EUROPE: Fatos Nano free in politics too BERISHA: determined in his political revenge - The Ministry of Justice gives the Tepelenë court lessons in dependence. - GUSENBAUER: In 6 months we will verify whether the promises have been fulfilled. Those recently accused of “transporting arms” in the conflict zone in Rwanda—“Amnesty International” wrote: “the events in Rwanda are a crime against humanity.” “Sending arms to this country is genocide”—they are trying to divert attention from this accusation by resurrecting the scandalous lie that has covered the “Nano File” for two years. While the case of the imprisoned socialist leader—which has become a condition set by Strasbourg for Albania—should be concluded in good time, it will not have that fate, naturally until the end of the term of the political fanatics. Since March 1992, official Tirana has kept Albania away from the Council of Europe for three years, creating a conflict with it by setting conditions itself: the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary, the imprisonment of opposition leader Nano, freedom of speech and the press, and the imprisonment of journalists. Conditions that are in no way being met, for the sole, miserable reason that also “justifies” the imprisonments themselves. This happened because the regime’s number one continues to “hang”—through his regime’s executive—the Albanian justice system. As for Albania’s highest court, Berisha—just a few days ago—recommended that the Constitutional Court be used to strike; he decided not to strike it with brutality any longer, but with cunning (Spaha showed this). For the other courts, the Ministry of Justice has been appointed guardian. And, as always, this new trial—which will produce a “play at independent justice”—must receive as much publicity as possible. This has thus been brought back to Strasbourg. But the legitimate request for a trial is not being granted, nor are the judges’ requests for other days. Or, more precisely, the hand that received it in Tepelenë under file number 175 on 12.6.1995 brought it, unregistered, into the hands of Hektor Frashëri and Vladimir Kristo, Berisha’s officials or the guardians of the courts. The independent press took a clear position on this yesterday. And the scandal has reappeared noisily. The chief judge of Tepelenë is summoned to receive lessons at the Ministry of Justice, even though the only “lesson” for him should be the law. But Frashëri interprets the law while forcibly advertising the lack of independence of the Tepelenë court—and not only that court. Meanwhile, those asked at this court shrug their shoulders about the trial of the “Nano File.” So, is the judiciary an independent power? By what right do the minister appointed after 6 November, or the deputy minister appointed after 30 July ’92, summon court presidents? Perhaps they know better than anyone that the Penal Code contains an article on abuse of office. In any case, the scandal—this time moved 200 km away from Villa No. 4—has reappeared at a moment when Columbberg and Gusenbauer are demanding that Berisha and Spahia release socialist leader Nano and not obstruct his political activity. The legal affairs committee’s rapporteur, Columbberg—who spoke with Berisha about releasing the opposition leader—may further intensify the actions being taken now. And, in any case, Albania will be admitted to the Council of Europe, and Nano, imprisoned, and the opposition, which enjoys the majority among the people, have paved the way for it. There is just one thing the fundamentalists and Mr. Berisha must know: “We do not come here to receive promises that are not kept. been fulfilled,” said another Strasbourg official, Mr. Gusenbauer, a few days ago in Tirana. ERION BRAÇE …the highest Albanian [court], Berisha—just a few days ago—was recommending that the Constitutional Court strike [it] down—decided not to strike it down with brutality but with cunning (the press reported this); as appointed their guardian. And, as always, this new trial—which is supposed to bring about a “new kind of independent justice”—must be given as much publicity as possible. Thus, the “Nano File” has once again been brought to the attention of the domestic public and European officials. “Europe’s condition” will reactivate the conflict, further fuelling Strasbourg’s concern about Albania’s accession. Taken from the “new penal code” to the small court in Tepelenë, the “Nano File” is legally seeking an end—which would mean freedom for the socialist Nano, but also an end to the official concern of …

