ATA News from Albania, 96-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN-ROMANIAN TIES TO BE PROMOTED IN FUTURE

[02] APPEALS COURT POSTPONES HEARING OF EX-COMMUNIST OFFICIALS

[03] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES CREDIT AGREEMENT TO RECONSTRUCT RINAS AIRPORT

[04] NATIONAL FRONT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN REPLACES HIS LEADER IN PARLIAMENT

[05] ALBANIAN-ROMANIAN TIES TO BE PROMOTED IN FUTURE

[06] PRIME MINISTER SUBMITS GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO PARLIAMENT

[07] PRESS REVIEW

[08] SEVEN NON PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES AND SP IN A ROUND TABLE

[01] ALBANIAN-ROMANIAN TIES TO BE PROMOTED IN FUTURE

Wishing Shehu success for his new post of prime minister and foreign minister, Miku briefed him on the good level of Albanian-Romanian relationships.

Shehu and Miku focused also on other issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and expressed their convictions that Albanian-Romanian relations will be promoted in the future. ssh/jz/ak/sh/

[02] APPEALS COURT POSTPONES HEARING OF EX-COMMUNIST OFFICIALS

The penal jury presided over by its judge Prel Martini postponed yesterday's legal proceedings saying that the prosecutor of the case was not present.

The defence lawyers of the accused, Aranit Cela, Zylyftar Ramizi and Rrapi Mino, who were sentenced to death penalty and Haxhi Lleshi and Manush Myftiu to life imprisonment by the Tirana Court, have appealed for this decision.

Lleshi, former chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Myftiu, former deputy prime minister and head of the Central Commission of Expulsion and Internment, Cela, former chairman of the Supreme Court and commission member, Mino, former general prosecutor and commission member, Ramizi, former deputy interior minister have been sued by the Forum of Independent Intellectuals and accused by the Prosecutors' Office for the penal offences of crimes against humanity in complicity.

After 50 years of the communist rule in Albania, this are the first legal proceedings which tried protagonists of these crimes.

These crimes envisaged by special articles of the Penal Code are sentenced to between 15 years and death penalty. jz/ak/z/

[03] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES CREDIT AGREEMENT TO RECONSTRUCT RINAS AIRPORT

The signing of this agreement defines the way how to finance the project which is undertaken by SIEMENS, a well-known German firm.

This credit has been first given as a commercial credit. The German government gave a soft credit worth 48 million Marks to the Albania Bank in the framework of bilateral cooperation payable after 40-year period with a grace period of 16 years.

Siemens will reconstruct the runway, lanes and upgrade the airport building. It will also install new lighting and navigation equipment.

The Albanian parliament also approved three decrees of the President of the Republic on some changes and supplements to the laws on customs tariffs, and on value added tax. jz/ak/Z/

[04] NATIONAL FRONT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN REPLACES HIS LEADER IN PARLIAMENT

"We welcome and consider Professor Ermenji as the leader of our party," Selfo said to ATA.

We have called on Prof Ermenji to return at the head of his party but since the problem of the parliament was urgent we decided to replace him based on rules.

The Commission on Mandate and Immunity considered the demand of this party and accepted it. Based on the article 80 of the law on election of deputies the commission decided his replacement by Hysen Selfo.

Selfo said, "We are looking forward to seeing him here and respect him as our party leader. What will happen latter this will be decided by the party national conference."

Abaz Ermenji, head of the National Front, sent his resignation to the party National Council on June 10, 1996. But the Council rejected his resignation in an urgent meeting on June 23, 1996. kled/ak/sh/

[05] ALBANIAN-ROMANIAN TIES TO BE PROMOTED IN FUTURE

Wishing Shehu success for his new post of prime minister and foreign minister, Miku briefed him on the good level of Albanian-Romanian relationships.

Shehu and Miku focused also on other issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and expressed their convictions that Albanian-Romanian relations will be promoted in the future. ssh/jz/ak/sh/

[06] PRIME MINISTER SUBMITS GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO PARLIAMENT

The reformation of the economy has been and is a priority of the Democratic government for this legislature which will be carried out through a series of measures aiming at deepening the process of privatisation within the end of the century, guaranteeing the right of ownership to make it sacred; improving legal framework to reflect and precede social economic development, creating conditions for a financial and labour market and improving state governing in all levels by harmonising the central and local governing, Meksi said.

"To achieve these objectives it is important to have a harmonisation of fiscal policies with the monetary ones and a relatively moderated fiscal policy," Meksi said.

He pointed out three priorities of the economic policy: support and improvement of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and agro industry; stimulation of livestock development and small and medium production by boosting the branches of light and alimentary industry.

"Among the major goals of the government is the stabilisation and reduction of budget deficit which will have a social profile," Meksi said saying that "this will be carried out through an increase of income taxes and reduction of fiscal evasion."

Focusing on the major objectives of the legislative and institutional reform, Meksi said that they will continue work to complete the needed legal framework both for a democratic state and a market economy. Among the major tasks of the future program Meksi cited the drafting of a new draft constitution and the observance of approved laws.

As regards the public order, Meksi said that the main objectives of the government will be to ensure a complete security of life and property, guarantee liberty and maintain public order and law.

Focusing on improvement of local governing, he said that the present legislation will be improved and new laws and by-laws will be drafted to regulate the local government activity.

Meksi spoke about the administrative reform and fight against corruption.

"The government considers corruption as most dangerous for democracy and it is decided to wage an uncompromising fight against it and corrupted elements," Meksi said.

He stressed that the defence of the national interests will be the first duty of the defence policy, public order and security. Main objectives in the field of defence will be the preparation for the integration of the Albanian army into NATO.

Speaking about Albanian foreign policy, he said that its main objective will be increasing efforts for Albania's swift integration into the Euro-Atlantic organisations, European Union, NATO and Western European Union as well as boosting its diplomatic activity to strengthen the friendly traditional relations between Albania and the U.S., Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Turkey, Greece, England and others.

He also stressed that efforts will continue to defend the national issue of Albanians in Kosova, Macedonia and in other Albanian ethnic territories. pas/ak/f

[07] PRESS REVIEW

The paper highlights the wide active of the DP National Council under the title "The DP declares local elections programme." It carries the President's address on this occasion under the title "Deep and merited victory in the local level" and reports on the dialogue of the SP and DP experts on local elections.

Zeri i Popullit, also, writes about the round table of the political parties, under the title "To guarantee free and equal elections." Its editorial entitles "Reformation in service of the political action."

It also gives a coverage of the SP-DP dialogue entitled "Socialists ask widening of the parties' round table." On its third page it publishes "EC: Elections under our observation."

Poli i Qendres under the title "Parties' round table starts" highlights yesterday's meeting of eight parties on the dialogue about local elections. In its article "Hour of clarification" says that the renovation of the SP may be accepted even without being its alley."

Republika carries a statement of the RP Leading Committee where it refuses the Centre Pole invitation to attend a dialogue on local elections. It also publishes "The SP chairman Nano is not allowed to have an individual report in the SP Congress."

Lajmi i Dites highlights the Premier's speech in Parliament under the title "Albania will definitely part with poverty."

Rilindja entitles its editorial "Imprisoning of professors is weakness of the political power." The paper also publishes "Albanians of Kosova ask the US aid." It also carries the request of the US congress entitled "Clinton should nominate an envoy for Kosova."

Albania publishes the article "What is the real reason of 'Nano' motion?" It entitles its editorial "Kosova - the tragic file of the Balkans." It also carries the article "Soro's office in Tirana - a political office."

Meksi's speech in Parliament is also in newspaper Tribuna under the title "More investments, quicker development." It also gives a coverage of Berisha's speech in the DP National Council under the title "We have all possibilities for another landslide victory" and the article "The second motion Nano, deepens the socialists' discord."

Dita Informacion carries the articles "Blockade of the SP deputy chairmen for F. Nano" and "The great manipulators."

Koha Jone publishes "The SP 'copies' the genocide law" and "Nano's motion - his challenge for the future." It publishes the economic article "Accuses without address do not serve to the SP" and "The SP deputy chairman Pellumbi answers for the accusations of the socialist leader Nano." jz/fh/

[08] SEVEN NON PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES AND SP IN A ROUND TABLE

Besides the parties of the Centre Pole (Social Democratic, SDP and Democratic Alliance Party, DPA) which initiated the meeting, it was also attended by the Socialist Party (SP), Right Democratic Party (RDP), Christian Democratic Party (CDP), National Union Party (NUP), Agrarian Party (AP), and the Right Republican Party (RRP).

Right at the beginning of this meeting, going out of its theme, the parties began to declare whether they acknowledged or not the May 26 elections and government and gave opinions about the round table convened by the President.

The RRP chairman proposed to the meeting to agree with the idea that "the round table summoned by the President of the Republic should be called illegal and not acknowledged by them."

The CDP chairman, Zef Bushati, responding to this proposal said;"If we are to discuss this, I am leaving. The President is the highest institution and we cannot judge when he suggests to the parties to convene and discuss together."

The DAP chairman, Neritan Ceka, who headed the session said "these are parallel tables."

The SDP, DAP and RDP did not participate in the round table summoned by President Berisha.

The Republican Party, initiator of the last round table, through a statement gave its reasons for not attending the meeting.

The SP deputy chairman, Namik Dokle, said he liked all round tables. "We will attend all bilateral and multilateral tables summoned by political parties" said Dokle.

Only after two hours the parties decided to discuss in this meeting about the "ensuring of free and correct elections."

At the end the parties issued a statement which was not accepted by CDP, in regard to May 26 elections. While the RDP and RRP did not agree the topic which spoke on the abrogation of the "Antigenocide" law and proposed its reconsideration.

The next meeting of this table is to be held on July 29, in the CDP headquarter. fh/sh/

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

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