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Albanian Times, April 2, 1996From: Albanian Times <AlbaTimes@aol.com>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryCONTENTS[1] Defense Chiefs Wrap Up Meeting in Tirana[2] Albania Wants Stronger Ties With NATO, Minister Says[3] Perry Proposes Steps to Defuse Balkan Tensions[4] Mother Teresa hospitalized[5] Seminar Explores Ways to Fight Economic Crime[6] Government to Increase Public Sector Salaries[7] Government Commission to Protect Albanian Language[1] Defense Chiefs Wrap Up Meeting in TiranaTIRANA, April 1 - Addressing the first-ever meeting of defense ministers of the South Balkans, the Albanian defence chief Safet Zhulali said it is time for the Balkan countries to demonstrate in practice that they are important players in the regional security. "This is an excellent opportunity to exchange our experiences in such vital fields as the increase of confidence measures, defense cooperation and military and civil relationship," Zhulali told the conference, which was billed as a get-acquainted session for defense ministers of the South Balkans. The meeting was also addressed by the U.S. Defense Secretary, William J. Perry who flew to Albania Sunday night after talks in the Croatian and Bosnian capitals. Defense chiefs from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Italy attended the conference. The governments of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia were not invited to Monday's conference. Zhulali made no mention of the fact that Greece was invited but refused to attend, apparently at least in part because of tensions between Greece and Macedonia. "The term 'South Balkans' does not represent a new division of the region," Zhulali said, "but rather a forum in which we can initiate constructive dialogue aimed at addressing issues which are common to us all." (Albanian Times)
[2] Albania Wants Stronger Ties With NATO, Minister SaysTIRANA, April 1 - Albania reaffirmed its determination on Monday to strengthen its ties to NATO as part of its drive for closer western integration. ``The importance of this region for Euro-Atlantic security shows that NATO's extension to the south is necessary,'' Albanian defense minister, Safet Zhulali said. ``Albania is trying to find itself integrated in the European-Atlantic structures of security by the next century.'' Albania became one of the first members to sign up for the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance's Partnership for Peace programme, designed to draw former Cold War foes closer to the West, two years ago. The partnership ``was born as a forum whose aim was (to promote) economic and political stability of the partner countries,'' Zhulali said, calling it ``one of the most historic events of our time.'' While reaffirming Albania's wish to become a fully-fledged NATO member at some point in the future, Zhulali admitted the country still faced many problems. ``We know it is a big and difficult transformation but we are determined to walk that road,'' he said. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[3] Perry Proposes Steps to Defuse Balkan TensionsTIRANA, April 1 - Defense Secretary William J. Perry Monday proposed the following small steps for Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia to prevent a Bosnia type conflict:Participate in every NATO-organized peacekeeping exercisein the region. "These exercises develop habits of military cooperation that are simply not available in any other way,". Open up each nation's peacekeeping training centers to troops from neighboring countries. The United States could provide an unspecified amount of money to help train and equip peacekeeping units from these three countries. Create military "rapid response" teams that could work together in search-and-rescue missions, civilian emergencies and disaster relief. "This is an area where good neighborliness not only increases confidence and trust - it also saves lives."Exchange with neighboring defense ministries detailed information about military budgets, plans and policies. In what Perry called a symbolic gesture, he gave each of his South Balkan counterparts copies of the newly published Defense Department annual report to Congress that spells out U.S. military programs. Set up telephone "hotlines" between the offices of the region's defense ministers. This could help defuse tensions during times of crisis, Perry said, because "sometimes confidence building requires more than just opening your books - sometimes it requires opening your ears, as well." Withdraw military units from border regions, as Turkey and Bulgaria recently did. Perry praised the rapid pace of democratic reform and security cooperation in Albania and other former communist states in the Balkans. ``As President Berisha said (in welcoming remarks on Sunday night), we all have something to learn from each other,'' said Perry, who promised continued support from the United States for reforms in the region. (Albanian Times, USA Today, AP, Reuter)
[4] Mother Teresa hospitalizedCALCUTTA, April 1 - The Albanian born Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa was hospitalized Monday in Calcutta after falling at her Missionaries of Charity headquarters and breaking her collarbone. She was admitted to the Woodlands Nursing Home. She suffered the injury after falling off her bed Sunday night, the medical director said. She was listed in stable condition, and a doctor said there were no fears for her overall health. The fall forced the 85-years-old Mother Teresa to cancel an appearance to receive a large medical donation. She sent a doctor in her place. Mother Teresa's missionary order now runs over 400 charitable institutions around the world. (Albanian Times, CNN)
[5] Seminar Explores Ways to Fight Economic CrimeTIRANA, April 1 - President Sali Berisha promised relentless fight against economic crime. Addressing an international seminar in Tirana, Berisha said the Albanian government is determined to clamp down on organised crime and work closely with all neighboring countries in countering it. "Albania is determined...to adopt practices, laws and institutions capable of facing, limiting and especially prevending organised economic crime," Berisha told the meeting sponsored by the British government and the Soros Foundation. Berisha blamed corruption and economic crime in Eastern Europe on past coomunist regimes under which "ordinary thiefs were punished whereas the high ranking officials shared the privileges." The seminar was attended by experts from 11 countries, including East European nations and was aimed at exploring fields of cooperation in the struggle against embezzlement, corruption, money laundering, extortion and other types of economic crime. (Albanian Times)
[6] Government to Increase Public Sector SalariesTIRANA, April 1 - Albanian government has decided to increase public sector salaries and pensions by 20 percent, Radio Tirana said. The government is also entitling state enterprises to grant salary increases from 5 to 100 percent to their workers. The moves, made under apparent pressure by the Labor Unions, will have to be approved by the President and if signed into law, would become effective April 1. (Albanian Times)
[7] Government Commission to Protect Albanian LanguageTIRANA, April 1 - In an unusual move, the government has set up a state commission to protect the Albanian language from what experts see as an invasion of foreign words and linguistic patterns. The commission will supervise efforts "to raise the level of linguistic culture and ensure a healthy development of the literary language," a government statement said. The decision was made following a proposal by the Academy of Sciences and reflected widespread public concern over strong foreign linguistic influences on the Albanian media.(Albanian Times)
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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