Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-06

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press review

[02] Police of Librazhd seized 420 kg of narcotics in last three months

[03] Private higher education in Albania towards privatization

[04] River Vjose overflows

[05] Explosion planted in house of SP militant in Lazarat

[06] We are pleased with 200 days of the Government - DAP "We have no documents for Berisha, his orders have been verbal" - Ceka

[07] DP still keeping off parliament

[08] Former politically persecuted against law on scrutiny of officials

[09] Kinkel says Berisha vowed to return to parliament

[10] Kinkel says Albania less aid unless reconciliation is restored

[11] Ceka says only coalition's table decides changes in government

[12] Nano says Germany is our main partner to integrate in EU

[13] Kinkel supports expanded autonomy for Kosova, not independence and secession

[14] Nuova Ecologa, either clean Tirana or go bankrupt, minister says

[15] Kinkel asks agreement to return Albanian refugees -Milo says it is about return of those committing crimes-

[16] European partners to define economic program for Albania

[17] OSCE tries to resolve parliament-court conflict by compromise

[18] Missiles do not sever Albania's ties with China

[19] DP leader refuses Nano's invitation to lunch

[20] German minister praises DP decision to return to parliament

[21] Everts says political defence does not serve strike of formerly politically persecuted

[22] Nano-Kinkel meeting

[01] Press review

"Meidani received by Clinton," writes Koha Jone, stressing that Kosova was the main point in this high ranking meeting. Both senior personalities have talked with one another for 10 minutes. According to non official sources, after being discussed for several minutes on the situation in Albania and the progress of democratic processes, Clinton has showed interest on the situation in the region and mainly on the situation in Kosova, points out Koha Jone.

Also, other newspapers report on the same meeting. Shekulli writes "Meidani meets Clinton," and then focus on the meeting of President Meidani with the U.S. State Secretary, Albright.

Dita Informacion writes "Meidani meets with Clinton," and further on "Albright hails the steps of the Albanian government." /a.ke/mt/

(more)

PRESS (Part 2)

The papers focus today on the address of Prime Minister Fatos Nano in the meeting of the Government. By analysing the articles of yesterday's papers, Koha Jone carries an editorial entitled "Nano, we want to believe." "The address of Nano surprised the opinion to some extend, but something is sure, " writes the editorial, "that Nano's address was welcomed first of all by the broad public opinion, first of all because he showed that his government is sensitive towards criticisms, something which was not customary for Berisha-Meksi government. And this sensibility nurtures trust."

Regarding this problem, Koha Jone carries reports such as "Fino: Ministers to be replaced in March," "Nano dusts Government limbs," "Ruci: All governing is problematic."

After the address of Prime Minister Nano in the latest government meeting and commentaries about it, Zeri i Popullit writes today: "It's is not sufficient to say 'Fierce address of Nano (!)'" It points out that "the governing is a great test of capability and devotion. Here stems the devotion towards the people and the patriotism." This paper carries a pronunciation of Gramoz Ruci, SP coordinating secretary, according to which "The Prime Minister did not speak of changes."

Newspaper Shekulli carries an article "Socialist guillotine for coalition heads?" It writes that "Nano's message was clear: who does not work will be replaced, despite the name and the party affiliation."

RD carries an editorial entitled "Nano's testament."

Focusing on the visit of the British Foreign Office State Minister, Tony Lloyd, in Albania, Zeri i Popullit reports on his news conference held Thursday, by publishing the article "EU supports the Albanian government." The paper cites Lloyd as saying "To Britain and EU it is clear that the long-term goal of Albania is to join the European family as member of EU. We are happy that Albania is making steps forward in this road. EU will do more for Albania, both from the technical and political point of view, to provide progress in this direction."

Koha Jone writes that the British Minister presented the options of the European Union. The paper also focuses on his statement regarding Kosova issue. "The international community will not allow violence from both parties in Kosova and will intervene for the solution of the problem," he stressed.

Dita Informacion quotes Lloyd as saying yesterday in the news conference that "Kosova is our concern," and "Belgrade bears the main responsibility regarding the recent developments."

Shekulli on its side, regarding the meeting of Albania's deputy Speaker Dokle with Tony Lloyd, cites the latter as saying that "A second Dayton is needed for Kosova."

Rilindja carries the article "Concerned about the situation in Kosova, " regarding the news conference of Lloyd.

While Rilindja Demokratike writes that "The support of the European Union is conditioned by the progress of democracy in Albania," and that Lloyd has declared that "Nano government should respect the opposition."

