The head of external relations of the Italian Democratic Left Party and co-chairman of the Socialist International for Central and Eastern Europe, Piero Fassino, refutes the official propaganda of the Albanian government. A 24-hour lie The ruling party press, without any ethics or scruples, tried yesterday to exploit the visit of the honored Piero Fassino, one of the main leaders of the Italian Democratic Left Party, for the purposes of the PD, for its political struggle, to strike by any means at the largest opposition force in Albania, the Socialist Party. It is a new disgrace in the chain of disgraceful acts by the PD and its propaganda. According to this scenario, a crude lie that could not have lasted more than 24 hours, Mr. Fassino is said to have declared: “The Democratic Party of the Left in Italy, as well as the socialist parties of Western Europe, know the political situation in Albania well and are of the opinion that the Socialist Party of Albania unfortunately cannot be compared with the reformed Socialist Parties of the East and cannot be accepted by us... We are interested in an evolution that we still do not see in this party...” This statement, published by RD, is claimed to have been made by Mr. P. Fassino not just anywhere but at the meeting with President Berisha. What opinions this senior representative of Italy’s PDS holds can today be read not only in “Zëri i Popullit”, but in all our press. The question arises: Why had this crude lie to be invented? The reasons are many. First of all, it is meant to present the situation as if the Democratic Party, the ruling party, is supported by the whole world, while the Socialist Party, the largest opposition party, is opposed by the whole world. This is the black-and-white struggle, born of monist mindsets. Western politicians, various parties, high-ranking foreign personalities, friends of Albania, do not do their calculations according to PD headquarters, because they know just as well as we Albanians the saying “A lie has short legs.” But they also have a democratic morality, seriousness and express knowledge and culture, they have a vision that looks toward the future, so they do not fall into such propaganda traps and “kitchens.” Continues on page 3

Yesterday morning at the headquarters of the PSSH, its deputy chairman Dr. Servet Pëllumbi received the delegation of the Italian Democratic Left Party (PDSI) led by Mr. Piero Fassino, head of external relations of the PDSI and Chairman of the Committee of the Socialist International for Central and Eastern Europe. The meeting was also attended by the deputy chairman of the PSSH Ilir Meta and the member of the foreign commission Enver Reci. PAGE 3

RD Dosja Hax[?] No hope for the socialists Alban[?] The European left against the socialists Fassino: Everything that has been written in these two newspapers is not my opinion and I cannot comment on things I have not said. I understand that, very close to the elections, it is thought that my visit here should be used for electoral purposes, but my objective and that of the Party I represent is not this. I have come here to clearly state that the Italian Democratic Left Party is the leading party in Italy and the party that makes up the governing majority, it definitively wants improved relations between Italy and Albania and for this we can clearly say that Italy is a major partner for Albania. We wish to favor an economic and political transition to facilitate Albania’s entry into the EU, to help modernize this country, and this is the essence of all the talks I have had with the Albanian party. It is not up to an Italian political leader to take part in the Albanian electoral campaign. It is up to an Italian political leader to say and express what Italy will do to help Albania.

Interview with the head of external relations of the Italian PDS and co-chairman of the Socialist International for Central and Eastern Europe, Piero Fassino, given to journalist Alfred Dalipi PAGE 3

After concluding his visit yesterday, he left our country at midday. At Rinas airport he was seen off by the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party Ilir Meta and by the Secretary General of the PSD, Gaqo Apostoli. Unlike the previous day, when the PD representative, MP Pjetër Pepa, and the chairman of the Social Democratic Union, Teodor Laço, had also gone to Rinas to welcome Mr. Fassino, representatives of these parties were absent from the farewell to the friend from Italy. According to political observers, this stance by the PD is explained by its displeasure with Mr. Fassino’s positions during his visit to Albania, especially after the refutations he made of the abuses of the government press organs. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

THE CHANCES WERE LOST: Albanian justice remained accused Tomorrow at the Court of Cassation: The seventh trial for the “Nano File” THE CHANCES WERE LOST: Albanian justice remained accused Fatos Nano: We and the people do not believe in your justice of a few months’ trainees or other servants who have been placed under political control, in a state that is taking on police-like features PAGE 6

Miss Albania ’95 Hygerta Sako PIER CARDIN AND HIS CHOICE Photo Roland Tasho