Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-02-11

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO POSTPONE DECLARING THE EMERGENCY RULE

[02] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY ASKS CONDITIONAL DIALOGUE WITH ALBANIAN PRESIDENT

[03] TIRANA COURT ISSUES ARREST ORDER AGAINST INITIATOR OF BURNING LUSHNJE TOWN-HALL

[04] PRESS REVIEW

[05] BOAT CAPSIZES, TWO PEOPLE DROWNED IN SHKODER

[06] FUNERAL OF ARTUR RRUSTEMI HELD IN VLORE -DP headquarters in district engulfed in flames-

[07] PEOPLE IN VLORA GATHERED AGAIN

[08] RP DEMANDS RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REJECTS A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN VLORE

[09] SOCIALISTS ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF THE SITUATION CREATED AFTER COLLAPSE OF LOAN-TAKING FIRMS

[10] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PRESENTS DRAFT LAW "ON STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CASES WHEN PUBLIC ORDER IS GRAVELY DISTURBED"

[11] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF GREEK NATIONAL DEFENCE

[12] SOME PROTESTERS IN VLORE LEAVE THE CROWD AND OPPOSITION LEADERS

[13] TWO DOCUMENTS FOR COOPERATION IN MILITARY FIELD SIGNED BETWEEN GREECE AND ALBANIA

[14] LACK OF FOOD ARTICLES IN VLORE

[15] BOAT CAPSIZES, TWO PEOPLE DROWNED IN SHKODER

[16] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES DISCUSSION OF DRAFT LAW ON INTRODUCING STATE OF EMERGENCY

[17] VLORA MAYOR AGAINST INTRODUCTION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

[01] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO POSTPONE DECLARING THE EMERGENCY RULE

"According to Albanian constitutional packet there is no a specific low that allows the government to proclaim partial state of emergency in one district," said at the beginning of the plenary session the speaker of the Parliament Pjeter Arbnori.

The Parliament after a debated session within DP ( the right party in power) group asked to the government to prepare tomorrow the bill for such a purpose.

Earlier the Albanian Premier Aleksander Meksi asked the Parliament on Monday to impose the state of emergency in Vlora city.

"The events in Vlora have nothing to do with the peaceful protests. The Albanian state has not been prepared for a rule of violence, that's why I ask the intervention of the army and introduction of the state of emergency in Vlora city and for a control of all the movements in the whole Albania," declared Meksi on the behalf of the government he heads.

" Its of vital importance proclaming the emergency rule in Vlora, where all the activities and the roads are blocked. This action will deviate further terrorization in the city", said the Premier Meksi after this troubled Parliamentary's session.

Meksi has declared that the government has sufficient evidence for the conspiracy organization for the organizers of the attack against the Police Commissariat and other institutions.

Protesters battled riot police in the southern Albanian port of Vlore on Monday and pinned them down in the main police station in anti- government disturbances that left two people dead.

Deputies debated the proposal through the evening, but they appeared divided on measures curtailing civil liberties.

/rf/kled/mt

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY ASKS CONDITIONAL DIALOGUE WITH ALBANIAN PRESIDENT

The Forum said Monday in a news conference that the road and means chosen by the government "are an impasse with unprecedented consequences."

The Forum, in a protest with seven requests addressed to the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, writes for an improvement of the situation, as a condition to start a dialogue.

"The Forum for Democracy holds that since equal dialogue its the only means to overcome the crisis, You would use all your competence conformed to the law and the post you are holding to meet the demands of the Forum," writes the protest-request to the President.

"This state of emergency makes impossible the beginning of a real, constructive and equal dialogue between the parties which will discuss this wayout," said Fatos Lubonja.

Asked whether the the Forum would accept to take part in "an unconditional dialogue" with the opposition forces, if such a thing was requested by the president, the Forum and party leaders said that "we are not imposing any conditions, these are political options for this situation."

Questioned about the options of the Forum for the solution to the problem of Gjallica firm, leaders of the conference Daut Gumeni, Kurt Kola and Fatos Lubonja, did not give any answer.

