Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-05-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] TWO KILLED IN CLASHES BETWEEN BANDS IN VLORE

[02] EXPLOSION ROCKS VIROI AND KARDHIQI BRIDGES IN GJIROKASTER

[03] "ALKATEL" RESUMES WORK TO LAY TELEPHONE CABLES IN DURRES

[04] STATEMENT OF THE UNION FOR DEMOCRACY

[05] TENSION IN TEPELENE AND MEMALIAJ TOWNS

[06] TRAVELLERS ATTACKED BY BANDITS IN SHKODER

[07] TENSION CONTINUES IN MEMALIAJ

[08] NO PROBLEMS CREATED BY EXPLOSION AT AMMUNITION DEPOT IN LEZHE

[09] ACTIVITY ON ALBANIA IN BONN

[10] SEVERAL AUTHORS OF CRIMES ARRESTED IN KORaE

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER MEETS DELEGATION OF ITALIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

[12] FORMER PRISONER FOUND KILLED IN HIS BED

[13] 18 YEAR OLD GIRL KILLED BY UNCONTROLLED USE OF ARM

[14] FINO GOVERNMENT PRESENTS NEW DRAFT-LAW ON ELECTIONS, CONSENSUS POSTPONED

[15] TURKEY WILL NOT ALLOW ANY GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN THE INNER AFFAIRS OF ALBANIA - declares Foreign Minister of Turkey

[16] CLARIFICATION OF GERMAN EMBASSY IN TIRANE ON KINKEL-FINO TELEPHONE TALK

[17] NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NATIONAL FRONT PARTY DISCUSSES ON ELECTORAL SITUATION AND PRE-ELECTION ALLIANCES

[18] SOMEONE KILLED IN THE CENTER OF BERAT

[19] UNIDENTIFIED VICTIM FOUND IN GJIROKASTER

[20] TEACHING PROCESS RESTARTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GJIROKASTER

[21] PASSENGERS PLUNDERED IN TEPELENE

[22] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH ELECTORATE OF VILLAGE PREZE

[01] TWO KILLED IN CLASHES BETWEEN BANDS IN VLORE

District police commissariat surces report that the incident took place at the "Rilindja" quarter, near the oil middle school. eva/lm/E

[02] EXPLOSION ROCKS VIROI AND KARDHIQI BRIDGES IN GJIROKASTER

The explosion was also felt in the town and has created in the middle of the national road a big hole over one meter deep and wide.

At the end of the hole there is water coming from the Viroi lake and it can hardly be repaired in a short time.

Explosion shook for the fourth time the Kardhiqi bridge, some 10 km from the Gjirokaster town, last night at around 21.30.

This explosion makes impossible the movement of big vehicles, as the main arch of the bridge and one of its legs are greatly damaged. a.ke/kled/lm/E

[03] "ALKATEL" RESUMES WORK TO LAY TELEPHONE CABLES IN DURRES

During this period Alkatel suffered damages estimated at the cost of thousands of dollars.

After repairing the damages the second phase will begin, for which the Italian telecom has accorded six billion liras, bringing to 10 000 the telephone numbers in Durres. a.ke/kled/lm/E

[04] STATEMENT OF THE UNION FOR DEMOCRACY

In the main TV News broadcast of May 17, 1997, at 20:00, a statement of some parties, headed by the Socialist Party, was read. This statement carried some ultimate requests with regard to the electoral campaign.

Deception to make this statement known to the public as if on behalf of the Prime Minister of the National Reconciliation Government by some parties of the round table and outside it, is product of irresponsible careerist and provocative people.

The parties of the "Union for Democracy" condemn this statement as a provocative act to artificially increase tensions on the eve of the electoral campaign.

The parties of the "Union for Democracy" had not been aware of this statement.

Following the style of rebel committees, they try to create new tensions, fear and insecurity on the eve of the electoral campaign. This fear of the free vote and the clarification of their destructive and manipulating role in the domestic and international opinion, deprives the signatories of this statement of any moral civic and national responsibility. The fact that this declaration, was not read again in the following news broadcasts, as usually applied, speaks clearly of its falsity.

The drafters of the statement, through the requests they represent, show obviously that they have not all read the law, thus they cannot interpret it. In regard to the problems they raise, we are interpreting their requests referring to the adopted electoral law:

1. The Central Election Commission is nominated by the Prime Minister of the National Reconciliation Government, on proposal of the political parties, participating in government and is signed by the President of the Republic.

