Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-11

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] NINE ALBANIANS SURVIVED FROM DROWNING

[02] PRESS REVIEW

[03] NUMBER OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES RETURNED FROM ITALY FALLS

[04] TRAINING IN AMERICA FOR ALBANIAN PRIVATE MEDIAE

[05] ALBANIA TAKES PART IN 152 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

[06] CENTRE RIGHT TO ATTEND PARLIAMENT SESSIONS ONLY DURING INTERPELLATIONS

[07] MASKED PEOPLE ATTACK A POLICEMAN IN TIRANE DISTRICT

[08] FACTIONISTS ASK BERISHA TO DECLARE HE HAS NOT BEEN SIGURIMI AGENT

[09] REPUBLICAN PARTY CONGRESS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 1997

[10] ALBANIA IS A COUNTRY WHICH KNOWS TO DIALOGUE WITH ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS

[11] ECONOMIC PACKAGE OF GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS EXAMINED

[01] NINE ALBANIANS SURVIVED FROM DROWNING

Reliable sources of the 28 maritime group of the Italian military corps deployed in the port of Durres, said to ATA that an Italian motor boat had tugged a motor boat with nine Albanians on board at around 02.00 a.m. Friday midnight.

The Italian patrol forces had intercepted the boat after midnight. They found the Albanian motorboat blocked some 4 miles from Bisht Palle in north of Durres in a stormy sea and with an engine fault.

Investigations revealed that Albanians, eight men and one woman, aiming to reach the other side of the Adriatic Sea, left Durres beach on Friday evening.

Border control sources in the port said that the motor boat was seized. kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] PRESS REVIEW

The paper carries in the second page a statement of the Italian prime minister Romano Prodi on the political course followed in Albania under the title "Tirana marches towards democracy."

It covers the telephone conversation between the Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano and his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi under the title "Albanians have seen in you a point of reference for a better future." "Finally, DP resembles a ship without compass in a stormy sea of the Albanian policy," the paper says under the title "DP towards destruction."

Under the headline "New facts for those who destroyed the army," the paper carries the article "An order to bombard Rrogozhina's bridge."

"Bomb in the Tirana Municipality," the newspaper Rilindja Demokratike reports. "A bomb placed in the municipality premises in Tirana put on alert on Friday the police staff, who defused it," the editorial says under the title "Terror on the local government and 'repentance' of the hypocrite." The same paper carries an interview with the Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka under the title "Government to stop using pressures on local government." "State continues to use violence and police terror against the opposition," the paper says under the title "30 anti government protesters detained." The paper carries an interview with the chairman of the national association "On return of money borrowed by money lenders," Mistret Sahiti under the title "Nano's promise, condition to stay in power."

"10 300 Albanian refugees returned from Italy" the paper says under the title "Our misfortune bears the name of Nano." "Reasons, which led the Democratic Party to a shameful end are numerous and their type and importance is more various," the editorial of the newspaper Republika says under the title "A politicized administration and hole of the power." "VEFA lost $300 million," the paper says. "Opposition newspapers recall daily on the readers the promise of Nano in Sheshi i Flamurit (Flag Square) "to compensate the lost money...", the paper says under the title "Politicians have profited from money-lending."

In the political column, the paper carries the article "Coalition, splits even from the SP?"

"Latest developments in DP have put once again in the agenda the existence of fractions within the party," the editorial of the newspaper Koha Jone says under the title "DP, an absurd of fraction." "Yesterday's telephone conversation of Premier Nano with Tirana mayor Albert Brojka with Nano asking pardon to the head of the local government of the capital is unusual in the Albanian policy, which is still linked with atavism of the oriental dictatorships, which have ruled the country," the paper says under the title "Nano-Brojka, policy of the capital."

The same paper carries the meeting of the Albanian president Meidani with the Italian premier Romano Prodi in Strasbourg, under the title "Rome conference, a warned success."

"War of names for the DP leader of Tirana," the same paper reports in the fifth page referring to today's meeting of the DP activists in the capital. "Otranto, death ship to be recovered after five days," the paper says in the seventh page. In toxicology, 93 youth affected by white poison, the paper reports under the title "Drug-addicted attack hospitals."

"Accusations against Meidani in the Council of Europe," is the editorial of Albania. "President Meidani, who participates in the Summit of Strasbourg, is facing the severe critical stand and the accussations of the leading structures of the Council of Europe," says the editorial. "The Police uncovered on Friday a bomb in the town-hall of Tirana, in the main entrance used by mayor Albert Brojka," reports the paper under the title: "Bomb in the town-hall of Tirana."

"The Albanian government reported yesterday that will review all the relations with the Arabian countries realized by the foreign policy since the collapse of communism in 1992," reports the paper under the title "Foreign Policy, suspicious inferiority." "INSIG: VEFA will take no money," reports the paper on the fifth page.

