Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-07

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMITTEE PRESENTS ITS DEMANDS TO OSCE

[02] ANOTHER EXPLOSION DEVICE IN MUZINA BRIDGE

[03] INTERIOR MINISTER ON PARTY OFFICIALS' MEETING

[04] ALBA DENIES INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY KOHA JONE

[05] GRAMSH INHABITANTS MISTAKE AN OSCE OBSERVER FOR SP LEADER

[06] FLUCTUATION OF LEK AGAINST FOREIGN CURRENCY

[07] SP WINS TRIAL ON ELECTION LAW IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

[08] DISTRIBUTION OF PRESS STILL NOT ALLOWED IN SARANDE AND DELVINE

[09] FORMER DEPUTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS UNION PARTY THREATENED

[10] MELO CONFUTES SP STATEMENT FOE ALLIANCE WITH HRUP - reports Gazeta Shqiptare

[11] ADP CONDEMNS TERRORIST ACTS OF BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN SCHOOLS

[12] OPPOSITE THOUGHTS BETWEEN CEC AND REPRESENTATIVE OF VRANITZKY REGARDING THE MONITORING OF POLLING STATIONS

[13] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONSIDERS UNFAIR TO FAVOUR SMALL PARTIES

[14] AID FOR ALBANIAN POLICE REMAIN STILL PROJECT

[15] EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 400 MALTREATED DURING MAY IN KOSOVA

[16] MONITORING COMMISSION OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA MEETS RTV LEADERS

[17] DAP ASSEMBLY MAKES FINAL APPROVAL OF CANDIDACIES

[18] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

[19] ALBANIAN PM BASHKIM FINO MEETS WITH A SWEDISH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION

[20] DECISION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IS CORRECT - SP

[21] DECISION OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IS AN ABSURD ACT OF SP - Republican Party

[22] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT MUST REVIEW ITS DECISION - CDP

[01] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMITTEE PRESENTS ITS DEMANDS TO OSCE

The main problem discussed in the meeting was to clarify the mission of the multinational forces and their role in the election day.

Pellumb Cela, member of the Commission told ATA that Grubmayor said though this issue has been discussed during the last week nothing has been achieved formally.

The problem of foreign media programs such as the BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle radios, their non-interference in the campaign and correct attitude away from political parties during the electoral campaign until the election process is over in Albania was another problem presented to Grubmayer.

Head of the media subcommission Cela told Grubmayer about the Albanian press which has no access to some areas in the country. In the South of Albania, in some districts such as Vlora, Tepelena, Gjirokastra, Saranda, the right-wing press and parties have not been present for two months. Meanwhile, the Albanian television programs are not being watched in these districts because the television transmitters are damaged.

The commission asked Grubmayor to have under his control the issuing and distribution of ballot papers and boxes, marking stamps for the voters which will come from abroad.

Regarding the observers, the commission said that they should do an extensive observation for the transparency be better.

"Mr. Grubmayor presented an idea that, to say the truth, I did not like," Cela said adding that Grubmayor thought that an intensive observation should be conducted in those polling stations he called sensitive, where there is not a big difference in votes, because grave doubts can arise. But all the political parties should agree about this, Cela said.

The commission asked that a careful observation be conducted in those districts where the local government does not function and the government does not have any influence, there where the armed committees and gangs operate.

Grubmayor was asked that the establishing of platform, planning of observers' distribution and observations areas should be done in close cooperation with the Central Election Commission. s.sh/pas/ak/k

[02] ANOTHER EXPLOSION DEVICE IN MUZINA BRIDGE

So far, the movement of buses has been impossible in this national road segment linking Saranda with other parts of the country.

The latest explosion has damaged the bridge making it useless for small tonnage vehicles and particularly cars.

An eyewitness from Muzine village told ATA that four persons arrived a day before with a van and said that they will plant TNT because the first explosion did not cause a great damage to it.

The source said that he did not know anything about their identity because the van had no number plates.

The bridge near Muzina village is not the first object of this kind in the area which has been the target of wrongdoers. Ten days before a TNT device was planted in the Viroi bridge about 4 km from Gjirokastra. ake/kei/ak/k

[03] INTERIOR MINISTER ON PARTY OFFICIALS' MEETING

Only the Socialist and Social Democratic party were for its lifting, Celo said adding that representatives of ten parties which have signed the agreement of March 9 and present in this meeting, insisted on the fact that the government should take urgent measures to guarantee a communication all over the country to secure a quick information from all the polling stations.

Celo told that most of the party officials said it is the time to back the initiative of the Democratic party on the signing of a social pact.

The meeting was organized on the framework of the measures of the Interior Ministry for a successful development of elections.

