Interview with Përparim Senxhaku, lawyer for Fatos Nano, chairman of the Socialist Party and member of parliament, given to our newspaper Senxhaku: “I respect the court as the only institution that administers justice, and the Nano case offers it the best opportunity to prove this.” — Interview given to our newspaper by Përparim Senxhaku, lawyer for Fatos Nano, chairman of the Socialist Party and member of parliament — A report by the spokesperson for the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, broadcast by RTV on 16 February, stated that the investigation into the Nano case had been concluded, and that the case file was being sent to court with a new charge: the chairman of the Socialist Party is accused “of misappropriating state property and falsifying official documents.” What does this represent to you, and what does the change in the charges consist of? After this decision was communicated—a decision that is unclear and unsupported by evidence and facts—we asked the investigating team, in accordance with the law, to clarify what was meant by adding a charge; who the people were whom the decision accused of collaborating with Fatos Nano in misappropriating state property; what role Fatos Nano had in this collaboration; when and with whom an agreement to misappropriate state property had been made; whether Fatos Nano had been found guilty, and so on. In 1991, the Albanian state was legally prohibited from accepting aid from foreigners. Consequently, the 1977 Penal Code, which is still in force, did not provide for the misappropriation of humanitarian aid as a criminal offence. This was regulated by Law No. 7553 of 30.1.1992, under which Article 105-a was added to the Penal Code after Article 105. It stipulates: the theft or misuse of humanitarian aid is punishable by imprisonment for no less than six months and up to ... These officials raised such a concern with Fatos Nano. Following closely the entire flow of aid received during the period from 24 February to 4 June 1991, when Fatos Nano was serving as prime minister of Albania, it appears that the Italian aid arrived in full. If those officials cited by the prosecutor raised that concern with him three times, while [the alleged unlawful act] by Fatos Nano took place after he had left office, Through a statement RTV on 16 February, it was learned that the investigation into the Nano case had been completed; the file is and falsifying official documents.” What does such a development mean to you, and what does the change in the charge consist of? On 14.02.1994, the head of the team of investigators, Mr. Fatos Dervishi, notified us of the decision to change and supplement the charge against Fatos Nano, who until then had been accused of abuse of office and falsification of official documents under Articles 106-13 and 110 of the Criminal Code. Under the new decision, state property and falsifying official documents, under Articles 62-13 and 110 of the Criminal Code. After being notified of this decision, which is unclear and unsupported by evidence and facts, we asked the investigative meant by supplementing the charge; who were the people whom the decision accused of having collaborated Nano had in this collaboration; when and with whom the agreement to misappropriate state property had been made; in what form the agreement had been made; and where the state property had been misappropriated—in the warehouses of the Albanian state or somewhere else? The new charge of misappropriating state property is not only absurd and unsupported by evidence, but also unlawful, because Fatos Nano is accused of a criminal offence that did not exist as such during the period from February to August 1991, when he was prime minister. I would point out here that, before from foreigners. Consequently, the 1977 Criminal was regulated by Law No. 7553, dated 30.1.1992, under which Article 105-a was added to the Criminal Code after Article 105. It stipulates: “The theft or misappropriation than six months and up to 20 years.” Let us spend a little time on Fatos Nano as prime minister and his relations with Italian aid. The statement by the prosecutor’s spokesperson says that various officials had made him aware of the problem that aid was arriving at high prices and was not emergency aid. How true is this claim by the prosecution? It is a mistaken conclusion and is unsupported by evidence. Let us assume for a moment that it is indeed true

Selami informs parliament about a statement by Mr Kamdesy. Arbnori remains silent about the European Parliament resolution on Albania. At the end of yesterday’s plenary session in parliament, Mr Eduard Selami asked to speak. In his capacity as chairman of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, he noted: “I think it is appropriate to inform parliament about a statement by Mr Mishel Kamdesy, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, who, during an international seminar devoted to the economic situation in Central and Eastern Europe, organized in Washington by the European Institute, said that Albania was the country that had the greatest economic growth in Europe last year, at around 10 percent.” “Can you tell us, Mr Kamdesy,” he continued by asking, “who would have believed this in 1991?” After Mr Selami’s briefing, the chairman of the PS parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, took the floor and emphasized: “Mr Selami was quite right to find an opportunity to inform parliament about this, although Mr [Kamdesy’s] statement also appeared in the press. Mr Kamdesy put it well: ‘Who would have believed this in 1991?’ I say this because there are people in Albania who did not believe it, or did not know how to calculate it, even in 1992, when these matters were discussed again, including during the debate on the state budget. The government made a proposal, and the PS group, when it voted, [proposed] an increase of 3 percent; our parliamentary group opposed it and, based on our specialists’ calculations, proposed a 10 percent increase in pensions. But Mr Alia, given that we were in a difficult situation, added that ... Meanwhile the government was doing ... There would have been ...” So, Selami did well to inform parliament. But why did Arbnori remain silent? It is known that the European Parliament’s Resolution on Albania was delivered to Arbnori and the People’s Assembly, and so far there has been no word from him ...

