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ATA News from Albania (96-06-25)Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] ALBANIAN ELECTIONS RUN CONFORM INTERNATIONAL PROCEDURE RULES-UksvaravTIRANA, JUNE 24 (ATA)- By A.Sakja, The Political Commission of the Council of Europe convened on Monday to discuss several problems emerging during the elections in Albania.Attending the commission meeting in Strasbourg were the leaders of the Albanian major political parties, the representatives of the OSCE and of the OSCE parliamentary assembly observer group who were in Albania and the representatives of the Central Electoral Commission. The meeting began with a report delivered by each of the party chairmen and representatives and continued with questions of the participants to the chairmen of the Albanian political forces and to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observers. From the reports available it turns out that the representative of the OSCE parliamentary Assembly, the head of the OSCE observer group in Albania, Raoul Uksvarav, said that the elections in Albania were run conform the international procedure rules and that the technical irregularities had not affected the the election result. He also stressed and insisted that this is the opinion of the whole OSCE Parliamentary Assembly group, which in unanimity had signed the final document that considered legitimate the elections in Albania, rejecting any request for their repetition. Responding to various questions, which were result of the opposition attacks against the elections, he said that neither he nor his group had noted any case of violence during the elections day or the electoral campaign in Albania. He also said that the electoral campaign was run in conformity with the law and that its coverage by the TV had been in accordance with the law. He stressed that the process in general had been normal, despite some technical shortcomings, which should be improved step by step with the strengthening of the institutions and further qualification of the people to deal with the electoral procedures in Albania in the future.s.sh/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] LEGAL PROCESS STARTS AGAINST PROTAGONISTS OF MILITARY PUTSCHTIRANA, JUNE 24 (ATA) - Under the charge of collective abuse of power a legal process started Monday, in Tirana Military Court, against the protagonists of 1991 events in the Tirana Military Academy.Ex-defence minister Kico Mustaqi, ex-commander of academy Arseni Stroka and its ex-commissar Ksenofon Coni will be tried because during 1991 uprising which toppled the harshest dictatorship of Europe, on February 21, 1991 (a day after the pulling down of Enver Hoxha's monument in central Tirana) have ordered the furnishing of cadets with arms. Two civilians as well as a policeman on duty were killed because of irresponsible shooting. These events were considered an open military putsch, the last efforts to save the communist dictatorship in Albania. The defendants whereabouts are unknown but according to the Procedural Penal Code they will be tried in absentia. The defendants will be represented in court by attorneys chosen by their families. The Interpol is hunting them down. According to the E.U. new regulations which took effect on March 1, 1996 these countries will not extradite searched persons of former communist countries if they are to be tried of political charges. Their search and handing over to the organs which have ordered their search only after convicted and sentenced in absentia. Nine witnesses of today's session have been in official posts in the military academy. They did not accept to have ordered the students' arming because according to them the students' armament was that they had in possession every moment. The panel had in its disposition an order by Arseni Stroka which ordered officers' furnishing with arms, automatic machine guns and with special bullets for the machine gun of the tank which had moved with his own order. Chairman of the panel showed to the attendants a map signed by the witness Aleks Andoni ex-deputy commander of the academy code named: "The academy defence scheme against vandal crowds." It had in details every movement of academy fighting groups in every moment. The panel also showed an order to put the academy in red alert. The panel decided to hear other witnesses of February 1991 events in another session on July 3, 1996. kei/fh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] PRO-GREEK LOBBY GIVES EVIDENCE AGAINST BERISHA AND DP IN WASHINGTONIsuf Hajrizi (ICK) reports from Washington, June 21 Several circles in the United States continue to launch attacks against President Sali Berisha and the DP since the May 26 polls.In an evidence (the second of this kind within this week) provided to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, some of the biggest opponents to the policy of the Albanian President and government in America accuse the president of "flagrant violation of the electoral law" dubbing him "eater of the Albanian people's rights and freedoms" and "ruiner of democracy in Albania". In the evidence initiated by the democrat Congressman from California, Tom Lantosh, testify Nicholas Gage, chairman of the Pan-epirus Federation in the U.S. for the defence of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania, Bianca Jagger, human rights activist and wife of the renowned rock-'d- roller Mick Jagger, Fred Abrahams, human rights adviser