The “Vrioni” scandal is the scandal of Albanian Finance Dylber Vrioni, deputy prime minister and minister of finance, is the legal representative of the Italo-Albanian Bank - Hiri[n]da Demokratike reports that Mr. Dylber Vrioni was paid in dollars by the Italo-Albanian Bank. - Article 15 of the statute of the Italo-Albanian Bank: The bank president is the legal representative of the Bank, collects and carries out its bills of exchange or offers... Upon his return from the tour around Europe, the chairman of the PS, Mr Fatos Nano, informed journalists yesterday about the issue denounced in parliament and later published in the Italian press “Corriere della Sera” and “Repubblica”, mainly concerning the role of Albania’s minister of finance, Mr Dylber Vrioni, in the Italo-Albanian Bank. Nano has sent a letter to the Prosecutor General of Italy, Mr Borrelli, asking him to investigate this matter in depth. “Vrioni must give explanations and resign,” Nano said. According to him, it is unacceptable for a minister of finance to be at the same time the legal representative of a private bank. The Italian press article says that “Mr Vrioni has received monthly payments from the Italo-Albanian Bank”, which according to the PS constitutes an open conflict of interest. Also published is part of the bank’s statute, which states that its president is its legal representative and holds broad administrative powers. Fatos Nano said that this issue cannot be closed with silence and that the opposition will seek full institutional clarification. He called for state control and the justice authorities to be set in motion. (Continues on page 2 )

To the Council of Europe There are two bodies that must receive the opinion of the political committee in order to be recommenders for Albania’s admission. The first is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the second is the Committee of Ministers. Both bodies will rely on the decision issued by the Political Committee. The substance of the political committee’s decision will be: “The Assembly invites the Council of Europe to make Albania a member as soon as sufficient progress has been achieved in constitutional, electoral and local government reform”. Yesterday in Strasbourg a meeting was held of the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in which the Albanian parliamentary delegation also took part, led by the head of the delegation, Servet Pëllumbi. Albanian ministers and deputies from Albania also participated. At this meeting, the report by Mr Martinez was discussed; it had been presented a few days earlier to the Committee on Legal Affairs as rapporteur on Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. Mr Martinez’s report is the second report prepared after Mr Hunot’s report, presented at the January 1995 session. Such a fact shows the continued insistence of the Council of Europe’s leading bodies on an as rapid as possible examination of the issue of Albania’s membership. On behalf of the Albanian delegation, Mr Servet Pëllumbi and Mr Bashkim Fino spoke, presenting their views on the progress of reforms in Albania. The head of the Albanian delegation, Servet Pëllumbi, declared that “Albania is continuing its democratic reforms with determination and is interested in the swift completion of the membership procedures.” The rapporteur on Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe, Mr Martinez, spoke about the progress of reforms in Albania and the achievements made. He stressed the need for efforts to continue in constitutional, electoral and local government reform. At the end of the discussions, the Political Committee decided to recommend to the Parliamentary Assembly that the procedures for Albania’s membership should continue.

The two deputy chairmen of the PS SHH, A. Sykja and P. Milo, held talks in London with officials from the Foreign Office. During this meeting, they discussed the situation in Albania and the latest political developments. At the end of the talks, the British representatives expressed interest in strengthening relations with Albania and in supporting the democratic processes.

- Plerim Cela blocks the inspection material at Shell - The прокуратure does not give the green light - What were the Socialist deputies doing? STATE CONTROL STATES “For the unlawful blocking of documents and for not providing the inspection materials, the responsible person is director Pëllumb Çela[?]. A large part of the recorded economic damage has not been recovered.” The inspection material shows that import procedures were violated, unjustified payments were made, and transparency in the use of funds was not ensured. The damage identified reaches 7 million dollars, while another 8 million dollars were kept unused. Socialist deputies have requested a parliamentary inquiry and intervention by the prosecutor’s office to shed light on the case. 6 February 1995

YESTERDAY IN THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY At yesterday’s session of the People’s Assembly, a bill of economic importance was discussed and approved. Deputies submitted amendments and debates were held on the content of the articles. The approved law aims to regulate the treatment of the extinguished value and the obligations related to it. Representatives of the majority described it as a necessary step, while the opposition requested more clarification on practical implementation. In the end, the bill was put to a vote and approved by the People’s Assembly.

SEE THE USE OF PLEDRAN TEN AND RREDAN VETOVER?[] SEE THE USE OF PLEDRAN TEN AND RREDAN VETOVER?[?] If you still turn your hand back from this reform, decommunization has not been carried out in Albania and the guilty parties of the former system have not been sanctioned. For this reason the opposition raises the issue of political and legal responsibility.

Jufter Murrizi has been elected President of the Steering Committee of VVSSH at the Press Hall, on 28 April 1995, at 11:00 a.m. Meetings are being held in Tirana. Announcement The leadership of the Association of Prisons of Koresis of sho[?], Kosovo 95 and today, on Friday, 28.04.1995 at 17:30 and mpr? ..., is organizing a ceremony and working lunch on the occasion of the anniversary of the association’s founding. All former political prisoners, their family members, as well as representatives of institutions, are invited. Social Hall Durrës.