The Nano case will continue to be examined in the “Union” in light of new facts The determining facts for overturning the decisions and dismissing the case — Luan Hajdaraga, deputy chairman of the PSSH, who followed the examination of the Nano case at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, speaks — — Fehmi Abdiu, chairman of the Mandates and Immunity Committee in the Albanian Parliament, speaks — . The Nano case will continue to be examined in the “Union” in light of new facts — Luan Hajdaraga, deputy chairman of the PSSH, who followed the examination of the Nano case at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, speaks — Mr. Hajdaraga, you represented the PS in all the examinations of the Nano case at the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva. Italian sources report that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has dropped the criminal case concerning several officials of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the director of the “Levante Co” company, Khuzepe Pernjola, accused of misappropriating aid in 1991. How do you view this new element added to the Nano case, against the background of the examinations and results of the Geneva Union? — Although I have not seen the original documents made public by the Italian News Agency concerning the investigations conducted in Italy into several well-known officials of the Italian administration in 1991, including Mr. Pernjola, I can say that this resolves one of the points that had remained “in suspense.” After all, one of the tasks assigned to us by the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee was precisely to clarify whether Mr. Pernjola—who was then director of the Italian aid operation “Levante Co”—had been accused by the Italian side of personal embezzlement. The accusation against Nano in the Tirana courts was that, through his activities, he had secured benefits for third parties. And that third party was Pernjola. This is written in all the court decisions. We therefore arrive at an important issue that is now clarified: the third person said to have misappropriated funds, Khuzepe Pernjola, is no longer subject to this accusation. He is no longer accused, and since he is not accused, the charge against Nano—who, according to the Tirana judges, misappropriated funds for a third party through acts and omissions—naturally falls away. Thus, since Nano did not receive a single lira—and the Albanian judges say this too—and his actions did not benefit a third person such as Pernjola—and they say this too—Nano remains innocent in this whole affair. It is therefore up to the Albanian justice system, in light of the new facts, to review the case and reach the conclusions everyone now believes in: Nano (Continued on page 2) The determining facts for overturning the decisions and dismissing the case — Fehmi Abdiu, chairman of the Mandates and Immunity Committee in the Albanian Parliament, speaks — — Mr. Abdiu, the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has dropped the criminal case against those whom the Tirana court calls the net beneficiaries of the dealings with Nano. What does this mean to you? — Even before the case was dropped by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, I had stated that the decision of the Albanian courts was wrong because it contradicted the law. The elements of the criminal offence for which Nano was convicted are absent from his actions. Fatos Nano committed neither the crime of embezzling public property nor the crime of falsifying official documents. But the Albanian courts took no account of anything. It is fortunate that many legal issues rejected by the Albanian judges were accepted by numerous foreign experts from specialized and prestigious international organizations. The Rome Prosecutor’s Office’s dismissal of the case creates a new situation and highlights a paradox that has occurred in Albania: while the justice authorities declared the chairman of the PSSH innocent of embezzlement in favor of Pernjola, the Italian authorities have now dropped the investigation against the latter. Anyone who knows even a little about the law asks: How can someone be found guilty of theft for the benefit of third parties when those third parties are not found guilty of that crime—that is, of stealing that amount? — What do you foresee, then? — In my opinion, if overturning the decision against Nano was already absolutely necessary, following this new fact, which is important to the case, overturning the decision and dismissing the case have become twice as necessary. The case against Pernjola was dropped in direct connection with the charge against Nano. Consequently, this fact must be considered a determining element for overturning the decision. The particular importance of this fact lies in the fact that the dismissal of the case against Pernjola is a circumstance that came to light after the decision had become final in the Tirana courts and, under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure that entered into force on 1 August, must lead to the overturning of the relevant decision, if only for this reason: “newly discovered circumstances.” (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2)

TEPELENË: PS FIGHTS NOT ONLY TO GET THE VOTES BUT ALSO TO JUSTIFY THEM Last week, PS deputy chairman Ilir Meta and PSSH KD member Elmaz Sherifi held an expanded meeting with PS members and supporters in the town of Mallaj. Taking the floor amid applause from those present, comrade Ilir Meta stressed that Albania’s admission to the CoE in recent days was a major event that had pleased the opposition too, especially the PS, which had long advocated such admission. In reality, we were admitted late, he continued, and not through any fault of ours, but because the conditions and criteria they had set for our country and the Albanian government had not been met. He then focused on the current political situation, mentioning the DP’s intolerant positions, particularly in relation to the PS’s longstanding and serious opposition and its efforts on behalf of a social pact, a constitution, respect for human rights, and so on. In response to their interest, the meeting then moved on to questions. Asked what measures the PS was taking to enter the new campaign, he replied that it (the PS) had long been prepared for such an undertaking and had worked continuously to put these measures into practice. Today, he said, the PS has committees working to develop concrete alternatives and solutions to the problems the country and its population are facing and will face in the future. We have these alternatives, he said, for every field and sector, and have extended them down to the grassroots. In the campaign, deputy chairman Meta said, we will come forward not with slogans and general quotations, but with concrete solutions, because we will fight not only to get (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 2)

