- Not only did Arsidi not come to Albania through FATOS NANO, but traffickers like him brought Berisha to power - Two sensational and indisputable facts stand out in the «Arsidi scandal»: MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM ALBANIA’S STATE TREASURY AND «A MEDAL OF COURTESY» HAS BEEN AWARDED, WHICH CONTINUES TO HANG AROUND THE NECK OF THE HEAD OF STATE - Not only did FATOS NANO not bring Arsidi to Albania, but traffickers like him brought Berisha to power - Two sensational and indisputable facts stand out in the «Arsidi scandal»: MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM ALBANIA’S STATE TREASURY AND «A MEDAL OF COURTESY» HAS BEEN AWARDED, WHICH CONTINUES TO HANG AROUND THE NECK OF THE HEAD OF STATE Dear friends, I am pleased to communicate directly with you again, taking advantage of the fact that Berisha has decided temporarily to bring FATOS NANO out of the catacombs of Bënça and to the capital, «to put him on display again» in courtrooms. This time in the «Arsidi Trial». Berisha needs this spectacle to remove the shadow of suspicion from himself and his regime, corrupt to the core: He needs it to pin the scandals of his court once again on the opposition and FATOS NANO; he needs it to create a smokescreen after the defeat of 6 November and in the face of popular dissatisfaction with the failure of his government; he needs it to smear Fatos Nano, the Socialist Party and its ever-growing republicans, at home and abroad. Well, Berisha knows only this much and does only this much! As I have said, this failed director of trials against political opponents continues to block all social energy by creating and eliminating «enemies», when Albanians need to build, not destroy themselves in fratricidal conflicts. I assure you that this script too, by the failed director of this failed regime, will fail. Fatos Nano cannot be smeared I nor eliminated with Berisha’s failed Stalinist scripts, nor with trials, prisons, or primitive revenge. I feel sorry for these young judges and prosecutors, who, instead of working for the future, the rule of law and an independent judiciary, once again submit to the dregs and remnants of the past, because such are Berisha’s scripts. But I cannot feel pity. On the contrary, I express the indignation of all honest Albanians when these people of the law become accomplices in covering up and burying the scandals of the scandal-ridden regime, one of whose crowning spectacles is the «Arsidi affair». These slaves of the regime dare not pursue the «wolves», although he has hung the medal around his neck, but they fabricate false trials that allow them to continue ravaging the people’s wealth. Two sensational and indisputable facts stand out in the «Arsidi Scandal»: millions of dollars have been stolen from Albania’s state treasury and «a medal of courtesy» has been awarded, which continues to hang around the neck of the Head of State. And this did not happen under the Nano government, when predators like Arsidi were put in handcuffs, but under this regime’s rule. This was proven at the Congress concerning the 16 million dollars, to be put into ... [unclear passage] One question is predetermined: will there be a commitment to the hearings and testimony? Who brought Arsidi to Albania? The evidence, the figures ... once again reveal a falsification and speculation about this matter. Fatos Nano brought Arsidi to Albania—was the claim in the daily RD on Friday morning. Everything there, just like the court, referred to a legal note. So not only did Fatos Nano not bring Arsidi to Albania, but traffickers like him brought Berisha to power. Berisha wears Arsidi’s plaster medal around his neck, and an independent judiciary would normally demand that he testify. Ah! And all the government staff and officials who paved the way from the State Bank to the Presidency in a trial of condemnation, from Meksi to Chief Judge Bendo, who once ruled on behalf of Kasket. But these very principals and witnesses to the medal are absent from this trial. The latter are hidden from justice, and people of the law dare not confront them. The crime goes unpunished and the medal of shame stains Albania. Therefore, the new edition of the Arsidi trial remains at the level of the failed script by the failed director of this failed regime. The corrupt cannot fight corruption. Today’s independent opposition will root it out, saving Albania and democracy. That day is near, very near. Take courage, brothers! I greet you all warmly. In particular, the young Eurosocialists gathered today in the capital in three non-hostile cities, as one of the pillars of Albanian democratic society. FATOS NANO

The day before yesterday Albanian Television broadcast a statement by the DP spokesperson, containing public slander and insults against the SP and the distinguished figure in Albanian legal science, Prof. Luan Omari, which demonstrate the low cultural level of those who drafted this statement. It is not the first time that DP leaders, with astonishing frivolity, have given credence to tales and spread falsehoods about initiatives by opposition political forces. It is not the first time that the DP has launched public attacks and insults against the SP, the opposition and well-known scientific and political figures in Albania—especially now that its complete political bankruptcy has become public and factional warfare within its ranks has further deepened the crisis. In these circumstances, there is no point in making a public clarification, but since this concerns such an important issue as resolving the constitutional crisis, the SP considers it necessary to clarify matters for public opinion: After 6 November, the Socialist Party and the other parliamentary parties firmly sought consensus on drafting a new constitution; on every occasion, and ultimately, the DP showed a complete lack of willingness. Neither the Socialist Party alone nor the grouping of political parties that opposed the referendum of 6 November last year has appointed a commission to draft the constitution, since under Article 44 of the law «On the Main Constitutional Provisions», this is a right of the People’s Assembly. These parties have repeatedly appealed to the Democratic Party to reach consensus both on the procedure for drafting the new constitution and on its content, but, unfortunately, the DP has responded negatively to this request. Before 6 November last year, the President of the Republic stated that if the draft constitution presented to the people did not win, the opposition parties would have the right to submit their own draft for discussion and approval. The Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance Party, the Human Rights Party and the Republican Party agreed to assign a group of specialists to work on preparing a possible draft of the future constitution. No one was appointed head of this working group. This preparatory work is being undertaken to help make the draft available in the future to the other political forces (including the Democratic Party), so that they can offer their assessments and suggestions, and then to submit it to the Constitutional Drafting Commission, which will be appointed by the People’s Assembly in accordance with Article 44 of the constitutional law. It will be for the People’s Assembly and the relevant commission to decide whether to appoint a leadership and how to proceed with the draft that will be prepared. Thus, this initiative does not violate constitutional law and does not replace the constitutional commission to be appointed by parliament. It is a normal, lawful initiative that expresses the Socialist Party’s high sense of responsibility and the strong commitment of the SP, SDP, DAP, HRP and RP to resolving the constitutional crisis. At the same time, it is living proof of their strong willingness to reach consensus on drafting and approving the new constitution. The attacks and insults against Prof. Luan Omari are as absurd as they are malicious. They target not only this figure of Albanian scholarship but also the Socialist Party. Prof. Luan Omari is undoubtedly one of Albania’s most prominent scientific figures, recognized as such by European scientific circles as well. We do not wish to recount his family and scholarly biography, since these have already been presented, but because of the pleasure this gives us and to make an impression on public opinion, we mention certain particular aspects of them, and wish to emphasize that it is precisely the DP leaders who are fanatically applying the old, condemnable mentality of biographies and class warfare. What matters to us is Prof. Luan Omari’s scholarly standing and his commitment to democratizing Albanian legal thought, not so much whose grandson or son he is. He is one of the finest constitutional experts in Albania today ... [unclear]. He was a member of the commission that drafted the 1976 Constitution, but he was not its author, just as he is not responsible for what the Democratic Party spokesperson attributes to him. As a recognized constitutional expert, he was a member of the team that drafted the 1991 draft constitution, and also one of the principal drafters of the constitutional-law package currently in force in Albania. Prof. Luan Omari is a member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, based in Salzburg (Austria). That is why yesterday’s DP attack, more than an attack on the Socialist Party and Prof. Luan Omari, is a continuation of its attack on the wisest minds of the Albanian nation and Albanian intellectuals as a whole. Spokesperson of the Socialist Party of Albania

Three years later, FRESSH is an organization consolidated at every level. It has clear and complete structures, founded on an approved programme and statute, within the structures of the Socialist Party of Albania, as a youth organization with a distinct identity. But its activity would not be complete without mentioning its ever-growing engagement with young European socialists. We would not need to wait long in their lives, and on 29 November 1993 we would greet them in person at the Socialist Youth International. Not even another year would pass before, on 6 November 1994, the Albanian Eurosocialists would find themselves members of the Socialist Youth International. Not even another year would pass before, on 6 November 1994, the Albanian Eurosocialists would find themselves members of the Socialist Youth International. Not even another year would pass before, on 6 November 1994, the Albanian Eurosocialists would find themselves members of the Socialist Youth International. The Socialist Youth Organization of the countries of the European continent. FRESSH has engaged with all the major issues that have confronted the country’s political life. It has taken a firm and principled position, criticized, presented clear alternatives and put forward solutions. In its activities it has always shown itself to be open and democratic. It has sought and accepted debate, and through constructive deb... [unclear] one can move forward. Three years after its creation, the Eurosocialists are different. Their numbers have multiplied tenfold and a hundredfold. They are more prepared and stronger, more courageous and emancipated, more intelligent and capable of taking on major and difficult tasks, of resolving.

