Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 96-11-06

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN STATE DEFENCE SECRETARY MET WITH NATO REPRESENTATIVES

[02] INTERNATIONAL DAYS OF NEW CHAMBER MUSIC '96 CONTINUE

[03] EXPLOSION IN HOUSE OF APPEALS COURT CHAIRMAN IN TIRANA

[04] ABOUT 10 MILLION DM TO ASSIST SME

[05] SERBIAN SOCIALISTS FALSIFY VOTES OF ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA

[06] PHARMACEUTIC PRODUCTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY BY PROFARMA

[07] SP USED US AS A FACADE FOR ITSELF - DAP President

[08] CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRESENTED

[09] VACCINE AGAINST POLIO DISTRIBUTED ALREADY IN ALL DISTRICTS

[10] EURO-DEPUTIES BACK RUGOVA'S CANDIDATURE FOR NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE

[11] FOREIGN DEPUTY MINISTER RAKIPI MEETS BRITISH DIPLOMAT PARRY

[12] STRIKE NOT LARGELY SUPPORTED

[13] OCTOBER 20 WILL BE DAY OF ALBANIANS' UNDERSTANDING -Berisha

[14] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECLARES CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

[15] PRESIDENT BERISHA INTRODUCES DP CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

[16] RECEPTION IN ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

[17] WITHDRAWAL FROM ELECTION COMMISSION IS UNACCEPTABLE - Hedrich

[18] FURTHER STEP IN THE INTENSIFICATION OF ALBANIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS

[19] PRESIDENT BERISHA MET WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

[20] COMMISSION SOCIALIST DEPUTY CHAIRMEN DO NOT APPEAR TO GET MATERIAL BASIS FOR VOTING PROCESS

[21] ALBANIAN SPEAKER MEETS CROATIAN PREMIER

[01] ALBANIAN STATE DEFENCE SECRETARY MET WITH NATO REPRESENTATIVES

Marchand is also chairman of the workshop for the incorporation of NATO doctrines in the national military doctrines to be held from Nov. 6-8, 1996 in Tirana.

The discussions of Demi and Marchand focused on the questions to be treated in the workshop and the work going on in the Albanian army to reach the NATO standards with the aim that Albania become a member of the alliance.

The workshop, organized by NATO and Albania, will be held in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana.

Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali gave a reception in Hotel Europa-Park for the participants in the workshop. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] INTERNATIONAL DAYS OF NEW CHAMBER MUSIC '96 CONTINUE

Antoniu played in the presence of many musicians, composers, Albanian authorities and the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, six parts, violoncello solo and with piano. Antoniu, who knows to exploit the qualities of his instrument, produced excellent fragments of melody.

Accompanied by the talented piano player Nora Cashku, Antoniu closed the days of Albanian music which started Sunday evening with the talented composer and clarinet player, Fatos Qerimaj.

The third edition of this festival of European dimensions which has brought the best achievements of renowned musicians from eleven countries of Europe, France, Sweden, Austria, Albania, Germany, Italy, England, Holland, Romania, Switzerland, Finland, is being held under the patronage of the Albanian President, Sali Berisha and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarchus.

International Days of the New Chamber Music '96 are being held by Albanian Section ISCM (International Society of Contemporary Music,) the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Women and the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana.

The festival is financially supported by the SOROS Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Women, the National Commerce Bank and the Albanian Foundation for Culture and Arts "Fan Noli." ssh/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] EXPLOSION IN HOUSE OF APPEALS COURT CHAIRMAN IN TIRANA

The explosion damaged partly the fifth and the sixth floor of the building where Martni lives and considerable damage have been caused at a distance of 30 meters.

A report of the spokesman of the Public Order Ministry said that "police forces of the capital, leaders and experts of the Interior Ministry went immediately to the scene."

A working group was immediately set up in the Interior Ministry, which will conduct investigations on this terrorist act, the spokesman said.

It is suspected that the attack might be connected with a trial in the Appeal Court on Tuesday, during which Tirana Court upheld prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years against nine former senior officials of the communist regime, accused of crimes against humanity in collaboration with each-other.

Albanian Premier Aleksander Meksi, who visited the scene immediately after the explosion, said that it was a politically motivated terrorist act./pas/mt/k/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] ABOUT 10 MILLION DM TO ASSIST SME

Albanian minister of Transport, Suzana Panariti and the representative of German government signed on Thursday the agreement worth DM 10 million, which is in the context of financial and technical cooperation between two countries.