ELBASAN The agricultural commercial bank in conflict with its own clients The debtors of the Agricultural Commercial Bank whom we wrote about some time ago have now been joined by those of the Agricultural Commercial Bank in Elbasan. Once again, the bailiff’s office, in the case of the commercial bank’s debtors, has put their mortgaged property up for auction. Only 35 clients of the agricultural bank are debtors, owing a total of 25 million new lekë. These clients, who took out relatively large loans, are also first on the bailiff’s office lists. There is also another category of clients who, although they have not been included on the lists of those whose property will be auctioned, are waiting for this office to first deal with its most powerful clients. In general, the agricultural bank’s debtors took out loans during the period 1991–93, with short repayment terms. Those terms expired long ago, and borrowers are required to pay the overdue interest. Most of them are from villages in the district that they (Continued on page 2)

Gjirokastër

— Përparim Sanxhaku, lawyer for Mr. Fatos Nano, speaks — — Mr. Sanxhaku, the press reports that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has dropped the criminal case against former foreign minister Claudio Vitalone, the director of “Levante Co” and several other officials of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. How do you assess this new fact in the course of the proceedings against socialist leader Fatos Nano? — Mr. Sanxhaku, the press reports against former foreign minister Claudio Vitalone, the director of “Levante Co” and several other officials of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. How do you assess this new fact in the course of the proceedings against socialist leader Fatos Nano? — The Rome Prosecutor’s Office’s dismissal of the criminal case against Claudio Vitalone, Giuzepe Perniola and other officials of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a heavy blow to the accusations and trials, as well as to the decision of the Albanian courts. The Rome Prosecutor’s Office appears to have fully established that Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated aid to Albania and that the transactions involving the supplying company “Levante Co” were carried out in accordance with the law; the goods that arrived in Albania were purchased at the most suitable prices available on the market at the time. Consequently, all the transactions were conducted in compliance with the law. The decision of the Rome Prosecutor’s Office thus categorically refutes the three so-called decisions of the Albanian judiciary, since they were the product of state diktat within the judicial system. — The press reports that you have submitted a request for a review of the legality of the proceedings against Mr. Nano. It is also reported that the documents you have prepared for this review contain a great deal of new evidence and documentation. Does this add to the decision of the jop nfaqen? (Continued on page 2) I can say that on this occasion. One of the points left «in suspense» is clarified. Because, after all, one of the tasks assigned by the Parliamentary Union Committee was precisely to establish the fact that Mr. Pernjola—who had developed and directed the procurement of Italian aid by «Levante Co»—had been accused, along with other officials of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office. This is a severe blow to the accusations and judgments, together with appears to have fully established that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved aid for Albania and that the transactions of the supplier company «Levante Co» complied with the law; the goods arriving on the market at that time, and consequently all the transactions were carried out in accordance thus categorically overturns all the product of state dictates imposed on the judicial system.

