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Albanian Times, 96-09-13
Albanian Times
September 13, 1996
CONTENTS
[01] Parliament Modifies Law on Local Elections
[02] Meksi Asks EBRD for Increased Commitment
[03] Briton Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Charges
[04] Albanian State Audit Officials Visit Greece
[05] Albania to Host Medieval Music Festival
[06] Corruption Challenges Developping Economies
[01] Parliament Modifies Law on Local Elections
TIRANA, Sept 12 - Albanian parliament has amended a law on local elections
ahead of October 20 polls. A provision of the law calling for jail terms of
up to three years for elecion commission members who boycott the voting
process has sparked heated debates among deputies. Another debated issue was
the extent to which a law barring former communist officials or former
Sigurimi agents from office should apply. There were also debates among the
deputies of the ruling Democratic Party who dominate the unicameral
legislative body. The approval follows unprecedented round table
consultations held recently between President Berisha and 14 political parties
to work out details of the new law so that the opposition is allowed a bigger
role in the election process. A number of opposition parties led by the
Democratic Alliance have vowed to demand the postponement of the elections. In
a meeting on Thursday evening, the parties insisted to allow more time to
appeal for those candidates whose mandates are rejected by
the law that bars former communist officials from running. (Albanian
Times)
[02] Meksi Asks EBRD for Increased Commitment
TIRANA, Sept 12 - Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi has asked the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to speed up procedures
leading to a disbursement of funds the bank has allocated for Albania's
infrastructure projects. EBRD has promised ECU 10 million to finance
construction of the Elbasan-Librazhd road, part of the East-West corridor, a
major infrastructure project in Albania. Descamps has reassured Mr. Meksi he
would make every effort to secure financing for the entire corridor, Radio
Tirana said. The bank has also showed interest in financing the construction
of an airport terminal and an oil pipe. EBRD has promised to undertake a
feasibility study to develop tourism in Albania's unspoiled southwestern
shore. (Albanian Times)
TIRANA, Sept 12 - Albanian government is proposing amendments to a 1995 law
regulating the sell-off of state enterprises. If approved, the amended law
would grant ministries and other institutions representing the state the right
to auction state-run enterprises. The law to be amended "On turning state-run
enterprises to commercial companies", would target trade firms as well as
companies involved in strategic sectors such as energy, water, transport and
banks. The National Agency of Privatisation would be the principal body to
implement the large-scale privatisation strategy through the so-called
privatisation vouchers. The rules of privatisation would be approved by the
government. (Albanian Times)
[03] Briton Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Charges
TIRANA, Sept 12 - A Briton pleaded guilty to charges of sexually abusing two
boys in Albania, his lawyer told a Tirana court on Thursday. ``We fully accept
the charge,'' said Delo Isufi. Defendant Paul Thompson, 34, had orginially
denied the charges. Isufi asked the court for a shortened trial procedure,
which could also result in a more lenient sentence. Thompson, could face up to
five years in jail if convicted. He was arrested on August 25 in a hotel in
the Adriatic resort of Durres. Thompson was sentenced to 12 years' jail in the
United States on similar charges in 1987 but had served only five years,
prosecutor Dritan Ribaj said. (Albanian Times/Reuter)
[04] Albanian State Audit Officials Visit Greece
ATHENS, Sept 11 - Albanian State Audit Council officials are visiting Greece
for talks with their Greek counterparts. The team is headed by Blerim Cela,
chairman of the powerful State Audit Council. The Albanian government is
promoting the voting of a law aimed at establishing a "Court of Account", as
the State Audit Council would be renamed. (Albanian Times/ANA)
[05] Albania to Host Medieval Music Festival
GJIROKASTRA, Sept 11 - Albania will host a European festival
of medieval music next year in the southern town of Gjirokaster, an official
said Wednesday. Roland Cene, head of the cultural center in Gjirokastra, said
participants would come from Germany, France, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Spain
and Hungary, as well as Albania itself. The festival is due to be held in the
medieval town's 12th-century castle next May. (Albanian Times)
[06] Corruption Challenges Developping Economies
CAMBRIDGE, England, Sept 12 (Reuter) - The globalisation of markets and large-
scale privatisation may have boosted local economies but they have also
offered unprecedented opportunities for crime and corruption in developing
countries. Lawyers and enforcement officials attending the 14th annual
Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime admitted on Thursady that
``need and greed'' had inspired widespread and entrenched corruption in
developing countries. ``(Corruption) is a dangerous obstacle to the future
development of these countries -- resources are being misallocated and the
public is getting cynical already,'' said Edison Heba, director in Albania's
Prosecutor General's office. Several delegates said outdated legal systems in
developing countries were ill-equipped to deal with the pressures of new world
markets. (Albanian Times/Reuter)
This material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & Consulting
International. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, please
write to AlbaTimes@aol.com
Copyright © ATCI, 1996
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