Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee At the request of the delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee, which visited our country that day, a delegation of the Albanian Helsinki Committee met and spoke on December 21, 1994, with the group’s three members. As is known, the subject of the delegation’s visit was the Nano case, which for several months has been among the concerns and inquiries of this Committee. The Albanian Helsinki Committee has received a report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee which, after reviewing the history of the case, concludes by making a series of observations and expressing reservations about the way the case has been handled, both legally and politically. The Albanian Helsinki Committee agrees with the observations and reservations in the report. For some time, the matter called for a reflective approach and a procedure to be followed until it had completed the full course of justice at every level of trial. But the long time that has passed since the ruling against Mr. Nano was reviewed has brought more clearly to light not only certain irregularities established during the proceedings, but especially the lack of sufficient evidence to determine beyond any doubt his direct involvement in the crime. Viewed in retrospect, the ruling is not convincing. The Albanian Helsinki Committee believes that it would not be appropriate for the case to be turned into a sterile debate about guilt or innocence. The first step would be to release Mr. Nano without prejudice. At least at this stage, this falls within the President’s powers. Such a measure is doubly important and necessary. First, no one—whoever they may be—can be left to face alone a sentence that an increasingly broad public considers unjust and unwise. Second, Mr. Nano has remained, and continues to be, the leader of the largest opposition party. Mr. Nano’s release would send a message that would help reduce tensions, narrow the divide that currently separates the political forces, and create a healthier and more constructive climate, making it possible to overcome the major and pressing problems facing the country at this delicate stage. Tolerance and dialogue must have a greater presence in political life. Mr. Nano’s release would help improve the image of Albanian democracy abroad. The Albanian Helsinki Committee. Tirana, December 27, 1994.

THE «ARSIDI» SCANDAL IN FOCUS: Are MEKSI’s hours numbered?... — Following former minister Shehu’s statement, turmoil in the ranks of the DP. PERIKLI TETA: Arbënori must present it to Parliament immediately; otherwise he is the instigator of a state crime. FEHMI ABDIU: An investigation must begin immediately, if there is a Prosecutor General. ALBERTO ALESSI: Students more capable than professors. Another difficult moment for Mr. Meksi’s government. Although just a few days ago the new government structure won a majority in Parliament (with only 1 from the DP)—that does not mean its performance was brilliant. The lid of the cesspool—where the writers of «Corruption» have gathered, a tangle of «dirty dealings»—has been opened. Indeed, military analysts, ever since what happened on the other shore of the Adriatic, have been expecting an earthquake. The monolith governing Italy remained such until one of its links came under investigation. But while in Italy the investigation reached back to the last decade, here in Albania it reaches back two years, and to the other side of events that had already been making the rounds. Meanwhile, nobody has brought the matter to the point of addressing what is actually going to happen; with vivid imaginations, people have begun improvising the positions of those involved, denounced openly and «red-handed». Thus, while one waits to see the procedures arising from the accusation, the question is posed: «What are we going to do?» Words are being bandied about loudly, with handcuffs in the background. From what was published on Sunday, it seems that Meksi, Selami, Ruli, Musaraj, Kopliku, Gazidede and Shehu have been put on stage. But where does Berisha stand?... It seems that Mr. Shehu has openly stated that Mr. Meksi said the following to the Kukës hunger strikers: «Stop complaining about the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Musaraj, because he is a friend of mine and a good man, and he is not to blame; Mr. Gazidede is to blame, since he ordered the change in the public-order forces, [unclear]. And what can I do about your troubles when even Mr. B. Kopliku, the Prime Minister, is against me?» Also, returning to the «dirty dealings», once again the first and central figure in Mr. Shehu’s account of this affair is Nikolas Arsidi. The new development is not the previously mentioned Mr. Ruli, who is implicated in the scandal, but the fact that Mr. Shehu’s account implicates Meksi, the Prime Minister of Albania. According to Mr. Shehu, the Albanian Prime Minister, Finance Minister Ruli and Tourism Minister Spaho put pressure on him to sign a contract transferring ownership of «Hotel Tirana» to Arsidi for 250 thousand dollars, even though its value had been set at ... (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday morning, the standing parliamentary committee on mass media and culture met at the headquarters of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, under the chairmanship of Mr. Butka. The agenda included discussion of the work of Albanian Radio and Television, the country’s only national information medium. According to the meeting of this parliamentary committee, the discussion had been held in a ...? of the television station, in order to assess its activities. The managers of this institution are responsible with a remarkable degree of irresponsibility. Thus, for example, RTSH Director General Mr. Skënder Buçpapa appeared before the committee’s members of parliament without any suitable written material. He and his two colleagues, the Television Director Sh. ...? and the Secretary and Radio Director, Mr. Pollo, did not accept the MPs’ observations, suggestions and constructive criticism. Moreover, despite the committee leaders’ insistence, they did not attend either of the last two committee meetings, and even instructed RTSH journalists not to attend the committee meeting to inform the public, as routinely happens in other parliamentary committees. Thus, yesterday too, the three principal RTSH executives were not present at the parliamentary committee meeting, even though they knew about it and had been repeatedly asked to attend. The MPs from all the parties who spoke emphasized the problems at RTSH, such as, for example, satellite transmission— (Continued on page 2)

After a group of students from Shkodër, who, under the care of the «Moraca» association, were able to enroll for studies at the University of Podgorica, a group of lecturers from Shkodër’s «Luigj Gurakuqi» University has now been invited to take part in the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the University of Podgorica. The group of lecturers from Shkodër gladly accepted the invitation and took part in the celebrations. Footage of the event was also broadcast on Montenegrin television. Correspondent of «Voice of the People» ...who have gathered...

The lid of the cesspool—where the writers of «Corruption» have gathered, a tangle of «dirty dealings»—has been opened. Indeed, military analysts, ever since what happened on the other shore of the Adriatic, have been expecting an earthquake. ...who have gathered...

SHKODER «Happy New Year or happy price increases» As happened a year ago, now too, on the eve of the New Year, the cause for concern is the rise in prices of the goods most in demand for the holiday. In this city’s market, apples and oranges reached 20 lekë, while mandarins cost 90 lekë. Chicken meat, too, was priced at 170 lekë. Residents say they are not prepared for this rise in prices. Our savings for the holiday cannot cover these prices. Some market vendors justify the increases by citing the boat-and-freight costs. But who cares about their hardship? In this case the spectacle is even worse, since every family will have to prepare for the New Year somehow, with these prices. The amount is not small either. The fruit and ...? vendors were told that the price increases were unjustified. ...that the prices are high because of the high wholesale prices charged to them by traders who brought the goods from Greece and Macedonia, as well as the money they have to pay for various road-related charges. Another group also admits that speculation is taking place in this case among some traders. «We know this,» he said, «that residents will have to buy even at these prices, because it is the eve of a holiday. You understand, today the desire to celebrate above all else knows no compassion!» Meanwhile, many residents are heard saying ironically that with these price increases it would be better to celebrate the New Year on January 5, when prices come down. Don’t be surprised if, instead of the greeting «Happy New Year», you hear «Happy price increases». MUSA KURTIJALI

DURRËS 6,000 urgent applications for housing According to official, fully confirmed figures, there are around 6,000 urgent applications for housing in the city of Durrës. This problem remains extremely troubling, especially for people who say they are forced to put their lives on hold until the state makes investments. So far, about 4,500 applications from homeless people or people living in extremely poor housing conditions remain on the municipal administration’s lists. They include around 2,000 families who, during 1993, were forced to leave their homes because of their owners, who continue to put pressure on them. Around 800 homeless families hoping for new housing have continued to occupy Plazhin for seven years. At a meeting held by the district council, the head of the construction section, Mr. Petraq Dado, said that 425 homes would be completed during 1994 to house politically persecuted people and those whose cases pose serious difficulties for the municipality and the districts. It seems this problem will remain on paper for a long time. Over three years of collective efforts, only ...? entrances have been provided. MIRELA NDINI

KUKËS The issue remains deadlocked, the strike continues While people in this country are preparing to celebrate the traditional New Year holiday, those confined in one of the halls of the Kukës district cultural palace are continuing their strike. They are still [unclear], reaching no agreement with the government on meeting their demands. We tried to get a response by telephone from the strike representatives, but could not. The switchboard operator told us they were not answering the phone. Or perhaps there is another reason: from time to time their phone is disconnected. Nevertheless, we tried to speak with the district council chairman, but we could not reach him either, since all the local government offices have been blocked by supporters of the strike who are outside, while the others, who had been blocked a few days ago by another group, are now blocked again. The chairman of the Kukës district Socialist Party, Muhamet Bela, [unclear] that even after 24 days the marathon hunger strike continues. Their condition is getting worse and worse. In a conversation with one of the strikers, we learned that a delegation of those confined, with the prefect’s mediation, will set off for Tirana in the coming days to meet with the President of the Republic. Of course, the President will [unclear], will talk, will hear their troubles, and finally will wish them a happy New Year 1995. And they will return from where they came, but morally broken. We hope, however, that he will also address the plight of the 10,795 families—or 84.5 per cent of them—in the Kukës district who receive social assistance, and resolve their problems in 1995. [Unclear] faces the New Year in serious hardship, as market prices have reached drastic levels; they have risen so much that the people cannot afford them. Of course, the authorities, so enamored of the heavenly space, will celebrate the New Year in the best possible way. We hope, contrary to Muhamet Bela’s concern, that the President’s meeting with the strike representatives will lead to a definitive solution to the problem. Correspondent of «Voice of the People»

Highlights of the SP program: A program inspired by democratic and humanitarian principles These days, the PSSH Program was published in the press. It presents in concentrated form its political and social vision and character, its strategic goals for today and the future, and the paths the PSSH will follow to achieve them. With this Program, the SP takes an important step forward toward affirming itself as a party of contemporary socialism, with the full social-democratic vision of Western Europe. This is why the Program has been received with great interest and sympathy not only by Albanian socialists and their supporters, but also by the SP electorate and broad sections of the population. The Program clearly and directly expresses our people’s vital demands and aspirations for democratizing the development of a genuinely democratic society and a democratic state governed by the rule of law, guaranteeing all citizens concrete conditions for a free life and a high level of prosperity. We should say from the outset that the PSSH is determined and seriously committed to putting the fundamental principles and ideas of its Program into practice in the interests of the people and the homeland. This is best demonstrated by the political struggle it is waging today to build a state governed by the rule of law, to adopt the Constitution through legal channels as soon as possible, and to emerge from the political, economic and social crisis by presenting concrete and acceptable alternatives and firmly opposing every attempt by the party in power to impose its rule and establish a dictatorship that would suffocate the existing fragile pluralist democracy. There is no doubt that, with its political and organizational experience, it ... (Continued on page 2)

Newspaper distributors in the districts of Sarandë, Gjirokastër, Berat and Durrës, as well as the Socialist Party district committees in Vlorë and Fier and the Private Agency Committee in Tirana, are hereby asked to settle all financial accounts at the offices of the newspaper «VOICE OF THE PEOPLE», Tirana, and to renew their contracts for 1995. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE