- Yesterday the «Asllan Rusi» Sports Palace resounded with cheers for the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, true democracy, and against political violence and violations of human rights - Outside the Sports Palace, large gatherings of police forces spoke more clearly than anything else about the language in which today’s government speaks to the people. Amid indescribable enthusiasm, a Socialist Party rally organized by the Steering Committee of the SP of Tirana was held yesterday at the «Asllan Rusi» Sports Palace. The chants «Socialist Party», «Fatos Nano», «Down with dictatorship», «We want elections», «Free Fatos Nano» rang out for many minutes at the beginning and throughout the rally. The chairman of the SP of the Tirana district, who opened the rally, thanked those present and the SP leaders participating in it, and said that this meeting was being organized to emphasize some of the main tasks set by the Second National Conference of the SP and to protest forcefully against the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms being carried out by the government of the Democratic Party against the Socialist Party and the People’s Assembly deputy FATOS NANO. We have gathered here to express our opposition: Against violence Against the suppression of the opposition Against the imprisonment of free speech and the free press And to demand: A state governed by law and justice. True freedom and democracy! — said Luan Shahollari, among other things. He went on to say that the Socialist Party had concluded that the country needed a new political choice. It had therefore publicly called for: - New parliamentary elections by the autumn of this year. The Socialist Party of the city of Tirana requests permission to hold a rally in «Skënderbej» Square Pursuant to Law No. 7692, dated 31, 3.1993, appendix «Fundamental human rights and freedoms», Article 21, «The right of assembly», and Decree No. 7403, dated 31.7.1990, «On meetings, gatherings and demonstrations by citizens in public places», the Steering Committee of the SP of the City of Tirana will organize a peaceful gathering in «Skënderbej» Square on Friday, March 4, 1994, from 17:00 to 18:00. The purpose of this gathering will be to protest violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Albania, of the opposition, and especially of the Chairman of the PSSH and People’s Assembly deputy Fatos Nano. It is anticipated that 40–50 thousand people will take part in the gathering. The slogans to be raised and carried will be: Guarantee rights and freedoms. We want justice. We want a state governed by law. Free Fatos Nano. Long live the Albanian nation. Down with violence. We want the Constitution. We want new solutions. The DP government has failed. Long live the PSSH. European Parliament: Free Fatos Nano. Long live the European Parliament. We want Albania to be like Europe. Guarantee the right to peaceful assembly. In view of the above, and pursuant to Article No. 7 of the Decree, please confirm as soon as possible the permission and arrangements for the holding of this gathering in accordance with the rules. CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE SP OF THE CITY LUAN SHAHOLLARI In this respect they have failed completely. The «Nano laughter» has boomeranged on them. Even from prison, Fatos Nano has made an extraordinarily valuable contribution to the Socialist Party, helping it become known and accepted by the democratic institutions of Europe and beyond. The speaker thanked the European Parliament on behalf of those present; by an overwhelming majority of votes, it had called for the immediate release of Fatos Nano. The speaker emphasized that Fatos Nano is not afraid of the trial because he is innocent and has been imprisoned for political reasons. We are convinced that Fatos Nano is blameless and will defend himself with dignity. Therefore, we will defend the «Nano case» by every democratic means and path. Then he gave the floor to the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi. He began by conveying greetings on behalf of the General Steering Committee and the leadership of the SP. The growth and strengthening of the Socialist Party’s electorate in the capital, he went on to say, is an indication of the growth and strengthening of the Socialist Party in general. The people of Tirana, who held that magnificent rally on July 30 last year, are ready to hold other outstanding events as well. It is everyone’s will to keep advancing democratic processes in Albania. In the process we are going through, the Socialist Party has always been measured, mature, wise and balanced. It is not the large Socialist Party electorate that destabilizes the situation, but those who persecute the opposition and keep Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano in prison. They are the ones who create tension. Therefore, once again, we call on you, as the Second National Conference of the Socialist Party also emphasized: the country needs a new political solution, a new formula of government, which can emerge only from new early elections. With the alternatives it put forward at its Second Conference, the Socialist Party once again demonstrated its maturity and showed itself to be a force capable of advancing democratic processes in Albania, of saying «stop» to every dictatorship, of saying «stop» to every regressive act, (Continued on page 4)

Successful meetings of the PSSH delegation with delegations of European socialist and social-democratic parties Yesterday the PSSH delegation returned home, headed by its deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, who, at the invitation of the Socialist Party of Hungary, attended that party’s congress, held in Budapest on February 27, 1994. Twenty-one different socialist and social-democratic parties from Europe took part in the congress. Among those also present were the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Miguel Angel Martinez, and other senior figures from the European Parliament, etc. During its stay in Budapest, the PSSH delegation held working meetings and discussions with the chairman of the Socialist Party of Hungary, Gyjla Horn; Europe and head of the delegation of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, Martinez; the head of the delegation of the Austrian Socialist Party and Deputy Peter Scheder; the head of the delegation of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and its chairman, Videnov; the head of the delegation of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Gizela Nauk; the head of the PASOK delegation, Orologoa; with the chair- dent of the delegation of the Israeli Labor Party, Gat; with the head of the delegation of the Israeli Democratic the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania and Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Gylys; with the head of the delegation of the Dutch Labour Party, Maarten Van Traa; with the head of the delegation of the Democratic Party of the Left in Italy, Roberto Cuillo; with the head of the delegation of the Unity and Progress Party in the Russian Federation, Kolos nik; with the chairman of the Democratic Left Party of Slovakia, Peter Weis; with the head of the delegation of the Socialist People’s Party of Denmark, Strange; with of Poland, Ivinski; with Mr. Andre Sajfion, a member of the European Parliament; as well as with other dignitaries invited to attend the congress. These meetings included discussions on relations between the PSSH and the various socialist and social-democratic parties of Europe, the political situation in the region and in Europe, and the growth and strengthening of the left-wing movement on the continent. PSSH Press and Information Office

