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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-31Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] THERE WILL BE NO LOCAL ELECTIONS - SP leaderBERAT, OCT 31 (ATA) - By I Manka: After the June 29, 1997 elections won by the left centre coalition, the electorate of these parties has insistently demanded fresh elections for the local government with the motive that the local government polls of October 20, 1996 were rigged by the Democratic Party.This demand was repeated by Berati socialists in the SP activists meeting yesterday. Et'hem Ruka, a socialist leader, refuted the demand saying that "Reorganization and elections will be made only in the local governments which do not function, are dissolved or the elected have abandoned the job." Mr Ruka ruled out the idea of holding new local elections implying that they, "although were rigged by DP, will be recognized." His opinion was not approved by the majority of those present in the meeting, who insisted that DP and its functionaries in municipalities, communes and the districts are sabotaging the work of the government and many a time, the DP people in administration cause dissatisfaction among the people thus putting them against the central government. ake/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] AN ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ALBANIATIRANE, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: A delegation of the Foreign Policy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, led by Commission chairman Achille Occhetto, arrived on a one-day visit to Tirane on Friday.The delegation was welcomed at the airport by the chairman of the Albanian Parliamentary Foreign Policy Sabri Godo and others. The delegation will meet President Meidani, PM Nano, Parliament Speaker Gjinushi, Foreign Minister Milo and with the Parliamentary Commission of the Foreign Policy. pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ASSIST ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT IN DEMOCRATIZATION OF ITS LIFE - VranitzkyTIRANE, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: The Austrian former chancellor Franz Vranitzky told a news conference in Tirane that the international community is committed to assist Albania regarding the question of the Constitution, problems with courts and in the democratization of the country's life."It is clear that the economic and democratic life is not so good," said Vranitzky. "The aim of many parties is to have as much cooperation as they can among them in the parliament so that the political life be not polarized to the detriment of the parties themselves." Vranitzky added that "we must not be naive, this process cannot happen overnight. It is the Albanian Government which will adopt the steps and the international community will help it," said Vranitzky. "I'm conscious of what is happening in Albania, I have received many complaints from the parties but also many explanations. But neither OSCE, nor CE or any other international organization will go deep into these problems, but they will create the framework for the overcome of these obstacles," said former chancellor Vranitzky, pointing out that the international community only gives advice. "On July 6 each representative of the parties assured me that he would recognize the elections and would work to the benefit of the people and not of their parties" said Vranitzky, adding that the present situation compared with that last winter is very much improved. Austrian former chancellor said that also after the termination of his mandate as OSCE special envoy in Albania he would not interrupt his relations with Albania and will come to this country as tourist. pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] PRESS REVIEWTIRANE, OCT 31 (ATA) - All Albanian dailies treat yesterday's decision of the Albanian Parliament to reinstate November 29 as the liberation day of Albania. "'The cold war' ended here too," writes Zeri i Popullit under the headline "Parliament returns to Albanians November 29, the National Day of Albania's liberation from nazi-fascist occupiers." ZP cites Prime Minister Nano that "Second World War ended long ago, now the Cold War has ended as well." Rilindja Demokratike writes "Symbols of communism reinstated in history," under the headline "Parliament of kallashnikovs: Albania was liberated when Enver wanted." The newspaper carries a commentary of the organizational secretary of DP Fatos Beja, under the title "Byzantine decision of the Parliament.""Majko liberated Albania," is the title of today's editorial in Republika. "Albanians will have a new liberation day each time the majority in the Parliament changes," writes the newspaper. "November 29 reinstated," writes Koha Jone under the title "Parliament changes again the liberation day of Albania" and subtitle "Leftists vote for, the rightists leave the hall." While the editorial "'Liberation' of politicians," the newspaper writes: "Albanian deputies showed yesterday they do not need lectures of historians and testimonies of archives. They tried to show who has fought more, the partisans or Balli members and accused each other as falsifiers of history." "Albania" carries the editorial "Ideological state," which says that Albanian communists made the first step to restore to communist symbols. "Tomorrow the reinstating of the star in the Albanian flag and the sickle and hammer symbol may be proposed and adopted with the communist majority," writes the newspaper. "Albania carries in its 7th page an article by historian Kasem Bicoku "Why is November 29 the liberation day for the communists?" "Liberation day reinstated," writes Shekulli under the headline "Parliament 'liberates' Albania from the occupiers for the third time." Under the subtitle this paper cites the socialist deputy Agolli: "November 29, politically jailed by Berisha." Dita writes in its today's editorial "Why now November 29?" "In order not to turn the liberation day into a hide-end-seek between two political sides each time the majority in the parliament changes, it must be said that yesterday's act was more than a hasty decision," writes the newspaper in its editorial. "Liberation day reinstated," writes Gazeta Shqiptare under