- Fatos Nano is in prison today either because the Albanian justice system cannot perform the calculations of elementary arithmetic, or because it is independent of justice and the law - “The authorities claim that the damage caused to the Albanian state was calculated solely on the amount of aid delivered during the period when Mr. Nano was Prime Minister, whereas the source points out that, if that were so, the figure cited for this damage would represent around 80 percent of the aid delivered during that period, implying that only 20 percent of the aid was delivered. From the decision of the Committee “On the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” published in Z.P. on 25 September 1994. In a few days, a full 14 months will have passed since the day Fatos Nano, a people’s deputy and Chairman of the Socialist Party, was arrested and subsequently sentenced to serve a one-year prison term that he has not yet served. From that day until now, for ordinary people as well as for politicians and legal professionals, the so-called “Nano Case” has been accompanied by a big question mark. So, why was Nano imprisoned? With a minimum of professional objectivity, any lawyer can reach the simple conclusion that Nano was imprisoned either because the heads of the Albanian justice system are unable to calculate using the operations of elementary arithmetic (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication), or because the Temple of Albanian Justice is entirely independent of Justice and the Law. And, to leave no room for misinterpretation of what we have said above, let us turn to the indisputable scientific facts: In the Albanian prosecutor’s case against Nano, an Italian emergency aid package for Albania is variously said to have been worth 23 billion lire, 20 billion lire, or 30 billion lire.(?) But according to decrees of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. 3 - STR, dated 13 March 1991, the emergency aid granted to Albania amounted to only 10 billion lire. As everyone knows, the Nano government had a very short life and was in office only during the period from 22 February 1991 to 4 June 1991. Therefore, it is normal that the investigation of Nano as prime minister of that government should cover the period of his government’s existence and, naturally, the aid delivered during that period. The Italian expert assessment concerning the actual implementation of From the Nano Government’s [unclear], it is clear that the charge brought against Nano for causing damage amounting to 5.973 billion lire (that is, around 80 per cent of the aid disbursed) is not grounded either in timing or in formal logic. 3-b. “The investigations into the aid have been limited solely to the period when Mr Nano was Prime Minister, but during this period only part of the aid was disbursed and, consequently, Mr Nano is being held responsible for criminal acts he did not commit.” of parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union” — This is what the Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union observes— Another minister? Nano should be kept in prison and public opinion fed false figures! Until when? Until the day the judges appointed by the PD deny Euclid’s arithmetic, or until the scales of justice are moved away from the right-leaning tables of power and placed on the level of the Temple of Justice? Ultimately, it can be said that Albanian justice set a trap of figures for Nano. But figures are impervious to politics, and the trap laid for Nano, in the decision of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, is “charged” to the very people who set it. AHMET MELI

In Parliament Eshali will greet the president’s decree with “hurrahs” According to the PD parliamentary group, a farmer can afford the land tax with a basket of figs or, at most, half a lamb. Yesterday, at a special plenary session, Parliament examined the President’s decree “On Property Tax in the Republic of Albania,” particularly the tax on land. It should be said that the PD parliamentary group was very eager for this decree to be approved pronto and put into effect immediately, without taking the views of the opposition Socialist Party group into account. But it could not do so. Forced by the Socialist group, Parliament listened to its views and concrete suggestions concerning this decree, which directly affects the fate of more than 65 percent of the population living in the countryside. The PS parliamentary group disagreed with imposing a tax on land, as its deputy Ibrahim Baçi explained in his speech. Fair and well-informed objections were also raised concerning the classification of land, which, it should be said, was done arbitrarily, without seeking the qualified opinion of scientific institutions. In other words, this classification was in reality made by presidential decree (?) Sh- (Continued on page 3)

- The Socialist group voted against - Discussion of the addition to the President’s decree “on the issuance of passports and visas,” concerning the introduction of visas with Greece, began with objections by the Socialist group to the leadership of the People’s Assembly and its administration, because they had not been informed of the decree’s contents even when it was scheduled and discussed (apart from information from RTSH). However, Mr. Pjetër disagreed with this objection, and when deputy Fehmi Abdulliu persisted, he responded by calling the service officers to remove him. The session was suspended and resumed a few moments later. On behalf of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, deputy [...] spoke. ...with Greece does not constitute a solution to the interstate conflict, all the more so when Mr. Berisha himself has declared in favour of dialogue. This stance towards Greece, which is a member of the 12, puts forward and further exacerbates the disagreements. The Social Democratic group, too, after the developments and the emergence of new circumstances concerning this issue, described the President’s decree as rushed. The decree was approved by a majority vote, while the Socialist deputies’ group voted against. You will learn the position of the Socialist parliamentary group from the speech by deputy Halil Lajçaj, which will be published in the next issue.