"This agreement is a new donor to SME, and fosters the setting up of a financial institution in granting credits," Panariti said.

The fund injected today marks the initial part of project. Only for the protocoll of financial and technical cooperation for 1996, German side has allocated the sum worth DM 86,85 million, where DM 78 million are projected on financial cooperation and DM 8,85 on technical cooperation.

Part of the fund is grants and the rest soft credits with a period of reimbursment after 40 years and an annual interset of 0,75 per cent.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] SERBIAN SOCIALISTS FALSIFY VOTES OF ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA

The Serbian Radical Party has even demanded the annulment of the elections of November 3,1996.

The Movement of Serbian Resistance, the only political force of the Serbs of Kosova, has admitted that the polls were not regular and rigged. This party mentioned the case of a pure ethnic Albanian village, Lipjan, where no one took part in the vote, in which the Serb government coalition "won" 590 votes.

In a press release, the Serbian Radical Party, reported that the Socialist party and the Yugoslav United Left (JUL) have listed in many cases the Albanians, although they did not appear for elections.

As drastic cases are mentioned those of Rugova, Vranoci, Baranja, Treboviq, Albanian villages in which, according to this party, 5000 voters were registered.

"In Gjakova the situation is more drastic because the number of the listed voters is 15 180, in Decan 3 100, in Suhareka over 3500, in Rahovec 2000, etc," said the report of the Serbian Radical Party.

The newspaper Telegraf of Belgrade today reported on manipulation with the votes of Albanians in the commune of Mitrovica at a time when the Albanians had boycotted the ballot. This paper said that in the ethnically Albanian village Polanc, 544 ballot papers were falsified although no body had voted. The same has occurred in the Albanian villages of Dare and Vllahi, where Serbian socialists have falsified 140 votes.

The Serbian parties and press themselves have denounced the declaration of the Serbian socialist chief, Vojsllav Zhivkoviq that "25 thousand Albanians have voted in Kosova." bj/lind/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] PHARMACEUTIC PRODUCTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY BY PROFARMA

The "SH.A. Pharmaceutic Products Profarma" in Tirana will start distributing directly the pharmaceutic products, beginning from 1997.

This will be realised for the first time and it is a new experience for the staff of this enterprise.

Meanwhile it is expected a great interest from companies which have licence in buying and selling medical products, to bring the necessary documentation at the beginning of the next week. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] SP USED US AS A FACADE FOR ITSELF - DAP President

In reply to a question ATA about the attitude of DAP in the political aspect, at a time when it has accused the SP and lately requested an agreement with DP, Ceka said: "We have never had an alliance with SP, but SP has sought to use us as a facade, and this effort has brought about a bad consequence on us in the elections of May 26, 1996. In the October 20 poll, we cooperated only with the Social Democratic Party, judging that it has no chances to incline left. Our alliance with DP can be established only on the basis of institutions, but DP has not accepted."

In the elections of May 26, DAP and SDP thought that SP would win the majority and united in a front with it, which DP referred to as the "red front".

Asked about the paradox that the Centre Pole on the one side does not recognise the October 20 election turnout and on the other side accepts to be represented with the district advisers, Ceka said:

"The local polls of October 20 had really much improvement as compared with the previous ones, but in several constituencies grave violations had been made. We do not recognise a part of the poll turnout and say that the PCEC has manipulated the results."

All the foreign observers considered the local polls in conformity with the law and all the process-verbals were signed by the Centre Pole representatives in the election commissions.

The Centre Pole did not win any post of chairman of city-halls or communes, but only posts of commune and municipality advisers. /kei/mt/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRESENTED

The Mayor of Korça, Pjerin Kiri, presented candidate to the post of Vreshtas commune chairman, Hektor Fejzullahu, director of the 8-year school in Sheqeras.

The Socialist Party declared on the same day in one of the halls of Kukesi Palace of Culture, North of Albania, the opening of its local election campaign.

Attending the meeting was also the SP Secretary General, Rexhep Mejdani, who presented the socialist candidate to the post of municipality chairman of the city, engineer Qemal Elezi. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] VACCINE AGAINST POLIO DISTRIBUTED ALREADY IN ALL DISTRICTS

In most of the districts the vaccine was distributed by helicopters such as in Mat, Puke, Diber, Bulqize, Pogradec, Korce, Devoll, Kolonj, Tepelene, Ballsh, Gjirokaster, Delvine and Sarande. In the nearest districts the vaccines were distributed by vehicles.

