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ATA News from Albania (96-07-04)Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] DP CONSULTS POLITICAL PARTIES ON GOVERNMENT FORMATION AND COMPOSITIONTIRANA, JULY 3 (ATA) - By R.Floqi: The Democratic party (DP) continued Wednesday the consultations with small political parties which have or not a seat in the parliament regarding the formation of a new government and its composition.Aleksander Meksi, appointed by the DP to have another term in the post of prime minister and DP head Tritan Shehu appointed at the post of deputy prime minister met leaders of the Human Rights Union party, Republican party and Social Democratic Union party. "We discussed problems which are of interest to the DP and other parties regarding the possibility of cooperation aiming at meeting the interests and issues related to their electorate and also Albania," Prime minister Meksi said. He added that their demands should be included in the agenda of the future government. Meksi said that they discussed different forms and levels of cooperation with other parties. Meksi and Shehu told the journalists that the new government will be announced next week. Ongoing fast rates of economic reforms and increase of welfare were pointed out by Meksi as directions of the future government while the foreign policy will be based on national issue and Albania's affirmation in the world and its integration into Europe. "We discussed the change of all the structure," Shehu said adding that "we are open to coalitions and participation of other political forces in the Albanian government, as we were in 1992." Vasil Melo, head of the Human Rights Union party which has three seats in the new parliament said, "Priority directions our party wanted to be included in the future government program are: establishment of rule of law, ratification by parliament of the Convention on Human Rights and Freedom and those of ethnic minorities. Melo said that "the creation of a special committee on emigration would be more efficient and bring about results." Republican leader Sabri Godo said that the Ministry of Tourism should change its structure. He said that his party is still discussing its participation in government. "We should exert our open opposition in parliament," he said referring to the three-member group of deputies. While the leader of the Social Democratic Union party Teodor Laco (the centre-right party) praised the DP invitation to hold a round table for the future government a sign of political climate which the DP tries to create in a situation where a hot climate prevails due to the oppossition's attitude. "We do not see any government coalition with the SP while we invited them to discuss the formation of a new government and parliament but they refused the demand of the president of the Republic," Shehu said. A resolution of the Council of Europe has asked for a round table of the DP and opposition forces which have not respond to the request for dialogue yet. The DP will continue meetings with other political forces on this problem in the days to come. kled/ak/SH/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH DP PARLIAMENTARY GROUPTIRANA, JULY 3 (ATA) - President of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha held a meeting with the parliamentary group of the Democratic party (DP) today at noon before the deputies meet with the electorate.President Berisha congratulated the deputies for the way of dialogue through which the DP achieved its second victory. He said to the deputies that the electorate should be thanked for their high turnout in the elections of May 26, in the second round and in the re-run elections on June 16. This participation is a brilliant response to those who project a boycott and those who tried to use it for anti-Albanian atavistic aims to tread under foot the sovereignty of Albania. We should thank the Albanian electorate who through a plebiscite vote voted for the program of the DP, reforms and their acceleration, policy of peace, stability and integrity of Albania into Europe. We should express our profound honour, respect and gratitude for the opposition, left and right electorate who voted for the other parties. We should thank the Albanian left-wing electorate who totally ignore the act of boycotting and for its worthy response against this anti- national and anti-democratic act with its massive turnout in elections even after Ruci's appeal to boycott them. With this act they showed patriotism, citizenship of real Albanians, great political prudence. We should heartily thank the left-wing electorate for the disdain towards the calls to occupy streets and squares of Albania. Through this attitude, the members, sympathizers of the Socialist party and the electorate showed that they clearly understood that boycott prepared somewhere and followed by shouts "occupy streets and squares" was simply a prelude of a fatal scenario which aimed at stirring up a civil conflict, clashes among Albanians. They understood that non-Albanian extremists who want not less than half of Albania and introduce the scenario of boycott and its executors represented groups and individuals whose final aim! s were to destabilise and tread un der foot the sovereignty of Albanians and Albania. We should tell the electorate that though some of their boycotting leaders