Yesterday at the Court of Cassation - Dragoshi: On 20 July ’93, an open meeting was held at the Prosecutor’s Office concerning the charges against Fatos Nano. Participants included... DP deputies. - Sanxhaku alleges: The Prosecutor of the Republic committed crimes in connection with this case, together with his subordinates Qeleshi, Dervishi, Simeone. - Brozi: I publicly denounce Qazim Gjonaj, who blocked the Court of Appeal’s file by his orders. The trampling of the Albanian judiciary by Berisha’s regime continues. It happened again yesterday, as the file of the most beloved leader of the Albanian opposition, the “Nano File,” was opened for the sixth time on the desks of Albanian judges. This time it was before the highest Albanian court, the judges of the Court of Cassation. But the higher the file climbs through the ranks of the Albanian judiciary, the more it is torn open, exposing all the violations accumulated over two years and the involvement of Albania’s highest-ranking officials in the political imprisonment of Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano. Thus, about a month ago, the chief judge of Tepelenë was summoned to a seminar on “clarifying the New Criminal Code” by the Ministry of Justice—the Albanian executive—while afterwards the Tepelenë Court refused to register the prison administration’s request to review Fatos Nano’s sentence. The case went to Appeal. DRAGOSHI RECOUNTS HOW A POLITICAL OPPONENT WAS ARRESTED As soon as chief judge Brozi, Shehu, Gjeloka, Hiloçi, Sejca Tusha, Kosta, Nika and Shkupi—the members of the Plenum of the Court of Cassation—had taken their seats in the courtroom, Prosecutor of the Republic Alush Dragoshi asked that the preliminary motion be dismissed. “I request the recusal of Mr Zef Brozi from the panel because he has publicly expressed himself in favor of Fatos Nano,” Dragoshi said, following the script laid out and made public in the state newspaper R.D. But if that had been all, Dragoshi naturally would not have said anything significant. “On 20 July 1993, an open meeting was held at the General Prosecutor’s Office concerning the charges and investigations against Fatos Nano,” Dragoshi revealed. Referring to the meeting held ten days before the first preliminary motion, Dragoshi followed it with a second one. “I request that the proceedings be postponed to another date because the file of the trial held at the Court of Appeal is not among the materials submitted by the case rapporteur,” Dragoshi said. He then added that he had... THE SCHEME CONTINUES: WE WANT TIME! WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE FILE! Dragoshi’s account showed all too clearly how people are arrested in Albania, particularly political opponents of Berisha’s regime. Mr Dragoshi’s account preceded the explanations by the President of the Court of Cassation about how Fatos Nano was tried in the Cassation case several months earlier. Brozi had said then that everything was decided by drawing lots at Villa No. 4, and that Avni Shehu, only 24 hours after his meeting as a judge, handed down the ruling in the “Nano Case.” Dragoshi followed his first preliminary motion with a second. case rapporteur,” Dragoshi said. He added that he had heard... [text is truncated in the source] ...that he intended to pursue to the end his denunciation of the involvement of the state’s highest officials in Fatos Nano’s imprisonment. “The Prosecutor General has committed crimes in connection with this case,” Sanxhaku said. Together with Deputy Prosecutor of the Republic Fatos Dervishi, Tirana Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi and investigator Vaskë Simeoni, he has committed crimes. “Abuse of official duty.” According to Sanxhaku, the last three prosecutors removed about 259 pages from the expert report by the Court of Accounts of Italy, obtained through a rogatory commission in Rome. Sanxhaku said that these prosecutors had also committed a series of other procedural violations during the investigation. “We have evidence for all this,” Sanxhaku continued, denouncing Prosecutor Dragoshi and at the same time requesting intervention in accordance with the law by the Prosecutor of the Republic. Responding to Dragoshi’s statement that “I have not received any complaint to date about what you are saying,” lawyer Sanxhaku presented the entire record of correspondence with Prosecutor of the Republic Alush Dragoshi, adding: “Even then I warned you that, through your acts of omission, you were committing the criminal offence of abuse of office, while you would disappear for weeks at a time to unknown destinations, to the point that the press of the day wrote, ‘The Prosecutor General has disappeared.’” Sanxhaku continued with his denunciation. The Court of Appeal’s file had not been made available to Mr Nano’s lawyer, Përparim Sanxhaku, despite the special ruling of the Rome Court. … had been made available to Mr Nano’s lawyer, Përparim Sanxhaku, by special ruling of the Rome Court. (Continued on page 3) 4) (continues) Nano. Thus, a month earlier, the chief judge of Tepelenë had been summoned to a seminar on «the implementation of executive—while afterward the Tepelenë Court refused even to register the Prison Administration’s request for a review of Fatos Nano’s sentence. The case went to the Court of Appeal, and prosecutor Skënder Demiri sought Fatos Nano’s release. The Court overturned Tepelenë’s decision, but under the threat of the state’s guns it was forced to resort to the arithmetic of holdouts in order to leave Nano in prison once again. Meanwhile, yesterday, in a truly heated atmosphere, the file was finally to be opened in full, with all its pages. The Republic’s prosecutor, Alush Dragoshi, who had had lunch with the President, was compelled either to win a vote or to gain a little more time for some new maneuver, and to reveal something of the backstage dealings of the political power ruling Albania. In any case, what could be said was that although it is compelled to «approve the release of the political hostage», which enjoys the greatest public support, official political Tirana is afraid—indeed, terrified—of the release of the head of the Albanian opposition, Fatos Nano. … published in the state newspaper, RD. But if matters had stopped there, Dragoshi would, of course, have been nothing. «On 20 July 1995, concerning the charges and investigations against Fatos Nano,» Dragoshi stated. Referring to the meeting held 10 days before the arrest of PS Chairman Fatos Nano, the Republic’s prosecutor yesterday gave a partial account of those present at the meeting, including prosecutors from the General Prosecutor’s Office, investigators from the «Nanc Case» team, prosecutors from the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office, and DP MP Zef Brozi. According to the meeting’s minutes, which were abridged only in the parts concerning Brozi’s remarks, Dragoshi said that Brozi had expressed the view that Nano was guilty. Thus, for the first time before an Albanian court, the film containing the scandalous chronicles of Fatos Nano’s arrest was shown. Yesterday Dragoshi singled out Brozi, while saying nothing about the other participants in the meeting. Yesterday, for the sake of Brozi’s vote, Dragoshi was persuaded to refer to the darkest part of the Albanian political power, the body described as the most reactionary in the state of today, the Pro-