in the Human Right Watch/Helsinki and Gramoz Pashko, founder of the Democratic Alliance Party. The evidence which, according to a participant, should have been called "Let's attack Berisha to death", was completely unilateral. The round table lacked witnesses to defend the DP and President Berisha. Not because someone of the president's suite would not be allowed to testify in his defence, but because there was no anyone to undertake it. Also, lacking were community members who would oppose the international organisations experts by providing adequate facts. In this way, the witnesses freely threw stones at the Albanian President, not fearing anyone from the other side to oppose them. "The continuation of the Sali Berisha regime will ruin any hope of the Albanian people to see a genuine democracy in their own state and will eventually cause the loss of many American lives striving to stop it", Gage threatened. Grieving for the Greek minority rights in Albania, Gage said that the Berisha government is carrying out "a kind of peaceful ethnic cleansing of the Greek people in Albania". "For the sake of ethnic harmony in Albania, for the sake of stability in the Southern Balkans, for the sake of the loss of Americans' lives the conflict would cause there, but above all , for the sake of human dignity, I hope you will do everything possible to stop Albania's advance towards autocracy, so that democracy be rooted for the first time in the history of this country, and guarantee the full rights of the Greek minority", Gage urged the president of the Committee of Organising Commission, Lantosh. Gage has been backed by Congressmen Lantosh against the Abanian government. The congressman from California has himself criticized the policy of the Albanian government on the eve of the elections concerning the Greek minority in Albania. The main reason hiding behind Lantosh's motive on Albania is believed to be the very powerful Greek lobby in America which has included Lantosh and others in the Congress, as well as Gage's close ties with the most powerful people in the U.S. administration. A month ago, Gage was not allowed to enter Albania as a persona non grata. Gage was accompanying Congressman Lantosh, who, after visiting Greece, crossed into Albania (while Gage was stopped at the border). When coming back to the Congress, Gage complained to the Secretary of State and his congress colleagues regarding the human rights of the Greek minority people in Albania, not at all mentioning the severe treatment of Albanians in Greece, where they not only are deprived of the minority rights but often have to change their name for the sake of staying in that state. One of those who presented himself as "a victim of beating" was the DAP leader, Gramoz Pashko. He confessed "police brutality" and of being beaten during the electoral process. Many activists of the Albanian-American community and American analysts of the Albanian policy hold that the reason for Albania's being attacked so much of late is the lack of a real Albanian lobby in the United States.lm Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED IN SCHOOL PROBLEMSTIRANA, JUNE 24 (ATA)- By P.Shuteriqi, A two day seminar began on Monday at the Palace of Congresses under the topic :"The first seminar on including the community in education problems", organised by the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), the Albanians sector, sponsored by the Education Development Project in Albania, of the Soros Foundation.According to Blerinda Idrizi, coordinator of the Catholic Service Programme in Albania, this first study will be followed by three others of this kind to be organised in August, October and December to conclude with the final conference in March 1997. In Albania the programme became active during 1993-1994, supporting for the first time the forum of the non governmental organisation, being one of its main financiers. Later, in April-May 1995, it will enter into partnership with one of the Soros Foundation projects, precisely that "On the development of education in Albania". jz/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] DP DID NOT BOYCOTT '91 POLLS DESPITE 12 KILLED BY SECRET POLICE -spokesmanTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)- Commenting the June 18 statement of the U.S. State Department spokesman regarding the rerun of polls in Albania in 17 constituencies, the Albanian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on June 23 that: "In the March 1991 elections, which were declared free and fair, the Democratic Party lost during the campaign 12 people who were killed by the Albanian communist secret police. But it (the DP) did not boycott the elections".From May 26 until June 13 the left opposition has repeatedly declared that it does not recognise the May 26 elections and that it requires general elections. The former communist chiefs and their supporters used and are using the permanent boycott of the election process and of the rule of law institutions, especially the boycott of the vote counting, first to mask their deep failure, secondly to create open civil conflicts on Albanian streets and squares, in which they met with complete failure, and thirdly, to penalize and hold the country's democracy and stability hostage. kled/lm Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)-Almost all today's newspaper frontpage reports and commentaries on the meetings between the Albanian political forces and CE parliamentarians