the subtitle "It was changed through many debates four years ago.: pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] MEANS OF TRANSPORT AND MILITARY UNIFORMS FROM ITALY FOR ALBANIAN ARMYDURRES, OCT 31 (ATA) - By G Kabashi: The Italian warship San Giorgo reached the port of Durres today with a considerable amount of vehicles for the brigade of transport of the Albanian army. The assistance arrives in the context of a bilateral agreement signed on August 28 this year by Italian Prime Minister Prodi and Albanian Prime Minister Nano on the aid for restructuring of the Albanian army.Ten days ago, some seven containers with military uniforms were brought to Albani for about 5 thousand militaries of the Albanian armed forces. pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] DIALOGUE IS IMPORTANT IN CRETE SUMMITTIRANE, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: "Meeting on a set agenda," sources of the Albanian Foreign Ministry considered the Summit of the Balkan countries to be held in Crete from November 3-4, 1997.By avoiding the concrete discussion of the problems existing in the Balkans, potentially enough to lead to a possible abortion of the Summit, the Balkan chiefs will agree to treat them only in principle. "Discussions will be made in principle," declared Albanian Foreign Minister Milo, underlining that "the Albanian party is determined to dialogue in Crete." In the round table of Crete, the Balkan leaders will exploit the "rare" contact among them to discuss the developments of the world economy, regional questions regarding the economic-trade cooperation, questions of communication, infrastructure and the creation of a climate of security and peace in the region. According to the Director of the Regional Department in the Foreign Affairs ministry, Pellumb Xhufi, at the beginning of the meeting, the Greek PM, Costas Simitis will submit a speech to be discussed then by those present. Of interest in the Summit are the numerous bilateral meetings, in which, by exploiting the "occasion," heads of state will meet with one another, thus realising contacts which have been missing for decades. Such an expected meeting is that between Nano and Milosevic in which problems worrying the two states will be discussed. The issue of Kosova will be of priority in the discussion of the Albanian party. The Albanian delegation, consisting of the Premier and the Foreign Minister, will have meetings with the delegations of Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece. At the end of the Summit of Crete in the spirit of understanding and security in the region, the representatives of the Balkan states will sign a joint declaration for the continuation of the dialogue and for mutual respect. ake/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] OSCE MEDIATOR ATTENDS OPENING OF A REGIONAL OFFICEGJIROKASTRA, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Hysni Cani: Former Austrian chancellor and OSCE mediator Franz Vranitzky and the Albanian deputy prime minister Bashkim Fino on Friday midday attended a ceremony marking the opening of an OSCE regional office in Gjirokastra, Southern Albania.Vranitzky and Fino were welcomed by the officials of the local government of the Southern city. "You know that we needed much time to come here. Many missions were undertaken to resolve the Albanian crisis. We do not come here to blame anyone, but to help the Albanian people and restore normality," Vranitzky said. Former Austrian chancellor assured that the Albanians are able to decide for the future. "Surely, this is not easy and should be done without violence," he added. Vranitzky congratulated the OSCE officials for their work. The deputy prime minister Fino said that Vranitzky had been in Albania in every difficult moment, "giving a full lecture on democracy." Mr. Tobias, an OSCE leading official for the Southern region said "we will work hard to protect the human rights in close cooperation with the Albanian government." Another OSCE office was opened in Shkodra on Thursday at the presence of the former chancellor Vranitzky. ake/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] PRISONS RESTRUCTURED AFTER MARCH RIOTS-ministerTIRANE, OCT.31 (ATA)- Four reeducation institutions have been restructured after the March riots, which destroyed almost all prisons from which 1209 convicts escaped."Albania seems to be the only place in Europe remaining without jails and convicts," said Minister of Justice Thimjo Kondi in a news conference this morning. The reeducation centres currently operating are the Tirana Prison 313, the Tirane Reeducation institution 325, which also includes the Women's prison, the Prisons' Health Centre in Tirane, serving the detained and arrested, and the Lushnje reeducation institution. "The Lezhe prison is planned to be completed within February with an investment of 1.2 million ECUs (aid from the European Union). The Prison of Vaqarr will also begin to be built," Kondi said. Some 421 convicts, of whom nine are women, are currently serving sentences in the Albanian prisons. The Albanian police are hunting down the escapees during the March riots. d.g/kei/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] JUSTICE MINISTER ON INSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN JUDICIARYTIRANA, OCT 31 (ATA) - Minister of Justice Thimjo Kondi told a news conference later on Friday on the institutional reform and reorganisation of work in the judiciary and penitentiary."The Ministry of Justice aims at raising the Albanian justice to the standards defined by the Council of Europe and based on the law on the organisation of justice we think to test the lawyers," Kondi said. Minister Kondi said that the new Democratic government is facing great difficulties and that this government has passed the first phase of emergency because the judiciary is a field, which has inherited big backwardness. "This test can be passed only by the skilled, uncorrupted and those who are not engaged in politics," Kondi said. In the last years some 95 lawyers have been appointed after completing the Advanced complete course in Durres in 1994 while only 69 judges were students, who had followed the full time studies. "A commission of experts, lawyers and prosecutors will possibly be