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Albanian Times, Vol. 2, No. 4, January 29, 1996From: Albanian Times <AlbaTimes@aol.com>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryCONTENTS[1] Campaign Demands End Of Violence Against Women[2] Bills Call For Healthy Securities Market, Privatization of Water Supply[3] Berisha Confers With Peres[4] Parliament Commission to Investigate Charges On Daily[5] Yugoslavia to Recognize FYROM[6] GAC Agrees on Need For New Links With Albania[7] Berisha To Visit Israel[8] Trash Collection Project Launched in Tirana[9] German Fund Starts Operation[10] President Berisha Discloses Personal Assets[11] Albanian Police Raid Opposition Daily[12] Albania, Hungary Look To Better Economic Future[13] Nato Calls Partners To Enlargement Meeting[14] Drug Traffickers May Be Avoiding Balkan Route[15] European Leftist Concerned About Albanian Controversial Law[16] Albanian Daily Denies Receiving Funds From Serbia[17] Four Albanians Wounded in Greek Prison Riot[18] Foreign Firms to Develop Beach Resort[19] Berisha, Goncz Discuss Economic Ties[20] Germany To Support Training for Albanian Military[21] Authorities Vow Fight Against Food Tamperers[22] Former Communist Officials Summoned For Hearing[23] Albanian Project Drilling Starts, NEBEX Reports[24] Albanians Jailed In Greece To Complete Terms At Home[1] Campaign Calls To End Violence Against WomenA campaign to stop violence against women wrapped up in Tirana with a call on government and non government organizations to raise public awareness on the issue. A survey conducted with 1,400 participants of both sexes, concluded that women in Albania are often a victim of physical, psycological and sexual violence. The survey was conducted by "Reflections" a women organization based in Tirana and was supported by European Union's program Phare Democracy. A round table discussion held Monday at the conclusion of the campain also discussed a project to set up special centers for women affected by domestic violence. (Albanian Times, January 29)
[2] Bills Call For Healthy Securities Market, Privatization of Water SupplyAlbanian government is submitting to parliament a bill aimed at regulating the emerging securities market, a spokesman said on January 29. The bill calls for establishing a special commission as the only body that would provide licences to security market players. The bill also includes provisions on sanctions against violators. In a separate bill, the government calls for the privatization of the country's water supply system. The timing and ways of privatization woud be decided by the government. (Albanian Times, January 29)
[3] Berisha Confers With PeresAlbanian President Sali Berisha, on a visit to Israel, called on Prime Minster Shimon Peres to encourage Israeli investments in Albania. The cooperation can extend to tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and education, Berisha said. He said privatization in Albania creates ample space for Israeli investments too. Berisha and Peres signed an agreement on mutual protection of investments. Peres described the Israeli-Albanian relations "of special importance". He praised Berisha's role, calling him "a man of success and reform". Albania is known to Israelis for its protection of Jews during World War Two. A total of 21 Albanian families have their names inscribed on the Righteous Honour Wall at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, established in 1953 to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to honour those who saved Jews at the risk of their own lives. (January 29)
[4] Parliament Commission to Investigate Charges On DailyAlbanian Parliament voted to set up an ad-hoc commission to investigate charges raised against the daily Koha Jone and the opposition socialists, who have been accused of receiving secret funds from Serbia and Moscow allegedly aimed at discrediting democracy. The charges appeared in an alleged interview of an unidentified former secret service agent. Last week, police stopped and searched several distribution vehicles of the daily triggering anger among opposition papers. In a letter to President Sali Berisha on Friday, the Paris based "Reporteurs Sans Frontieres" protested the police raid on Koha Jone. Police said they were conducting a "routine operation". Koha Jone is Albania's largest daily with a ciculation of about 20,000 and over 120 employees and correspondents. (Albanian Times, January 29)
[5] Yugoslavia to Recognize FYROMRump Yugoslavia has approved a draft treaty recognizing the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Monday, according to a government statement. The government of rump Yugoslavia approved a draft treaty recognising the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia on Monday, a government statement said. The statement said the two sides would set a date for the signing of the ``agreement on normalisation of relations'' later. Recognition of Macedonia paves the way for rump Yugoslavia -- made up of Serbia and Montenegro -- to establish diplomatic relations with the European Union, according to some Western diplomats in Belgrade. The United States, however, feels formal Western recognition should be withheld until the Yugoslav government has made further concessions on human rights, particularly in the largely ethnic-Albanian province of Kosovo, the diplomats say. Recognition of Macedonia also risks harming Yugoslavia's relations with Greece, which has been one of Belgrade's staunchest supporters during the Bosnia war and has its own serious differences with Skopje. (Reuters, Albanian Times, January 29)
[6] GAC Agrees on Need For New Links With AlbaniaThe General Affairs Council reaffirmed the importance of strengthening links with Albania, and asked the European Commission to come up with proposals for negotiating a new accord, diplomats said. They said the ministers had broadly agreed with the Commission's view that Albania should be offered a new deal stopping short of a full Europe Agreement with its promise of eventual membership. The diplomats added that the brief debate also made the point that Albania should be drawn into any future Balkan Agreements that the High Representative in former Yugoslavia, Carl Bildt, has suggested as a vehicle for future EU relations with the region. The Council will hold political talks with Albania on Tuesday to discuss these developments.
