Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-10

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] SPECIAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CONVENED

[02] ALBANIAN DP CHAIRMAN LEAVES FOR ATHENS

[03] ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK

[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES THESALONIKI CONFERENCE

[05] ITALIAN PATROL SAVES A YOUNG WOMAN

[06] WE ARE CALLED ON JUNE 29 TO GIVE THE MERITED ANSWER TO COMMUNISM - BERISHA

[07] BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN TIRANA IS INJURED ACCIDENTALLY - declares the Tirana police -

[08] RIGHT LEAGUE OPENS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN LEZHE

[09] COURT DECISION ON ELECTION LAW A "JURIDICAL IDIOCY"-DAP PRESIDENT

[10] PRESS RELEASE OF THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

[11] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH EUROPEAN OBSERVERS

[12] "PRIME MINISTER HAS INFRINGED LAW WHEN HE HAS ADOPTED FINANCIAL DATA PROCESSING CENTRE TO COMPUTERIZE ELECTION DATA" - It is not ATA that is politicized -

[13] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH MONSIGNOR JACQUES DE LA PORTE

[14] OSCE COORDINATOR IN ALBANIA RESIGNS

[15] SP CHAIRMAN IN GJIROKASTER

[16] SP EXPLAINS WITH REGARD TO SPEECH OF NANO IN VLORE

[17] DECLARATION ON GOOD NEIGHBOURING RELATIONS IN THE BALKANS ADOPTED IN SALONICA

[18] RALLY OF SOCIALIST PARTY IN SARANDA

[19] "OBSERVERS TO BE PROTECED IN THEIR ACTIVITY BY ALBA FORCES - Brutti

[20] DISCUSSION ON ALBANIA IN SALONICA CONFERENCE - Report of press and information department of Albanian Foreign Ministry -

[01] SPECIAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CONVENED

The Commission discussed and adopted the patterns of the Protocols of the Polling Stations Commissions and of the Election Commission of Constituencies both for the elections to the People's Assembly and for the Referendum on the form of the regime.

Extensively discussed in the meeting also were the realisation of electoral standards and the registration of electors, the defining of the polling stations, the number of secret booths in every polling station, etc.

The Commission adopted the respective measures for the problems raised and set the tasks for the future./lgj/x

[02] ALBANIAN DP CHAIRMAN LEAVES FOR ATHENS

He is expected to meet with leader of the Nea Demokracia party Karamanlis, and other high ranking officials of the Greek policy and government. ssh/ak/sh./

[03] ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS ALBANIAN COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK

Present in the meeting were representatives of various organizations of the Albanian community and compatriots.

Ambassador Kulla, who addressed those present, said that Albanian community in the United States were following with great concern the events taking place in Albania. Former U.S. congressman Dioguardi said that the efforts and life of Mr Arbnori represented a national symbol for Albania and his visit to the U.S. was significant because Albania is living today the time of the truth and action.

Then Mr Arbnori took the floor, concentrating on the recent developments in Albania. He made a chronological analysis of the events, hjighlighting the main moments of the crisis in Albania.

In conclusion Mr Arbnori said that today Albanians must become conscious and take the fates of Albania in their hands.

"I ask from the Albanian community not to be disorientated by the events in Albania but it must manifest the proper solidarity because besides bad events also good developments are expected to take place in Albania," said mr Arbnori.

Then he responded the questions by the participants in the meeting. xh/sh/

[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES THESALONIKI CONFERENCE

Regarding the latest developments in Albania, he stressed that we have done the maximum efforts that the crisis in Albania does not influence on the Albanian population which lives abroad and fortunately we have achieved this.

Rakipi also focused on the situation of the Albanians in Kosova and Macedonia. The situation in Kosova, he said, continues to be a potential danger for the regional security and there is no sign for a political will from Belgrade for a peaceful solution to the problem which confuses peaceful resistance with submission.

He underlined that if the Albanian population which lives in Macedonia does not feel itself as an equal part in the country where it wants to live in, then we have not learned anything from history be that of the latest times and political statements for cooperation remains unfortunately on the paper.

"Despite the present situation, Albania will continue to aim at European integration. We are aiming at overcoming the crisis as soon as possible," Rakipi concluded his address.