2. The guarantee of the control of the voting lists by the Electoral Commissions is provided by article 38, point c, and article 92 of the law.

3. The way of identifying the voters is is defined by article 65 of the law and the Central Electoral Commission, CEC.

4. The status of foreign observers is defined by the CEC.

5. According to the law, with the beginning of the electoral campaign, the activity of the political parties on TV is controlled by CEC.

6. The President of the Republic, the Premier of the National Reconciliation Government and the Speaker of Parliament have requested (it is already confirmed now) the participation of the international institutions in the electoral process. We reconfirm our attitude for a full and close observation from these organizations and institutions.

As a matter of fact, we are the parties to seek a meeting of all the political forces in order to realise a social pact for a honest electoral campaign and a free and fair electoral process.

Determined to implement the electoral law, we declare that we are ready to discuss with the political forces to help the Reconciliation Government and the Central Electoral Commission prepare the necessary legal infrastructure for the electoral campaign. In this regard, we consider indispensable the creation of the Central Electoral Commission with the participation of all political forces on the already established bases.

Legality Movement Party Christian-Democratic Party Social-Democratic Union Party Democratic Union Party Democratic Party

[05] TENSION IN TEPELENE AND MEMALIAJ TOWNS

Gunmen took hostage citizen Latif Lato at a bar of the Memaliaj town on Saturday. Lato, member of the public salvation committee of Tepelene, has joined the other hostage, officer of the Tepelene police commissariat.

Physical violence was exercised against the police officer, according to police sources in Tepelene.

The authors of the hostages, at about 21.00, shot at the Tepelene police commissariat building. The police forces, along with public salvation committee forces hunted down the bandits and succeeded in releasing the two hostages and isolating the band inside a building at the Memaliaj town parking.

Two passers-by and a policeman received gunshot wounds in the clashes between the police forces and the bandits. The policeman was urgently sent to the Ioannina hospital in a serious condition.

The battle continued also yesterday, thus, making the movement on the national road difficult. A passer-by, a woman from Memaliaj, received gunshot wound in the street shootout. a.ke/kled/sh/

[06] TRAVELLERS ATTACKED BY BANDITS IN SHKODER

The 35-year-old from Shkoder, Zef Pellumbi, was killed and another citizen wounded in the shootout with the bandits.

The Shkoder-Puke, Puke-Qafa e Malit and Gjegjan-Puke axes have long since been a trouble for the citizens being robbed of their possession under the threat of weapons.

The Shkoder prefect, Elhan Sharra, met recently with the commander of the Alba mission multinational force, General Forlani, and asked him to deploy of the Spanish troops in the Shkoder city and take under control the Shkoder-Lezhe, Shkoder-Koplik and Shkoder-Puke axes. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[07] TENSION CONTINUES IN MEMALIAJ

According to police commissariat the gun battle between the gang contained near a parking in the Memaliaj town and the police and public salvation committee forces continues.

Security in this town has been seriously shaken and the citizens' movement has almost been blocked.

Passage along the national road has as well become difficult due to the shootout. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[08] NO PROBLEMS CREATED BY EXPLOSION AT AMMUNITION DEPOT IN LEZHE

A team of specialist doctors of the Spanish forces deployed at Shengjin in the context of the mission Alba concluded through tests and special apparatuses that the explosion of this depot last March has caused no nuclear, biological and chemical pollution.

Spanish doctor Guiote said that the Spanish medical team had checked the whole area at the Kolsh commune after complaints of several villagers of dry-lips, difficulties in swallowing and headache. The medical examinations carried out showed that these signs are not result of the explosion.

The water tests show that it can be used without problems all over the commune.

The Spanish doctors donated the Lezhe hospital bottles of blood to save the lives of four people treated for gunshot wounds. /a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[09] ACTIVITY ON ALBANIA IN BONN

Among those present there were many diplomats, reporters, friends of Albania, Albanians of diaspora and temporary residing Albanian emigrants.

As the press and information office of the Albanian Foreign Ministry reports, the Secretary of State of the representation of the Land of Hesen, Norbert Shyren pointed out the sympathy for the Albanian people and wished for the solution of the difficult problems Albania is facing recently. He voiced the conviction that Albania will join the European processes soon and in a dignified way.

"Europe welcomes Albania," stressed Shyren.

Ambassador of Albania in Bonn, Xhezair Zaganjori, after expressing his thanks to German friends, presented writer Ismail Kadare pointing out his contribution to keep alive the Albanian spirit and culture.