In yesterday’s issue of “Zëri i Popullit,” because of layout disruptions on page 2, materials from an earlier issue were reprinted. We apologize to our readers and point out that, after discovering this error, the editorial staff was compelled for a time to allow the newspaper to be distributed because of the importance of the day’s political material. The editorial staff, which has often faced difficulties of this kind, will take all necessary measures not only to prevent such incidents from recurring, but also to overcome the technological backwardness very soon by moving to modern printing.

- Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee - The Albanian Helsinki Committee learned through the press that a number of lecturers at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tirana had been dismissed. The Committee subsequently received a group complaint directly from them as well. Judging from the procedure followed and the grounds cited under Article 24-1 of Law No. 7526, dated 9.12.1991, “On Employment Relations,” it may be concluded that the dismissal of this group of lecturers was hasty and unjust. In the relevant decision, the University Rector refers to “reform processes at the Faculty of Economics,” which, in his view, make it necessary to remove this group of lecturers from their posts. The letter dated 19.07.1995 does not make it clear that the lecturers obstructed “processes ... [text missing in source] ... had previously expressed its objections and reservations regarding Article 24-1, which in many cases has created an opportunity for the right to work to be violated. It is reported that the above-mentioned lecturers had put forward several alternative positions concerning economic reform, positions that were hastily classified as “anti-reform.” This constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights. It is particularly contrary to Article 6 of Law No. 7810, dated 6.04.1994, “On Higher Education in the Republic of Albania,” which enshrines “academic freedom in teaching, scientific research, and the free circulation of ideas.” The problem is all the more troubling when one learns that this is a campaign of dismissals that could take on the dimensions of a political purge at the University. In light of the above, the Albanian Helsinki Committee considers the decision to dismiss the group of lecturers at the Faculty of Economics to be arbitrary, without legal basis, and motivated by considerations unrelated to the proper functioning of higher education. The Albanian Helsinki Committee also reserves the right to comment on any similar case. Albanian Helsinki Committee Tirana, 26.07.1995 … from the estates, indignant to «reform processes in the Faculty of Economics» which, according to him, make it necessary to dismiss this group of lecturers. The contents of the letter dated 19.07.1995 do not clearly show that the lecturers obstructed the «reform processes». Nor does it show that their dismissal was related to professional incompetence. In fact, of the group of eight people who were dismissed, four are assistant professors, two of whom graduated from the Universities of Grenoble and Poitiers in France; three hold doctorates in science, and one is a lecturer. All of them have been sent abroad for specialization at various Western universities. The Albanian Helsinki Committee has

Dragoshi followed his first preliminary motion with a second. heard that the Rome Court had closed the case against 12 senior Italian officials accused in connection with the Italian aid to Albania case. The Prosecutor of the Republic said that the closure of this case in Italy had a direct bearing on the proceedings in Albania and that, for this reason, he requested access to the materials of the Rome Court. As Dragoshi sat down, it became clear that the aim was to avoid presenting the documents that the Albanian and Italian media had reported were made available to Mr Nano’s lawyer, Përparim Sanxhaku, by a special decision of the Rome Court. connection with this case, together with Qeleshi, Dervishi and Simeone. Sanxhaku, placing them in...

- Interview with Socialist Youth International President Roger Hallhag, given to our editor Erion Braçe - Roger Hallhag. 33 years old. He graduated in economics and international relations in Stockholm. In September 1991, at the Prague Congress, he was elected President of the Socialist Youth International and was re-elected at the November ’93 Congress. He worked for several years at Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now political adviser to the Social Democratic Government of Prime Minister Karlson. Roger Hallhag is a member of the leadership of Sweden’s Social Democratic Party. Question: Mr President, what does the Socialist Youth International (IRS) represent today? What is its political influence, and what are its relations with the Socialist International? Answer: The IRS is the largest political youth movement, with a presence all over the world. In some countries, the struggle for democracy continues. In other countries, where democracy has prevailed, people must work for a better and more democratic society. The political influence of the Socialist Youth International is mainly indirect, through its ability to inspire, persuade and support its member organizations in their own countries. Membership in the IRS means “Democracy and Solidarity for All.” The IRS has political influence within the Socialist International and its member parties. Our cooperation with the Socialist International is very close. We take part in all the political discussions and decisions of the Socialist International. The IRS has a vice-president in the Socialist International. Question: What is your view of the integration into Europe of the former communist countries of Europe? And how do you see the role of democratic left-wing forces and young people in this process? Answer: The former communist Europe is part of Europe. Its integration into Europe is a necessary process to preserve peace, promote economic progress and guarantee democracy. The first step in this integration is to build solid democratic institutions, protect freedoms and human rights, and establish the rule of law, so that society can be stable. As has been established, people and politicians seek a stable democracy and a life... [text breaks off in the source]

Hundreds of writers and artists, scholars, journalists, friends and companions gathered yesterday afternoon in one of the halls of the National Historical Museum to celebrate the 80th birthday of our well-known writer and scholar, academician Professor Dhimitër Shuteriqi. Among those present was also the head of the Academy of Sciences, Prof. Shaban Demiraj. Professor Y. Popa delivered the opening remarks. After speaking about Shuteriqi’s youth in the surroundings of Elbasan, he said that Shuteriqi was a man of great intellect and, in my view, one of the beloved icons. Shuteriqi wrote about ordinary people, and through his work he teaches patriotism… …ism, said Papa. Professor Nasho Jorgaqi spoke about the enduring value of Shuteriqi’s work. Speaking about these values, the poet and scholar Moikom Zeqo said that Shuteriqi is a living classic of Albanian culture. Professor Bedri Dedja spoke about Shuteriqi’s contribution to children’s literature. People’s Artists Violeta Manushi and Lazër Filipi recited excerpts from Shuteriqi’s work and poems in his presence. At the end, those present …(?) him. (Continued on page 4) Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

Dear Mr Dokle, I have just received your letter of 24 July, in which you inform me of the latest developments in the case of Mr Nano, chairman of the PSSH. Since Albania is now a full member of the Council of Europe, I immediately forwarded your letter to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, which, as you know, was instructed by Assembly Order No. 503 (1995) to closely monitor member states’ compliance with their obligations and commitments. The commitments of the Albanian authorities are clearly set out in Opinion 189 (1995), in connection with your country’s request to join our organization. I look forward to meeting you in Strasbourg. Yours sincerely, Miguel Angel Martinez President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Strasbourg, 26 July 1995

The Korçë branch of the Democratic Party, although headless—that is, without a chairman—for three weeks since its chairman resigned, has begun campaigning for the coming elections. This time, not with talk and bluster as before, but quietly. It has chosen one of its most difficult areas, Lozhan and Gora, as an “experimental plot,” confident that it will certainly succeed there. Symbolic aid is being sent there, but it is significant enough to show that the “party” is not sleeping on the people’s troubles. The propaganda campaign has started with jars of tomato sauce. Dear readers, this may sound unbelievable, but it is true. The event took place these mornings; well-known Socialist families (and in Gora, unfortunately for the DP, these are...

Laws are passed, but without taking the OPPOSITION into account - Shkëlqim Cani: More than half of us believe that the draft law «On Concessions» is not legal! - Xhevat Lloshi: We must not operate with two codes. Parliament must not allow this. - Safet Zhulali opposes MP Majko’s proposal to reduce the length of military service for students. The approach of the summer holidays has prompted Parliament to work intensively, even with something of a concentrated push. Yesterday’s session began with discussion of the draft law on public procurement, which gave rise to a lengthy debate. In principle, all the MPs of the groups (Continued on page 4)