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Albanian Times, April 22, 1996From: Albanian Times <AlbaTimes@aol.com>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryCONTENTS[1] Socialists Launch Election Campaign[2] Three Killed in Polican Blast[3] Argentine Writer Sabato Awarded "Kadare" Prize[4] World Bank Grants Albania $8 Million for Forests[5] Scalfaro Praises Albania's Change[6] Italy and Albania Discuss Illegal Immigration[7] Armed Man Threatens Berisha-Scalfaro Meeting[8] Greece's Program With Albania Eyes Infrastructure[9] WB New Resident Representative in Macedonia[10] European Parliament Calls for Conference on Kosova[11] 250 Illegal Emigrants Rescued off the Italian Coast[12] NEBEX Reports Good Gold Prospects in Mirdita[13] Freed Hoxha'a Son Vows to Defend Father's Memory[1] Socialists Launch Election CampaignTIRANA, April 21 - Albania's opposition Socialist party has officially launched its campaign for the May 26 general elections, promising voters a victory of the opposition forces. Speaking before a crowd of 4 thousands in a Tirana sports hall, Socialist deputy leader Servet Pellumbi said a victory of the opposition will guarantee social peace and higher living standards. ``We do not promise you the skies but we promise not to disillusion you. We will end the anomalies of Democratic Party rule,'' he said. "With the Socialists in government there will be no turning back but a progressive continuation of reform,'' added Pellumbi saying that the Socialists will convey this message also during a coming visit to the United States. The Socialists presented Agim Fagu, the nations former star basketball player as their candidate and expressed confidence they would win in more than 80 constituencies. Pellumbi is one of 35 candidates a government electoral commission has barred from standing in next month's poll. They were disqualified on the grounds they held high office in the former communist regime, had links to the former secret police or gave evidence in dissidents' trials. The ruling Democratic Party on Sunday elected its 19-member steering committee, bringing in more young members and women. Party sources said state control commission chairman Blerim Cela was not elected to the steering board. (Albanian Times, Reuters)
[2] Three Killed in Polican BlastThree persons died in an explosion outside the southern town of Polican on Saturday evening. Two brothers and a third person died instantly while trying to unearth a hidden barrel filled with detonators. A water main supplying drinking water to the city of Berat was ripped off by the powerful blast leaving the city without water for hours. Police experts said the explosion must have been accidental. (Albanian Times)
[3] Argentine Writer Sabato Awarded "Kadare" PrizeTIRANA, Albania - Albania's Velija cultural foundation has awarded Argentine writer Ernesto Sabato its most prestigious international literary honor. Sabato, 85, received the award and $20,000 in prize money at a ceremony Saturday evening. The Kadare International Literary Prize is named after Albanian writer Ismail Kadare. Sabato, whose novels include ``The Tunnel'' (1948), ``On Heroes and Graves'' (1961) and ``Abaddon, the Exterminator'' (1974), was born in Argentina in 1911. His mother was part Albanian. The prize was announced on October 2, 1995, but Sabato could not attend due to the death of his son in an air accident. (Albanian Times, Reuters)
[4] World Bank Grants Albania $8 Million for ForestsTIRANA, April 19 - The World Bank has granted Albania an $8 million credit line to restore the country's degraded forests and pasture areas, the bank's mission in Tirana said. It said that forests and pastures, covering about half of the country's area, constitute a vast natural resource with great economic potential, but had not yet benefitted from Albania's transition to a market system. ``The sector's production today is limited to satisfying the demand of the domestic market, which has significantly shrunk in the course of the transition,'' the mission said in a statement. The bank noted that while timber harvesting and processing activities have been taken over by privatized or newly formed enterprises, forest management is still in state hands. ``The lack of law enforcement has resulted in uncontrolled harvesting. State control of trade, pricing and marketing has generated inefficiencies and distortions in production,'' the bank added. The loan is to be repaid over 40 years period with a 10-year grace period. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[5] Scalfaro Praises Albania's ChangeTIRANA, April 19 - Italian president Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, on a state visit to Tirana complimented president Sali Berisha on the many things that in his words "have changed for the better" in Albania. Remarking that political alliances are important, the Italian president said ''to be strong, it's necessary to work together.'' In comments addressing Albania's four years of democracy following decades of rigid isolation, Scalfaro added that ''when this unnatural pressure (of dictatorship) is removed, the true values of humankind and its nature can flourish.'' Albania is looking to the Italian presidency to forge closer ties with the European Union in the form of an association accord. Albania currently has a cooperation accord with the EU. Italy is working to conclude an accord between Tirana and the EU before the Italian six-month duty presidency is over on July 1. In meeting with Scalfaro, President Berisha thanked Italy for its aid to social and economic reconstruction in his country. ''I came here three years ago,'' said Scalfaro, ''and the situation has changed almost out of all recognition thanks to the advances made. You work, you build and unemployment is improving.'' ``I am very pleased with the Italian presence of more than 500 companies and...(I am sure) Italy's participation will continue,'' Scalfaro said at the end of official talks. An Albanian high official said that since 1992, Italy had made available L226.2 billion ($185 million) in funds for projects now under way, L68.1 billion of which is bilateral aid and 158.1 billion investments and was considered Albania's main trading partner. Scalfaro attended a ceremony to inaugurate a second stretch of the Tirana-Durres motorway and the Bovilla-Tirana dam, aqueduct and water mains system. Scalfaro also visited training and hospital facilities run by Italian volunteer organisations. (Albanian Times)
[6] Italy and Albania Discuss Illegal ImmigrationTIRANA, April 19 - Officials from both Albania and Italy say the flow of illegal immigrants across the narrow strait of the Adriatic Sea separating them has done nothing to disturb their excellent relations. When President Sali Berisha visited Rome in October, the two countries signed a friendship agreement and other cooperation accords in which immigration was given an important place. A series of talks have been held in recent months to put the pact into effect, but officials say there is an urgent need for an agreement on the readmission of clandestine immigrants by Albania which is seen as indispensable for controlling the flow. Scalfaro's visit to Tirana follows that by the Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli a month ago and returns the visit of Albanian President Sali Berisha. (Albanian Times, ANSA)
[7] Armed Man Threatens Berisha-Scalfaro MeetingTIRANA, April 19 - A man armed with a hand grenade and threatening to blow himself up outside the presidential palace in Tirana was overpowered by police after the Albanian President Sali Berisha and his Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro had left the building. Police and sharpshooters surrounded the square and Scalfaro left the building by a side door, about 15 minutes later than scheduled. Police, who captured the man after keeping him under surveillance for some time, said he insisted on speaking directly to Berisha. According to bystanders he also asked for a meeting with Scalfaro. Police tricked the man into capture by pretending to set up a mobile phone contact with the Albanian president. National guard commander Zyhdi Dajti said the man, identified as 32-year-old Ilir Buza from Fushe Kruja north of Tirana, was armed with a bomb powerful enough to endanger people within a 60-metre (yard) radius. He was overpowered by police less than an hour after he began his bomb siege. Police commander Agim Shehu said the man appeared to be deranged. ``In no way was this incident connected to the Italian president's visit,'' Shehu said. (Albanian Times)
[8] Greece's Program With Albania Eyes InfrastructureATHENS, April 19 - Greece has slated 27.3 billion drachmas for a cross-border co-operation program with Albania, officials said. The program (INTERREG-PHARE CBC) focuses on infrastructure, particularly road construction and telecommunications, Greek under-secretary of national economy told a press conference Thursday. The road construction project aims at establishing an international link between the Adriatic coast, the northern Greek port of Salonika and the Greek-Turkish border. In the communications sector, the objective is to create a link between Greece and Albania by means of an underwater optic fiber cable which will later be extended to Croatia. The ultimate target of the project is to set up a telecommunications link between central and northern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. According to ANA, cross-border co-operation between Greece and Albania also provides for the strengthening of the two countries' agricultural sector through the transfer of know-how and the reciprocal promotion of non-competing products. A joint monitoring committee is due to meet for the first time in Ioannina on April 22 to discuss implementation issues. (Albanian Times, ANA)