created at the Higher Council of Justice to check the judiciary," he said. Kondi said that the local courts have been restructured during the last months and they have started their activity. d.g./kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT TO ATTEND INAUGURATION OF SKENDERBEJ MONUMENT IN GENEVATIRANE, OCT.31 (ATA)- Albania's President Rexhep Meidani will attend the ceremony of inaugurating the monument of the Albanian National hero, Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbej in Geneva.Today Meidani left for a visit to Geneva, at the head of a delegation, which also includes Arta Dade, Minister of Culture, and Daut Gumeni, Secretary General of the presidency. During the two day visit Meidani will meet the Federal President of Switzerland, Arnold Koller, and speak at the ceremony of inaugurating the Skenderbej monument, the President's press office reports. Meidani is also expected to meet representatives of Albanian community in Switzerland, Albanian political parties, businessmen and others. He will have a separate meeting with Mr. Haegi, President of the Local Authorities Committee. Gjergj Kastriot Skenderbej (1405-1468) for 25 years led the Albanians' war for independence against ottoman occupation. s.sh/kei/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] POLICE DETAIN THREE MEMBERS OF A GANGELBASAN, OCT 31 (ATA) - By P. Zekthi: Three members of a gang, who were accused of a series of crimes, were detained on Thursday midnight by the police of Elbasan, Vasil Celo director of the regional Police Directorate said to ATA on Friday.Two of the detained Ylli Bitri, 47, and Mikel Bushi, 22, accused of being members of armed gangs, were held into custody in premises of the commissariat 1 of Elbasan. The third, whose name has not been revealed by police, was detained on the same charge. The police sources said that they had found different automatic rifles at Bushi's house. ssh/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] DAP - FIRST POLITICAL FORCE TO DENOUNCE BERISHA'S REGIMETIRANA, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Arban Hasani: The Democratic Alliance party (DAP) was the first political force to denounce the regime of Sali Berisha, the DAP president and Albania's prime minister said on Friday."The DAP is the first political force, which denounced the authoricracy of Berisha's regime and strongly opposed the primitive policy followed by the previous state," the DAP president Neritan Ceka told the first party congress on Friday. President Ceka analysed the party activity in the last five years in a report to the congress. Ceka said that his party decided in 1992 to oppose the democratic deformations and be declared a party of free and strong people. "It is not occasional that the government program was adapted to the DAP program," the president said, revealing the advantages of his political force. Ceka said that his party will always be opened to progressive forces as a European, liberal and democratic force. The Albanian prime minister and Socialist leader Fatos Nano greeted the congress and said that DAP was the first Albanian political force, who warned of a danger of a new dictatorship in 1992. "You are the model of a liberal party, unity of political wings and favours theory of national reconciliation," Nano said. Albania's premier highly regarded the work of the DAP leaders. The DAP is one of the forces of the government coalition with Socialist party, Social Democrat party, Human Rights Union party and Agrarian party. ssh/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] ALBANIA CONSIDERS COORDINATION OF EUROPEAN AID INDISPENSABLETIRANE, OCT.31 (ATA)-Albania on Friday pointed to the indispensability of creating a high level contact group to coordinate European aid initiatives."The group, including representatives of Albanian government, European Union, OSCE, World Bank, and others, will enable the exchange of information, encourage initiatives and coordinate aid projects to reconstruct Albania," Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano told the delegation of the Foreign Policy Commission of the Italian Parliament Chamber of Deputies on Friday. The chairman of the commission, Achile Ochetto, who is at the head of the delegation, which is on a one-day-visit to Tirana, showed interest in the relations of the parliamentary majority with the opposition, the government spokesmen says. Nano stressed that the majority and the coalition government remains loyal to their commitments to respect the principles of coexistence and co- governing, with the aim to institutionalize this spirit and bar the way to unproductive populism. "We are determined not to lose time with fruitless polemics and will never give up efforts to carry the process of national reconciliation further". He appreciated the attitude of that part of the opposition which is conscious of its role in Parliament. He invited the Democratic Party to undertake its own responsibilities in the political life, as a strong and constructive opposition. s.sh/kei/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] ALBANIA URGES ITALY TO CAREFULLY DEAL WITH REFUGEESTIRANA, OCT 31 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: Albania on Friday urged Italy to carefully deal with the Albanian refugees.This is one of the issues tackled in a meeting of the Albanian Foreign minister Paskal Milo and head of the Italian parliamentary Foreign commission Achile Ochetto, who is on a one-day visit to Albania. Sabri Godo, head of the Foreign commission, was present. They stressed the necessity for a wider cooperation between the two countries to resolve complex problems of emigration. The head of the Italian Foreign Commission, Ochetto confirmed the will of the Italian government to widely cooperate in the field of economy, defence and others, aiming at safeguarding Albania's stability and progress. Godo asked help to draft a constitution and stressed the need to intensify Italy's consular activity in Albania. The Kosova issue occupied a special place in today's talks. Milo said that the Albanian government favours dialogue and peaceful means to resolve it. ssh/kei/ak/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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