Yesterday, the head of the delegation of the Commission of the European Community in Tirana, Mr. Elio Germano, received at his office the deputy chairman of the SP and chairman of its parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, and the SP Secretary for Foreign Relations and member of the People's Assembly, Bashkim Zeneli, Yesterday, the head of the delegation of the Commission of the European Community in Tirana, Mr. Elio Germano, received at his office the deputy chairman of the SP and chairman of its parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, and the SP Secretary for Foreign Relations and member of the People's Assembly, Bashkim Zeneli. At this meeting, in an open and sincere atmosphere, they exchanged information and views on the latest political developments in Albania, with the “Nano Issue” taking a particularly prominent place. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

(Reprint) BACKGROUND The absurd theater of Albanian justice called the “Nano Issue” raises its curtain tomorrow for its second act. After three days of farce, the citizens of Tirana seem to feel that they are treading the kilometer of road in front of the court on Durrës Street as if it were part of another planet. Tomorrow, once again, only the blue police vans will be there, supposedly “maintaining order” beyond the Italian aid. And, ironically, few people will remember that these vans are themselves part of that aid. In reality, the trial of Nano can already be considered over. This became clear on its third day, when the gallery was visibly emptied of spectators, mostly journalists. After hearing the report of the chairman of the State Control Commission for what must have been the umpteenth time, this time in Prosecutor Qeleshi’s delivery, the curious had almost abandoned the courtroom. After the former diplomat Plaka’s monologue, it became clear that the out-of-tune machinery of Albanian justice had begun to move in a vacuum. Only the “Voice of America” correspondent, not counting RD, has not missed the hearings, apparently ready to broadcast every detail of the trial into the ether as evidence confirming the indictment. THE FIRST BOOMERANG The philosophy of “castrated balls” The trial of Nano is a clumsy political fabrication. This slogan, widely used over the past 10 months, seems to be acquiring new meanings with each passing day. These are the very positions and statements of today’s Albanian leader that shed light on the scale of the political crime conceived and calculated in the deranged minds of today’s rulers. This strategy, which Albanians had already encountered through the statements of Pipa and Marka, was until recently considered a theoretical possibility, unimaginable to implement under present conditions. But that was not the case. Berisha’s statement in an interview given to the Italian newspaper “La Stampa” (24 February ’94) makes clear that this political crime has become the philosophy of today’s government. Here is Berisha’s statement: “If we do not hold trials as in the former communist countries, there would be an uprising” (According to the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” 8 March 1994). The above phrase can only be understood as a philosophy of justifying the lynching of one part of the Albanian people to satisfy the other part, so that “there will be no uprising.” Put more bluntly, the above statement by the President of the Republic brings to mind the cries of the leaders of the association of former political prisoners, who demand Nano’s conviction as compensation for their balls. Thus, since one side of the Albanians has been left without balls, the other side must be left without them too. And since the conviction of the dictator’s widow and of the former leaders of the dictatorship does not satisfy their appetite, the “Nano Issue” was fabricated. The list is ready for the others, too. This is the political philosophy of today’s regime. It is no accident that, in the interview mentioned above, the Albanian President calls the Socialist Party “our enemies.” “Our enemies” … Once