"I see with regret," said Lubonja, "that Europe is not responding properly to the situations in Albania. They are not well-informed, are very passive and indifferent." kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] TIRANA COURT ISSUES ARREST ORDER AGAINST INITIATOR OF BURNING LUSHNJE TOWN-HALL

In the trial, presided over by judge Artan Zeneli, on Sunday, the Lushnje prosecutor's office brought testimony that the defendant was one of the authors inciting destructions and burning in the Lushnja town. Malaj has been in hiding for 10 days to escape police search.

In the court hall Malaj has accepted participation in the rally but categorically denied being one of the persons responsible for setting the town-hall ablaze.

The court has provided as evidence the witnesses' testimony and the filming of the initial moment of the fire.

Sources of the prosecutor's office have said that the investigations regarding the main authors of these destructions of the Lushnja town on January 26, 1997, are over. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PRESS REVIEW

Under the title: "Albania needs governing and not destabilisation" the paper carries an interview with Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi.

Under the title "Albania needs sound reasoning, the paper carries an interview of writer Ismail Kadare with the "Voice of America". The paper carries a statement of the DP parliamentary group under the title:"Citizens, distance yourselves from any terrorist act and violence".

The newspaper carries the article :"Chiefs of the left extreme mourn over lack of freedom while violating the law".

Yesterday in "Rogner" hotel the leaders of the terrorists ask continuation of violence," the paper says under the title: "The forum declares war to the state", regarding yesterday's news conference of the Forum for Democracy.

"The DP kills Vlora" says Zeri i Popullit regarding the protests of the Vlora inhabitants who have lost their savings in the pyramid investment schemes. "Berisha' government repeats in Vlora the April 2 massacre in Shkoder," the paper says. The paper entitles its editorial:"A mourning day all over Albania today".

Zeri i Popullit reports that the Forum for Democracy calls on all the Albanian people to support in a civilian way the Vlora people.

"Judges: The distribution of the money is illegal", the newspaper Republika. Under the title:"The State of Emergency will trigger confrontation", the paper carries a statement of republican leader Godo. "The Republican party categorically rejects the parliament's statement and the declaration of the state of emergency in Vlora," the statement says among other things.

Regarding the sixth day of protests in Vlore, the paper carries the article:"Over 80 people wounded and three dead". The paper carries an interview with Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi with the "Voice of America" under the title "Scenario for Albania's destabilisation".

"Parliament at the disposal of Vlore", says Sindikalisti. "Terrorists inciting Vlora revolts", says the paper under the headline:"Distance yourselves, the government says". The paper carries the article:"Hands of politics sign political solution...in absence of alternatives".

"The war of stones" is the title of the editorial of the newspaper Albania. "Violence takes place again in the Vlora city streets", the paper says. "Vlora, state of emergency?", the paper says on its first page. "Massacre on the police: 46 wounded", the paper says.

As regards yesterday's news conference of the Forum for Democracy the paper says that:"The Forum for Democracy promises escalation of the grave situation in Albania". "The representatives of the Forum of Democracy took under protection those who exercised violence on the commissariat and the numerous policemen who are wounded", the paper says.

"Red and Black in Vlora", Koha Jone says. "Opposition: National Mourning. Meksi: State of Emergency", the paper says. "Vlora, the dictatorship kills with bullets", the paper says. "Protest continues in all the Vlora streets and squares. Half mast flag to be hoisted in all the house balconies. Protestors will tie black ribbons on their heads", the paper says. "The crisis of savings - politics" is an article of the newspaper. "The crisis Albania is first of all undergoing a political crisis," the article says.

"State of emergency to be imposed in Vlora today", Dita Informacion says. In the feature "Analysis" the paper carries the article "Violence, violence, violence".

The paper carries an interview with the SP secretary, Pandeli Majko, under the title :"Vlora is calmed down by the opposition". "The rise and fall of Gjallica's teeth" is the title of an article published in the newspaper.

Under the headline :"Two days of terror in the coastal city. Fierce clashes. Police hand over weapons", Gazeta Shqiptare carries the article:" Meksi: Army in Vlore". "Today the government will introduce the law on declaring the state of emergency", the paper says.

