ALBANIA—the only country in Europe with a political prisoner The Chairman of the Socialist Party was charged and arrested by the Berisha regime: - Because he denounced the policy of throwing the doors wide open and the government’s unbalanced course, which was taking Albania away from the European path; - Because he denounced the centuries-old corruption and the experimental corruption at the expense of Albanians through the so-called reform of the Meksi government; - Because he condemned the new class war and the political revenge of the power-holding bajraktars, who set Albanians against one another THE INTERPARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL notes: The investigations into the aid have been limited only to the period when Mr NANO was prime minister; during that period only part of the aid was disbursed and, consequently, Mr NANO is being held responsible for criminal acts he did not commit. Read on page 2: Decision of the Interparliamentary Council on the “Nano Case.”

The 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland: in two scenes: Former partisans are sentenced to prison; collaborators with fascism and war criminals are decorated... At the Court of Appeal: 8 years in prison for former president R Alia The 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland: in two scenes: Former partisans are sentenced to prison Collaborators with fascism and war criminals are decorated... It is no coincidence that the season of Berishian trials has been prolonged. Nor is it a coincidence that end-of-season ceremonies are being organized, where all kinds of criminals and collaborators with fascism are reburied with honors and fanfare. It is the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the homeland from the Nazi-fascist occupiers and domestic traitors, their servants. And, as expected, the latest trial too—the appeal hearing of former president of the communist era, Ramiz Alia, and other senior officials of the PPSH and the one-party state—was left as previously decided and did not depart from the script. Everything was as in the trial court, or the Tirana court; only a small “retouch” was made, supposedly to demonstrate the “independence” of the courts: one year was taken off the prison sentence of Sali Berisha’s predecessor. Thus, Ramiz Alia is now sentenced to 8 years in prison. Adil Çarçani and Manush Myftiu received 5 years each—yesterday, released on parole; Hekuran Isai, 5 years; Simon Stefani, 8 years in prison; Rita Marko, 6 years; Aranit Çela, 5 years; Zylyftar Ramizi, 6 years; Rrapi Mino, 4 years; and Veiz Haderi, 3 years’ deprivation of liberty. The presiding judge, Bashkim Cami, after once again reading the material read at the Tirana court, announced the defendants’ conviction. After the verdict was announced, Mr Kleanthi Koçi, defense lawyer for former President Ramiz Alia, told “Zëri i Popullit”: - Ramiz Alia was the head of state, not the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. It was precisely because he was the head of the Albanian state that the UN also received him; he spoke in its hall four years ago. Former President of the Republic Ramiz Alia himself said that he expected nothing new from the Court of Appeal. Thus, he is spending the 50th anniversary of liberation in one of Tirana prison’s cells, where 29 November 1944 has also been imprisoned. President Berisha spoke in Gjirokastër about the National Liberation War and the 50th anniversary of the homeland’s liberation; but he did not mention the names of the commanders and commissars who led that War, who led the partisan formations with exceptional heroism and courage. Not because he does not know their names, but because his thoughts are with Hysni Lepenica and Abaz Kupi, with the Ballists and collaborators with fascism, to whom he hands out decorations, to glorify them. Meanwhile, Ramiz Alia, whose signature is forever fixed on the Final Document of Helsinki and the Charter of Paris, he who did not use the violence and force of the state he led, is in a cell serving an 8-year prison sentence as a “mazdenim”? for a few cups of coffee and aspirin tablets. President Clinton calls former President Jimmy Carter to his aid and sends him on an important mission to North Korea and Haiti; while Sali Berisha has locked up his predecessor, with whom he shared the same party membership card, cutting off all his contact with the press and any contact with his own people. These are Albanian paradoxes: while those in power feel at ease alongside their servants, who formally preside over the shameful trials. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

In Durrës

The news reported by foreign news agencies that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had approved a second annual loan for Albania of 14.12 million SDR (21 million dollars) under the ESAF program for economic support to Albania for 1994–95 was also confirmed by the IMF representative office in Tirana. The separate ESAF program, with a total value of 63 million dollars, was approved in July 1993, and 25.2 million dollars of it was provided in support of the first year of the ESAF program. The macroeconomic objective for the Albanian government is to achieve GDP growth of 8 percent in 1994, reduce inflation to less than 24 percent, and bring it below 10 percent in 1996–97.

Deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Kopliku, travelling from Tirana to the city of Korçë in his “Benc”-type car, collided violently with a passenger car of the same type, bearing a Korçë registration plate, at the exit of the village of Libonik. The collision was so powerful that, as a result, Mr Kopliku’s car was propelled by the impact beyond the walls of a gas station, and Mr Kopliku was seriously injured. The injured Mr Kopliku was admitted to the Korçë hospital. Five accidents have occurred in the city of Korçë over the past 48 hours. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

In Durrës At the Martyrs’ Museum in the city of Durrës, four cases of the remains of the martyrs of the homeland being exhumed have been identified, one of them having occurred just a few days ago. In various parts of the city, many cases have also been observed of damage to and destruction of memorial plaques referring to martyrs and glorious historical events. These incidents, which are occurring more and more frequently every day, have deeply angered all the veteran partisans of this city, who have rightly appealed to the prefect and the city municipality. Their words express great anger at the acts of those seeking to displace and remove from history the true martyrs who shed their blood for this country’s freedom, replacing them with the names of their collaborationist fathers. The municipality has been asked to intervene and rectify the situation immediately. For its part, it has done nothing but remain silent. The silence of today’s authorities speaks volumes. These deniers of the truth, who engage in exhuming remains, desecrating graves, and destroying plaques and memorials, can never erase the reality from the pages of history; history is made by people, and these people will not allow it to be tampered with. There are 2,000 veterans in the city of Durrës who, deeply angered, are raising their voices to put an end to these shameful criminal acts of this state, which recognizes only deserters and collaborators.