Albania newspaper reports that Lloyd hailed the return of DP in Parliament." /a.ke/xh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Police of Librazhd seized 420 kg of narcotics in last three months

According to official statistics, the culprits of the 90 per cent of the crimes have been uncovered by this commissariat since March 1997.

Muca said that the hitting force of police has become stronger also because the corrupted people in the ranks of police have been discharged of their posts. Since last September, 15 corrupt people in that Commissariat have been discharged. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Private higher education in Albania towards privatization

"Redimensoning of education at all its levels, conformed to advanced European standards and especially the restructuring of the higher education are in the focus of the annual working plan of the Albanian Ministry of Education," said on Friday to ATA Ethem Ruka, Minister of Edcuation, adding that "the preparation of the whole context of higher education in our country is being realised with the qualified assistance of UNESCO."

"We are working with the State of Vatican for the opening of a private Catholic university. We want also that the higher private education be protected by law, because so far such schools are allowed only in the secondary school system."

Along efforts for the normalization of the didactic process, work is going on to draft the regulations of the universities so that a very important step be made towards the election of their leading staffs.

Now the Albanian Ministry of Education is completing a study, which will value better the situation of education and the scientific research in Albania and a report for this will be presented to a special conference which will also take the national mandate. All this work is envisaged to end within the first half of the current year, said Ruka.

"It is not the word that things be radically changed," said Ruka, "but only some changes to be made in the higher education system according to the secondary school system, to be attained through the creation of technological institutes, an experience which is lacking in Albania and is being felt in all other countries of Europe." /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] River Vjose overflows

The recent heavy rain falls have raised the level of Vjose, which has overflown the nearby fields in its lower part.

According to the Interior Ministry spokesman, the mostly affected areas from River Vjose overflow are the villages of Mifol, Bishan, Dellenje and Poro of the district of Vlore and the village Cerven of Fier.

The local governments of these districts, in cooperation with regional police departments, have informed the population of those villages of other possible inundations and a part of the people have evacuated. /s.s/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Explosion planted in house of SP militant in Lazarat

Eye witnesses told ATA that on Friday at 02:00, a considerable quantity of explosive matter destroyed the house of the citizen Myrte Meçi, member of the Socialist Party in Lazarat village of Gjirokaster.

At the moment of explosion, the four children and Myrte were in a room far from explosion, while the wife, who was sleeping near the room where the explosive matter was planted, suffered a contusion. The doctors of the regional hospital reported to ATA that her life is out of danger.

The SP presidency of the district has politically motivated the explosion.

This is the fourth explosion taking place in this village over the past two months and all the damaged persons have been members or functionaries of the Socialist Party in the district. /s.s/xhen/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] We are pleased with 200 days of the Government - DAP "We have no documents for Berisha, his orders have been verbal" - Ceka

"Giving of the country a constitution in a near future, a correct strategy of privatization, stabilization of the economy control and reduction of inflation, fight against corruption, which has started, and investigation for the perpetrators of the catastrophe of the state have been the main demands of DAP before it took part in the coalition government and now its leaders are satisfied for them. "But the Government must work more for the recovery of the institutions and the observation of the law," was Ceka's only remark for the coalition government.

DAP demanded again yesterday the drafting of the constitution despite the non-participation in this process of the Democratic Party. "This party wants to make a parallel state and goes in opposite direction of the development," said Ceka. Before taking part in the government, the liberal democrat leader had accused Berisha of "involvement in the state crime." After 200 days, the Interior Ministry founds it difficult to indict Berisha. "Berisha is a man with a verbal experience and all his orders have been verbally given, therefore we are not finding documents against him," was Ceka's conclusion, while the Defence Ministry has filed some public indictments against the former president. xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] DP still keeping off parliament

He said that the Democratic Party is anyhow against the final boycott and it will be constructive in its role.

Berisha greeted on Thursday the statement of the European troika, in a letter addressed to OSCE (a point of the troika statement urged this party to end the boycott of parliament.)

In the function of this declaration, Berisha said on Friday that "we will remove the socialists from power through peaceful ways: strikes, protests and demonstrations, which have been successful so far." Berisha also repeated the request for the establishment of a technocrat government, as an unshakeable alternative of DP, two days after he positively replied to OSCE on the statement of the European troika, which stressed the legitimacy of parliament.