in Strasbourg.Rilindja Demokratike says that: "OSCE: Elections in Albania are fair". The paper entitles its editorial "The communists also fail in Strasbourg". It cites the chairman of the OSCE observer delegation in Albania, Mr. Raoul Uksvarav, as saying that :"The elections in Albania were run conform international procedure rules, while the technical irregularities noted during this process have not affected the elections result". The paper also carries a statement of democrat leader Tritan Shehu after the meeting of the Albanian political parties in the CE Political Commission entitled: "Albania finally chooses its own way". Regarding the left opposition approach in Strasbourg, the paper says: "Pellumbi threatens Europe with his political asylum" Regarding this topic, Zeri i Popullit under the headline "Albanian political parties denounce in Strasbourg the scandalous manipulation of May 26" says that the "DP is shaken alone also in Europe". The paper carries opinions of left opposition leaders regarding Monday's meeting of the CE political commission in Strasbourg. Poli i Qendres under the headline:"The CE on Monday listened to Albanian political parties", carries the article :"Strasbourg: Europe touches the manipulation". Albania frontpages a special report entitled:"Strasbourg- the second failure of the left opposition". The paper cites the head of the OSCE parliamentary Assembly as saying that he declared that the elections in Albanian had been free and fair. The paper also carries opinions of Albanian political party leaders present at the Strasbourg meeting. Lajmi i Dites reports on the Strasbourg meeting:"Elections in Albania were run confront international procedure rules". Tribuna carries the headline "Parade of insults by the opposition in the CE". "Raoul Uksavarah declares on behalf of the OSCE parliamentary Assembly observer delegation at the CE Political Commission the same things they declared in Tirana after the elections : the elections were legitimate", the paper says. Under the headline "Nine Albanian parties debated on Monday at the Council of Europe on the May 26 elections", "Koha Jone" says:"Strasbourg, urgent examination of Albanian elections". Among other topics Rilindja Demokratike carries a press release by the Foreign Ministry spokesman which says that the DP did not boycott elections in 1991, although 12 people had been killed by the Albanian secret police during the electoral campaign. Republika says that:"CE continues aid for Albania". Another article says that the 26 Albanians jailed in the prisons of Greece will be expatriated within June. Under the headline "Debate in the Austrian Parliament on the elections in Albania", Rilindja runs the article :"The Austrian opposition noted the elections were correct". Tribuna carries the article "Socialism brought about the ruining of the individual's personality". In the feature "Analysis", Dita Informacion carries the article: "Democratic Alliance and the New Democratic Alliance". kled/pas/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] PRESENT - A BAKLAVA 27 KILOGRAMTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA) - A baklava weighing 27.250 kg was a present Halim Vasku from Librazhdi (East of Central Albanian) offered to his cousin on his son's birth after 15 years in prison, the daily "Gazeta Shqiptare" said Tuesday.Fifteen kg flower in dough rolled in 600 thin pieces together with syrup made the desert weigh 27,25 kg. According to an Albanian custom of the district this present is offered to a family with a joyful event as a token of good fortune. kled/fh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS PRONOUNCE THEMSELVES FROM STRASBOURGTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)- Today's newspapers carry pronouncements of several Albanian party leaders from Strasbourg on the parliamentary elections in Albania on May 26, June 2 and June 16, which are under discussion by the Council of Europe.The election outcome was a logical result of the political developments in Albania. The people pronounced their verdict through the free vote and we will respect this verdict", the newspaper Albania cites Democratic Party chairman Tritan Shehu as saying. The newspaper Zeri i Popullit cites the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party Servet Pellumbi as saying that: "The fact that Albanian parties were invited to the CE Parliamentary Assembly, "is a significant moment to show that "the democratic Europe and its institutions cannot remain indifferent when seeing that the democratic values are being taken underfoot". Zeri i Popullit also cites the chairman of the Democratic Alliance Party, Neritan Ceka, as saying that:"The organisation of this meeting itself as an urgent gathering of the CE Political Commission shows great preoccupation on the part of the European organisations dealing with the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms". The paper also cites the chairman of the Social-Democratic Party, Skender Gjinushi, as saying that:"All the serious political parties denounced the elections before the European auditorium". "The left opposition is responsible for boycotting the elections. The elections can not be annulled because this could lead to a dangerous confrontation", the Albanian Republican Party, Sabri Godo, told the newspaper Albania. "A common language can be found in Albania. There would be no need for such a meeting. The Albanian simple people are leading a calm and very normal