Some ministers referred to the situation in Albania expressing their support on the efforts to overcome the present crisis. /kled/ak/sh/

[05] ITALIAN PATROL SAVES A YOUNG WOMAN

A press release of the headquarters of the multinational forces in Albania said that on Monday at 14 00 p.m. a patrol of the 18th regiment of Bersaliers which was on duty in the main street of Vlora, saw an armed person who was trying to push a young woman by force into a car.

The armed person was obliged to leave the woman and went away with his car when he saw the patrol coming in his direction, the press release said. /ak/sh/

[06] WE ARE CALLED ON JUNE 29 TO GIVE THE MERITED ANSWER TO COMMUNISM - BERISHA

Berisha invited all the Albanians, who felt free during these five years, to vote for their freedom, while those who do not have this opinion should not vote for DP.

"I am convinced that the Albanian wisdom will never believe those who grabbed five yeas ago the bread of your hungry children, and today they promise the white cheque", stressed Berisha, considering it "a great fraudulence, the shame of those who declare it."

"To declare to Vlore the white cheque, means to step on the victims, created through rebellion, it means the biggest hypocrisy you can have, that for your chair, you do not hesitate before any kind of fraudulence," said Berisha.

Berisha presented before the inhabitants, the DP candidates for deputy in the People's Assembly, in the constituency 21 Ernest Ndoka and in the constituency 22 Pal Dajci.

Berisha held electoral meetings even in the town hall of Rubik and Mamurras. In these meetings, Berisha was accompanied by the DP Secretary General, Genc Pollo. /kled/mt/E

[07] BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN TIRANA IS INJURED ACCIDENTALLY - declares the Tirana police -

"The Department of Police in Tirana has taken no information yesterday on this event, and no denunciation is done by the English diplomat of the British Embassy in Tirana for illegal activity against Briggs," the director of the Police Department of Tirana, Pashk Tusha, told ATA.

Geoffrey Briggs was injured for personal motives. The incident was not politically motivated and has nothing to do with the situation in Albania", the British Embassy in Tirana told ATA.

A representative of the British Embassy, according to Tusha, told the chief of the criminal police of Tirana, in a meeting, asked by the latter that Briggs, Second Secretary of the Embassy and deputy chief of the mission, is injured by a knife.

This is the first time that sources from the British Embassy in Tirana confess that Briggs is hurt by knife, meanwhile that sources from the Di Summa hospital, in Brindizi, where Briggs underwent a surgery, confessed this fact on Monday.

"The operation ended successfully and Briggs is out of danger now," said the British Embassy./mt/sh/e

[08] RIGHT LEAGUE OPENS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN LEZHE

At the beginning of the meeting, the leader of the "movement for Democracy", Dashamir Shehu, took the floor.

"We are not in favour of boycott, said the Republican leader, Sabri Godo, although SP and Government of Fino betrayed us with the request addressed to the Constitutional Court." We will not make any coalition with SP and some forces that are connected with Nano, he added, because it is the most dangerous force for the Albanian democracy and at the same time we are against DP and the group of Berisha, who are responsible for the situation.

Godo proposed as the solution for the creditors of pyramid schemes, lending of one of the hydro-power stations for five years.

The leader of National Front Party, Abaz Ermenji, said that 80 per cent of the people is oppressed by the ruling of SP and DP, that's why the right wing has the right to govern the country for a real free state, national and democratic. /s.sh/kled/mt/E

[09] COURT DECISION ON ELECTION LAW A "JURIDICAL IDIOCY"-DAP PRESIDENT

DAP will participate in elections, Ceka said.

According to the decision of the Court the small parties will face an electoral campaign which offers equal conditions for all parties.

The only solution offered by the DAP leader on this decision is the convocation of parliament to reconsider the law on elections.

Referring to committees, Ceka said that he was not concerned about them. "We have people in the committees. They have a marvellous staff. The committees have absolutely caused no damages and have no arms," Ceka said.

Asked by a journalist on the statement of the Socialist leader Fatos Nano in the meeting in Vlora that if the Socialist party wins the money lost in pyramidal scheme will be returned one hundred percent, Ceka said that he did not believe that Nano has said this.

"If this is true, Nano should say how he can realise this," Ceka told.

In a press release, DAP proposes to the Albanian political parties an Agreement for the State, "as a political, moral and patriotic engagement before the country".