Rilindja paper covers the news conference of the Kosova President, Ibrahim Rugova, under the title "Concrete results for education are expected." Under the title "The place of students is in their school buildings," the paper covers the peaceful protest of Albanian students and professors in Tetove. "The institutional reform or the institutional metamorphose?" is another article of the paper.

"The representatives of the left extreme write to Nano and Gjinushi: Support us for the party," reports Dita paper under the title "We want the Albanian Communist Party to be legalised."

Nano calls Brojka: We condemn violence on local government," reports the paper under the title "Bomb in the town-hall of Tirana."

The paper also carries an interview with the leader of the "Movement for democracy," Dashamir Shehi, under the title "Shehi" The assembly will be a farce."

"The children under the claws of crime," reports Shekulli paper. "Some 4000 kids are prey of traffickers in Tirana," underlines the paper. "The real and moveable estates of loan taking companies will be fully verified by an expert group of jurists from the Justice Ministry," reports the paper under the title "Is VEFA company really rich,?" "The indifference of the Albanian Bank costs two million DM."

"The drugs attack the pupils," reports Gazeta Shqiptare. "Alarm of teachers for the police: Help us," underlines the paper.

"The genocide, Alia not guilty as well," reports the paper on the second page.

"Albania has used only half of the foreign aid," is another article published by the paper on the third page. /kled/ak/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] NUMBER OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES RETURNED FROM ITALY FALLS

This figure is the lowest since the beginning of September when operations started by Italian police for a massive repatriation of the Albanians who directed their eyes to Italian coasts in March this year. kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] TRAINING IN AMERICA FOR ALBANIAN PRIVATE MEDIAE

Members of the group are representatives of radio stations Stinet, Klan, Koha, Radio Ime, Radio Fieri and TV Teuta and TV Shijaku.

The training will be held on the basis of direct practices with private radio and television representatives in the cities of Boston, Washington, etc.

The opening of private electronic mediae started at the beginning this year with some private radio stations. With the approval of the respective law there has been a boom of the private media both in Tirane and in other cities. Ç.V/kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ALBANIA TAKES PART IN 152 INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

Actually there are 12 programs of cooperation operating and financed by powerful international scientific organizations such as NATO, the Swiss and German Science foundations, and others.

A new strategy is being conceived and realised regarding the realisation and funding of the National Programs of Research and Development which support the main directions of technological research and development. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] CENTRE RIGHT TO ATTEND PARLIAMENT SESSIONS ONLY DURING INTERPELLATIONS

"We have not boycotted the parliament. We are in the Parliament but will take art in its sessions only when the ministers of foreign affairs, economy and others will be asked for interpellation," said the CDP leader, Zef Bushati.

Bushati explained this act with the fact that during a parliamentary session in which deputies of that group had discussed without receiving any opposition from the socialists, the majority in the parliament voted against the problem under discussion.

"We understand this is a logic of numbers, therefore we shall go to the parliament only in cases of interpellation," said Bushati. But Spartak Ngjela, deputy of the same group with Bushati, is not of the same opinion.

"I am a deputy who is not member of any grouping, so I will continue to take part in the parliament," said Saturday Ngjela in the daily Shekulli.

"Our group is liberal," explained the differences Teodor Laco, chairman of the Social Democrat Union Party. "We allow the diversity of opinions." ake/kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] MASKED PEOPLE ATTACK A POLICEMAN IN TIRANE DISTRICT

Almost in the same hour, the same masked people had looted Skender and Fatbardha Hoxha of a wrist watch and 300 leks, the same sources say, explaining that the culprits were expected to have been the same for the two cases because they were dressed in military uniforms. kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] FACTIONISTS ASK BERISHA TO DECLARE HE HAS NOT BEEN SIGURIMI AGENT

One of the Democratic Party (DP) factionists says that Sali Berisha should sign a juridical statement to say that he has never been agent of Albania's secret service and of Eastern secret services.

Factionist Arben Mece referred to the time of the Party of Labour when ex-president Sali Berisha worked as a doctor in the clinic of the party and state leaders.

"This request is based on point 2 of the DP status and should be applied for all candidates for chairman. Based on the available data, the former Scrutiny Commission, chaired by Mezini, has speculated regarding the documentation by order of Berisha," Mece said at meeting of the presidency of the Tirana DP branch on Saturday.

This is Mece's reaction towards Berisha, who referring to the fraction has said:

"In DP thought is free, and it is the vote which decides in the end".

A few days ago Berisha had expressed himself against legalising faction in the party.

During the meeting the candidatures of Fatos Nano, Buron Kaceli and Bamir Topi were put up for the position of the chairman of the Tirana DP branch.

The three candidates will compete next Friday at the Tirana Conference.

The DP leaders and ex-president Sali Berisha rejected the request of ex- Minister of Agriculture, Bamir Topi, to give up his candidature.

Some 118 candidatures were also put up for the 39 members of the presidency of the Tirana branch. a.ke/kei/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] REPUBLICAN PARTY CONGRESS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 1997

The congress is expected to make changes in the organizational structure of the Republican Party, which will be sanctioned in the statute. According to Republican leadership, the changes will be connected with a greater flexibility in the party, by creating the institution of a strong chairman.

It is not expected any replacement of the republican chairman. Sabri Godo has still a strong basis in his party and he may be reelected to the post of the RP chairman. Also the report to be submitted to the congress is being prepared by Godo himself.

RP branches are holding their conferences which will be divided in two stages. During the first stage the delegates to the congress will be elected, while after the amendments to the statute in the congress are made, the RP branches will hold their campaign of elections. ake/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIA IS A COUNTRY WHICH KNOWS TO DIALOGUE WITH ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS

TIRANE, OCT.11 (ATA)-Albania has reached a turning point in relation to the past and is positively going ahead towards the future. It is a normal country which wants to be integrated into Europe, which knows to dialogue with its European partners.

This is the unanimous opinion of the high level European politicians, whom Albanian President Rexhep Meidani met with during his participation in the jubilee meeting of the Council of Europe (CE) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

According to the President's office, four of the high level speakers at yesterday's CE meeting, German Chancellor Helmut Khol, CE Secretary, Daniel Tarchys, Italian prime Minister Romano Prodi, the OSCE chairman in-office, Danish Niels Herveg Petersen, spoke with self-criticism, considering a bad experience the cooperation of the European States or CE with Albania and Bosnia over the last four years.

The formal meeting of President Meidani with French President Jacques Chirak lasted 35 minutes more than predicted. Chirac highly evaluated the new Albanian political class "for its spirit of easing tension and for its high political moderation" as he characterised this class.

Chirac stressed that France will play an active role in recovering Albania. He expressed the conviction that the donors' conference on Albania on October 17, in which France will also take part, will be a very fruitful meeting.

He asked from Albania and its political class to restore order and make serious efforts to reconstruct the country's economy.

Meidani evaluated the important role of France in resolving the Albanian crisis and after that. He raised the problem of the Kosova and Macedonia Albanians. He asked from France and the major European partners to put more pressure on Serbia to engage in dialogue.

"Not implementing the agreement on education is one of the sources of the latest tension, which will keep mounting unless positive steps are made in this relation," Meidani said at the meeting with Mr. Chirac.

Chirac praised the tendency of the new Albanian political class for dialogue with the neighbouring countries.

Meidani was accompanied in this meeting by foreign Minister Paskal Milo and his counselors Prec Zogaj and Vladimir Pulaj.

The Albanian delegation asked from the French delegation to help reconstruct Albania, reopen French lyceums in Albania and open a centre of French culture in Tirana.

A marked meeting in the series of meetings held by Meidani was also that with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who expressed the conviction that the October 17 donors' conference on Albania will yield many results.

Prodi made clear the unchangeable position of the Italian state towards Albania and said that although Italy may have a new government, its new prime minister will consider aid to Albania of priority.

Prodi devoted great attention also to the problem of road reconstruction, more concretely of building the Balkan road axis which will connect Durres with Shkup, Sofia and Istanbul, as "the shortest way to link the West with the East".

He said that Albania is fortunate for this road to traverse its territory. Prodi considered Albania's politics liberal and moderated also on the economic plane.

Meidani and the Albanian delegation had fruitful formal meetings with Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, Turkish Prime Minister Mesud Jilmaz.

He also held informal meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Czech President Vaclav Havel and others.

Meidani invited Havel for a visit to Albania.

He also met with the chairman of the Local Authorities' Congress, Haegi.

On Saturday evening Meidani will also meet the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Assembly, Daniel Tarchys. a.ke/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ECONOMIC PACKAGE OF GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS EXAMINED

Kranidhiotis discussed with his counterparts of Economy, Finance, Transport and Defence proposals that Prime Minister Costas Simitis is supposed to make to the Albanian side during his one day visit to Tirane on October 15.

The proposals include: signing of an agreement to open three new border crossing points, operation of the customs point of Sajada (near Konispol), promotion of cooperation in military and police as well as in energy, construction, transport and telecommunication.

Simitis will inaugurate the Greek National Bank in Tirane and will announce the beginning of the release of a 18 billion Drachmas (around USD 70 million) that Greece has accorded to Albania. a.ke/lm

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

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