FATOS NANO ACCUSES – PROSECUTORS QELESHI AND GJOKUTAJ SIT SILENT, SWEATING... – Hundreds of police officers, dozens more rapid-response special forces, “guaranteed” what Mr. Berisha had also spoken of: transparency, judicial independence, and observance of legal rules and procedures. — – The trial was open to the public, but Shaqir Vukaj, deputy speaker of the Albanian Parliament, was not allowed into the courtroom. — Shaped by the situation created the day before yesterday in Tirana, charged with tension, panic, anxiety and terror at the heart of those in power, yesterday morning’s situation, before the start of the trial of Socialist Party chairman and MP Nano, on Durrës Street, where the Tirana Court is located, was as follows: Hundreds of uniformed police officers, dozens of rapid-response special forces, senior officers and officials from the Ministry of Public Order; shields, helmets, blue; je- (Continued on page 4) At the opening of the court session: FATOS NANO ADDRESSES THE JUDICIAL PANEL: «Even though you do not have

Statement of the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania The Presidium of the Socialist Party greets the thousands of its members and supporters throughout the country who expressed solidarity with the appeal of the General Governing Committee of the SP to turn 4 March into a national day of protest against violations of the law protecting human rights and the rights of the opposition. The calls «Socialist Party», «Freedom, democracy», «Free Fatos Nano», «No to dictatorship» were heard from Kukës, Mirdita and Dibra all the way to Kuçovë, Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Sarandë. These activities expressed the indignation of the entire people at the flagrant violations of the freedoms and rights of people and of the opposition. These activities were a legitimate, peaceful and civilized expression of the people’s will. The Presidium of the Socialist Party firmly emphasizes that the organization of these activities was entirely based on the laws adopted by Parliament, the constitutional law, and the law protecting human rights and freedoms. Throughout the country, without exception, these were peaceful organized or spontaneous gatherings. The illegal, unlawful and anti-democratic conduct, as we learn from statements by the Ministry of Public Order, includes the escalation of police violence even inside Socialist Party offices, as in the case of the violent police raid on the SP headquarters in Durrës. We denounce the conduct of RTV, which has become a mouthpiece broadcasting falsehoods, slander, hostility and national division; we denounce the savage police violence used on 4 March during peaceful and lawful activities, and even against people taking ordinary walks through the streets of the country’s cities, as well as the police’s unlawful and arbitrary obstruction of numerous Socialist Party MPs. The Presidium of the Socialist Party firmly and indignantly denounces the announcement by the Ministry of Public Order, which is based on slander, deliberate malicious fabrications, insults and attacks against an MP of the Socialist Party and against the Socialist Party of Albania. The conduct toward MPs Gramoz Ruçi, Namik Dokle, Ylli Bufi, Bardhyl Agasi, etc., who were stopped by police without any reason from moving along roads and around districts, and who in one case were also subjected to physical violence, is flagrantly unconstitutional and punishable. The Presidium of the Socialist Party considers everything contained in the statement by the Ministry of Public Order spokesperson concerning the conduct of the SP Secretary General and MP Gramoz Ruçi to be entirely [?], malicious and deliberate. This dangerous escalation of violence, this blind strategy of heightening the political tension, this unlawful obstruction of the SP’s activities by the state’s coercive agencies, is an open manifestation of totalitarianism and a denial of democracy and freedom; it is an outright transition to a police state and a new dictatorship. This display of the forces of public order is intended to create a suitable climate for those charged by the judicial authorities to carry out the party order and political [?] against the Socialist Party chairman and MP Fatos Nano. The Presidium of the Socialist Party makes this denunciation in the name of protecting freedom, the country’s stability and the Constitution, democracy and its institutions, and Albania’s present and future. Our party, with a strong sense of responsibility, will continue to commit itself and fight resolutely by democratic means and methods to defend the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy, freedom and human dignity. It regards this as a duty arising today from the country’s political and social developments, and one that lies [?] before every serious political force in the country. Tirana, 5 March 1994 The Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania. these activities were an expression of appreciation and commitment to the future of culture and people’s will. The leadership these activities is based entirely on the laws adopted by Parliament, on the constitutional law, and on the law protecting human freedoms and rights. Throughout the country, without exception, they are peaceful gatherings, organized or spontaneous, entirely peaceful. What is illegal, unconstitutional, and antidemocratic is the police violence unleashed against them, the arbitrariness, lawlessness, antidemocracy, and unprecedented brutality of the state’s coercive authorities toward members and supporters of the Socialist Party. The state’s antidemocratic brutality and blindness spared nothing—not violence against women, young people, veterans, or deputies of the People’s Assembly. The leadership of the Socialist Party denounces and condemns the state’s strategy of tension and police violence, which escalated with the explosion that plunged the country into a state of genuine police siege. The leadership of the Socialist Party denounces the violations of the Constitution and of the law protecting human freedoms and rights by the law-enforcement authorities, manifested in the absurd denial of the Socialist Party’s peaceful activities in the districts, even in enclosed halls and despite the authorities having previously given their approval. It resolutely denounces the brutal psychological terror carried out through the Democratic Party press and Radio Television, through slander and unscrupulous attacks, and through the broadcasting on radio and television of irresponsible, antidemocratic, and unlawful statements by certain associations or political parties, whose true nature is well known to the people. It denounces the reinforcement of the police deployment in all the country’s cities and the roadblocks in the Capital, placing the country under conditions of a state of emergency. It denounces the unlawful arrests of hundreds of innocent people, including women who were brutally beaten, young people, and veterans, who are maliciously labeled

FATOS NANO ADDRESSES THE JUDICIAL PANEL: «Even though you do not have the civic courage to stand face to face with yourselves, I agree to stand before you, because the law stands between us» (Continued on page 4) Mr. Chairman, This is a political trial, precisely because it has been gravely prejudged by the public and private positions, statements and actions of people belonging—or not belonging—to the judiciary, from the Head of State, the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, the chairman of the ruling DP, the chairman of the association of former political prisoners, the chairman of the Court of Cassation, etc., down to the newest chairman of the FRPD. Naturally, at the appropriate time, I will request that their public and documented pronouncements on justice be admitted as evidence of the political nature of the trial and, regarding other non-public actions, that these personalities appear as witnesses, together with their «nephews». In view of the circumstances mentioned above, and without identifying justice with particular individuals, I am indifferent to the selection and composition of the judicial panel. This assessment of mine also includes you, as its chairman, despite the many strong reasons that compromise your independent position, as required by law. I will mention just one: the authorities are using the «Paris Charter» against you—not the one concerning universally recognized democratic principles, but the one connected with the «Arsidi case» and your alignment, together with Hoti, on the side of citizen Berisha in this scandal. The latter, in his capacity as President and Chairman of the High Council of Justice, further stirs up and outrages your final moral restraints when he prejudges witnesses before that Council, of which you are also a member. Now the tandem has become a framework, and, as on other occasions, you come to this trial after Monday’s and yesterday’s meetings, from 9:00 to 13:00, with President Berisha, attended by P. Martini, A. Qeleshi, F. Dervishi and you, at Villa No. 4 near the Palace of Brigades, where meetings of the High Council of Justice are now held on the «Nano case» and many others; so, you are the prisoners in the prison-villa, while we are free, as you can see from the information. To conclude, even though you do not have the civic courage to face yourselves, I agree to stand before you, because the law stands between us. Thank you. FATOS NANO Chairman of the PSSH, Member of the People’s Assembly

Fatos Nano declares before the judicial panel during the afternoon session Mr. Chairman, I am not surprised by the decision you made to disregard and reject the preliminary requests grounded in law, presented with professional knowledge and integrity by my esteemed lawyer, Mr. Sanxhaku, whom I publicly thank. Nor am I surprised by circumstances such as a young prosecutor’s slanderous claims in support of the accusation today, or by his acting solely as a puppet prosecutor for Mr. Qeleshi—one more thing that needs to be added to form an idea-arrest. I mean, I am convinced that the decision you announced, although it does not respect the legal and constitutional principles that the law imposes on you in the performance of your duties, does not reflect your professional ability, but clearly shows that you do not have the freedom and independence to announce what is not merely a political consequence. I say «the decision you announced» because I am accused, and am convinced that you were not taught this, but it is paranoia. (Continued on page 5)

Agim Tirana speaks: Mr. Chairman, This decision by the Court, rejecting our reasoned request, based on the law, to return the case to the Prosecutor’s Office so that the necessary investigative actions may also be carried out, and to change the security measure by releasing Mr. Nano, was made by a prejudiced person to show that the state is determined to sentence and see only in prison the deputy of the People’s Assembly and Chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, even though it knows very well that he is innocent. With this decision, you are legitimizing serious violations of criminal procedure and the conduct of a one-sided and prejudiced investigation, dismissive of the vulgar accusation made against Fatos Nano. To investigate and try Fatos Nano, it was absolutely necessary... (Continued on page 5)

REBUTTAL OF THE STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER At the request of the Kuçovë Socialist Party leadership and with the approval of the law-enforcement authorities, a working meeting was held on March 2, 1994. Deputy Gramoz Ruçi also took part. Throughout the meeting, there were no problems with law-enforcement personnel or other citizens. The participants dispersed peacefully. Likewise, in order to clarify public opinion regarding certain statements broadcast on RTV and published in the Democratic Party newspaper «RD» concerning the participation of Deputy Gramoz Ruçi in Berat on March 4, 1994, these statements are untrue, and, for the sake of truth, we are obliged to clarify the following: The meeting planned to take place at the Palace of Culture at 10 a.m. on March 4, 1994, was canceled by the law-enforcement authorities only hours beforehand. Even after Deputy Gramoz Ruçi intervened with these authorities, their decision was not changed. After this, members and supporters of the Socialist Party gathered at the party offices and held a working meeting, which proceeded normally and without causing any incident. KUÇOVË SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERSHIP BERAT SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERSHIP

Shaqir Vukaj, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, was not allowed to attend the trial of Deputy Fatos Nano yesterday. After breaking through the numerous police cordons blocking the road, Mr. Vukaj appeared at the entrance to the Tirana court. But there, a person who introduced himself as the deputy chairman of the Tirana court said that he could not attend the trial. Meanwhile, in the courtroom where a deputy was being tried, there was no member of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly; only the escort officer of Mr. Tomorr Malasi was present. Apparently, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly has decided that the Assembly should follow the trial of the deputy through officers. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Press conference of the Socialist Party On Monday, 7 March 1994, at 11:00, a press conference will be held at the headquarters of the Socialist Party concerning the political situation in the country and the latest developments in the Nano proceedings. Representatives of the press and information media, radio and television, AT-SH, foreign agencies, and the diplomatic corps are invited to attend. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party.

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA