The political trial against the chairman of the PSSH and MP FATOS NANO resumes today . CAN ONE SPEAK OF JUSTICE WHEN THE TRIAL AND THE ACCUSATION ARE ONE AND THE SAME? One, two, three more... charges dismissed in 8 days One, two, three more... hopes dashed for an independent judiciary Before Italian justice, I am in the position of a person under investigation, not of a defendant, as someone in Albania says. I have been summoned twice by the Italian authorities, and I cannot say whether there will ever be a trial — it is the administrator[?] of “Levante co,” Xhuzepë Perniola, who is witness number 51 and perhaps a witness of prime importance, on the eve of the reopening of the trial against the opposition leader. At the first hearing of the trial and in the indictment, they did not hesitate to state that Perniola was involved in criminal activity in Italy and then indirectly accuse him of having embezzled large sums with Nano’s direct assistance (according to the Penal Code), or of having “indirectly stolen 9 million dollars” (according to the logic of the independent judiciary—or rather, the Criminal Code and Procedure—of Albanian justice). And through the teeth of the prosecution, even that which a dog would forcibly tear away was extracted from him during the five days of questioning of the 51 witnesses, and then presented as the prosecution’s case. A boomerang?! Nothing else but that. A few months ago, the spokespersons of the authorities and the Tirana prosecution, through the “exham” eye of the camera (strangely, this person does not write with a pen but with a shovel), announced the publication of irrefutable documents, in which it was made clear: “You should follow the implementation. I understood that I should follow the implementation of other tasks that arise for the distribution of aid, and see through to the end the resolution of the problems I had raised in the letter, bearing in mind that they should be reflected in the agreement to be made with the Italian government” (recorded on a dictaphone in the courtroom). And so another charge falls, another one from Ramiz Alia, and another... Not only that: the toothless prosecution has ordered dentures. Once again, expenses continue for this political trial, expenses to falsify the truth about innocent people, expenses to bite and politically eliminate people who present alternatives to those in power. More expenses for biting, to kill once again every hope of an independent judiciary. ERION BRAÇE I have been summoned twice by the Italian justice system, and I am not in a position to say whether there will ever be a trial — says the administrator of «Levante», Xhuzepe Perniola, who adds the figure of 51 witnesses and perhaps one witness of primary against the Albanian opposition leader, Mr. Fatos Nano. Nothing new in the interview with the suspect in the theft of 9 million Albanian-Italian dollars — dollars whose ownership was unspecified and which were later adopted as joint funds. Once again, Perniola puts forward his arguments in a whisper, playing down the abuse and suspicion that he himself embezzled large sums, arguments that he also presented in the only testimony given for the Albanian side months ago in Italy. But despite these arguments, facts and documents presented before prosecutor Qelesh i Dervishi and later GJokutaj, in response to the claims of Mr. Nano’s lawyers, the arrested man, the handcuffs, ... But what is lacking is the seriousness and persistence needed to uncover the truth as it is and to ensure that there is a genuine trial. In Italy, and beyond, they continue to accuse him of having embezzled on a large scale logic of an independent court (even under the criminal code and procedure) of Albanian justice. Nevertheless, the much-accused president displays characteristic Western courtesy in his response, choosing cotton instead of bullets; he chooses the expression «as someone in Albania says» rather than filing a lawsuit for «slander and insult committed publicly» against a specialized body such as the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, whose jurisdiction is clearly defined even for such accusations of public slander, although not everyone files a complaint. But, despite the difficulty, having once again got past such bluffs, the Albanian accuser still does not back down, although it is clear from what it says that the destination and the «accusations» were unexpected for the accuser. his spokesperson told the authorities and the prosecutor’s office that the Albanian people of Tirana, through the «pickaxe of the eye», had «many (strangely, this person doesn’t write with a pen but with a pickaxe) news items and published documents that made no sense, in which accusations were being made against Mr. Nano». And in the paper there appeared the note «Agreed! You follow up on its implementation»—a note from / Nans to Gavrosh Pogaca concerning «his sellers for the removal of etc.» in Italian. This indisputable document is accompanied by entirely improper comments such as: «Agreed, the wall belongs to Ardjin Sejda; agreed, money was taken and given to Perniola», etc. Pickaxe-wielders’ hallucinations. And all of this in Rr. and then. Because now he continues to pull teeth from the mouth of the accusation. Questioned as a witness by Judge Bendo, Gavrosh Pogaca testifies: «I understood this noti-» rightful, because the destination and the «Aca» were unexpected for the accusation. / Bendo, Gavrosh Pogaca testifies: «I understood this noti-»

