ATA News from Albania, 96-07-25

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PERLA LAUNCHES AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM

[02] VAN DEN BROEK VISITS ALBANIA

[03] ALBANIA AND ROMANIA TO BOOST TIES

[04] SERBIAN AIRPLANES FLY OVER PRIZREN

[05] WE ARE AND WILL BE PARTNERS OF ALBANIA - Van den Broek

[06] CHAIRMAN OF STATE CONTROL SERVICE MEETS GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[07] DP AND SP AGREE TO TALKS BETWEEN THEIR LEADERS

[08] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT RECEIVES PARLIAMENT'S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

[09] MEETING IN U.S. EMBASSY IN TIRANA

[10] TRITAN SHEHU MEETS FOREIGN AMBASSADORS IN TIRANA

[11] SILVER DIPLOMA FOR ALBANIAN CHORUS "PAX DEI"

[12] SOCIALIST DEPUTY CALLS ON SP DEPUTIES TO TAKE PART IN PARLIAMENT

[13] TIRANA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS PROTEST JAILING OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY DEAN AND AUTHORITIES

[14] PRESS REVIEW

[01] PERLA LAUNCHES AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM

This stream risks to be turned into a concrete channel because the inhabitants of 630 shops and bars constructed on both sides keep dumping garbage in it. The town planning office had worked out an adjustment plan for this.

"The three-month project will be carried out in three phases," Rezarta Mece, chief of the project said to ATA.

This project will provide an information on the level of the pollution of the Lana water and then it will make the public opinion sensible on the risk it will cause in the surrounding areas.

Perla has compiled a questionnaire for the inhabitants of the surrounding areas which will reveal their opinions on the level of pollution and how it varies in different periods and seasons and how is the stream water being used.

Perla members have obtained a wide information about the kiosks along the Lana and their "contribution" to its pollution and the analysis will be done by both students of the high schools in the chemical and biological laboratories and Faculty of the Natural Sciences in specialised laboratories of the Perla Centre.

Peaceful demonstrations and leaflets against the risk of pollution are planned in the third phase of the project which will end with grass-lands along the stream-side and voluntarily accumulation of garbage.

Albanian Foundation on Civil Society approved recently a fund worth 154 750 leks for this project. kled/ak/sh/

[02] VAN DEN BROEK VISITS ALBANIA

"I am pleased to have the second possibility of discussing the ties between the European Union and Albania considering also the present situation here which will help us define perspective cooperation," Van den Broek said to journalists at the Rinas airport.

He is expected to meet with President of the Republic Sali Berisha, parliamentary Speaker Pjeter Arbnori, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu.

During his April visit, Van den Broek pledged to start negotiation for Albania's association agreement with the E.U.

He will also meet with the E.U. ambassador and leaders of the Albanian political parties.

His visit coincides with the ratification shortly of the Charter on Human Rights by the Albanian parliament and it also takes place after a consultative decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on some irregularities in the elections of May 26.

He was welcomed at the airport by the Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister Tritan Shehu and other senior officials.

Shehu said that the visit is of special importance for Albania's integration into European structures. While the opposition, including Socialists, Democratic Alliance and Social Democrats, considers this visit a possibility to present its options which according to the SP deputy leader Servet Pellumbi will help "find a solution to the political crisis in the country." kled/ak/sh/

[03] ALBANIA AND ROMANIA TO BOOST TIES

They said that they are convinced that the cooperation and friendly relations between Romania and Albania and their peoples will be promoted in favour of mutual interest. ssh/kled/ak/sh/

[04] SERBIAN AIRPLANES FLY OVER PRIZREN

[05] WE ARE AND WILL BE PARTNERS OF ALBANIA - Van den Broek

Pointing out that the aim of the European Union is to promote the relations with Albania, Van den Broek stressed that Albania's positive development in all fields including the political and economic ones are very important for the E.U member states.

Albania has shown what it is able to do in four years, Van den Broek said reiterating the readiness of the E.U. member states to boost the cooperation in the future.

Spahia briefed Van den Broek on the political developments in Albania and underlined the fact that the DP is open to all institutions and countries which will be interested in monitoring local elections.

Thanking the high commissioner, Spahia stressed that the DP considered this cooperation important for the interest of the country.

Van den Broek said, "We want that Albania has a faster and better development."

The DP Secretary General Besnik Gjongecaj and Foreign Secretary Albert Brojka were present at the meeting. ssh/kled/ak/sh/

[06] CHAIRMAN OF STATE CONTROL SERVICE MEETS GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

They also spoke of the good relations existing between the State Control Service and the Court of Accounts of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Albanian State Control Service is drafting the law for its conversion into a court of account. In this context it is necessary to gain the experience of the German Court of Accounts.

Cela and the German ambassador expressed interest in the aid the German Federal Government could provide for the Albanian State Control Service. kled/lm/k

[07] DP AND SP AGREE TO TALKS BETWEEN THEIR LEADERS

The two sides considered the meeting fruitful and agreed to hold the DP-SP high ranking meeting a week after.jz/lm/k

[08] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT RECEIVES PARLIAMENT'S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

The Albanian government, presided over by Premier Aleksander Meksi, received the Albanian parliament's vote of confidence on Wednesday evening.

By 113 votes for, one abstention and no vote against, the Albanian Parliament, in which the DP has the absolute majority with 122 seats, gave the vote of confidence to the government headed by Aleksander Meski and its programme for the country's development in the next four years.

"I hold the points of the government's programme comply with the aspirations of the Albanians who wish a free Albania, a rule of law and market economy and who want Albania finally in Europe," says Premier Aleskander Meksi.

"The new government will accomplish the DP four year programme which is an ambitious programme and charges us with great obligations to realise it", deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu said after the vote of confidence.

Albania's integration and Association in the European Union remains one of the key points of the new government's foreign policy, the chairman of the parliament's foreign policy commission, Genc Pollo, said in his address before the government's vote of confidence.

Interior Minister Halit Shamata defined the ways to fight crime, improve the structure of the interior Ministry and expand its public dimension.

Nine deputies of the Socialist Party, the major opposition party, did not participate in parliament and its only socialist deputy Sali Rexhepi abstained.

Deputies of other opposition parties, the Human Rights Union Party, the Republican Party and Balli Kombetar (National Front) despite remarks on the programme, approved it. kei/lm/k

[09] MEETING IN U.S. EMBASSY IN TIRANA

Ms. Gurian was briefed on the dialogue started between the DP and SP and its perspective. She was also informed of the comprehensive development and reformation of the Albanian society over the last four years.

Ms. Gurian showed interest in closer and better relations with the Democratic Party. jz/lm/z/

[10] TRITAN SHEHU MEETS FOREIGN AMBASSADORS IN TIRANA

On behalf of the Austrian Foreign Minister and in his own name Calice congratulated minister Shehu on the very significant duties in the new Meksi government.

Shehu thanked His Excellency, Calice, for the precious aid and support Austria has been rendering to Albania both bilaterally and through the international organisations.

* * *

Afterwards, Shehu received the new ambassador of the Republic of France, His Excellency, Patrick Chrismant.

Chrismant assured minister Shehu of the great sympathy of the French authorities for Albania and of the will to continue ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Chrismant conveyed to Shehu the message of greetings from the French Foreign Ministers, Herve de Charette. The message expressed the desire to carry the cooperation ahead to many sectors. It says further on that Albania should be fully confident of the aid France will provide for Albania as its lawyer in its integration into the large European family.

Shehu thanked Chrismant for the aid France and Jacques Chirac have rendered in support of the democratic Albania.

* * *

Shehu also received on Wednesday the charge d'affaires in Bosnia-Herzegovina in Tirana, Muharrem Zejnullahu, who brought him greetings from the Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina on his appointment to the posts of the deputy Premier and Foreign Minister.

Shehu stressed that with the normalisation of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, cooperation should be extended to all fields between the two countries. He said that the punishment of the war criminals is a basic condition for the stability of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Balkan region, itself.

* * *

Also, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Todorcevski, who was received by Shehu on the same day, brought greetings from the Macedonian Foreign Minister and wished Shehu success in the new tasks.

Shehu stressed the indispensability of comprehensive cooperation between the two neighboring countries which positively affects both the economic development of the two countries and the preservation of stability in the region. ssh/jz/kled/lm/z/

[11] SILVER DIPLOMA FOR ALBANIAN CHORUS "PAX DEI"

The "Pax Dei" chorus, the only of this kind in Albania, has won the Silver Diploma in the International Contest of "Mendelssohn" Choruses, held July 18-20 in the Dautphetal city of Germany.

The conductor of the chorus who is also the conductor of the Theatre of Opera and Ballet chorus, Merited Artist Suzana Turku said: "This is the first time for an Albanian chorus to compete in an activity of worldwide dimensions".

The Albanian music was introduced in the competition through the operas of the most famous compositors and masters in the elaboration of the Albanian folk music.

Pax Dei was created in 1993, on the initiative of Turku. It is composed of twenty persons and is the first in Albania to interpret the music A Cappella.

In 1991, Suzana Turku was accepted member of Choruses' Federation in Hanover and after a year, "Pax Dei" also became member of this Federation. /kled/kei/Z/

[12] SOCIALIST DEPUTY CALLS ON SP DEPUTIES TO TAKE PART IN PARLIAMENT

The only socialist deputy in the Albanian Parliament, Sali Rexhepi, on Wednesday called on the socialist deputies to participate in parliament.

"Not as an ornament, but as an alternative", he said adding he supported the socialist viewpoints.

He spoke in parliament to express his own attitude and of his electorate regarding the programme of the newly elected government.

Rexhepi appreciated the programme of the government headed by Aleksander Meksi, but expressed the idea of stronger social colours in this programme, considering SP's social policy "more positive in this context".

The SP has so far refused to participate in parliament alleging the parliamentary election of May 26 was rigged by the Democratic Party, which won the majority in parliament.

The socialists boycotted the suffrage three hours before it closed as well as the second round and the partial rerun, on the same claim.

In the May 26 elections, five SP candidates won in direct vote and other five in nominal lists. kei /Z/

[13] TIRANA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS PROTEST JAILING OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY DEAN AND AUTHORITIES

The Tirana University teachers issued on Wednesday a protest against the jailing of the Tetova University dean and other leading officials.

The protest says, among other things, that the Albanian population in Macedonia, which makes up 35-40 per cent of the country's population, should be considered a constituent element of the Macedonian state whose schooling is an indispensability for the development of Macedonia, itself.

"We call on all representatives of the intelligentsia in Macedonia to join us in considering this act not only a violation of the unalienable rights of the Albanians by the Macedonian state but also a violation of the temple of knowledge and culture which is sacred to every civilised people", the protest says.

Some thousands of Albanians protested on July 22 in front of the Tetova prison and in the city's center in token of support for the Senate Speaker, Milahim Fejziu, and the dean of the Tetova University, Fadil Sulejmani, who were were imprisoned on charges of "involving in the founding of the Tetova University", which the Macedonian government has considered "unconstitutional".

The gathering was organised by the Tetova University Students Union.

Some 3 000 Albanians protested on July 23 in Skopje against the Macedonian government for sentencing the Tetova University leaders. The protesters asked the legalisation of this university in the Albanian language.

In early July some 10 000 Albanians protested in Tetova asking the legalisation of the Albanian university.

Sulejmani and four other leading officials of the Tetova University have been given jail terms ranging from three to 12 months.

The Tetova university was inaugurated by Albanians on February 17, 1995 and later closed down by the Macedonian police. During the inauguration ceremony an Albanian youth was killed.

The imprisonment of the university's leading officials aroused deep indignation among Albanian political parties, associations and other institutions in Macedonia.

The Tetova University Council and the Students Union, fiercely protesting the jailing of the Tetova University leading officials by the Macedonian government, ask the Macedonian democratic elements and the foreign diplomatic missions to engage in their immediate release.

Regarding the Tetova University issue, various world news agencies and the Swiss press report on the Albanians' demonstrations in Geneva and in Macedonia to protest against the imprisonment of the leading officials of this institution. kei/lm/z/

[14] PRESS REVIEW

The paper informs the readers that the European Union Foreign Policy Commissioner, Van den Broek, arrives in Tirana today.

It carries the articles:"Pellumbi forewarns Fatos Nano's dismissal" (Nano, SP leader, is convicted of corruption and falsification of official documents regarding the Italian aid while he was Premier in 1991" and "Dilemma on Nano's successor".

The paper also carries the article:"The U.S. congress calls for NATO's expansion" and reports on yesterday's meetings of Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu with foreign ambassadors in Tirana. The papers also reports on the DP-SP summit meeting expected to be held this week.

Zeri i Popullit carries the editorial entitled:"The U.S. State department has asked international investigation into the events of the May 26 elections in Albania". The paper also carries the articles entitled:"Fatos Nano may be the first Albanian to come out free from the Strasbourg Court" and "The solution to the political crisis should begin with the parties' round table".

Republika carries the address of the Republican Party chairman in parliament yesterday regarding the government's vote of confidence entitled:"An end should be put to abuses, negation and bureaucracy of the past years". The paper also carries the article:"DP, transgressor and policeman".

Poli i Qendres says in one of its articles that the ratification of the Human Rights and Freedoms Convention will lead to changes in several important laws. Another article says that two SP leaders, Ilir Meta and Luan Hajdaraga, are in opposition with the Centre Pole.

Rilindja in its editorial:"Albania leading the list", says that the U.S. Congress calls for NATO's expansion with several member countries of the Partnership for Peace Initiative.

The paper reports on the visit of Van den Broek to Albania.

Lajmi i Dites also reports on the second visit of Broek to Albania.

Albania carries the editorial entitled:"Nano embarks on a great offensive" and the article :"Soros wants the monopoly of the Albanian press". It carries the interview with Pandeli Majko, member of the SP Steering Committee with the "Voice of America" entitled:"Nano, the main figure of self-renovation".

Koha Jone carries the editorial:"Meksi 2 government receives vote of confidence". Socialist Rexhepi abstains alone". The paper reports on yesterday's trial in the Court of Appeals of the accused of genocide.

Tribuna carries the editorial :"The government of fast development" and the article:"The Soros history did not begin today".

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the eidtorial :"Haxhi Lleshi and Manush Myftiu (ex-senior officials of communist nomenclature) escape prison. The paper also carries the article:"Welcome, Van den Broek".

Dita Informacion under the headline:"All under president Berisha's keen observation", carries the article: "'American' Pandeli Majko in interview". jz/lm/k

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article