Celo said that they asked that media and newspapers do not stir up tension but back the police forces in carrying out their mission.

"It is important to stress the fact that all the political parties support and evaluate the police activity and highly regard the sublime act of the policemen who gave up their lives. They present options and suggestions on the measures to be taken by the police in order to guarantee a perfect election process," Celo said.

He said that the political forces were interested in the wages of the police staff because the government decision on tripling their wage was not executed by the Finance Ministry.

Celo pointed out that within a short period the Interior Ministry has managed to organise and restructure a large part of the commissariats in the Albanian territory and that this ministry is facing different problems starting with the damaged commissariat buildings, lack of road infrastructure, logistics, communication means, transport and others. ssh/kei/pas/ak/k

[04] ALBA DENIES INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY KOHA JONE

Koha Jone reported that the Colonel Kostopollos has said that the Greek contingent, part of the FMP forces in Albania, will assume the control and cover the cities of Elbasan, Pogradec, Gramsh and Librazhd.

"It is not Koha Jone which decides the tasks of the Greek contingent," the spokesman of the mission said.

While Colonel Kostopolos said that he had not given any interview and had not met any journalist from this paper. kei/ak/k

[05] GRAMSH INHABITANTS MISTAKE AN OSCE OBSERVER FOR SP LEADER

Their great resemblance confused the inhabitants.

Though they were informed on the annulment of the Socialist meeting they thought that Nano had changed his mind.

The misunderstanding lasted for some minutes and the OSCE envoy whose name was not revealed, astonished by the warm welcome continued the meeting with local official, the paper said. kei/ak/k

[06] FLUCTUATION OF LEK AGAINST FOREIGN CURRENCY

On Wednesday, 1 USD on the currency market in Tirana was bought at 183 leks and sold at 185 leks.

While at the Savings Bank 1 USD was bought at 177 leks, the National Commercial Bank bought 1 USD at 179 leks. These banks lowered respectively by 1 and 2 leks buying of 1 USD this weekend. /a.gj/eva/mt/e

[07] SP WINS TRIAL ON ELECTION LAW IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

The Constitutional Court decided to make invalid that point of the election law by the Parliament, which envisaged that the small parties have to divide among them 75 per cent of 40 seats according to the votes won from the proportional.

The Constitutional Court decided that the small parties will take as many seats from the proportional system as the number of ballots they will win according to the percentage of the votes in 115 constituencies. xh/E

[08] DISTRIBUTION OF PRESS STILL NOT ALLOWED IN SARANDE AND DELVINE

Sources from the private units, which sell these press organs, say that except Koha Jone, none of the other organs come in Sarande and Delvine since three months.

They say that the other papers do not come in the town of Gjirokaster either, while Koha Jone which comes in Gjirokaster arrives even in Sarande.

In the meeting of the Interior Minister, Belul aelo, with representatives of political forces, was said that the inhabitants of southern districts of Albania, put forward the problem of security of roads for the free movement of people and press as well. /a.ke/eva/mt/E

[09] FORMER DEPUTY OF HUMAN RIGHTS UNION PARTY THREATENED

Lluci, pedagogue of the Greek literature in the University of Gjirokaster, was forcefully sent to a car, where there was also the chairman of Omonia, Jorgo Labovitiadhi, and was maltreated, reports Gazeta Shqiptare on Saturday.

"They threatened and told me not to put up candidature, even an independent deputy," he told a journalist from Gjirokaster over the phone.

Lluci was forced to withdraw his candidature three days ago in favour of Thoma Milo, deputy of Human Rights Union Party, in the three previous legislatures. But Lluci said that he would put up his candidature as independent deputy in the district of Sarande.

The case of Lluci "is commented as an aspect of quarrels noticed in "Omonia" for the selection of candidates who want a chair in the Parliament of June 29", reports Gazeta Shqiptare.

"Omonia" is the association of the Greek minority in Albania, while the Human Rights Union Party (HRUP) is the party which protects the interests of the Greek minority in Albania. /eva/mt/e

[10] MELO CONFUTES SP STATEMENT FOE ALLIANCE WITH HRUP - reports Gazeta Shqiptare

"I have not signed any kind of alliance with SP. I have bargained with them only for constituencies," Gazeta Shqiptare quotes Melo as saying.

On the report issued two days ago from the headquarters of the Socialist Party that "in its alliances is also included the HRUP", Melo said that "this is simply a speculation of socialists for political aims".

Explaining the "bargain" with SP, Melo points out the constituencies with which it is played with the variant "I give, you give", reports the paper.

