Tomorrow, the «NANO case» is once again before the Court of Appeal: - Arbnori swore in Strasbourg to respect the independence of the courts. - Martinez: The precise commitments are those that the president of the Albanian parliament, Mr. Arbnori, signed! - The band of RD writers, also under the authority of DP leadership member Mr. Arbnori, continues to attack the Albanian courts. - Arbnori swore in Strasbourg to respect the independence of the courts. - Martinez: The precise commitments are those that the president of the Albanian parliament, Mr. Arbnori, signed! - The band of RD writers, also under the authority of DP leadership member Mr. Arbnori, continues to attack the Albanian courts. «The trial concerning the calculation of the sentences under the New Criminal Code for Mr. Fatos Nano will take place on Friday, 21 July, at the Court of Appeal»—this is what well-informed sources inside the Tirana Court of Appeal confirmed yesterday morning to «Zëri i Popullit». Meanwhile, only three days earlier, an independent newspaper had reported the opposite. «The trial will be postponed until after 26 July, on the grounds that the decision of the Plenum of the Court of Cassation must be awaited,» the newspaper said, prompting public debate about the independence of this Court. In any case, it will remain a mystery until Friday morning, when the trial is expected to take place in one of the courtrooms of the Tirana Court of Appeal. Nearly four weeks ago, following a farcical trial at the Tepelena Court, which once again left Mr. Nano in prison, the socialist leader and his lawyers appealed to the Court of Appeal, requesting that this ruling be overturned. But the piece of paper—put up on a noticeboard in the courtyard of the Court of Appeal announcing that the trial would take place on 21 July 1995—appears to have been removed after the day Brozi submitted to the Plenum of Cassation his request for Nano’s release or retrial. While Brozi set 26 July as the trial date, the noticeboard—which is actually on the street, but whose key is held by someone inside the Albanian court—was altered. The Independent Union of Judges, which met in Geneva from 10 to 13 July, also expressed doubts and concern about the Tepelena Court’s ruling and the strange events that occurred a week before the trial there. Mr. Pierr Cornillon, Secretary General of the Union’s Committee, said after the meeting that they had expressed doubts that the Tepelena Court had not resolved the «Nano case» and that the Committee would seek explanations from the Albanian authorities. All this is happening as the atmosphere surrounding the Albanian judiciary has become highly tense ahead of two trials involving socialist leader Fatos Nano. The attack launched on Saturday by the initial «Voice of America» correspondent against the senior Albanian judiciary—the Court of Cassation—was continued creditably on Tuesday and Wednesday by the newspaper «Rilindje Demokratike». Although official statements are absent there, one cannot say that everything written so fiercely as an attack on the independence of the courts has gone unread by Tirana’s senior officials, who remain silent. Meanwhile, as this is happening in the Albanian press, Miguel Angel Martinez arrived quietly. Albanian Parliament, Mr. Arbnori, signed,» says the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recalling 20 August, when Albania, a member of the Council of Europe, is to report on fulfillment of its commitments. And Arbnori swore in Strasbourg, on behalf of the Albanian state, to «respect the independence» of the judiciary, to ensure full control of the budget by the courts, and to protect judges from arbitrary dismissal. And if Arbnori, a member of the DP leadership who has the party’s band of writers under his authority, is involved, then one can once again ask: What value does the oath before Europe have for the President of the Albanian Parliament? We ask this because pressure on the Albanian judiciary is increasing by the hour. Sources of information name Tirana’s chief judge Gjonaj—or the judge of 2 April, or the former military judge of the Court of Cassation—as the most active negotiator with members of the Cassation Plenum to reject the request for Mr. Nano’s release, which has been there since Friday. Not wanting to believe this information, we recall that talk about the name and origins of Tirana’s chief judge provokes complexes in people’s minds regarding those superiors whom he does not call by name, but by «numbers», «ranks»—or simply «my friend». And if we think that Mr. Gjonaj issues «decisions» or «opinions» on justice, those voices linking his negotiations to his involvement in the latest chapter of the «Nano case» must be disproved. ERION BRACE BRAÇE Opening the meeting amid applause from those present for the Socialist Party and its chairman Fatos Nano, the PS chairman took the floor... After him, amid applause, the secretary of the PS KD, Du- (Continued on page 2) The Commander of NATO Allied Forces, Southern Region, visits our country The Commander of NATO Allied Forces, Southern Region, Admiral Smith, arrived in our country yesterday on a working visit. At the Gjadër air base, he was received by the Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Army, General Sheme Kosova, and visited the facilities where American military personnel and the reconnaissance equipment of pilotless aircraft are stationed; they gather information on Bosnia to support NATO operations. After visiting all the facilities, he thanked those present for the conditions and amenities provided to ensure the successful conduct of the operations. Yesterday Admiral Smith was also received in a special meeting by President Berisha, who expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation within the framework of «Partnership for Peace». He then ... (Continued on page 4) Tepelenë Appeal, requesting that this decision be overturned. But the scrap of paper posted on the board the trial would be held, addressed to the Court of Appeal with the request that this decision be overturned... The High Council of Justice, chaired by its president, Mr Zef Brozi, regarding the «Nano Case». All this is happening amid an atmosphere of subjugation of the judiciary, complete control of the courts’ budgets, and protection of judges from arbitrary dismissals. And if Arbënori—a member of the DP leadership who oversees its band of writers—is doing this, then once again he can be asked about his own freedom, and demands that it be being sought is not something The independence of the courts cannot be entire struggle to build a state governed by the rule of law. It can be achieved by people who respect the robe they wear and do not take orders from the gentlemen at home. This is the absurd-sounding pretext for the anti-Brozi campaign launched in recent days by the newspaper of the ruling party. At its core, this campaign is antidemocratic because it openly reveals the efforts being made to keep the judiciary in Albania permanently shackled by politics. It continues the series of campaigns this newspaper has launched without ever managing to finish anything; inspired by the demons of hatred, it labels, insults and maligns anyone who thinks differently from the party to which the newspaper belongs. In one of its recent articles on this issue, we read: He (Brozi) is serving the political opposition... Could this be a slip? We do not think so. Utterly politicized, the newspapers of the ruling party’s organ forget that the judiciary never judges politically, never takes sides and never... (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, PS vice-chairman Namik Dokle and a member of its leadership, Dr.-Prof. Etem Ruka, received at the PS headquarters the well-known Kosovar academic, Prof. Mark Krasniqi. Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party in Kosovo. The meeting discussed many important issues concerning the political situation in Albania and Kosovo, while the national question was the main topic of discussion. The PS representatives stressed that the national interests of Albanians wherever they live are a foremost priority for the Socialist Party. We unreservedly support the legitimate and undeniable demands of Albanians in Kosovo, as well as those of Albanians living in their own lands in the former Yugoslavia and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This is the main issue that should unite Albanians and political parties in Albania and Kosovo, said Prof. Mark Krasniqi. Programmatic debates may continue, but let us have one program on the national question and stand by one another. This is the right approach, the PS representatives stressed, and it is also confirmed in the PS program, which supports an agreement among all political forces on a pan-Albanian scale on two fundamental issues: first, a unified national platform; second, a long-term plan of action to realize the national question. The meeting was held in a fraternal spirit. PS Press Spokesperson.

