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Albanian Times, 96-09-18
Albanian Times
September 18, 1996
CONTENTS
[01] Government Officials Meet Union Leaders
[02] Nine Ex-Communist Officials on Trial
[03] Shoot-out in Tirana Leaves One Dead
[04] Meksi Calls For Campaign Transparency
[05] World Bank Says Program for Albania to Continue
[06] Nebex Targets Two Copper Deposits in Albania
[01] Government Officials Meet Union Leaders
TIRANA, Sept 17 - Albanian government officials led by vice prime minister
Tritan Shehu have met with union representatives and have agreed to meet the
demands of strikers protesting against rising inflation and higher bread
prices. ``The strike achieved its aim,'' Estref Mersinaj of the Independent
Trade Union (ITU) was quoted as saying. The state news agency ATA said the
strike found only partial support. Up to 200,000 public sector workers took
part in Monday's nationwide protests to press for compensation after President
Sali Berisha's government liberalised prices of bread, gas and kerosene prices
in July. The ITU, which organised the protest with the Confederation of
Albanian Trade Unions, said it planned another one-day strike on October 4.
Bread prices have been a sensitive issue since Albania toppled its hardline
communist regime in 1990. (Albanian Times/Reuters)
[02] Nine Ex-Communist Officials on Trial
TIRANA, Sept 17 - Nine senior figures of Albania's ex-communist regime have
gone on trial on charges of political persecution while in office, the fifth
such trial in post-Stalinist Albania, newspapers said on Tuesday. State
prosecutors Shkelqim Gani and Kadri Skeraj have charged the defendants, five
of whom are to be tried in their absence, with crimes against humanity,
including ordering the deportation of political dissidents, daily Koha Jone
said. If found guilty, the defendants would face sentences ranging from
15
years in jail to the death penalty. One of the defendants was a member of the
Communist Party's ruling politburo, while the others were district party
leaders. In three previous trials the defendants were cleared of breaching the
controversial ``genocide law,'' which was passed last year. The law has been
the basis for most of the charges in recent trials of former communist
officials accused of trying to eradicate dissidents. No date has yet been set
for the trial of former president Ramiz Alia. (Albanian Times/Reuters)
[03] Shoot-out in Tirana Leaves One Dead
TIRANA, Sept 17 - An elderly woman died and another woman was wounded during a
shoot-out in the Albanian capital, police said. ``The old woman was shot in
the head,'' witnesses said. A policeman said the woman died immediately. The
incident occurred when two drivers moving close to each other began
quarrelling over traffic rules. Saide Idriz Kodra 49, from Tirana was killed
in the shoot-out that followed. Both car drivers were arrested, eye witnesses
said. (Albanian Times)
[04] Meksi Calls For Campaign Transparency
TIRANA, Sept 17 - Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi has called for full
transparency in the campaign leading to the nation's local elections scheduled
for October 20. In a television interview Meksi has asked the total
involvement of all related ministries to help prepare the upcoming polls. Last
May's national election was severely criticised by the OSCE and described as
manipulated by the opposition. A parliament spokesperson denied speculation
that observers from the OSCE have not been invited to monitor the vote. The
OSCE has been officially invited by Speaker Pjeter Arbnori, the spokesman
said. (Albanian Times)
[05] World Bank Says Program for Albania to Continue
World Bank plans to continue its programs in Albania, a bank official told
reporters in Tirana. "The World Bank program to assist Albania has a good
basis and will continue," Carlos Elbirt said. He pointed to what he called
obvious developments in privatisation, construction and industry. Elbirt also
referred to previous remarks by World Bank's Director for Europe Michel
Severino, who had expressed concern over the relatively weak fiscal situation
and insufficient progress in the financial sector such as failure to privatise
a number of state owned banks. The World Bank has 22 projects in Albania
mainly focusing on irrigation and construction of roads, bridges, schools and
hospitals. (Albanian Times)
[06] Nebex Targets Two Copper Deposits in Albania
CALGARY, Sept 17 - NEBEX Resources Ltd. reports that it is focusing on two
copper deposits in Albania which have been identified as being the most
promising of the known polymetallic deposits in the Mirdita belt. This follows
completion of a diligence study of 11 copper-zinc-gold
deposits by international mining consultants Watts, Griffis & McOuat.
Their
report finds that the Munelle and Qafe Bari deposits "at present it
appears
that only the edge of a much larger orebody has been defined." In order to
expedite finalization of agreements with Albania covering all 11
deposits, the Company's proposal is being revised to acquire these
two
deposits at this time while continuing discussions regarding the remaining
nine. Albania is in the process of privatizing its copper industry,
resulting in procedural delays. "If clear title can be obtained soon to the
two deposits, we will be in a position to plan a drilling program, initially
focusing on the Munelle deposit," Brian Douglas, President, noted. Exploration
continues on the company's other extensive mineral interests in
Albania. An airborne geophysical survey is planned to cover the Mirdita
and
Kacinari areas, two of the four concession areas granted to NEBEX. (Albanian
Times)
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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