At the Inter-Parliamentary Union: - The 92nd Conference of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark. - The Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, comprising 131 states, unanimously approved the Report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Deputies concerning those sentenced in the “NANO CASE,” as well as the corresponding Resolution. Only Ali Spahia, representative of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party in Albania, opposed the Resolution. - The Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union rejects the accusations brought against FATOS NANO, condemns his arrest and the legal and procedural violations in the investigation and trial of the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania and Deputy of the People’s Assembly, FATOS NANO, and expresses support for the possibility of his release. In the coming days, through the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit,” you will be able to read the full text of Deputies and the Resolution of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

“The Nano case” is a wound in Albania’s body. The leaders of the state trumpet their democratic governance. They even find foreigners to praise them and proclaim the national miracle of democracy. No one believes the lie, however great they make it out to be. No one believes the appearances. Just as no one believes that Fatos Nano is guilty. Everyone knows—and this becomes understandable if one bears in mind how the DP, together with everyone else, knows well who organizes the burning of stables in the countryside, the burning of factories and libraries, and even the killing of people. The DP press does not deign to denounce the murders committed before 22 March and after it; and the leaders of the Democratic Party and its state are the reason Fatos Nano was sentenced. Looking backward inevitably brings its own agenda. It brings only misfortune, because the country collides with progress, with people’s demands and with democracy’s demand to move forward. This is no simple matter. It is a matter of position. It is an Albanian political issue. Today, values and responsibilities are also being distinguished. “The Nano case” is an important knot in Albania’s life and in the fate of democracy in Albania. Delaying its resolution adds to the responsibility of political avengers and shows that democracy in Albania is afflicted by a serious disease. It has been afflicted by the diseases of dictatorships, of states to- [?] an important matter that calls for deep reflection. Looking ahead is not a simple moral demand. It is an intrinsic requirement of democracy in Albania, of safeguarding people’s lives and Albania’s fate. It is a demand for the unity of Albanians, for their cultivation, for [..] in Albania, for for the unity of Albanians, for their cultivation. [...]-tion of Albania. The state leaders trumpet their democratic governance. They also find foreigners who praise them and proclaim it a meru-[?] democracy. No one believes the lie, however grandly it is presented. No one believes fairy tales. Everyone attended the trial and understands the political revenge. State employees of the PD also speak of this revenge; ironically, they reveal themselves openly and declare their sympathy for Fatos Nano, denouncing the political revenge. In a transition, the existence of accusations, factionalism, distortions and violations is understandable. [...], this is so if one bears in mind that the PD is also in power. By now everyone knows and understands well who organises, directs and devastates [?] the right-wing organisations, burns factories and libraries, and even [?] slabs. The PD press does not dare it talks about the places where they were organised and even mentions people’s names... But these things can in no way be justified by the transition. What is most outrageous is that they were carried out for regressive, vile, fascist and divisive motives and purposes. They were driven by base motives and a desire to keep looking backwards. These motives and interests, these backward-looking positions, still persist. The former president’s lawyer, Alia, said: The ruling must be quashed because procedural rules were seriously violated, the ruling has no basis in law, and the sentences imposed on the convicted Code of Criminal Procedure, subject of criminal liability for the offences of r-[?] dinere; not been reviewed [?] by the Constitutional Court. He argued that the proceedings were not conducted in accordance with the rules, stressing that Romanian experts from the institutions that had filed the complaint were accepted and questioned, and that at the time they were carried out, R. Alia’s actions did not constitute a criminal offence. Calling it abnormal, the trial [?]