STATEMENT BY THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE SP This statement was delivered at the sensitive session of the People’s Assembly by the Chairman of the Socialist parliamentary group, NAMIK DOKLE. Seven months ago, abusing your vote, you fellow deputies, and trampling on the democratic principles of justice, the Tirana prosecutor arrested the People’s Assembly deputy and Socialist Party chairman, Fatos Nano. With this act, prompted by the political revenge of the antidemocratic clans in power, he gravely deprived [text unclear] of constitutional freedom for a full seven months; [unclear] the state, that state, and the fundamental freedoms of the human being. This constitutes a serious violation of human rights, or even of a law itself, as will be explained [partly illegible] ... This legal statement points out that ... Fatos Nano is one of thousands of people awakened to this danger. To frighten those who are also worth ... [partly illegible]. After seven months of unlawful, prejudged and ordered imprisonment, the Tirana Court decided to open the trial against Fatos Nano on March 5, 1994. We are not afraid of the law, justice or the rule of law in the case of Fatos Nano, but we denounce lawlessness, injustice, and a customary and totalitarian state. Bringing the case to trial while brutally denying the defendant the right to examine the investigative group’s file is one of the rare cases recently practiced in more than one court in the Albanian justice system. And this is happening to a deputy! This is happening to the chairman of the largest opposition party. The facts speak more clearly than thousands of words! The investigative group and the Tirana Court have knowingly violated the constitutional law on fundamental human rights and freedoms. To every official of the Republic, criminal procedure guarantees the right: - to be informed immediately and in detail of the accusation against them; - to have sufficient time and facilities for ... (Continued on page 4) Nano». In this way, the Court would respond positively to the Albanian public’s exceptional interest in this trial, given the scale the affair has assumed. This civic right of Albanian citizens is guaranteed by the constitutional law «On Fundamental Human Liberties and Rights», which recognizes and guarantees their right to impartial information. In making this suggestion, we also have in mind the promise made by Mr. Berisha, President of the Republic and Chairman of the High Council of Justice, to representatives of our parliamentary group at a special meeting we held with him recently about the «Nano Affair». Mr. Berisha assured us that all measures would be taken to ensure that Fatos Nano’s trial would be open and transparent. Mr. Chairman, We await your written response to the matters set out above. Chairman of the PS Parliamentary Group NAMIK DOKLE March 1, 1994

Mr. Hajdari. Someone may be surprised that every now and then I see silence shouting, ranting, cursing in filthy Gheg words and striking at the air, at «an invisible monster» that has you by the throat. I am not surprised, because I know you. I know your troubles and ambitions, I know your voice and its echo, just as I know your abilities and limitations. More specifically: Even on Monday, in parliament, you got worked up for nothing and insulted my friends and your colleagues. I say for nothing because, with a highlander’s shrewdness, you had predicted from the first days after the arrest that «Fatos Nano will beat the Bull». Isn’t that so? So, just as you once advised a friend of yours, who still nimbly keeps circling the bull, don’t remain forever nailed behind the Bull either, because now that it is enraged, you won’t know where to dodge its kicks. TOREADOR

For about ten months, the so-called «Nano Affair» has been at the center of attention both inside and outside the country. It began amid political tensions, when the Democratic Party (PD) and its government openly turned against the opposition, and particularly against the Socialist Party (PS), and began bringing up unfavorable issues which they justified. To give a clearer picture of how this affair began and continued, and to revisit its many causes and serious problems, we briefly present its main developments: - On April 23, 1993, according to the media (TV), a group of PD deputies accused ... (Continued on page 3) A state governed by the rule of law and justice. Freedom and true democracy! — Luan Shahollari said, political solution. It had therefore publicly called for: - New parliamentary elections by the autumn of this year. - A new constitution approved by popular referendum. Without these, Albania will hardly move forward. - We offer our alternative of a social market economy in place of the Democratic Party’s free-market «shock therapy», which, as everyone now knows, has failed completely. It shut down workplaces and opened prison cells. The speaker went on to cite actual figures showing the fall in production, the deepening crisis, and the hardship of the people’s lives. That is why we are not calling for the replacement of a minister, the Prime Minister, or the government as a whole, but for new parliamentary elections, which would bring to power those political forces that can lift this country out of crisis and lead it toward well-being and prosperity, he said. He then spoke at length about the Nano affair. The aim of Berisha, Selami, Arbnori, Spahiu, Meksi, Çela, and the others, he stressed, is to use the «Nano Affair» to attack the Socialist Party, split it, and weaken it as a rival so they can easily win the next elections and continue their despotic rule. But by now everyone is convinced that

To the President of the Tirana Court Mr. Agim Bendo Tirana Mr. President, Through the news media, we learned of your announcement that the trial of the Chairman of the Socialist Party, deputy Fatos Nano, will begin on March 5, 1994, at the Tirana Court. As a parliamentary group, we are interested in becoming acquainted with the proceedings in this case by attending the court sessions concerning deputy Fatos Nano. Therefore, we request that you: I. Allow us to attend the trial as a parliamentary group by issuing us an invitation. (Attached is also the nominal list of the deputies in the parliamentary group so- [the text continues with a damaged passage] will be followed by many journalists, not only local but also foreign, as well as various foreign personalities such as parliamentarians, lawyers, politicians, etc. In addition, Albanian citizens have extraordinary interest in attending when the trial in question begins. We therefore suggest that you: II. Take measures to ensure that the trial of the case you are to begin hearing on March 5 against deputy Fatos Nano is held in a suitable courtroom, since we note that the existing courtrooms in the Tirana Court building are small. III. Allow the transmission of the me-