— The farcical court decisions cannot close the “Nano Case” — The legal certificate that those in power obtained with a single signature from Judge Bendo is not enough to convince Europe and its politicians of the guilt of Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano. While Berisha’s government is becoming increasingly agitated by the day, Europe continues to show patience and offer opportunities to make amends. For the fourth time, the “Nano Case” will take its place on the table of European politics as an important issue. Until now ignored by the Albanian authorities and government, its importance very quickly turned it into a subject of debate in European politics as well. Organizations, politicians, associations and political parties at home and abroad reacted immediately to the arrest of Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano. They saw his arrest as an escalation of the ruling party’s political persecution of its opponents. Considering it a flagrant violation of human rights, they not only protested but called for his immediate release, thereby marking the first step towards making amends and putting a modern democracy into practice. The Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva considered the arrest and imprisonment of the Chairman of the Albanian Socialist Party an unprecedented, illegal and political case. The vote in the European Parliament and its appeal to the Albanian government demanding his immediate release were an important indication confirming that, for Europe, his arrest and imprisonment were solely politically motivated. While the authorities in Albania, under the blue banner of politics, were putting Fatos Nano on trial in March, Europe’s parliamentarians discussed the “Nano Case” once again, this time in Paris, reiterating their previous position. But although the Albanian state believes that a court ruling closes every avenue, Europe has a different view. While the Nano case file is on its way to the Court of Appeal to receive its “blessing,” Europe is again sending a signal: from 11–14 July 1994, the Inter-Parliamentary Union will once again discuss the Chairman of the Albanian Socialist Party in Geneva. In the face of all this growing interest from European institutions, the Albanian government has only remained silent or objected. Its first signal came from Mr. Brozi, who called the European Parliament’s resolution interference in the country’s internal affairs. Then came the “arguments” Mr. Arb(n)ori presented to these institutions with the “knowledge” of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, ending with the “commitments” the country’s President, Berisha, made regarding an open and transparent trial. How did the Nano trial end? Like a grotesque comedy for those who staged and carried it out. His trial once again convinced everyone that Fatos Nano was not put in prison for the abusive acts alleged against him, which are unsupported by evidence, but solely because he is an opponent of the regime and Chairman of the Albanian Socialist Party—a party that, through its showing in the local elections, demonstrated to the Democratic Party that Fatos Nano would soon come to power. Fatos Nano was unjustly arrested, unjustly imprisoned and, finally, to complete the last part of the script, unjustly convicted, fulfilling the orchestration of certain extremist elements within the government and the Democratic Party, who are literally terrorized and frightened by the growing authority of the Socialist Party. Although his arrest and conviction did not achieve their purpose of splitting and destroying the opposition, especially the Socialist Party, they convinced Europe that the current authorities intend to eliminate all other political alternatives. Fatos Nano’s conviction is a political barometer of the situation in Albania today; it is the clearest indication that fundamental human rights and freedoms—the foundation of a contemporary democracy—are being violated here. To the misfortune of the “scriptwriters” behind such proceedings, the Socialist Party emerged from this battle stronger. The calculations made by the Democratic Party, Sali, Cela and other “ideologues” of the “Anti-Nanoist” camp came to nothing. Not only was the public unconvinced by the truth of such accusations, but Europe and its democratic institutions denounced it from the very first day as a fabricated political trial serving the orchestration of certain groups within the government. While the Albanian authorities believe that the court rulings close the “Nano Case” once and for all, Europe continues to help by offering opportunities to make amends. Today, more than ever, we want to be welcomed within Europe’s gates, and they will not ignore their voices. By defending Fatos Nano, they want to defend Albania’s new democracy, which is being trampled underfoot; they want to defend the new justice system and give it its true values; they want to restore to the people the ability to choose a better society for tomorrow. While it is clear to Europe that this case can end only with Fatos Nano leaving prison as an innocent man, the Albanian authorities think otherwise. Even though the corrupt establishment bears the title “Onozitar” [sic], brothers, we say it is otherwise; indeed, Europe knows this, having read Berisha’s statements in “La stampa.” This is the fourth time they have spoken, and they must be heard. They will speak a fifth and sixth time, until they are convinced that a true democracy is being built in Albania. ARDIAN MYSLYMI Again during the days of March, under the blue of the police uniforms, [he/they] brought a case against Fatos Nano, a parliamentarian of Europe, and discussed the “Nano Case” although the Albanian state thinks that with a decision His arrest and conviction, although they did not achieve their aim of dividing and destroying the opposition, and especially the PS, or convincing Europe that today’s government will eliminate all other political alternatives, the conviction of Fatos Nano is the barometer This is the fourth time he has spoken, and he must be listened to. They will speak for the fourth time as well. Until they are convinced that a genuine democracy is being built in Albania. ARDIAN MYSLYMI he did not know. He managed to get away, which now makes him difficult to identify, since he is... we are working on this, because we consider the overthrow of the state official a scandalous incident, he says in connection with this incident [The] house in the office of the intermediary, since, from what I have heard, this is how some enterprise directors chose it. But we have... because we have nothing to pay him. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

The Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, received at the Party headquarters a Chinese delegation from the Association for International Understanding, headed by Mr. Zhao Pingsheng, a member of the Association’s Governing Council. Dr. Pëllumbi, having praised the successful visit to China last year by the SPA delegation headed by its chairman, Fatos Nano, at the invitation of this association, informed the Chinese guests of the views of the Socialist Party of Albania on developments inside Albania and aspects of foreign policy. Within the framework of Albania’s European orientation, said Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, the Socialist Party has valued and called for relations with China to be renewed without any prejudice. We have appreciated the visits to China by senior Albanian officials, but naturally we also expect concrete results from them. The Socialist Party has recognized China’s major achievements and the country’s high rate of economic development along the path of reform. Developed countries are learning from these developments; Albania should learn from them too. China can help Albania considerably, particularly in reactivating the economy and technology that it itself built here. The Albanian people, despite the developments in Albanian-Chinese relations in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of ideological conflicts and the prejudices of the dictatorship, retain a feeling of gratitude and affection for the Chinese people and appreciate the unstinting assistance provided in the economy and other fields. The people of China are a people with a distinguished cultural tradition, great determination and creative imagination, qualities that are placing China among the world’s most economically developed countries. We have also recognized and continue to recognize China’s role as a member of the Security Council and its great efforts for peace and stability, particularly in the Southeast Asian region. For his part, Mr. Zhao Pingsheng, after thanking his hosts for the warm reception and frank conversation, gave an account of the current situation in China and its major achievements in reform, socioeconomic development, and so on. “We value our relations with friendly Albania,” he said. “We are ready to help revive the economy, develop planned cooperation, and create room for Chinese firms and investment in Albania. The Chinese people retain sincere feelings of friendship and understanding for the Albanian people, and we must work to take these relations further.” The meeting, held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, was attended by Gramoz Ruçi, Bashkim Zeneli and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit,” Thoma Gëllçi. The group of Chinese guests was accompanied at the meeting by He Liangsheng, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Tirana. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

SHKODER The director of the education directorate punched On Friday morning, near the pharmacy in the “Qemal Stafa” neighborhood of the city of Shkodër, a person punched Mr. Besnik Bekteshi, director of the education directorate of this district, as he was going to his office as usual. Mr. Besnik said that he did not know the person in question. The man managed to get away, so it is now difficult to identify him, although we are working on it, because we consider the beating of a state employee a scandalous incident, a police station employee said about the incident, notwithstanding that he may not have been on duty as an instigator. Meanwhile, an employee of the committee administration, commenting on this as open pressure, added: “I wonder whether we, too, now have to hire private escorts to accompany us from home to the office and back, since, from what I’ve heard, some enterprise directors have chosen to do just that. But we are in a difficult position because we have nothing to pay them with.” Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

WITH THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY On Thursday morning, Parliament discussed two draft laws. The first draft law concerned regulations governing the sale of goods at retail and wholesale by Albanian traders. Under it, traders are legally required to display the prices of their goods using clearly visible labels. The second draft law concerned an amendment to the law on political parties. The amendment concerns the section that sets out the rules for state subsidies to political parties. Mr. Arben Imami voiced the strongest objections to this amendment. In his view, there are no sound reasons for changing the existing law, which was adopted by consensus among the parties. According to Imami, this amendment obstructs the consolidation of small parties, which Albania needs while it is in the first stage of pluralism. “Under this law,” Imami said, “the parties in coalition with the Democratic Party, such as the PSD and PR, benefit; with this law, the party in power gives them a kind of bribe or salary.” He called for funds for political parties to be allocated according to the number of seats they hold in Parliament. The Socialist group, through Leonit ev Çuki, expressed its general support for the law, which aims to regulate the distribution of funds better, while also voicing some reservations. In his view, amendments to laws of this kind should be made very carefully and only when there are sound reasons, because they can set a precedent for changing other important laws previously adopted by consensus. Such amendments should also not affect the interests of particular parties, create suspicions among one party, or grant privileges to another party. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

A party in exile or ... A delegation from the PPD has been in Tirana for several days. For several days now, a delegation from the PPD has been in Tirana. It is the party of the Albanians in Macedonia—specifically, its so-called radical wing, based in Tetovo and headed by Arben Xhaferi and Menduh Thaçi. During these days, the delegation has held intensive meetings with Eduart Selami, Tritan Shehu and Democratic Party MPs, and perhaps with the head of state himself, Mr. Sali Berisha, who on that same day received the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Tirana. No newspaper wrote about this delegation. Neither radio nor television mentioned it. Why? How can this silence be explained when previously every visit by them was greeted with fanfare and covered in detail on TV? The delegation is staying at Villa 30. Perhaps it has left today. Perhaps it is still there. Who knows? The villa is guarded by soldiers and SHIK employees. Or perhaps they have set off for Tetovo and may have stayed in Durrës or Pogradec, at government residences—as the former villas of the bloc members are now called. Perhaps in a few days the ruling party’s newspaper and RTV will say: “They paid a friendly visit to our country...”—just as they used to wax lyrical about Marxist-Leninist party groups that were kept underground and feasted at the bloc’s villas in Durrës, Vlorë, Pogradec and elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with receiving and seeing off one group from the PPD in Macedonia. The wrong lies in the silence and secrecy—especially if they come at others’ expense. G. V.

A statement by the Trade Union Council of the Laç district, received by our newspaper’s editorial office, says, among other things, that after analyzing the economic and social situation of the district’s workers, the council notes: first, unemployment in the Laç district is increasing as a result of the indiscriminate privatization of economic and agricultural enterprises. A statement by the Trade Union Council of the Laç district, received by our newspaper’s editorial office, says, among other things, that after analyzing the economic and social situation of the district’s workers, the council notes the following: First, unemployment in the Laç district is increasing as a result of the indiscriminate privatization of economic and agricultural enterprises. So far, the figure has reached 21,000 unemployed, not counting seasonal unemployment; every day, their [benefits] are being discontinued. Second, the land law, especially in the former state agricultural enterprises (NB), has still not been implemented, at a time when reports cite figures of 90 percent, and workers at these enterprises in most cases receive neither assistance nor social support. Third, health services in the district, particularly hospital care, are poor because of a lack of premises and equipment. Fourth, as a result of a customs policy that does not protect the production of phosphate fertilizers and chemical fertilizers in general, the superphosphate plant is heading toward closure. Fifth, the government’s decision to raise the prices of electricity, kerosene, firewood and telephone services is considered a coercive measure against the people. Sixth, other services are beyond citizens’ real economic means because their fees are very high. Bearing in mind all these problems, and many others that are currently a source of concern in people’s lives, the Trade Union Council of the Laç district calls on the authorities at every level to act with greater restraint in exercising their powers, so that they serve people democratically rather than imposing coercive measures that make life unaffordable for them. BEKTASH ZENELI

At the entrance to Bulqizë, two meters from the road, a three-storey building made of silicate bricks catches the attention of passers-by with its balconies covered by blue-and-white awnings. “Now we turn from the shaft, Bomba... which was not connected with Bulqizë’s well-known winter but with an alarm...” [partly illegible] Instead of children, the rooms, halls and balconies are said to have been given over to prosecutors’ equipment and detainees. A crate... [partly illegible] The local authorities in Bulqizë, with a large number of enterprises, departments and social-cultural facilities at their disposal (as a result of their redistribution), found the easiest (and most convenient) way to remove the children from their kindergarten, complete with steam-heated radiators, and make room for the Prosecutor’s Office. In Bulqizë this has been described as an “excellent solution,” on the grounds that children did not know how to speak, submit petitions or go on strike. The Prosecutor’s Office can carry out its work in complete peace and quiet. ZALLI BULQIZË, 4 ...

— IRI seminar in Elbasan — Representatives of the International Republican Institute held a seminar on April 22 in the hall of the House of Culture in Elbasan, focusing on communication between parliamentarians and voters. Members of the People’s Assembly, representatives of political parties in the district elected to governing bodies, and others took part. After giving a brief presentation on the history of the Republican Institute and its importance in Albania, the Institute’s representatives presented participants with the most important topics related to democracy, such as majority rule; minority rights; the rule of law; the role of the legislative body in a democracy; and the rights and relationship between elected representatives and voters. Two main presentations, delivered by well-known American specialists in the respective fields, focused on the role and duties of parliamentarians and on practical ways and methods for communicating with their voters. The speakers emphasized parliamentarians’ responsibilities in a pluralist democratic system, voters’ responses to their work, the majority’s responsibility for government policy, the alternatives that minority parties should offer to the parties in the majority, the role of the independent mass media, and so on. Turning to specific issues in parliamentarians’ work, advisory groups were established by each member of parliament to gather information and address problems in their electoral districts; American and Albanian parliamentary practices were discussed. Members of the People’s Assembly from the PS, PD, PSD and PR presented their experience of communicating with the electorate. On this occasion, seminar participants put numerous questions to the MPs, with the aim of enriching their communication practices with the electorate through some of the practices and experience of their colleagues in the USA. The American specialists, through the questions they put to members of our People’s Assembly and to the seminar participants, created an atmosphere of very open debate. Concrete examples once again underscored the conclusion that MPs are servants of the people: they must take up the people’s concerns and bring them to parliament and government. The complexity and serious conflict between the parties represented by an MP, on the one hand, and the voters, on the other, were also highlighted. SEJDIIN CEKANI