FLESH Eight lecturers were dismissed under Article 24-1, and four department heads were removed from their posts yesterday at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tirana. The faculty’s vice-dean resigned in protest at the arbitrary action. This is the information received by the newsroom from sources at the faculty, following publication of the purge list at 2 p.m. yesterday at the faculty. You will read more about this issue in the next edition. «Zëri i Popullit» correspondent

Durrës: An analysis of the work carried out during the campaign for the new Socialist Party elections and the tasks ahead was the focus of the PS activity in Durrës, held in this city on Tuesday. Dozens of PS members, young Eurosocialists and PS deputies from the city, Bardhyl Agasi, Mojkom Zeqo and Miri Hoti, took part. Attending the proceedings of the Durrës activity was comrade Bardhyl Agasi, who described the election campaign as a major political action and considered it all the more important for bringing capable people committed to the alternative of democratic socialism into leadership. The new campaign, he stressed, is of even greater importance for the life of the party, since it is the last campaign being conducted on the eve of the elections—

- When politics speaks on behalf of jurists, that does not mean jurists should speak on behalf of politics. - On 26 July, the Plenum of the Court of Cassation will meet to consider the request for the protection of legality submitted by its chairman, Mr. Zef Brozi, in connection with the «Nano case». 26 July of this year falls between two dates, one already historical—29 June, when Albania was admitted to the Council of Europe—and 30 July, when it will be exactly two years since opposition leader Fatos Nano was put in chains. From 29 June, Albania receives a signal that its citizens will also become European through the fulfillment of all the commitments it has undertaken, including a fair and proper resolution, and the convening of the Plenum of the Court of Cassation. Meanwhile, 30 June represents two years of wasted time for Albanian politics, because the arrest of the opposition leader drove relations between the governing majority and the opposition to absurdity; these relations regulate life in every country with a pluralist system. Let us not go far to do the arithmetic. The time has come, at Brozi’s initiative, as the law entitles him to do, to close once and for all the Nano chapter, which represents the harshest and most shameful part of the establishment of democracy in Albania. Mr. Brozi’s initiative is welcomed by every person who considers themselves a democrat, by everyone who respects another person’s freedom, just as he himself sent Vlonit a letter some time ago, asking him to «unblock the budget and reminding him that you have no right to block it and that you are deliberately sabotaging the normal functioning of the courts». But although this budget has been blocked for seven months, Vlonani, to some extent, and the filing of the complaint received no other official response from the offices of the Albanian Court of Cassation. «All of this, and above all the indifference ...» Afterwards, the head of Cassation says that filing the complaint was the remaining course after many attempts to cancel that order, while the head of Albanian Finance, Vlonani, calls it merely noise from Brozi. And while both sides continue in the positions they have maintained toward each other for seven months, it is now the prosecution’s turn to take up this dispute. But there, too, there is no movement! The complaint remains unacted upon, and Qeleshti has still not decided what course it will take. Asked yesterday by «Zëri i Popullit», Qeleshti said, «I have received the complaint, but I have not yet decided what I will do with it»... Brozi’s complaint and the request for his release call for it to be treated as sacred. Brozi’s example shows that the independence of the judiciary, which is being demanded, is not invented or formulated in the offices of those in power. Judicial independence is not established by decree; it is an integral part of the entire struggle to build a state governed by law. (Continued on page 2) will meet to examine the request for protection of legality submitted by its president, Mr Zef Brozi, concerning the «Nano Case». 26 July this year falls between two dates, one already historic and the other symbolic: 29 June, when Albania was admitted to the Council of Europe, and opposition leader Fatos Nano was put in handcuffs. Albania received a signal on 29 June: its citizens will be granted European status through the fulfilment of all the commitments it has made, governing majority and the opposition to absurdity—relations that has come for the Nano chapter—which represents the crudest Albania—to be closed once and for all, on Brozi’s initiative, as is his legal duty. Mr Brozi’s initiative is welcomed by everyone who calls just as is reasonable in the «Nano Case». On 26 July, facing majority and the opposition to absurdity—relations that has come for the Nano chapter—which represents the crudest by everyone who calls just as he himself wrote some time ago to Vloni, asking him to «block the budget and reminding him that ...».

The Commander of NATO Allied Forces, Southern Region, Admiral Smith, arrived in our country yesterday on a working visit. ... (Continued on page 4)

- Vlorani makes his first retreat in his confrontation with Brozi. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dylber Vlorani has for four hours been at risk of being placed under house arrest, under an order issued against him by the Chairman of the Court of Cassation, Zef Brozi, to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. Thus the debate over the courts’ budget has stirred the newspapers; the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has taken up the matter, which was brought to it for ... Everything was anticipated in a letter from the head of the Albanian Court of Cassation ... But Vlorani had earlier sent a letter to Vlorani, although this budget has been blocked for seven months, Vlorani to some extent and the submission and above all the indifference ...» order, while the head of Albanian Finance, Vlorani, with it»... (Continued on page 2)

- PS deputy Abdiu: The new Code of Criminal Procedure enters into force on 1 August; the bill on the Judicial Police has still not been submitted to Parliament. - DP deputy Butka: Delaying discussion of the amendment concerning changes to the RTV Board of Directors for three months damages the institution and Albanian democracy. - PS deputy Lakrori and PSD deputy Milo raise the issue of drawing up lists at UT for dismissing lecturers from their jobs. - Parliament becomes a «blanket» to cover up the Government’s mistakes. Pjetër Arbnori opened yesterday’s plenary session with a proposal from the Speaker of the People’s Assembly and the leaders of the parliamentary groups to put on the agenda a package of bills concerning land services for compensation purposes, as well as a change to the level of port taxes. But the deputies bypassed the leadership’s «concern». They turned to another problem: the incompetence of the DP government, which, it must be said, has put Parliament’s work «on hold». The initiative to denounce delays, which have by now become commonplace in the Albanian Parliament, was taken by DP deputy Mr Butka. «It is not right,» he said in essence, «for the amendment on changes to the RTV Board of Directors to be delayed for more than three months. This damages the institution itself, as well as Albanian democracy.» The Speaker, Mr Arbnori, as on other occasions, laid the blame for the incompetence at someone else’s door. «This matter was postponed,» he said, because the DP parliamentary group had requested time to identify possible candidates for the Board of Directors. «As soon as the opportunity arises,» he said, «this matter will be put on the agenda.» PS deputy Fehmi Abdiu raised the same concern ...

Nearly four weeks ago, following a farcical trial at the Tepelenë Court, which once again left Mr Nano in prison, the socialist leader and his lawyers appealed to the Court of Appeal, requesting that this decision be overturned.

On 26 July, the Plenum of the Court of Cassation will meet to examine the request for protection of legality submitted by its president, Mr Zef Brozi, concerning the «Nano Case».

All this is happening amid an atmosphere of subjugation of the judiciary, complete control of the courts’ budgets, and protection of judges from arbitrary dismissals.