Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-05-29

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN PREMIER FINO IN HAGUE

[02] SP BRANCH OPENS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN DURRES

[03] PRESIDENT OF SILVA COMPANY SHOT BY FIRE WEAPON

[04] TWO PEOPLE KILLED BY FIRE WEAPON IN SHKODER

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] ALBANIAN UNITED RIGHT WING FORESEES VICTORY IN JUNE 29 ELECTIONS

[07] EXCHANGE RATE OF LEK AGAINST DOLLAR LOWERS

[08] CELO AND PERPALI MEET GERMAN BUNDESTAG PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

[09] ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD ON JUNE 29

[10] ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT AID ARRIVE IN ALBANIA

[11] MISSION OF EU OBSERVERS' MISSION BLOCKED IN GJIROKASTER

[12] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER RETURNS HOME

[13] CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION STARTS WORK

[14] "CHIEF" OF CERRIK ACCIDENTALLY KILLS HIMSELF

[15] ALBANIA TO TAKE PART IN FOURTH MUSICAL CONFERENCE OF MEDITERRANEAN

[01] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN PREMIER FINO IN HAGUE

Premier Fino had a special working meeting with the Turkish President, Sulejman Demirel, in the residence of the Turkish Ambassador in Hague. He has also met with the deputy Premier of Great Britain, John Prescot, Premier of Norway, Jagland, Danish Defence Minister, Hans Hekkerup, state secretary in the Spanish Foreign Ministry, Ramon De Miguel, deputy Minister of Greece Jorgo Papandreu, and others.

In these meetings were treated problems regarding the situation in Albania, the aid and support to overcome the crisis, and particularly on the conduct of free and fair elections of June 29.

They also reconfirmed their complete support for the Government of National Reconciliation, and appreciated the participation of Premier Fino in the celebration of 50th anniversary of Marshall Plan. They expressed the readiness to give all their support and possible cooperation for the restoration of Albania.

Premier Fino, who is invited in these celebrations by his Dutch counterpart, is accompanied by the Minister of Privatization, Eduard Ypi and the State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Pavli Zeri. /l.gj/kei/mt/k

[02] SP BRANCH OPENS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN DURRES

Attending were also the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, Secretary General Rexhep Mejdani, Organization Secretary Namik Dokle, Foreign Secretary Maqo Lakrori, as well as the members of the Leading Committee, Kastriot Islami, Ndre Legisi and Bashkim Zeneli.

The chairman of the SP branch, Bardhyl Agasi, who opened the rally, told the participants that this election campaign is not only a campaign, but also a protest against the policy of Berisha.

The SP chairman, Fatos Nano, said in the meeting that "to all of us, to the whole Albania, better days will come". Nobody thought he will see Albania in this situation, without order, destroyed, and this due to the fault of Berisha, that's why Berisha and his policy belong to the past. SP fights so that the human rights are completely applied, the economic capacity of the country is put into efficience, as well as for real social protection and solution of the national issue. SP said Nano will fight for the real integration of Albania in Europe and euroatlantic structures.

Nano said that the device of the Socialist Party is: normality of life and close ties of SP with the democratic world, to overcome the current crisis of Albania. "Our stand is not rebellion, but a rule of law, democratic institutions, labour and assets for all, financial stability, revival of patriotism," said the socialist leader Fatos Nano. /a.ke/pas/mt/k

[03] PRESIDENT OF SILVA COMPANY SHOT BY FIRE WEAPON

According to the expertise of the police, which came immediately on the spot, the bullets, after damaging the wall of the balcony and broken the windows, pierced the wardrobe and damaged almost all the clothes there.

The specialists of the Police Commissariat no. 3 found in the room of Shehaj five bullet of the calibre 9 mm, without including those which pierced in the outer wall of the hotel.

"Silva" company has regularly returned the money to its creditors, and Shehaj believes that those who have shot him are not his creditors. /mt/k

[04] TWO PEOPLE KILLED BY FIRE WEAPON IN SHKODER

The event occurred after the curfew, when both persons were travelling in a car of the type "Golf", and were shot by volley of bullets.

The investigating group went immediately to the spot. /s.sh/eva/mt/k

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit reports "Criminal gangs, the shield of Berisha". With regard to the meeting of SP chairman, Fatos Nano, in the context of the election campaign, the paper reports "SP offers chances and security for all". In the heading 'Actuality', the paper publishes the article "Why Berisha was not invited in Hague?", while in the heading 'Economy', the paper reports "Foreign donors make active their projects".

Republika paper carries the editorial "The elections and the hot will pass with August". The paper reports "Berisha accused by former people of justice," with regard to a lawsuit of the judges, discharged in the years 1995-1996, brought against the Supreme Council of Justice, addressed by Albanian President, Sali Berisha. With regard to the expenses for the election campaign, the paper reports "Only 30 million leks for the parties."