[7] Berisha To Visit IsraelAlbanian President Sali Berisha will visit Israel from January 29 to 31, his office said. The visit includes talks with President Ezer Weizman and Prime Minister Shimon Peres. In November, Mr. Berisha attended the funeral of the slain Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin. Albania is known in Israel as the country where not a single Jew fell into Nazi hands during 13 months of German occupation in World War Two. A total of 21 Albanian families have their names inscribed on the Righteous Honour Wall at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, established in 1953 to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to honour those who saved Jews at the risk of their own lives. (Albanian Times, January 28)
[8] Trash Collection Project Launched in TiranaA trash collection project undertaken by an Austrian company is being launched in southwestern parts of capital Tirana, officials say. About $1,4 million is being spent for the project, a joint effort by Tirana Municipality and Austria's Saubermacher Company. The project will use 1,000 trash containers and 6 new vehicles which are already in operation, Tirana authorities said. Heaps of house refuse scattered in living areas of the capital have become an eye sore despite pressing demands by the city population. (Albanian Times, January 28)
[9] German Fund Starts OperationA German Fund is granting low interest loans to help finance Albanian business community. The fund, negotiated between the German and Albanian governments has started lending at a 2.5 percent interest rate and is focusing on manufaturing, services and trade activities. With an initial capital of DM 7 million, the fund is lending to small businesses in Tirana with plans to expand to other districts. To receive a loan, at least 6 months of business experience is needed, fund managers in Tirana said. So far, About 200 people have submitted loan demands. (Albanian Times, January 28)
[10] President Berisha Discloses Personal AssetsA spokesman for President Sali Berisha said the President owns a 72 sq/m appartment and holds a family savings account of 360,000 leks (about $3,600). Earlier this month, the government has passed measures to implement a legislation approved last by parliament calling on high officials to disclose their personal assets. The move is seen as an effort to fight corruption among state officials, an accusation that may result highly damaging to the ruling Democratic Party as it seeks to retain power in upcoming elections.
[11] Albanian Police Raid Opposition DailyAlbanian police has stopped and searched 6 vans belonging to an opposition daily accused of receiving illegal funds from Serbia. The director of the daily Koha Jone, Nikolle Lesi, told reporters the police raid in Tirana's outskirts was aimed at stopping the distribution of the newspaper, a charge rejected by the authorities. Police sources told reporters this was a routine check carried out on most vehicles that were leaving the capital and not specificly directed to the daily's distribution vans. In a report released recently by an Italian press office based in Tirana, Koha Jone has been accused of receiving along with the Socialist opposition secret funds from the "communist world." The charges were based on an alleged interview with a former secret service agent, disclosing that Koha Jone and socialist members of the Parliament receive monthly payments from Serbia and Moscow to discredit democratic forces in Albania. The ruling Democratic Party has called for investigation. In a letter to President Sali Berisha on Friday, the Paris based "Reporteurs Sans Frotieres" has protested the police raid on Koha Jone.
