One month after joining the Council of Europe 4 July '95 Martinez: "Europe begins from Albania" 31 July '95 "AMNESTY": "FATOS NANO is a prisoner of conscience" Does Europe begin from Albania? Even Burma has left Albania behind! 20 August '95 who will ask: Who betrays the ALBANIANS? This conclusion is based on the assessment of "Amnesty International", a humanitarian organization with great prestige throughout the world, which intervened by describing as scandalous the 12-year prison sentence handed down to the socialist leader Fatos Nano. According to it, a country that has prisoners of conscience cannot possibly be a member of the Council of Europe. Martinez, a representative of the Council of Europe, stated during his visit to Albania that "Europe begins from Albania". On 27 June 1995, the representatives of the two institutions delivered a completely different message. The very assessment of Fatos Nano, a prisoner of conscience, is a slap in the face of the entire anti-democratic policy of official Tirana. One day before 31 July, on the occasion of the discussion in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe about Albania's membership, the rapporteur on Albanian affairs, the socialist deputy in the Italian Parliament, Folco Giannini, declared that "If Albania does not take steps forward in releasing political prisoners, its entry into the Council of Europe will be called into question". Other representatives in the Council of Europe also expressed concerns regarding the Nano process and the state of human rights in Albania. Amnesty's assessment places Albania in an embarrassing position even compared with countries considered to have harsh regimes. Therefore the question that arises is: does Europe really begin from Albania, or is Albania shaming Europe with prisoners of conscience? The comparison with Burma is made to underline that even there, under much more severe international circumstances, moves have been made to release political opponents, while in Albania the imprisonment of the opposition continues. 20 August is mentioned as a date when public opinion will demand clear answers: who betrays the Albanians?

President of the Socialist Youth of Belgium Roland Gosio was granted a visa in Albania With this act the chairman of PRESSH Ilir Zajmi denounced discrimination in the Greek- Socialist press of Belgium Roland Gosio. PRESSH spokesperson

Statement of the Activity of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum and Burres - Statement of the Activity of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum and Burres On 31.08.95 the eurosocialist grouping of the Durrës party organized a meeting with young men and women from its branch. At this meeting various problems related to the activity of young people in the region were examined. The political, economic and social situation as well as the possibilities of expanding activities within the forum were discussed. The participants expressed their deter- mination to support the euro-socialist course and to strengthen ties with sister forums in Europe. Emphasis was placed on the need for better organization and broader involvement of young people in public life. The meeting ended with a supportive dec- laration for the slogan and euroso- cialist orientation of the forum.

"ABSOLUTE ANTI-COMMUNISM IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS ABSOLUTE COMMUNISM" The well-known Polish dissident and journalist Adam Michnik in Tirana "ABSOLUTE ANTI-COMMUNISM IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS ABSOLUTE COMMUNISM" - Conversation with the journalist and writer - The well-known Polish journalist Adam Michnik, while being in Tirana these days, has declared that political extremes are just as harmful, whether they come from absolute communism or from anti- communism absolute. He stressed the importance of dialogue, tolerance and the building of democratic institutions. In his conversation he also addressed the Albanian transition, the role of the media and the need for society not to fall prey to political hatred. Michnik comes as a voice with authority in the region's public debate.

The large Socialist electorate demands the release of Fatos Nano Fatos Nano must be free among us - Statement of the Presidency of the PS Devoll - For all Albanians with left-wing convictions and not only for them, the issue of Fatos Nano has become a test for democracy and the rule of law. The Presidency of the PS Devoll expresses its conviction that his sentence is political and that the country cannot move toward European integration while keeping the leader of the opposition in prison. The statement emphasizes that the Socialist electorate is determined to demand with persistence the immediate release of Fatos Nano and his return to political life. It calls on the authorities to reflect and not to further deepen the political and moral crisis in the country. According to the statement, Fatos Nano must be free among citizens, in contact with the electorate and with the party structures, since his imprisonment seriously harms the de- mocratic life of the country.