A «game» that begins with children’s toys and ends... with a presidential statement!! This is how the presiding judge characterized yesterday’s hearing and the entire trial related to the biggest scandal in Albanian finances—the leader of the Albanian opposition, Fatos Nano, a political prisoner brought here by Berisha’s regime. Brought the previous day from the regime’s Bënça, Fatos Nano, chairman of the SP and a political prisoner, appeared yesterday in the Tirana courtroom, where the court was trying to shed light on the darkest part of the «court». Hundreds of policemen appeared in Tirana with him, surrounding the area ... [unclear], with the capital and its citizens subjected to fear and terror by the police, by the guns. Brought into the courtroom in Tirana for the political trial in order to face

Reports from Sofia say that the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party appointed its new chairman, Zhan Vidanov, yesterday to the post of future prime minister. Vidanov, who is 35 years old, ... [unclear passage] democratic. Bulgaria is Vidanov ... [unclear]

The President should represent the unity of the people, not contribute to dividing them The press conference yesterday by the chairman of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi, was followed with particular interest by the press. It lasted almost two hours. Brozi chose attack as a means of defence Mr. Brozi’s press conference was conceived as a rebuttal to the six members of the Court of Cassation who signed a statement against him, particularly Metush Saraçi and Arni Shehu. Brozi presented journalists with documents proving that the procedure he followed in ordering the release of the Greek citizen Kallafaturës was a regular procedure of this court, at least since 1985. There had been such precedents involving Aranit Çela, Eleni Selemnica, Nuri Hoxh... and even Metush Saraçi. On 27.4.1994, a case was heard in which it was decided that a prison sentence should be converted into a suspended sentence. The reporting judge, M. Saraci, drafted a document, although this was not stated in the operative part. Brozi called the accusations against him deliberate fabrications, but ones made with a greater degree of professionalism. As for the statement by the six judges, al Fatos Nano accuses in the courtroom: «You come to this trial after Monday’s meetings and yesterday’s meeting from 9 to 13 with President Berisha, attended by Pali Martini, Arben Qeleshi, Fatos Dervishdi and you, specifically at No. 4 near the Palace of Brigades, where meetings of the High Council of Justice are now held about the “Nano case” and many others». Fatos Nano, in the Tirana court, 5 March 1994 ZEF BROZI CONFIRMS: «I used to go to that villa too, until quite recently. I don’t go anymore». «There was considerable debate in the Court of Cassation about appointing the judges who would hear the “Nano Case”. I proposed that they be selected by drawing lots. The next day, the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” reported: “Zef Brozi proposes drawing lots to select the judges for the ‘Nano Case’.” I informed you, and they were selected by lot. Avni Shehu, among the judges of the Court of Cassation, refused to hear the “Nano Case”. One day before the trial, after meeting our ambassador in Germany, who had arrived in Albania that day, Avniu ... [unclear]. Thus, even without knowing the “Nano” case file, he gave his decision on Nano the next day. I used to go to those villas you are talking about too, until quite recently. I don’t go anymore». Zef Brozi. Statement at the press conference, 14 January 1995 He would even have called it an honest position, if he had not started ... in several villas on the outskirts of Tirana. Brozi also presented two decisions in the Kallafaturës case, one of them, he said, altered by Metush Saraçi and two ... after the Greek citizen’s departure. All of this, he said, was intended to catch Brozi in the wrong. Brozi rejected the official propaganda’s accusation that Kallafator was a drug trafficker. Kallafatosi, he said, is an accusation against those who obtained illicit financial benefits and unlawfully monitored him during the judicial proceedings. Brozi reiterated once again that ... (Continued on page 5)