ATA News from Albania 96-08-21

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] MINE VICTIMS AND SAPPERS TO BE COMMEMORATED IN DURRES

[02] INTERIOR MINISTER RECEIVES CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF CZECH REPUBLIC IN TIRANA

[03] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES UNFPA REPRESENTATIVE IN TIRANA

[04] STRONG DEBATES ON AMENDMENTS TO SP STATUTE

[05] SP SHOULD EXCLUDE SOME LEADERS TO REALISE ITS RENOVATION - Agolli

[06] MINE VICTIMS AND SAPPERS TO BE COMMEMORATED IN DURRES

[07] INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON ALBANIAN LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND CULTURE CONTINUES

[08] SP LEADER IN PHOTO WITH SUPER KILLER

[09] PRESS REVIEW

[10] NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER FOR ALBANIAN DIPLOMACY

[11] NEWS CONFERENCE BY ALBANIAN PRESIDENT - SUMMARY

[12] "DECREE ON PERMANENT ELECTION COMMISSION IS NOT A CHALLENGE FOR THE LEFT PARTIES" - Berisha

[13] "DP IS COMPLETELY A PRO-WESTERN FORCE" - Berisha

[01] MINE VICTIMS AND SAPPERS TO BE COMMEMORATED IN DURRES

This activity under the sounds of classical music will organise the elevation of the flag of the Anitimine Committee and those of Albania, Germany and Italy. This because some sappers of these countries after the end of World War Two participated in sapping and died in Durresi by the mines planted by the German army in 1943.

"There are some 80-100 million mines planted in the world today, that is why our activity aims to make sensible the social opinion in Albania and outside it, to put relations with similar organisations in the world, to give our message, a great love for man", said chairman of this Committee for Durres, Besnik Alibali.

Two portraits of children, killed by after-war mines in 1989 will also be exposed in this activity. Close to the flags will be put three vases brought from Germany, Italy and Maminas, Durres, the place where the first Albanian sapper Panajot Haxhimihali was killed.

Tens of empty vases bearing the names of different countries of the world like US, England, France, Spain, Israel, Italy, Algeria and others, where have been recently planted bombs by terrorists and have caused victims will be placed close to them.

Over these vases will be written "Halt to terrorism, no to bombs and mines." jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] INTERIOR MINISTER RECEIVES CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF CZECH REPUBLIC IN TIRANA

Sedlak congratulated Shamata on his important post of Interior Minister and expressed his readiness to strengthen bilateral contacts.

Shamata, on his part, promised to handle to the Czechs a cooperation project in the field of the fight against organised crime and illegal drug trafficking.

The meeting also discussed other problems of bilateral interest. ssh/kei/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES UNFPA REPRESENTATIVE IN TIRANA

"The cooperation with Albanian government will be very efficacious during the four years to come, because a completed legislation already exists in Albania", pointed out Dr.Sieben.

Shehu, after thanking him for the cooperation with the UNDP, stressed the fact that the opening of an UNFPA office in Tirana (because its activity will also cover other countries in the region), is an estimation for Albania which has successfully surpassed the 50-year communist self- isolation, and gives a priority to the structures of the UN. /s.sh./JZ/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] STRONG DEBATES ON AMENDMENTS TO SP STATUTE

"Fatos Nano, (the imprisoned SP leader), will not be able to lead the party if he is reelected chairman, while in jail," said a member of the GLC.

The meeting discussed the most important documents which will be presented to the congress: a political report, a report of programme amendments and a report for statute amendments.

The report had scrapped the SP chairman resignation, who is in jail for corruption and falsification of documents and abuse of office, but hailed the role of his motion and messages which "revived the debate inside the party."

The SP Presidency has rejected in a previous meeting Nano's motion which has caused a split inside the SP.

Namik Dokle the SP deputy chairman said "we approved to part, once and forever, from Marx's references as a theoretical source and the demagogy of the dictatorial system of Enver Hoxha and Ramiz Alia."

SP has been hardly attacked by the media and the right wing parties for the presence of Marx in its programme and for failing to criticise the communist dictatorship.

Asked by journalists if another report (prepared by Nano) would be presented to the congress Dokle said: "Every other document cannot be called a report of the SPLGC."

He also said that "the second phase will have not many new delegates."jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] SP SHOULD EXCLUDE SOME LEADERS TO REALISE ITS RENOVATION - Agolli

The meeting discussed about the report of the SP presidency which will be presented in the second stage of the second SP Congress.

"If the SP wants to be a European party, its intellectual elite should be renovated with new ideas and then lead the party and the masses. This is very difficult on our conditions, because intolerance as a mentality of the past is present and we could not triumph over ourselves" said Agolli.

Agolli has always cherished the idea of an inside reformation of the SP. He declared to the tenth PLA Congress delegates where it changed its name into SP that "they would never change." jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] MINE VICTIMS AND SAPPERS TO BE COMMEMORATED IN DURRES

This activity under the sounds of classical music will organise the elevation of the flag of the Anitimine Committee and those of Albania, Germany and Italy. This because some sappers of these countries after the end of World War Two participated in sapping and died in Durresi by the mines planted by the German army in 1943.

"There are some 80-100 million mines planted in the world today, that is why our activity aims to make sensible the social opinion in Albania and outside it, to put relations with similar organisations in the world, to give our message, a great love for man", said chairman of this Committee for Durres, Besnik Alibali.

Two portraits of children, killed by after-war mines in 1989 will also be exposed in this activity. Close to the flags will be put three vases brought from Germany, Italy and Maminas, Durres, the place where the first Albanian sapper Panajot Haxhimihali was killed.jz/fh/ Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON ALBANIAN LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND CULTURE CONTINUES

Courses on Albanian language, for foreign scholars began at the first day of the seminar. They also attended the article entitled "Albanian Literature today", by Prof.Dr. Sabri Hamiti from Kosova.

Dr. Seit Mancaku read in the afternoon an article which treated relations of the Albanian language with ancient Greek.

Prof. Dr. Bahri Beci read his article on the dialectical structures and Dr. Xhelat Ylli read "A view on the Slavic toponymy in Albanian."

The article "Poetry of Bilal Xhaferi", was read by Prof.Dr. Sabri Mehmeti, from Kosova. The seminar continues. /eva/mt./E/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] SP LEADER IN PHOTO WITH SUPER KILLER

The photo, where the three are shoulder to shoulder, was taken some time ago in Tirana jail where all the three were suffering their punishment, says "Albania."

Their relations were deconspired during the last election campaign when Kulla exercised pressure on the electorate to vote for the SP, concludes the paper.

Nehat Kulla is hunted down by the police for killing on August 12, two brothers, policemen, Besim and Gezim Neziri while patrolling in a quarter on the outskirts of Tirana. jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PRESS REVIEW

Another article highlights the debates in the meeting of the SP General Leading Committee. The paper also carries the article "Diaspora: a strong support for the democratic government" which gives a coverage of the meetings the Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali organised with representatives of the Albanian community in the U.S.

Zeri i Popullit under the title "Everything ready for the Congress" treats problems discussed in the yesterday's meeting of the SP General Leading Committee.

"Nano quietens his breathing" is an article of newspaper Albania which says that the Socialists voted in the last meeting against election of the party General Secretary by the Congress.

Koha Jone carries the article "Epidemic in Tirana. Danger for children" which informs that the number of children infected by summer epidemics has increased very much. It also covers the SP meeting under the title "Fall of the SP statute and Pellumbi."

Gazeta Shqiptare entitles its editorial "Doctors in alarm: poliomyelitis approaching." It also carries another article entitled "Quarrels for the post of the SP chairman."

Rilindja under the title "Respect of the will of Kosova people is required" which says that the UN Sub-Commission on prevention of the human rights in Geneva approved a resolution on Kosova question demanding the reestablishment of all democratic institutions, including Parliament, the judiciary and others.

Centre Pole writes "The SP: A truce before Congress" which says that Nano's thesis will not be included in the report, but the request to elect a general secretary out of the congress was also excluded as well. eva/fh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER FOR ALBANIAN DIPLOMACY

Sources from the foreign ministry told ATA that the appointment of Rakipi to the post of the deputy foreign minister along with the other deputy foreign minister Arjan Starova is made in the context of the restructuring of the Foreign Ministry.

Albert Rakipi was born in 1962 in Erseke of Kolonja, Southeast Albania. He has graduated the faculty of History-Philology of the Tirana University. In 1993-1994 Rakipi finished studies in the diplomatic Academy of the Mediterranean (Malta) and received the title Master in Diplomacy.

Before becoming a diplomat, Rakipi has been a teacher of literature, editor-in-chief of Alternativa SD and deputy director of the Press Department in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

In 1995-1996, Rakipi has been working in the Department on Europe in the Foreign Ministry. Rakipi is a member of none of the parties.

Rakipi has published an artistic book and many articles on international relations and policies. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] NEWS CONFERENCE BY ALBANIAN PRESIDENT - SUMMARY

He stressed that the government promoted the reform with its program, it lifted the state control on the prices and is preparing for a new stage of privatization, in which the privatization in the banking system is another important moment.

Berisha also appreciated the ratification by the parliament of two conventions: one on the human rights defence and the other on the prevention of tortures and maltreatments.

The President replied the questions on the coming local elections and other political developments.

