Press conference of the Socialist Party No one denied the “Nano Case”; no one voted against his and the SP’s right to seek his freedom and innocence by all democratic means

Yesterday at 12:00, in one of the halls of the General Committee of the Socialist Party leadership, Comrade Namik Dokle held a press conference on the occasion of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. Dokle’s press conference began with an introductory speech in which he highly praised Albania’s admission to the CoE, calling it a victory and a joy for all Albanians. He also emphasized the major obligations facing the country and all political forces to strengthen peace and democracy following admission to the CoE. This was followed by questions from journalists, who wanted to learn more about the precise procedure followed in Strasbourg on 29 June, the position of Europe’s parliamentarians on the Fatos Nano issue, the amendments signed by Mr. Arbnori before admission, etc. Question: The newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare has published a report saying that the Perinola Case has ended in Rome. All the associates in this case were declared innocent, whereas the SP press has said nothing about this issue, even though, according to the opinions of many specialists, the “Perinola Case is directly connected with the ‘Nano Case,’ because Nano is accused of having appropriated the property of third parties for his own benefit.” Answer: Some people—Gazeta Shqiptare among them—have been quicker to obtain information and managed to publish this news first. Meanwhile, today I have confirmation from it in these [unclear]; we ask that you believe us and consider more important the documentary evidence relating to the “Nano Case”... Meanwhile, the presumed innocence sought for and requested to be secured for Fatos Nano, among other things also by the prosecutors and judges who investigated and tried him and the officials who ordered them to do so, gathers new evidence, awaiting the force of fate from the hands of people in black robes. For the Socialist Party, Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe is a celebration and a victory, as it is for all Albanians. Convinced that entry into the European family opens the way to the country’s stability, respect for human rights according to contemporary standards, the country’s further integration into other Euro-Atlantic structures, and the strengthening of the prospects for more lasting stability in the region, the Socialist Party has for a long time given its full consent to Albania’s admission to the CoE, and this consent was one of the decisive “votes” in this joyful event. The other Albanian opposition parties, which have worked and continue to work for democratic values in Albania, also deserve credit. Albania’s road to Europe was difficult. The opportunities created after the victory of democracy were not sufficiently used; indeed, in some cases they were mishandled. The Albanian constituent assembly and parliament deserve credit for carrying out comprehensive legislative reform. But while the legal codes have been transformed, the code of old mentalities, bizarre political practices, and practices that do not accord with the principles of the rule of law is still in force; these put Albania’s entry into the Council of Europe at risk until the very last moment, until the morning of the “Arbnori declaration.” If we follow the logical principle of things, reason tells us that certain branches of the state worked, intentionally or otherwise, to obstruct Albania’s entry into the CoE. There is no other way to deny the fact that, after the Political Commission’s report was approved on 27 April 1995, several other troubling phenomena appeared in Albanian life: violations of press freedom through pre-publication censorship; increased pressure on the independence of the judiciary, demonstrated by attempts to dismiss two Court of Cassation judges, the dismissal of many local judges, and budgetary pressure on the courts. A particular issue that preoccupied the Assembly was the “Nano Case.” No one denied the “Nano Case.” No one voted against the “Nano Case.” No one denied his and the SP’s right to seek his freedom and innocence by all democratic means, inside and outside the country. No one asserted that the proceedings against him had been fair. The amendment concerning Nano was not approved because, “I quote in full the wording of Finsberg, according to the official minutes, French version: ‘The Political Affairs Committee cannot appro-’” (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday morning, the Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, received at the party headquarters the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to our country, Mr. Baron Gerhard van Pallandt, at the latter’s request. At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi expressed the gratitude and thanks of SP members and supporters for the contribution made by the friendly Dutch people, government, and political forces to the progress of democratic processes in Albania; for the generous assistance provided both within the framework of the European Union and bilaterally; and especially for the support given on the occasion of Albania’s admission as a full member of the Council of Europe. For his part, the Dutch ambassador congratulated Albania on its admission to the Council of Europe, emphasizing the special role of the opposition, since in a democratic society, where power changes hands periodically, the opposition has an important place that must be taken into account. During the conversation, Dr. Pëllumbi responded to the Dutch guest’s particular interest in the SP’s political, economic, and social positions and alternatives, now and in the near future; the state of the Albanian electorate; and the latest developments concerning the final resolution of the Nano issue. Mr. Baron Gerhard van Pallandt described the meeting as very useful, sincere, and interesting, and expressed the wish that these contacts continue in the future. Tirana, 2 July 1995 Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party of Albania.