[12] Albania, Hungary Look To Better Economic FutureAlbania and Hungary on Friday pledged to revitalise trade relations and repair economic ties damaged by the imposition of now-suspended U.N. sanctions against rump Yugoslavia, Reuter reported on January 26. President Arpad Goncz, the first Hungarian head of state to visit Albania, said at the end of his three-day visit his trip was aimed at reigniting cooperation between Budapest and Tirana. The two countries signed accords for the protection of investment and for road passenger and freight transport. Transport between the two countries was hit hard by the sanctions, with transport companies having to bypass Yugoslavia by driving a much longer route through Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia. ``Hungarian businessmen have a big interest in the new Albanian market and in privatisation. After the lifting of the embargo, we are getting nearer,'' . Albania's Trade Secretary Selim Belortaja said. Hungary had pledged to back a plan by Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey to build a highway linking the Balkan states. ``Because five European motorways pass through Hungary, it has a special status in the field and I think their support is important,'' Belortaja told reporters. Hungarian Agriculture Minister Laszlo Lakos said Albania had also asked for wheat supplies. ``The purchase will be made at market prices and the quantity defined later in talks at specialist level,'' he said. Albania recognised its $15 million debt to Hungary and discussions will continue to seek ways of solving it, a member of the Hungarian delegation said. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[13] Nato Calls Partners To Enlargement MeetingNATO will host a major meeting with potential new members on Monday as the next step in its cautious plan to expand eastwards, alliance sources said on January 26. All 27 signatories to the alliance's Partnership for Peace programme have been invited to the meeting -- although by no means all want to join NATO and it is not certain how many will attend. Romania, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Albania, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Slovenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have all declared an interest in joining. The potential new members will be asked if they are interested in individual talks with the alliance to develop a membership timetable and strategy. ``The North Atlantic Council has decided that these individual dialogues will start no later than April,'' an alliance source said. The talks, which NATO aims to have wrapped up by the end of the year, will focus on mapping out individual development programmes to help each aspiring new member adapt its military and civilian structure to the alliance. ``The schedule is tight. We have to have conducted all the dialogues and drawn our conclusions by December,'' an alliance source said. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[14] Drug Traffickers May Be Avoiding Balkan RouteDrug traffickers appear to be making less use of the ``Balkan route'' from Turkey to western Europe, customs officials said after Bulgaria on Friday reported a big drop in seizures of illegal drugs last year. ``One reason (for the drop) is that Bulgaria, Hungary and Germany made big seizures in recent years and drug traffickers are avoiding the traditional Balkan Route,'' a Bulgaria official told Reuters on January 26. The route runs from Turkey through Bulgaria and Romania. Another route is believed to run through Albania to Italy. ``We and international bodies are analysing the reasons, which are many,'' said the official, who declined to be named.
[15] European Leftist Concerned About Albanian Controversial LawA controversial Albanian law barring former communist officals from office has come under attack by a delegation of European socialists visiting Tirana. Achille Occhetto, vice chairman of the European Socialist Party, the largest grouping in the European Parliament, described the so-called anti-genocide law as an open issue in the Albanian society. Occhetto said the punishment of past crimes should be made by the courts. Reacting to his remarks, Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi said the law affects only "the masterminders and the perpetrators of the dictatorship" and has been shaped according to similar laws in other East European countries. The legislation was introduced last year by the ruling Democratic Party and is seen as critical in the democrats efforts to prevent a comeback of the former communists in the upcoming national elections. Albania's opposition Socialists and the Social Democrats have appealed to the Constitutional Court against the law and a ruling is expected by the end of January. Members of the European Socialists said the delegation would present a resolution to the European Parliament upon their return to Strasbourg. (Albanian Times, January 25)
[16] Albanian Daily Denies Receiving Funds From SerbiaAn Albanian daily has denied receiving along with the Socialist opposition secret funds from the "communist world." The director of Koha Jone, Albania's largest daily, dismissed the accusations as ludicrous. Nikolle Lesi said the accusations made by an Italian press office based in Tirana were unfounded. The charges are based on an alleged interview with a former secret service agent, who according to the Pietro Zannoni Press Office, disclosed that Koha Jone and socialist members of the Parliament receive monthly payments from Serbia and Moscow to discredit democratic forces in Albania. The ruling Democratic Party has called to investigate all funding and revenues of the Socialists and the daily in order "to bring the culprits to justice." (Albanian Times, January 25)
[17] Four Albanians Wounded in Greek Prison RiotFour rioting Albanians were wounded at Greece's Larissa prison on Wednesday night, Reuters reported on January 25. Dozens of inmates went in a rampage after a failed mass escape attempt. The disturbance began when inmates refused to return to their cells after a recreational break. Police said on Thursday they hoped to bring the situation under control within the day. The wounded were taken to a hospital, Reuter said. Rioters demands are still unknown. Six hundred inmates are being held in Larissa prison, which was originally built for 350.
[18] Foreign Firms to Develop Beach ResortItalian, German and Austrian Companies have plans to develop an almost virgin beach in Northwestern Albania, according to an ATA report. Velipoja beach on the Adriatic is considered a potentially lucrative summer resort that may attract up to 30,000 visitors a year and create new jobs for the surrounding region. Situated about 30 kilometers from the city of Shkodra, the beach area offers great possibilities for large scale constructions, according to experts quoted by ATA. The development projects have been presented to the Council of the Regulation of Territory.
