ATA News from Albania (96-07-12)

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] REPUBLICAN LEADER MEETS HEAD OF BUNDESTAG FOREIGN COMMISSION

[02] PRESIDENT YELTSIN AWARDS ALBANIAN POET AND TRANSLATOR

[03] A GOVERNMENT BELONGING TO ALL NOT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE - Primer - Interview of Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi with the ATA journalist Rafael Floqi -

[04] LEFT-WING LEADERS TO BE SUMMONED IN PROSECUTORS' OFFICE

[05] DELEGATION OF GERMAN BANK KFW IN KAVAJA

[06] ARBNORI MEETS CHAIRMAN OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG FOREIGN POLICY COMMISSION

[07] PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC SWEARS IN NEW CABINET

[01] REPUBLICAN LEADER MEETS HEAD OF BUNDESTAG FOREIGN COMMISSION

The talks focused on present problems in Albania and Albania's cooperation with Europe and the United States in all fields. They talked about a free dialogue between the political forces in Albania and the solution of present political problems which are also related to resolutions of different European structures and the U.S. position. ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] PRESIDENT YELTSIN AWARDS ALBANIAN POET AND TRANSLATOR

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Tirana, Victor Neruiballo, handed to Bllaci the award with the motivation "for a fruitful activity in translating the Russian literature into Albanian and for offering a great help in the Albanian-Russian cultural relations."

Neruiballo in his speech stressed the fact that "the great cultural inheritance of great writers like Essenin, Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoyevski, Turgenev and others are brought with love and art for the present and future Albanian generations.

Chairman of the Albanian Literature and Artists' League Bardhyl Londo, said that "Russian genius found a real personality of the Albanian letters at Bllaci, devotion and talent. His translations are very much like the original works of Pushkin, Lermontov, Essenin and Turgenev."

The Russian land is lucky to have given birth to such names and these names are lucky to find in Albanian a translator of calibre like Bllaci.

Bllaci has translated some 20 Russian and Western authors, from Pushkin to Brodsky. He has translated two novels by Turgenev and Essenin's rhymes and poems. He is also well-known for the translation of Goethe, Byron and Heine.

Bllaci is one of the Albanian writers who has suffered a long sentence in jail during the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. kei/fh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] A GOVERNMENT BELONGING TO ALL NOT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE - Primer - Interview of Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi with the ATA journalist Rafael Floqi -

A: The first government belonged to the transition period, the second government is that of the completion of this transition period in Albania in a state of a free market economy, in a democratic state, in a rule of law with a complete institutional and legal framework.

Q: Why did you change the structure of the government? A: This was the most appropriate moment for changes in government, along with total changes in the Democratic party, in the DP National Council, its Board and election of deputies. Not only in Albania, but everywhere in the world there is a cycle of governmental changes in order to have new faces in power who will work with new energies and give a new hall-mark to continuous changes of the country.

Q: Which is the role of new ministries in the new cabinet? A: The new cabinet will have a Ministry of Privatisation. This is created to help accelerate the rates of privatisation and ease the Ministry of Finance from functions which changed its specific nature.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research seems like a mechanical union between the Committee of Science and Technology and relevant directories of the previous Ministry of Education, but in fact it is a solution being met in the majority of European and modern countries which create a closer link between the higher education and scientific researches.

Regarding the Minister without portfolio I want to add that all countries in general have such a minister next to the Prime Minister who has special tasks to supervise agencies or directorates general and interministerial committees which are under the dependence of the Council of Ministers and need to be supervised by a government member.

Q: Have you followed the suit of any foreign country in appointing a vice prime minister and secretary of state? A: Regarding the post of vice prime minister not all the governments have such a post in general. We, as a government of a ruling party which has not reached a coalition under a common program envisaging the representation of all parties, have a vice prime minister who carries out the task of the prime minister in his absence and assists him in his work as happens in the majority of modern countries.