did not deign, according to the orders they received, neither to defend their interests nor to count their votes, we should be totally open to it (electorate), sensible and loyal as before regarding its problems and troubles. We are open and decisive to an intensive dialogue with them (opposition) because the dialogue and openness are constant and unchanged in all our activity. kled/ak/ ( to be continued) Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] DP ANSWERS SP REQUEST FOR DIALOGUETIRANA, JULY 3 /ATA - F.Vladi/. - The Albanian Democratic Party answered positively today to an official request by the Socialist Party for bilateral dialogue after the resolution of the Council of Europe on a round table of all Albanian political parties.The DP chairman, Tritan Shehu told ATA that he has accepted the invitation in which the SP leaders ask for a meeting next Teusday. But he added that because of the intensive activity for creating the new government, the DP has offered Socialists a meeting on July 13th. Shehu said his party has always been for dialogue and that the SP leaders have several times have refused the democrats'request. The SP leaders did not accept to participate in a consultations meeting with the President on June 29 between the parlamentary parties regarding the structure of the new government. Yesterday they also refused to take part in meeting of the parlamentary parties initiated by the DP for discussing the phisionomy of the new parliament. The Socialists have not recognized the new parliament and have declared that they will not go to this Parliament. Last Monday, only one Socialist deputy attended the first session of the new parliament whose members were elected in the 26 May elections. fv/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] VISIT OF ITALIAN ADMIRAL GALLICCIA IN ALBANIATIRANA, JULY 3 (ATA) - Albanian military troops organised visits in two Italian warships which are in their second day in Albania, the Defence Ministry press and Information office said.The Italian Admiral Galliccia met in the Defence Ministry with Chief of the Albanian Army General Staff Sheme Kosova, vice Minister of Defence Policy Alfred Moisiu and Commander of Coastal Defence Forces Rear admiral Kucana. The meeting voiced the connections, cooperation and relations between the two armies and the actual work in concertizing and carrying out a bilateral agreement in the military field between Albania and Italy. ake/kled/fh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] WE CONSIDER ALBANIAN ELECTIONS DEMOCRATIC -SchreiderTIRANA, JULY 3 (ATA) By A Keko - Arben Shehi leader of an Albanian economic delegation, which is visiting Vienna in the context of the activity "Albanian Days", was received by Ingrid Tichy Schreider deputy president of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Economy, MP and deputy chairman of the Austrian People's Party which is member of the governing coalition.Shehi chairman of Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said a spokesman of this chamber acquainted the host with a synthesis of the political situation in Albania paying special attention to the DP victory in the May 26 elections, a victory that was the verdict of the people. He continued with the economic developments in Albania, the favouring policy on investments and the role of the institution he leads in the increasing of contacts between the Albanian businessmen and foreign ones. Schreider said that from her parliamentary colleagues had heard that the elections in Albania were normally held. A leftist party propaganda organised in Europe has had a negative effect. We, consider the Albanian elections democratic. We greet the election results and hope that the young Albanian democracy will be strengthened and cut relations with communism. Then she expressed her readiness for a further continuation of economic relations saying that both parties are trying to find new ways of cooperation. ake/fh/z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH DP PARLIAMENTARY GROUPcontinuesLet boycotters deal with boycotting. Let them refuse the invitation for dialogue and continue to denounce Albania, cooperate with anti-Albanian extremists and terrorists. We should continue with dialogue. We should listen to each other more than before. We have entered the time of great understanding. The DP will be engaged uninterruptedly in an intensive dialogue with citizens and political forces everywhere: in houses, roads, villages, cities, parliament and out of it. Albania is not experiencing any crisis but in crisis were those who projected to lead Albania up to it but failed. Our dialogue should be not only words but also deeds. We should denounce without hesitation all the extremist performances of certain individuals against activists, sympathisers and members of the Socialist party. Boycotting leaders have activated the machine of slanders and are continuing the campaign of psychological terror against Socialist members all day long by threatening them that the DP should give them the sack, confiscate their ownerships and impose special taxes. First, we should clarify that the DP is a party which does not favour confiscations but private ownership and that with its program it should employee and make Albanians owners despite their political affiliations. Second, not the increase but reduction of taxes for all has been and remains a constant of the DP fiscal policy and its program. The value added tax worth 12.5 per cent came into effect on July 1 which replaced the turn- over tax worth 15 per cent. A reduction of 17 per cent of taxes is achieved in comparison to previous records. We keep our promises. Third, we should guarantee that no-one has been sacked and is going to be sacked for his or her political convictions but, as the people say, "There is no smoke without fire." The existence of such tentative against the former candidates for deputy of the SP cannot be negated. Such concerns have also been reflected by the press and I have also been informed about them. We should denounce such tentative. The DP launched an electoral campaign with the motto "Everyone wins with us." This motto should be made a reality for all, today more than ever. The DP is urged to change tolerance, dialogue, spirit of understanding with people, despite their political affiliations, into a general spirit of our society. This spirit exists and will lead us. Thus we should consolidate it. kled/ak/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] FRESSH LEADERS FOR COMPLETE CHANGES INSIDE SPTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA) - The leaders of FRESSH (Euro Socialist Forum of Albanian Youth) said Wednesday, in a wide meeting of its activists for the Tirana branch, that the Socialist Party (SP) needed complete changes and renovation.FRESSH chairman and the SP deputy chairman Ilir Meta admitted that "the present situation on the eve of the SP congress has opened debates regarding its further renovation as a European Social Democratic party" according to "Zeri i Popullit" newspaper coverage of the activity. Meta also said that the SP is able "to get oriented and realise a complete, transparent and legitimate change and not a partial, closed or speculative one." "In the new conditions the SP needs new values which will grow its competing force in the political life and will devaluate a part of arguments its political opposition continuously speculates with like the continuity of the past and will create a credible image in the European left wing" Meta said. The deputy chairman of FRESSH, Blendi Marika, goes further on in his ideas of changes for the Albanian left wing, saying that "the Albanian left wing needs new credibility. It needs clear changes. Euro Socialist youth can assure it." The other deputy chairman Erion Brace said "Our motto is very simple 'unity in diversity, renovation in unity'." The SP deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga invited in the meeting speaking about the party's renovation said that "this process should affect all structures from the local organisations to the party's leadership" the paper concludes. Today's media writes about "cracks in the SP" in regard to a motion the SP chairman Fatos Nano, in prison for corruption and falsification of documents, has directed to his party. Through this motion Nano asks an "urgent" summoning of the SP congress and a "removal of Marx from the party's programme." "Gazeta Shqiptare" newspaper writes that a letter is sent on behalf of "The leading brain of the SP" to the imprisoned leader where he is asked to block the motion. The SP press organ "Zeri i Popullit" writes nothing about this motion. kei/fh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] SP GENERAL SECRETARY FLEES HIS PARTY - HIS RETURN UNKNOWN -papersTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA) - The General Secretary of the Socialist party Gramoz Ruci has fled Albania and his return is unknown, daily Gazeta Shqiptare reports today.The daily said that Ruci's departure has thrown doubts on the ranks of other SP leaders "moreover when his withdrawal of the Socialist secretary takes place, according to a member of the SP board whose name has not been revealed, at a moment when the main party of the opposition is experiencing its greatest political processes." "He should have stayed with us," the daily cites the same member as saying. Commenting on the news, the daily Albania says, "Ruci, the man of Fatos Nano, his iron fist when it is the case of Byzantium plots, has fled Albania clandestinely. Beria of the Socialist party has not 'preferred to take part in the great battle', in the Socialist party and has disappeared mysteriously." Citing sources within the SP, Albania writes that "Ruci who has left for Nigeria has withdrawn 220 thousands dollars from the party funds." The paper says that a few days before Ruci has presented an order to the SP board from Fatos Nano, leader of the SP who is found guilty and sentenced to jail on charges of embezzlement and abuse of office in relation to an aid scandal in 1991 when he was prime minister. Nano ordered the dissolution of the present SP board and other orders which were delegated to Ruci. Citing reliable party inner sources, the paper says that Ruci has fled Albania and Nano was aware of this action. pas/ak/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] TIRANA PROSECUTION OFFICE TO EXAMINE "NANO" FILE BUT NOT HIS CASETIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA) - Tirana Prosecution Office has drawn from the court the penal file against Fatos Nano (the SP leader now in prison for corruption regarding the Italian aids for Albania in 1991 while in the prime minister's post and for falsification of official documents), Tirana prosecutor Adnan Xhelili said for today's "Albania" newspaper.Such action is connected with the illegal activity of his collaborators in 1991. Among them is Arben Alia, son of former communist president Ramiz Alia who has served as a mediator between Nano and Hajdin Sejdia former president of a doubtful firm "Iliria Holding" which has cheated many Albanian citizens by taking their money with interest and never returning. "Nano's charge has been proved in all justice levels. Through facts of this file we want to prove possible incrimination of his collaborators" Xhelili concludes.jz/fh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] ALBANIAN PRESS ON IDEA OF SOCIALIST PARTY REFORMATIONTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA) - The daily Zeri i Popullit in its editorial entitled "On reformation" says, "Socialists are conscious that they should change not only some phrases of the party statute, not only some paragraphs of its program or some people in leadership but the country and society need from the SP first the most advanced mentality of the time, as a Social Democratic force of the Western European style."Gazeta Shqiptare reports for "a crack in the SP" and cites a motion the SP chairman Fatos Nano, sentenced to jail for falsification of documents and corruption, sent to his party. Nano orders an "urgent" congress of the party and "removal of Marx from the party program." The same paper says that a letter was sent to the imprisoned leader on behalf of the "leadership mentor of the Socialists urging him "to block the motion." The daily Albania carries an interview with Bashkim Zeneli, former member of the SP board known for his reformed ideas under the title "SP needs a new face." In his interview Zeneli said, "I will not agree with the ideas of the leaders of the Socialist party who say that the reform cycle of the party is closed, it has come to an end ... There is no room for fundamentalist, revanchist or speculative elements in the party." Dita Informacion carries the interview with the Socialist deputy Anastas Angjeli who said, "Common denominator for many SP leaders is that they think that it is the time for the SP to be reformed, to have a complete image of a Social democratic party and realise the final break away from the shackles linking it with the past, the PLA and everything communist. It should reform the party leadership or better say renovate the leadership and improve its organisation, leadership and its working methods." The daily Rilindja Demokratike reports on the idea of reformation of the SP saying "It is not the question of a kind of renovation and reflexion within the party but a reconfirmation of clans creating a combination of a part called the reformed and a part called the conservatives." Citing the SP deputy chairman Ilir Meta, the daily Republika says "reformation is a necessity for every Albanian party and particularly for the SP which comes out of the Labour party which has been the most obscurantist party compared to other parties of the communist East." Meta's affirmation that "there were also revanchist elements in the SP", is considered by the daily Tribuna the worst accusation of this kind by one of the SP leaders. kei/ak/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] ACTIVITIES ON 220TH ANNIVERSARY OF US INDEPENDENCETIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA) - The Directory of Central Military Hospital and the Albanian-US association organised Wednesday a jubilant session on the 220th anniversary of the US proclamation of independence in the Army Cultural Centre premises.The orators spoke about the USA and their role in the world, the relations and cooperation between the Albanian and the US armies, in the experience gained in the joint military training in the context of Partnership for Peace accord. The US Cultural Centre in Tirana organised Wednesday a scientific session. Chief of the U.S. Information Agency Charles Wollsh read to the attendance the traditional greeting of the U.S. President. The session was organised in collaboration with Tirana History and Philology Faculty. The dean of this faculty, Valentina Duka, on her speech called this US holiday a special day not only for the US history but for the world history as well. There was stressed the fact that the well-known Albanian thinkers and political activists like Fan Noli, Faik Konica and others have from the beginning of this century tried to cultivate the American principles in Albania. ake/jz/fh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION LEAVES FOR SWEDENTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)- The delegation of the People's Assembly left for Stockholm, Sweden, on Thursday, to take part in the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, to be held between July 5-9, 1996.The delegation is made up by Genc Pollo and Albert Brojka, DP deputies, Sali Rexhepi, SP deputy, and Vasil Melo, HRUP deputy. jz/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] MULTINATIONAL COMPANY "ROCHE" AGAIN IN ALBANIATIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)-By A. Milo,The multinational company "Roche", known all over the world for pharmaceutical products, is now active in Albania. With a 1000-year-old activity, it comes back to Albania after 70 years. "ROCHE" is reported to have had in 1927 an annual total turnover of over 2 000 gold francs. The company is now introduced through "Farma-Express", which has the exclusive right of representation for the import of its items. Some 20 selected pharmaceutical products, considered the most necessary ones, have been brought as a beginning in Albania.jz/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] ALBANIAN, GERMAN POLICE COOPERATION TO DEVELOPTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)- A delegation of the Interior Ministry of the land of Bavaria, headed by the secretary of State of this institution, Herman Rogensburger, arrived in Albania on Wednesday for a visit.Present to receive the delegation at Rinas airport were Interior Ministry senior officials. The German delegation was received by Interior Minister Agron Musaraj. Musaraj referred to Albania's all round cooperation with the land of Bavaria and stressed that bilateral cooperation would help a great deal to fight international crime. Rogensburger expressed once again the wish to help Albania with the consolidation of democracy. He said that aid and cooperation with the Albanian police woukd increase. With the mediation of the "Hans Zaidel" Foundation, the visit of the Bavarian delegation continued with talks between the German delegation and Albanian one, headed by the Interior deputy minister, Major-General Agim Shehu. The two sides discussed aid and cooperation between the two police institutions. The Bavarian delegation also visited the Police Academy in Tirana. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] ALBANIAN YOUTHS TO ATTEND STUDIES IN BULGARIATIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)-By P.Shuteriqi, The government of the Republic of Bulgaria reported recently that, in implementation of the Protocol of Cooperation between the Albanian and Bulgarian Ministries of Education, Bulgaria has accorded 22 university scholarships to Albania.It is the second successive year the Bulgarian state is offering the same number of scholarships to Albanian youths. The first contingent is now attending higher school in economy, business, jurisprudence, language, literature and other subjects in Bulgaria, Irma Halimi, inspector at the Foreign department of the Ministry of Education reports.jz/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] COURSE FOR FRENCH LANGUAGE TEACHERSTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)-By P. Shuteriqi, The embassy of the French Republic in Tirana will accord 14 one-month qualification scholarships for the French language teachers, in the framework of the France-Albania Cooperation programme on Education.The group, to leave for France soon, includes teachers of this language in eight year and secondary schools from several districts of the country as well as teachers of five foreign language schools. This training course is part of the aid provided by the French embassy, especially its linguistic sector, headed by Mr. Alain Zorzouti, for the further qualification of the Albanian teachers of this language. jz/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HAILS MERITED VICTORY OF PRESIDENT YELTSINTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)- The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, on Thursday hailed the merited victory of President Yeltsin, a victory which not only guarantees Russia's development on the road of democracy and market economy but also constitutes an important factor for the whole Europe and democratic forces, the President's Press and Information office reports. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS BAVARIAN SECRETARY OF STATE OF INTERIORTIRANA, JULY 4 (ATA)- The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received on Thursday the Bavarian Secretary of State of the Interior, Herman Rogensburger.Berisha asked Mr. Rogensburger to convey his thankfulness to the Federal Minister of Economy and chairman of the Social Christian Union Party, Mr. Teo Vajgel, who was among the first to send cordial greetings on the historic victory of the Democratic Party in the honest and free elections of May 26. Berisha expressed gratefulness on Premier Stoibel's engagement in strengthening friendship and expanding cooperation between Albania and Bavaria in all fields. Berisha appreciated Rogensburger's visit to establish cooperation in the fight against criminality, qualify the police staff, exchange information and furnish it with materials. Berisha said that:"We are determined and open to fight any kind of illegal traffic, to diminish crime. We consider very important the creation of a joint commission between Bavaria and Albania in these fields. Rogensburger, pointing to the low level of criminality in Albania, appreciated the engagement and effectiveness of a new democratic police. He expressed readiness to materialise cooperation in fighting crime in all fields. Berisha, referring to the May 26 election, stressed that:"They were free and honest and we corrected with determination the limited number of irregularities". Rogensburger congratulated President Berisha on the fair elections of May 26 and said that also in Germany, where there is a long democratic tradition, when irregularities of this kind are encountered, the elections are repeated where irregularities are noticed.a.ke/kled/lm/sh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |