EDITORIAL: “THE ARSIDI CASE” SEEKS OTHERS... - On the eve of the trial, the sharks have still not appeared... - Former minister in the Meksi-1 government, Osman Shehu, warns... The trial of the so-called “Arsidi Case” may begin in the final days of this year, perhaps on the 29th. So far, the names being bandied about are those of Agron Saluni, Agim Tartari, former bank governor-general Ilir Hoti and his deputy Ardian Xhyheri, and former police chief Wilson Ahmeti. Not only because of the sharpening of the major scandal, but also because of the people implicated in this mafia-like decision, this case cannot fail to attract public attention. The question is therefore apt: What will this trial reveal? Will it manage to dot the i? And one’s thoughts immediately turn to the invisible part of the iceberg, which Mr Osman Shehu is trying to uncover with his statement. The former Minister of Tourism in the Meksi 1 government, although he says, “I’m only asking, I’m not accusing,” reveals only part of the “major concerns” of the Democratic Party government about uncovering the people’s great hardships. Mr Shehu’s statement, made precisely now on the eve of the trial, does not seem coincidental. He is certainly not trying to uncover the reason or motive for Sali Berisha’s being awarded the bogus decoration of French courtesy, bestowed precisely by Arsidi, a friend of those in power; the boss may deliberately have had one more Arsidi decoration in order to become the owner of the Hotel “Tirana.” Nor does he explain why Berisha does not publicly throw it back, just as he accepted that decoration, because he cannot know such a thing; rather, he says that he is telling what he knows. And, at first glance, that does not seem insignificant. Meksi and Ruli appear to have been directly interested in Arsidi’s welfare. Everyone reaches this conclusion after finishing Osman Shehu’s statement, in which he also says what Meksi thinks of Musaraj, Gazidede and others. Without wishing to prejudge Mr Shehu, we raise the question of whether the prosecution knows what he says in his statement, which will also continue in the next issue of the newspaper “Dia Informacion.” If not, why not? And if it does, have Meksi and Ruli been summoned to give evidence? Or has this been left to the court to do during the judicial-investigation hearings? What will they answer? Who else will end up in prison?... There was talk of Ruli being imprisoned after he left the post of Minister of Finance. However, according to Mr Shehu, Aleksandër Meksi, who is still Albania’s prime minister, also cooperated with him. What will these two say? Let us wait. Meanwhile, we can also make a few assumptions. Perhaps Mr Shehu senses the danger, and was therefore compelled to defend himself by appealing to public opinion, so that if someone says to him, “You got what you deserved because you denounced Ruli and Meksi,” he can respond. His statement, however, is not merely an anticipation of danger; it is also a warning. Meksi and Ruli will certainly not sit with their hands folded. They will defend themselves. And they will do so while in power. Meksi must resign immediately, even if Mr Shehu’s evidence is untrue. He must submit to an investigation. Only the justice authorities can clear this up, especially considering that the public has been inclined to believe even untrue statements made about those in power. Ruli’s silence is as alarming as his confidence. Meksi is at the head of the government. Berlusconi set him an example of a citizen and a person who respects the ethics of a politician.

Regarding the meetings of the delegation of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union In recent days, at the invitation of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and personally of Mr Pjetër himself, a delegation of the “World Inter-Parliamentary Union” came to our country, headed by the chair of the Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms for Members of Parliament, Mrs Josi Meier. The visit was important because of its very purpose. Although planned as a working visit, it was nevertheless necessary for its activities to be accompanied and reported in accordance with official protocol. But, strangely, apart from the news about the invitation, the main official media remained silent... And, as if that were not enough, on the day the delegation arrived at Rinas Airport, those who had invited it were not even there to meet it. The reason for the indifference and lack of transparency is now known. The delegation had come to meet with the country’s authorities regarding the Albanian side’s implementation of the points of the Resolution adopted months earlier concerning the “Nano Case.” Internationalized beyond anything the authorities had anticipated, this issue was brought to the table of European politics, where it received a response: their interest and insistence in favor of MP Nano, culminating in the now familiar final acts. The delegation’s schedule of meetings and other activities was packed and aimed to make contact with the party and state bodies that had dealt with or commented on the case of MP Fatos Nano. Meetings had therefore been planned and held with representatives of parliamentary groups, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Justice, the Head of the State Control Service and... undoubtedly, Mr Pjetër himself, who had been invited. Quite apart from what was said and requested in these discussions, it is worth reiterating that the delegation had arrived very well prepared and informed, and had brought with it a complete and detailed set of documents. But how did the meetings scheduled on the program go, and what was discussed with them? It is indeed difficult to give an accurate answer, since the main official media—apart from reporting on the meeting with the Ministry of Justice—broadcast no notice at all. In this connection, we first inquired at the office of the Republic’s Prosecutor General, Mr Dragoshi, but in the anteroom we learned from the secretary that the prosecutor had been ordered not to receive any journalist. According to the program, the delegation must also have met with Mr Blerim Çela, Head of the State Control Service. Why the silence? We requested a meeting with him; the answer was a little “softer” than the Prosecutor’s: he was very busy and might receive us after the New Year. Perhaps Mr Blerim thought we wanted to ask him about the new house he has acquired. In any case, we will go to see “the one who has the prime ministers” after the New Year as well; we will ask him and see whether he will receive us. Next to Blerim’s offices is that of Mr Pjetër. The MPs perhaps remember that during

On the eve of the holidays:

Once again, at the meeting of the Lezhë district council, Socialist councillors...

Shoppers face a runaway rise in prices Just as a year ago, the approach of the New Year holidays also brings a sharp rise in prices, which the many shoppers are forced to bear. Despite the many shortages and the hardships they are going through, they are trying to enjoy the New Year holiday with their families, relatives and friends. It is natural for holidays to bring something extra compared with ordinary days, especially the New Year holiday. But this does not mean that merchants should speculate and raise prices as they please, because the market economy has its own rules. The specialized state agencies should not stand by and watch in such cases, but should take action. The holiday is for people to enjoy, not to fleece them. FUAT MAKAJ

Korçë: Yesterday, over the weekend, the Conference of the Council of Veterans of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War held its proceedings in one of the halls of the “Turizmi” Hotel in Korçë. In reviewing the activities carried out during the past period, ... were highlighted (the remainder of the text is unclear in the image). (Continued on page 2)

Once again, at the meeting of the Lezhë District Council, Socialist councillors persistently demanded an explanation as to why 240 hectares of land were not being given to the residents of Kashnjet, as the district council had decided in February of this year and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food itself had approved. Socialist councillors persistently demanded an explanation as to why 240 hectares of land were not being given to the residents of Kashnjet, as the district council had decided in February of this year and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food itself had approved. Over these 10 months, this issue has been raised several times not only at the district council, but also at the prefecture and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. It has also appeared in the press several times. The 380 families in this mountainous area, which has little land, are on the verge of a major solution. And, as emerged from the analysis at the district council—which we will discuss below—the author or cause of this obstruction is turning out to be the “imported” deputy Tonin Alimihlli, chairman of the Agriculture Committee in the Albanian parliament. Without dwelling on the details, we will highlight several statements by the district council chairman, Mr. Gjergj Gjoni: “We have had no political or state support. Deputy T. Alimihlli (of his party) is pursuing his own personal politics, after he was promised ...” (text partly unclear). Comrade Pashk Luka, chairman of the Kashnjet commune, also said: “The blame lies beyond Pashk Luka. I have been obstructed by the prefect, and especially by Deputy T. Alimihlli. I have had no support; on the contrary, there have been extraordinary obstacles. I will not deceive the people any longer.” Nevertheless, with greater concern and a stronger sense of responsibility, the district council decided to resume the allocation of 240 hectares of land to the landless people of Kashnjet, for the 380 families awaiting “a major solution.” It also proposed calling the deputy to a meeting in Lezhë with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Presidency, etc. Let us hope this problem will be resolved, although the district chairman, the councillors in turn, and the commune chairman himself are not optimistic. KUJTIM DASHI Chairman of the district PS, councillor

The United Nations General Assembly adopted, by a majority vote in a plenary session, Resolution 49-204 on the Situation of Human Rights in Kosovo, which had been recommended to the Assembly the previous week by its Third Committee. This is the first time that the highest political body of the United Nations has adopted a separate resolution on Kosovo. The resolution received 114 votes in favour, 2 against and 40 abstentions, and was assessed as highly positive by the delegations taking part in the session, Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomats—members of the Albanian delegation, which, as is known, initiated this resolution—told the Albanian Telegraphic Agency. With the adoption of the resolution, the Assembly—(Continued on page 4).

The news of the arrest in Macedonia of Albanian members of the Kosovo Assembly, along with several journalist colleagues in Bllindë, spread rapidly throughout all the areas where Albanians live—in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and the diaspora. What the Serbian authorities did not do was done by the authorities of Gjollgovit, who had done so several times in this way in Albania. For more than two years, the people arrested have been forced to live in ... (part unclear). In truth, Macedonian anti-Albanianism is well known. Albanians with realistic political judgment on both sides of the border have never doubted this policy, and therefore have never expressed support for any direction toward recognition of rights ... (part unclear). (Continued on page 4)

According to the competent Greek authorities, at midnight on 24 December an Albanian motorboat set out from the coast of Sarandë, bound for the shores of the Greek island of Corfu. It was indeed a motorboat; in this way they undertook yet another journey into the unknown, perhaps hoping at last that it would bring a new beginning to their lives. Because of the sudden storm and the large waves, the motorboat’s engine stopped, and the frightened clandestine migrants jumped into the sea. The Corfu coastal forces managed to pull two Albanian citizens, Harrillaq Lepa and Gena Shoni, from the water; they are now in good condition. They also recovered a body, Fatos Gjoli. Sources at the port of Corfu confirmed that searches are continuing for the eight other Albanian migrants who were aboard the motorboat. The search along the Albanian coast was carried out by the informant of the port of Sarandë. The head of the port authority of Corfu told the press that there was great hope that at least the other migrants had managed to survive and were somewhere near the island’s shores. Illegal crossings of the land and sea borders by Albanian citizens into Greece, and incidents during such crossings, have been common in recent years. (BI BI BI)

A great sorrow brought me here to your newspaper from Skrapar. I came after knocking on many doors through letters we wrote to the Minister of Public Order and the President of the Republic, from whom we received no reply. I came because I thought that, by knocking over this personal sorrow of mine, I was raising an issue that concerns not only me, a weary resident of Skrapar, but also many Albanians and democracy in Albania. It is a matter of the Law, of freedom and people’s rights, which I think we have won and which those in power talk about so much. But the truth is not like that. Here is why. About a month ago, my son got into a dispute with B. Alçiçaj from the town of Skrapar. He was struck by him without cause and through no fault of his own. After that, the police took him in and, having established that he was innocent, fined him 150 lekë. They thought the matter would be forgotten and end there. But B. Alçiçaj had close relatives in the police force, in the law-enforcement authorities, and arranged acts of revenge, involving other people. So one day, when my son went into town on his own business, people wielding police authority confronted him and demanded explanations about the incident. They beat him and threatened to kill him. The scandal went so far that they even took the money from his pockets. After that, they sent him to hospital unconscious. We complained to the head of the law-enforcement department, where we found a full commitment to the matter. He also came to the hospital with the district prosecutor, where he declared our son innocent and asked the prosecutor to intervene in the name of justice. And I ask for nothing more than justice. If my son were guilty, let him answer before the law; but, on the contrary, when his innocence has been declared, I, my family and all our relatives cannot come to terms with this act that threatened our son’s life for no reason, by people dressed in uniform and, above all, wielding police authority. Who are these people who are killing our sons without cause or fault? Written by Pelivan Kushova from Skrapar

SHKODER For the Christmas celebration Nevertheless, the lights went out Activities for the Christmas celebration began on Friday. That evening, a program by the choir was presented at the “Migjeni” Theatre, and many people attended Mass. On Saturday afternoon and in the evening, the local radio station broadcast a montage prepared especially for the celebration. At midnight, the celebration of Mass began in the cathedral church. First, the greeting delivered for the occasion by the first Albanian cardinal, His Eminence Mikel Koliqi, was read. In the presence of the faithful, the Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Shkodër, Monsignor Fr. L. Uria, and the auxiliary bishop, Monsignor Zef Simoni. The Mass was broadcast live on the local radio station. Our ambassador to the Vatican, Mr. Vil Kamsi, also attended that evening. On Sunday, despite the heavy rain, especially during the morning hours, the faithful continued to receive warm visits from townspeople offering greetings for the holiday. For the occasion, the area prefect, Mr. Iljaz Vrioni, had ordered that the electricity supply not be interrupted from Saturday through Monday. Nevertheless, the lights went out. According to information from the electricity enterprise, this happened because the transformers were overloaded. MUSA KUTUMA

They are killing them on us

..., with the Minister of Justice, with ||