"The idea of a technocrat government is not rejected in none of the points of the troika statement," said Berisha in the news conference, although he had accepted the legitimacy of elections and is aware of the support given by the international community for the current Albanian government.

The DP head repeated the idea that only the new elections would pull the country out of the economic and social crisis, meanwhile that the possibility of new elections is excluded in the statement of the European troika. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Former politically persecuted against law on scrutiny of officials

This association, a faction of the Formerly Politically Persecuted, led by Kurt Kolla, held a rally in front of the OSCE headquarters in Tirane, in support of the hunger strikers who demand the abrogation of some amendments to the law on the Scrutiny of Officials, adopted by the present Parliament.

"We have had a meeting with the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts, who promised us to do the utmost for the solution of the conflict," the Association Secretary Liri Ndoci told ATA.

She added that another meeting is expected to be held on this question.

During a meeting with representatives of the Association, one of the aides of President Rexhep Meidani explained to them that the amendments had improved the previous law. xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Kinkel says Berisha vowed to return to parliament

"I had a lengthy talk with Berisha," Kinkel said, adding that "Albania is in the process of transformation and is experiencing normal difficulties of other countries undergoing such processes, thus such a situation has a special importance for all the political forces take part in parliament."

"I called on Berisha that he and his deputies return to parliament and take a constructive part in the process of constitution," Kinkel said.

He added that he asked Berisha if he might tell a news conference that he (Berisha) would apply these, the latter replied "yes".

Meanwhile, the DP leader had told a news conference one hour before the meeting with the German minister that "the DP will return to parliament when it sees that the majority is implementing the troika' remarks." ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Kinkel says Albania less aid unless reconciliation is restored

on Friday in Tirana that Albania will take less aid unless a national reconciliation is restored.

"I call on Albanians to work together for Albania in this difficult time. The international community will help Albania, but less if there is no national reconciliation," Kinkel told journalists.

"I call on the Albanian government and parliament to apply every recommendation of the Council of Europe, European parliament and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)," Kinkel said. cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Ceka says only coalition's table decides changes in government

"We are not employed by the Government and it is not logical to speak of minister replacement," PAD president Neritan ceka told a news conference on Friday.

Ceka, who is also Interior Minister, reminded that the government is created by a five party coalition and one cannot speak of changes in the cabinet unless the five leaders of the coalition meet.

"If the day comes to restructure or change the Government, this will be discussed at the five parties' round table," said Ceka.

This statement deprives Prime Minister Nano of the powers to reshuffle the cabinet based on personal considerations.

"Any statement on Government changes made outside the five parties' round table is hasty," said Ceka, while Nano has declared the cabinet's reshuffle at the round table of the Council of Ministers.

Nano blamed several ministers for hindering the release of funds earmarked for Albania and for delays in drafting the budget.

"The situation of public order does not make up an obstacle for the release of foreign aid," said Ceka.

He explained that there had been delay on the part of his ministry not in drafting the budget, but in drafting the Government's decision to raise salaries by 80 per cent. The decision to raise salaries was taken by the Government prior to the draft-budget. lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Nano says Germany is our main partner to integrate in EU

Milo said that the prime minister Fatos Nano said to Klaus Kinkel, German foreign minister, "Germany is the main partner for Albania's integration in the European Union and we will promote our relations with it."

Kinkel, on his part, said: "I am giving a good signal to Albanians that Germany will support Albania. This should be well understood here." cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Kinkel supports expanded autonomy for Kosova, not independence and secession

"Germany supports an expanded autonomy, with which he means an expanded cultural autonomy, which allows the Albanians to live their own culture, history and ethnicity," said Kinkel.

"The international community will not allow that a majority of 90 percent of the population is maltreated by a minority of 10 percent" said Kinkel.

Germany takes part in two initiatives, one with France and one with the U.S., on the Kosova issue.

"On March I will go to Serbia to tell Milosevic that projectors are focussed on him," the German minister said.

"We back the Kosova population, but we do not support the separatist movements and I have said this to Mr. Rogova several times". cela/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Nuova Ecologa, either clean Tirana or go bankrupt, minister says

of the Tirana city, carried out by the Italian firm "Nuova Ecologa", Leonard Solis, Minister of Health and Environment protection told ATA on Friday.

"We as a ministry have applied fines against this company but no improvement has been noticed. Thus, facing such a situation, we urged this company to fulfil all the obligation under the contract for cleaning up the city until the end of February 1998, otherwise we will close down its activity."

