ATA News from Albania (96-05-29)

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRESS REVIEW

[02] HRUP LEADER TO REVIEW HIS DECISION

[03] OPPOSITION REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SIGNED PROCESS-VERBAUX IN 100 POLLING STATIONS

[04] SDP AND DAP CALL FOR RALLY

[05] SP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN HAS TENSED SITUATION

[06] HRUP LEADER TO REVIEW HIS DECISION

[07] NO SP SYMPATHISER HAD BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED -Interior Ministry

[08] SP ATTEMPT TO ORGANISE AN ILLEGAL MEETING IN KORCA

[09] EU REPRESENTATIVES MEET RECTOR OF PRISTINE UNIVERSITY

[10] STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA, SALI BERISHA

[11] INTERIOR MINISTRY PRESS RELEASE

[12] DP WINS IN 95 CONSTITUENCIES - Central Election Commission

[01] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit carries an editorial entitled "Squares belong to the people, violence is illegal." The paper today carries a SP declaration demanding that the elections be annulled. Under the title "Will of the Albanian people was not freely expressed in May 26 elections," the paper carries opinions by 11 OSCE observers." The paper reflects yesterday's press conference of opposition leaders.

Republika today carries a statement of the Leading Committee of the Republican Party which says among others that law violations have been noticed in many constituencies. Today this paper publishes a statement by the Right wing League saying that the subjects of these league have noticed grave violations in the May 26 elections.

Poli i Qendres carries the editorial "Illegitimate reaction of Berisha stains with blood Scanderbeg Square." The paper writes that 11 OSCE observers have pronounced themselves against Sunday elections. The paper writes that three people have threatened Neritan ceka, leader of Democratic Alliance party.

Rilindja carries an editorial entitled "DP has won in most of the constituencies." Under the headline "Kosova a day after elections in Albania" the paper carries the report "Victory of democracy, victory of the Albanians."

Albania carries an article entitled "Communists provoke a civil war." The paper carries an article "Socialists have signed process-verbaux of elections" and pronunciations by representatives of important European institutions saying that Sunday's elections have been orderly.

Dita Informacion carries a report entitled "Blue rain in Tirana yesterday."

Koha Jone has an article under the title "Opposition leaders hit and detained," and another "Albania in chaos from the stolen victory." This paper also writes an article under the title "Men and women barbarously beaten" and another "RP does not recognise May 26 elections."

Tribuna carries an editorial "The Zhuganovs of Tirana seek civil war" and another article "International observers refute claims by opposition parties in Albania that general elections were not fair."

Gazeta Shqiptare writes of the illegal rally by opposition yesterday in the Scanderbeg Square under the title "No to the rally, clashes in the square."

Liria in its editorial commemorates a revolt of former politically prisoners in the jail of Spac 23 years ago against the communist dictatorship.

Sindikalisti carries an article entitled "Selection of the new government, sanctioning of the victory in parliamentary elections." jz/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] HRUP LEADER TO REVIEW HIS DECISION

Melo's idea came following a tete-a-tete meeting with DP chairman leader Tritan Shehu, after which he was the first to declare: "We agreed that there have been violations and irregularities in the elections and that voting procedures will be reviewed."

Later, Melo added that "we shall see how far this examination will go so that we adopt a second decision."

This unexpected decision of the chairman of HRUP, representative of the human rights of the Greek minority in Albania which amounts to about 60 thousand people, shows of a possible change of the HRUP political course towards a return to the second round of elections. xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] OPPOSITION REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SIGNED PROCESS-VERBAUX IN 100 POLLING STATIONS

In 60 polling stations the process-verbaux have been signed by SP members of the election commissions.

SP pulled its members out of election commissions only three hours before elections were over on May 26, claiming that polling was manipulated by the DP in power, which, according to the results reached the Central Electoral Commission so far, has won the elections. After SP, also the SDP, DAP, NUP, AP and HRUP withdrew their members from election commissions.

Reports for signed process-verbaux and declarations that elections have been held normally are also made by representatives of the above- mentioned parties in other districts such as in Shkodra, Vlora, Berat and Korca. ake/kei/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] SDP AND DAP CALL FOR RALLY

Sp and other left wing parties had called on their backers several times, even before the election day, "to protect even physically" the ballots boxes.

Yesterday's call was made after events Tuesday when forces of order prevented a rally in the main Tirana square for which left wing forces SP, SDP, DAP, AP and NUP had not received permit from respective authorities. These parties and the Human Rights Union Party pulled out of election commissions all their representatives with the claim that elections were manipulated. The Republican party accused SP that such an act, carried after 80 per cent of the electorate had voted and only three hours before election time was over, gave rise to disorders in elections.

According to a public order man, the rally was prevented to avoid a possible confrontation between supporters of left wing parties and those of the democratic party, which, he said, might lead to unexpected consequences and take the situation out of control.

Five days before May 26 elections, such a confrontation occurred in Durres, coastal city, 40 km from Tirana. pas/xh/g

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] SP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN HAS TENSED SITUATION

Socialist representative Theofan Poroveli in the 2nd polling station threw SP formularies in a house yard after he realised he was suspected.

Allmuca also denounced the effort of a socialist representative in the election commission, Perparim Bodinaku, who, in the last two meetings before elections, had offered his help to follow illegal ways for the counting of votes.

"Bodinaku went so far as to declare in a meeting of all the commission that he had prepared even the process-verbaux of the election commissions," said Allmuca. He declared that unidentified persons had offered him 30 thousand dollars so that to name set people as chairmen of election commissions in the polling stations.