Yesterday, Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis arrived in Tirana for a two-day visit. On arriving at Rinas Airport, Arsenis told the press: “I am here to strengthen our friendly relations. I will meet the Albanian leaders and I think we will have good results,” Arsenis told reporters. He then met and held talks with his Albanian counterpart, Safet Zhulali, and Chief of the General Staff Sheme Kosova. After the first round of talks, Zhulali and Arsenis made a brief statement to the press. Among other things, Zhulali said that this had been a useful meeting at which bilateral relations were reviewed. Our talks mark the beginning of contacts of (Continued on page 4)

ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIONAL DAY – Interview with the American ambassador in Tirana, Mr. XHOZEF LEIK, by journalist Lulzim Çota. – What would you say to the Albanian people on your National Day? This is a day that makes Americans think about the price of freedom, and also about the even more terrible price paid by those who are denied freedom. The anniversary of our National Day reminds us that freedom is not a one-time event; it must be renewed continually—it must be supported without pause. I hope that one day Albania will be able to celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary of its independence with the same spirit of gratitude for the blessings of freedom that we have been fortunate enough to enjoy. What is the spirit of the Fourth of July in the United States? We celebrate our freedom and independence with a day off on which family and community festivities are emphasized—picnics, parades, and fireworks in the evening. More than two hundred years ago, one of the men behind our Declaration of Independence, which would later define the rights of the United States, John Adams, wrote: “This day will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.” It should be solemnized with grandeur and parades, with shows, games, sporting events, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other. “To this day, that is what we do.” What is the state of Albanian-American relations? Our relations are very good. In part, this stems from the historic ties of friendship between pre-Communist Albania and the United States. But it is even more so because both our countries have a stake in stability in the region and in Albania’s democratic and economic development as part of Europe’s security architecture. We welcome Albania’s return to the community of the West, from which it was so unjustly and for so long cut off by Communist oppression.

– Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee on the status of veterans of the War against the Nazi-Fascist occupiers. – A few days ago, a group of veterans of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War submitted to the Albanian Helsinki Committee their comments on the provisions contained in the decision adopted by the Council of Ministers on 3 May 1995 to implement Law No. 7874 on war veterans. (Continued on page 2)

On the occasion of Albania’s admission to the CoE and, immediately after this event, the admission of the DP to the Union of European Christian-Democratic and People’s Parties, the DP Secretary-General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, delivered his message yesterday at the press conference. Mr. Shehu began his presentation with superlatives about the party he leads, a party which, he said, had turned Albania into a state governed by the rule of law... After that, as always, Mr. Shehu went on to (Continued on page 4)

After almost two and a half months under house arrest, following the criminal authorities’ agreement with the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office concerning an interview given to the newspaper “MONESTRE,” in which Ilir Hoxha comes to his father’s defense—the former Communist leader of Albania, Enver Hoxha—yesterday he did not return home. Following an appeal lodged by the prosecution with the Tirana Prison Court, he was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. The Court of Appeal did nothing other than uphold the ruling of the Tirana Court. The Voice of the People correspondent

The Rome Prosecutor’s Office discontinued the criminal case against Viollones, Perniolas, etc. – The Rome Prosecutor’s Office: No evidence exists, as shown by the banking and asset investigations. – Many people think that Fatos Nano, Chairman of the PSSH, imprisoned and released by decision of Berisha’s power circle, has been the subject of much ridicule, especially at a time when he is known to be strongly oriented toward the opposition today; they think he receives more attention in prison than outside it. To support their view, they point to the Albanian judicial proceedings and the second organization, even if they accept the evidence [unclear]. The latest evidence, of particular importance, comes this time from the Rome Prosecutor’s Office. On Friday, Deputy Prosecutor of the Preliminary Investigations Court Carlo Sarzana accepted the requests of Rome prosecutors Vincenzo Barberi and Raffaele Montaldi and signed the discontinuance of the criminal case against the relat- (Continued on page 3)