"We inform the Council of Ministers, Tirana town hall, Prefecture that after the deadline they should be ready to continue this operation, finding out other ways to clean up the territory covered by this company," Solis said. cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Kinkel asks agreement to return Albanian refugees -Milo says it is about return of those committing crimes-

"I wish to reach with the Albanian government an agreement on refugees' return. It is about the Albanians of the Republic of Albania, who make up some 20 000 out of a total of 400 000 Albanians in Germany, not about the Kosova Albanians," said Kinkel at a meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

"Germany has been very generous with the Albanians, spending for them more than any other country, considering the number of the population," he said.

"Under the current conditions, this is a great problem for us as we have some 7,3 million foreigners, that is, twice the population of Albania".

"However, the Albanians have not to worry, we will not return them all at once".

While minister Milo said that it is about the return of the Albanians who commit crimes, only. /Cela/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] European partners to define economic program for Albania

"The European economic assistance should be defined and planned and have an immediate influence, which should be seen by people in Albania," Everts said to Kinkel, who had a meeting with the MAPE representatives (Mission of the multinational counseling element for police) and Ambassador Everts.

The OSCE ambassador stressed the importance of the European support for Albania.

Kinkel got acquainted with the extension of MAPE mission and greeted police officers for their contribution to the Albanian police helping them in professional training.

"Security is a serious problem in Albania. Police forces ask not only for technical assistance but also material one, to carry out their work better in the fight against the organised crime," Everts said to the German minister.

During his stay in Albania, Kinkel, who headed a German parliamentary and businessmen delegation, held talks with prime minister of Albania Fatos Nano, Foreign minister Paskal Milo and Democratic leader Sali Berisha. ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] OSCE tries to resolve parliament-court conflict by compromise

"A possibility for a reasonable solution of the conflict, which should not be given a political character, should be found," the ambassador Everts said to ATA on Friday.

Everts said that both sides should talk to find a diplomatic but not public solution to the problem.

Last November, the parliamentary majority passed an amendment on constitutional provisions obliging the constitutional court to carry out rotation during 20 days, but the court called this law anti constitutional and, though the deadline had expired, it had not observed the parliamentary decision. cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Missiles do not sever Albania's ties with China

The Defence Ministry has been accused by the press of breaking off ties with its counterpart as a result of the disappearance of the Chinese missiles in Gjirokaster and non-implementation of the international elementary rules.

The Defence Ministry maintains correct relations with the Chinese army and government. It is predisposed to strengthen ties between the two armies without any prejudice, Mullai said.

As regards the Chinese missiles, Mullai says further on, they were seized by irresponsible persons and, through intensive efforts by the criminal police and under the direct care of the Defence Policy, they were found and returned to the Albanian army depots in a week.

In the context of promoting military relations between Albania and China, the Albanian Interior Minister will visit the Republic of China, in the second six months of 1998, at the invitation of the Chinese counterpart, the defence Ministry spokesman concludes.lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] DP leader refuses Nano's invitation to lunch

The chairs of the Democrat deputies Berisha and Demi were empty at 14.30 what impressed the German Foreign Minister Kinkel, who had said to the press minutes before that the DP was going to end the parliamentary and constitutional boycott and Berisha had vowed him to do this.

German deputy chancellor held talks with the Albanian former president on Friday midday saying him, among others, according to some sources inside the meeting, "you are committing many mistakes, adopting such attitudes towards parliament or constitution," and the reply of the DP leader was: "One can make mistakes." ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] German minister praises DP decision to return to parliament

"On my part, I assure you that I will ask the Albanian government to apply the recommendations of the European parliamentarian delegation which I agree with. National reconciliation and its policy are conditions to help Albania. Failure to create national reconciliation and cooperation between political forces in Albania would mean a reduction in aid from Germany and the European Union," Kinkel said.

Referring to the Kosova issue, Kinkel said that "local initiatives cannot prevent direct engagement of Germany and E.U. for a solution to this problem, which is of special importance."

While Berisha said: "I have been and I am against final parliamentarian boycott. We have not accepted and will not accept to be a façade, but we will return to parliament to defend our alternative. We, also, are determined to give our contribution to the constitution." cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Everts says political defence does not serve strike of formerly politically persecuted

in the law on the Figure's Scrutiny, does not help the solution of this issue, the OSCE ambassador in Tirana, Daan Everts, told ATA.

