Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-05-09

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PJETER ARBNORI MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER FINO

[02] ITALIAN AUTHORITIES DISCUSS ISSUE OF ALBANIAN REFUGEE SEPARATED FAMILIES

[03] PRESS RELEASE

[04] TEN POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE END OF JUNE

[05] PRESS RELEASE

[06] TEN POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE END OF JUNE

[07] PRESS RELEASE

[08] MINISTER CELO MEETS MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[09] TURCO VOICES ITALY'S READINESS TO ASSIST ALBANIA

[10] FAMILIES OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO REMAINED IN ITALY TO RETURN HOME

[11] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH TURKISH ARMY GENERAL KARADAJ

[12] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO HAILS POLITICAL CONTRACT OF MAY 9

[01] PJETER ARBNORI MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER FINO

According to the parliament's spokesman, they discussed issues of relations between the parliament and the Government of National Reconciliation. On this occasion the spirit of understanding and cooperation between the two institutions to calm down the situation in Albania was stressed. a.ke/eva/lm/Z

[02] ITALIAN AUTHORITIES DISCUSS ISSUE OF ALBANIAN REFUGEE SEPARATED [FAMILIES

In their meeting with the vice-director of the Italian Foreign Ministry Emigration Office, Caracciolo, Albanian ambassador Pasko and Albanian Consul Bashkim Bekteshi stressed that a quick solution of the problem would pacify the Albanian family members.

According to the Italian Foreign Ministry, the returned Albanian family heads had declared that they had gone to Italy without their wives and children, to look for jobs, criteria, which according to Italian laws, do not allow their staying in Italy.

After insistence on the Albanian part, it was decided that when considered reasonable, the Albanian refugee men could be returned to Italy, through the Italian embassy in Tirana. In these cases the returning procedures will be longer.

Meanwhile, at the meeting held at the Italian Interior Ministry with the assistant secretary Giannicola Sinisi the Albanian delegation discussed the issue of the Abanian separated families.

While thanking the Italian state for its assistance to the Albanian people, Qirko stressed that she had brought messages for the separated family members, wishing a quick joining. Qirko would transmit these messages through contacts with the family members found in the Bari and Fogia centres.

Sinisi expressed readiness of the Italian side to return immediately to Albania the wives and children of those families that wish to return. He said that so far only 24 have been identified out of the 73 member list.

As regards the returned refugees to Albania, he said there is a complete documentation, compiled in the conditions of lack of documents, in which the reason for coming to Italy is to look for jobs and on the other hand there are statements that they are alone without their families. Sinisi assured the Albanian delegation of the cooperation of the Italian authorities.

Pasko informed today that the Albanian delegation will hold other meetings at the Bari Prefecture with Italian authorities to contact the Albanian families and enable the return to Albania of the family members wishing to return. s.sh/lm/Z

[03] PRESS RELEASE

The achievement of this agreement makes up a real and important contribution of Vranitzky, the delegation he heads and of the Albanian political parties, the Press and Information Office close to the President of the Republic says.

Berisha expresses his determination to engage in and contribute to the implementation of this agreement. lm/Z/

[04] TEN POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE END OF JUNE

At the end of a news conference on Friday, wounding up a three day visit to Albania, the special OSCE envoy, Franz Vranitzky considered this contract "a decisive turning-point".

Vranitzky made known the points of the contract, which accepts as a basis for the administration of the elections a mixed electoral system, and requires that the socalled Committees of Public Salvation be dissolved at the latest 46 days before the election date. lm/Z

[05] PRESS RELEASE

The chairman of the Legality Party, Durollari, had also invited at this consultation the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, the Press and Information office close to the President of the Republic reports.

Guri Durollari and the representatives of these parties asked from the Democ ratic Party that, by keeping to the majority system, to take into account the interests of the smaller parties, enlarging the space of the proportional representation.

Views were also expressed that the minimum limit of the vote percentage, or the redistribution of votes below this limit should be defined not according to the current law but proportionally.

They expressed themselves determined on the indispensability of cooperation and pre-electoral alliances to secure another crushing victory of democracy in Albania.

Durollari, alongside his views on the majority system dominated electoral law, but more proportional than the current one, asked that on the day of elections the Albanians also express themselves on the form of government.

