In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ON THE NANO CASE - 26 deputies, from 9 parties and 12 different European countries, call for the Nano case to be examined during consideration of Albania’s application to join the Council of Europe - According to well-informed sources, at the last meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, members of the Assembly drafted and signed a motion for a resolution concerning the arrest and unlawful imprisonment of Fatos Nano, Member of Parliament and chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania. One of the motion’s main demands is that the Nano case be examined thoroughly Europe. Under the rules of the Parliamentary Assembly, motions of this kind circulate as its documents when they are signed by at least 12 deputies. In the case of Bulgarian deputy Lukanov, who was later released from prison, the motion was signed by 19 deputies. The motion for a resolution on the Nano case was signed by 26 deputies from 9 parties represented in the Assembly, representing the parliaments of 12 different European countries, including Spain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, Turkey, etc.

February 7–8 The Second National Conference—a major event for the Socialist Party – The General Steering Committee approved the Conference materials – – Interview with PSSH General Secretary Gramoz Ruçi – Under the direction of the Socialist Party’s deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, the PSSH General Steering Committee met yesterday. The agenda included discussion and approval of the materials to be presented at the Socialist Party’s National Conference, which will be held on February 7 and 8 of this year. To obtain more detailed information about the Conference, our reporter interviewed PS General Secretary Gramoz Ruçi as follows. What is the National Conference of the Socialist Party, which will be held soon? This is a regular working conference, planned long ago in accordance with the Party’s statutes. Naturally, party conferences, being its highest forums between two congresses, are important events in the life of the Party. In particular, given the moment at which this Conference is being held, I would consider its importance exceptional. What new things is the Socialist Party expected to say at this Conference? I have in mind the difficult political, social and economic situation the country is going through. In our party’s view, this is a situation characterized by a general crisis, by a collapse that has blocked all prospects and avenues for democracy in the future. The crisis of confidence, unemployment, declining living standards, corruption among today’s officeholders, political tensions between parties, and other such phenomena have also been analyzed by the Socialist Party before. Now is the time for this situation to be analyzed once again, more broadly and more deeply, at the Party’s National Conference. at this Conference? Alongside the political analyses of the material situation and the National Conference? Undoubtedly, this and the requests concerning the press at the PS press conference will be found in the National Conference materials. Indeed, they constitute the Conference’s main subject; on the basis of the Party’s highest forum, the National Conference, the work will take place over about three [text unclear] with the aim of also drafting the Party’s program of future action. What preparations have been made so far for the Conference? I can say that all preparations for the Conference have now been completed. All the standing commissions attached to the General Steering Committee worked on preparing its materials, which were then revised by a special committee of the Steering Committee. A few days ago, these materials were discussed and approved by the Socialist Party Presidium, while today, at its meeting, the General Steering Committee discussed and approved them, putting the finishing touches on these materials. Besides the Steering Committee’s report, what other materials will be presented to the National Conference? Six reports will be presented to the Conference, along with proposed amendments to the Party’s program and statutes for approval. These are amendments that do not affect the substance of the PS program and statutes as a Western social-democratic-type left-wing party. They are intended only to improve and define more clearly certain aspects of the program and statutes, adapting them to the country’s circumstances and to the PS’s positions on them. The amendments to the statutes are also intended to increase democracy within the party. How will the conference proceed? The Conference will begin on the afternoon of February 7 and will continue on February 8. At it, there will ... cases like these again, more broadly and in greater depth, at the Party’s National Conference. at this Conference? Alongside political analyses of the situation, which, as I said, will be broader and deeper, what will be new at this conference is the presentation of our party’s respective alternatives for all areas and sectors of life. First, these are political alternatives, which also create the prerequisites for implementing economic and social alternatives. At the Socialist Party’s last press conference, the party put forward several concrete demands for addressing the situations the country is going through. Will they be reflected more clearly in specific aspects of the program and statute, in relation to the country’s circumstances and the SP’s positions on them? The amendments to the statute also aim be held? and will continue on February 8. Around 500 delegates, elected at party activities held in all the country’s districts according to the established rules, will participate. The conference will also include guests from among SP members and supporters, representatives of state institutions, political parties, associations, the diplomatic corps, organizations of various kinds, the mass media, etc. All organizational arrangements have been made for welcoming and accommodating the delegates. We wish you success!

We emphasize Sali should apologize

Another serious offense. Yes, indeed! One that compromises the state and its institutions, an offense that stains democracy, which already had plenty of other stains even before the arrest of the innocent Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka. Therefore, at least this time, the state must defend its own honor. Because the blame is not collective. It has an author, it has a proper name. The state must find him! We emphasize Safet Zhulali should apologize... And then resign! - At least this time, the state must defend its own honor - The blame is not collective. It has an author... Another serious offense. Yes, indeed! One that compromises the state and its institutions, an offense that stains democracy, which already had plenty of other stains even before the arrest of the innocent Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka. Therefore, honor. Because the blame is not collective. It has an author, it has a proper name. The state must find him! The way the press, and journalists in particular, are treated is a very important indicator of a state’s culture and civilization. Seen in this light, our state, governed by the PDists, turns out to be deeply indebted to all genuine journalists. Which means it has a great debt and obligation to democracy, which has no value or meaning without a free press. Do our rulers know this? Certainly, there are cultured people among them who know and understand it very well, but. They have no power in their hands. Or, rather, let us say they have nothing in their hands. Meanwhile, Safet Zhulali, apparently troubled by an unexpected act [unclear] for [unclear], now [unclear] and [unclear] in the fight against those whom we call modest [continuation?], what will later become Minister of Defense? He displays his culture and tolerance in a completely different way. All those journalists who have heard and seen him, as their representatives, have stood face to face with him... [some words illegible] ... and their future. On this occasion, let us also make clear, Mr. Selami, that it was not Namik who emerged as the person responsible for Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe, but Sali and others, from whom those who value democracy must distance themselves as soon as possible. International organizations of journalists from all over the world have protested vigorously. I believe that this time the protest against Berisha will not be [unclear], and it has not been only a protest by international organizations; moreover, he knows very well that the issue has ... [illegible] ... in the pursuit of aims which, in this particular case, are detrimental to Albania’s image and consequently to his own. Therefore, at least this time, it is up to him to have the merit of addressing the wound and correcting the wrong that was done. Safet Zhulali should publicly apologize. He should apologize not only for the case of Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka but also for dismissing and casting out onto the street thousands of capable military personnel. He should apologize for everything that has happened in the department he heads, beginning with the case of Shpend Topallaj at the Durrës Base, whom he himself promoted and demoted within a few months. He should apologize for the public accusations he made in Parliament against the Police deputy, for the Bulqizë incident and the way he was removed from there, for the 360 thousand dollars that went missing, for the ship with “Marlboro,” and for many, many other cases that he may know better. And after that, he should resign from that high office. He should resign because he is incompetent, because he is mediocre in military affairs. Someone else in his place would have done this long ago and would not have waited for others to demand it. Resignation is responsibility; it is an indicator of a person’s cultural level and degree of emancipation. To close these lines, I ask about the verses of a poet friend in which it says: “... with the eagle, with the eagle...” [verses illegible] — [Unclear] Safet? [unclear]? Did he really go down in history? Or far away...? Not for the deeds he [unclear], but he killed Mozart’s [unclear]... SHPAN M. [surname illegible]

Further cutbacks are expected to follow these new ones. Yesterday at midday, the first list of employees to be dismissed from this institution was posted on one of the main entrances to TVSH. The list mainly includes employees with long service records, such as: Gazmir Shtino, Arjan Melonashi, Arjan Nego, Gëzim Gjyrezi, Frederik Coja, Kujtim Meçe, Fatmir Sali, etc. The list includes 15 people in total, among them veteran television correspondents from Korçë, Tropojë, etc. Referring to this posted list, which is final and takes effect immediately, one can see that these cutbacks have been made almost entirely in the International Department, the Social and Cultural Affairs Department, and the Social and Economic Affairs Department. Even though the names Shtino, Melonashi, and Nego do not appear consecutively on this list, it is not difficult for anyone to understand that all three are [unclear] individuals who won at every level of the courts in Albania in order to be reinstated... [text cuts off]

Statement by the General Steering Committee of the PSSH The General Steering Committee of the PSSH considers the arrest of the two journalists of the independent newspaper “Koha Jonë,” Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka, to be a brutal attack by the Albanian political state against the free press in Albania, which is one of the foundations and guarantees of a democratic society. This arrest, which follows other previous arrests and convictions of journalists for political reasons, is contrary to the Constitutional Law on fundamental human rights and freedoms, adopted by the Albanian Parliament, to the Albanian press law itself, and to the international conventions and standards of civilized and genuinely democratic societies. For these reasons, the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania demands the immediate release of the two arrested journalists of the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka, and an end to the campaign of judicial repression by the current state against the free press and freedom of speech in Albania. General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party Tirana, February 2, 1994

THE SCHOOLS OF FUNAR, THEIR DOORS HAVE STILL NOT OPENED THIS YEAR While until now in the district of Elbasan efforts have been made to ensure continuity of schooling for students in eight-year and secondary education, providing support for teaching and maintenance... While until now in the district of Elbasan efforts have been made to ensure continuity of schooling for students in eight-year and secondary education, in this commune, where apparently all the primary schools in Bishtë, Vëjecaj and the secondary school in ... [the rest of the text is illegible or cut off at the edge of the image]

... cases like these have also been analyzed by the Socialist Party before. Now is the time for this situation to be analyzed once again, more broadly and in greater depth, at the Party’s National Conference.

STATEMENT The Albanian Helsinki Committee addresses the competent authorities, requesting a change to the measure of detention imposed on January 30, 1994, by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office on two journalists of the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” namely Messrs. Aleksandër Frangaj and Martin Leka, accused of “disclosing state secrets” and “defamation.” Without assuming responsibility for the criminal offense, our Committee addresses the competent authorities and asks them to conduct the investigation of the accused while they are at liberty. Our Committee calls on the relevant authorities to expedite the review of the criminal procedure leading to the detention measure, in order to avoid any kind of subjectivism and arbitrariness. ALBANIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE Tirana, 01. 02. 1994