Giving a different weight to the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the city’s liberation, President Berisha’s arrival both displaced them and set them in place. The celebrations and the municipal program, announced throughout the country in the major newspapers, were immediately followed by another, non-state celebration organized by the Prefecture of Gjirokastra. It included Sunday’s events, had the Prefecture’s backing and carried the signature of the celebration committee: the well-known dramatic novel with this title was written by someone from Gjirokastra. The President was expected at Saturday afternoon’s events. Those, too, had been postponed and took place after the football match, in which the southern city’s team beat the team from the “capital” of democracy, Kavaja, 3–1. There were many people and uniformed police officers, dignitaries and officials in front of the theatre, but not many people. The wait continued until some of the Prefect’s aides announced that the President would not come and that the ceremonies would begin shortly. The photographic exhibition by caricaturist Panajot Vasili, “The City in Focus,” was visited; apparently, just now he had exchanged the “dangerous art of caricature” for photography’s reproductive genius, without great fuss. The actors presented a poetic montage, a poetry theatre featuring Kadare, whose material was described and reflected upon in the highly meaningful essay “Deceptive Dreams,” the work of poet Odise Kote. There was little response from anyone in the hall, and it was not clear whether this was because they knew or did not know that the President would attend. The festive Sunday began at 10:00 with tributes at the Martyrs’ Cemetery. The power of the state could be felt everywhere: army, band, police, senior administrative officials, many government representatives. With two large cemeteries and several monuments, protocol would have been in a difficult position. But everything was overcome. A motorcade carrying ministers arrived before 10:00 and paid tribute at the nationalists’ cemetery. There were few ordinary people, but state officials were present. At precisely 10:00 the President arrived and paid tribute at the cemetery of the war dead, as it is known, thereby balancing everything. Although there were no conspicuous cheers or applause, he warmly greeted the people before and after descending the many steps of the hill. The President’s visits to families followed a carefully considered symmetry, some- (Continued on page 3)

Concerned and increasingly anxious every day about the cholera outbreak, Albanians can be found in the mornings gathered by kiosks and newspaper stands. “Cholera’s assault on the capital,” “Cases of the disease increase,” “Cholera—[?] in Albania,” “Alarm among the guilty,” “Cholera landed from Greece,” “Let us beware the plague,” “The battle against cholera continues,” “The situation is improving”—these are some of the headlines that appeared on the front pages of the Albanian press at the end of last week. After this ritual, unlike anything in the “pre-cholera period,” people head to pharmacies—they buy tetracycline; those who can afford it buy some San Benedeto as well; they have a coffee, first asking the bartender to disinfect the cup… then make their way home… wash their hands, boil water and wait by the television screen to hear practical advice on how to protect ourselves during cholera. In the morning, newspapers report that cholera has “conquered” new territory, while doctors and the Minister of Health declare that the situation is fully under control. The following morning, what the newspapers reported a day or two earlier is officially acknowledged, while that evening, officially, on television or radio, it is emphasized that “the situation is under control.” There has even been no shortage of accusations—from state offices [?] right up to the mouth of the Minister of Health, Mr Maksim Cikuli—that the cholera outbreak is being used for political speculation. Mr Cikuli’s statement was immediately echoed by the members of the official specialist press, who then arrived at the conclusions “[?]”: “Only a few [??] among the leaders of the Albanian opposition could do these things (i.e. link the disease with the government’s incompetence—ed.); even when they bring disaster upon themselves, they blame the democratic government.” The accusation made by Mr Cikuli against the independent and opposition press, alleging political speculation, cannot be considered separately from the other deliberate distortions to which the state has subjected the objectivity of this press on other issues as well. But let us return to the case in question. So, is there political speculation by the independent and opposition press regarding the situation created by cholera? Could it be that this press is merely affirming the truth that cholera reached Albania after more than six decades? That over the past thirty years Albania has been covered with rubbish everywhere, to such an extent that we have to wait for bags to come from abroad to clean us up? That the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Territorial Planning is twiddling its thumbs while people shelter in bunkers, build wherever they can and disorder the territory however and wherever they please? Or that even today, six weeks later, no one knows where the trouble began [?], while people say it may have “come from Greece,” may have come from polluted water, may have…? How can the press be accused of speculation when after every government “remedy” declaring that the situation is “under control,” the number of people with suspicious symptoms increases by one (Continued on page 2)