Thanking for the invitatuion to this consultation, president Berisha stressed that the Democratic Party, as the biggest force of the country, compared with the other parties, and possible party coalition, is convinced that the majority system is the best, but it cannot but take into account also the indispensability of the Albanian parliament pluralism, as well as the interests of its spiritual allies.

Only in this way can any restoration of communists to power be prevented, and the country be co-governed, he said. Therefore, Berisha said, "the Democratic Party should carefully study your demands and meet them, even by sacrificing something of its direct interest."

"At this round table views were expressed on the forms of cooperation and this in fact is a powerful demand of the electorate of our parties which will decide by itself even if the presidencies of its parties do not decide," he said.

Therefore, the Democratic Party is determined to be open to bilateral and multilateral honest, successful alliances not only with the forces present here, but also with the other forces which have not organised the rebellion, which have not backed and reconciled themselves with them, Berisha said further on.

He also said that he agreed with Durollari's request, but he would also consult with other parties on this.

Berisha stressed that the fact that the political forces did not organise and back the armed rebellion, but made it fail through democratic means, is a historic act. They should cooperate to prevent the rebellion front parties come to power, to restore Albania on the road of democracy and integration into Europe. s.sh/lz/lm/z

[06] TEN POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE END OF JUNE

At a news conference on Friday, at the end of a three day visit to Albania, the special OSCE envoy, Franz Vranitzky considered this contract "a decisive turning-point".

"The contract accepts as a basis for the administration of the elections a mixed electoral system, and for this a decision should be taken by May 12," Vranitzky said.

Asked whether President Berisha would agree to this contract and whether he would decree the election date within the set time frame, Vranitzky said:

"Berisha belongs to those exponents of the Albanian politics who have stressed the need of holding new parliamentary elections as soon as possible."

The parties have agreed that the socalled Committees of Public Salvation be dissolved at the latest 46 days before the election date.

"We as political forces clearly understand that the socalled Committees of Public Salvation should be dissolved at the latest 46 days before the election date.

"The spirit of the contract is not that the committees be disbanded first and then hold elections, but the elections be held after the committees are disbanded," Vranitzky said in response to a question.

The parties welcome the support and assistance of the international community and are committed to organise and hold the elections.

The parties agreed that Article 3 of the Anti-Genocide law should be reformulated without changing its essence.

They also welcome the presence of domestic and international observers during the electoral process.

"The International monitoring will be a joint effort by OSCE, CE, EU, as well as their parliamentary bodies," the contract says.

The parties invite the international community to appoint a coordinator, who should be a political figure of international stature, who will make the final report which the parties will not contest.

"The aim is to avoid various reports and coordinators," Vranitzky said.

The contract was signed by the Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, the Christian Democratic Party, The Democratic Alliance Party, the republican party, the National Front Party, the Social democratic Party, The Alliance of Human Rights Party, the Social Democratic Union Party, the Legality Movement Party. lm/Z

[07] PRESS RELEASE

TIRANA, MAY 9 (ATA)- President Berisha this afternoon had a telephone talk with Italian Prime Minister Prodi, who cordially congratulated Berisha on the agreement reached today among the Albanian political forces, the President's Press and Information Office reports.

Berisha, expressing his profound gratefulness to the Italian Government and Prime Minister Prodi for their precious contribution to helping Albania overcome the crisis, appreciated the direct engagement and assistance of the Italian Prime Minister in reaching this agreement.

He stressed that today's agreement is significant as it meets the main demands of all the Albanian political forces and that he would render all his possible contribution to its realisation.

Prodi assured Berisha that the June elections would open up a new era in the comprehensive cooperation of Albania with Italy and the International Community. lm/Z

[08] MINISTER CELO MEETS MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

Celo assured Teodorcevski of restoration as soon as possible of law and order at the border crossing points of Albania with Macedonia, so that the Macedonian side resumes granting visas at the border crossing points as soon as possible.

They also discussed guaranteeing a normal working regime in the headquarters of the embassies and residencies of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana. s.sh/jz/lm/Z

[09] TURCO VOICES ITALY'S READINESS TO ASSIST ALBANIA

Albanian Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Elmaz Sherifi, after briefing his Italian counterpart of the real situation in Albania and the most emergent tasks emerging before his ministry, asked the Italian Minister "more assistance in support of the Albanian emigrants, especially for the women and unaccompanied children, not to leave them take the road of crime and drugs."

