ATA News from Albania (96-05-28)

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] WITHDRAWAL OF OPPOSITION GAVE RISE TO DISORDERS - Godo

[02] WITHDRAWAL OF OPPOSITION PARTIES - SIGN OF THEIR DESPAIR - BBC

[03] SP REPRESENTATIVES SIGN 40 PER CENT OF ELECTION PROCES-VERBAUX

[04] WE DO NOT RECOGNISE ELECTION RESULTS - SIX ALBANIAN PARTIES

[05] THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED ON ELECTION DAY-Berisha

[06] INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DISMISS OPPOSITION PARTIES ALLEGATIONS

[07] HRUP CANDIDATES REJECT ELECTION NON RECOGNITION STATEMENT

[08] WE SAW NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ELECTIONS INVALID

[09] SP ILLEGAL RALLY DISPERSED

[10] SOCIALISTS CALL ON PEOPLE FOR EXODUS AND VIOLENT ACTS - Interior Ministry report

[11] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION CALLS FOR FIGHTINGCall for massive exodus to neighbouring countries

[12] PARTIAL RESULTS ISSUED BY CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

[13] PRESS RELEASE

[14] CLARIFICATION BY ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY

[15] FISCHER DESCRIBES AS UNPRECEDENTED AND PREMEDITATED OPPOSITION BOYCOTT OF ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

[16] SOCIALIST LEADERS CALL COUNCIL OF EUROPE A "SLEEPING BEAUTY"

[01] WITHDRAWAL OF OPPOSITION GAVE RISE TO DISORDERS - Godo

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) By F Vladi - Withdrawal of the Socialist Party and Pole of the Centre from the voting gave rise to disorders in yesterday's voting, said Monday chairman of Republican Party (RP), Sabri Godo.

In regard to withdrawal of opposition from elections he said that "their withdrawal gave rise to serious disorders."

Godo said that from the results they had until the moment his party has won in no constituency, but he hopes to win in three or four constituencies in the second round of elections. He also added that his party hopes to enter parliament after the second round as an opposing party if the DP wins two third of votes.

He said his party's stand regarding Sunday's elections is still in process, but added that until now it is "critical toward many irregularities proved until now."

He said his party asks for a repetition of elections in 15 constituencies where his party has seen irregularities.

Regarding the stand of other political forces of Right Wing League he said that Tuesday, at 10 o'clock, they would meet to achieve a collective stand on elections.

"We will go to Parliament, but if the DP has two third we would be in opposition" Godo said, adding that the RP will not make a coalition with the DP in government unless "they make a joint governing programme."

Asked about the meeting the left wing forces have called to organise Tuesday he said he does not believe the "Right Wing League would make joint manifestations with the left opposition", adding "everyone can defend its vote according to its own manner."

Godo said "It is the duty of each party to fight in and out of Parliament" adding that Parliament is the proper place where public opinion should be made sensible.

He also said that "to be a parliamentarian does not mean to be compromised." jz/fh/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] WITHDRAWAL OF OPPOSITION PARTIES - SIGN OF THEIR DESPAIR - BBC

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - Withdrawal of the opposition parties from elections is a sign of despair, said Monday Gabriel Partosh a BBC analyst regarding elections in Albania.

"Their withdrawal is a sign of their despair" Partosh said adding that he considers this "a previously thought movement of panic in a strategy they have declared all the time they feared of."

He said that everything they won out of this panic movement is outstanding great publicity."

The BBC analyst named their withdrawal "an unprecedented event in post communist European history" reminding another similar event in Macedonia in 1994 when two parties withdrew from the second round of elections.

Asked about possible chances the government would agree to organise new elections as opposition asks for he said "In that moment the chances of new elections seem really far away. President Berisha clearly told he considers the result of the first round as a real reflection of the Albanian people's vote." fv/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] SP REPRESENTATIVES SIGN 40 PER CENT OF ELECTION PROCES-VERBAUX

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - ATA correspondents in districts said about 40 per cent of the proces-verbaux have been signed according to preliminary data they had.

According to a DP branch-announcement in Durres, nearly 100 process- verbaux in polling stations have been signed by the Socialist representatives and in 60 others they have withdrawn. The socialist representatives have declared to have no complains for the election procedure but withdrew with an order from the above.

The DP branch of Durres announces 130 cases where in spite of the SP withdrawal, representatives of the Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party have signed the process-verbal. fv/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] WE DO NOT RECOGNISE ELECTION RESULTS - SIX ALBANIAN PARTIES

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) -Six Albanian parties: Socialist Party, Democratic Alliance, National Unity, Agrarian Party, Human Right Union party and Social Democratic Party, in a report signed by them for Albanian TV, declare they do not recognise the results of May 26 elections.

