Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-04

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] MELO ASKS PANGALOS NO CHANGE BE MADE ON ELECTION LAW

[02] POLICE FORCES PATROL MAIN BOULEVARD

[03] CEKA ASKS FOR RETURN OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO VOTE

[04] DP CONDEMNS TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST ITS LOCAL PARTY OFFICE

[05] OSCE OFFICE SOON IN GJIROKASTER

[06] OSCE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION

[07] TNT ROCKS KUKES

[08] ROAD BERAT-LUSHNJE BLOCKED AFTER FIRE EXCHANGE EARLY IN MORNING

[09] EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: AID WITH FLOUR WAS HUMANITARIAN

[10] UNION FOR DEMOCRACY RESOLUTE TO WIN JUNE 29 ELECTIONS

[11] LEKA ZOGU IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CERRIK

[12] LEKA ZOGU IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CERRIK

[13] PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY PRESIDENCY EXAMINES REQUEST OF PREMIER TO CONVENE PLENARY SITTING

[14] USA PROVIDE ALBANIA WITH 5000 TONNE FLOUR

[15] TOURISTIC CENTER "aAJUPI" DESTROYED IN GJIROKASTER

[16] 70% OF ALBANIAN SHIPS IN ITALY REPAIRED BY ITALIAN PARTY

[17] WE WILL HEAL ALL WOUNDS OF REBELLION WITHIN 5 MONTHS - Berisha

[18] MORE EMIGRANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN SCHEME OF SOCIAL INSURANCES

[19] ON JUNE 29 WE WILL GIVE THE MERITED RESPONSE TO COMMUNIST REBELLION AND TERRORISM

[20] A BOMB THROWN AGAINST PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA

[21] ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA'S LIFE BY A LEFT WING EXTREMIST

[22] DECLARATION OF DPA ON THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA'S LIFE

[01] MELO ASKS PANGALOS NO CHANGE BE MADE ON ELECTION LAW

"We asked that the electoral law remains as it is because the Socialist party (SP) has demanded a change to this law," Melo said.

He also asked Pangalos that minority emigrants come to Albania to vote in the South of the country.

Melo said that he asked Pangalos a solution be found for the state of emergency and the time table of election. He himself said that the election should last till seven p.m. not nine p.m.

The HRUP leader also said that foreign troops should assume the task to patrol the roads and maintain order and law in the cities.

He was for a greater presence of observers, journalists and television crews. ak/k

[02] POLICE FORCES PATROL MAIN BOULEVARD

Police sources said that these controls aimed at finding persons who illegally possess arms and deny that there was any call on bomb planting.

Two bomb blasts rocked Tirana on Monday which left some 30 people injured. s.sh/ak/k

[03] CEKA ASKS FOR RETURN OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO VOTE

After the meeting, Ceka said "this was a commitment of the Greek government and by acting as before when it has assured in a civil way the right to the Albanian citizens in Greece to vote in their country, it will do this again without any difficulty."

Regarding the DAP stand on the lifting of the state of emergency and the reduction of the time table for the election day, Ceka said that "the European Community should use pressure", because according to him "in such a way human conditions will be created for the development of elections." kei/ak/k

[04] DP CONDEMNS TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST ITS LOCAL PARTY OFFICE

The spokesman said that these actions stir up tensions during the election campaign and call the free vote in question.

Recently the DP local office in Elbasan has been attacked by unidentified and armed persons. It was also attacked on Monday night both with fire arms and explosives.

The press release asked the National Reconciliation government that in the framework of its commitments for elections to adopt the appropriate measures assuring a quiet campaign by fighting against crime and criminality. lgj/pas/ak/k

[05] OSCE OFFICE SOON IN GJIROKASTER

Two OSCE officials confirmed this in a meeting with the prefect Thanas Merkuri and the head of city town Ylli Asllani.

This office will cover the preparations for a normal development of elections while in the future it will carry out the organisation's work. s.sh/kei/ak/k

[06] OSCE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION

"A technical and consultancy assistance is being foreseen taking concrete forms through operations and observations conducted recently in many districts. Concrete conditions are being considered in cities such as Elbasan, Durres, Vlore, Lezhe and Gjirokaster and support is being rendered to fulfil the framework of election process such as the drafting of lists and others," Jeff Murray said.