"The bloody revolt started Sunday afternoon. Violence also takes place in Tirana. Politicians beaten", the paper says. eva/kled/lm/Z

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] BOAT CAPSIZES, TWO PEOPLE DROWNED IN SHKODER

Two people were drowned, Tahir Alia, aged 50, and Skender Alia, 22. The four year old boy Arik Tahiri was in a very critical condition but he is now out of danger after he was given first aid in the hospital's emergency room.

While the boat was capsizing some people fishing on the shore saved the lives of the other people on the boat. a.ke/jz/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] FUNERAL OF ARTUR RRUSTEMI HELD IN VLORE -DP headquarters in district engulfed in flames-

The Interior Ministry, through an announcement issued last night, reports that citizen Rrustemi was shot dead by persons from among the crowd.

At about 10.00, during the funeral ceremony, unidentified persons set the district DP headquarters to fire.

A large number of people, who, starting from Artur's house, turned the funeral into a demonstration chanting various anti-government slogans.

The marchers moved towards the harbour and than headed towards the Independence square. From here the procession headed for the city's cemeteries, where the burying ceremony of the victim was held.

Meanwhile the local official institution as well as the other trade units suspended work.

Then, after cemeteries the marchers went back to the Independence Square, where it stayed for a short awhile, and dispersed at about 13:00. jz/lm/Z

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PEOPLE IN VLORA GATHERED AGAIN

There have been no confrontation with the police, which have stayed in the distance.

Some 300 citizens who came from Fieri, neighbouring city with Vlora, joint Vlora protesters. /eva/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] RP DEMANDS RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REJECTS A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN VLORE

"This government must resign and another government should be formed to create an emergent program to come out of this situation. Otherwise, we will come out of the government," said Godo.

He did not present any alternative on how the question of the lost money in pyramid schemes could be solved. Godo said that "a round table discussion must be held urgently. If we feel our responsibility as political forces, now it is high time show it," Many people have recently protested in the city of Vlore, after they lost their savings in the Gjallica investment firm.

Albanian Parliament is discussing in commissions and plenary sessions a possible introduction of emergency rule in the city of Vlora.

"In case the parliament declares a state of emergency in Vlora," said Godo, "we shall leave the parliament until normal situation is settled in that city, because we are categorically against such a law."

Godo said that the difficult financial situation could be settled through a political solution, which, according to him, would be "the preparation of the Constitution as soon as possible, and later, the holding of general elections in November." eva/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] SOCIALISTS ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF THE SITUATION CREATED AFTER COLLAPSE OF LOAN-TAKING FIRMS

Through a declaration of the SP Leading General Committee, the socialists have addressed President Sali Berisha to avoid at any cost the state of emergency in Vlore and its suburbs.

"The present crisis cannot be solved through an emergency rule, therefore we appeal to the President, as the only legitimate institution in Albania, not to accept and decree it," says the declaration.

The socialists have voiced their solidarity with protesters in Vlore and their condolences for the bereaved families. But they have said nothing about the attack against police forces.

In reply to a question, SP Secretary General, Rexhep Mejdani, said that "presently this government (the democratic government) has lost the credibility (of the people.")

"We want a dialogue in order to create a technocrat government," he said.

Mejdani considered the invitation of the President Sali Berisha and the DP chairman Tritan Shehu for a dialogue as speculative, saying that "we cannot have a dialogue on a question for which we have no information."

Besides, the SP presidency member, Ylli Bufi, former Prime Minister of the Government of stability in 1991, declared that the technocrat government does not ensure the return of the lost money.

Mejdani dismissed the idea that socialists have led the protests in various districts of the country.

Socialists have appealed for continuous protests in support of the same call by the presidency of the Forum for Democracy. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PRESENTS DRAFT LAW "ON STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CASES WHEN PUBLIC ORDER IS GRAVELY DISTURBED"

The draft was prepared as a result of the grave situation created by the illegal acts of grave consequences for the public order and security in the district of Vlore (after the failure of the investment firm Gjallica,) to restore a normal activity of the state institutions and to guarantee the individual rights and freedoms of the citizens.

On Monday Albanian Premier Aleksander Meksi asked the People's Assembly to introduce an emergency rule in the city of Vlore, southern Albania, and its suburbs. The People's Assembly discussed the request of the Prime Minister on the same day and asked that a draft the respective draft law be elaborated.