A program of emergency for 200 days, to contain the absolute restoration of law and order, complete transparency on the pyramid investment schemes and the return of the main part of their obligations towards the creditors, construction of the fundamental structures of the state, restriction of inflation and revival of the economy, would be the proof of efficacity and guarantee for the further continuation of the coalition," says the release.

DAP, through the release, says it is ready for an electoral cooperation with those parties which consider this agreement a base for a joint ruling, but Ceka excluded the possibility of a co-governing with DP, after the elections.

An alliance with SP is possible," said Ceka. /ak/mt/E

[10] PRESS RELEASE OF THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

"A politicized story, typical for ATA, says that 'Premier Fino demands that institution of Malaj make the computerizing of election documentation' and continues with a number of untrue things which go beyond the reporting professionalism and the ethic of the state administration.

Due to these distortions by ATA and to the irresponsible declaration of the INIMA (Institute of Applied Mathematics) director, Gudar Beqiraj, we explain as follows:

The computerizing of the elections outcome is an important momement for the process of the ballots counting, and in particular, for the transparence and publication of these data. After consultations with OSCE experts it was requested that the computerizing of the election data be made at constituency level and in the Central Election Commission.

The decision adopted by PM Fino to computerize the election data is linked neither with socialist Arben Malaj nor with the dignity of the institution of Mr Beqiraj and the people he works with or with the non-party character of INIMA. It is based on the simple fact that for the realisation of this task, PM Fino called first the INIMA director, Mr Beqiraj. But as Mr Beqiraj accepted in the ATA politicized story, "he had refuted during a talk with the Prime Minister the idea for the computerization of the election outcome at constitutency level."

Since it is not Mr Beqiraj the one to decide on these issues, Mr Fino called the director of the Financial Computerizing Center, who accepted to take the task of computerizing the election data, beginning with constituency election commissions. He presented in written a working plan for this purpose, which he had previously consulted with OSCE experts as well. This is the truth for the choice of the institution and not the one that INIMA director and the ATA party-inclined reporter claim.

The words of Mr Beqiraj are not well-thought and serious. They remind one of the acts of a preferable employee, used to privileges and who looks everything through the party eye-glasses," ends the declaration of the Prime Minister's press and information office.ssh/xh/E

[11] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH EUROPEAN OBSERVERS

The EU delegation informed Mr Fino on the official approval for the extension of the mandate of their monitoring mission, even inside the territory of Albania. On this occasion, they also confirmed the presence and their cooperation with the Albanian authorities during the current process. On this purpose, they informed that along with seven existing teams of observation, six others teams will come in this context, which will operate mainly in the northeastern part of the country, in those zones where the presence of observers by other bodies can be smaller.

Mr Van der Nino, and the other members of the delegation , were interested in the progress of preparations for the forthcoming elections, preparation of the voters' lists, functioning of the constituency commissions, the possibility of a greater participation in voting, and others.

Premier Fino thanked for the readiness and concrete steps of the monitoring mission of the European Community, which along with the other international bodies, will influence in increasing the confidence of the Albanian electorate in the free vote. He informed them on the measures taken for the conduct of free elections and expressed the readiness of the Government of National Reconciliation for a continuous cooperation even with the monitoring mission of the European Community, cooperation which starts with the preparation and monitoring of the electoral process. Mr Fino mentioned on this occasion the requests and engagements of OSCE, Council of Europe and European Union for the material and logistic resources, as well as for the intensive monitoring.

The European observers considered fair and natural these requests, expressing on this occasion the readiness in the referring and their support near OSCE and other European institutions. They also expressed their will for regular contacts even in the future, ends the reports of the Premier's spokesman. /s.sh/mt/E

[12] "PRIME MINISTER HAS INFRINGED LAW WHEN HE HAS ADOPTED FINANCIAL DATA PROCESSING CENTRE TO COMPUTERIZE ELECTION DATA" - It is not ATA that is politicized -

The Central Election Commission considered as arbitrary and groundless the defining by the Prime Minister Bashkim Fino of the Financial Data Processing Centre instead of INIMA to process the election information, an act which runs counter to articles 76, 78 and 92 of the "Law on Elections to the People's Assembly."

The first and third paragraphs of Article 92 say: "The Council of Ministers is charged with the task of ensuring the material and financial basis and the adoption of the organizational measures for the application of this law.

State administration bodies have the task to take all preparatory, administrative and logistic measures in service of the elections conformed to the demands of the Central Election Commission and the election commissions of constituencies."