After considering the concrete conditions, the observers' teams will report on the situation and then see a possibility to open offices in many cities.

"We will bring the ballot boxes and papers," Murray said adding that OSCE considers very important the participation in elections which should be reliable for Albanians."

OSCE, along with continuing ties and contacts with government authorities, signed an understanding memorandum in the Foreign Ministry during its mandate in Albania. kei/ak/k

[07] TNT ROCKS KUKES

The explosive devices dumped in two private cafes, one in the center of the city, have caused material damages.

The tension continues to rise as a result of threatening from some unidentified persons who ask large amounts of money.

Looting of people in the road axis Kukes-Tirana remains a big problem since the beginning of May.

Meanwhile, the police commissariat seemed unable to act against these actions. a.ke/eva/ak/k

[08] ROAD BERAT-LUSHNJE BLOCKED AFTER FIRE EXCHANGE EARLY IN MORNING

The event has happened at 03:00, on Wednesday morning in the town of Ura Vajgurore (Southern Albania).

The fire exchange among persons and family members has not lasted too long.

No reports on killed are available so far./a.ke/eva/mt/sh/

[09] EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: AID WITH FLOUR WAS HUMANITARIAN

940 tonne flour, distributed in Albania by EC, through the office of the humanitarian aid ECHO, is an emergency contribution with humanitarian character, and must be not included in the wide economic aid to be given to Albania in the future.

In these conditions, the connections done in the articles, through the statements of the OSCE special Envoy, Franz Vranitzky, with regard to the conditions of the further Program of aids in Albania and the special problem of giving this urgent aid is the result of a misunderstanding. /eva/mt/sh/

[10] UNION FOR DEMOCRACY RESOLUTE TO WIN JUNE 29 ELECTIONS

Attending the conference were also and expressed their common viewpoints the DP chairman, Shehu, leader of Legality Movement, Durollari, chairman of Christian Democratic Party, Bushati, Social Democratic Union leader, Laco, as well as Ndreu of the Democratic Union Party.

"The left extremists, supported by the committees, want to get the power by revolutionary means, asking to erase the trust of people," underlined Shehu, referring to the "bomb" phenomena of the recent days.

Shehu considered "necessary" the distance of SP from the committees and signing from them of a social pact, because this serves to the conduct of a quiet election campaign in the country.

With regard to a question of non-pronouncement of SP and other left forces for an acceptance of the voting result, what ever it is, Shehu answered that "SP is led by the psychology of boycott and not of the free vote.

With regard to the request of Premier Fino to lift the state of emergency, the Christian democratic leader said that "Albania is experiencing an unusual situation, that's why 6000 troops of the multinational forces are here," by not agreeing with the lift of this law.

Asked whether DP will hold election campaign in South, Shehu answered that "all the political forces should necessarily move freely in the whole country", remembering that the accord signed by the parties with the mediator Vranitzky had this as one of the main aims, but according to Shehu it was not realized. He asked the government to enable the free movement of politicians all over Albania.

With regard to the relations of DP with LMP, Shehu considered as common among them "the desire for a democratic Albania not to allow the return of communists in power," assuring that despite the result of referendum for the form of regime, they will govern together. Durollari stressed that this cooperation is realized for major national causes.

Bushati, Shehu, Durollari made to National Front and Republican Party the repeated invitation for participation in the Union for Democracy with the desire to consolidate "an Albanian Right Wing".

The leaders of the Union for Democracy expressed the thought that the law on elections, which favours the small parties, should be not changed. /kled/mt/z/

[11] LEKA ZOGU IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CERRIK

The armed persons, who have built the road-block near Gjergjan village, in the axe of the road Cerrik-Elbasan, asked Leka Zogu to turn back./mt/sh/

[12] LEKA ZOGU IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CERRIK

The armed persons, who have built the road-block near Gjergjan village, in the axe of the road Cerrik-Elbasan, asked Leka Zogu to turn back.