We will not take part in the Parliament and demand that elections be repeated under close observation of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the U.S., the report of the six political parties says. kled/fh/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED ON ELECTION DAY-Berisha

TIRANA, 28 MAJ /ATSH/ - By J.Zaloshnja, Three people were badly wounded on the elelction day, Albanian President Sali Berisha said in a press conference on Monday, before Albanian and foreign journalists, observers and Diplomatic Corps representatives, participants in the May 26 elections. DP chairman Tritan Shehu was present, as well.

President Berisha said that red front fanatic fundamentalists have stabbed Drita Kola, mother of two children, in Kacinar (Northern Albania). She was trying to protect her children while the criminals hit her.

The President said the same thing happened with Bejo Beraj, representative of the Republican Party in constituency 103 in Lezhan village of Vlora district (southern Albania). He was wounded with a fire arm by a red front representatatives.

Also, in Tropoja, Northern Albania, the DP representative was stabbed by a red front representative.

Berisha condemned these three acts and said that "in general they have not affected the normal procedures of the May 26, 1996 elections". gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DISMISS OPPOSITION PARTIES ALLEGATIONS

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA)-Radio the "Voice of America" reports that a team of OSCE observers has said that the officials in polling stations in general have carried out their tasks normally.

The OSCE also admitted that a number of irregularities and technical shortcomings were observed and that they would be discussed in a final report, after the second round of the elections next Sunday.

The OSCE observers call on the Albanian authorities and all political parties to ensure that the second round be held under a peaceful atmosphere, so that all vote freely.

The observers said that a successful second round would be significant for the further consolidation of democracy and stability in Albania.

Hence, observers are not fully supporting the claims by opposition parties that the first general election round on Sunday had irregularities and that the results must be declared invalid.

The Socialist party and other opposition parties have called on their supporters to demonstrate in Tirana streets demanding orderly elections. The appeal was made even before any official report on elections was made.

President Sali Berisha said that "the opposition knows pretty well it has lost in the elections." The Democratic Party forecasts to have won 65 per cent of the votes, while Socialists may have won about 20 per cent. Regarding opposition demands for new elections, President Berisha said that "it is an irresponsible and absurd idea." He said that "the Albanian people have resolutely turned down communism and are in favour of economic reforms of their party and its policy for Albania's orientation towards the West." sk/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] HRUP CANDIDATES REJECT ELECTION NON RECOGNITION STATEMENT

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA)- Two candidates for deputies of the Human Rights Union Party (HRUP) do not agree with Monday's statement of their party to join the Socialist Party, the Social-Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance Party in not recognising the election result, today's Albania reports.

The two candidates for deputies, Thoma Mico and Vangjel Gjini, are the only candidates of this party who, according to unconfirmed results, have won in the May 26 elections. Mico is supposed to have won 65 per cent of the votes in his constituency in Saranda, southern Albania.

"I do not think we have to feel ourselves victims of the SP acts," said Mico, HRUP's secretary general.

The influential HRUP in Southern Albania (Greek minority areas) was represented in the last parliament by two deputies: Th.Mico and K.Makariadhi.jz/lm/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] WE SAW NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ELECTIONS INVALID

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - By A Lazaj, F Vladi: "We saw nothing that would make these elections invalid," told ATA Tuesday the member of the British Helsinki Committee, Anthony Daniels, who monitored elections in Albania together with a group of his colleagues.

"We personally did not see anything that would make elections in general invalid," said Daniels, who observed elections in Gjirokaster, Permet and in the villages of these districts.

"We found irregularities of the sort we have seen many a time before, " he said, adding that the elections "were not at all worse than the previous ones which have been declared free and fair."

Daniels said he went to several constituencies of Gjirokastra and his colleagues to other directions. He added that his colleagues were of the same opinion.

"We shall point out the irregularities we saw and we are of the opinion that the electoral campaigning coverage by media was a little unilateral," said Daniels.

He said he had interviewed many commission members of the opposition regarding the process of elections, making clear that the interviews were taken "in private meetings so that people feel not frightened. In a village of Gjirokastra, an opposition member told us that the elections were orderly, but he had to pull out of election comission upon order by his leader."

Daniels also said that "we noticed no acts of violence or any of this sort."

Daniels said that his colleagues were present in some polling stations in Tirana when the ballots were counted and they had noticed nothing disorderly.

"We cannot speak for the others, but we have no reason to consider the elections invalid," said Daniels. xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] SP ILLEGAL RALLY DISPERSED

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA)-Police on Tuesday dispersed an illegal rally of the Socialist Party and several other opposition minor parties.

Contrary to public order forces' forewarning, a crowd of some 200-300 people, SP members and sympathizers, headed by their leaders Pellumbi, Dokle and Gjinushi, tried to reach the "Skenderbej" square.

Police forces, after warning them of disperse, intervened and scattered the small crowd of protesters, who came out of the SP seat.

The SP, DAP, SDP and several other minor parties, which pulled out of the vote some 2-3 hours before the polling stations closed, had called on their members and sympathizers to protest the May 26 election outcome on Tuesday at 12.00 at the "Skenderbej" square in the capital.

The Interior Ministry, through a communique available on Monday, warned the leaders of these parties not to organise illegal rallies. It also stressed that it would take all measures envisaged by law not to allow illegal gatherings at squares and other public places.

A police officer told ATA that the rally had been organised by the secret police. lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] SOCIALISTS CALL ON PEOPLE FOR EXODUS AND VIOLENT ACTS - Interior Ministry report

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - Tuesday at 1200, opposition forces tried to organize an illegal rally at Scanderbeg Square by gathering there violently. Opposition forces undertook the illegal effort by opposing police through violence. Former Socialist deputies called for gathering and confrontation in the square.

Former 326 unit policemen, ex-senior officers of the defunct State Sigurimi, former officials of the past administration were making efforts today for the rally.

In the mean time, police could avoid a confrontation between sympathizers of opposition parties and supporters of the democratic party, who opposed this illegitimate rally. Police intervened and could very soon normalize the situation, avoiding attempts by opposition parties for an illegal rally. During the intervention there were no injured.

In the course of their illegal acts, socialist leaders appealed to people for mass exodus towards neighbouring states. Besides calls for exodus, they have spread word in Tirana and other districts for illegal gatherings, confrontation with forces of order and other acts which run counter to laws.

The Interior Ministry calls on the people keep self control and observe the laws in force. The Ministry attracts the attention that it will allow no one to disrupt public order, to manifest violently and carry out acts which aim at disruptin publi order and tranquillity.

The Ministry is determined to carry out the tasks according to the law regarding anyone who violates laws, the report says in conclusion. xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION CALLS FOR FIGHTINGCall for massive exodus to neighbouring countries

TIRANA, May 28 /ATA) - A group 200 people, 30 per cent of whom were former secret police officers, pledged today they "will fight up to the last drop of blood".

In a violent demonstration urged by the Socialist party (former communists) and its allies in Tirana, there were calls "to take up arms". "You boys take up arms for death or for freedom", these people shouted a slogan of the communists during the World War II.

The group, made up of former communists and secret police officers, who said they "will overthrow the government by violence, was dispersed by the order police.

The former communists called on the Albanian people for massive exodus, and shouted "We will hang you".

The demonstration of force was led by leaders Gramoz Ruci, former interior minister in the time of dictatorship, Servet Pellumbi and Namik Dokle of the Socialist party and Skender Gjinushi of the Social democratic party.

A police officer told ATA that this violent manifestation is an act of the notorious Albanian former secret police, the state Sigurimi, known for its 50 year long terror.tv/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] PARTIAL RESULTS ISSUED BY CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - By R Floqi: Central Electoral Commission reported that from May 27, 1996 in the evening until now, it has been examining the documentation on the election results, coming from 78 constituencies.

"DP candidates have won in 62 constituencies out of 78 constituencies examined so far by the Commission, whereas SP candidates have won in five constituencies, namely in the 91st in Corovoda, 102nd in Tepelena, 72nd in Librazhd, 88th in Berat and 70th in Gramsh, whereas the candidate of the Human Rights Union Party has won in the 114th constituency in Saranda.

In 10 constituencies, namely in the 111th and 112th constituencies in Gjirokastra, 108th in Vlora, the 67th and 68th constituencies in Elbasan, the 111th and 112th constituencies in Gjirokastra, the 110th constituency in Permet, the 71st in Librazhd, 97th in Korca and 20th constituency in Mirdita there will be a second round of elections.

According to law, next Sunday, on May 2, 1996, the second round of elections will be held.

The members of the Central Electoral Commission are examining and also discussing with a sense of responsibility the irregularities and the accuracy of the voting outcome in 4 other constituencies.

The CEC is working on documentation brought from other constituencies. xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] PRESS RELEASE

TIRANA, Maj 28 (ATA) - Follows a press release issued by Albanian President's Press and Information office: "The President of Albania calls on Albanian citizens to be coolheaded and not fall a prey to the decisions of Albanian former secret police leaders, today's SP leaders, who after their total defeat, withdrew from the free elections three hours before they were closed, and in active cooperation with other extreme groups intend to stir up fights among the people and to destabilize democracy.

The president stresses that the former minister of the Enver Hoxha's secret police, the most criminal in Europe, Gramoz Ruci, organizer of the Shkodra massacre, is today directing the violence against democracy and its laws. He ordered the creation of paramilitary groups prior to elections, the illegal distribution of 4 thousand process-verbaux to declare on May 27, at 0300, the false victory of SP, he ordered the withdrawal of the election commission members three hours before elections closed with the call "Leave the commissions because we have suffered a great defeat." Now, by mobilizing former officers he is seeking to sow terror and anxiety.

The President warns these elements to bear full responsibility for all the consequences of these illegal acts and invites the Albanians to disregard with disguise the calls and provocations by Ruci and the SP chieftains. tv/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] CLARIFICATION BY ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - Interior Ministry clarifies that the campaigning meetings in squares and public places from all political subjects have been made in conformity with the law 7408 "On meetings, gatherings and manifestations by citizens in public places."

Misinformation spread by SP is completely groundless.

Also in the future, the Interior ministry reports, it will demand from all political subjects the observation of the law. It will allow nobody to ignore and violate law. The interior ministry demands penal prosecution for all those who call for the violation of law and violent acts. ssh/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] FISCHER DESCRIBES AS UNPRECEDENTED AND PREMEDITATED OPPOSITION BOYCOTT OF ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lenni Fischer Tuesday described as "unprecedented and premeditated the boycott of May 26 elections by the Socialist party and other opposition parties," Albania Television said today.

In a news conference in Salonica, Fischer said that from her 20-year experience in the German parliament, opposition parties pull out of elections two, three weeks before and not on the voting day."

The Socialist party drew its members from last Sunday's parliamentary election commissions about three hours before polling was over, claiming that the elections were manipulated by the Democratic party in power. Later, this party was joined in this act by five other opposition parties: the Social Democratic, the Democratic Alliance, the Agrarian, National Unity and the Human Rights Union.

Many members of election commissions representing these parties have signed the process-verbal before leaving, considering wrong the decision of their leaders, and declaring that the elections have been normal.

Referring to a report of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly which observed the elections, Fischer underlined that Albania has made a significant progress only in few years of its transition from dictatorship to democracy.

She cited this report in reply to questions about the May 26 elections in Albania.

"The second round of elections," said Fischer in her conference," will be very important for the consolidation of democracy and stability in Albania."

She stressed that May 26 elections will contribute to the further strengthening of the progress Albania has made so far. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] SOCIALIST LEADERS CALL COUNCIL OF EUROPE A "SLEEPING BEAUTY"

TIRANA, MAY 28 (ATA) - Leaders of the Albanian Socialist party on Tuesday called the Council of Europe "a sleeping beauty who must be awakened." They declared this before foreign and local reporters in a news conference on the May 26 parliamentary elections in Albania, which according to partial results, are won by the Democratic Party.

In a press release they said that "forces of order have exerted violence on the protesters, opposition leaders and candidates for deputies, " in a manifestation staged by left wing opposition today to protest for the results of elections which, they claim, to have been manipulated. Forces of order prevented the unauthorized gathering, describing it as illegal.

"The idea of the opposition to pull out of elections was a political maturity which saved the country from destabilization," the communique says.

Through it they called on the people "to reflect over what is happening and to continue the resistance and protest not to recognise the elections."

They also said that the critical situation in Albania may destabilize the region.

In reply to various questions by reporters, socialist leaders stressed that "their withdrawal from elections was a civilized act, otherwise bloody confrontation might have occurred."

They also stressed the SP decision that none of the socialist candidates who has won in the May 26 elections will take part in the coming Parliament.

SP and four other small left wing parties declared Sunday afternoon, three hours before polling stations were closed and when over 80 per cent of the voters had cast their votes that they would not recognise the results of the May 26 elections. SP took this decision after a poll by Konica foundation with people who had just voted, according to which DP had a landslide victory. Analysts say that the request by the Central Electoral Commission to reprint the process-verbaux in papers of another colour influenced a lot in the adoption of the boycott decision, after a SP leader in Vlora was caught with a great number of photocopied process-verbaux. The left wing parties' decision was supported Sunday midnight by the chairman of the Human Rights Union Party, which, has so far won only two seats in the coming Albanian Parliament.

Yesterday, Republican chairman Godo declared before reporters that the withdrawal of SP and other parties from elections gave rise to disorders. kei/pas/k

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