1.1994. In order to present our claims, on the basis of Article 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, concerning the group of experts appointed by the investigators and the questions to be solved, we asked for two days’ time. Within the set deadline, we proposed that the group of experts also include a specialist not appointed by the other side. This is also what the Code of Criminal Procedure requires. Our request was rejected without any reason being given. In these circumstances, we were forced to propose another specialist, to whom we have still not received an answer from the investigative group. To ensure a full investigation, which would help in the administration of justice, despite the very limited time, we submitted around 50 questions for the expert examination. We too are surprised; we have not received answers in accordance with criminal procedural law. Clarification of the issues we put before the experts is necessary. This is also because the accused has been in prison for 6 months, based only on the act of the State Control Service, which according to the law does not constitute evidence. Both the State Control Service and the group of investigators, relying on subjective assessments, did not take into account the official assessment of the Supreme Court of Accounts and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sent to the State Control Service by letter no. 045/ac dated 16.1.1993, which refers to the full disbursement of the sum granted free of charge to Albania, both for the training of 10,000 French officers by the Nano Government, which was carried out to the extent of 9.41 billion lire, and for the second withdrawal of 10 billion lire, which was carried out at 9.959 billion lire. Owing to our insistence, the investigative group has now, after 6 months of Mr. Fatos Nano’s arrest and 3 months since the opening of the criminal case, activated an accounting expert examination. On the basis of this expert examination, it is said that compliance with the requirements of Article 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure must be guaranteed, and therefore also with our legal requests. Otherwise, if Qeleshi acts as he has declared, it is clear that the prejudgment of the case and the arbitrariness of the investigative actions continue. (To be continued on page 2)

At the end of 1993 compared with December 1990: – Consumer goods prices have risen by 899.4 percent, or 9 times. – Prices of the food, beverages and tobacco group have risen by 956 percent. – Prices of communications and transport have risen by 963.7 percent. MORE CONCRETELY: – The price of bread has risen 8.6 times. – The price of beef has risen 11.7 times. – The price of fresh milk has risen 12 times, potatoes 12 times, cheese 12.5 times, onions 18 times, etc. (Data from the Institute of Statistics) In recent days, the news about wage increases has been at the center of discussions. In reality, they should rise by 28 percent and then in a fair and honest way. But they take and do something like this. In an unenforceable way. So, as it is and one also pays for things indistinctly with the wage, isn’t that bad? Indeed, it is paid with this or that clique and privately, but the issue is completely different. And the discussion goes on. Do you keep in mind wage increases in health care, in education? And the life problems of workers in this sector, the fight against corruption, etc.? The questions heard are mostly different. But naturally the question arises: today, when nominal wage increases are being discussed, what about the real wage? Under conditions of rising prices, it is necessary to add the notion of monetary illusion. If the nominal wage rises by 10 percent while consumer goods prices rise by 8 percent, then the quantity of goods and services that consumers can buy will increase by only 2 percent. Everyone can make these calculations if they have data on consumer price increases. The Institute of Statistics has been regularly publishing official data every month on the consumer price index for some time. According to these data, for the period December 1993–December 1992, that is, for 1993, consumer prices increased by 30.9 percent. Compared with December 1990, prices increased by 899.4 percent. So, not a little and not a lot, but 9 times. As for groups of items, it is striking that prices increased 9 times for the food, beverages and tobacco group, where the increase is 956 percent, for transport and communications 963.7 percent, etc. For domestic products, the price of meat rose 8.6 times, the price of bread 11.7 times for beef, about 12 times for fresh milk, 12.5 times for cheese, 12 times for potatoes, about 18 times for onions. According to official data, for the clothing and footwear group the increase is lower, at 638.2 percent. It is known that the lowest wage in the state sector in 1990 was 150 lek, which expressed the subsistence minimum as well. Therefore, to ensure the same amount of consumer goods and services, the lowest nominal wage today should be at least 450 x = 4000? lek. If an educator or an economist receives a wage of 640 lek, the nominal wage today should be at least 5760 lek. In short, and to leave aside these differences in the structure of expenses, the sphere of paid services has expanded greatly. It has expanded in health care and especially in the press sector, where a one-room apartment with a kitchen costs 10–15 million lek, among other things. Taxes that did not exist before have now also been introduced. As a result, it is necessary to establish the official assessment of the subsistence minimum wage, which exceeds 4300 lek. But on this the government remains silent. Instead, it informs public opinion that even after the wage changes, the minimum wage will be 2400 lek per month.