Rilindja paper covers a meeting of Kosova President, Ibrahim Rugova, with the ambassador of Great Britain in Belgrade, Ivory Roberts, under the title "The policy in Kosova is wise and rational."

Albania carries the editorial "USA: No more boycott."

With regard to the devaluation of lek, the paper reports "Dollar, a mountain with leks". The paper reports under the headline "The constitutional court closes the conflict Fino-Shehu", "The government loses, the general wins," with regard to the decision of the government to discharge the deputy Interior Minister, Agim Shehu, who asked the solution in the court.

Balli i Kombit reports "Historic punishment to communism, single party mentality and pseudo-democracy". The paper carries an interview with the deputy chairman of the National Front Party, Hysen Selfo, under the title "The splits of the National Front are imaginary. Its reputation has increased everyday."

Liria paper reports "Double campaign of socialists, efforts for artificial destabilization."

Tribuna carries an interview with DP deputy, Azem Hajdari, under the title "The law will crush the criminals."

With regard to the event in the district of Cerrik, where five officers of the Interior Ministry died, the paper reports "Here there are those who killed the guardsmen in Cerrik". The paper in the heading "Politics", reports that the Sp leader Fatos Nano, is swept by the fevers of the 'cold war'".

Independent reports "The committee of salvation in Vlore protests against patrolling of Multinational Forces in the town." Under the title "The state of emergency will be not lifted", Independent carries an interview with the Albanian Speaker, Pjeter Arbnori.

Koha Jone under the title "U.S. Embassy in Tirana declares last stand", reports "We cannot work with political or official forces that do not support the Government of Reconciliation." In the heading "Economy" the paper reports "The catastrophe is approaching: Dollar reaches 200 leks".

Dita reports under the headline "SP leader not pleased with the voting conditions" "Nano: Participation in elections impossible". The paper also reports "Bank in movement, dollar decreasing."

Gazeta Shqiptare carries an interview with Hajdin Sejdia (the person who exercised firs the massive loan-taking in Albania), under the title "Here there are the plans to refund the millions of pyramids." In the heading 'Politics', the paper reports "Nano ultimatum: No votes with curfew." /kei/eva/mt/k

[06] ALBANIAN UNITED RIGHT WING FORESEES VICTORY IN JUNE 29 ELECTIONS

AURW is made up of the National Front, Christian Democratic Union, the Democratic Right Wing, the Conservative Party, the Party Movement for Democracy and the Republican Party.

The object of the AURW is to pull the country out of the destructive crisis and reach the social peace through restoration of public order, put into efficience the state institutions and revival of the economic activity, was said in the conference.

Ermenji, chairman of the National Front Party, said that no guarantees exist to have free and fair elections in June, and have an acceptable political result.

The state of emergency should be lifted, which creates conditions for massive manipulations, conditions should be created for fair presentation in TV of all the political subjects, the problem of financing the parties should be solved, said Ermenji.

Abaz Ermenji was slandered a lot by the press, as being connected with the former state Sigurimi during the time he was in exile in France, and as a person who is splitting the old nationalist party of the National Front.

Ermenji foresaw that AURW will win the elections, although he and other leaders of the parties of this formation have not finally declared their participation in elections.

Asked whether the United Right Wing will participate in elections if the state of emergency is not lifted, the chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo, said that he could not give any categorical reply now.

"We think that we can not participate in elections with the state of emergency, because there will be no future and stable government," said Godo, adding that he hoped this problem is solved in the following week between Premier Fino and President Berisha, Democratic Party and other parties.

"But I think that we should participate in elections," concluded Godo.

With regard to the process of monitoring and observers, Dashamir Shehi of the Party 'Movement for Democracy' said that 400 observers are few.

Meanwhile Godo said that he believes in an intensive monitoring of the elections, because along with the OSCE observers, in Albania will also come observers from the Council of Europe, European Parliament, USA, and other structures.

According to Godo, the number of observers in the forthcoming elections in Albania will be "some thousands". /pas/mt/k

[07] EXCHANGE RATE OF LEK AGAINST DOLLAR LOWERS

The rate of buying dollar and other main currencies by private agencies of the exchange rate was also lower.

According to the money-changers, the sudden fall of the value of dollar in the exchange rate with lek came due to the intervention of banks, which threw considerable amounts of dollars in the foreign exchange market with the price until 174 lek per dollar.

It is reported that a meeting of the Governor of the Albanian Bank with all the directors of banks of the country was held on Wednesday. /s.sh/pas/mt/k

[08] CELO AND PERPALI MEET GERMAN BUNDESTAG PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

"Over the recent months, the Albanian police, over the last months, have carried out an immense work, experiencing very critical situations.

