The trial of 5 members of the Greek minority began in Tirana - The heavy and unwanted political burdens make the Albanian state’s accusation dissipate - Withdrawal of the charge. Political pressure; once again, the Court is being made to yield to it The week began with tension in Tirana, too. Yesterday, Albanian official life once again carried pronounced political burdens, this time different from those of the previous weekend, which had arisen as a result of the conflict: Albanian–Albanian administration. A more significant aspect than that conflict—the Albanian administration–Greek administration conflict, which for months has been made public in the official circles of both countries as well as in those of many European institutions—reached the First Instance Court in Tirana yesterday amid a highly charged atmosphere. The atmosphere before the trial: Has war been declared between Albanians and Greeks? The high political tension, arising from the absurd lack of friendly dialogue between the governments of the two countries, as well as from their scandalous portrayal as researchers in the context of absurd statements and accusations, extending even to state terrorism against a NATO member country and the country holding the presidency of the European Twelve, has made interest outside the Tirana court extraordinary. [text cut off at the bottom of the page] The bells of the Church of the Annunciation in Tirana remind Orthodox believers that today is the feast of Saint Mary. Today is also the trial of five minority leaders from the minority organization «OMONIA». Before 8:00, there are already journalists from foreign newspapers, mainly Greek, who arrived in Tirana over the past weekend, and dozens of police officers heading to the court entrances. Television cameras capture the faces of several Greek MPs who have come to follow the trial, as well as some of Greece’s best-known lawyers. Among them is the president of the Greek lawyers’ association, and also the Deputy Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Greek MEP Mr. Anastasopulos, who explains that he has come both as a Greek for Greeks and as a representative of the European Parliament to observe how the rule of law functions in Albania and how human freedoms and rights are respected. Journalists go about their work, moving along the court railings, accompanied by the large police presence; strangely, the officers spoke Greek as well. Perhaps they had previously been refugees, as everyone knows, arrogant to the very end. At around 8:45, the five imprisoned members of the minority arrive in police transport vans in the court courtyard. The crowd, which may have numbered more than a hundred, without exception shower them with kisses; lawyers and journalists climb onto the railings and greet the five defendants as they get out of the vehicles with applause. Patriotism from across the border, or simply courage for the five prisoners… Photo: Armanda Babani

SHKODER At last, the remaining hunger strikers were brought out of the hunger strike. Everything was done under cover of Sunday. This time, police minibuses were replaced by ambulances. The hunger strikers were transported in groups in three ambulances, thinking they were being taken to hospital for medical care, but within minutes they found themselves at the police station. Only then did they understand the sincerity of the operation by the white coats, when they found themselves in the premises of the blue uniforms. We recall that this operation had been preceded by the detention of several individual members of the association the previous afternoon and during the night; they were immediately sent to Tirana. The hunger strikers were kept at the station until late at night, where they were questioned by the relevant inspectors of the MR, and, as far as we have been informed, the hunger strikers who were questioned stated that we did not enter the (Continued on page 4)

A family member writes to us I, the person writing this, am a 29-year-old woman, married with two children. My husband’s family, where I live today, consists of 11 people. We once lived in a single-storey house consisting of two rooms and a kitchen. The previous government had given them this house in 1975. Unfortunately for us, it had belonged to a woman who was interned, and the state had confiscated her house. After the owner returned from internment, she took my husband’s parents to court to get the house back, and after the case was heard, the court ruled that the house should be vacated for her. Only when the state had provided them with another house. When the Democratic Party came to power in 1991, the landlady sold the house to another owner, who had come from the villages of Korçë. We asked him for the documents and whether there was any court ruling or anything else. But he took them from us by force. We complained about this, but it seems our complaint fell on deaf ears. How can someone come from far away, force their way into our house and put pressure on us with the police? I appeared in court before Judge Arben Vosha. From the very first hearing, the judge behaved brutally toward us. At the very beginning of the case, instead of speaking properly, he called the police, complaining about my husband and telling the policeman to show us the “dialogue” room, where everyone knew what they did to people. This time he postponed the trial and set it for 5 August 1994. Again, he treated us badly, telling us, “You have no right to speak at all, and if you speak, I’ll call the policeman.” And before the hearing had even begun, against our wishes, he ordered the eviction, saying that we had to vacate the home immediately. A 13-day deadline. I objected. How can I be put out when the government moved me in, and the documents fully prove this? “Examine this decision carefully,” I told him. He replied: “Go away, stop giving me a headache, go wherever you want, and don’t bother me too much, because I have a mind to do it. If you want, go appeal; you have 13 days.” We left the courtroom thinking we would be able to appeal the decision made by Judge Arben Vosha, but I don’t know how far our rights will get us. I can only say this: in 10 days, my husband, our two children, my brother-in-law and his wife, and I will be out on the street. Respectfully, ZHULJETA HASA