The eight secretaries of state will either have a special function in a ministry or play the role of a secretary of state who will be a parliamentarian trying to establish a better link between the parliament and relevant ministry such as the Secretary of State for Defence. But being too close to the minister than vice ministers, they have closer relations with the head of the Council of Ministers than the vice ministers themselves. They cover special important sectors in ministry or government such as local government, tourism, foreign economic relations, youth and women's affairs, transport and sports. Vice ministers will also exist besides them as in every government.

Q: The Meksi government 2 has also some ministers who have been in the first cabinet. Do you think that they have been the most successful or this is your preference? A: There are many conditions or reasons which determine the nomination of persons to the post of ministers. There are fields in which continuation is indispensable. I would think that all the ministers have been successful since they have been elected deputies and I want to thank those former ministers who after a four, three or two- year mandate are no more government or parliament members. This is a feature of democracy which should be understood by all. No-one can hold a permanent post, neither I.

Q: Which are the main directions of the government program to be announced next week?

A: The main directions of the government will be the major axes of the program of the Democratic party: fast rates of economic development and welfare, restitution of ownership, privatisation, development of economic and human infrastructure, continuous opening to Europe, national issue and other priorities.

Q: How do you see the participation of other parties in the government?

A: Teodor Laco, of the Social Democratic Union Party, Arian Madhi, Secretary of Council of Ministers and Arian Babameto Secretary of State for Transports, both of the Republican Party, are having the function of ministers. There will also be deputy ministers from these and other parties such as the Christian Democratic Party, which shows the existence of common interests in Albania's reformation. This shows that the DP is open towards other political forces.

Q: How do you consider the presence of four women in your new cabinet?

A: Women were also present in the previous cabinet. The DP Parliamentary Group and the DP National Council have also increased women's participation as they are a real force in the Albanian society. We have chosen those women who have been distinguished in their activity and are able to face better than others the duties, be they not so specific, as those related to women or youth's affairs.

Q: Many decisions and draft laws have been approved during your first mandate. Do you feel yourself like a lawyer? A: I have been engaged in working out laws in the Albanian parliament while in opposition during 1991 and later as a Premier. There are laws and government decisions compiled by me as the Premier and naturally by my staff. But to be a lawyer means to have a more complete juridical formation than I have.

Q: What would be the first demand you would address to your new cabinet in the first meeting?

A: My first demand is: high working rates, iron-like discipline and strict fulfillment of laws. I would like all Albanians feel equal in front of the government and think that the government belongs to all Albanians and not to certain people. pas/ak/fh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] LEFT-WING LEADERS TO BE SUMMONED IN PROSECUTORS' OFFICE

Ndre Legisi, Socialist, will be questioned first.

The competent bodies refused to allow a gathering in the Skenderbeg square and set another place for it which was ignored by the left-wing parties and their leaders gathered to the square without taking into consideration the continuous calls of the public order bodies.

The gathering was organised in protest of the outcomes of the parliamentary elections of May 26, 1996 in which the Democratic party won the majority.

10 SP activists are under legal proceedings for this illegal gathering and are expected to be sentenced to three months in prison. kei/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] DELEGATION OF GERMAN BANK KFW IN KAVAJA

Chairman of the Council of the District Ibrahim Bardhi received the delegation with the German firm "Hidroplan" which is carrying out the works.

The German government has offered a considerable fund for the improvement of the infrastructure of three Albanian districts. Kavaja has taken 50 per cent of this fund. During the first phase were spent DM 5 million, while during the second phase which is continuing will be used another DM 5 million.

The German delegation talked about cooperation in two other new projects one for the furnishing with running water for some villages and another in the sewage system. The last one will take DM 5 million.

By the end of the next week another German commission which will discuss in the ways and funds in improvement of running water system is expected to arrive in Kavaja. ake/jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ARBNORI MEETS CHAIRMAN OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG FOREIGN POLICY COMMISSION

Albanian Speaker of Parliament Pjeter Arbnori received on Friday the chairman of the German Bundestag Foreign Policy Commission, Karls Heins Hornhues.

