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ATA News from Albania, 96-10-31Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] DOCUMENTS TO RETURN GOLD TO ALBANIA SIGNEDTIRANA, OCT 30 (ATA)- The delegation of the Republic of Albania, headed by Kristaq Luniku, governor of the Albanian Bank and the Tripartite Gold Commission, made up of government officials of France, Great Britain and the U.S., held talks in London on October 29 to discuss the restitution of the Albanian gold looted by the Nazis during the World War Two, the foreign ministry press and information office reports.At the end of the talks the parties signed the respective documents, on whose basis the bank operations were carried out finally transferring ownership of the 49.804.149 ounce of pure gold to the Republic of Albania. The documents were signed for the Albanian side by Luniku, Governor of the Albanian Bank, and Emrys Davies, secretary- general of the Tripartite Gold Commission. The settling of the Albanian gold enables the Tripartite commission to immediately proceed with the preparations for the final distribution of the remaining gold in the pool of the allied states during the World War two, a process which will provide Albania with its own share. The spokesman of the Tripartite Commission secretary general reported that Mr. Emrys Davies, through a communique announces that the Tripartite Commission transferred ownership of the gold to Albania. A spokesman of the Foreign Office said that the Great Britain is pleased that the gold pooled by the Tripartite Commission is now returned to Albania. "This is a historic day for Albania and for our bilateral relationship", he said. On October 29, Sir Nocolas Bonsor, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, gave a dinner in honour of the Albanian delegation. In his greeting Bonsor said that the victory of the Democratic Party in the May 26 general elections in Albania is a magnificent achievement for the Albanian democracy which pleases its friends all over the world. Bonsor also congratulated the Albanian Government for its seriousness in the close cooperation with the Tripartite Gold Commission and stressed that the newly signed agreement opens for Albania a new chapter in its international relations. He pledged to increasingly encourage the political and economic cooperation between Great Britain and Albania. a.ke/kled/pas/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] PROJECTS ON CHANGES IN KUKES MAY CURB EXODUSKUKES, OCT 30 9ATA)- By R.Hoxha,The projects on changes in Kukes following the political changes in the Kukes local government may curb the exodus of inhabitants from the district's mountainous areas. The increasing demands for a better life of the inhabitants of these areas and the violent overpopulation of these areas by the communist dictatorship are the main reasons for the exodus phenomenon. This exodus has led to a decrease of the population number in this district. While on the 1st of January this year there were 91 390 inhabitants, or 20 350 families, on June 30 these figures decreased to 88 760 and 18 100, respectively, although the number of births was 1000 and of marriages some 235. The 250 flats for sale in Kukes find no customers, although the number of the homeless is five times larger, as the latter are included in those who want to leave. The mentality of leaving has been intensified due to the high cost of living, at least twice higher than that in the lowland and coastal areas of the country; as well as due to the lack of big investment (which has created the belief that this ara cannot be developed". Even the investment, including the German one, in aqueducts have not been able to change this mentality. These reasons as well as the high cost in transport have made the exodus phenomenon a topic of daily discussions in this district. There is a project, which has long been left in oblivion, but which shortens the Kukes-Tirana road by nearly 64 kms. This project, which requires considerable investment, is indispensable. This problem is becoming sharper after more than half of the inhabitants has left several villages including Arrni, Shikaj, Drinasi and other villages. "This process may be curbed and stopped with the change in the mentality on the North of the East, whose assets especially in minerals, forests and other assets, are vast and profitable". Kukes is located in Northeastern Albania some 20-25 kms far from the border with Kosova. It has been one of the most backward areas during the communist dictatorship. The blocking by Belgrade of the border dividing crosswise the geographical -historical integrity of the Dukagjini plane which includes both Kukes and Kosova, hinders the normal development of these zones.sh/m/kled/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] CHAIRMAN OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT MEETS U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ENVOYTIRANA, OCT 30 (ATA)- The chairman of the Constitutional Court, Rustem Gjata, met Wednesday with the U.S. State Department envoy on Human Rights, Steve Coffey, U.S. ambassador Mariza Lino and the embassy's second secretary, Lin Gurian, the spokesman of the Constitutional Court reports.Gjata made a brief presentation of the court's performance showing its position in the context of the Albanian state structure. He made known the court's powers and role over the years of the transition and consolidation of democracy in Albania. Later he briefed the participants on the construction of the whole justice system in Albania. Coffey showed special interest in the independence of the legal power and lawyers. On this occasion he stressed the importance of the courts in a rule of law and their role in creating the impression of a democratic state. Afterwards he also interested himself in the work for drafting the constitution. a.ke/kei/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] ONLY FOUR COMPLAINTS FROM SOCIALIST PARTY IN PCECTIRANA, OCT 30 (ATA) By R. Floqi: The Socialist Party has presented in the Permanent Central Electoral Commission until October 30 only four complaints on irregularities in the second round of local elections, held on October 27, 1996.The SP presented Wednesday two complaints regarding the irregularities on the conduct of local elections in Maliqi municipality and in the commune of Perondi, Berat. According to the election law, the PCEC has a three day time to give its conclusions on the complaints of the political subjects. The representatives of the PCEC will present Friday morning in the Constitutional Court the documentation of the polling stations, which according to the complaint of the SP candidate for Mayor in Lezha district, Agron Dibra, is alleged that there have been some irregularities during the vote counting in the first round of elections. /kled/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] SP IN CRISIS AFTER LOCAL POLLSTIRANA, OCT 31 (ATA)- The SP has been in crisis following the local polls in which it won only four city halls on a country's scale, various newspapers report today.The newspaper Albania says that: "the local elections have aggravated polemics inside the SP". Many SP members, amongst them its former leaders before the August Convention, Ilir Meta, chairman of the Eur.Socialist Youth Forum of Albania, and Luan Hhajdaraga, deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, have blamed the current presidency of the Socialist Party for the loss in the local elections. Meta has told ATA that the loss in local elections is a catastrophe. Anastas Angjeli, member of the general Steering Committee, has criticised on the "Voice of America" 'the way the electoral campaign has been held and especially the lack of clear objectives and alternatives for the electorate'. Meanwhile other facts provided by the press show that the SP has lost credit in the people with the electoral campaign and results. Gazeta Shqiptare says that 56 socialist members and sympathizers from Skrapari, which is considered one of the towns with the strongest socialist tendencies, ask in a petition sent to the SP presidency to remove Fatos Nano from the post of the chairman. The SP chairman, Nano, is in jail convicted of document falsification and corruption regarding the Italian aid while he was Prime Minister in 1991. For the petition signers Nano is "the main person responsible for the loss in elections". The also ask the return to the Socialist Party presidency of its former deputy chairman Servet Pellumbi. Republika, referring to sources from inside the SP, says that next Saturday at the meeting of the General Steering Committee, a survey will be conducted, through questionnaires distributed among the participants, to find the real cause for the loss of the elections. While several SP elements are trying to understand and analyse the loss in the local polls, the SP organ, Zeri i Popullit, continues to allege manipulations on the part of the democratic Party in these elections. Foreign observers both from the CE, the U.S. Republican Institute, IRI, and other organisations, have considered the local elections in Albania, conducted in two rounds, Oct 20 and 27, free and fair, despite some irregularities. kei/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, OCT 31 (ATA) - Under the headline "Success of the Albanian delegation in London", Rilindja Demokratike carries the editorial "Gold to be returned to Albania". The paper reports on the meeting of the Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu with the envoy of the U.S State Department Steve Coffey under the title "U.S. Assistance, an important factor for the Albanian democracy", as well as on the meeting of Shehu with Schmiedbauer, State minister of Germany. Rilindja Demokratike publishes the article "The local elections marked a further improvement, - observations of the U.S. International Democratic Institute" and carries an article on Helmut Kohl, as a special supporter of the Albanian democracy.Zeri i Popullit in its article reports that even after the DP victory in the local elections, the Albanians still continue their exodus to Italy. The paper publishes the article "The time demands more responsibilities for the SP", as well as the articles "The power of the state won", and "The psychological and physical violation, - the arm of DP victory ". The paper also carries the article "Thereska (PCEC chairman) cheats 'The Voice of America'". Republika publishes the article "The socialists will show their feasts to each-other". The paper carries pronouncements of the French press (after the admission of writer Ismail Kadare as associate-member of the French Academy). Lajmi i Dites covers the meeting of Shehu with Coffey, envoy of the U.S. State Department under the title "The elections of October 20 - a further step of Albania on the road of democracy". Rilindja publishes a message of the Albanian Ambassador to USA, Pellumb Kulla, addressed to Bouttros Ghali entitled "Efforts to hide the tragic truth in Kosova". The paper reports on the last meetings of leader Rugova with the Ambassador of Sweden and with Russian diplomats. The paper also reports on the visit of Kosova Premier Bujar Bukushi in Albania. Albania paper under the headline "The local elections aggravate the fire debates in SP" publishes the article "The SP Presidency must give resignation". The paper publishes the articles "Britain increases the level of relations with Albania" and "USA: local polls - a further step of Albania". Gazeta Shqiptare in one of its articles reports that, according to a letter signed up from 56 SP members, the imprisoned chairman of this party Fatos Nano, is the cause of the SP loss in the local polls. Koha Jone publishes a comment of Ilir Meta, chairman of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum, on the loss of SP in local polls entitled "SP Secretary General Rexhep Mejdani must give resignation". The paper reports in another article that the businessman Hajdin Sejdia (the cheating trader of usuries) will return to Albania soon. Tribuna carries the article "The socialists lose in polls, together with the party". /jz/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] PARLIAMENT RESUMES SESSIONSTIRANA, OCT. 31 (ATA) - By Agim Baci: Today the People's Assembly of Albania resumed sessions, which were interrupted a month ago for the electoral campaign of the October 20 local ballot.After Mr Pjeter