Ismail Kadare read for those present excerpts from his works and responded the numerous questions put to him by those present on the situation in Albania, the question of Kosova etc. kei/xh/k

[10] SEVERAL AUTHORS OF CRIMES ARRESTED IN KORaE

The police have also blocked during these operations a considerable quantity of weapons and ammunition. /eva/mt/k

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER MEETS DELEGATION OF ITALIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

During the meeting they exchanged thoughts about the urgent assistance to put into function the Albanian justice institutions.

"Our party will soon bring aid for jails and is ready to train the staff of the Department of Prisons and School of Penitentiary," the counselor of the Italian Minister of Justice confirmed to Ngjela.

They also discussed in the meeting about the signing of the European Convention, which has to do with the extraditions and the Italian party promised aid for the juridical system, which will also include the training of judges. /s.h/kei/mt/k

[12] FORMER PRISONER FOUND KILLED IN HIS BED

Sources of the police commissariat of Elbasan district report that his dead body was uncovered in a house in "11 nentori" city quarter, whose owners are now in Greece.

Also on Monday, as a result of a volley of bullets by some people passing in a car, a shop assistant in the entrance of the market was wounded. ake/kei/xh/k

[13] 18 YEAR OLD GIRL KILLED BY UNCONTROLLED USE OF ARM

According to sources in the hospital, the killing came when her father was cleaning his pistol and gave it to her daughter for a moment, not knowing that the pistol was already charged.

During the recent unrest, accidents with arms have claimed the lives of 20 people in Elbasan so far. kei/xh/k

[14] FINO GOVERNMENT PRESENTS NEW DRAFT-LAW ON ELECTIONS, CONSENSUS POSTPONED

"In a draft, presented by the Government and in several amendments, presented by the political forces, are discussed fundamental issues, like the division of constituencies and seats in the list, as well as other amendments, which are normally decided in the law approved by Parliament," said the Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Genc Pollo, after the meeting of Premier Bashkim Fino with ten political parties, signers of the May 9, accord.

The chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo, said after the meeting: "Nothing is understood inside there what says one party and what says the other one."

The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have also presented amendments for the law on elections, approved by the parliament.

"If the law, approved by the parliament,4 will be not improved, the SDP appeals on the Government not to administrate the election process and after this the SDP will review its participation in the Government of National Reconciliation," said the leader of the SDP, Paskal Milo.

"The discussions for amendments in the election law, which topples it, are not positive stands," said the chairman of the Legality Movement Party, Guri Durollari.

"The Government wants to play its role to reach a consensus," declared after the meeting the spokesman of the Government, Vladimir Prela.

"We support the fact that the elections are hold by the government. The expulsion of the Government from the election process is an extraordinary and unknown problem in the election process of the world," said Milo, referring to the law, approved by Parliament.

In the article 92 of the law on elections, it is said that the Government is charged with the organization, leading and managing the election process.

Many articles from the variant of Fino government and the proposals of the OSCE mediator, Vranitzky, are taken into consideration in the law approbed by Parliament.

"It is made public that the President of the Republic and Premier Fino will agree regarding the nominations of the Central Election Commission," said Pollo.

The Chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, did not give any opinion to the journalists regarding the meeting.

Meanwhile, the SP Secretary for Public Relations, Pandeli Majko, said that he hoped any positive step would be reached in the meeting of 17:00. /kei/mt/k

[15] TURKEY WILL NOT ALLOW ANY GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN THE INNER AFFAIRS OF ALBANIA - declares Foreign Minister of Turkey

"We will continue to support democracy in Albania," said Ciller, reports Press and Information Department of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, referring to the TV channel TRT - 1. /kei/mt/k

[16] CLARIFICATION OF GERMAN EMBASSY IN TIRANE ON KINKEL-FINO TELEPHONE TALK

In his talk, Federal Foreign Minister Dr Klaus KInkel reiterated his appeal to all Albanian parties to reach as soon as possible a compromise on the electoral law.

The elections must be held at the end of June, 1997. In no case should the parties boycott these elections. Moreover, the responsibilty rests on the present parliamentary majority, and not pretext must be offered for this. The polls must be held and recognized by all the political forces.

The Federal Minister Dr Kinkel insisted that the prolonged blockade of the political positions of Albania is irresponsible both towards the Albanian people, who do urgently need a signal for a new political start and towards the international community of states, which, through great expenditures, is committed to assist Albania to come out of its crisis. The necessary and urgent aid for the country comes if the Albanian parties will hold their responsibility.