"Despite the difficult local situation," said Mr Sherifi, "our ministry has offered economic aid to over 190 000 families, not including here dhe number of the needy families after the collapse of the pyramid investment schemes. 20 000 other people, including handicapped, aged people and orphans are assisted through our institutions and we do also offer assistance for many formerly politically persecuted people."

He asked from his Italian counterpart assistance for 150 000 Albanian refugees in Italy and the unification of many families separated as a result of the mass returning home of many pater familias from Italy.

"In the meeting in Vlore," said Mr Sherifi further on, "Mr Prodi promised to the people of Vlore the realisation of the seasonal working contracts in Italy and we, as a ministry, are willing to sign them."

"The Italian Government and my ministry," said to ATA the Italian Minister Livia Turco, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Italy, together with government organizations, will help realise many projects and above all we are here to display our predisposition to realise assistance projects for the children and the people who are living in difficult conditions in Albania."

"We shall also adopt strict measures," said Minister Turco, "to protect many children and women not to leave them take the road of crime, drugg-addiction and prostitution, moreover we will ask them to apply for education so that to help them integrate in the normal life." JZ/xh

[10] FAMILIES OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES WHO REMAINED IN ITALY TO RETURN HOME

Around 180 of 1 223 emigrants who left for Italy from Velipoja, Northern Albania, last Sunday on the board of Irini ship and were repatriated on a freighter to Albania, asked on Tuesday from the state authorities the return home of their familes at any cost.

"The familes who have remained separated in Italy have been interviewed. Some of them have, perhaps, arrived in Albania, naturally they who wanted to come back to Albania," said Foresti.

During her morning meeting with Minister Sherifi, Turco discussed problems of Albanian emigrants in Italy.

"I made clear to the Albanian Government that illegal emigration which has relation with criminal organizations and which exploits women and children should be fought," said Turco, clarifying the favourable position of the Italian Government concerning a normal emigration.

Minister Sherifi asked Turco to mediate for a more humane treatment of the Albanian emigrants and minors who are presently in Italy without anyone accomponying them. He also asked her mediation for the acceleration of the procedures for the recovering and bringning home of the bodies of the Otranto victims.

The two ministers stressed the importance of the non-government Albanian and Italian organizations regarding the social questions of Albania. Turco was optimistic of the positive view she found in Albania and expressed her thanks for the non governmental organizations for the meeting she had. xh

[11] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH TURKISH ARMY GENERAL KARADAJ

After voicing his gratitude for the Turkish assistance and support for Albania in all the fields, President Berisha thanked for Turkey's participation in the Alba Mission in Albania and on this occasion, he voiced his satisfaction for the success of this mission so far.

"Albanian experienced an armed rebellion," said Berisha, "whose pretext was the collapse of pyramid schemes, whereas the major reason was the oppostion of the Albanian former communists to the government elected through the free vote. The organized rebellion which wanted the violent toppling of the government failed to realise its objectives and its consequences are temporary, because Albanians have all the energy and wisdom not to allow a regress and to place Albania again on the track of democracy, the market economy and its integration in Europe.

"I am convinced," said Berisha, "that the Albanian Army will be reorganized on the proper criteria and conformed to European standards and in this context, I appreciate your contribution."

General Karadaj, after conveying to President Berisha the greetings of Turkish President Demirel, said that Turkey is so close to Albania in these difficulties. Under your direction," he said, "we are sure that Albania will come out of the crisis."

On the basis of the friendship, historical relations and the all-sided cooperation between our two peoples and countries, Turkey is ready that, by expanding cooperation in this field, to help Albania in the reorganization of its Army.

President Berisha asked General Karadaj to convey to President Demirel and Prime Minister Erbakan his greetings and gratitude. ssh/xh

[12] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO HAILS POLITICAL CONTRACT OF MAY 9

Appreciating this fact as a very important moment in the realisation of the program of the National Reconciliation Government, Mr Fino voiced his pleasure that the essence of this Political Contract is based on the proposals of the Government regarding the round table of the political parties and he congratulates all the participating forces that felt the present responsibility for the country's destinies.

"Today's agreement is a message of our determination to integrate in the European community and my greatest satisfaction is the fact that it was realised one day prior to the visit of a delegation of the National Reconciliation Government to the U.S." said Premier Fino. ssh/xh

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