[9] WB New Resident Representative in MacedoniaWASHINGTON, April 19 - Ellen A. Goldstein has been appointed new World Bank resident representative in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Goldstein, a US national, joined the Bank in 1985 as a long-term consultant in the country operations division of the West Africa department. After becoming a country economist, she transferred to the Asia department in 1990. Following a one-year sabbatical, she returned to the South Asia office of the regional vice president in 1193, then joined the human resources operations division of the Central and Southern Europe departments as a senior human resources economist. (Albanian Times)
[10] European Parliament Calls for Conference on KosovaSTRASBOURG, April 17 - The European Parliament decided in Strasbourg to convene an international conference on Kosova under the aegis of the European Union, a EU press release said. In a resolution passed on the initiative of all the large political groups, Parliament members also asked EU states not to re-establish diplomatic relations with Belgrade before negotiations were opened between Belgrade and the representatives of the Kosova Albanians. In the document, the European Parliament said it was ''premature'' to speak of re-establishing normal diplomatic relations between EU countries and Belgrade. (Albanian Times)
[11] 250 Illegal Emigrants Rescued off the Italian CoastLECCE, April 16 - A Turkish ship with 250 emigrants from Albania ran aground off the Italian coast. The emigrants, among them many women and children were taken to safety by the authorities. No one was hurt, according to Italian police sources. Eight crew members were arrested for illegal smuggling of immigrants. Only days ago, Italian coast guard rescued 140 Indian emigrants from a burning freighter off the Sicily coast. (Albanian Times)
[12] NEBEX Reports Good Gold Prospects in MirditaCALGARY, April 19 - NEBEX Resources Ltd. reported that gold values obtained in grab samples together with the widespread nature of the mineralization suggests that a major gold deposit could be outlined at the Kacinari concession in north central Albania. Of 56 grab samples taken from mineralized surface showings and occurrences in an area of approximately 1.7 kilometers by one kilometer, 17 samples returned gold values ranging from 8.0 grams to 74.7 grams/ton (.23 ounces to 2.17 ounces/ton). Nine of these samples had values exceeding 25 grams per ton. This exploration project is in the Gjazuj-Shengjergj area of the 250 square kilometer concession where a widespread zone of auriferous quartz-carbonate and vein stringer zones with extensive carbonate alteration halos occur in Triassic-age basic volcanics and sub-volcanic gabbro intrusives. The gold is related to sulphide mineralization including arsenopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite and minor antimony minerals. Detailed mapping, sampling and trenching is being carried out to define drill targets. Drilling is continuing on the adjoining Mirdita concession to outline a copper-zinc-gold massive sulphide deposit. Exploration is planned to start in May in the Kukes and Radomir concessions when the snow clears. (Courtesy of Canada Newsware)
[13] Freed Hoxha'a Son Vows to Defend Father's MemoryTIRANA, April 18 - Enver Hoxha's son, Ilir, who was released from prison on Friday told journalists he wanted to defend his father's memory till the end of his life. Ilir Hoxha, a jobless mechanical engineer, was sentenced to one year imprisonment last June for describing the current Albanian leadership as "a pack of vandals" and "dark forces." He was accused of "inciting national hatred and endangering public peace." The young Hoxha said now that he was free, he would first place a bunch of flowers on his father's grave. Enver Hoxha's wife, Nexhmije, was sentenced to imprisonment for abuse of power. (Albanian Times)
The material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & ConsultingInternational. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, pleasewrite to AlbaTimes@aol.comCopyright (c) ATCI, 1996 |
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