Yesterday afternoon, the International Conference of the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity began in Tirana, in cooperation with the Social Democratic Party of Albania. At the center of the conference’s proceedings will be a concrete and substantive study conducted by experts from the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity on the progress of economic reform in all the countries of the East, including Albania. The study is entitled “Transition, Society, Economy and the Future of Europe.” This is the first time that such an event has been held in our country by the European left in cooperation with the Social Democratic Party of Albania, a member of the Socialist International. Representatives of more than 20 socialist and social-democratic parties in Europe are taking part in the conference, along with representatives of the country’s political forces, economists, journalists, and diplomats. The Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, and its Vice-Chairman, Ilir Meta, also attended yesterday’s session. The conference will continue its work until May 21.

— Message of solidarity from the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, FATOS NANO — Brothers and sisters of “Voice of the People” and the “Drita” Enterprise. I express my political and human solidarity with you. I have followed you with affection and, at the same time, concern in your civilized struggle for democracy and progress for the whole nation. As a fellow fighter imprisoned like me, who has already experienced and challenged the regime of Berisha’s primitive schemes for politically lynching its opponents, I call on you to have courage and persevere, to continue the struggle in defense of the truth and to expose crimes of every kind cloaked in power. Solidarity between us is not a partnership of scoundrels and corrupt people like Berisha’s clique and the depersonalized people who serve him. Our solidarity is a union of hearts and the character of honest people, committed to uprooting once and for all from Albanian society the abuse of power for illicit enrichment and political revenge. This is all Berisha knows and all he does. By now, everyone, young and old, has understood this—not only in Albania. Instead of reason and reflection on the interests of the future, he has definitively chosen persecution and violence. Just as he has interpreted economic pluralism, the market, and fundamental human freedoms through the concepts and actions of his party and government, so he is now seeking to destroy them in the concepts and actions of the opposition as well. I assure you from prison that Berisha’s weapons are rusty and powerless to break the outstanding fighters for freedom. They only spew poison. Together, we, who have the solidarity of the overwhelming majority of Albanians on our side, will win by freeing people once and for all from the stains of their medieval past and barbarity. The plunderers of the people’s sweat are in power, and within a century we will return to people the fruits of their labor, their peace, dignity, and opportunities for prosperity. Goodbye—free. Note: This message was given yesterday to journalists Erion Braçe and Alfred Dalipi at Bença prison, Tepelenë.

— Statement by the Association of Professional Journalists —

The Chairman of the Court of Cassation, Mr. Zef Brozi, once again calls on the press for help In defense of the independence of the courts from political power — Who is the immoral, sinister hand that is undermining the independence of the courts? — To put the independence of justice at risk means that some government officials do not want us to join the Council of Europe. Yesterday at noon, held a press conference. Its central message was the appeal he made to the press to defend the independence of the courts against the traps set by the immoral, sinister hands of political power seeking to bring the courts under its control. The press conference opened with discussion of his visit to Strasbourg and the prospects for cooperation between the Albanian courts and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He said this was important because our legislation contains many contradictions concerning individuals’ constitutional rights in criminal proceedings, and because there are powers in Albania that wish individuals’ constitutional rights not to be respected. Returning to the heart of the issue—the submission to Parliament of a review of the dismissal of two Court of Cassation judges—he said that to claim to be seeking entry, to have been granted a visa to the Council of Europe, and then to tamper with democracy by endangering the independence of justice join the Council of Europe. Brozi asked rhetorically: Who has an interest in damaging Albania’s image, in presenting as new facts that were already presented when these Court of Cassation judges were approved by Parliament? And Mr. Zef Brozi himself answered, saying that the tense political climate needed little comment. Bringing this issue before Parliament is further proof of a campaign of attacks against the judiciary. Brozi listed the most recent facts, namely: — In December 1994, an immoral, sinister hand—whose identity is known—sought to remove the Chairman of the Court of Cassation. — On February 8, 1995, there was a very harsh, unimaginable reaction against the Court of Cassation’s ruling in the case of the five members of the minority. — Savage threats of revenge and fierce, covert reactions to the Court of Cassation’s acquittal of Ismet Kryeziu. Unfortunately, nothing has yet been done against those responsible in the Kryeziu case. — The removal of many district judges by the High Council of Justice, while judges are given no right of appeal against that council. This is unprecedented in Europe. Chairman Brozi’s voice is a voice in the wilderness as far as the High Council of Justice is concerned. The executive decides the fate of judges. Judges are appointed after two-month courses; even judges without degrees are arrested because they do not corroborate the prosecution or other branches of power. This is the most severe violation of the standards of justice-[text continues on page 2] (Continued on page 2)

Honorable Members of Parliament! We are at a critical moment for Albania. Over the past four years, Parliament has made courageous decisions to establish and protect our new democracy. Europe and the whole world are waiting to see how events unfold. Personally, I am very concerned about everything you have done to protect our civil rights and the independence of the judicial system. I have great confidence that Parliament will protect the judicial system in Albania and guarantee the human rights of our citizens. When I was in Strasbourg in May, at the invitation of the Council of Europe, I was informed about the proposal to dismiss two judges from the Court of Cassation. This caused considerable concern among our friends in Europe. Because of this proposal, many of them are now questioning our commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy. The principle of an independent judicial system is an essential element of a free society. Since 1991, Albania has taken significant steps to establish an independent judiciary and the rule of law. International standards require judges to be independent; other branches of government must not exercise direct control over the judicial system. An independent judicial system has many advantages. It ensures the protection of human rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the right to a fair trial. When businesspeople see that Albania’s judicial system will enforce their contracts, they will be more willing to invest. The Albanian people will feel safer when they are as- (Continued on page 2)

Readers are surely expecting today the article “Blerim Çela in a 170-square-meter apartment costing 40 million.” The article will also answer the question of how much Blerim Çela’s interior furnishings cost. But, with our deepest apologies, we inform you that immediately after our announcement in the newsroom that we had received a great deal of very scandalous information about him, for example, news came in that all day yesterday he had consulted with an individual who had supervised the work on his apartment, or that he had left the office carrying such a bulky file that the State Audit employees did not realize that their Blerim was making a run for it... Or how often his wife’s friends have visited Blerim’s house, or how much his wife’s latest perm cost, or how many bathtubs were tried out in his house, or... Considering that the article prepared by the newsroom was very poor and incomplete compared with the fresh information we received, we thought we would revise it for later. So read this column in the next issue, with the note that late at night information also reached the newsroom about how much Blerim Çela’s lamps for his new house had cost. Expect more information.

On 15 May 1995, at the headquarters of the Socialist Party. Delegates elected as representatives of the forum’s sections from the capital’s 25 areas, secondary schools and higher education institutions took part in the Conference. Chairman Ilir Meta delivered the report on the work of the Steering Committee between the two conferences. The report analyzed the forum’s achievements and successes, the shortcomings observed, and set out its objectives for the future. The report also highlighted the significant role played by the Euro-Socialist youth in the struggle during the 6 November Referendum, as well as the very successful organization of the National Meeting on 15 January, for which the Euro-Socialist Youth of the Capital bore the main responsibility. The discussions focused primarily on strengthening organizational work in the future, with the aim of completing the organization of the sections in— (Continued on page 2)

More violence against journalists Yesterday, at 13:30, police detained Mr. Gjergj Zei in Shkodër, a journalist and Chairman of the Assembly of the Democratic Alliance Party, and took him away with police forces. Mr. Gjergj Zei was held in isolation until 15:00. He was told there that he was wanted by the Tirana court in connection with a lawsuit filed by SHIK employee Vllazër Mema, relating to publications about the events in Nishkë that took place a year ago. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

— Statement by the Association of Professional Journalists — The Association of Professional Journalists of Albania is closely following developments in the investigation into the use of 400,000 dollars to purchase the printing press in the name of the newspaper “Voice of the People,” the organ of the Albanian Socialist Party. Committed to defending freedom of the press and journalists against all forms of pressure and violence that infringe upon it, the association does not prejudge the work of the prosecution and other justice authorities. On the other hand, however, it is determined to denounce any conduct that goes beyond the bounds of a normal investigation and takes on the character of psychological pressure on journalists. From this standpoint, the association considers the police demonstrations near the editorial offices of “Voice of the People” entirely excessive and intimidating, at a time when members of the press, committed to clarifying every truth, are ready to place themselves at the disposal of justice voluntarily and in a civil manner. Our association believes that clarifying the questions concerning the legal basis for the receipt and use of the 400,000 dollars for the printing press by “Voice of the People” in 1991 has no connection with the status of this newspaper. Furthermore, the matter cannot be assessed without taking into account the changes that the entire political press has undergone over these three years in its relationship with the party-state. We therefore consider it unjust and strongly oppose the Prosecutor’s Office’s detention of the editor-in-chief and, at the same time, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Professional Journalists, Mr. Thoma Gëllçi, who carried out his duties within the authority granted to him by his position as editor-in-chief, without devising any alternative accounting method and without interfering with the procedures for the financial transactions of a newspaper using its non-secret fund. Our association wishes to believe that treating our colleague Gëllçi as a defendant in a matter that has nothing to do with him personally is a misunderstanding that should be corrected immediately, so as not to politically compromise the case of the 400,000 dollars. CHAIRMAN PREÇ ZOGAJ

— Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee — According to the latest reports, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly will soon submit to Parliament a request to remove judges Petrit Plloci and Tefta Zake from the Court of Cassation, on the grounds that, when they were appointed to these positions, they had not met the legal requirement of seven years’ seniority in the justice system. The Albanian Helsinki Committee, committed to upholding the principles of the rule of law, observes that approval of this request would directly affect the independence of the judiciary. It was the People’s Assembly that, pursuant to Article 6 of Law No. 7561, dated 29.04.1992, approved the President, Vice Presidents and judges of the Court of Cassation. If, at the time, the Assembly made a particular interpretation of the legal requirement concerning seniority in the justice system, it would neither be fair nor lawful to reconsider this matter by revisiting that interpretation, which was made with full awareness at the time. A judge of the Court of Cassation may be removed from office by a reasoned decision of the People’s Assembly only in two cases: a) when it is established that the judge has committed one of the serious criminal offences specifically provided for by law, and b) when the judge is mentally incapacitated. On the basis of these legal considerations, and particularly the principle of judicial independence, we address the Presidium of the People’s Assembly and all members of Parliament, confident that they will abide by the laws they themselves have adopted and interpreted. Albanian Helsinki Committee Tirana, 19.05.1995