During the violent unrest a considerable part of police infrastructure was damaged, a large part of the population was armed and all criminals escaped from prisons," Celo said.

He added that despite great shortages in infrastructure and logistics the full reorganisation of police structures was carried out.

Further on, Celo said that the presence of several so-called committees in several southern towns remains a serious concern both as regards public order and peace and the preparation of the electoral campaign and realisation of elections in these towns.

Meanwhile, Perpali underlined that the police would play a more positive role in this electoral campaign if the political forces started the campaign with a broader consensus.

The German Bundestag delegation members showed interest in the preparation of the elections and other aspects dealing with the tasks and role of the police for the good proceeding of the electoral campaign and realisation of a correct election process. s.sh/kei/lm/sh

[09] ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD ON JUNE 29

At this meeting Rakipi appreciated Germany's support for Albania over the last five years.

Rakipi told the German parliamentarians that the "setting up of the pyramid schemes and their use as well as the events accompanying this painful process, might have created a deformed image of Albanian developments."

"Therefore it was important that the Albanian institutions offered a political solution to the latest developments and it is important that this political solution be carried through to the end, that means, holding free and fair elections on June 29," Rakipi said further on.

Dwelling on the political moment the country is living through, Rakipi said that "Any attempt to boycott these elections would be of consequence for the country's future as regards security and economy."

"The election result should testify to the votes of all Albanians and constituencies.This means that all the political forces should be provided with the possibility of being present in every region of the country, of being equal in the media and of fully implementing the election law," he said.

The German parliamentarian considered extremely significant the holding of elections as scheduled, the above source said. jz/lm/sh/

[10] ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT AID ARRIVE IN ALBANIA

According to the Romanian embassy in Tirana, the aid is in the context of Romania's backing of Albanian authorities in resolving problems the Albanian people are faced with at present.

The aid includes sugar, powder milk, destined for the population and textile articles, clothing, shoes, various medical items, destined for the police and hospitals. a.ke/jz/lm/Z

[11] MISSION OF EU OBSERVERS' MISSION BLOCKED IN GJIROKASTER

Gjirokaster Prefect Merkuri said that the observers' visit to Gjirokaster, Southern Albania, had been announced by the Caritas representative office in this town. "The office also said that the observers' mission had been blocked in Memaliaj and returned to Tirana," the prefect said.

The mission mainly composed of Italian missionaries, is thought to return to Gjirokaster on Monday to also hold meetings with political parties representatives.

Merkuri said that the aim of the visit of the EU missionaries to Gjirokaster was to discuss measures for a normal holding of the June 29 elections. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[12] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER RETURNS HOME

The government delegation was received at Rinas airport by the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Ekrem Kastrati, Ministers Elmaz Sherifi, Spartak Ngjela, Myqerem Tafaj, Secretary of State at the Interior Ministry Lush Perpali, deputy Foreign Minister Albert Rakipi and other government members.

Also present was the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Dutch Kingdom to Albania, Henk Heynen. a.ke/kled/lm

[13] CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION STARTS WORK

All the parties are required to release the names of the persons to take part in the media electoral commission until tomorrow by midday.

The CEC asked the electoral subjects to issue lists of their representatives in the district commissions until May 30.

The CEC also set up the sub commission inside it: the juridical commission with chairman Kosta Gazeli and that of the material basis with chairman Sadik Shkembi, that of the observers with chairman Arben Xhiku and the media sub-commission which will be merged with the central media observation commission.

The SP and the DP have three commission members respectively, and the other parties one candidate each. kled/lm/Z

[14] "CHIEF" OF CERRIK ACCIDENTALLY KILLS HIMSELF

Eyewitnesses report that the accident took place after Rama came out of a barber's shop, while two other persons were carrying out some mechanic repair.

Meanwhile Rama got into the car and after several seconds the tragic explosion took place killing him and wounding the other two, one of whom was urgently sent to Tirana's hospital.

Witnesses deny the version of an assassination attempt as the victim had bombs in his car. However, official pronouncement of competent bodies is not available, as in this town the police station has not been operating since the tragic event with the Interior Ministry special forces. a.ke/jz/lm/sh/

[15] ALBANIA TO TAKE PART IN FOURTH MUSICAL CONFERENCE OF MEDITERRANEAN

Twelve Mediterranean countries have been invited to take part in this conference, to be held in Sicily of Italy, between May 31 and June 1.

The Musical Centre of Palermo has invited from Albania composer Vasil Tole, author of the "Trias" work, which will be interpreted by the first flautist of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Besnik Doshlani.

This is the fourth time Albania takes part in this yearly conference. /s.sh/kled/lm/sh/

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