"The defence provided to the strikers by the DP and the other Union for Democracy parties, should not be so hasty. This issue should be solved through dialogue," said Everts.

He also advised politicians not always to think that the other side is ill willing.

Everts added that people should be more restraint in their acts, referring to the fact that recently several groups of people, in order to protest, have resorted to the most extreme form: the hunger strike.

"The hunger strike was untimely. The strikers should have first tried all the other ways and known the facts, before taking this step," said Everts, who said on the other hand that he understood the feelings of these people.

He said that misunderstanding between parliament and the formerly politically persecuted was most probable which should be resolved through compromise by both sides.

"However we must examine this issue, as we are not clear about the reasons of the strikers' protest," he said.

The National Association of the Formerly Politically Persecuted, at a gathering in front of the OSCE headquarters in Tirana on Friday, asked Europe to intervene to save the lives of the strikers.

The parliamentary group "The Centre Right", composed of the Union For Democracy deputies, has stated that unless the issue of the law on the Figure's Scrutiny is solved, its deputies will boycott parliament.

SP chairman Sali Berisha told a news conference on Friday that if something happened to any of the strikers, some deputies of the DP would resign their mandates. /cela/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Nano-Kinkel meeting

"But, unfortunately, so far, just like today at the reception extended in your honor, Berisha has refused all invitations for cooperation, said Nano.

"However, we will leave behind traditions of political war on streets and systematically ask political cooperation, integration and cohabitation, sometimes even bypassing the electorate's requests," he added.

Klaus Kinkel said that "the only way to achieve the integration and prosperity of the Albanian society is cohabitation, which, unfortunately, is not being applied by Berisha's party. I have asked the Democratic Party to take part in parliament and the constitutional process, which would testify that this party is able to accept the election defeat of the past year".

Kinkel: We want Albania to keep playing a stabilizing role in the Balkans

"The same cohabitation philosophy is being applied by the Albanian government also in its foreign policy especially in the relations with the neighbours," said Nano in his meeting with the German minister.

"Our attitudes are increasingly contrasting those of the Belgrade, which is unable to understand that the only way to integrate and lift the wall of sanctions is institutional cohabitation between ethnic groups in former Yugoslavia," he said.

"But the south of the Balkans, different from Serbia, is embracing the policy of integration, which is best illustrated in the substantially improving relations among Tirana, Skopje and Athens."

The Albanians, in and outside Albania, the prime minister said further on, should understand that parallel institutions do not produce solutions, on the contrary, they polarise and radicalise the societies creating them. One should change requests as that by a part of the Albanian opposition which asks elections on the same day, that is, on March 22 in Albania, like in Kosova.

"These tendencies cannot but fuel radical actions and, as we are seeing, even terrorist ones, which the Albanian government does not back, despite the fact whether those responsible are Albanians or Serbs," Fatos Nano added.

Kinkel said that Germany wants Albania to continue to play a stabilising role in the Balkans, asking Milosevic to change strategy towards the Albanians of Kosova.

"The international community will not allow that 10 percent of Serbs maltreat 90 percent of Albanians in the province," said the German minister Kinkel.

Nano: Germany, one of main European partners

Albania, through an improvement of the legal framework, restoration of order, already guarantees foreign investments, Nano told Kinkel, referring to bilateral issues.

"Siemens, Lufthansa, Preussag and all the other companies concerned are testing this guarantee, naturally sharing the difficulties Albania and the Albanian society is experiencing," prime minister said.

"In this sense, the German banks can play a crucial role in financing and guaranteeing many projects. It is time for Germany to disburse some 45 percent of the German aid, part of which are blocked as a result of a red tape policy of the previous government, but also due to the last year's crisis," he said.

"The Albanian government considers Germany one of the main European partners and urges it to step up Albania's integration into European organisations," said Nano.

He added that "we would intend to reach a specific accord between the European Union and Albania which would complete the framework of trade and economic cooperation between the parties."

"Meanwhile, the Albanian government has met and is ready to meet all political guarantees of the European troika and its financial commitments to the International Monetary Fund," Nano said.

Kinkel said that bilateral relations will be intensified particularly in bussiness, finding in the Albanian government a capable, courageous and reliable partner.

"The biggest German companies such as Siemens or Preussag, already introduced in the Albanian market, will pave the way for other investments, " he said.

Germany, Kinkel said, is very near Albania, even because of the nearly 20 000 Albanian emigrants living in Germany, whose future will be defined by bilateral agreements. ssh/cela/lm/ak/

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