life. Albanians are not demanding the rerun of elections", the chairman of the Social-Democratic Party, Teodor Laco, told the newspaper Albania. The chairman of the Human Rights Union Party, according to Albania, has said that his party "does not favour vote rerun". In the May 26 elections in Albania the Democratic Party captured the majority of votes. A week later, the run off elections were held whereas on June 16 elections were repeated in 17 constituencies due to irregularities. The left opposition parties boycotted the elections since in the first round three hours before the polls closed, alleging of manipulation, and did not agree to take part either in the second round elections or in the rerun ones due to irregularities. kei/pas/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] PREMIER MEKSI LEAVES FOR GREECETIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)-The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Aleksander Meksi, left for Greece this morning to attend the funeral ceremony of the Greek former Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou.Present to see Meksi off at the Rinas airport were Ministers Musaraj and Xhaja. lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] SPECIAL MEETING OF CE POLITICAL COMMISSION ON ALBANIAN ELECTIONSTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA) - A special meeting of the C.E. Political Commission with representatives of political Albanian parties was organised Monday afternoon in C.E. headquarter in Strasbourg.Representatives of the Democratic Party (DP), the Socialist Party (SP), the Republican Party (RP), the Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), National Front Party (NFP), the Human Right Union Party (HRUP), Social Democratic Union Party (SDUP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Right Democratic Party (RDP), were invited by C.E. The DP chairman Tritan Shehu said that the election results were a logical outcome of the political events in Albania. "The Albanian people expressed its verdict through his free voting and we will respect it" Shehu said. The deputy chairman of the SP Servet Pellumbi said to attendants "a high tension exists in Albania between the electorate and the power." He presented to the Commission some half burned ballots as evidence but he did not respond to the question how he had come by these "evidence". The possibility of a civil war was also warned by the SDP chairman Skender Gjinushi and backed by DAP president Neritan Ceka who accused the government of having usurped the media, TV, police, judiciary and . . . government. Representatives of the DP, RP, NFP, SDUP and HRUP declared the electoral process in Albania "was just and fair and the left opposition request to repeat elections was an absurdity." Petrit Kalakulla, chairman of RDP (a party which got only 13 votes from 160 polling stations) declared that "he represented seven right-wing political subjects," but was unable to mention the names of these subjects. In the mean time DAP president Neritan Ceka made use of his five- minute time to attack president Berisha and DP chairman Tritan Shehu with banal words. Ceka addressed with same words to the foreign politicians Leni Fischer, President of the C.E. Parliamentary Assembly, and lords Columberg and Finsberg, who according to him, have been indifferent towards his remarks and appeal. kei/fh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] ALBANIAN ELECTIONS FREE AND FAIR, PARLIAMENT LEGITIMATE -UksvaravTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)- The head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Raoul Uksavara, who observed the elections in Albania, said in his report at Monday's session at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg that the "elections in Albania were free and fair and the parliament legitimate"."The irregularities noted have been technical and not principled. So, these irregularities cannot call into question the integrity of the election process," said Uksavara. He added that the delegation of the OSCE parliamentarians he headed "unanimously signed the final report, whose conclusion is clear and leaves no room for discussions about the election process". The OSCE parliamentary delegation which observed the elections in Albania, the head of the delegation said, sees no reason to declare the elections invalid. "Our delegation has noted no case of violence and the time put at the disposal of the political parties in Albania by the TV has been based on set laws". Uksavara said that the second and third round of elections were a serious step of the Albanian government to avoid technical irregularities and other shortcomings which, he said, were due to the lack of electoral education in a country like Albania. "Our delegation had all the possibilities and means to observe the elections. However, we consider the dialogue among parties indispensable as each of them bears its own responsibility," Uksavara said. Invited by the Council of Europe to the special meeting of the Council of Europe Political Commission were representatives of the Democratic Party, Socialist Party, the Republican Party, Balli Kombetar Party, the Human Rights Union Party, the Social-Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance party and the Democratic Party of the Right. The meeting aimed at discussing the elections in Albania. kei/lm/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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