[19] Berisha, Goncz Discuss Economic TiesAlbania and Hungary will make joint efforts to speed up their integration in Europe, President Sali Berisha told reporters after a meeting in Tirana with Hungarian President Arpad Goncz who arrived on January 24. Both sides signed agreements on land transportation and on mutual protection of investments. We also agreed to sign other economic cooperation accords, Berisha said. Both presidents attended later a meeting between Albanian and Hungarian businessmen. Private businesses in Albania have asked to set up a Hungarian-Albanian bank in Tirana to facilitate trade operations. (Albanian Times, January 24)
[20] Germany To Support Training for Albanian MilitaryGerman parliamentarians said in Tirana that Bundeswehr will support a long term training program for the Albanian military personnel. Friedrich Schultz and Reiner Krzishewitz, members of Bundestag's Defense Commission were meeting with the Albanian Defence Minister, Safet Zhulali. Minister Zhulali called the relations with Germany a priority and praised German aid in training of the Albanian military personnel. Mr. Zhulali pointed to the need for expanding such an aid in logistics, military medicine and transportation.(ATA/Albanian Times, January 23)
[21] Authorities Vow Fight Against Food TamperersAlbanian authorities have pledged war on adulterators who they say are paralysing the market. Food inspection officials in the Ministry of Agriculture are stepping up efforts to curb sale of debased foods, imposing huge fines on violators. Aduterated foods and drinks worth about $400,000 have been destryed in the last six months, ministry officials told reporters in Tirana. Defrauding consumers by selling them doctored products not only threatens consumers lives but also paralyses honest manufacturers and undermines the future of such important sectors as wine industry, Bashkim Dumani, inspection official at the ministry said. Everyone should be involved in this fight, he added. Dumani called on food and drink manufacturers to protect themselves by creating their own associations. In the local media there have been reports on large quantities of allegedly adulterated wine sold on New Year's eve in major cities of Albania. (ATA/Albanian Times, January 24)
[22] Former Communist Officials Summoned For HearingNine former communist officials, under custody since Sunday, were summoned for a hearing session in Tirana on January 23. Aranit Cela, Simon Stefani, Manush Myftiu, Rrapi Mino, Veiz Haderi, Qemal Bregasi, Llambi Gegprifti, Hekuran Isai and Foto Cami have been accused of crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Shkelqim Ganaj asked the court to change the status of custody from jail to house arrest for the defendants Foto Cami and Aranit Cela due to their poor health and old age. Both of the defendants are over 70. Manush Myftiu also was under home arrest and was not present at the court hearing. The prosecutor asked that Hekuran Isai, Simon Stefani and Rrapi Mino remain in jail as a security measure. Three other defendants Qemal Bregasi, Veiz Haderi and Llambi Gegprifti were abroad and authorities are trying to secure their extradiction in order to carry out the ruling, Ganaj said. The defendants summoned in court opposed the ruling and asked to be investigated under house arrest or in bail. The court decision on their request is expected withing five days. (Albanian Times, January 23)
[23] Albanian Project Drilling Starts, NEBEX ReportsNEBEX Resources Ltd. (NBX:ASE) reports that drilling has started in Albania on copper-gold-zinc massive sulphide targets identified on the Mirdita concession, according to Canada Newswire. This initial large-scale drill program on the Albanian project is for 30,000 feet. The contractor, Midwest Drilling of Winnipeg, transported a drill from Canada. Reports of previous drilling included a 3.3 metre intersection which averaged 3.7% copper, 19.4% zinc and 13.96 grams/tonne gold. Another hole had 4.05% metres of 2.3% copper, 17.5% zinc and 7.4 grams/tonne gold. A report by the Company's consulting geologist noted that there are more than 20 known sulphide prospects that require further testing. NEBEX has an option to earn an 80% interest in the Mirdit concession in north-central Albania. Other exploration continues to further evaluate the Mirdita and three other concession areas. NEBEX Resources is a Canadian mining exploration company currently focussed on Albania and the Yellowknife gold camp where follow-up drilling is being carried out on an earlier gold discovery. The Alberta Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. (CNW, January 23) For further information: Brian Douglas, President, Jim Kelly, Vice-President, 403-262-6064.
[24] Albanians Jailed In Greece To Complete Terms At HomeAbout 790 Albanian inmates held in Greek prisons will complete the remainder of their sentences in their home country, according to Albanian sources quoted by Gazeta Shqiptare. The first group of inmates includes 14 women and 140 teen age offenders. The extradictions are based on the agreement signed by the Justice Ministers of Greece and Albania in Tirana on August 16. The move follows violent incidents in Greek prisons, in which Albanian inmates were reportedly involved. The European Commission recently offered $1,3 million to improve prison conditions in Albania. Meanwhile, on January 21, Greek police arrested 43 Albanian illegal immigrants, including three who were carrying eight kilos of hashish, Athens News Agency reported.
The material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & ConsultingInternational. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, pleasewrite to AlbaTimes@aol.comCopyright (c) ATCI, 1996 |
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