Allmuca added that Hajdaraga has continuously tensed the situation in that constituency. Several days before elections, the bodyguards and the driver of Hajdaraga had threatened the members of the constituency election commission, asking them to tell which party they represented. The socialist representative Perparim Bodinaku described the socialist deputy chairman "as an uncontrolled man."

All the members of the commission stressed that the Socialist representative had not expressed worries or objections to the voting procedure and the elections in general on May 26.

Muhamet Zenuni and Manjola Petrela of the Legality party stressed that from observation made in the polling stations in that constituency the elections were conducted normally and without irregularities.

The members of the 47 constituency commission said that one of the reasons why electors had voted en mass against the socialist party and the left wing grouping was that their representatives in the commissions were former Sigurimi officers or former Front chairmen. The tension caused by Hajdaraga was also a reason for the votes against him."

SP deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga has lost for the third time. Twice standing for deputy and once for the post of the Mayor of Tirana, Luan Hajdaraga could not win over the doctor Hysen Heka, a DP candidate, who has won 62 per cent of the votes. xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] HRUP LEADER TO REVIEW HIS DECISION

Melo's idea came following a tete-a-tete meeting with the DP chairman leader Tritan Shehu, after which he was the first to declare: "We agreed that there have been violations and irregularities in the elections and that voting procedures will be reviewed."

Later, Melo added that "we shall see how far this examination will go so that we adopt a second decision."

This unexpected decision of the chairman of HRUP, representative of the human rights of the Greek minority in Albania which amounts to about 60 thousand people, shows of a possible change of the HRUP political course towards a return to the second round of elections.

Left wing parties the Socialist Party, Social Democratic Party, Democratic Alliance Party, Agrarian Party and the National Union Party withdrew Sunday evening their members from the election commission pretending the elections were manipulated.

This decision was backed by the HRUP some hours after ballots counting had begun and which according to the results had won till that moment two places in the future Albanian parliament in the first round elections.

A day later, the Republican Party chairman Sabri Godo accused the SP's withdrawal from elections as giving rise to disorders. The withdrawal happened when more than 80 per cent of electors had voted and only three hours had remained from closing of elections. fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] NO SP SYMPATHISER HAD BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED -Interior Ministry

Kastriot Islami's announcement, former SP deputy, about the killing of Eduart Kullolli is speculative and for political motives.

The victim has not been SP member or sympathiser. The accident has occurred during a quarrel and for other personal motives. ssh/kled/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] SP ATTEMPT TO ORGANISE AN ILLEGAL MEETING IN KORCA

The police took all measures in time. It peacefully and without using violence managed to avoid illegal gatherings in some roads of the city which led to the SP headquarter in Korca.

A group of socialists who had entered the SP headquarter shouted slogans like "We want our votes", "Opposition has won" and others.

Afterwards the persons gathered in its yard left calmly. ssh/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] EU REPRESENTATIVES MEET RECTOR OF PRISTINE UNIVERSITY

The delegation consisting of A Torsiello and F Placon got acquainted not only with the activity of the occupied University, its difficulties, problems and needs but also with teachers and students' efforts to transform it into a modern university of Europe and the world.

Statovci voiced even political solutions according to international rights including here self determination of nations.

The representatives showed an interest in different aspects of work in university and the situation in general.

Statovci handed them several documents, minute information about university and some concrete needs. pta/kled/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA, SALI BERISHA

I would like to make sure that the elections will be held conform the law. Albania guarantees and will guarantee all the human rights and freedoms and the right to gather and protest in accordance with the law. But I think that the calls to take the streets and squares and launch slogans: "Our votes, shells for you" and "You will be hanged" are calls of the most savage communism in Europe which in the free elections of May 26 suffered its final defeat and have nothing in common with a democratic society.

In Albania any citizen, group or political force has the right to protest. Albania has not limited and will not limit manifestations. The Tuesday's protest in the "Skenderbej" square was not conforming the law therefore I condemn them.

I congratulate the police for implementing the law and at the same time I have asked the prosecutor's office to inquire into the eventual abuses and adopt the respective decision according to the law.

The Albanian democracy today is surer than ever in its history. On May 26 it received through the free vote the blessing of the whole Albanian people, the blessing of God. It is the former secret police of Enver Hoxha as well as the "friends" of Albanian terrorists, who backed them up and tried especially of late to bring to power in Albania elements who had undertaken state killings and would order the killing of Albanian youths, that are in deep hopeless crisis. I want to assure them that like long time ago when they tried to destabilise Albania through an ammoral mission, this time, too, they will experience the same outcome.

The Albanians voted for democracy, for their place in Europe.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] INTERIOR MINISTRY PRESS RELEASE

From the first investigations, it results that the author is Artan Ferdi Hasani 24, from Tirana, sentenced once 9 months in prison for robbing.

The killing has happened in Elbasani-road for weak motives. The release reports that the author and the victim had been previously acquainted while in prison.

The author of the crime had just returned from Italy and while quarrelling in a hall near a former knitwear house in Elbasani-road has committed the crime, the Interior Ministry release ends. kled/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] DP WINS IN 95 CONSTITUENCIES - Central Election Commission

The Socialist Party candidates won have in five constituencies and the Human Right Union Party in two constituencies.

Because no candidate could assure in ten constituencies more than 50 per cent of the votes during the first round, on June 2, 1996 will be organised a second round. kled/fh/

From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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