On 15 June 1995, Socialist MPs Anastas Angjeli and Theodhori Bej were received and held a working meeting at the White House with Mr. Richard Schifter, Special Assistant to President Klinton and Adviser to the National Security Council; Mr. Daniel Fried, Director for Central and Eastern Europe at the National Security Council at the White House; and the department’s specialist on Albania. The meeting included discussion and an exchange of views on the progress of democratic processes in Albania, the current political and economic situation, and the three human rights, including those of minorities in Albania. A special place at the meeting was given to the explanations provided by the Socialist MPs concerning the role and contribution of all political forces to the continuation of democratic processes in Albania, particularly the constructive role of the Socialist Party in opposition, especially after the referendum on the draft constitution. Detailed explanations were also given in response to various questions about the SP’s program in the fields of the Party’s domestic and foreign policy, as well as economic and social policy. The situation in the Balkans and the most peaceful possible resolution of its problems were also discussed. The Socialist MPs emphasized to their interlocutors that the SP is a contemporary political force that guarantees there will be no turning back and that democratic reforms in Albania will continue, based on political pluralism, a market economy, and respect for human rights. During their stay in Washington, Socialist MPs A. Angjeli and Th. Bej had the opportunity to meet and greet senior State officials, senators, congressmen, etc. PRESS OFFICE OF THE PSSI

We underline GENTLEMEN, ALBANIA IS NOT A POLICE STATE!... - Once again on a carnival-style ceremony in Korçë - Two days ago, in the pages of the newspaper RD, we read about a ceremony in Korçë, where the day’s most notable event was the reconstruction of the police station building in this city. At this ceremony, Korçë’s municipal council awarded the title of honorary citizen to the head of the police station, Pëllumb Korfuzit. “Zëri i popullit” published an article the following day under the headline “A policeman—honorary citizen of Korçë.” This article, as well as other reactions, must have been the reason the Television rushed to present, in its “Speciale e ditës” program, a parade of the “police” successes achieved in Korçë, at the center of which was this “honorary citizen” invented for the city of Korçë, named Pëllumb Korfuzit. The program had the sole purpose of convincing us that, with Mr. Pëllumb’s arrival as police-station chief, the police in Korçë had transformed the city from a center of mystery, insecurity and crime into a center of security, calm and mutual understanding. So be it. The police should play this role, but alongside many other things, they should help create the atmosphere necessary for a normal life. But Pëllumb Korfuzit, this geologist-engineer who was unknown until yesterday, has a bitter past in the police. Before coming to Korçë, he was in Rr. e Dgace. In both Korçë and Po-gradec, he has displayed arbitrary police conduct toward citizens, for which several complaints have been filed. Pëllumb Korfuzit should be giving account for his deeds. As a sick practitioner, he has particularly targeted Socialist councillors and voters. This is the real reason that inspired the authors of the program, amid the aforementioned Korçë carnival scenes, to present this policeman with the title of honorary citizen before the eyes—and with the blessing—of Mr. Meksi. If the authorities want, let them make Pëllumb Korfuzit Minister of Public Order too and fill his chest with medals. What draws attention is this: why does the current PS government need to glorify the figure of a policeman “when Albania is not a police state”? This signal bodes ill. Two moments from TV’s “Speciale e ditës,” which glorified this policeman, are worth noting as evidence of attempts to introduce a police-minded atmosphere into our environment. Someone on the program boasted that calm had been established in Korçë’s schools because the police inspected the schools four times a day. This is absolutely unacceptable. God forbid that order and calm in schools should be ensured by the police! Apparently, there are so many police officers in Korçë that they have nothing to do and organize noisy patrols through the schools. Besides the first harm—the police atmosphere surrounding the school—this has another major drawback: it creates the mentality that in Albania things can be done only with the backing of the police. On the program in question, Mr. Korfuz, like a braggart, said—and even repeated—that he would be more criminal than the criminals. This statement contains arbitrariness, that is, a violation of the law. Reports of abuses have become frequent... …in the eyes [of the public], and with Mr Meksi’s blessing, [he] was to make the bald policeman an honorary citizen. The powers that be wanted to make Corfu, and the Minister of Public Order too, likeable, and to fill his chest with decorations. What attracts attention is this: why does the current PD Albania is not a police state, and when every day we are trying to take steps along the road to demo…