— Public question for Minister Likuli — Prime Minister Meksi; at the meeting organized on the eighth floor in Peshkopi more than a month ago, among other things, a question was also asked about completing the hospital in Kala e Dodës and the infectious diseases hospital in Peshkopi. The question went unanswered because, as the district PD secretary said, the Minister of Health was due to come to Peshkopi in those days and explain the present and future of hospital services in Peshkopi; the hospital in Kala e Dodës and the other hospitals under construction. The minister came, but no public answer has been given. The director of Peshkopi hospital tells us there is a promise for next year, but it has not yet been made official. Given the situation; the fact that Peshkopia is a center serving a wide geographical area and is a healthcare crossroads for two districts, Dibër and Bulqizë; and the presence of infectious diseases, continuing and completing the infectious diseases hospital in Peshkopi is essential. Construction of the hospital began five years ago; it still needs one more floor to be completed as a shell. Specialists say its design is modern. Beside the infectious diseases hospital is the midwifery high school, a school intended to train midwives for the whole country, but which has now become surplus (for reasons known «up above»). ABDURRAHIM ASHIKU

The Polish Parliament has begun its long-delayed work on drafting a new constitution. Over the past two days, the National Assembly has studied seven preliminary draft constitutions, which will be submitted to a special committee tasked with combining them into a single document. «The new constitution must guarantee political stability during the period of transformation and in times of crisis,» Parliament Speaker Jozef Oleksy told the Assembly. «This requires particular restraint of party interests, while striving for a compromise among different ideological positions,» he added. The drafts submitted by the political parties, President Les Walesa and the Solidarność trade union differ. (Continued on page 6)

— Malësi e Madhe: The joint concern about resolving the blockade of the [unclear] roads brought the mayor of the town, Petrit Ram[?], to Koplik, together with the initiators’ group for reconciliation[?], led by Besime and Ndrek Pjetri. The outcome of this meeting is ongoing, alongside the joint support that all political parties have for this major issue. — Work has begun on the Tiranë-Tropojë road, funded by the World Bank as part of its program for Albanian infrastructure. This first project in the field will be followed by other projects. IN BRIEF... — In Elbasan: Three people were arrested (two from Shijak and one from the city) who had robbed a warehouse and raped [unclear]. That same night, another person was also arrested for murder. — In Tiranë: The National Council for the Management of Water Resources met. It discussed the strategy and development of the use of these resources for drinking water, industry and irrigation, as well as organizational structures and legislation in this field. IN BRIEF... — An Albanian consulate will open in Janinë, according to an announcement from official sources at Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the consular agreements for 1992-[unclear], this consulate will generally cover six municipalities in northern Greece. — Librazhd: Four more people have been hospitalized with cholera, which was coming from the direction of «zbules» [unclear], adding to the existing number of hospitalized patients; residents of the town have also been urged not to drink water from the [unclear] pipes. IN BRIEF... — The IMF has provided a loan of 21 million dollars to help finance the reform program for 1994–95. The above figure is part of the 63 million dollars allocated in July of this year by this institution. — A decision has been announced from Brussels by the European Union banning the entry into its member states of fish and other seafood products from Albania because of cholera. — Kuçovë: The powder factory la[?] IN BRIEF... — In Elbasan: Compensation for politically persecuted people was gathered. The issuing of securities for 871 people is continuing. In Kukës, of the 8,000 people said to have qualified for the status, only 830 are reportedly to receive compensation. — In Fier: the division of land direj[?] — In Durrës, work has resumed after a two-year interruption, even with Italian technology and only recently following the analysis of the «SAND ANECO-Alba» company; this factory aims to compete with its «DILU» production. — At the Municipality of Tiranë, officials have learned that around 100 establishments have been covered [unclear] because of a lack of running water, and [unclear] is being cleaned. — News shocked the family and workers of one of the HC facilities in Banjës last night; the workers are waiting for work to begin in KUKS, and in particular it has been said that they will be postponed until December April, another two months April. — From the Municipality of Tiranë, the officials responsible for carrying out [unclear] announce — April, another two months April.

For you Albanians living in Greece who wish to read our newspaper, you now have the opportunity to benefit from monthly or three-month subscriptions; we can send you this newspaper “to your home addresses wherever you may be in Greece.” Those interested may contact our intermediary office in Athens by telephone at 01 9922087. Communication can be in Greek or Albanian, from 18:00 to 20:00 Greek time. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE