ATA News from Albania (96-07-09)

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS LEAVE FOR GERMANY

[02] PARLIAMENT APPROVES TEMPORARILY REGULATION AMENDMENTS

[03] SP STATEMENT CANNOT COVER UP DIVERGENCY IN ITS BOSOM

[04] REPUBLICAN PARTY AGREES TO PARTICIPATE IN DP NEW GOVERNMENT

[05] ALBANIA, GREECE TIES ARE VERY GOOD BUT GREEK LOBBY IN U.S. WANTS COMMUNISTS IN POWER IN ALBANIA -Berisha

[06] MEETING OF SP STEERING COMMITTEE IN ALBANIAN PRESS

[07] HEAD OF ALBANIAN DELEGATION ADDRESSES OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

[08] NATIONAL FRONT TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNTRY'S CO-GOVERNING

[09] PARLIAMENT COMPLETES LAW ON PRIVATISATION OF STATE-OWNED DWELLINGS

[10] HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION VISITS ALBANIA

[01] ALBANIAN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS LEAVE FOR GERMANY

Defence Minister Safet Zhulali, Chief of the Army General Staff general Sheme Kosova and other high ranking officials of this ministry and the German Ambassador in Tirana Mr. Disdorm attended the ceremony organised in this occasion.

Zhulali greeted the troops on behalf of Albanian President and Army's Commander in Chief Sali Berisha. He said that the Albanian Army is moving a step forward in its new mission, in its participation in the peacekeeping activities.

Zhulali called Albania's participation in the IFOR forces a continuity in the contribution Albania is offering for peace and stability in the region. The participation of an Albanian company in these forces is a great achievement of the democratic developments of democratic Albania and its total transformation of the Albanian army.

He thanked the German government and Defence Minister Ruehe. Then speaking to the troops, Zhulali said: "You are going for the final training to Germany, Albania's most important friend."

Albania's participation in such missions is result of freedom and democracy, Zhulali said.

The peacekeeping forces said they would fulfill their duty and represent the Albanian army with devotion and showing high spirit of responsibility. kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] PARLIAMENT APPROVES TEMPORARILY REGULATION AMENDMENTS

Monday's draft decision was passed with 92 votes for (none against, 9 abstentions, 10 not present in the voting) and was thought to realise some changes in the existing regulation.These completion and corrections will serve the work of People's Assembly till a complete regulation is approved.

This draft regulation, after being scrutinised by its Regulation Commission will be presented to the deputies for approval in a most appropriate time.

These changes and supplements concern the discussions' time duration, formation of parliamentarian groups, interpellation, questions, how to arrange discussions in principle, how to present and scrutinise the amendments, coordination of government-parliament relations through a parliamentarian representative and others.

At the end of the session, Chairman of the People's Assembly Pjeter Arbnori, read a greeting of a group of deputies of Republic of Kosova directed to the newly elected Albanian Parliament. Kosova deputies congratulate Albanian Parliament on successful proceedings. kled/fh/Z./

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] SP STATEMENT CANNOT COVER UP DIVERGENCY IN ITS BOSOM

Divergencies among the SP ranks, despite a statement of the SPA General Steering Committee to cover them up, increased further with Fatos Nano declining to take part in drafting the SPA Congress report after failure to approve his motion in principle.

"Given that the main task the SP chairman had charged me with, to approve in principle his motion addressed to the General Steering Committee, was not realised, I acted according to his authorisation, and Fatos Nano officially pulls out of the working group for drafting the political report of the Congress," Pandeli Majko, chosen by the jailed SP chairman Nano to represent him, said after the meeting of the SP General Steering Committee on Monday.

Meanwhile, point 2 of the press release, issued after the meeting, says that the SPA Steering Committee decided "to approve the draft-theses of the Political report of the Congress and the working group for its preparation, headed by SP chairman Nano.

"I believe that the committee also positively considered the motion of the SP chairman as an effort to give a new impulse to the SP. This, I think, was also attained in the meeting. Although several points of the motion were rejected, those that had mainly to do with the party's renovation were at the center of the debate," SP deputy chairman Ilir Meta said objecting Majko's opinion.

"I hold there is no reason for the SP chairman to withdraw from the working group, as you say, because his initiative was taken into consideration, " Meta added, explaining that several of the points rejected included: the early call of the Congress, the suspension of the practice of the executive presidency functioning as the four deputy chairmen and the secretary have taken no decision outside the SP presidency, that of including several intellectuals as members of the SP General Steering Committee and other points.

"In the congress the SP, member of this committee Leontjev Cuci said, will analyse the political situation, bearing in mind the beginning of the reformation process".

The press release reports that the SPA Congress will convene on August 24-25, 1996. According to a the SP General Steering Committee, alongside analyses, the district leading forums will be elected and the delegates to the Congress be completed from August 1 to 15.

"The Presidency will be the same, the Congress will be called on August 24-25, and the delegates will be completed. This is what I know," the SP deputy-chairman, Luan Hajdaraga, said while getting into his car, irritated by the conclusion of the meeting. Hajdaraga had asked the convention of a new congress with new delegates before the local government elections.

"The meeting was constructive, the Congress was fixed at an appropriate date, so that the whole SP be embraced in this new phase of its renovation, " Meta said after the meeting which ended at about 22.00. "I appreciate the fact that there is time to carry out elections at all party's levels until the Congress".

This decision was a compromise between Nano's demand for an early congress on July 26-27 and the delegates of the first phase gathered on March 23-24. The percentage of the new participants will be defined as instructed and announced by the SP branches," said Meta.

The duty of the Secretary General, Gramoz Ruci, according to Meta, was not considered appropriate to be replaced and his powers were transferred to Namik Dokle.

"I don't think there is reason for the Steering Committee to be split especially after today's meeting," said Meta, who tried to rule out the possibility of Nano's withdrawal declared by Majko.

"This debate has nothing in common with the insinuations of the DP diversionist propaganda on the alleged SP split," the press release says.

The Congress, according to the release, will analyse the four year performance of the Party, especially under the crisis situation following the May 26 electoral campaign. It will carry out changes to the political documents, progranmme and status and the election of the SP leading bodies.

According to Meta the meeting "has the proportions of a real congress", while one of the General Leading Commission members, angry because of the failure to approve the motion, speaking of the deputy chairmen said: "they all tried to save their own skin, I don't know whether the slogan "We love Fatos Nano" is meaningful. kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] REPUBLICAN PARTY AGREES TO PARTICIPATE IN DP NEW GOVERNMENT

In his speech, Republican chairman Sabri Godo did not pronounce himself on the DP invitation to take part in the country's governing in order not to influence on the council.

While the deputy chairman Mediu and Secretary General Mingomataj expressed themselves in favour of participation in the new government. Mingomataj considered the participation of the Republicans in the government worthier than in the parliament.

The two parties, the DP and the RP, are expected to discuss the level of cooperation in the new government, soon.

The Republican Party had in the previous Meksi cabinet, created on April 10,1992, the portfolio of the transport Minister, but it withdrew a year later in order to be in opposition with the Democratic Party government.

The participation of the Republican Party in the new government, which is expected to be introduced this week, is an expression of DP's efforts to create a coalition government, on a broader basis. kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ALBANIA, GREECE TIES ARE VERY GOOD BUT GREEK LOBBY IN U.S. WANTS COMMUNISTS IN POWER IN ALBANIA -Berisha

Sali Berisha, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Salzburg, referred to the elections in Albania and said that the scheme of the Greek Lobby extremists had intended the use of paramilitary groups as the surest means.

"In case of failure they had intended falsification of protocols which were distributed a day ahead of the elections and as the last attempt the boycott of the polls four hours before the vote counting," said Berisha adding that through these acts they had aimed at pushing Albanians to a civil war.

The reporters questions and interest in the news conference focused on the political situation and elections in Albania, the Albanian new government, its programme and priorities.

Greek sources have already made public charges that nationalist extremists of the Greek lobby in the U.S. finance the MAVI Greece terrorist organisation.

Precisely MAVI has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack on a military barrack in Peshkepi, Southeastern Albania bordering Greece, on April 10, 1994.

Two Albanian militaries were killed and three others wounded in this attack.kled/pas/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] MEETING OF SP STEERING COMMITTEE IN ALBANIAN PRESS

Rilindja Demokratike entitles its editorial "Nano's dissimulation." The SP in front of the reformation challenge should choose between Nano's and Pellumbi's reformation, it says.

It also publishes the article "Nano's motion rejected." Nano revenges with his resignation. Under the headline "Good bye, through a fax, from Nigeria" it writes about the SP Secretary General Gramos Ruci's resignation.

Zeri i Popullit carries a complete chronicle of Monday's meeting. Under the headline "Meeting of the SP Steering Committee" it writes "Debate, a good sign of reformation and emancipation." The meeting approves August 24-25 the date of the SP Congress, the report's thesis, party's program and statute. It calls the resignation of the SP Secretary General Gramos Ruci a civilised action.

Republika writes "The SP a problem set for solution." It is not still understood why was this time chosen for the debate, it says.

Under the headline "The meeting of socialists ends with two votes 'against'" the Centre Pole publishes the article "The SP finds compromise but 'loses' Nano." Compromise; the Congress on August 24; new delegates, the steering committee continues to lead, no intellectual in the leadership, no obligatory reports for the deputy chairmen,it writes.

"The SP - a worn-out boat ready to capsize" writes Tribuna. After Ruci many others have confirmed to quit from the SP.

Lajmi i Dites carries "The SP Secretary General resigns."

Koha Jone writes "The leading Committee avoids Nano's motion." Nano resigns from the preparatory group of the political report of the congress. On August 24-26 the Socialist congress.

"Deputy chairmen block again Nano and his motion" writes Dita Informacion. It also carries the article "A battle which is not yet finished" regarding the chronicle of Monday's meeting of the SP.

"What season does Ruci's flee forecasts for the SP?" asks the Sindikalisti newspaper. Socialists in their competition against their "spiritual father" the paper says.

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the article "The SP Committee rejects Nano's motion" where it says that the SP Committee does not change, Congress in August, New delegates should be summoned. It also carries two declarations of Majko and Meta after the meeting. kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] HEAD OF ALBANIAN DELEGATION ADDRESSES OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

The discussions were focused on the situation in former Yugoslavia and were opened by the OSCE mission chief in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert Frowick, who briefed the session on the situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina and the work of the mission for organisation, supervising and monitoring of first post-war elections there.

Pollo congratulated Ambassador Frowick on the report and all the work of the mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He expressed the readiness of the Albanian parliament to contribute to this monitoring mission.

Pollo focused on the Kosova problem. Referring to the draft resolution submitted to the Assembly by 23 parliamentarians including four members of the Albanian delegation, Pollo invited the hall to vote in favor of this resolution which is another clearly political message this forum sent to Belgrade on the situation in former Yugoslavia and especially in Kosova.

He dwelt at length on the severe repression exerted against Albanians in Kosova, the total negation of their political, national and human rights.

Pollo said that there will be no lasting peace and solution to the crisis in former Yugoslavia if the Kosova problem is not considered urgently and seriously in order to find a right solution through an unconditional dialogue between the legitimate leadership of Albanians in Kosova and Belgrade with the mediation of a third party.

After the discussion the resolution on former-Yugoslavia was approved with a majority of votes.

This resolution includes a number of paragraphs on the situation in Kosova which express the regret for the violation of human rights in former- Yugoslavia and the increasingly tense situation they have brought about especially in Kosova.

The resolution blamed the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic for this situation. It expressed, among others, the great concern about the attacks and killings in Kosova in April this year and appreciated the opening of a U.S. information office in Pristina which will contribute to attract attention to the region and ease the possibility of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. kei/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] NATIONAL FRONT TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNTRY'S CO-GOVERNING

"The interest of the country, nation and promotion of democracy urges a cooperation in government," Hysen Selfo defined the formula found after the disputed debate in the party National General Council on a participation in government together with the Democratic party (DP).

Balli Kombetar thinks that it can give a governmental contribution regarding its program on ownership, emigration, national issue and support for the politically persecuted strata.

Selfo defined its party as a right-wing nationalist democratic party different from chauvinist nationalists and said that the party leading council will consider a mixed parliamentary group together with the Republic party.

"A mixed parliamentary group is necessary for us to be represented as a parliamentary group," he said.

Selfo added: "Ermenji has been and will be the head of the Balli Kombetar."

He referred to the leader of the party Abaz Ermenji who offered his resignation after the elections of May 26 and left for France, where he has stayed during the time of communist dictatorship in Albania.

Selfo reiterated the demand for Ermenji's return to Albania.

"We have urged Abaz Ermenji to return and are looking forward to seeing him," he said. kei/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PARLIAMENT COMPLETES LAW ON PRIVATISATION OF STATE-OWNED DWELLINGS

The decrees give a solution to citizens which were not included in the category of privatisation.

The decree on examining the non-privatised state-owned dwellings which was approved today is related to the administration and maintenance of the non-privatised dwellings. A certain percentage of flats which for justified reasons, such as judicial conflicts, refugees' flats, were not privatised according to the law on privatisation of state-owned dwellings issued in 1992, were included in this decree.

According to this decree, the administration of these dwellings was put under the control of local government and not under the National Dwelling Institution. The rent will be cashed to the account of municipalities or communes which will also be responsible for their maintenance.

A number of decrees of the President of Republic which complete, clarify and supplement some laws were put on the table.

The parliament also approved the decree on exclusion of machineries and technological equipment used to clean the Tirana city from customs tariffs.

The decree on competencies and determining of wages which was approved today gives greater competencies for wage increase to those state enterprises (particularly economic enterprises of chromium, oil, energy), which record a production increase and profits.

The legal framework on registration of banks as anonymous associations is completed with the approval of the decree on a supplement to the law on transformation of state-owned trade banks in trade companies and their privatisation. ssh/kei/ak//k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION VISITS ALBANIA

She has brought medical equipment for the Gjormi medical centre, Kurbin, which will be inaugurated on Thursday.

Graff said to ATA that her motto is the humanitarian aid for the rural areas in Albania, rehabilitation of schools and construction of health centres in areas with low economic standards.

The association motto is "Aid to help oneself."

Albania-Austria Partnership Association was founded in 1992 by Graff. It has allocated 200 million schillings or about 2 million dollars. The aid is provided by private donors in Austria, churches, schools and universities in Austria. The association has developed four rehabilitation projects so far. jz/ak/k

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

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