The aim of the draft law, says the report attached to it, is to define legally the factors which lead to a gravely spoiled public order which brings about the state of emergency, to sanction the legal basis for the level and proportions of the limits in the constitutional freedom and rights of the citizens and to introduce the necessary legal mechanisms to face the state of emergency and mobilize the institutional segments to neutralize and eliminate the illegal factors, which cause the state of emergency to be introduced.

The People's Assembly is expected to start immediately the discussion of the draft law. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF GREEK NATIONAL DEFENCE

President Berisha was pleased with the level of friendship and cooperation between our people and countries and stressed that the cooperation in the military field is an important element of this process.

He appreciated as useful the cooperation between two armies in the framework of partnership and considered the agreements that have just been signed as a further step in making concrete and consolidating this cooperation.

President Berisha also expressed his appreciation for the special interest of President Stefanopullos and Premier Simitis in the friendship and cooperation between our countries.

General Tzoganis, after pointing out the progress of the reform of our army, expressed the readiness to further develop the friendship and cooperation in the military field. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] SOME PROTESTERS IN VLORE LEAVE THE CROWD AND OPPOSITION LEADERS

Namik Dokle of SP and Neritan Ceka, chairman of the Democratic Alliance Party paid a visit to the family of Artur Rustemi, in Vlora, who was killed Monday during clashes with forces of order.

They have joined the marchers in the Flag Square, who, filled the square as in the morning.

The two opposition leaders were held on shoulders by their supporters and accompanied by their shouting. Slogans against the government were chanted for some minutes.

Also at present, the Flag Square continues to be overcrowded by people. A big stone has blocked the traffic in a corner of the square.

About 200 citizens reached Vlora in the afternoon and joined the crowd of people in the Flag Square in Vlore. kei/xh/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] TWO DOCUMENTS FOR COOPERATION IN MILITARY FIELD SIGNED BETWEEN GREECE AND ALBANIA

For the Albanian party, the documents were signed by the Chief of the Army General Staff, general Sheme Kosova, and for the Greek party by the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek National Defence, general Athanasios Tzoganis.

The signing of these two documents will make possible the further development, widening and making concrete the bilateral relation in the military field between the Albanian and the Greek Army. /s.sh/eva/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] LACK OF FOOD ARTICLES IN VLORE

In late hours of Tuesday, some baker's shops in the city had no bread.

In the mean time, prices of some food items such as rice, flour, oil, soap and fruits have increased 20-25 per cent, because, afraid that these articles may be lacking in the future, the people are hurrying to buy great quantities of such items.

The situation has also worsened because various food articles from Italy, with which Vlora has the greatest volume of trade, have not reached the port of Vlora. Since February 5, the port of Vlora has been closed and no ships or ferry boats can have access to it. eva/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] BOAT CAPSIZES, TWO PEOPLE DROWNED IN SHKODER

Two people were drowned, Tahir Alia, aged 50, and Skender Alia, 22. The four year old boy Arik Tahiri was in a very critical condition but he is now out of danger after he was given first aid in the hospital's emergency room.

While the boat was capsizing some people fishing on the shore saved the lives of the other people on the boat. a.ke/jz/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES DISCUSSION OF DRAFT LAW ON INTRODUCING STATE OF EMERGENCY

"The DP Parliamentary Group, after listening the deputies of Vlora district, and after discussing about the today situation in this city, came to the conclusion that it will be more useful to postpone the discussion of this draft law when it will be necessary", said Premier Meksi right after the end of the afternoon session.

"Vlora citizens should trust in finding the possible ways through dialogue to lessen the problems created", said Meksi.

This decision was taken, after an immediate meeting of the DP parliamentary group, listening the requests of the deputies of this party in the Vlora district, in order not to impose a state of emergency in this city. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] VLORA MAYOR AGAINST INTRODUCTION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

"It is not such a situation in Vlore as to impose a state of emergency. Vlore cannot accept it", said Zile, after the parliament did not continued its proceedings for the discussion of a draft law on imposing a state of emergency proposed by the government.

Zile re-stressed the necessity of a direct dialogue of the government with the protesters and said that "It is high time for dialogue. The violence brings about only violence". /mt/

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