"The cause of this non allowance in the town was that Leka has presented no serious and believable alternative to overcome the crisis and for the future of the country," told ATA two of the members of this group, who controlled the situation in Cerrik during this time.

Two days ago the meeting planned with the inhabitants of Sarande (Southern Albania) has failed as well.

"On June 2, Leka held a brief meeting in the cinema hall of with inhabitants of Delvine, while the meeting with the inhabitants of Sarande failed", chairman of the National Front Party, branch of Sarande, Muhamet Ibro, told ATA.

He related the failure with the pressure of armed people from Sarande, who forced Leka not to enter the town.

Sources of police in Sarande informed Leka several hours before for the danger of his visit in this town. /s.sh/sh.h/eva/kled/mt/Z/

[13] PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY PRESIDENCY EXAMINES REQUEST OF PREMIER TO CONVENE PLENARY SITTING

The Albanian Speaker, Pjeter Arbnori, explained first that the Assembly has given full competencies to the Government and the Interior Ministry, to take all the measures they consider reasonable, to create all the facilitating conditions in the context of the state of emergency. That's why, said Arbnori, it is not reasonable to convene the plenary sitting.

The deputy Speaker, Hamit Gjoni, said that the status of the People's Assembly and the main Constitutional Provisions force the Presidency to convene the plenary sitting in the cases when it is asked by the President, Premier or one fourth of the deputies, within five days.

The chairman of the DP parliamentary group, Ali Spahia, underlined that the People's Assembly has requested before the problem presented by Fino too late.

On behalf of SP parliamentary group, Erion Brace, said that the request of Premier Fino to convene the plenary sitting should be respected, and then the respective deputies have to discuss and decide on the state of emergency.

The deputy Speaker of Presidency, Margarita Qirko, underlined that the law on state of emergency protects exactly the life of these people.

Speaker Arbnori, taking into consideration the stands of different parliamentary groups, reported that he would convey these stands to Premier Fino. /s.sh/jz/mt/sh/

[14] USA PROVIDE ALBANIA WITH 5000 TONNE FLOUR

In a release of the U.S. Embassy in Tirana it is said:

The donation is made in response to an appeal by WFP for 15.000 tonne flour, which will be distributed to some 300 000 Albanian families. The appeal is result of a Mission of some Agencies from the United Nations, which visited Albania from March 26 until April 1, 1997.

WFP, to apply this program, has cooperated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, International Committee of Red Cross, and others./a.ke/eva/mt/sh/

[15] TOURISTIC CENTER "aAJUPI" DESTROYED IN GJIROKASTER

Sources from the town hall confess that the same thing is happening to the buildings of the resting home, while the telephonic and electric lines, after being pulled off, are crushed to take the iron, used by the robbers as constructing material.

The damage caused, according to these sources, reaches the value of some million leks. /s.sh/eva/mt/Z

[16] 70% OF ALBANIAN SHIPS IN ITALY REPAIRED BY ITALIAN PARTY

During the riots in March, they left Albania, sending hundreds of Albanian refugees to Italy.

The Italian authorities have informed the Albanian party that this number of repaired ships can be taken and put into efficience by the Albanian party, but in case these ships will be used again for exodus towards Italy, they will be sequestrated by the Italian party.

This has caused hesitation by the Albanian party to take them. /a.ke/kei/mt/sh/

[17] WE WILL HEAL ALL WOUNDS OF REBELLION WITHIN 5 MONTHS - Berisha

Speaking before inhabitants of Katund i Ri, Durres district, President Berisha said that "we must prove that we are resolute to follow the road of the elections of May 26, 1996, of March 22, 1992, the road of democracy, the road towards Europe.

President Berisha, speaking of the program of the Democratic Party, said that one of the main points of this program is the restitution of order and peace. To this end, he said, "we created the Government of National Reconciliation. It did not realise the objective set to it, but we will realise it with the government which will be created through the free vote.

With an emergency program, continued Berisha, we shall repair and reconstruct all destructions. Within 5 months we will heal all the wounds of rebellion.

