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Albanian Times, 96-07-26
Albanian Times
July 26, 1996
CONTENTS
[01] EU's van den Broek Visits Albania
[02] Government Wins Confidence in Parliament
[03] Albania Wants Stronger Ties With NATO
[04] US Officials to Review Relations With Albania
[05] Italy Smashes Drug Ring With Ties in Macedonia, Albania
[01] EU's van den Broek Visits Albania
TIRANA, July 25 - European Commissioner Hans Van den Broek arrived in Tirana
on Thursday for two days of talks focusing on the political situation in
Albania and ways of improving ties with the European Union. Van den Broek, the
commissioner responsible for Eastern Europe, is the first senior EU official
to visit Albania since controversial parliamentary elections returned
President Sali Berisha's ruling Democrats with a landslide majority. His visit
is seen as a boost to Berisha's Democrats widely criticized in the West for
alleged rigging of the May 26 vote. ``Obviously I am here to discuss relations
between Albania and the European Union and to hear from the leadership here
about the situation...and to discuss further prospects for strengthening our
cooperation,'' Van den Broek said. Leaders of opposition parties appeared
satisfied from their meetings with van den Broek, regarding his visit as an
opportunity to explain their respective stands. "This will help find a
solution to the political crisis in the
country," Servet Pellumbi vice Chairman of the Socialist Party told reporters.
The EU Commissioner also met with President Berisha but no details were
announced. (Albanian Times)
[02] Government Wins Confidence in Parliament
TIRANA, July 24 -- Albanian government headed by Aleksander Meksi won
undisturbed a confidence vote of the Democratic Party dominated Parliament.
The government was approved by 113 deputies. The Socialist Party deputy Sali
Rexhepi who abstained from voting asked for a stronger emphasis on the social
agenda of the new government, demanding more subsidies and credits for
farmers. He also called for tougher measures against corruption. Mr. Rexhepi
is the only Socialist deputy attending parliament sessions, challenging his
leftist party's colleagues who have refused to take their seats, in protest of
what they call "severily rigged" May 26 elections. (Albanian Times)
[03] Albania Wants Stronger Ties With NATO
TIRANA, July 25 - Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali said on Thursday
Albania aimed to modernise its defences and intensify relations with NATO and
its neighbours over the next four years. Albania was the first ex-communist
East European country to seek NATO membership and among the first to sign
NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme (PFP) two years ago.
Zhulali said Albania had already fulfilled the political criteria
for
NATO membership and was making efforts to reach the required technical
standards. ``The peaceful engagement of the army will consist of active
political and military cooperation with the Atlantic Alliance, NATO countries
and...active regional cooperation to strengthen peace, security and
stability,'' Zhulali told a news conference. ``By equipping the armed forces
with new arms and systems we aim to overcome technological backwardness,'' he
said. The minister added that Albania also aimed to modernise its fleet over
the next two years to step up sea defence. (Albanian Times/Reuters)
[04] US Officials to Review Relations With Albania
WASHINGTON, July 25 - US officials said they are initiating a "thorough
review" of the US-Albanian relations, a move which they say includes the
American assistance programs. In a congressional hearing on human rights and
democracy in Albania held on Thursday in Washington, DC, Rudolf V. Perina,
Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US State Department said the
foundation of the US-Albanian relations has weakened after the May 26
elections, pointing to what he called "serious irregularities that marred the
elections." His comments were echoed by a harshly worded Rep. Tom Lantos, who
lashed out against President Sali Berisha and Albania's human rights record,
especially with respect to the Greek minority. He vowed to ask the State
Department to suspend economic aid to Albania. Highly critical to the
Albanian regime were also Gramoz Pashko, former Vice Prime Minister and guest
scholar at the Woodrow Wilson School of Eastern European Studies and Nicholas
Gage, President of the Panepirotic Federation. Rep.
Benjamin Gilman drew attention on the achievements of the young Albanian
democracy, calling for moderation in the criticism towards Tirana. Panelist
Shirley Cloyes, Executive Director of the Albanian American Foundation,
strongly defended Albania's achievements in implementing democracy. She
harshly criticized Gramoz Pashko and Nicholas Gage, describing them as
individuals pursuing their own agenda to the detriment of the Albanian people.
The hearing was organized by the House Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights(Albanian Times)
[05] Italy Smashes Drug Ring With Ties in Macedonia, Albania
CAGLIARI, July 25 - Sardinian police have smashed a major drugs ring after two
officers posed as buyers and infiltrated a Macedonian-based gang in an
operation lasting more than a year, a senior officer said on Thursday.
Police said they had seized 20 kilos (44 lb) of heroin and arrested
nine
people to date. ``This is one of the biggest investigations we have ever had
against this new drug source in Macedonia and Albania,'' Colonel Roberto
Vernesoni said by telephone from the Sardinian capital Cagliari. The heroin,
originally from Turkey, was brought by boat to the island of Sardinia via
Macedonia, hidden in false panels. Vernesoni said eight Macedonians and one
Italian were being held in Cagliari while investigations continued. (Albanian
Times/Reuters)
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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