ATA News from Albania, 96-09-06

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN UNION OF MARTIAL ARTS FOUNDED

[02] ALBANIAN-FRENCH CULTURAL PROGRAM TO BE SIGNED SOON

[03] PREPARATIONS FOR ALBANIAN-GERMAN MILITARY EXERCISES

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HOLDS TALKS WITH ODHIR CHIEF

[05] SP HAS LOST ITS ELECTORATE AFTER ELECTIONS - SP member

[06] EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS SHKODRA DISTRICT

[07] CRIMINAL ACT IN DURRES DISTRICT

[08] SYMBOLIC SCULPTURE - GIFT TO IFOR TROOPS IN BOSNIA

[09] SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF KOSOVO CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA

[10] ALBANIAN AGRICULTURE MINISTER MEETS US AMBASSADOR

[11] EXPERTS OF "MATI '96" DISCUSS FINAL PLANING

[12] ALBANIAN POLICE ACCEPTED MEMBER OF EU POLICE SPORTS

[13] WE WANTED TO CREATE COMMUNIST PARTY - Defendants

[14] AGREEMENT FOR EDUCATION FIRST STEP IN SOLUTION OF KOSOVA ISSUE BASED ON KOSOVA PEOPLE WILL - Rugova

[01] ALBANIAN UNION OF MARTIAL ARTS FOUNDED

Specialists, coaches, sportmen, fans and others participated in the meeting. Attending were also the karate champion Enver Idrizi, tie-boxing champ Azem Maskutaj, European karate champ Enver Sakiqi, Balkan karate champ Dritan Demiraj etc.

Albanian deputy Azem Hajdari stressed, among others, that the aim of this union is to spread as much as possible the martial arts in Albania, particularly to the young generation aiming at establishing a federation of the martial arts in the future.

Chairman of the Albanian Union of the Martial Arts was appointed deputy Azem Hajdari, vice chairman Bujar Lubeshi and secretary Fidel Ylli. /a.ke/kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] ALBANIAN-FRENCH CULTURAL PROGRAM TO BE SIGNED SOON

Officials from the Culture Directorate said to ATA that the new project program is multi-dimensional and it envisaged exchanges in educational, scientific, juridical, police and agricultural fields.

The project worked out on the suggestions of the state institutions is welcomed and the French side has recommended new possibilities of cooperation in the above fields.

The same source said that the signing of program is expected to intensify Albanian-French cooperation through an increase of scholarships by the French government for the Albanian students, increase of artistic activities and technical-scientific exchanges.

Albania and France has signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in December 1994 in Paris. jz/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PREPARATIONS FOR ALBANIAN-GERMAN MILITARY EXERCISES

Preparations for the joint military exercises Albanian-German "Mati '96" continue. They are going to be held in the Fushe-Kuqe commune of the Kurbini district (northwest of coasting Albania) from 1-10 October.

The troops of the Civil Defence in Districts, in cooperation with the council of this commune and the council of the district, have taken all the technic organizative measures for a successful continuity of this military drill.

According to the chairman of the commune of Fushe-Kuqe, Nikolle Toma, in the context of this military exercise, the military German troops have undertaken to asphalt and enlarge up to 7 m from 5 km of the road from the axis of the highway up to the center of the commune. While the Albanian troops will macadamize the road Alk-Fushe-Kuqe. Seven hundreds troops and about seventy necessary vehicles and machineries will be used these construction. /s.sh/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HOLDS TALKS WITH ODHIR CHIEF

President Berisha expressed Albania's belief and respect for ODHIR's contribution to the electoral process in general and the elections of May 26 in Albania.

Berisha said that the Albanian side is totally determined and open to overcome the crisis of belief between Albania and the ODHIR institution because of an unbalanced rapport of the ODHIR mission in Albania and establishment of fruitful cooperation.

Berisha said, "Albania is totally determined and committed to evaluate those right remarks and recommendations from the report of the ODHIR mission" and added that he was pleased to confirm that we had worked and are working seriously in this direction.

But the Central Election Commission in Albania, Western senior officials, international distinguished experts, NGOs have considered the report of the ODHIR mission on elections in Albania partial, unbalanced and "politically manipulated."

"I think that the memorandum of June 18, 1996 worked out by the chiefs of the European Union and U.S. missions accredited to Tirana, whose neutrality is sure, regarding the ODHIR-OSCE report on elections can be taken as a basis for discussion and evaluation for the ODHIR report," Berisha said.

ODHIR report is the only one which did not mention the withdrawal of the members of the commissions from the polling stations and boycott of vote counting.

Besides one-sidedness of this report, it should be stressed that the ODHIR mission in Albania is an unfinished mission because contrary to all the procedures and regulations, it did not monitor the second round of elections in Albania, Berisha said.