On 13 March, at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the party’s deputy chairman, G. Pervanov, received and met with the deputy chairman of Albania’s PS, N. Dokle. Pervanov briefed his interlocutor on the political and social situation in Bulgaria. “Today,” he said, “we are holding an expanded plenary session, attended also by all the representatives of the PS in local government. We are approving the party program, on the basis of which we will draw up our electoral program for elections that may be early elections during 1994. People’s confidence in the PS has grown,” Pervanov stressed. “In the latest polls, we are leading by 10 percent.” Namik Dokle spoke about the political situation in Albania and the PS’s activities in this context. He told his interlocutor about the PS’s concrete alternatives, which were approved at the PS’s Second National Conference and have received a positive response from Albanian public opinion. In response to G. Pervanov’s interest in the Nano case, N. Dokle explained the antidemocratic stance of the three branches of power in Albania regarding the European Parliament resolution calling for Fatos Nano’s release and a fair trial for him, without handcuffs. “The photograph of Fatos Nano in handcuffs at his trial was published in the Bulgarian press,” Pervanov said. “This is astonishing to all of us: how can this happen in a country that claims to be democratic? It is not only our press, but also the independent press that follows the trial with sympathy for Fatos Nano.” “The most terrible handcuffs,” said N. Dokle, “are not the handcuffs of the police, but those of the state, which organized the political trial and is conducting it in violation of the constitutional rights of citizen Fatos Nano. And when this is done to a party chairman, to an MP, one can imagine what happens to others.” They then exchanged views on the situation in the Balkans. The discussion took place in an open and friendly atmosphere.

A forecast question for RD — Why is he going: to “defeat” Nano at the Interparliamentary Assembly, or to return the Arsidi[t] decoration in the Ars id-Hoti-Bendo case?! — Let’s wait and see, or, more accurately, sit back and watch. — The European Parliament resolution held Mr. Berisha accountable. The many questions put to him in Brussels, as Ms. Aida Shehu, the Presidency spokesperson, acknowledged on last night’s broadcast, left the distinguished President sweating profusely. What questions were asked and how Mr. Berisha answered them is a state secret from the Albanian people, regardless of the fact that all of Europe has found out. But the “Nano case” did not end there, because firstly “the socialists manipulated the European Parliament,” and secondly because the European Parliament made a “flagrant interference in internal affairs.” (Continued on page 4)

— Interview with the distinguished master of Albanian football, given to our newspaper’s deputy editor-in-chief LUAN M. RAMA. — “Zëri i Popullit”: Panajot Pano, a name that immediately brings to mind the glory of Albanian football, has been sitting here for days on one of the last benches in the Nano courtroom. What brings you to this courtroom, Mr. Pano? Panajot Pano: I have been coming to this courtroom since the first day, because my brother-in-law, Robert Gjini, has been imprisoned for nearly eight months. “Zëri i Popullit”: I’m sorry, Mr. Pano, that we meet under these circumstances, but since the occasion has arisen, can you tell the readers how you feel? Panajot Pano: How do I feel? The way anyone else in my place would feel. I am extremely upset because I know Berti is innocent. I am not speaking only as his brother-in-law; I know this case well. I know Berti because I raised him myself; he is one of the family’s young friends. He is a man of conscience and good qualities. He has worked honestly, with soul and heart, from the very beginning—from the time he left school until he was arrested. “Zëri i Popullit”: To put it briefly, and to refer a little to the history mentioned by the judges at the hearings: if Mr. Berti Gjini is not guilty at all, then why do you betray him? (unclear passage) “Zëri i Popullit”: And what, in your view, is missing from this trial? Panajot Pano: The trial has everything needed for people to be tried, analyzed and examined: the judges, the prosecutors, the arrested, the handcuffs. But it lacks seriousness and the determination to uncover the truth as it is, and to be a genuine trial. “Zëri i Popullit”: Let’s compare it to a football match. Two teams are facing each other: the prosecution on one side, with players Qelesh and Gjokutaj, who don’t have substitutes on the bench, and the defendants on the other, scoring goals with their lawyers on the substitutes’ bench. Panajot Pano: If we look at it that way, I would compare the defendants to the “Partizani” of my time, and the prosecutors to Gjirokastra when we beat them 6–0. It isn’t only their fault. The coaches have done a poor job. They have brought a weak team... “Zëri i Popullit”: And what do you think of Nano, the lawyer in the dock? Panajot Pano: Nano is very well prepared, even though he has shown how indifferent he is. He skillfully takes advantage of every mistake his opponent makes, and when he gets the ball, he knows how not to lose it. In a word, he plays on the football field. “Zëri i Popullit”: And what about the panel of judges? Panajot Pano: Judges, as always, take the side of “Dinamo,” which in this case is the prosecution. “Zëri i Popullit”: Thank you!