The meeting concentrated on bilateral cooperation, elections in Albania as well as on the situation and developments in the region, in which special attention will be devoted to the Kosova issue.

Arbnori spoke of the four year achievements of the democratic governing, the efforts to build the rule of law and the parliament's work to create a more contemporary legislation.

Arbnori dwelt on the destructive role and attitude of the opposition during the approval of many important laws and its stand towards the latest parliamentary elections. He also mentioned "the confusion it has brought about among several international organisations regarding the May 26 elections".

Arbnori stressed the stand of the Albanian state for the correct solution of the Kosova issue, in favour of peace and stability in the Balkans, against changing borders through violence and for negotiations in the presence of a third side.

Favouring the Albanian state position, Hournhues reaffirmed the already known German stand for the correct solution of the Albanian issue in former Yugoslavia which would contribute to peace and stability in the region.

This is the first visit to Albania of the German senior parliamentarian, CDU member, during which he will meet with President of the Republic Sali Berisha and representatives of various Albanian parties. kei/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC SWEARS IN NEW CABINET

Berisha appreciated the performance of the previous government and wished the new government successes in its very important task as regards reforms, their completion and Albania's integration into Europe.

"I am convinced that this government will successfully implement the programmes the coalition parties unfolded before the Albanian electorate," said Berisha.

"This is a government which fully responds to the voters' aspirations who on May 26 voted for the further acceleration and promotion of reforms," said Berisha.

"They voted for Albania's integration in Europe. May 26 was a historic day for the Albanians and Albania."

Speaking of the importance of this day and the latest efforts to reform the Socialist Party, the Albanian major opposition party, which has not recognised the outcome of elections, Berisha said:

"May 26 was a historic day because it separated Albania once and for all from the past and led it towards the West. But I want to assure you that this loss was also historic for the Albanian left".

The SP has recently embarked on a process in search of reformation after a motion of the chairman of this party, Fatos Nano. The motion envisaged, besides the Socialist Party's renovation, changes in its stand towards Marx and final dissociation from the past of Enver Hoxha and Ramiz Alia. But this process has been carried out more in the form of a clans' war within the party's leadership, without changing its base.

"The loss in elections provided the SP with the possibility of a genuine revival, renovation and effort, which today are real and which I appreciate," said Berisha.

Afterwards, addressing reporters and the new ministers on the need of an information transparence, Berisha said: "We, in cooperation with the two reporters' associations, will approve the Act of information so that these government members have full transparence towards you".

The new government is made up of 16 ministers, nine of whom are new, and eight secretaries of state, five of whom assume high posts for the first time. The government includes four women, two ministers and two secretaries of state.

"The DP programme is more advanced than the previous one. It which sets higher duties and demands, therefore our engagement will respond to it," Premier Aleksander Meksi said after the ceremony.

Next week the government will submit its programme to parliament to get the confidence vote.

"The new government, the new parliament and the DP after the elections, are able to meet all their commitments to their electorate, in the form of the DP programme, which is the basis of the government programme, Meksi added.

"The duty of the deputy Premier and Foreign Minister makes me highly responsible for the realisation of the Democratic Party programme, which intends the materialisation of our aspirations fro integration in the European structures," said DP chairman Tritan Shehu, 47, who is also charged with the above duties.

"My aim will be to further promote the changes taking place during the last four years, which can preserve the continuity of reform in the field of privatisation and banking system as a whole, Ridvan Bode, 37, Finance Minister vowed.

"The duty of the Interior Minister is a great political and civic obligation, a daily obligation," said Interior Minister Halit Shamata, 42. I will aim the consolidation of the institution of the Interior Ministry so that it realises one of the main duties, the guarantee of human rights and freedoms, making no compromise with the crime of all kinds and forms".

The new government has an average age of 44.

The oldest minister is Teodor Laco, 63. Roza Pati, 31, the secretary of State for the Youth and Women, is the youngest. s.sh/kled/lm/sh/

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

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