The trial begins in the court of first instance, and may perhaps be followed by two more proceedings at the respective levels. The trial begins in the court of first instance; it may perhaps be followed by two more proceedings at the corresponding level. In the overcrowded courtroom, in the dock are Mr. Theodori Bezhani, 61, Vangjel Papakristo, 51, Panajot Marko, 55, Kosta Qiriako, 49, and Irakli S’rmo, 52. Beside them are the Albanian lawyers Kujtim Puto, Pajtim Hoxha, Vladimir Bejleri, Kristaq Ngjela, and Arqile Gole, while opposite them are the prosecutors representing the state’s case, Mr. Arben Qeleshi and Genc Gjokutaj. The panel of judges enters, chaired by Mr. Martin Deda and composed of the young judges Adelina Berat and Agron Gjuri. The court’s composition does not seem all that serious professionally?! In any case, Mr. Deda announces the start of the proceedings on the charge of “treason against the Fatherland in the form of activity involving [unclear] and armaments,” as provided for in Articles 221 and 222 of the Criminal Code. Judge Deda takes the defendants’ personal details, and it will be noted that two of the defendants had previously been convicted by the Stalinist state of agitation and propaganda, … [many lines partly illegible]

This is the charge brought by the Albanian prosecution, on the basis of Article 47, groups «C» and 13 of the Criminal Code, against five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity. This is the charge brought by the Albanian prosecution, based on Article 47, groups «C» and 13 of the Criminal Code, against five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity. Numerous items of evidence, documents, facts and testimony, according to prosecutor Qeleshi, support this charge, which concerns activities and efforts to Hellenize southern Albania—activities which, according to the Albanian prosecution, had the backing of high-ranking circles in the Greek state. The indictment severely accuses numerous Greek nationalist-chauvinist organizations, as well as the Greek secret service «Asfali», of pursuing autonomy for the Greek minority and its unification with Greece. A special role in achieving this aim was played by the activity of the «Institute of Vorioepirote Studies», an ultranationalist, chauvinist institute based in Janinë, where it was also established in 1960. This institute—the accusation continues—

THE PENAL CODE IN ALBANIA PROTECTS THE INTERESTS OF THE ONE-PARTY STATE Ministry of Public Order At the Greek Embassy in Tirana, a commission of Greek parliamentarians observing the proceedings held a press conference concerning the start of the trial of five members of the Greek minority, leaders of the Omonia organization. In a statement made on behalf of the group by Mr. Jorgos Manaqis, PASOK MP and former Minister of Justice, he protested serious procedural violations that had begun even before the trial started. “Our mission is to observe,” Mr. Manaqis stressed. “We are doing this to follow the developments in the trial closely and see whether the conditions required by Greek law are being met.” Unfortunately, our findings are discouraging. The accusation is based on a law that constitutes a serious violation of European legal culture. I am surprised that such a penal code can survive within a state seeking to function democratically. Such a code protects the interests… (Continued on page 4)

It seems that before it is bottled, the waters of Uji i Ftohtë in Tepelenë will go through a lengthy process. It is also said that Ali Pasha’s treasure is buried there. The proceedings have begun. Some tests have also been carried out, but they appear to be inconclusive. The two parties who have recently made claims are Fuat Shehu and his brothers, with cadastral documents dating from 1951, and Sadik Demiri, to whom the court of first instance awarded the land on the basis of documentary evidence that, according to the first claimant, is unfounded. The documents concern 5,500 square metres, including the spring, the water sources. Shehu has fenced off this land and gathers… [part illegible] … to establish ownership. But a third family has also come forward, as has a fourth, claiming and saying: the land and the springs are ours. As for the other establishment below Gernja, they say there has been a dispute, as there has also been over Kroi i Pahit a little farther on. To demonstrate the complete establishment of true pluralism, the court, the offices dealing with property claims, and the endless commissions are offering different alternatives. THANAS DINO