Berisha qualified the rebellion a work of the Albanians with a communist mentality.

In conclusion, Berisha underlined once more the idea that during the month of June we all must conduct the greatest possible dignified and free electoral campaign.

Deputies Ferdinand Xhaferri and Azem Hajdari spoke in the rally as well. ssh/xh/

[18] MORE EMIGRANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN SCHEME OF SOCIAL INSURANCES

"In this way, the voluntary contributions will increase, says prof. Dr. Ilia Telo, which in the current conditions are one of the factors of the gradual increase of the level of pensions by the state".

For the gradual increase of pensions by the state, according to him, along with the increase of the number of employees, in the contribution of farmers also influences the increase of the voluntary contributions, through the involvement of Albanian emigrants in our scheme of social insurances.

There are over 350 000 persons in emigration, the most part of whom are illegal (without labour contract), and as so, they can be not insured in the country they are actually employed.

A large part of them have worked for several years in Albania, and do actually seasonal and temporary labour in Greece or Italy, and they are interested in paying the quota defined by the bodies of social insurances in Albania, so that their seniority is recognized. /s.sh/kled/mt/ Z/

[19] ON JUNE 29 WE WILL GIVE THE MERITED RESPONSE TO COMMUNIST REBELLION AND TERRORISM

In this period, said Berisha, when Europe has directed its eyes to Albania, "we shall respond terrorism with our free and democratic vote.

Terrorism is the arm of the lost, the arm of those who have the blood as their morale, wheres ours is the freedom, the future, democracy and Albania," said Berisha.

In conclusion, President Berisha said that he was convinced that all together, on June 29, "we will give the merited response to communist rebellion and terrorism." ssh/xh/sh/

[20] A BOMB THROWN AGAINST PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA

In the mean time, special forces, assisted by local people, made the bomb ineffective immediately, while the author was caught.

According to inhabitants of the zone, the author was a member of extreme circles. After the incident, the rally continued normally with cheers by the people present "Long live Berisha."

[21] ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA'S LIFE BY A LEFT WING EXTREMIST

While President Berisha was saying "at a time when the eyes of Europe are directed to Albania, we must respond to terrorism with our free and democratic vote," a person, who, was qualified by those present as a left wing extremist, about 25 years old, was trying to remove the granade's safety catch.

The author, wearing a red blouse, was immediately caught by the people present in the rally and was not allowed to do what he was intending.

The person, according to local people, was not from the village and they did not know him. Then, he was taken by presidential guard members, while President Berisha continued the rally which turned even more enthusiastic.

"Terrorism," said Berisha, "is the arm of the lost, the arm of those whose morale is blood, whereas ours is the freedom, future, democracy, and Albania."

In conclusion, President Berisha said that he was convinced that all together, in the June 29 polls, "we will give the merited response to communist rebellion and terrorism." ssh/xh

[22] DECLARATION OF DPA ON THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA'S LIFE

The Democratic Party considers this terrorist act in the course of the attempts carried out recently against democracy and its symbols.

The attack against the symbol of the unity of the national and democracy in Albania, Sali Berisha, is an attack against the leader of the Democratic Party.

President Berisha is the initiator of the political dialogue of March 9, 1997 and of the formula of national reconciliation. In all his meetings with Albanian electorate he has declared that he and the Democratic Party are always for a political solution and that Albanian electorate should decide only through their free vote on democracy and their future.

The Democratic Party of Albania protests against any form of violence which aims at preventing a normal conduct of the electoral campaign for June 29 polls. The aim of such acts is to threaten that free elections may not be realised.

The Democratic Party of Albania has insisted and insists in its demand for free movement and activity throughout Albania by any Albanian political force so that the electorate know all the political alternatives.

DPA, as an initiator of the social pact between all Albanian political forces for the creation of a favourable climate for an honest and peaceful electoral campaign, invites nce more all the Albanian political forces to disassociate themselves from this act and from all other bandit like and criminal acts and to sign this pact because it helps ease social tensions and create the indispensable conditions for a civilized electoral campaign. xh/

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