they calm down, analysts may perhaps uncover the links between this philosophy and the systematic efforts to sabotage noble initiatives for reconciliation and national unity. The “Nano Issue” thus becomes a boomerang for all Albanians. Its consequences will be grave and may take perhaps another half-century to repair. The vicious circle of settling scores with predecessors has gripped Albanians throughout this century. With this noose around our necks, it seems we are entering the new century as well. As soon as the trial of Nano began in Tirana, the world’s most powerful voice for democracy, the BBC, broadcast the Cassandra-like phrase: “Albania is turning into a stage for great civic dramas.” A phrase from Shakespeare’s homeland. But the bells toll only for those who have ears. THE SECOND BOOMERANG The Italian Foreign Ministry, which has confirmed that the goods in question are part of what is called Italy. And when one part of Italy brings shame upon itself, the shame belongs to all of Italy. This is what our accusers pretend not to understand. In truth, today’s Albanian government needed a casus belli to declare as “enemies” those who “stole” our aid. The reasons were and are ideological. The aid was given to us by the Italian socialists, Craxi, Martelli, Gianni De Michelis. But they are allies of “our enemies,” that is, of the “Albanian communists.” Therefore, ties with them must be severed. This explains Berisha’s dismissive attitude toward Italian senators immediately after the 22 March elections. This explains Berisha’s statement that “the Italian Embassy had become a section of the Communist Party” (see Berisha’s interview mentioned above in “La Stampa”). Resentment toward “mother” Italy, then, was great, notwithstanding the fact that over the past three years Italian democracy has also shone on Albanian soil (Machiavelli, Grafinai, etc.). Now we have to face the consequences of the second boomerang of accusations concerning Italian aid. The Italian ambassador in Tirana, Foresti, in keeping with diplomatic custom, is trying to show that relations between the two countries have not cooled. Meanwhile, Italian companies are taking the Albanian government to international courts over contracts it has broken. The Italian press portrays Albanian refugees as people with tails. Visits by Italian politicians to Albania now seem like a distant memory. Prosecutor Canale, just days after the European Parliament’s Resolution on Albania was adopted, “voluntarily” drops the case concerning Italian aid to our country. “By coincidence,” the European Parliament’s Resolution on Albania is adopted a few days after the news that Albania has accepted American spy planes rejected by Italy “for technical reasons.” “By coincidence,” two days before the trial of Nano begins, Lega Nord issues a statement expressing doubts about Nano’s political persecution. After this, we do not believe Albanian leaders will also accuse Lega Nord of being an ally of the “Albanian communists.” Nevertheless, as the saying goes, madness comes in seven kinds. And all Albanians will suffer for a long time from this madness of today’s rulers. For 45 years, for ideological reasons, we shut the doors on our most powerful guilt. Now, again for ideological reasons, we are trying to shut those doors, forgetting that we need them, not they us. This is the second boomerang of the Nano Issue. HAMDI JURE as the trial of Nano in Tirana is being described, the BBC, the world’s most powerful voice for democracy, broadcast over the airwaves great courtroom dramas». A phrase from Shakespeare’s homeland. For SECOND BOOMERANG «The friend of my enemy is my enemy» It is clear to everyone that the accusations against Nano concerning the Italian aid are, in fact, accusations against those who donated the aid—that is, against the Italian state and people. Even if violations and misappropriation of aid are found to have occurred, they happened in Italy. Only crates and sacks of food arrived on the Albanian shores. The money changed safes only inside Italian banks. Levante «Co» Penjola, Mini-

