ATA News from Albania (96-06-01)

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] DEMOCRATIC STATE ENCOURAGES PRIVATE ECONOMY AND INITIATIVE OF INDIVIDUAL

[02] ALBANIAN FILM WEEK IN POLAND

[03] ALBANIAN FILM WEEK IN POLAND

[04] BALLI KOMBETAR AGAINST LEFT OPPOSITION HUNGER STRIKE

[05] LEFT OPPOSITION REACTIVATES EX-SECRET POLICE IN MAY 26 POLL

[06] PRESS REVIEW

[07] CANDIDATES FOR NUP DEPUTY RESPOND TO BERISHA'S CALL

[08] PRESS RELEASE

[09] TWO NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ASK AUTHORITIES TO STABILIZE SITUATION

[10] ARBNORI SENDS LETTER TO MS FISCHER ON ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

[11] INTERVIEW OF ALBANIAN PREMIER ALEKSANDER MEKSI WITH VOICE OF AMERICA

[12] ALBANIAN NATIONAL KILLED ON SERBIAN-MACEDONIAN BORDER - report of Interior Ministry

[01] DEMOCRATIC STATE ENCOURAGES PRIVATE ECONOMY AND INITIATIVE OF INDIVIDUAL

Shehu thanked them for their contribution during the four year period with their investment and business development. He stressed that the market economy would be backed up by small and medium businessmen in the future, too. The participation in privatisation of the medium businessmen with vouchers and shares will be important, he said.

He dwelt on the thesis of a social state and dismissed the opinion created by today's opposition which considered it a left thesis.

Shehu provided facts to show that the German CDU had been the first to launch this thesis and its bases are found today in the European advanced economic programmes.

"A powerful economic country has also a powerful social support," Shehu said.

Shehu considered mass privatisation of the economy one among the powerful pillars of the DP programme for the coming four years. The privatisation of telecom, mines, oil industry and other industries were the main objectives Shehu referred to in his speech.

On the same day, Shehu met with inhabitants of the Lunxhi commune. s.sh/kled/lm/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] ALBANIAN FILM WEEK IN POLAND

Six films of the last years will be on show in cinema hall "Muranov" during this activity. Albanian artists' accommodation in Poland will be sponsored by a Polish firm.

This activity is the second organised between the two countries in field of cinematography after the premiere show of the Polish film "The Red Calibre" organised last year in Tirana. jz/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] ALBANIAN FILM WEEK IN POLAND

Six films of the last years will be on show in cinema hall "Muranov" during this activity. Albanian artists' accommodation in Poland will be sponsored by a Polish firm.

This activity is the second organised between the two countries in field of cinematography after the premiere show of the Polish film "The Red Calibre" organised last year in Tirana. jz/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] BALLI KOMBETAR AGAINST LEFT OPPOSITION HUNGER STRIKE

"We consider this act a continuation of the red front attempts to destabilise the country. At these moments we need to be calm and united for the National Cause," Selfo said.

"The Balli Kombetar Party calls on the Albanian people to be calm and not deceived by the propaganda which for 50 years ruined Albania and the Albanian people. Communism is alien, entirely unacceptable to Albanians. The Albanians have belonged and still belong to the West, never to the East, where those who are on a strike try to install Albania," the newspaper Albania cites Selfo as saying. gen/lm/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] LEFT OPPOSITION REACTIVATES EX-SECRET POLICE IN MAY 26 POLL

The sources also issue the full lists of the Sigurimi officials who served as commission members or observers in different constituencies on May 26.

Today's newspaper Albania carries the nominal list and the functions of some 50 people, commission members or observers of the left opposition in the former Sigurimi. jz/lm/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] PRESS REVIEW

It also highlights the meeting President Berisha had with a group of journalists entitled "Journalists will always have support in their mission" and "Europe backs the DP victory". On its third page it carries the article "Two per cents in a hunger strike" and "The DP - a party of tolerance and dialogue."

Zeri I Popullit covers the hunger strike of the left opposition candidates for deputy under the title "We are convinced that most of Albanians are with us." It also publishes the article "The stolen Parliament" and reactions of the German press on elections in Albania entitled "Dictatorship returned on the Skenderbej square."

Republika publishes a statement of the Republican Party's spokesman entitled "We would move toward a political solution." It also carries the article "EU asks the parties for a maximal responsibility to re start dialogue."

In a special article Poli i Qendres newspaper announces the decision of 50 candidates for deputy to stage a hunger strike. It publishes a statement of "Helsinki Human Right Watch" entitled "Parliamentary elections in Albania invalid."

Lajmi i Dites reports on Berisha's meeting with a group of journalists entitled "Press is the parliament of the free word."

Rilindja reports on a press conference chairman of Kosova Republic Rugova. Elections in Albania are treated in the article "Victory of the anti bunker party."

In its editorial entitled "The opposition in hunger strike" Koha Jone reports of 150 left opposition deputy candidates who are in a hunger strike. It also carries some strikers' opinions under the title "In a hunger strike to save the threatened democracy" and "International community should devaluate the elections."

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the article "Yesterday 106 deputy candidates of five parties in a self sacrifice."

Albania carries the editorial "Opposition and the falsity of the protest" and "The Socialist Party reactivates former secrete police." It also carries the article "EU and US coordinate their stand toward elections in Albania: New elections only in some constituencies."

Dita Informacion carries the article "Fight with hunger strikes" and an interview with Servet Pellumbi the SP deputy chairman under the title "We want new elections under the patronage of the EU and US."

Tribuna's editorial is entitled "Left extremism is being decomposed." On economic issues the newspaper publishes the article "USD33.6 million for the rehabilitation of 1000 km rural road." jz/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] CANDIDATES FOR NUP DEPUTY RESPOND TO BERISHA'S CALL

The "Aleksander Xhuvani" University students, Ilir Karroli, NUP candidate in constituency 64 and Aldo Sula in constituency 65 in Elbasan (Middle Albania) say in the letter that they do not at all consider right the order by the chiefs of the SP and their party to pull out of the voting.

They express their disillusion for the fact that the NUP is "a party of the extreme left".

The National Unity Party of the left wing, created at the beginning of 1991, is one of the main supporters of the Socialist Party. Its chairman Idajet Beqiri is actually convicted of genocide. jz/lm/G/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PRESS RELEASE

He once again calls on all opposition parties to take part in the second round ballot, and on the electorate in these constituencies to vote for the best candidate./LM/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] TWO NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ASK AUTHORITIES TO STABILIZE SITUATION

The two organizations, says the call, "have attentively followed the events after the withdrawal of SP, SDP and DAP representatives from elections, and regretfully notes that there is an antidemocratic and unreformed clan that considers its loss equal with a loss of the world in general."

Opposition party members of election commissions pulled out of voting upon instruction of respective parties' presidencies, three hours before polling closed on May 26, with the claim that elections were rigged by the party in power, DP. DP won the first round of elections in 95 out of 115 constituencies.

The tensions deliberately provoked since the day when political power passed on to the democratic side show clearly what and whom do such extreme big-wigs serve, the call says.

The two organizations ask the President, Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Attorney General and the Constituional Court to adopt immediate measures for the stabilization of the situation created artificially by extremits of all hues.

About 100 members of five opposition parties, SP, SDP, DAP, AP and NUP are staging a hunger strike asking annulment of the results of the first round of elections and a new ballot. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ARBNORI SENDS LETTER TO MS FISCHER ON ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

"First of all I would like to voice my profound gratitude as Parliament Speaker and leader of the Albanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for your objective valuation regarding the unprecedented and premeditated withdrawal of some opposition parties in Albania.

Arbnori says in his letter that over 12 political parties took part in May 26 elections, and each of them had its representatives in the election commissions. Voting was monitored by many international organizations.

The premeditated and ordered withdrawal of some opposition parties showed that they were not in a position to accept the evident loss in elections.

The letter says that the election result was not so unexpected as presented by many sources.

"In the March 1992 elections, DP won in 92 out of 100 constituencies, whereas SP won only in four constituencies. In the May 26, 1996 elections the result was as follows: DP won in 95 out of 115 constituencies and SP won in five constituencies. As seen, the results are much similar. The left wing defeat is linked with the leadership incriminated with the past and the State Sigurimi which has been so hateful for the past Albania," writes Arbnori.

The Human Rights Union Party and many other parties have reviewed their stand and will take part in the second round of elections due on June 2, 1996.

Arbnori said in his letter that "the left seats in the parliament will always be unoccupied and we invite them to review their decision because the democratic battlefield is in the parliament and not on the street."

"We respect legal demonstrations of all political parties and they have been and will be always free. At the same time the state bans illegal demonstrations with calls of destabilization, violent acts and confrontation, " writes Arbnori.

"We call on and welcome numerous observers from CE and other organizations guaranteeing them full freedom. They will have all necessary facilities to monitor the second round of elections," the letter writes at the end. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] INTERVIEW OF ALBANIAN PREMIER ALEKSANDER MEKSI WITH VOICE OF AMERICA

So far irregularities have been noted in three constituencies. Are there possibilities for other irregularities to be reported ?

- Complaints have been made regarding a number of other constituencies. So far, complaints have been presented by the Human Rights Union Party, Republican Party, Party of Legality, which are being examined. The commission is scrutinizing every irregularity noted.

Left wing opposition has demanded the resignation of some leaders of the Albanian government regarding the violence in the Scanderbeg Square, last Tuesday, when opposition clashed with police. Which is the stand of the government in this regard and how does it comment the event last Tuesday?

- It is not the first case when the Albanian Government is faced with illegal manifestations as that in the Scanderbeg Square last Tuesday and incidents have not occurred. The latest case shows that certain sectors have overpassed their legal competencies and the instructions given accordingly. The Prosecutor's Office is inquiring into the matter and a strict stand will be adopted for all those who will be proved responsible for the acts.

The left wing opposition parties have started a hunger strike in sign of protest towards the election result. Which is your government's opinion about it?

- My personal opinion has always been and is that political debates, difference in opinions, political issues and even political solutions cannot be solved and found by staging hunger strikes. In my opinion this is not the road towards solution in a democratic state where the confrontation of opinions and ballots are those that decide. I think that it is good for the opposition to take part in the second round of elections despite the complaints they have made.

Do you see chances that a compromise will be reached for a moderate solution to the situation?

I think that the Central Electoral Commission and the Albanian government are open to this question and the verification of all complaints related to elections. The opposition has now to make its steps in conformity with the laws and according to the recommendation of the EU and the State department. mima/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIAN NATIONAL KILLED ON SERBIAN-MACEDONIAN BORDER - report of Interior Ministry

The event took place near the village of Vrace, in Serbia. As a result of the fire, two of the five were wounded instantly, one of them, Aziz Abdi Beqja, 36, from Noveosej village of Kukes, died while being taken to the hospital.

The other wounded person managed to leave for Macedonia together with the rest of the group.

Today, Albanian border authorities are taking care for the the body of Beqja to be brought to Kukes and to learn about the fate of four other Albanians. ake/kei/xh/

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

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