Jyland Osten (24.1) publishes a report by Niels Krause Jaer regarding the fate of the European Union’s aid to Albania. The European Union deputy, Dane Fredy Blak, who recently visited Albania, said in this report about the European Union’s aid to Albania that there had been no... in the overall outcome. “No aid for 15 million Danish kroner, says this report, ... was closed” by poor management, fraud, bureaucracy. This problem will now be subjected to a full inspection by the European Union Control Council and simultaneously by the European Commission in Brussels. Fredy Blak mainly accuses the English, French and Spanish organizations of “draining resources from the European Union coffers and, in return, not giving much”. The Danish deputy also accuses the European Union of bureaucracy, which does not allow a full check to verify where the fund goes.” Two months ago, the European Union in one of its reports praised the Albanian Government because it managed to stabilize the country’s economy. But according to Fredy Blak, the report concludes, there is no longer any value in blindly trusting the nice reports “drawn up in offices”. KOÇO BROKA

The ranks of the Socialist Party are growing In January, the PS organizations in the Kolonjë district are carrying out their annual analyses of their activities during 1993. Along with other issues, importance is being given to increasing party membership. Through new admissions, it was possible to create a new party organization in the Agalli neighborhood of the village of S[e]ka; this is an indicator of the consolidation of the PS in these areas, which the PD considered a zone of its own influence. At present, the central body of the Agalli neighborhood is made up of 10 members, while seven other comrades and young people have applied and are preparing to be admitted. These days, too, from among the ranks of the Euro-Socialist youth forum, six young men and women, who are 18–20 years old, joined the Socialist Party after making their request; 17 people aged 18–20, who make up the town of Reshtja and all the surrounding villages, were also admitted. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

The sale continues of the book “Under the Veil of Violence” by Todi Lubonja, former director of TVSH in the 1970s and sentenced to 13 years in prison by the dictatorial regime after the 4th Plenum of the PPSH and the 11th festival on RTV. The book has been published by QB Progres and in it the author articulates many truths, unknown in the circles of the 1970s–80s, objectively reflecting the class struggle, intergenerational relations, internments, opinions, the real and unreal punishments of this regime. So far the book has been purchased only by booksellers in Tirana, Elbasan, Berat and Durrës. Interested readers from other districts may contact the Publishing Center to withdraw quantities and volumes from the remaining stock.

Event with the renowned writer Dritëro Agolli on the occasion of the publication of the novel “The Splendor and Fall of Comrade Zylo” After its well-known success in France, Germany and many other countries, the novel by the renowned writer Dritëro Agolli, “The Splendor and Fall of Comrade Zylo,” reaffirms its undisputed value also in Italy, where it has recently been published by the ARGO publishing house, under the direct patronage of Dr. Livio Mushti, a friend of Albania and a passionate publisher of literature from our country. On this occasion, until 24 January, several events were organized in the Puglia region, in which Dritëro Agolli took part with his wife. The interesting subject and masterful treatment attracted the reader’s attention and were followed by wide coverage in the media, such as articles in “Corriere della Sella”, “La Gazetta della foggitoria” [?], “Il Manifesto”, and an exclusive interview with Dritëro Agolli on RAI TRE, which will be broadcast during this week. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