The vaccine could not be transported to the districts of Tropoja, Kukesi and Hasi by helicopters yesterday because of the bad weather, and it is expected to reach those districts today.

The vaccines are stored in optimal conditions. The first dose of vaccination, to be inserted until October 7, is for people aging between 0- 50 years.

During the last years, poliomyelitis in Albania, except for rare cases, was considered disappeared. A regular vaccination has been made for more than 30 years.

During March - April '96, with the initiative of the Albanian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, author of a study on polio in Albania, vaccination was inserted in 800 children aged under 5 years of age.

After less than two months from this vaccination, the first cases are manifested. The first cases of polio were registered in June this year. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] EURO-DEPUTIES BACK RUGOVA'S CANDIDATURE FOR NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE

The group on Kosova in the European Parliament issued, on this occasion, a text attached to the list for subscriptions in support of Rugova's candidature which highlight his merits for the peaceful policy.

The list is signed by the chairman of the European Parliament's Group on Kosova, La Malfa, the chairwoman of the European Parliament's delegation on Southeastern Europe, Doris Pak, the Dutch deputy, Ostlander, Flemish deputy Jaak and four other deputies.

The list with subscriptions by eight Euro-deputies was sent today to the Nobel Institute in Oslo. pta/l/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] FOREIGN DEPUTY MINISTER RAKIPI MEETS BRITISH DIPLOMAT PARRY

Rakipi said that negotiations to sign the association agreement with the European Union are expected to start in November.

Parry said that the United Kingdom will help Albania to find its own place in the European dimension. He added that his country is among the positive ones as regards the European Union's enlargement, saying that the achievement of economic standards, the democratic parameters and the observation of the international norms are premises for further integration into the European Union.

Rakipi spoke of the situation in the region and concentrated on the peaceful policy of good neighbourliness followed by Albania, its role as a factor of peace and stability in the region. He expressed the position of the Albanian government on the Kosova issue, which conditions the normalisation of Albania's relations with former Yugoslavia.

Parry appreciated Albania's policy with the neighbours. Regarding the Kosova issue he said that the so-called "outer wall" of sanctions stands and the only reason for this is the unresolved problem of Kosova. Serbia should be clear that unless the Kosova issue is resolved, it cannot establish normal contacts with the international community, Parry concluded. jz/a.ke/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] STRIKE NOT LARGELY SUPPORTED

This figure is not true for the very fact that the public sector workers in education, health care, food industry, energy, transport and other fields do not reach the figure of 163 000 people either; but also for the fact, as it comes out from the reports of the unionist leaders themselves, that the important public sectors including health care, energy and telecommunications did not join the strike.

On the same day, on the Albania TV, the head of the strike committee of Albania's Union of the Independent Trade Unions, Estref Mersinaj, admitted that "health care was not affected by the strike because of the poliomyelitis vaccination campaign". More so, according to several reports, the leader of the health trade union himself was working on Friday.

Also, the strike was less joined by the Confederation (of left inclination), and, according to the deputy chairman of the Trade Union Confederation, Xhafer Dobruzha, "the strike was also partly realised in the education sector, including several of Tirana's suburbs like Bregu i Lumit and other zones".

The trade unions demanded full compensation for the bread price and the inflation index but, failing to reach an agreement in their meeting with the Minister of Labour, Arlinda Ymeraj, they went on strike, which was not largely supported.

The director of the eight-year education at the Ministry of Education, Bashkim Berisha, himself, admitted on the TV that "the strike did not affect all the schools in the capital and districts".

"That is, this figure is not real. It is blown out of proportions and does not respond to the reality, because according to accurate data, the participation of the workers in the strike on a country scale did not reach 10 000 people either," the spokesman says.

"This is also testified by the covering of this strike by the opposition press, with the newspaper Dita Informacion and Koha Jone running this event only on the 12th page".jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] OCTOBER 20 WILL BE DAY OF ALBANIANS' UNDERSTANDING -Berisha

President Berisha told a rally in the Milot town, Kurbini district, Central Albania, that October 20 would be the day of the Albanians' understanding.

"October 20 will be the day of Albanians' undertanding, the day of their voting for the best alternative, for the best candidates, for the Democratic Party, for Albania", said Berisha at today's rally to introduce the candidate for the town's mayor.

Later Berisha went to the Laci town, central Albania. At the rally held there he considered the October 20 vote for the local governments "very significant, a vote which determines the four year developments for your countryside, your city and district".

Berisha promised that "Laci will turn into a free zone", and assured the inhabitants that the local government "will guarantee employment, education, telecommunications, public order and investment which will become yours through the parliament's law quicker than you think".

In the Mamuras Municipality, central Albania, Berisha said:"For us, the local government is of extraordinary importance because in this government people vote first of all for the most utilitarian and indispensable needs, but at the same time the local government will be a genuine school of Albanian great politicians, who will make Albania as we wish". jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECLARES CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

Rubik, one of the richest copper zones, 80 kms from Tirana, is one of the first towns to support democracy and the Democratic Party.

"Your vote for the candidate is very significant because it is a vote for yourselves, a vote for the man who will solve your problems..," Berisha said.

He referred to the May 26 elections this year and stressed that:"The Albanians showed their profound democratic culture, their great devotion to democracy".

"On May 26 the Albanian Stalinists revealed how irreconcilable they are with democracy. They, with their imprudence trampled underfoot the vote of their electorate, witnessing that they are not worthy of the electorate's vote."

"In the four years to come we will strengthen and consolidate the local government as the key bases of the country's governing". jz/lm/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] PRESIDENT BERISHA INTRODUCES DP CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

"The October 20 vote will show Albania, Europe and other countries that we are the democracy, we are free people. The boycott is Stalinism, Enverism, which do not have future in Albania", he said.

As regards the left opposition Berisha said that:"They have changed from the red front to red particles". a.ke/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] RECEPTION IN ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

During the talk, the two parties pointed out a powerful potential for economic cooperation existing between the two countries.

The Slovak party expressed the desire for the deputy Premier and Minister of Finances of the Slovak Republic to visit Albania in a proper time. They also agreed for the visit of a group of Albanian businessmen in the Slovak Republic, in which representatives from the Albanian Centre for Foreign Investment Encouragement will also take part. ake/jz/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] WITHDRAWAL FROM ELECTION COMMISSION IS UNACCEPTABLE - Hedrich

"The opposition should bear responsibility for the May 26 elections because the participation in the election commission is a social duty," said Hedrich.

He added that "it is the electorate the one which takes decisions for the fate of the country and not political parties. Who boycotts elections boycotts democracy."

During parliamentary elections on May 26, the members of the opposition parties in the voting commissions withdraw from elections three hours before they were over. The opposition also boycotted the second round of elections, and the partial repetition of voting.

"We hold that Albania is following the right road and with our visit we wanted to stress that Albania is a part of Europe," said Hedrich regarding the aim of this visit.

Germany will be present in the local elections with its representatives of political foundations and with a delegation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Mr Hedrich.

Hedrich also stopped on the fruitful economic-financial cooperation between Albania and Germany.

Referring to the unstable situation in the Balkans, Hedrich appreciated Albania as a factor for stability in the region and elsewhere.

The Belgrade Government should find a solution which will fulfil the interests of Kosova. Serbia should be aware that the great Serb nationalism does not make any contribution to peace," he said. kei/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] FURTHER STEP IN THE INTENSIFICATION OF ALBANIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS - Shehu

According to Shehu, the visit to the United Nations and the meetings he had in New York, Boston and Washington, were another possibility to extend the contacts and the interests of Albania as well as the interests of others towards Albania."

"The perspective of the Albanian-American relations will be very good, and it has taken a very important place in the Albanian foreign policy," said Shehu. He thanked for "the U.S. assistance and support for the opening of the representation office in Prishtine and asked a further U.S. commitment to this aspect."

"I think that the visit served the consolidation of Albania's relations with the U.S. and was a manifestation of the mutual understanding and will to prmote these relations in the future." jz/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] PRESIDENT BERISHA MET WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

"The joint Albanian-German exercise is a new important chapter in the friendship and cooperation linking the two countries and peoples," said Berisha to Geiger. "This is also a support and encouragement for Albania on the road of its integration in NATO and the Western European Union."