"I have hold meetings with Nano and he has asked me alliances," adds Melo, which attacks SP "They are actually isolated politically, that's why they perform such stunts," the paper quotes the HRUP chairman. /eva/mt/sh/

[11] ADP CONDEMNS TERRORIST ACTS OF BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN SCHOOLS

The Albanian Democratic Party considers the last terrorist attacks on these grounds and the aims for the other grounds where the teaching process continues, as the most ugly acts, which aim to terror and cause panic among pupils and students, aiming not simply to abandon them, but to further infringe the June 29 elections.

The Albanian Democratic Party would like a quick reaction from the Government of Fino, whose indifference against this phenomena, which has enlarged impudently the dimensions, can be not explained, ends the statement of the ADP. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[12] OPPOSITE THOUGHTS BETWEEN CEC AND REPRESENTATIVE OF VRANITZKY REGARDING THE MONITORING OF POLLING STATIONS

In a meeting held Friday with the Central Election Commission, Grubmajer said that OSCE thinks that an intensive monitoring should be conducted in those polling stations he called "sensitive" (where there are not big differences in votes), because grave doubts can araise. On the other side, the CEC asked more polling stations to be monitored in those districts where the local government does not function and the government does not have any influence, there where the armed committees and gangs operate.

"Mr Grubmajer presented an idea that, to tell the truth, I did not like," said one of the members of the commission, Pellumb aela.

Grubmayor was asked that the establishing of platform, planning of observers' distribution and observations areas should be done in close cooperation with the Central Election Commission./pas/mt/sh/

[13] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONSIDERS UNFAIR TO FAVOUR SMALL PARTIES

The Constitutional Court decided to make invalid that point of the election law by the Parliament, which envisaged that the small parties have to divide among them 75 per cent of 40 seats according to the votes won from the proportional, considering it "anti-constitutional".

According to the decision of this Court, the small parties will take as many seats from the proportional system as the number of ballots they will win according to the percentage of the votes in 115 constituencies.

With this indictment, the Council of Minister has taken into consideration that the two major parties win only 25 per cent of the 40 supplementary mandates from the proportional system, while 75 per cent of these mandates is divided among other parties, which according to him, "violates the equality of citizens in the double sense of the Constitution." /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[14] AID FOR ALBANIAN POLICE REMAIN STILL PROJECT

Two days ago, in a meeting with representatives of political parties, the Interior Minister, Belul Celo, said that the Albanian police face with difficulties regarding the infrastructure of police, logistics, means of communication, transport, and others./eva/mt/sh/

[15] EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 400 MALTREATED DURING MAY IN KOSOVA

55 Albanians have been arrested, while 25 have been sentenced, - reports the Council for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Kosova.

The report brings evidence and facts on the Serbian violence in Kosova and draws the attention for the wide and dangerous dimensions of the terror on the Albanians. /l.t/b.j/kled/mt/sh

[16] MONITORING COMMISSION OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA MEETS RTV LEADERS

The Socialist, Socialdemocratic monitors and those of the Democratic Allince from had only two reserves: first, the lack of subtitles of the authors who prepare the chronicles of the political parties in the electoral campaign, which was considered an important issue linked with the transparence of the Albanian Television.

The RTV General Director, Bardhyl Pollo motivated this as a technical question of broadcasting.

The second concern of the socialist representative was the non presentation of a platform in the commission for the referendum on the forme of the regime in Albania.

The chairman of the sub-commission of media, close to the Central Election Commission, Pellumb Cela declared that tomorrow the Central Election Commission will present a supplementary platform for the referendum, which also includes the TV airing for Leka Zogu.kled/xh/sh/

[17] DAP ASSEMBLY MAKES FINAL APPROVAL OF CANDIDACIES

Appreciating the historical importance of the elections as a people's referendum to separate from the Berishan order of anarchy, corruption, genocide and national degeneration, the Assembly offers to all the parties who are against this order the signing of a Contract for Albania as a political, moral and patriotic commitment before the nation.

The Assembly proposes that the signing of the Contract also includes the commitment for co-governing after elections and a pre-electoral agreement for cooperation and support in a set number of constituencies in order to win in the first and second rounds of elections. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

[18] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The formula included in these two points has its basis in a proposal of the Socialist Party, which was also negotiated by OSCE as a formula of political compromise between the 10 political parties of the round table of March 9, 1997. The setting, according to this formula, of 30 seats from the 40 seat-proportional list for the small parties was a favour for these parties and an encouragement for a more pluralistic parliament.

The Democratic Party condemns the initiative of the Socialist Party to the Constitutional Court, because the SP request is a punishment for the small parties, and it considers ridiculous this act also for the very fact that it was SP that made the original proposal of this formula.

