Socialists’ protest in Tirana today - The lists for the mass dismissal of intellectuals from the university on political grounds and the amendments aimed at keeping Fatos Nano in prison are the targets of the protest. - Massive participation by Eurosocialists and a powerful protest. Socialists’ protest in Tirana today Mass rally by socialists against violations of human rights and the political imprisonment of Fatos Nano - The lists for the mass dismissal of intellectuals from the university on political grounds and the amendments aimed at keeping Fatos Nano in prison are the targets of the protest. - Massive participation by Eurosocialists and a powerful protest. This evening, for one hour straight—from 19:00 to 20:00—at least 4,000 Tirana socialists will gather for a protest rally at the «Asllan Rusi» Sports Palace. This is the third time in the last three years that Tirana’s socialists have protested the brutal provocations of the «Sali Berisha regime». On 30 July 1993, just three hours before a previously announced socialist rally, the Democratic Party—the party in power—had ordered the arrest of the leader of Albania’s largest opposition party, Fatos Nano. Nano’s arrest was followed, at around 18:00 that evening, by a protest lasting several hours on «Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard» and Tirana’s main square, «Skanderbeg Square», by more than 70,000 Tirana residents, opponents of the regime, socialists and their supporters. A year later—after sentencing the PS chairman, Fatos Nano, to 12 years in prison in April—the state demonstrated its entire police apparatus on the streets of the Albanian capital for a whole month. Many people symbolically recalled Pinochet’s Chile at the time: «It is raining in Santiago.» Nevertheless, again on 30 July, thousands of sociali-[?] [text cut off] submitted in Parliament, which seek to close off every possibility for the courts to formally acquit Fatos Nano», are two objec-[?] Statement by MP Pandeli Majko In yesterday’s issue of the newspaper «Koha Jonë» I read, not without concern, an article which, for a political purpose, discussed the «possibility of boycotting» the Tirana rally by the Eurosocialists. A «FRESSH official» has apparently taken it upon himself to assert this absurd claim, using my name in this line of reasoning as well. Unfortunately, believing the «ordinary jokes» of anonymous officials has become fashionable today, made much worse by the Tirana PS Steering Committee, which has assigned concrete tasks to the 800 activists elected to PS structures.» Reçi sees the purpose of this rally as conveying a powerful message of solidarity and support for the PSSH’s positions on human-rights violations, and especially regarding everything the authorities have currently done to keep Fatos Nano in prison. Reçi says that today’s organization and participation will once again demonstrate the PS’s strength in Tirana. Meanwhile, chairman Ulgini says that the organizational measures are in step with the socialists’ anger. Thus, he says, although it is being held during the holiday season and not the rally season, participation will be full. But yesterday morning a newspaper had cast doubt on this Eurosocialist participation. Ulgini replies: «I don’t know who the anonymous person is who made that statement about us, but I can say that for four days all the structures of Tirana’s Eurosocialists have been seriously engaged in this activity,» says Ulgini. «I say this,» he continued, «because I have attended their meetings, and their concern can be summed up as follows: massive Eurosocialist participation and a powerful protest.» Meanwhile, Monika Kryemadhi—the FRESSH Secretary General and chairwoman of Tirana’s Eurosocialists—told «Zëri» yesterday: «It is not the first time we have been directly provoked, or provoked by anonymous people, over our role in the PS. But for her and a group of Eurosocialists who were at the socialists’ central headquarters in Tirana yesterday, something else is more important. “Today our main concern is carrying out the tasks we have set ourselves for the rally; I and my comrades are indifferent to such provocations,” says Kryemadhi. Today they will be joined by the secretary for international relations of the Dutch Labour Youth and his Irish Labour Youth counterpart. ERION BRAÇE Residents of Tirana, later—after sentencing the chairman of the SP, deployed the entire police force of Tirana month. At the time, many symbolically recalled Pinochet’s Santiago: “It is raining in Santiago.” Nevertheless, once again, on July 30, thousands of socialists protested forcefully against the restriction of freedoms and third July has once again brought a provocation by the Berisha regime—or, more precisely, by its party in power—against the socialists and, naturally, their protest, this time pushed day by day into August because of the police permits. Musa Ulqini, chairman of the Tirana SP and a member of parliament, had this to say about today’s protest: “While we were expecting other messages following Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe—the messages of freedom—Berisha once again sent a message of the brutal restriction of freedoms and human rights. ‘We decided to organize this protest rally in response to the positions taken in recent days by the “Berisha regime”,’ Ulqini says. According to him, ‘the drawing up of lists and the mass dismissal of intellectuals from higher education institutions because of their political beliefs, and the illegal, unconstitutional amendments that were adopte-’ A “FRESSH official” has taken it upon himself, irresponsibly, to assert this utterly absurd claim, even invoking my name in this line of reasoning. fashionable among the independent press today. If I myself were to believe the cynicism of the article in question in “Koha Jonë,” I would have nothing left to do but tremble as I awaited my “exposure.” Thank God, lately there have been perverse people who can hardly wait for an opportunity to appear before the party’s “traitors.” In any case, I and my friends will be at tomorrow’s rally in Tirana. As usual. If anyone wants to look for proof of “treason,” they will find me there. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ …those against whom the protest will be held. Meanwhile, the secretary of the Tirana SP, Enver Reçi, says of today’s rally: “It is neces-”