Arbnori, chairman of the Presidency of the People's Assembly opened the session, the deputies examined and adopted some laws and decrees, which had previously been examined by the respective parliamentary commissions. Among the laws passed were "The status of the orphan," "On the ratification of the Agreement of the Credit of Development with the World Bank (IDA) for the project of national roads," the law "On the Standardization, " "On the approval of the Memorandum of Cooperation between RA and the U.N. on education, science and culture," etc. kei/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] TIRANA AQUEDUCT RECONSTRUCTION TOWARDS ITS COMPLETIONTIRANA, OCT. 30 (ATA) - By Miranda Kora: Work for the reconstruction of the inner water system of the capital is expected to be completed at the end of March 1997. After this date all Tirana families will have drinking water at any time and season.From 34 km of tubes planned to be installed, so far 32 km of such tubes have been placed. According to specialists, the rest of the tubes is not yet installed because this work will be carried out in the centre of the city which will cause problems to the traffic. For this reason, this installation will be realised at the end of the first stage, financed by the Italian government with a fund of 13 billion liras and which will be over in March 1997. jz/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CUSTOMS HOUSE IN QAFE THANA NEAR COMPLETIONTIRANA, OCT. 31 (ATA) - By Behar Fejzullahu: The work in the new customs complex of Qafe Thana (Southeastern Albania) is coming to an end. For the construction of this premises the U.S. government has financed a total of 1 050 000 dollars whereas the Albanian Government 950 000 dollars.The new customs house was projected by the Albanian firm "Alban Tirana" and is up to international standards. The other Albanian firm "Tris Ndertim Tirana" is realising the construction of 10 roads leading to the entrance of the customs house, two parking places and some other buildings. The new complex in Qafe Thana is part of the East-West corridor and will facilitate the procedures of movement of passengers and goods. From 130 long vehicles that are handled within 15-20 minutes every day in the present customs house, after the completion of the new complex, 6 times more long vehicles will be handled within 3-4 minutes. jz/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] MESSAGE OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT TO CHANCELLOR KOHLTIRANA, OCT. 31 (ATA) - The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, has addressed a message to Chancellor Kohl, as the chancellor with the longest mandate to that post in the German history, which says:"This day is for you and the great German nation a special event. Today you mark the longest mandate as the chancellor of the German Federal Republic, but I would say also the most successful. In their history, Germany and the German nation have had two great unifiers, Chancellor Bismarck and you, Chancellor Kohl. In the second half of the past century, the great man of the German nation, Bismarck, united the German territories, whereas in the second half of this century, the other great man of this nation reunified the separated German territories. But the difference from Bismarck is that while accomplishing your great mission you used peace instead of blood, integration instead of iron. Therefore, you are not only the Chancellor of the unification of Germany but also the Chancellor of Peace, unification and integration in our continent. The Germans and their friends appreciate and will appreciate more and more your sublime work, the peaceful unification of Germany. The Albanians, who see in the German nation their great and natural friend and in your personality the friend and the main supporter of their efforts for freedom, democracy and integration, join me on this day to send you and the friendly German nation the most cordial greetings. ake/kled/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] THE POST OF MAYOR OF SHKODRA WAS MORE THAN EN ELECTORAL VICTORY FOR BALLI KOMBETAR PARTY - SelfoTIRANA, OCT.31 (ATA) - By Agim Baci: "When we won the post of the mayor of Shkodra it seemed to us that we had won all Albania, but I think that this success will be followed by others," said to ATA the chairman of the Balli Kombetar Party, Hysen Selfo.According to analysts, the loss of the BKP in some zones known as the bases of this political force and the victory in some other zones was a surprise to some extend. "It is somewhat inexplicable our loss in Vlora, Fier, Mallakaster or Lushnja. But our work has been insufficient as a result of some mainly economic deficiencies," said Selfo. "The Parliament needs a powerful and progressive opposition. The present SP cannot play a real role. I think that very soon we shall play the role of the indispensable opposition," said Selfo further on. The city hall of Shkodra, Northwestern Albania, was won by the candidate of the United Right Wing League of Shkodra, an alliance between the Legaliteti Movement Party and the Balli Kombetar party. kled/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] POLIO CASES SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER AFTER VACCINATIONTIRANA, OCT. 31 (ATA) - By A Milo: A fortnight after the first stage of the mass vaccination against polio in Albania for people between 0-50 years, the results have been fruitful, official sources of the Albanian Ministry of Health report."There is not reason for any alarm," said the director of the infectious diseases hospital, Kristo Pano to two youths who were hospitalized recently. He added that the maximal limit for the creation of defensive organisms from the vaccine is 40 days." "The polio cases have been been rare, he said, and the cases they had treated previously were as a result of the strong virus before vaccination. In the last ten days the two abovementioned youths were the only ones who were treated in the hospital for the polio. Albanian specialists are convinced that the situation will soon be totally normalized. kled/xh/sh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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