Berisha pointed out that the decree on the election commission was not a challenge for the left wing parties "because I invited these parties in the talks on the election commission. I left their seats vacant in the Election Commission. The objective of the decree is the creation of a permanent commission after the experience of other western countries."

Berisha said that "I appreciate the process of reformation that the Socialist Party (SP) started because a moderate left wing is vital for the development of democracy. Albania in this case is not an exception as compared with other countries of Europe."

Focusing on the question of the SP reformation, President Berisha said that it needs genuine reformers and not those who were blessed by Ramiz Alia. The dictatorship of Alia in 1991 was more savage than that of 1989, the time when the criminals took to streets to kill, destruct and set things on fire.

"The power holders of that time should apologize to the people for the military putsch in the Officers United School and the Shkodra city massacre. The process of reformation underway in the SP is proving to be a great disillusionment," said Berisha.

"The class struggle in the SP fold," said Berisha, "reached its fiercest point, the struggle among clans. This struggle, as an expression of the class struggle, is showing that SP cannot be reformed."

"On August 24, the Albanians will see Pellumbi as a little Khrushchev, hence he will do what Nikita Khrushchev did for the Russians in 1956. Anyhow, better late than never. In the final say, Albanian stalinism will be punished."

President Berisha pointed out that the SP conferences in the districts have criticised the SP boycott of the counting of ballots in the May 26 elections, as an act of the greatest infidelity of a political force towards its electorate. Precisely this reason has made the electorate and members of the Socialist Party turn their back to the this party.

Asked of his opinion about SP's taking part or not in the local elections, President Berisha said that "the signs show that SP is going towards another boycott." Berisha considered the boycott as a phenomenon without future "which will carry SP to a self-sacrifice, to a defeat."

Further on Berisha said that nothing has changed in the allies of DP, which continues to be a pro-western force. Berisha pointed out that the relations with the U.S. and their prosperity is rather good.

Regarding Kosova, Berisha considered as very important the establishment of the U.S. Information Office in Prishtine.

"I am convinced that the dialogue in the presence of a third party is a wayout and the efforts to extremily deteriorate the situation in Kosova through the explosion of bombs are an attempt by the extreme circles of Sheshell and Arkan.

Further on Berisha spoke on some questions of the fight against crime, the housing question, employment and seasonal emigration. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] "DECREE ON PERMANENT ELECTION COMMISSION IS NOT A CHALLENGE FOR THE LEFT PARTIES" - Berisha

"If it were a challenge I would not leave the seats vacant for the socialists. You who follow political developments saw that the socialists too were present in the round table with the political parties that had participated in the local government, and in which reached some joint conclusions."

Further on Berisha mentioned declarations of socialists "on the fruitful meetings and the real results attained in them."

"On the basis of the first round table I organized the second one, because we agreed to have a permanent commission in the first round table. We also agreed in the first negotiation table to amend the law on genocide, we also agreed on the election day and precisely on the date proposed by SP leaders. There is no doubt that an election date as near as possible would be in the interest of the party in power, the Democratic Party. But taking into account the tense situation within that political force and to respect the opponent, I determined as election day the date they had demanded," said Berisha.

He stressed that despite the fact that the construction of a permanent election commission is "according to the law, an exclusive right of the President of the Republic, I still wanted to appoint the commission members together.

"They did not want and boycotted the meeting. Sticking to boycotting, they were against dialogue in the round table in which 19 political parties took part. Four of them represented the parties in position and the rest were from the opposition which had sent their proposals for the candidates in the commission," said Berisha further on in reply to the question.

"The decree aims at installing in Albania a permanent election commission, which, in my opinion, is an indispensable institution. It is true that it has been suggested to us and I am glad to realise it because such institutions have proved to be successful in the countries with a 200- 300 year democracy. We too shall have and consolidate it," said Berisha. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] "DP IS COMPLETELY A PRO-WESTERN FORCE" - Berisha

"There is nothing to shake DP, the Government, the Parliament and Albania from a natural western direction," said Berisha.

"Albania, the parliament and the government of this country have been and will continue to be open to all representatives of the friendly countries, to representatives of democratic states and are ready for dialogue," said Berisha in reply to another question related to a possible visit to Albania by the U.S. assistant Secretary of State, Wirth."

He considered a report about this visit as a misinterpretation by the left-wing.

Answering a question about his opinion on a further development of the relations between Albania and the U.S., Berisha said:

"The perspective of the relations with the U.S. is very good. The U.S. has given an invaluable assistance to Albania and has guaranteed a powerful support for the consolidation of its democratic institutions."

Further on Berisha added that "Albania's objective is integration into NATO and in this regard I see a reliable perspective in the development and consolidation of the friendly relations between Albania and the U.S." kei/xh/k

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

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