Yesterday afternoon, FRESSH Chairman and PSSH Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta received at the PSSH headquarters Michael M'Gough, a member of the Bureau of the Socialist Youth of the European Community (ECOSY), and Juris Jurrjens, representative of the Labour Youth of Holland, who are making a several-day visit to our country at the invitation of FRESSH. Welcoming them, the FRESSH Chairman briefed them on the results of FRESSH’s Second Congress and its future aims. Ilir Meta praised the considerable support that the International of Socialist Youth and ECOSY have given to FRESSH and to democratic processes in Albania, and expressed FRESSH’s commitment to increasing its contribution to the International of Socialist Youth and ECOSY. He then briefed them on the political situation, and particularly on the latest developments in the Nano case. FRESSH International Secretary Gjergj Koja briefed them on FRESSH’s preparations for the forthcoming congress of the International of Socialist Youth and on further developing relations with its European sister organizations. For their part, the guests from ECOSY expressed ECOSY’s and the International of Socialist Youth’s determination to increase their support for FRESSH further. They expressed their concern about the latest developments in the Nano case, stressing that European socialists’ solidarity on this issue would continue until the release of PSSH Chairman Fatos Nano. Also attending the meeting were FRESSH Secretary General Monika Kryemadhi and Presidium member Besim Murati. FRESSH Spokesperson.

From 24–30 July 1995, an international meeting of the Socialist Youth of the European Community was held in Rimini, Eastern Europe, in the European Union of Italy. At this meeting, the leader of Italy’s Democratic Party of the Left, Ma-[?], was first received.

Yesterday, at the invitation of FRESSH, the European Community (ECOSY) and the International Secretary of the Labour Youth of Ireland, Michael M’Laughlin, and the representative of the Labour Youth of Holland, Juris Jurriens, arrived in our country for a several-day visit. FRESSH Spokesperson.

Bardhyl Pollo will be the new director of Albanian Radio and Television. This was decided yesterday at midday by the governing council of the institution, at its first meeting following the changes to its membership approved by the Albanian Parliament. Mr. Pollo was elected to the position after previously serving as director of Radio-Tirana, and secured the consensus of the entire governing council. Skënder Buçpapa, who was removed from the post days ago by a decision of Parliament, meanwhile, the next meeting of the governing council of Albanian Radio and Television will be held on Monday, 7 August, before which Mr. Pollo will present for approval the deputy general director and the new radio director. «Zëri i Popullit» correspondent

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Dylber Vrioni and Vice-President of the German Reconstruction Bank Mr. Manfred Seulert at their press conference. From now on, all loans that German banks grant in Albania for the development of small and medium-sized businesses will be administered by a Foundation. The agreement to launch its activities was signed by the Albanian and the German bank’s representative, Mr. Manfred Seulert. At their press conference, the German Reconstruction Bank—this latter institution, which can be regarded as a kind of joint [entity]—gave a press conference yesterday in one of the Foundation’s premises. The Foundation was established by the German Reconstruction Bank together with the Albanian government and will finance long-term investments for and initial capital. The initial capital of this foundation and ... (Continued on page 4)

Statement by the Presidium of the SP, Delvinë | Statement by the expanded activists’ meeting of the SP, Durrës The Presidium of the Socialist Party of Delvinë, having analyzed and calmly assessed the new political situation, and on the basis of the concern of Delvinë’s electorate across the country, protests and raises its voice against the scandalous bandit act by which the leadership of the DP and, in particular, President Berisha, driven by a delirious dream of power, took yet another step toward destroying Albania’s judicial institutions and parliament. The purpose of this latest move by President Berisha and his servile followers, who repeatedly approve the uproar that only leads the country to a dead end, is to use a fictitious and immoral vote to put the chairman of the SP, Fatos Nano, in prison. He has now begun his political battle with Berisha under Berisha’s dictatorial system. Such actions not only exacerbate the political situation but also serve no purpose; we ask that they be seen as a way of diverting the people’s attention from their hardships and other problems. The Presidium of the Socialist Party of Delvinë calls on all its members and supporters, all true democrats and people of Delvinë who have joined the ranks of the SP, to work together politically, raise their voices in protest, and say “Stop” to the adventurous actions of Berisha’s criminal state, which take on a particularly ominous significance at a time when Albania has become a member of the Council of Europe. We will insist and mobilize all our members and supporters throughout the district, and, with their voices of protest, publicly and democratically demand an end to the misunderstandings, the deprivation of freedom, and, finally, the mafia-style machinations aimed at unjustly keeping the chairman of the SPPSh, Fatos Nano, in prison. — We support without reservation every democratic action that the Party Presidium will undertake and that the Party Presidium will undertake and that it will undertake… (text cut off) The expanded activists’ meeting of the Socialist Party of the Durrës district, convened today, 31. 7. 1995, with a feeling of deep indignation, strongly protests on behalf of the hundreds and thousands of members and supporters of the district’s Socialist Party against the unchecked, antidemocratic and unconstitutional arrogance of the political authorities in power, whose recent actions have turned parliament and the legal institutions into instruments of political revenge, intended to eliminate the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, physically and politically. Through this act, we openly denounce before public opinion, the people, and the various genuine democratic political forces the actions of President Berisha, the Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, and the leaders of the Democratic Party, who staged the malicious trap to manipulate the laws... We denounce the unchecked arrogance of those in power, the trampling and disregard shown toward judicial bodies and jurists who refused to obey the diktat, the systematic violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, and their aim of permanently establishing in Albania a police state of violence and repression—a personal dictatorship of Sali Berisha’s clan. We denounce the fact that the regime intends to keep Fatos Nano imprisoned, even though he was closer than ever to freedom. Once again, the injustice of the fabricated charges and his complete innocence were as clear as day, and particular segments of the justice system had openly called for his release. Europe itself and its democratic institutions and organizations are calling for Fatos Nano’s release. (Continued on page 3)