THE PROSECUTORS WILL PRESENT THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS ON SATURDAY - The “Nano file” is being closed without being opened, only to be reopened again - The experts’ answers—a prelude to the closing arguments - Everything is proceeding according to the announced script THE PROSECUTORS WILL PRESENT THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS ON SATURDAY FATOS NANO SPEAKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE EARS TO HEAR AND A MIND TO UNDERSTAND... - The “Nano file” is being closed without being opened, only to be reopened again - The experts’ answers—a prelude to the closing arguments - Everything is proceeding according to the announced script As expected, the hearing of the witnesses, at which the experts’ answers were heard, carefully glossing over the issues on the surface, which Ms. Fatbardha Telegrafi, a long-serving economics professional, read fluently but in a muted voice, did not mark anything new in the case being examined in court under the chairmanship of Mr. Bendo since 5 March of this year. The answers were neither more nor less than part of the indictment, and also a prelude to the arguments the prosecutors will present on Saturday, 26 March, at 12:00. The language of the answers had everything: accusatory tones, legal interpretations, the relevant references to the voluminous investigative files; but it lacked the most fundamental thing: the language of economics. As a result, the interpretations were prejudged, compromising, and wrong. “Their answers are just like the indictment,” declared Robert Gjini, the defendant accused of guilt, who, with the arguments of a capable and honest specialist, very easily overturned everything that had been prepared with such care. Sokrat Plaka said that, in general, he was satisfied with the answers given, while his lawyer, Ali Meta, said he had not received answers to his questions. This once again proves that the answers given are not the language of experts, but of Agim Bendo, whom he accused of having prepared them. After stating his objections “THIS TRIAL HAS BEEN CONCEIVED AND IS BEING CARRIED OUT TO GIVE THE ITALIAN STATE AND GOVERNMENT A GOOD LESSON IN DEMOCRACY” FATOS MANO declares before the court Ladies and gentlemen of the court, Mr. Chairman, While expressing my regard for the female expert and the young woman expert, and once again confirming my indifferent and contrary position toward the answers prepared by you and read courteously by Ms. Telegrafi; (Agim Bendo interrupts again, asking: “By whom?”) Fatos Nano continues. Mr. Chairman, I have included a compliment as well. In addressing you, I have also used the appropriate expression of respect, since I am not addressing you informally as “you” but formally as “you.” So, I repeat once again, for the record, that while answers prepared by you and read courteously by Ms. Telegrafi—with great Albanian professionalism—I remain just as far removed from the subject of Western emergency aid relations with recipient countries. 2. Considering these bad answers now to be passages from the final decision you will announce, I cannot help but observe that in democracy. In the mildest case, they should not even think of giving aid to a poor people like mine, and, if the opportunity arises, they should gather their wits and change their laws in accordance with the Albanian Stalinist legislation of 1976. On this occasion, concerning the hearing at which we listened to the answers, I cannot help but observe why this lesson in legitimization should continue... because: 1. For the fifth time, after Mr. Cela’s report to Parliament, after the indictment, after Mr. Ridvan Qarri’s testimony, and after the conclusions of the expert examination, we heard the same theses and arguments. Although they had been prepared with greater care this time than before, they were still the same. ... by the defendants and their lawyers regarding the answers to the questions, which lawyer Agim Tirana brought to a close by expressing solidarity with ... our 33 questions submitted during the investigation, the experts appointed by the Prosecutor’s Office show that they are very far from being objective in discovering the truth and ... ... at worst, they have not even thought of giving him help in the way they had planned. ... In the best-case scenario, he should come to his senses and change their laws ... in accordance with Albania’s 1976 Stalinist legislation. On this occasion, regarding the hearing whose answers we heard here, we cannot help but note why this powerful democratic lesson, which this trial has undertaken to teach the Italian state today, Mr. Chairman, with direct contribution (a few cases before Fatos Nano made this statement). Agim Bendo removed an American journalist from the courtroom. Editor’s note), was also accompanied by a powerful democratic lesson for the United States of America. Fatos Nano speaks, and people listen. You know this too, even those who say, «The opposition’s ...!» ... the urgency and continuity. But they overlook something essential. Fatos Nano did not speak, so as not to become an accomplice to crime and its shadowy service, and so as not to become an accomplice to those who are destroying everything from Lufi i Pukës to the Palace of Congresses. But this does not mean that Fatos Nano does not speak. Fatos Nano has spoken and continues to speak. But he speaks to those who have ears and listen, and who have the sense to understand. Even through his silence, Fatos Nano speaks, just as he speaks when he makes a gesture with his hand and when he laughs. Fatos Nano speaks because Arsid’s bogus decrees, Dervishi and Qeleshi’s fabricated dossier, Blerim Çela’s report, or Musaraj’s and Ali Shpeneprema’s police officers cannot shut him up. SOTIR LENA

IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SLOGAN “OPPOSITIONAL BUT BROTHERS..” We excerpt from an interview with Prime Minister Meksi given to Voice of America on 21.3.1994, on the eve of the “Democratic Spring.” “I think that the real opposition in Albania does not exist. There are opponents, and, let us say, enemies.” (Taken from the ATSH bulletin)

THE FIRST CONGRESS OF THE BSPSH IS OVER IT DECLARED A CEASEFIRE FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNMENT - Where are the founders of the BSPSH? - The first congress of the BSPSH is over. It signed off on submission to the government and mass unemployment among the working class. President Berisha’s greeting further raised the “enthusiasm of the congress delegates, and especially of the unemployed.” But Berisha’s greeting also further raised the nerves of all the unionists—the entire “planiparashitë” of Valeri. They were left outside the doors of this congress because of the democratic force of the “secret ballot” and were punished as splitters of the BSPSH. We tried to enter the congress as unionists who had come from Kavaja, but because they did not have the “mandate” of the secret ballot and saw the policeman’s baton pointed at them, they set off for the capital of democracy without seeing the Congress Palace and without saying a word to Valer as a “traitor to the interests of the working class” and “the government’s sweetheart.” Seeing this congress and Mr. Valer’s representation alongside the president, many unionists and ordinary workers asked: “Where are the first unionists, the founders of the BSPSH? Where are the leading figures of trade unionism who rose up against communism? Why weren’t they at this congress? Where are Gëzim Shima, Loku, Bardhi, Përmendja, who made the ‘Will we win or not?! Yes, yes, yes!’ What happened to Valer’s heroes? Many took to the roads of the world; many others became ‘ENEMIES’ of the BSPSH. Or did Valeri eliminate the anti-communists so he could triumph and grow bolder alone at Berisha’s side and in Meksi’s lap?! The BSPSH congress is over. What did it decide? A ceasefire for the working class, submission to the government. SOTIR LENA

Fatos Nano denounces the state’s unconstitutional actions against lawyer Sanxhaku At the beginning of yesterday’s court hearing, the chairman of the PSSh, Fatos Nano, made a statement concerning the conduct of the police authorities toward lawyer Përparim Sanxhaku, preventing him on Saturday from leaving for Paris to attend the meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, where the Nano case will also be examined. Such requests to be entered in the minutes—this is the vision, said Fatos Nano, concerning the intervention against lawyer Sanxhaku. I am not protesting in order to be under Mr. Qeleshi’s fascist police, weeping in the name of power; I am protesting only because the state does not function. I denounce and bring to public attention the incident in which plainclothes police stopped lawyer Sanxhaku, who, before being a lawyer, is a citizen of the Republic of Albania, and ... More specifically, I ... ... because it was not happening. Because the plainclothes police officer at Rinas who carried out the order received it verbally from 54 (I ask the gentlemen in the courtroom to consult the radio records). Meanwhile, 54 received the order in an envelope from 54. To narrow it down to 95, I mention 227 and what he carried out, but the sugar of three years in the ... 500 plus the date. In conclusion, ... (At this point, the chairman of the court, Mr. Agim Bendo, had the TVSH cameraman, Engjëll Strazimiri, removed from the courtroom, calling him a “situation.”) Fatos Nano: I see you are convinced too, Mr. Bendo, that the Television has gone beyond its status. Agim Bendo: That’s what you say. No, excuse me, if you tell me so. Fatos Nano: I said “you” just now. I even called him “brainless.” Agim Bendo: Television is called... The trial is ... The mind of a capable and honest specialist easily demolished everything that had been so carefully prepared. Sokrat Plaka said that, generally, Ali Meta, said that he had received no answers to his questions—a fact that once again proves that their request for an international-relations expert to be present is entirely justified. Mr. Gjini’s lawyer, Roland Përmeti, also said that he had received no answers to the questions asked, a conclusion also voiced by Hasan Halko and his lawyer. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Socialist Party and member of the People’s Assembly, Fatos Nano, as always very calm and dignified in the face of such disgraceful and desperate sessions, stated that he remains indifferent to everything connected with this fabricated political trial, while not forgetting to denounce ...

Parallels After we had gone through more than forty socialist springs, we said that the day had come for us to experience a truly spring-like Spring. But apparently it was not meant to be! For us, Spring apparently has to belong to someone. Our springs apparently cannot arrive without a “tail” trailing behind them. We are celebrating the Democratic Spring. Perhaps in a few years we will have a Republican Spring or a Legalist Spring, etc... Anyway. Whatever your “tail,” may it be spring! To celebrate this year’s ... that we learned about from TV. For two or three days in a row, announcements about these preparations were broadcast on the main news program. Among these announcements, an interview with Mr. Shaban Memia caught my attention. The TV reporter introduced the gentleman as follows: “Mr. Shaban Memia, PD secretary for Tirana, chairman of the commission set up to prepare the celebration.” In his interview, Mr. Memia says: “... This is the first time that a celebration without protocol and ... without directives has been organized in our country...” Two questions: “What does ‘without protocol’ mean? If it is without protocol, why is a commission and a commission chairman giving an interview needed?!” The other question: How can this celebration be held without directives? But you, who say this, are (as you were also introduced on TV) the PD secretary and at the same time the chairman of the commission?! So there is a directive! I wonder, is it no longer the PD’s? ILIR SKENDERI

At yesterday’s court hearing, two incidents caught the attention of those present, in which Mr. Bendo apparently lost his reason and resorted to ... low actions, insulting the journalist and in front of those present in the courtroom. Thus, quite unexpectedly, Mr. Bendo addressed TVSH cameraman Mr. Engjëll Strazimiri with ... words and in a rude manner, saying he should be ashamed for ... Those present in the courtroom initially did not understand Mr. Bendo’s sudden action. Later someone said that cameraman Strazimiri had been filming Mr. Bendo at the moment when he was picking his nose. The journalists ... ... tried to get Mr. Bendo to confirm the real reason for this action. But the police did not allow them to. According to the account, Bendo’s attack on the cameraman can only be explained by a momentary outburst from the chairman of the court, which Mr. Bendo did not want recorded on film. Therefore, he ordered the film cassette to be stopped. After that, the newly arrived cameraman from Television, Ylli Agovi, took the place of Strazimiri, who had been removed from the courtroom. But that was not all. A few minutes later, Mr. Bendo addressed a couple sitting at the back of the room and demanded that they leave the courtroom. It turned out to be an American journalist and her Albanian interpreter. According to Bendo, they were talking to each other in the courtroom. According to the Albanian companion, however, he was translating the court proceedings for the American journalist. It seems Mr. Bendo understood the translation of the trial as a conversation that was not suitable to take place in the courtroom. Therefore, he addressed the Albanian companion with the words: “Tell that American woman that trials in America are not held in cafés.” It seems Mr. Bendo knows the American court process from experience. In any case, she is Albanian-American; she left the courtroom having received a good lesson.

We inform the public that the Autonomous Oil Workers’ Union called a 24-hour strike on 17.3.1994, in accordance with the strike law, because the demands for Albpetroli to sign the collective agreement had not been met, as previously announced. The strike was held successfully in all enterprises in accordance with the strike law. Around 8,000 employees took part directly, and around 6,000 others supported it. Albpetroli’s management and its subsidiaries exerted pressure on workers, as in the Decantation Sector of NNN-Sheqishtë, where ... (Continued on page 4)