- Declares the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Miguel Angel Martinez, at a press conference. - Mr NANO’s case is an issue that concerns us... ...put clearly, the proceedings against FATOS NANO have had some political elements and some elements contrary to the law. One day after Albania was admitted as a full member of the Council of Europe, Miguel Angel Martinez, and one of the personalities who played a very important role in Albania’s admission, held a press conference for the journalists present, among whom were journalists from Albania. Among the many issues on which he gave explanations was the “Nano affair.” Responding to the question asked about Fatos ... ...pect, where I am president of the political committee and for some time was vice-president of this Union, prove this. I want to say that everything done in the Inter-Parliamentary Union binds us. It is quite clear that the proceedings against Fatos Nanos the law. We have confidence in what was broken and in what the President of the Albanian parliament has signed; we have confidence in the evolution of the legislation and in the judicial mechanism ...these irregularities. However, this is not surprising, because the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe has tried and condemned countries, including very democratic ones, that have been brought before this court. Judicial problems are found in all countries and should not be dramatized. In countries where the legal and judicial system has not yet become consolidated, as is the case in your country, these problems take on a very serious dimension. I am very calm about the decision that Miguel Angel Martinez, [He was] among admission, and [held] a press conference for the newspapers present, among them gave explanations was the “Nano Affair.” In response to a question about Fatos Nano, he gave the following answer: “The Assembly did not vote against the ‘Nano Affair.’ It rejected the amendment because it was nominative. Mr. Nano’s case is an issue that concerns us. Some very important documents from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an institution that we respect because it deserves that respect, show that this institution promotes Inter-Parliamentary Union obliges us. It is clear that the proceedings against Fatos Nano law. We have confidence in what was said, in what the President of the Albanian Parliament signed; we have confidence in the evolution of legislation and in the judicial mechanism in Albania, since justice must be served. In this case, we also have some indications from very important institutions that have stated they have at least some doubts. But this should not be dramatized, because such problems also exist in developed countries. There have been some irregular procedures. Experts and trusted people have confirmed them, but this should not be dramatized. We have witnessed events, and we will have legal and judicial problems; [the system] has not yet been consolidated, as it has in your country. These problems take on an extremely serious dimension. I am very calm about the decision made by the Assembly. We have other reasons to support the ‘Nano Affair’—not only general reasons, but also personal and friendly ties that connect us to the person in question, and in this case we offer our support.” Strasbourg, June 30, 1995 ALFRED DALIPI

On Friday, the three-day conference on foreign investment in Albania, organized by the Albanian government with the support of G 24 and the EU, concluded. The final day focused on Albania’s banking system, the improvements made in recent years, as well as the obstacles and difficulties currently facing foreign businesspeople investing in Albania. These were more or less at the center of the discussions by the governor general of the Bank of Albania, Kristaq Luniku, and the director of the Savings Bank, who presented their objectives for significantly improving banking services in the near future, with assistance that could come from the EBRD. D. Scaglio, vice-chairman of the American-Albanian Fund, pointed out that the fact that the Savings Bank is the only one and is under state control creates the possibility that its funds will be used more by state enterprises. At the final closing session, Prime Minister Meksi described the conference as successful, saying it had fulfilled its mission of providing extensive information about changes in Albania in the field of legislation. He acknowledged the difficulties encountered so far by foreign businesspeople, assuring them that the government would work to create an increasingly favorable climate for foreign investment. According to him, the government’s message to investors is that it will continue a liberal policy, oriented toward private-sector initiative and support for free competition, and that the policy of full price liberalization will continue to be central (Continued on page 4)

“Go and ask the martyrs to find you a job!” the director-engineer tells the ironworker At the Vlora Socialist Party headquarters, citizen P. Toli Capo arrived and asked to meet with the party’s main leaders. A 53-year-old longtime worker at the construction enterprise, he is ill and has been unemployed for two months because of the reform implemented by the PD authorities and its director, Devi Sharra. Toli says that the enterprise now has 180 workers, some of whom have even been brought in from the village. At the same time, a longtime worker and veteran of the construction enterprise is being laid off. But the worst part is that the director, Mr Sharra, being highly politicized, applies criteria of political discrimination against workers. It is truly absurd, Toli says, that during a discussion about work with the director, the latter says: “Go and ask the martyrs to find you a job.” Toli is the brother of two martyrs of the National Liberation War. They are honored at the altar of freedom and will be honored forever, regardless of Mr Sharra’s wishes. We would remind the gentleman that in the past, while Toli, despite being the brother of two martyrs, worked as a manual laborer to support himself and his family, Mr Devo purori worked as an engineer. Neither his family background nor the narrow class-war concepts of the communist dictatorship prevented him from doing so. Yet now, in a democracy, one cannot proceed with primitive political ideas from which Mr Sharra seems to find it difficult to break away. ENO QAMILI