On 3 March, a meeting of the steering committee of the Socialist Party of the Laç district was held in the town of Mamurras, attended by Luan Hajdaraga, deputy chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, and MP Alfred Paloka. The meeting reviewed the party’s work in the district and, in particular, its response to the proceedings of the Second National Conference. As was noted recently, 90 new members have joined the Socialist Party in the Laç district. A new steering council has been organized for the [unclear: parts?] of the highland area, and four new organizations have been established: in the town of Milot, with 21 new Euro-socialist members; in neighbourhood No. 4 of Laç; in Sanxhak of Laç municipality; and in the village of Droja, in Mamurras municipality. The chairman of the Socialist Party in the Laç district, Spëjtim Cami, presented information on intensifying the district party’s work. In the current situation, it was emphasized that, among other things, the Socialist Party has also worked well with the trade unions and associations, including the agricultural union and the association of the disabled. In support of the agricultural unions, Socialist councillors in the municipality and district requested and secured special meetings of these councils to support the blocking of the agricultural reform, while the councillors...

After putting off for months and months his legal obligation to appear before Parliament to answer questions submitted by Socialist MPs, Alush Dragosha finally gave in. Until now, he and those above him had justified his failure to appear before Parliament with “legal” arguments. According to him, as Prosecutor General, he was not obliged to answer questions. We have always suspected that there were other, extra-legal reasons for this. Other, extra-legal reasons indeed. The Constitutional Court’s decision 20 days ago took away that pretext. But as a jurist, he knew this very well long before then. Asked whether he had ever resigned, he replied that if that had happened, Parliament would have been the first to know, because, he continued, Parliament had appointed him and his resignation should also be submitted to Parliament. So, if Parliament has the right to appoint or dismiss you, how can it not have the right to demand that you answer questions? (Continued on page 4) And what rights do parliamentary groups have, Mr. Dragosha? There were 18 questions, which this gentleman declared he had answered, without lifting his head from the papers he had prepared in advance. In fact, he did not lift his head even once throughout the entire session. Judging from what some colleagues and other Socialist MPs who had known the prosecutor previously said—that he was such a good and honest man—his [unclear] could be interpreted as a sense of shame over the undignified position he has fallen into. In short, we can say that the Prosecutor General’s performance in Parliament is regrettable. After explaining why Mr. Dragosha should have resigned long ago, a Socialist MP concluded by saying that it was good he had not resigned, because nowadays it is very difficult to find someone like him. We will cover this session in greater detail in tomorrow’s issue. “Correspondent of ‘Zëri i Popullit’”

Regarding the news of a second tragedy in the Çekini family, our editor today asked members of the Parliamentary Commission investigating the murder of Gjovalin Çekini on 14 January 1994 in Shkodër for their views on the incident. Alfred Paloka told the newspaper: “The news of the death of Gjovalin Çekini’s brother saddened me greatly. In this tragic case, and [shibodri?], I extend my most sincere condolences to that family. On this difficult day, I wish both daughters to be [unclear]. On behalf of this family, I want to express my condolences to the Çekini family, whose grief and distress are shared by many Albanians, who, together with them, demand an end to the acts of taking people’s lives. As a citizen, I wish to send a message of peace and understanding to the authorities of Shkodër, where, in response to many cases of crime that have caused loss of life, there has been concern...” manage to maintain tolerance and show mutual respect. This is what they have always been distinguished for. As a member of the Parliamentary Commission examining the act of the killing of Gjovalin Çekini, I want to emphasize on this occasion that, at the appropriate time, together with the other members of the commission, I will present assessments regarding the findings and the actions that the relevant bodies should take to establish the truth in this matter and to ensure that such acts do not happen again in the future. Finally, I want to draw the attention of the authorities in the country, especially in this district, to the need to increase their seriousness and commitment to carrying out their duty honestly as an independent body serving to protect life, security and peace of mind. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission investigating the killing of Gjovalin Çekini, Mr. Halil Shamata, told the newspaper: I am not aware of this fact.