Once again, there was profound human grief and, at the same time, acts of courage and humanity. This was experienced by the many witnesses and the friends and well-wishers of Fejzi Zeneli’s family as they accompanied 17-year-old Jeton Zeneli to his final resting place. He died far away from home, in Veria, Greece. Urim Hajdari, who brought the body from Veria to Dohoshisht, speaks of the humanity shown by Përparim Dede; his parents, Qiriakos M., are witnesses to the events involving some Albanians who, from their own hard-earned wages, collected more than two hundred thousand drachmas to ease somewhat the heavy burden of fate borne by the victim’s father, the blind Fejzi Zeneli, who could not see his young son either when he left or when he returned. At the house of mourning, people spoke with respect of the Greek proprietor, Qiriakos Malialis, who showed his humanity not only by helping organize the police, but also by paying a considerable sum of money to have the young Albanian’s body escorted to his birthplace. A. A.

Today, on 15.8.1994, while the trial was taking place against Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity, accused of anti-constitutional activity, seeking to dismember the territory, collaborating with the secret services of foreign countries, possessing weapons without a permit, etc., a group of Greek journalists attempted to protest in front of the Tirana Court by throwing and holding objects improperly, seeking to undermine the independence and authority of the judicial body. The Public Order Forces intervened immediately and dispersed them. Twenty-two of these journalists, all Greek citizens, who obstructed the police in the performance of their duties, were taken to police stations. After administrative measures were taken against them, they were released. One of these Greek citizens, Ko-nstantin Patoshi, punched police officers, attempted to flee, and was sentenced by the police station. Ministry of Public Order

Property alternatives over

So far, the textile enterprise has put 20,000 lire into circulation for the opening of the school year, which begins shortly. * * * Ten long pipes discharging water and sewage in the Pogradec neighbourhood, as well as the… in the lakeside neighbourhood, are filling the roads and…; the cutting down of decorative trees, especially… in Tushemisht, are among the factors damaging this economy and spoiling one of the country’s finest tourist areas. * * * During these difficult recent times, in Brantë, as the number of… for generations is increasing in hotels… [part illegible] …

… a huge, carefully engineered project to secure drinking water for the city of Durrës. The project submitted by this company is expected to be approved soon by the city municipality. * * * Mr. Guro Dorollari, chairman of the Legality Party, was asked whether Leka Zogu had made any statement regarding the strike by political persecuted people. He stressed: “No, I have not had, and do not have, any significant political contacts or telephone conversations with the King, above all concerning the hunger strikers.” * * * Regarding the collection of… in the course of Ehsan, the number of 16 injured… [part illegible]

* Over the past three years, the American foundation “Hope for the World” has funded the Children’s Home in Tirana. There are currently 117 children in this home, whose upkeep may cost 5,000 dollars. * * * At the end of September, according to the calendar, the… will take place [part illegible] * * * One dead, three injured and three detained by the police—that is the toll of a fight in Patos, Fier, between two young Greeks…

… had been given beer on credit for a wedding three weeks earlier. * * * In Fier, A. Tahiri, 32, died at the city hospital after a quarrel in a billiards club. * * * The former “Peza” Hotel, in the centre of the capital, will become the first business centre in October, offering offices, conference rooms, a restaurant, etc. The General Directorate of Customs is preparing a new, more flexible nomenclature for the classification of goods. The plan is for the 30 groups in the current nomenclature to be reduced to 6–8. From the Albanian Energy Corporation… * * * On Saturday, the dates of the entrance competitions for higher-education institutions throughout the country were announced, along with the number of students who will earn the right to study at these institutions in the current academic year.

… the alarm is being raised that if local authorities do not take urgent measures to create alternative heating facilities, parts of the electricity network in towns will be disconnected during the winter. * * * Italy and Greece continue to rank first among the countries whose investments have been made in our country. Recently, there has been a growing trend in investments from Germany, Austria and England. * * * In Ksamil, 43 to 110 million dollars will be invested in two major projects, two tourist villages that will also have a golf course nearby—the first of its kind in our country. The investor is Andi hovici? Italian companies STS and Torelli. * * * Construction began today near the sanatorium hill in the capital on a new residential complex to be called “Laguna e Gjelbër.” On an area of 57 hectares, plans call for the construction of 800 villas and apartments, with investment… * * * Nine-year-old E. T. from Fier drowned…