What did Luan Hajdaraga say about the politically persecuted?... Question: “Especially over the last 2–3 days, the press, radio and television have been commenting extensively, and historical appeals have been made, especially by Balli Kombëtar, Legaliteti and others, for vindication. How does the SP comment on such an act?...” The PSSH deputy chairman, Luan Hajdaraga, answered as follows at the latest press conference: “Honestly, when we heard those appeals, we did not give them much thought. First, because Balli Kombëtar completed its mission alongside the German Nazis in 1944, and we have no reason to take into consideration declarations by the dead. “We are sorry that an organization of the persecuted, the organization of the politically persecuted—I mean that group which truly suffered under the former regime—joins, or does not distance itself from, an extremist section of this organization, whose members make such statements. It is striking to hear talk there of humiliation, castration, and so on. I do not know how these eunuchs would fight.” (See “Zëri i Popullit,” page 5, dated 8 March 1994.)

- Selami, upon whom “a many-peaked mountain of accusations weighs,” as he harks back to antiquity: Since antiquity, silence has meant admitting the accusation. - - From a mountain in Pukë that is apparently with the DP, orders are issued to “the independent Albanian Justice”: Nano the thief must be sentenced as soon as possible. - Why is the leader of the democrats silent about the Lega Nord statement? Dirty money, private trips to the USA, eagerly restricted requests for land, comfortable homes consisting of rooms, etc.—Selami showed that he talks nonsense, that he has neither read nor heard anything of this kind, nothing except EPRD and RTVPD, while even setting aside “Voice of America,” which amplified: “Nano spoke.” Because Nano and his defense have spoken—in fact, they have spoken a great deal. On the very first day, in his statement responding to the accusation, defendant Nano addressed Judge Bendo, saying that those who were there… He addressed Judge Bendo, saying that he had been brought into that courtroom according to the “Charter of Paris,” the charter known by the well-known name of the Frenchman Arsidi, and that Bendo and the prosecutors had entered the courtroom after a several-hour meeting at Villa No. 4 in the Palace of Brigades with President Berisha. Then lawyer Sankhaku listed the procedural violations committed by the investigative body, violations also denounced by the lawyers of the other defendants; after that denunciation, only one term used by a jurist present in the courtroom seemed apt: minimalist. (Continued on page 4) - indictment. - - From a mountain in Puka, where they are apparently with the DP, the «foremost Albanian Justice» is being directed: the thief Nano must be convicted as quickly as possible. - «Lega Nord» communiqué? - Selami again and again. At last he found a village in Puka to give television the opportunity to broadcast yet another commentary on the court proceedings against opposition leader Fatos Nano. This time the aesthete wove his way into the latest assistance. «Why doesn’t Nano speak when a mountain of accusations hangs over him? Since antiquity, silence has meant the presence of an accusation,» Selami commented at the end. Although in antiquity there were no courtrooms, procedural and criminal codes, laws and provisions, parties on which the courts depend, personal guards, or election campaigns financed with

The trial against meanings with each passing day. The positions and statements of today’s Albanian leader themselves strategy, already known to Albanians ’94) clearly shows an uprising” (According to the ne[?]

Hajdin Sejdia arrived on 11. 9. 90; Xhuzepë Pernjola arrived on 21. 1. 91 - It was precisely the Iliria Holding company that brought the representatives of Levante Compani to Albania, representatives of Levante Compani in Albania. One document shows that Hajdin Sejdia initially came alone. Farudin Hoxha was already mentioned as of 11.9.90. On 12.11.1990, Farudin Hoxha, on behalf of the Committee for Economic Cooperation, and later its chairman, Hajdin Sejdija, submitted to the company “Iliria Holding”... The agreement was titled “On authorizing the conduct of trade activities...” (Continued on page 4)

Fatos Nano is accused of bringing in «LEVANTE CO» «The investigation shows that the presence of the firm Levante Co in the delivery of emergency aid was not accidental, but a deliberate selection, supported by the same decision and statements of the defendant and the leaders of this firm themselves... ... it was precisely the interest in securing material benefits for private firms through Levante Co in the country that would determine the defendant’s will in selecting the entity for the delivery of aid.»

(From the television program of May 3, 1993) HAJDIN SEJDIA arrived in August 1990 I publicly declare that what I am about to say is documented, and that I make the documents available to anyone: television, the press, anyone interested in the truth. I accept moral and legal responsibility for this. I had never met Hajdin Sejdija, nor had I read about him before... On 27.08.1990 ... Farudin Hoxha received information from the Committee for Relations with the Outside World, attached to the Ministry of ... (Continued on page 4)

I did not work under pressure from Mr. Fatos Nano, but did my duty On the verbal and written orders of the then former President Ramiz Alia and the then former Prime Minister Adil Çarçani, our Foreign Minister (Reiz Malile) instructed our ambassador in Rome by telegram dated 14.02.1991 to formally inform the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mr. A. Grafin) that: 1. The Albanian government requests emergency assistance of 30 billion lire. 2. To facilitate this aid, the Albanian government offers Levante-Co Bari, while for its distribution

WHEN AND HOW DID LEVANTE-CO COME TO ALBANIA? (DECLARATIONS AND TESTIMONIES) Fatos Nano took office as prime minister on 22. 2. 1991; Levante-CO arrived before 22. 1. 1991. Fatos Nano did not appoint Levante-Co; he found it already appointed. The “Nano” government, by Decision No. 91 dated 12. 03. 1991, excluded “Iliria Hollding” from the distribution of aid.