The Democratic Party also is surprised at the decision of the Constitutional Court, which has interfered in a question which was an object of the agreement between the political parties approved at their free will, ends the DPA declaration. ssh/xh

[19] ALBANIAN PM BASHKIM FINO MEETS WITH A SWEDISH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION

Ambassador Linden told Mr Fino of the interest of Sweden to know closely the situation in Albania, and in particular the role and effectivity of the Multinaltional Force at a time when in July Sweden will have the presiding turn of the U.N. Security Council.

PM Fino hailed Sweden as a Security Council member country for the approval of the U.N. Resolution on the dispatch of a Multinational Security Force to Albania.

The arrival of these forces, said Fino, has created a climate of confidence and security in the country and they have been welcomed very well by the entire Albanian people.

Commenting the Resolution 1001 of the Security Council, Fino asked that these forces must be more sensitive in controlling the main North-South and East-West national roads, where ill-doers are causing troubles in the inter-urban transportation.

After briefing the Swedish diplomats of the concerns of the political forces and the lack of confidence on the part of the Albanian electorate in a transparent and free electoral campaign, Premier Fino informed them of the approval today by the Governmment of a decision on the extension for a period of three months of the mandate of the Multinational Forces, which will be sent to the U.N. Security Council for adoption. Fino explained that it is completely possible that within the framework of the respective articles of the Resolution, the Multinational Forces adopt measures to secure the polling stations throughout Albania.

In reply to the interest of the Swedish diplomats, Mr Fino hailed the OSCE mission and the personal contribution of Mr Franz Vranitzky in the conclusion of the Political Contract of May 9, 1997.

Speaking of the cooperation of his government with OSCE, Mr Fino added that one of the points of the Contract of May 9 is also the final estimation of the electoral process in Albania by a personality of international dimensions.

The guarantee of free and democratic elections, the declaration of this personality on the validity and transperence of the electoral process in Albania are very important.

Hailing the participation of Dr Vranitzky in the preparatory Conference for Albania's Economic Recovery held in Rome some time ago, Premier Fino said that Mr Vranitzky must be one of the main personalities of the Conference of Donators for Albania due in Rome in July. The elections will give only the political solution and will create the possibilities that the international community, together with the new Albanian Govenrment be committed to the economic and institutional recovery of the country.

Premier Fino informed Ambassador Linden of the situation of Albanian police and army and the material needs for technical assistance.

At the end of the meeting, Premier Fino asked Swedish Ambassador to convey to his government a message of thanks and the need for further cooperation between the two countries in the economic field, ends the report of the Albanian Premier's press office. ssh/xh

[20] DECISION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IS CORRECT - SP

"The stand of the Constitutional Court is right, it is a decision based on the constitutional law. The Constitutional Court corrected a great mistake made the Albanian Parliament, which constructed the electoral law badly and contrary to the fundamental constitutional provisions," said after the trial the SP defence attorney in the Constitutional Court, Fehmi Abdiu.

According to Abdiu, the mending of this mistake will give the possibility to all Albanian political forces to be placed on equal footing during all the electoral process and each will take as many seats in the coming Albanian Parliament as given by the electorate.

"This was a hope, a good reaction and I am convinced that it will have a positive influence also to easing the present situation in this electoral campaign," said Abdiu.

But this decision of the Constitutional Court has caused an immediate reaction among the small parties. xh

[21] DECISION OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IS AN ABSURD ACT OF SP - Republican Party

"The request of SP and the Government to the Constitutional Court is an absurd act on their part and an irresponsible act by the Constitutional Court," said Mehdiu.

Mehdiu mentioned three reasons where he based the irresponsibility of SP and the Constitutional Court : first because with 0.5 per cent in the proportional wins one deputy whereas with 2 per cent in the proportional wins none. The 2 per cent becomes valueless because 2 per cent is 0.8 deputy. On the other hand, said Mehdiu, the Constitutional Court proves the constitutionality or not of a law and does not define new laws.

"These serve the interests of the big parties, run contrary to the spirit of consensus among the parties and are very dangerous in the situation the country is in," said Mehdiu of the Republican Party. xh

[22] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT MUST REVIEW ITS DECISION - CDP

"The decisions of the Constitutional Court are final. Theoretically, this court is an independent institution but it has not observed the decision of the round table parties, therefore this decision must be reconsidered," said Zef Bushati, Christian Democratic Party chairman to ATA.

"It is a hypocritical propaganda what the Socialist Party has declared regarding the assistance for the small parties," said Bushati.

He considered the decision of the Constitutional Court as an act which harms directly 8 parties of the Government of National Reconciliation besides other small parties which have ambitions to enter the electoral competition and to be represented in the Parliament. xh

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