THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN ATHENS FOR TWO YEARS TO ESTABLISH AND OBSERVE THAT BERISHA IS SPENDING TWO YEARS OF FATOS NANO’S LIFE IN PRISON, THE SPOKESMAN OF THIS ORGANIZATION’S PARLIAMENT, MAURO NANO, HAS DISAVOWED WHAT A. RUSI TOLD HIM PERSONALLY WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT FATOS NANO’S ARREST AND WHY HE HAD LOCKED HIM UP IN PRISON?... Interview with the head of foreign policy of the PS, Mr. Llasan Reported by our journalist Arlian Myrtimi Mr. Buzë, first of all, speaking about the campaign of disinformation that Berisha is conducting after Fatos Nano’s speech in the European Parliament concerning the destruction of democracy in Albania, emphasized: Fatos Nano is a political prisoner and not someone convicted of a criminal offense. Therefore, no criminal proceedings have been brought against him, nor is there any final court ruling. After the Court of Cassation’s decision to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling and return the case for a full and impartial rehearing by another panel, his lawyers requested his immediate release under the law. Berisha refused and even ordered Nano’s isolation to be made stricter. No one can keep a man in prison without a court decision. That is why in every international forum he is being regarded as a political prisoner. In response to the statements of the European Parliament spokesman, Mauro Nano, A. Rusi is said to have told him that Fatos Nano had been arrested to save the country from a civil war. This is a political alibi, not a legal one. It openly acknowledges that his arrest was not a matter of law, but a decision of power. If someone is arrested to save the regime and not because of criminal evidence, then we are dealing with political imprisonment. For this reason, the concern of the European institutions is justified and well founded. Berisha can no longer hide from the world the fact that opposition is being suppressed in Albania and justice is being used as a political weapon. (continued on page 5)

Interview with the head of foreign policy of the PS given to our journalist Ardian Myrtimi I do not know how true this claim is, but if he said it, then it shows that the current authorities have clearly understood that the source of the conflict is not the opposition, but the way the country is governed. Democracy is not defended by putting political opponents in prison. It is defended by respecting the law, free elections, parliament, and civil liberties. Zëri i Popullit: And what about the statement by the President’s chief of staff, Mr. Konomi, that this problem does not exist and that the country has moved toward stability? Answer: The stability of graveyards is not democratic stability. In Albania there is fear, poverty, suppression of free speech, and the use of the administration against political opponents. We demand democratic normality, not an imposed calm. (continued on page 5)

During their stay in Tirana, within the framework of PS cooperation with a number of sister parties in Europe and especially with the Danish Social Democrats, the PS secretary for external relations, E. Vukaj, had a cordial meeting and conversation with the Deputy Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Denmark and other leaders of the party. In this conversation, the situation in the country, the problems of democracy, and the difficulties currently faced by the Albanian opposition were discussed at length. The Danish side expressed particular interest in political, economic, and social developments in Albania, as well as in the role of the Socialist Party in strengthening democratic institutions. Press and Information Office (continued on page 5)

Berisha calls the basic claims made by [the opposition?] on 22 March 1992 “not realistic” On the day he donated to Corfu and Power I ship motobesimin on 22 March 1992 Yesterday, exclusively, President Sali Berisha appeared on TV and justified the scandalous discriminatory measure against pensions in Albania, not through the defense of ideas or real reasoning, but through a political deception. In the public eye he equated “the realism of reforms” with “economic impossibility,” as if poverty, inequality, and injustice were proof of success rather than the consequence of failures. He declared that many people would get annoyed when they hear him on television. That is the only accurate part of his statement. Citizens are annoyed not because they hear the truth, but because they hear the same propaganda that has left them without work, without hope, and without trust in the state. Many Albanians cannot accept that after three years of sacrifice they are told that basic demands for a better life, for wages, pensions, and social services are supposedly “not realistic.” What is realistic is people’s lives, not the government’s excuses. (continued on page 7)

15 families protest There are 15 families of former persecuted people who have left their homes and occupy the corridors of the former dormitory “Sami Frashëri,” where they are holding a hunger strike in protest against the delays in housing them. They are demanding a quick solution to their housing problem and respect for their rights. Caretaking service at Telekomi of Lezha Recently the caretaking service at Telekomi of Lezha has been improved. According to official sources, the new organization has increased readiness to repair faults and to help subscribers. (continued on page 15)

VECOM[E?]: A statement without responsibility, or... 1-The PD decides in advance? for the plundering of property, WHILE IT GUARANTEES THE RETURN OF ASSETS A statement without responsibility, or... (continued on page 8) May it come from [?] as much as 300 years PD has defended[?] the word [?] (continued on page 6) (continued on page 7) (continued on page 8)