ATA News from Albania, 96-07-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRISTINA AND TIRANA UNIVERSITIES

[02] ALBANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER MEETS SWISS CONFEDERATION AMBASSADOR

[03] ADOPTION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ALBANIA AND MALTA

[04] EXTRADITION OF ALBANIAN PRISONERS FROM GREECE TO START SOON

[05] MEETING OF GREEK CONSUL IN SARANDA

[06] PRESS REVIEW

[07] IMPROVEMENT OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK - HELP FOR INTERIOR MINISTRY

[08] TRADE UNION PRESIDENT MEETS SECRETARY OF FREE EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

[09] PARLIAMENT APPROVES DECREE, CREDIT AGREEMENT AND RESOLUTION

[10] MALTA MILITARY SOVRAN ORDER HELPS ALBANIAN CHILDREN

[01] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRISTINA AND TIRANA UNIVERSITIES

The Pristina and Tirana Universities have signed an agreement of cooperation, according to the Pristina University information service..

The agreement envisages cooperation in various fields as well as mutual aid in the exchange of university teachers and students, all-level consultations, participation in joint conferences, exchange of school texts, students' meetings and other activities.

The agreement was signed on July 26 in Struga during a meeting of the two university delegations, headed by Pristina University dean Prof.Dr. Ejup Statovci and Tirana University dean Prof. Dr. Nestor Tereska.

The meeting was part of the talks held one month ago in Tirana about a comprehensive cooperation between the two universities.

Statovci thanked the Tirana University for the aid provided during many years for the Pristina University.

On this occasion the Tirana University was presented with the new emblem and flag of the Pristina University.

On its way back, at the Kosova-Macedonia border, the Pristina University delegation was detained for more than one hour by the Macedonian police. It confiscated the video cassette with aspects from the two delegations' meeting and the ceremony of signing the agreement. p.ta/lm/Z/

[02] ALBANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER MEETS SWISS CONFEDERATION AMBASSADOR

Albanian Justice Minister Kristofor Peci met Tuesday with the ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Albania, Thomas Feler.

They discussed cooperation between the Albanian Justice Ministry and the Swiss Confederation. Feler expressed readiness to increase cooperation and provide aid in various fields of justice.

Peci thanked the Swiss ambassador for the readiness shown by the Swiss government and asked aid and technical assistance for the prisons' system because their conditions, inherited by the communist system, were poor, according to the spokesman of the Justice ministry.

The two also discussed the aid Switzerland will provide Albania with in the field of criminality, particularly in preventing drug traffic and trade.

The Swiss government is mediator of the Council of Europe and the Albanian Justice Ministry about CE assistance for the Magistracy School in Albania. kei/lm/Z/

[03] ADOPTION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ALBANIA AND MALTA

Prior to the signing of the agreement, the Minister for the Malta Family and Child Affairs, Xhovana de Bone, said:"I staunchly believe that this agreement will create the possibility of building and continuing very good relations in all fields, particularly in ensuring the childrens' lives".

The chairwoman of the Albanian Adoptions Committee, Ilmie Mara, after the signing of the agreement, explains that the agreement is based on the Albanian legislation and family code, and the Committee's desire predominates, which the Maltese side fully agrees to.

"For each adoption we ask information every three months in the first year and every six months in the second," she said adding:"When the data are not considered positive, in cooperation with the same institution, we change the family".

The agreement with Malta is the fifth signed by the Albanian Adoptions Committee alongside those with the U.S., France, Italy and Austria.

The agreements, one of the most appropriate way for children to have a family, have been signed based on the U.N. and the Hague conventions.

However, according to Mara, "The Albanian Adoptions Committee first of all considers that the adoptions be carried out in Albania by Albanian couples. The committee, although active for a short time now, has managed to carry out 120 adoption acts in Albania". kei/lm/Z/

[04] EXTRADITION OF ALBANIAN PRISONERS FROM GREECE TO START SOON

The Albanian prosecutor's office has handed them over to the law court, upon the demand of the Greek party, to get acquainted with the Greek sentences in response of reciprocal fulfillment of court decisions on penal cases.

The spokesman of the Albanian Ministry of Justice, Agim Neza, expressed in an interview, Tuesday, after a hunger strike of 85 Albanian prisoners in Larisa jail ending only after the mediation of the Albanian Embassy in Greece, the concern of his ministry with regard of the extradition of the Albanian prisoners who are suffering their punishment in Greece.