The head of order threatens the seller of “Gazeta Shqiptare” and “Zëri i Popullit” On Sunday, around 11:30 a.m., a serious incident occurred at the newspaper sales point in the town of Laç. The newspaper seller for Gazeta Shqiptare and “Zëri i Popullit” was selling newspapers. “Gazeta Shqiptare” was also accompanied by an advertisement that read: “Police on alert 24 hours a day.” Yesterday evening’s democrat of Laç, Mr. Zef Frivzi, arrived first and ordered the seller to remove the advertisement. A few minutes later, the head of order, Mr. Shpëtim Stërmali, arrived accompanied by police. The head of order, with a pistol, told the seller Briken Zyberi that this advertisement concerned the sale and that this advertisement of “Gazeta Shqiptare” belonged to him. The head of order frightened the advertisement; “it was torn up.” Another striking fact is that he threatened the newspaper seller with a weapon. He harshly states: “If you liked it for 50 years, now we will not let you do slop ready” [?], etc. What can be said about this practical fact of this threat, which concerns not only newspaper editorial offices but also newspaper sellers. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

– THE GOVERNOR OF THE ALBANIAN BANK ANSWERS: “I don’t know anything. To tell the truth, I don’t know. If I knew, gladly. I really don’t know.” – THE GOVERNOR OF THE ALBANIAN BANK ANSWERS: “I don’t know anything. To tell the truth, I don’t know. If I knew, gladly. I really don’t know.” The newspaper “Populli po” yesterday announced that the trial in Paris against the Albanian (French) Nikolas Arsidi has begun, and that in this process, the plaintiff and key witnesses in this scandal may well be in this firm. Meanwhile, according to the newspaper, the defense lawyer for the Albanian side is the Frenchman Jean Pol Carteron. Regarding this news, on Friday through message 1 I asked for confirmation from the governor of the Albanian Bank, Mr. Dilber Vrioni, who said: “I don’t know anything. To tell the truth, I don’t know. If I knew, gladly. I really don’t know.” So, has the trial in Paris begun? The question is whether it is happening in Paris and in Albania nothing is happening? And this for the reason that, among other things, the prosecutors are under review and before parliament the given data is a question. Further, in clarification of one appeal, the appointment of a person outside the contribution of the data, before the trial news developed, the government “Arsidi scandal”. “Zëri i Popullit” on 31 May 1993 publicly stated that the governor of the Albanian State Bank and the director of the National Commercial Bank said that “at the end of September there will be a conference beginning if the lawsuit in Paris against the French Albanian Nikolas Arsidi is filed. Moreover, this lawsuit has been carried out (?) and will be sent to the French press regarding fraud and swindles. So, if the trial is held, who is responsible for the State Bank of Albania and the Albanian Commercial Bank? According to reports in Paris? Paul Carteron has been presented in Paris not only as representative of the Albanian side but also as defender of President Berisha’s interests. Where are President Berisha’s accused names? Is this connected also with the lawsuit against the state brought against Arsidi in France? (said to be for fraud and swindle). And finally, will the arrested Albanian detainees Ilir Hoxha and Artur Ahmeta, Agron Salla and Agim Tarifa appear in court? What about Genc Ruli? Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Is an army outside the army being created? Among the draft laws that have been sent to the deputies for discussion and are to be examined soon in Parliament is the draft law “On equipping with weapons the employees of the forestry service police, the construction police and the inspectors of the control of the use of electric energy. We do not want to prejudge this request, which should first be discussed by specialists. But some questions and necessities involved here raise this problem that we are discussing in the draft law in Parliament. First, the large number of police forces created in our country stands out, and all of them are being equipped with firearms. What is the total number of employees working in these bodies and are they not creating parallel armies alongside the regular army, especially as the number of the latter is beginning to fall, while army officers are being stripped of their personal weapons? Second, if all types of police are to be equipped with weapons, is it not necessary to define by law the criteria for their use by the persons in these services, so that the tool does not lead to suspicions? Third, it must be clarified whether the increase in the number of police forces and their equipping with firearms is aimed at or has tended toward violence? in our country? Because not rarely we hear that crimes are committed with unmarked weapons without permits. Finally, what guarantees are there that these armed persons, organized in 13 types of police forces, cannot one day be used for unlawful purposes? These and other reasons make it necessary that the discussion in Parliament on the draft law in question be carried out with high responsibility. HAMDI GJYRE