The chairman of of the Central Election Commission, Kristaq Kume, said he had not presented any of such request to the Government.

"There has been only a telephone talk between the Prime Minister's adviser Ylli Bufi with the CEC chairman yesterday in the morning, where they have spoken of this question," said to ATA the CEC chairman, Pellumb Cela, "and this approval by the Prime Minister is surprising."

Article 78 of the "Law on Elections" says that "The constituency election commission sends to the Cetnral Election Commission the protocols and other election materials within 24 hours from the moment when the election outcome has been received from all polling stations. The copies of the protocols with the election outcome in the polling stations are sent back to the latter."

Therefore, registration of the election data in constituency election commission is impossible, in addition, it is the CEC that will publish a bulletin with all the election outcome from the polling stations no later that 30 days after the official announcement of the outcome." This demand has also been presented by the OSCE.

Today too, the director of the Financial Data Processing Centre, Lulzim Basha went to the Central Election Commission, as Prime Minister Fino had said to him, but not having any official document for the said question. Basha told ATA he had been charged with this task by the Premier. He added that "his appointment to the post of the director is made by a leading board determined by the Finance Ministry," whereas INIMA is an institution which depends on the Academy of Sciences. xh/e+++

[13] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH MONSIGNOR JACQUES DE LA PORTE

According to the spokesman, attending this meeting were also the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Ekerem Katrati and Monsignor Rrok Mirdita.

Premier Fino welcomed the representative of the French catholic clergy and declared that this visit is payed in a moment when even for the Albanian politics it is the time for a coexistence among the political forces, concretely of position and opposition. Talking about the current Albanian developments, Premier Fino focused on the preparations done for the elections of June 29, as the end of a tragic and destructive chapter for the Albanians, but also as a hope of a revival and reconstruction.

Albanian Premier Fino appreciated the positive and important role that the catholic clergy has played in the revival of the Albanian post communist society, and wished he will not not interfere and take the side of no one in this election campaign, very important for the Albanian democracy.

Monsignor de la Porte expressed his thanks for the warm and very friendly welcome extended in Albania and the possibility of the French catholic church to familiarize directly with the problems that Albania and the Albanian people are faced today. He underlined the friendly relations between the Albanian and French people and considered them a strong base of solidarity and support to overcome the Albanian crisis. He wished free and fair election are held in Albania, so that they serve to common goods of all Albanians.

They also talked in the meeting about concrete problems of the situation and the election campaign, in the brink of the parliamentary polls of June 29, ends the Premier's spokesman. /a.ke/eva/mt/E

[14] OSCE COORDINATOR IN ALBANIA RESIGNS

"The reasons of this resignation are personal," the spokesman of the OSCE office in Tirana, Jeff Murray, told ATA.

Pridham was conducting his activity in Albania for more than a month for the preparation of the election process in Albania.

"We appreciate a lot the work and contribution he gave in the context of the OSCE mission in Albania," said Murray.

Meanwhile, he will be replaced by another Briton, Tony Welch, coordinator of observers in Albania, after the resignation of Pridham, which according to some rumors, was connected with the concrete difficulties for the handling of the OSCE mission.

Two days ago, the director of ODHIR, Stoudman, reported that the observers should be rigorously protected by the Multinational Forces in handling their mission, saying that "the monitoring will be carried out in those area where the observers will be safe."/eva /mt/e

[15] SP CHAIRMAN IN GJIROKASTER

"In the electoral program of the government, we put forward and offer realistic solutions, to give an end to the chaos and insecurity for the life," said Nano in his speech.

"The reconstruction of the country, he continued further on, the establishment of institutions, the macro-economic stability, the financial stability, will be our priorities in the programs of emergency and long-term governing."

Later on in the meeting also spoke Gjinushi, Brokaj and Fatri Sinani. /a.ke/eva/mt/E

[16] SP EXPLAINS WITH REGARD TO SPEECH OF NANO IN VLORE

"With regard to the statement of SP leader, Fatos Nano, in the meeting of Vlore, dated 09.06.1997, it is tried to accuse with the stand for the persons who have lost their money in pyramid schemes," says the statement, in which it was repeated the part of Nano speech regarding this problem.

"SP is engaged to exploit all the possibilities and to provide special sources for the return and compensation of the money lost in the collapsed pyramid investment schemes," the statement quotes the socialist leader in the meeting of Vlore,as saying.

The Albanian press today comments the statement of Nano, with regard to the return of money lost in pyramid investment schemes. /mt/ E

[17] DECLARATION ON GOOD NEIGHBOURING RELATIONS IN THE BALKANS ADOPTED IN SALONICA

"The ministers voice their support for the efforts of Albania to restore political stability, internal security and for economic recovery. They also back the steps of the international community forthis purpose.

The Foreign ministers of the participating countries stressed the need of restoration, through the free will of the Albanian people, of internal peace and stability in Albania, by completely observing its territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence conformed to the Resolution 1001 of March 28, 1997 of the U.N. Security Council." ake/xh/E

[18] RALLY OF SOCIALIST PARTY IN SARANDA

"June 29 elections were imposed on Berisha by the protests and the all-popular revolt against the governing," said Nano. He focused on the priorities of SP program and promised the electorate that with the SP victory on June 29, their savings in loan-taking firms will be returned to the creditors by this party.

The SP branch for Saranda had organized the rally together with the SD Party represented by SDP chairman Skender Gjinushi.

Saranda, like Vlore, is in the hands of the southern committees since March rebellion, and regular local government activity there has been hindered.eva/xh

[19] "OBSERVERS TO BE PROTECED IN THEIR ACTIVITY BY ALBA FORCES - Brutti

Brutti considered that "the Albanians should by all means take part in the polls," adding that this is also related with the further position of the international community towards Albania.

Considering Albania as one of the factors which will make this political process possible, he stressed that "the multinational force will guarantee the realisation of the activity of the international monitors in Albania, by creating a frame of security in the country."

But, "technically," the main ones responsible for the realisation and monitoring of the polls are the Albanian Government and OSCE.

Inspecting the Alba troops was the objective of the one-day-visit to Albania of the Italian Defence Assistant Secretary, Brutti, during which, accompanied by General Forlani, he went to Vlore and to Tirane.

"The situation in Vlore is calmer that the previous days," he said referring to the fragile tranquillity in that city. "There is no doubt that our forces deployed there have their share in that improvement," he said.

Nevertheless, Brutti considered "tense" the situation in Albania. "There are signals for a strategy of tension, which may be blocked only by the political parties through a democratic social pact," suggested Brutti.

He guaranteed the participation of numerous Italian monitors in elections, among whom many parliamentarians.

As factor for the overcome of the crisis, Brutti mentioned the need of the re-establishment of the Albanian state, commitment of the international community and the parties in the country to consolidate the democratic pact, and the presence of the multinational force in Albania. pas/xh

[20] DISCUSSION ON ALBANIA IN SALONICA CONFERENCE - Report of press and information department of Albanian Foreign Ministry -

In his declaration, Mr Willim Friss-Moller from the Danish Presidence, OSCE representative, said that the quick OSCE action opened the way to the U.N. Resolution, which led to the installation of the multinational security force in Albania and this is a basis for the relative improvement of the present situation there.

With regard to the question of Kosova, he said: "In an effort to reach the stability in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and throghout the region, the current chairman has named Van de Stoel as personal representative for Kosova." He explained that this task was charged to Mr Stoel as a personal commitment to encourage the constructive dialogue between the parties, adding that this task has not to do with his post as High Commissioner for National Minorities.

"Unfortunately, authorities in Belgrade have not been ready so far to cooperate with him and have refused him an entry visa," said Mr Friss-Moller.

The Council of Europe representative, Johanes de Jonge (Chairman of Foreign Relations,) said that the latest crisis in Albania has been an acute concern for the Council of Europe.

"The Parliamentary Assembly will also continue to monitor the June 20 elections. Moreover, the Council of Europe Secretariat will ensure experts and assistance on such issues as the electoral law, solution to the differencies, the media and election commissions." He added that the Council of Europe will be able to ensure assistance for Albania for the functioning of the policy in a democratic society, the organization of the judiciary, and other issues. "The Council of Europe keeps a secretariat in Albania for contacts with Albanian authorities and relations with other international organizations," he said.

The Greek Foreign Minister, Theodhoros Pangallos, also took the floor in the conference. He pointed out that all the regional countries are following the situation in Albania with interest and sympathy for Albania.

"We are continuing to support the efforts underway to restore a normal situation of security and the rehabilitation of the economy in Albania," he said. ake/pas/xh

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