It is also known that some of its members have not respected the code of ODHIR behaivour, he stressed.

"I respect the political boycott but the boycott on vote counting is a different act," Berisha said.

Ignoring the boycott of vote counting in the report of ODHIR mission is unacceptable because this dangerous mechanism for the integration of the electoral process can be used as a "revolutionary" means by the extremist forces to destabilise democracy, Berisha said.

Therefore, he stressed that he had suggested that this report be written from the start on the basis of the analysis they (ODHIR delegation) did during their visit or reached some common necessary positions to prevent the engineering of conducting the electoral process not only in Albania but also in other countries.

Ambassador Glover conceded that there had been violations of the code of behaviour by some observers and that some of them had had double status and that the boycott on vote counting was not mentioned in the report.

She also said that she was ready to cooperate in trying to find concrete ways to overcome the crisis of belief and the way to re-establish understanding. ake/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] SP HAS LOST ITS ELECTORATE AFTER ELECTIONS - SP member

"We should concede that the last two months which were followed by a fight within SP did not satisfy the SP electorate and I said that it (electorate) was decreasing," Meta said.

He added: "A party which is not institutional cannot promise an institutional democracy."

Meta said that the second Congress of the SP "did not manage to be turned into a congress of party renovation" adding that "it focused only on the symbolic distance from the figure of Enver Hoxha but it did not really distance itself from Ramizism as a continuation of Enverism by concepting the changes as a spectacle and change of people."

After the Congress the high-level forums of the SP are led by former ministers and former advisers of the cabinet of ex-president Ramiz Alia such as chairman Nano who has been Alia's former prime minister and secretary general Rexhep Mejdani who has been Alia's former adviser. For this reason, Meta said, the SP leadership "is characterised by old forms and practices and this is dangerous."

Speaking about the formation of the SP which brought about the most severe confrontation between two clans in congress, Meta said that there existed two concepts: the first concept aimed at creating an authoritative party with a strong leader having even the right of veto and this concept was backed by the SP leader and his followers. The second concept was the formation of an institutional party which gives priority to party forums and strengthening of its inner democracy."

But Meta said that the second concept was not realised.

Asked whether the cult erected for Fatos Nano has damaged the SP, Meta said: "We expressed solidarity for Nano but I think that he should have been more conscious of his figure in relations with leading forums of the SP. Insults against friends and collaborators were unacceptable and showed that Nano himself has something to learn from the SP renovation."

In congress many FRESSH members applauded Nano while Meta and a part of the FRESSH members' position showed that the Euro Socialist Youth Forum is split into clans created by the SP leaders.

Regarding Nano's motion Meta said, "The motion degraded gradually in personal fight and reduced the spirit of changing only to elimination of deputy chairmen of the SP through old methods. The motion was changed into an aim in itself by its supporters who wanted to hold the renovation flag and create spilts pro and against the motion which was seen in all the party levels and in its congress," Meta said.

Meta considered important the achievements of the consensus of the political forces in yesterday's round table with the president of the Republic on local elections and he said, "it is important that the dialogue continues, local elections be free and a mutual confidence between the government forces and the opposition be achieved."

Meta opposed the way of boycott as "the only way which aggravates the crisis. "He praised the figure of the first deputy chairman of the SP and stressed that "without the maturity of Servet Pellumbi the SP would have passed into dangerous adventures."

Pellumbi has been accused by many political forces and by the press as the one who insisted in including Marx and its ideas in the SP program. He also has been attacked by Nano and his followers as the person who brought about the SP defeat on May 26. pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS SHKODRA DISTRICT

The epicentre of this quake is 250 km northeast of Tirana district, in the northern part of Montenegro.

The quake was measured four to five degrees in the Shkodra district. No damages has been reported. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] CRIMINAL ACT IN DURRES DISTRICT

A 65-years-old lady who was injured died in hospital. Hospital sources said that the injured are out of danger.

The Interior Minister spokesman reported that the police troops have identified the authors of this criminal act. /a.ke/kled/mt.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] SYMBOLIC SCULPTURE - GIFT TO IFOR TROOPS IN BOSNIA

The chairman of the anti-mines friends committee in Durresi district, Besnik Alibali, said to ATA that this sculpture will be soon given as a gift to the Command of IFOR troops in Bosnia in respect and honor for the self-sacrificing work they have done and are doing on defusing of mines planted during the war in this area.

The work entitled "Extreicated the roots of death" is about one metre high and it presents a hand defusing a mine. /s.sh/kled/mt.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF KOSOVO CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATED IN TIRANA

Chairman of the Political National Association "Kosova", Murat Gjonbala, opened a meeting organised organised on this occasion in a hall of the National Historical Museum in Tirana.

He said that "September 7, 1990, is the date of Kosova's Constitution, which was a great juridical, civilising and democratic action which will open way to other juridical actions of Kosova's leadership for the political status and natural joining of the Albanian nation."

Editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Kosova" Daut Doda speaking about the importance of this act said "Proclamation of Republic of Kosova and approval of its Constitution are events of historic importance in the political life of Albanian nation, they are among the loftiest acts of the political will of Kosova people and they cannot be ignored."

Chief of Kosova Office in Albania Iljaz Rmajli spoke on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova.

He highly estimated the engagement of members and sympathisers of Association "Kosova" on the solution of Kosova issue. He said: "This Association and other political forces are engaged to make every Albanian conscious that, without liberation of Kosova from occupation, no stability can be achieved in the Balkan region."

By commemorating such anniversaries, he stressed, we give a clear message to our opponents that Kosova people will not allow violation of the decisions of Kosova Referendum for a sovereign and independent state. We will fight to realise our aim until the end.

Other people attending the meeting greeted it.

A statement directed to International Rights Organisations was read at the end of the meeting jz/fh/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN AGRICULTURE MINISTER MEETS US AMBASSADOR

Topi estimated the positive relations between his Ministry and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the realisation of a project which supports reconstruction of Albanian agriculture.

US Ambassador assured Topi that even in the future the US government will support Albanian government in fulfilment of its objective in development of agriculture towards a market economy.

At the end of the meeting Amendment Four of a draft agreement was signed between the US and Albania regarding a project of support for reconstruction of Albanian agriculture increasing the US aid for Albania with some USD3.1 million. ake/JZ /fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] EXPERTS OF "MATI '96" DISCUSS FINAL PLANING

The German delegation was headed by colonel Wehn, commander of the 50th Brigade.

The delegation met today in the Albanian Defence Ministry with deputy chief of General Staff major general Armand Vincani.

Present in the meeting were also director of the Republic Civil Defence Forces colonel Bashkim Leka and training specialists colonel Banush Metuka and Kurt Gjika. The exercise will be held in the context of the Partnership for Peace Program.

General Vincani made a briefing of the preparations for this military exercise.

Wehn higly estimated the work of Albanians until now and specially the direct contribution of general Vincani.

After the meting the German delegation and Albanian experts went for a recognition operation in Patok and Kurbin, the area where the exercises are to be organised.

The aim of this joint exercise will be integration of military structures with joint staffs and troops in realisation of humanitarian missions in helping population in case of disasters and natural calamity.

The 50th German Engineers Brigade in Bogen will engage a contingent of nearly 430 troops and engineers equipment.

A joint agreement is signed between Germany and Albania in the field of defence. German parliamentarian who visited Albania in January and September said that Germany will support Albanian Army with long-term qualifications.

German Defence Minister Volker Ruhe said, while visiting Albania, last March that "Albanian-German partnership will be a long-term partnership." jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIAN POLICE ACCEPTED MEMBER OF EU POLICE SPORTS

Albanian Police had been previously accepted member of the Balkan Union of Police Sports and International Union of Police Sports. ake/jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] WE WANTED TO CREATE COMMUNIST PARTY - Defendants

They were arrested last March under the accusation of recreating a party which was declared outlaw from 1992. They declared that their aim was creation of a New Communist Party.

The defendants asked the panel of judges to reduce the process and tried to justify that "the new party, they tried to create, would ask legalisation by the Ministry of Justice as it would be a party of new type and had excluded from its program the use of violence."

"The Party would have functioned according the 45-years experience of the PLA, led by Enver Hoxha" said Timoshenko Pekmezi in today's session and confirmed that creation of the party was declared from May, 1, 1993, on the newspaper "Jehona."

At the end of the two-hours session the defendants accepted the accusation but did not accept to cooperation with each other.

The panel of judges closed judgement investigation and rejected the request for a reduced process of judgement.

The main Constitutional Provisions envisage creation of Communist parties and others of the same type in Albania as anticonstitutional and against the law. It envisages sentences ranging from 1-5 years in jail.

Albanian Parliament declared outlaw the Albanian Communist Party created by Hysni Milloshi in 1992, the year of triumph of the democratic forces. jz/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] AGREEMENT FOR EDUCATION FIRST STEP IN SOLUTION OF KOSOVA ISSUE BASED ON KOSOVA PEOPLE WILL - Rugova

"Other contacts and meetings of different levels will be realised," said Rugova answering to a question by Albanian Telegraphic Agency correspondent in Pristine. He estimated as "very important and necessary the international mediation" and called it "help and guarantee for the talks and results on the solution of Kosova issue." pta/jz/fh/Z/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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