Malësi e Madhe - For using violence and stealing 20 thousand marks - Not only did they use violence, they also robbed me of 20 thousand marks! This is the accusation that Popaj, from Bajza in Malësia e Madhe, filed with the district prosecutor’s office against the police group serving in this area. Mr Popaj stated in his complaint that the police group used violence against him. To prove this, he showed the prosecutor’s office the wounds and marks on different parts of his body. He also submitted forensic medical reports and everything else necessary to open a criminal case. Popaj accused the police group of also robbing him of 20 thousand marks on that occasion. It is reported that, after being examined, the accusation in question was forwarded to the area’s military prosecutor’s office, since the accused are military personnel. We later learned that criminal proceedings had begun over this incident. This incident has shaken public confidence in the police in this district. MUSA KURTULAJ

Peshkopi There are five members and sympathizers of the Socialist Party, and pr-... Petrit Elezi, Ramadan Su... Haxhi Hyseni, Sanije Doda and ... Kuci who, as part of the distr... work ... being carried out in the system ... roads, are left with their only ... source of bread, their jobs, taken away. A year ago, during the local government elections in the commune of Reçi, the PD, while seeking votes, promised the people ... an electoral road ... the main road and ... the villages with roads. A year later, with cutbacks ... with the road-maintenance workers on the national road. The PD forgot what it had promised. Reçi has no motor road to the villages, and there are no maintenance workers on the main road either. BARDH RECI

Dies in the Court of Appeal Yesterday at 9:00 a.m., the trial was held at the Court of Appeal, in the presence of the panel of judges chaired by Mr. Rahman Qinani, prosecutor Mr. Sokol Paruca, and the well-known lawyer Mr. Kleanth Koci, to consider the appeal lodged by Mr. Ramiz Alia with this court. Ramiz Alia (who was not present at the trial) and his lawyer, Kleanth Koci, are seeking to overturn the decision of the court of first instance. According to lawyer Koci’s calculations, based on the new Criminal Code and the law “On Amnesty,” Ramiz Alia should have been free by the end of last year; however, the prison administration and the Tirana court did not share this view. The prison administration calculated the amnesty benefit on the basis of the sentencing decision issued by the Court of Cassation on November 30, 199?, an approach upheld by the Tirana court, even though the amnesty had been granted before that date. Lawyer Koci called the Tirana court’s decision to keep Ramiz Alia in prison “a technical act, but with a political interpretation.” According to lawyer Koci, “Under the Law ‘On Amnesty,’ those who benefit are people sentenced by November 24, 1994, whereas the Court of Cassation’s decision came later. Nowhere in the Law ‘On Amnesty’ does it say whether the convicted persons appealed to the Court of Cassation or not. So why should the amnesty benefit be calculated on the basis of that court’s decision? The decisions of the prison administration and the court of first instance have no legal basis whatsoever. We appeal to the legal conscience and integrity of our court,” lawyer Koci emphasized, continuing his remarks: “I consider it fortunate that today, one day after Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe was accepted, the court can demonstrate its independence, proving that the judiciary is independent of the administrative branch.” After the lawyer’s remarks, prosecutor Sokol Paruca requested that the trial be postponed because the complete case file concerning Ramiz Alia was not available to him. The panel of judges granted the request. The decision in this trial, which is expected to be delivered, will be announced on Friday. (Continued on page 3)

Yesterday, two hours later, at 11:00 a.m., also at the Court of Appeal and in the same courtroom, this time with different protagonists, the trial of Ilir Hoxha was held, but without the latter’s presence. Ilir Hoxha was sentenced under decision no. 669, dated 8.6.1995, by the court of first instance in Tirana on account of an interview given to the newspaper «Mo-...», and the decision of this court stated that the interview had incited hatred between sections of the population, revenge, etc. Yesterday, lawyer A. Ristani rejected the accusations against Ilir Hoxha, saying that the interview contained only expressions of opinion ... (Continued on page 2)

APPEAL of the National Committee of LANÇ veterans to the Albanian people – To all veterans who were former members of the NC army formations and to those who fought underground in all sections of the ANC movement. – To all the families of martyrs, of the resistance bases, and of veterans who have died. – To all disabled veterans or former prisoners in all Nazi-fascist camps and prisons, at home and abroad. – To all those who hold LANÇ dear, all sympathizers of our organization, all the founders of bravç, and progressive youth groups. The National Committee of Veterans of the National Anti-Fascist Liberation War, representing an organization numbering tens of thousands, patriotic and pluralist, with a reputation at home and abroad, which has defended and continues resolutely to defend the historical values, symbols, and heroism of the glorious ANC war. We are “wise” enough to support with all our strength our declaration and the open letter dated 9 and 20 June, as well as all our lawful demands addressed to the highest legislative and executive bodies concerning the law “On the status of veterans of the war against the Nazi-fascist occupiers.” In order for the moral and material rights of all categories of veterans to be properly restored, to make our case by all democratic means, and to request a review of the Council of Ministers’ decision of 3 May (Continued on page 3)

The trial of Ramiz Alia is postponed...

- On Monday, 3.7.1995, at 11:00 a.m. , the FRESSH Steering Committee will meet. The General Presidency of FRESSH.