Proceedings at the Tirana Court of Appeal At the hearing of Alia, Çarçani, Myftiu and Haderi, with the other defendants Isai, Çela, Stefani, Mino and Ramiz present, the trial of 10 former senior party and state officials began yesterday morning at the Tirana Court of Appeal. They had been sentenced by the Tirana District Court on charges of “abuse of office in collaboration, resulting in the violation of citizens’ fundamental freedoms and rights, as well as violating the equality of citizens, in collaboration.” After the reading of the Tirana court’s judgment, according to which Alia is guilty, the following sentences were handed down: Myftiu, 5 years; Çarçani, 5; Marku, 8; Stefani, 8; Isai, 8; Çela, 8; Ramiz, 6; Mino, 8; Haderi, 3 years, by the presiding judge, Bashkim Çani; then the defendant was given the floor. Speaking in his appeal petition, the former President Alia’s lawyer said: The judgment must be set aside because the procedural rules were seriously violated, the judgment is not based on law, and the sentences imposed are inappropriate. Under point 10 of Article 71 of the CCP, the trial must be discontinued, lawyer Koci continued, because Ramiz Alia, as a former head of state, is not a subject of criminal liability for ordinary criminal offenses [?]; and the charge against the former head of state has not been referred by the Constitutional Court [?]. He argued that the proceedings had not been conducted in accordance with the rules, emphasizing that Romanian experts from the institutions that had made the denunciation had been accepted and heard again, and that at the time they were committed, R. Alia’s actions did not constitute a criminal offense. Calling it abnormal, the judg- [?] [...]-ial against his client, who was charged with crimes of privilege, he said: «In all international practice, the treatment of former heads of state is not considered a privilege». Then, in the absence of the defendant Alia, he read a letter his client had sent to the panel of judges, which stated: Mr Judge! I am addressing the Court of Appeal because I do not accept the decision of the Tirana District Court, which declared me guilty when I am completely innocent. I contest that decision as unjust and unjustifiable, an arbitrary ruling of a political and vengeful nature. Lawyer Koci presented the full legal arguments for challenging the decision of the District Court (Continued on page 2)

After the official celebration of the Pezë Conference by those who disinterred the son of this region, Myslym Peza, yesterday representatives of the National Committee of Veterans, the leadership of the Socialist Party, the National Unity Party, former partisans of the 22nd Assault Brigade, as well as representatives of other political parties and the local authorities, paid tribute and laid wreaths beside the monuments commemorating this event. On behalf of the leadership of the Socialist Party, wreaths were laid by the party’s deputy chairman, Servet Pëllumbi, and leadership member Bashkim Zeneli; on behalf of the National Committee of Veterans, a wreath was laid at the Pezë Martyrs’ Cemetery, beside the memorial (Continued on page 4)

LIBRAZHD After spending Monday at the Librazhd hospital, [..] K[?]onteska [?], one of the three people infected with this disease, also died of cholera. *** - In Pezë, 50 veterans of the Pezë Conference were tested, and [?] was celebrated on [?] 22.10. the sick. - There was [something] from UPTAH in the hall at [?] [?] for two days, with the intervention? [?] [?] of Shkodër, 7 [?], books [?] [?] carbine.

- In Sarandë, concern over the spread of cholera: 50 people [?] in [?]; 6 are possibly infected with a preliminary infection in the city’s maintenance services, but [the source is] rats swarming out of the goods warehouses. *** The ceremony—the new outbreak of cholera in Librazhd. Most of the people who have been ill in the district hospital in recent days are from this area. - It is reported that the leader of OMONIA, its chairman, S. Gjiknazi [?], his deputy Dh. Daka and Th. Sh[?]

- During [?] [?] in Greece, [he] met with Venizellas, Minister of Public Order Papathemelis, the chairman of «New Democracy» Evert, etc. * - Albanian citizens were killed in Italy: 27-year-old Albert Dami from Durrës and 25-year-old Dëfrim Kola from Korçë? November had been given by the police of an Italian [?] where the bodies were found. - Ismail Kadare, invited these days to a «France 2» programme, together with the famous director Lu- [?] tal Nj[e]vski, etc. Kadar[e]ja dedicated [?]

- About two years after a tragic event, it is reported that the bodies of the other boys have also been found; they had gone missing a year earlier after Luli Vogli drowned in Otranto. *** - An unpublished balance sheet from sport [?]: 9 defeats and one victory in 10 matches played by our men’s and women’s teams in the European Basketball Cups. *** - The Health Information Centre opened in Tirana. Its purpose is to disseminate health information across all fields, chiefly concerning infectious diseases, etc. * - The State Song and Dance Ensemble made a successful appearance at the North Carolina International Festival in the USA and Canada. R. Çelku and L. Cingu [?] were especially honoured, as were H. Kocani; Sh. Fejza and I. Sha[?]

- Reconciliation of blood feuds was a particular issue receiving the attention of the Laç District Council that day. In recent days, based on work with the area’s village elders, the reconciliation of several blood feuds in Milot and Gallatë was welcomed, particularly between the Vesell and Stafa families in Milot. - The petrol stations in Laç have become refuelling points for dozens and dozens of vehicles travelling north, while local vehicles also complain of a fuel shortage.

On Wednesday, 21 September, at 12:00, a press conference will be held at the headquarters of the Socialist Party of Albania concerning the Resolution of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the “Nano Case.” Representatives of the press and the diplomatic corps are invited to attend. Press and Information Office of the SP