The Federal Minister Dr Klaus Kinkel stressed that the international commitment is based on the declaration for "National Reconciliation" of March 7, 1997. Provided that in front of the national crisis the political positions are unable to overcome the climate of disbelief in the spirit of "National Reconciliation," perhaps the International community may lose its patience.

The Federal Minister stressed again that cooperation with OSCE envoy Franz Vranitzky must continue. He said that Mr Vranitzky enjoys the full support of Germany and of the International Community of States. xh/k

[17] NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NATIONAL FRONT PARTY DISCUSSES ON ELECTORAL SITUATION AND PRE-ELECTION ALLIANCES

"We approved the participation in the United Right Wing with the Republican Party, the Right Democratic Party and the Party Movement for Democracy and we remain open for the others like the Party of Christian Democratic Union", said the Secretary General of this Party, Alkeo Gjergo.

"We are against any alliance with the ex-communists, said Gjergo, but also with DP".

He did not exclude the possibility of a coalition with it after the elections.

Asked how his party enters the elections, when other parties of the coalition of this party have accepted the alliance with SP, Gjergo responded: "We criticize these parties."

The NFP deputy, Duke Muca, was against the stand of his party.

"A nationalist party should not vote for a proportional law, which, mainly in south, damages the national interests," said Muca, referring to the draft-law of Premier Fino on elections.

"The connection with the NFP is fundamental for us, as well as for those. We cannot stay without one another," said the chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo.

According to this coalition, the parties will divide the constituencies and will support their joint deputies. /kei/mt/k

[18] SOMEONE KILLED IN THE CENTER OF BERAT

The killer fled away right after he shot the victim dead, eye witnesses report.

It is thought he is the victim of the self-justice of the Berati citizens and is connected with the tragic event of November '96, when Arapi killed Luan Kosova, inhabitant of Kucove.

Arapi has been in jail, under the investigation for this murder, and fled away after the prison was opened several weeks ago.

This murder carries to 82 the toll of the victims since the beginning of riots in this district. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[19] UNIDENTIFIED VICTIM FOUND IN GJIROKASTER

Sources of the police commissariat report that it is difficult to identify the victim. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[20] TEACHING PROCESS RESTARTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GJIROKASTER

"We can say, he said, that the teaching process has already started, but not in its regular shape. The lectures will be held in the form of cyclic consults, aiming to finish this academic year". /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[21] PASSENGERS PLUNDERED IN TEPELENE

In the axe of the road Ballsh-Sarande, the cases when the passengers, travelling with different vehicles, were plundered, have been often. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[22] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH ELECTORATE OF VILLAGE PREZE

President Berisha expressed in his address the confidence in the support of inhabitants of Preza for DP and after "the rebellion against Albanian democracy, Preza will prove its determination to march on the road of democracy, the road towards Europe."

"We are democrats and open to accept the responsibilities, the weak points and mistakes," said the President to hundreds of those present in the yard of a new school built in the highest point of the several-hundred-year castle of Preze, 424 met er above the sea level.

The commune of Preza, with 6 thousand inhabitants, has voted, since 1991, for the Democratic Party.

"We," said Berisha, "bear our responsibility because we tolerated the pyramid investment schemes, but they are not tolerated for political motives. To the one who says this thing I will reply with the question why did not SP attacked DP for its position towards pyramid schemes, does it has the same political positions?"

Berisha explained the responsibilities and expressed his belief in the free initiative. He also said that DP has a whole plan for the economic revival of the country.

"We are not sitting idle in face of the situation of the citizens. But we shall not speculate with their indignation, we are trying to solve the problems in various ways," said Berisha, explaining the present tendencies towards the transparence for this issue.

"The democrats, without any bad purpose," said Berisha, "asked the present Minister of Finance, from the former opposition, to tell the people the truth. Why do they now refuse to tell the truth with regard to the fraudulent foundations before the citizens, in whose tribunes they appeared in protest, or they cannot face them now.

"This is the real reason why they are keeping silence and do not make the transparence on the failed pyramid investments schemes," said Berisha. He voiced the conviction that the future objective of the people of Preze will be better realised with DP than with those who organized the rebellion and destruction.

"We are resolute that we will have a landslide victory in the polls. After the victory we shall leave more space to the opposition, in the institutions of control, in order to control us," said Berisha.

Then, deputy Azem Hajdari greeted those present along with the chairman of the commune, Sali Kamberi. xh/

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