- Seven types of police have dealt with this matter. The prosecutor’s office does not rule out becoming involved. SHKODËR-MALËSI E MADHE Public suspicion about the fate of the seized fuel is growing: was it handed over for sale, or did it end up elsewhere along the route it was originally headed for, but now in the hands of other people? The issue concerns fuel seized as part of measures to enforce the embargo against the former Yugoslavia. It has been stated that, in both these districts, recent operations seized more than 300,000 liters of fuel. But where has it gone? At the financial police in Shkodër and Malësi e Madhe, the main body that should have precise information on this, nobody gives an answer, because its activity has been suspended since 1 June due to the reorganization of the customs police and tax police, which has not yet been completed. At the Malësi e Madhe prosecutor’s office, which has opened criminal cases against several people caught engaging in this trafficking, they said that the seized fuel should normally go into the state reserves. The same applies to the vehicles used to transport it. However, they say at this prosecutor’s office that they do not know how well this rule has been followed. Several police forces took part in the seizure of the fuel: the Financial Police, Public Order Police, Traffic Police, Border Police, Vehicle Use Inspection Police, the Rapid Intervention Police in Shkodër, and the Special Police brought from Tirana. Did all these police forces themselves follow the rules in this case, so that the seized fuel would end up in state reserves? At the Malësi e Madhe prosecutor’s office, they say that they cannot rule out the possibility of abuse. But in any case, we need evidence of this. Thus, the mystery remains unresolved. In this case, the state inspectorate must intervene. There is an entire network of visible and invisible threads. What documentation was kept by all these bodies, and to what extent does it correspond to the seizures actually made? This is the only way to clarify whether the fuel seized in the name of the state has in fact been turned over to smugglers, or whether it has been stored in state reserves. So the courage of the state inspectorate remains to be tested: will it clarify this? MUSA KURTULAJ

Statement Having learned of the demands of the hunger strikers confined in the hunger strike in the village of Laçnas, in the Municipality of Bërxull, and being concerned about their health, which is deteriorating by the day, the Group of Socialist Councillors on the District Council supports them. Their demands are entirely legitimate. They have requested that land be allocated to them in accordance with the law, financial compensation for the families that have not received land for two years, and an investigation into and public denunciation of corruption in the municipality concerning the allocation of agricultural land, etc. The families in this village, who have continued for more than two years without land or social support, have not stopped demanding that the law be implemented, but their demands have been ignored both by the Municipality of Bërxull and by the Tirana District Council, which has also failed to clear the way for them. Nearly three weeks have passed since representatives of 33 families confined themselves in a hunger strike as a last democratic resort to secure the resolution of their legitimate demands. Despite this, they are still receiving no answer to their demands, even though they are acknowledged to be justified. The Group of Socialist District Councillors, having contacted the hunger strikers several times, regarding the lack of clarity and… The Group of Socialist Councillors of Tirana District (Continued on page 3)

To: - The Albanian Muslim Community. - The Albanian Catholic Community. - The Albanian Orthodox Community. For your information: Messrs. Sali Berisha, Pjetër Arbnori, Aleksandër Meksi, the Albanian mass media. All 100 of us employees of the “Rozafa” Hotel-Tourism company in Shkodër have made public our open protest against the unjust decision made by the Government to transfer the hotel where we have worked for more than 30 years to 40 people from the former regime, in violation of laws enacted by the Government itself. In this letter we want to make public another fact that was not well received. At the top of the list is the name Haxhi Faik Hoxha, the chief mufti of Shkodër, the man who led and guides Muslim believers in the Islamic faith. Immediately after him come, in second and third place, Don Luigj Çikra of the Catholic Church of Shkodër and Jovan Jani of the Orthodox Church of Shkodër. Without excluding several other names of employees and local government officials who are members of this list, and whom we will address in another letter through the press, we feel offended and cannot understand how YOU, people of GOD, guardians of the human spirit, can set the Qurans and Bibles aside, turn your backs on the people, and seek to become owners and businessmen. What does your SOUL tell YOU to commit this sin, this injustice, and cast not only us 100 employees but at least 500 other people out onto the street—the people waiting for us at home to bring back the fifteenth-day pay? Are these the lessons learned in Mecca, the holy place, from the Prophet Muhammad, you, Haxhi Faik Hoxha, when you went in the name of the Muslim Community of Shkodër? Is this what Jesus Christ teaches you, Don Luigj Çikra? Is this how the Pope guided you when he visited Shkodër, to inflict new wounds on your people? And likewise you, Mr. Jani, who represent the Orthodox believers of Shkodër. How did your souls feel on the day you signed the business list, to put 100 Hotel-Tourism employees out on the street so that you could become owners? Will you be at peace as you continue your religious mission? Will the people of Shkodër remember you as they did before, now that you are becoming businessmen? Will you still have the courage to preach in your religious ceremonies in mosques and churches about human rights, social equality, oppression and exploitation, enslavement and social discrimination? Could it be that the state, the government and the… (Continued on page 2)

The left-wing socialist or social-democratic parties elected by voters to govern in countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary, etc., do not call the objectives of the transition into question because they pursue a program of economic transformation toward a market economy. Interview with Prof. IVAN SAMSON, France