Selami informs parliament about a statement by Mr Kamdesy. Arbnori remains silent about the European Parliament resolution on Albania. His leadership, complete silence. This is abnormal, while the servants of the authorities have begun moving about in great alarm to cover up the Nano case. Why is this happening? Is it simply ostrich politics, or is the PD preparing to take other illegal actions? With Fatos Nano’s arrest, it got hit by the boomerang it had thrown itself. Is it now trying to throw a second boomerang? If it has not considered the court a shield that will catch the boomerang and save the PD, then Fatos Nano must be released; the blow will be even stronger for the PD cabinet itself. But who does the PD’s accounting? Or is it those who cannot even calculate the budget? The Socialist Party values every positive signal coming from Europe and its readiness to help Albania. But we also respect every assessment, suggestion or request from the institutions of Europe and the European Parliament, which in its recent Resolution, alongside: - recognition of achievements; - readiness for cooperation and opposition to non-agreements, calls for Fatos Nano’s release, etc. - But what is Albania’s message in response to this resolution? - Parliament is silent; - The government is silent; - The foreign minister declares: “We regret that the Greek parliamentarians”... “have misinformed the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.” This and other statements of this kind are: - an insult to the European Parliament; - an insult to the 268 deputies who voted in favour; - an insult to the 37 deputies who voted against; - an insult to the peoples who elected the MEPs. But it is also an insult to Albania itself, because such statements devalue all the positive assessments of Albania, including those of Mr Kamdesy and distinguished figures in Europe, as well as those of the US State Department, which recently issued a very realistic report on Albania. The time has come for us all to return together to the slogan: “Let’s make Albania European!”

According to information provided by Ismet Rizai, chairman of the council of the Cukë commune, 70 complaints have been filed with the court in the Përmet district concerning land grabbing. This remains one of the main concerns not only in this commune but in others as well. Perhaps the mentality of “the land belongs to my father” has led many villagers to set the boundaries for land distribution not according to the law, but according to their own wishes. At present, 20 families in the village of Sukë have no land. In Zhepovë, Rovenjë and Podgoran too, many villagers are waiting for the law to be implemented, because others have taken everything from us. It is a fact that no one has made any statement about this concern, whether the local authorities in the district, the prosecutor’s office, the court or the law-enforcement agencies. The reports made have not brought about any change in the situation, and so the villagers, whom others regard as “newcomers,” are left without land and, worst of all, without hope that the competent authorities will intervene to enforce the law passed by parliament. SAMIT SHKËMBI

In the middle of Tirana, a week without electricity — Dozens of families on “Mujo Ulqinaku” Street have been without electricity for a week. Elderly people living alone, small children, people sick with the flu, without heating. The consequences of poor organization by the local authorities in distributing kerosene. Low temperatures have “arrived” in Tirana too. The surrounding mountains have turned white with snow. And the cold continues unabated. This year winter “didn’t take into account” the fact that we are in transition. The cold cuts to the bone for these families, who are among the poorest and have no heating. And there are many such families. Dozens of families near “Mujo Ulqinaku” Street (opposite the street of the embassies) have been without electricity for a week. That means no lighting, no radio or television news, and food spoiled because refrigerators are not working, etc. It also means no heating ... Stop. “It’s your own fault.” The grid is overloaded. Don’t use electrical appliances ... the authorities’ employees offer as their excuse. Wait, that’s not the case. Some families also heat themselves with electric heaters. That is entirely normal. There are elderly people living alone. Some families do not have enough money to buy kerosene stoves, but above all, many cannot find this fuel. The distribution of kerosene coupons without names has created a particular kind of chaos. Those who have no one to wander around the capital’s neighbourhoods looking for kerosene outlets that might supply them have been left empty-handed, with no means of heating in these freezing days. When you think of elderly people with absurdly small pensions in the country, sick people (gjymia) ... and we promise that Tirana will soon be lit up! An elderly mother, unable to manage on her own, was warming herself with candles two or three days ago and came to a home here in Tirana. Will there be other victims? God grant us good weather, because there is little hope in the authorities’ measures. They say the cable has burned out in the area mentioned above. They say that one day electricians set out to do the work but turned back on the road following an order from the prime minister to go to another, more important area. At the utility company, they say there is no cable. The residents say that “the electricians want money.” They say the cable is expected to come from Shkodra. By now, matters are taking their usual course in cases like this. So, something is expected; apparently this situation will continue, perhaps for another month, until winter is over. Meanwhile, some families, in desperate conditions, have begun connecting themselves to the nearest power lines. And so the network continues to spread into the area, overloading the surrounding areas. Worse still, these “works” put residents’ lives at risk, including those of children playing in the streets. This is in the interest neither of the residents nor of those who have the power to solve this problem. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

THE MINERALS LAW IS APPROVED Given the great economic importance that mineral resources have for Albania, the law on minerals was received with great interest in parliament. According to MP Kurt Xhepa, the promotion of our mineral resources in the past was done for demagogic purposes. He said that the profitability of our minerals had never been clear. To understand clearly what he means by this. But surely it has been, and they understand it. First and foremost, it is the miners, those who were at the forefront of democracy and who today, along with their families, feel abandoned by Xhepa’s party. In the mining industry, the current authorities have worked in a ... [?] manner ... in such circumstances, the only way out is through foreign investment. Although the law was technical, it may be worth emphasizing two points: First, MP Xhevat Lloshi requested that the mass media [cover] the concessions to be granted to foreigners in the mines (Continued on page 4)

On Friday, 18 February, at 10:00, a press conference will be held at the home of the PSSH: “On the latest developments in the Nano case.” Representatives of the domestic and foreign press, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, are invited to attend. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party.