— Who is playing games with the market workers? — Last night, the central market of Vlorë was cleared by police forces, who removed all the workers employed there. Following the workers’ protest the previous day at 2 p.m., the police operation was carried out at night, throwing all the workers’ property out into the street. What is happening with the market in Vlorë? The market, a building dating from 1918, built with contributions from the citizens of Vlorë, owned by the municipality, a cultural site with a special history, has been sold for 18.9 million old lekë. In April, the market workers went on a 15-day hunger strike. Their protest, which became public in Vlorë, was addressed to the workers; the prefect responded positively, undertaking to resolve the problem. Indeed, in letter No. 50, dated 5.95, Mr. B. Shana, the prefect of Vlorë, wrote to Mr. Njazi Koso-vrasti, Secretary of State for Local Government, requesting that the sale agreement be taken up and the property remain municipal property in Vlorë, and that it not be privatized. But the AKP in Tirana decided to proceed with privatizing this site, which appeared on lists published by government offices and on the privatization lists. The same was done with the former “Vlora” hotel building. By decision No. 77, dated 11.11.94, the Vlorë municipal council challenged the decision of the AKP Tirana with arguments. Meanwhile, the Vlorë privatization agency disregarded the municipal council’s decision and allowed the market to be privatized in accordance with the instructions of the AKP Tirana. The workers also disagree with this kind of action. Realistically, they demand either that the site be privatized in favor of its 15 employees, or that it remain the property of the Vlorë municipality and that they work there as tenants. A large meeting was also organized, attended by the workers as well as MP A. Elmazi, prefect B. Shana, the chairman of the municipal council, the head of the police station, and others. At this meeting it was decided that the prefect would, through Mr. Kosorasti, ask for the AKP Vlorë decision to sell the market to be annulled, so that the site would remain municipal property because of its historical and cultural value, and that the workers would end their hunger strike. And indeed, the hunger strike was called off in the belief that the local authorities would resolve the problem. This happened in April. Nothing was done in May, and the workers received no reply. In this odyssey, the officials are not taking the matter seriously and are seeking the help of historians to learn about the site’s value. The Ministry of Culture has even become involved; according to the workers, it has requested that this site, which bears important national symbols such as Skënderbeu’s emblem, 1.1 million Qemalët and the Clock Tower, be preserved as a cultural site owned by the municipality. In addition to all this, the market site has been put up for auction. The sale price is laughable. The mayor insists on the AKP’s action. The solution remains pending. Meanwhile, the police have intervened and forcibly removed the workers from the premises. The workers went to see the head of public order, who did not receive them because he was busy in a meeting. Everything that has happened to the workers is the result of the authorities’ irregular manoeuvring. Faced with the matter are the MP Elmazi, prefect Shana, Mayor Sharru and others, who seem powerless or in agreement with the absurd sale of the market. Corruption and the Zëri i Popullit.

Two lives collided fatally, adding to the grief and misfortune of two families in Gjirokastër. Besides the driver, the police are also at fault, since a car was speeding at a tremendous rate there, where the city does not end, let alone the outskirts. Many times, traffic and speed are also confirmed in the very heart of the city, in the Bazaar. Two lives collided fatally, adding to the grief and misfortune of two families in Gjirokastër. Besides the driver, the police are also at fault, since a car was speeding at a tremendous rate there, where the city does not end, let alone the outskirts. Traffic and speed are also repeatedly confirmed in the very heart of the city, in the Bazaar.

«The campaign for new elections in the DP» At the DP conference in Tepelenë, this outrage took place: the police were ordered to throw out a journalist from a newspaper (of the right), and he was dragged by the arm (the left one). Since he wouldn’t shut up, they also broke his tape recorder. There were no songs by the Bënça group; there were discussions. Although each had contributed 1,000 lek (new ones), since the DP as a new party did not seem like luxury (old), the delegates had not remained calm and quiet, but had descended into contradiction.

The conference in Gjirokastër itself has been moved and postponed. Besides the contradictions with outsiders (the socialists, that is), in order to become entirely monolithic, the DP is also postponing its internal contradictions. The new owners in the DP style, those who have acquired property and grown rich according to its platform, have become the kind of people who are disliked—not to say viewed askance—by the legitimate old owners, who feel as if they are in a foreign party. The contradictions between locals and newcomers, natives and non-natives, or townspeople and farmers have also intensified, since the DP finds it difficult to forgive the peasantry. But its propagandists say that the many contradictions have not arisen from competition for party power, but from democratic diversity, and that it is good when there are many contenders for party chairman. THE OPPOSITIONAL BROTHER

Yesterday, at 11:00, the Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences organized a ceremony in the faculty’s main hall to mark the 60th birthday of Prof. Aleko Minga and the awarding to him of the title «Teacher of the People» by the President of the Republic. It has become customary in reports of this kind to say: «At this simple ceremony, attended by ...» In this case, however, we would say: it was a grand, moving and unusual ceremony. good when there are many contenders for party chairman. Above all, with tears of joy flowing—tears shed in the hall—and all the former mathematics students expressing themselves at the lectern as well, the sides of Adtheut can be understood. The commemorative speech was delivered by the Dean of the Faculty, Mr. Dritan Spahiu. Prof. Dr. Vasilian Keka spoke about Prof. Aleko Minga’s work, and then the speech of Prof. Aleko Minga was read: he is an outstanding figure in Albanian science, a teacher of ... (Continued on page 3)