"Along cooperation in all other fields, the cooperation with Germany in the military field has been a very important factor in the reformation of the Albanian Army," said President Berisha.I may say to you with pleasure that this is a qualitative cooperation in the interest of military education, the Partnership for Peace and many other aspects of this field."

Mrs Geiger said "we are pleased with the level of the friendship and cooperation in the military field, which responds in the best way to the cooperation between our two countries in all the fields. The Mati 96 exercise is a nice symbol of the friendship and cooperation between our two peoples. We admire and appreciate you for everything you have achieved on the road of the reform. We assure you that you have our support in all your efforts." ake/jz/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] COMMISSION SOCIALIST DEPUTY CHAIRMEN DO NOT APPEAR TO GET MATERIAL BASIS FOR VOTING PROCESS

The PCEC has been informed that in several cases, the commission deputy chairmen have not appeared to obtain the material basis from the polling station commission presidencies," the PCEC announces.

On the same problem the PCEC has received on October 18 a complaint signed by the SP secretary, Namik Dokle, in which the SP presidency complains against "several illegal procedures of the commission".

In his protest Dokle "accuses the Local Government Secretariat and its head, Njazi Kosovrasti, of issuing instructions to avoid the deputy chairmen from the process of obtaining the material basis".

The protest also accuses the PCEC chairman, Nestor Tereska, of " not respecting the electoral law, although informed, and of becoming collaborator at the beginning of the manipulations. In order to evade his responsibility, in his meetings with foreign observers, he creates the alibi that the commission PS deputy chairmen and members have not been on duty and have not carried out their task to obtain the material basis".

The protest of Mr. Dokle is dated October 18, when the receipt of the material basis for the polling stations had not yet started.

The PCEC chairman, Nestor Tereska, said that all the commission members condemned the act of Mr. Dokle, considering it absurd and irresponsible.

One of the PCEC members said that:"seeing the date the Dokle's complaint was issued, the SP uncovered involuntarily several of its plans, which it began to apply on October 19, one day before the elections, to create the idea of irregularities".

All the various foreign observers teams, in their numerous meetings conducted, have made evident that the performance of the central commission and government has been very good and consider this a full guarantee for fair elections, conform the Albanian electoral law.

The Centre Pole representative in the PCEC, Pajtim Bello, regarded Dokle's complaint as completely wrong. Also the SP representatives in the PCEC criticised this irresponsible act of Mr. Dokle. One of the SP members in the commission said:"Dokle's acts are not worth considering and discussing".

All the commission members, also the socialist ones, considered unnecessary both a long meeting of discussions on Dokle's complaint and a respond to this complaint.

Several PCEC members said that "It seems Dokle is not aware of the presidency's decisions". They said that :"It seems that even the seminar held several days ago by the SP presidency aimed at instructing the deputy chairmen on today's act".

The PCEC discussed Dokle's complaint in its meeting, and through a statement, signed by chairman Nestor Tereska, deputy chairman Besnik Baraj and secretary Fiqiri Kupe, reaffirms that the instruction issued by the PCEC for this purpose should be rigorously implemented.

"If one of the members of the polling station commission presidency is absent, he should be replaced immediately, by decision of the commission, preserving the government coalition-opposition relation and the materials should be obtained at any cost," the PCEC says in its announcement.

The announcement stresses that "the commission through this announcement reports that, anyone who becomes an obstacle in the electoral process will bear responsibility according to penal and administrative provisions of the law "On the elections to the local government bodies".

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] ALBANIAN SPEAKER MEETS CROATIAN PREMIER

Arbnori, putting the stress into the regional situation, said that Albania supports the Federation of Bosnia - Herzegovina, as well as the solution of the conflict by means of dialogue.

Regarding Kosova, Arbnori stressed the declared opinion of the Albanian state that Kosova must not be considered as an internal affair of Serbia, but as an Yugoslavian one.

"We think that the results of the last elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina have to be recognized and efforts should be made to ensure peace in that area", said Croatian Premier, talking about the regional situation. The Albanians in Kosova should enjoy their rights according to the international standards", he continued.

Matesha said that the ongoing good political relations between Croatia and Albania establish a solid basis for fruitful economical relations and cooperation, particularly in the investments field. The economical increase and the political stability that Albania, Croatia and Slovenia have achieved, create all the conditions for a quick integration of these countries in Europe, he ended. /ake/pas/mt/Z/

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