Yesterday, the trial of magistrate Ukshin Hoti, chairman of the Party of National Unity of Kosovo, who was arrested two months ago, concluded in Prizren. Final sentence: 5 years in prison. Thus, in Europe at the end of the 20th century, alongside the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania and deputy in the People’s Assembly Fatos Nano, who was arrested on Berisha’s orders on 30 July 1993 and, again on his orders, sentenced to 12 years in prison, there is now another party chairman sentenced by the Serbian regime in Kosovo. ALBAN KOSOVA

Shkodër - Malësi e Madhe The arrival of special forces from Tirana over the past two nights in Murigan and Velipojë, along with Shkodër police officers in Malësi e Madhe, came as a surprise. The aim of the operation: to prevent fuel from being taken to Montenegro. The result: the operation’s leaders have made no concrete information public. Our sources said yesterday that they had managed to seize 3,000 litres of fuel. This amount had been distributed among barrels and containers. A small-capacity boat was also mentioned. Yesterday, the area in front of the Shkodër police station was crowded with residents who had come from these areas. In conversation, we learned from some of them that the number of people detained during the operation had reached 40. They had come to inquire about their detained relatives. They stressed that those detained were innocent, since, according to them, some had even been caught fishing. One man with a barrel had wanted to secure food for his family. “The state itself issues licences for tanker trucks and fuel stations, while on the other hand it sends forces to stop poor people who are hoping for a deal—or a barrel,” one of them said. Meanwhile, someone there said that the prosecutor’s office was deciding which detainees would be released and which would be kept for questioning. Public opinion finds this operation somewhat strange at a time when it is known that the Montenegrin authorities themselves have significantly tightened controls in the border area to prevent entry from Albania, as a protective measure against cholera. Indeed, since the 17th of this month, even the passage of “Albanian citizens with valid visas” through the Hani i Hotit crossing has been blocked. So, what are they trying to achieve with this operation, like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?! In any case, the operation’s leaders know best; so far, they have avoided providing information to the press. However, some unconfirmed sources indicate that during the operation various statements were also heard, claiming that “this little gift comes from so-and-so, a Socialist Party deputy.” MUSA KURTULAJ

A few days ago, Radio-Tirana announced that the ministries in the government sector in Korçë were doing well thanks to good work organisation and the resolution of the many other problems faced by workers in the free-trade sector. But the facts say otherwise. Around 600 employees of these ministries have had their wages delayed. Everyone knows that, following the change at this bank, the situation in Korçë has become difficult. There are various reasons for this situation. According to the managers of the Korçë bank, these ministries are facing financial difficulties, while, according to the directors themselves, the work of the specialists in these ministries is...? Many of them contributed to “TEC-i i Korçës” and suggest that these ministries are affected by their miscalculations. But the relevant ministries are responsible for sorting these matters out, including when the corporations are sent; likewise the energy authorities, which were at the beginning of their operations. Among others, these include the ministries in Korçë and the Ministry of Justice, which calculates from day to day when they receive their reserve wages. ...of Malqi; It is truly absurd to come up with such reasons and excuses for withholding the wages of 600 employees, whose families have no other means of livelihood. The employees say that for almost two years their wages have been delayed throughout the units, with the excuse that TEC-i i Korçës and the relevant ministry have not settled their accounts. receive their reserve wages. M. MEKO

The former Pedagogical Institute in the Faculty of Philology Greek language and literature, last year, and English language and literature, this year, are the two new departments added to the Pedagogical Institute of Linguistics and Literature of Demokrasia, when it also attained university status. The teaching staff, rectorate, students and public have persistently called for departments in medicine and health, tourism and archaeology, and economics and business, but the bodies responsible for education and the senior state authorities to which the proposals were addressed have not approved them this school year either. THANAS DINO

With the aim of giving new impetus to the forum’s theoretical-organizational and intellectual activity, a highly valuable meeting for eurosocialist youth was held on Saturday in Vlora. Young people of different ages and professions took part in the meeting, including secondary-school pupils, students, workers, businesspeople and intellectuals. The meeting turned into an open, free and candid debate. After the opening remarks by Shpëtim Gjika, chairman of the PS in Vlora, Genc Saka, chairman of FRESH in Vlora, took the floor and highlighted the achievements and shortcomings of the work, as well as the need to improve it. Many young people spoke at the meeting, emphasizing that the Vlora forum should be represented in the political life, economy, culture and science of Vlora. It is regrettable that the country’s political life is dominated largely by an older generation; there is a need to renew the intellectual elites so that they may be more responsible for the country’s development. (Continued on page 3)

— Buliqë: Only three of the 43 drilling rigs that had previously been in service were operating at the geological enterprise in this district. Two of them have been placed in the Tërnovë area and one in the Selishtë area. * * * — Tirana: It is nearly a month since the workers of the joint-venture shoe factory began their strike. Although discussions between the union and the Italian side have continued, the disagreements have not been resolved; on the contrary, they persist, for now with no prospect of a solution. Meanwhile, the workers are waiting, also threatened with losing their assistance... * * * Tirana: After several months of searching, these days it was possible to fully uncover and close the [unclear] of Tirana. Inside them are [unclear] with a needle, the tombs of the founder of this [unclear], Haxhi Ethem Beu, and his wife. * * *

British Secretary of Defence Malcolm Rifkind reacted cautiously to Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s proposal for a new agreement among the five nuclear powers to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. Rifkind said that he wished to study the details of Yeltsin’s proposal. * * * With a population of 81 million, Germany is the most populous country in Europe, the DPA agency reports, citing statistics published in Bonn by Hans Günter Merk, director of the Federal Statistical Office. According to the annual statistics for 1994, at the end of 1993 there were 81 million people living in Germany: 39.3 million men and 41.7 million women. * * * The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should make “a [unclear]” to cancel some of the debts owed to them by Africa’s very poor countries, says a report drawn up by a group of British lawyers.