"We are interested in a good treatment of the Albanian prisoners and their extradition in Albania" the spokesman said underlining the fact that "this ministry has continuously contacted their Greek counterpart."

The delay in the concretization of this problem, Neza argued was the presence of some necessary technical procedures which according to him "needed time to be resolved."

The Albanian Consul in Greece, who was attending the talks with the prisoners, said the hunger strike was result of lack of knowledge about the agreement or better expressed the misinterpretation of this agreement.

"The prisoners were told that the agreement needed time to take effect. Another reason was that many prisoners have refused to be tried in the second level hoping that their trial in Albania will possibly release them" he said.

Kristofor Peci, Minister of Justice has ordered all Albanian law courts to solve this problem as soon as possible and return the files of these prisoners to the Greeks.

Secretary of the Greek ministry, Jorgos Pavleas, has confirmed that "Some 700 Albanian prisoners are suffering their sentences in the Greek jails" who according the convention signed by both governments on May 17, 1993 will be extradited to Albania.

Many of these prisoners will be held in a newly built prison in Lushnja.

The Greek Ministry of Justice and minister Venisello himself, in a meeting with the Albanian party some months ago said "they would help with technical assistance reconstruction of Albanian prisons." fh/Z/

[05] MEETING OF GREEK CONSUL IN SARANDA

The meeting was attended by inhabitants of the commune (Albanians and Greek minority inhabitants), village dignitaries, chairmen of other communes, traders with activity in this area and others.

The Greek diplomat, Kanello, said that the future work of the Greek consulate in Gjirokastra will aim in strengthening of mutual relations between the two countries and in solution of problems of the Greek minority and Albanians.

He confirmed that Albanian citizens will be helped to get employed by offering them three-months visas and Albanian investors by enabling them release of credits. ake/kei/fh/Z/

[06] PRESS REVIEW

Speaking of the problems encountered by the SP, the newspaper says that "the presidency has become one concerning the need of adopting a harsh stand against Fatos Nano", the chairman of the Socialist Party who has expressed himself for the reformation of the party.

Rilindja Demorkatike also carries an interview with spokesman of Justice Ministry Agim Neza regarding the extradition of the Albanian prisoners in Greece to Albania, stressing that this problem is being materialised.

Zeri i Popullit reports about the preparations for the congress of this party. It carries an article about today's ratification by the Albanian parliament of the Human Rights European Convention, entitled: "The Human Rights Convention - not cosmetics but juridical guarantee for the individual".

Republika reports that the U.S. Congress House of Representatives adopted a resolution on Kosova, which among other things, calls on President Clinton to appoint a special envoy on Kosova".

The paper also says that: "Nano 'forgotten' on the third anniversary of his imprisonment", about SP chairman Fatos Nano, who for three years has been serving sentence on charges of corruption and falsification of documents about the Italian aid, while premier in 1991.

Poli i Qendres says:"Dissatisfaction among the ruling party ranks on the probability of breaking with the U.S.". The paper also says: "The Psychological war- part of the political strategy of Berisha".

Albania reports on problems of SP's reformation. It says:"Who will remove the mud from SP's face?".

As regards the invitation of Albanian Parliament's Speaker Pjeter Arbnori to international organisations to observe the upcoming local elections, the paper says: "Arbnori has asked Leni Fischer that the CE Parliamentary Assembly cooperates with the Electoral Commission to coordinate the monitoring of local elections in Albania".

Rilindja reports that "Over 100 Americans of Albanian origin protested lately on front of the U.S. headquarters in support of Albania's schooling in Macedonia".

The paper also reports on the participation of Albanian authorities in the Second Forum of the European Union and Central and East European countries, due on September 12-13, 1996 in Prague.

Liria expresses the indignation of the Albanian Former Political Prisoners and Persecuted Association on the killing of the General Director of the Prison Department, Bujar Kaloshi.

E Djathta reports on the local elections, due on October 20 in Albania and stresses:"The elections begin with the law and consensus between the parties and not with definitions of dates and commissions.

Tribuna reports on the meeting of Albanian Premier Aleksander Meksi with French ambassador accredited to Tirana, Patrick Chrismant, as well as on the invitation of Arbnori, speaker of Albanian Parliament, addressed to the international organisations to observe the upcoming local elections.

As regards the trial which started Tuesday in Tirana against four persons charged with creating the Communist Party (reconstructed), Koha Jone says:"The trial of communists begins. The charge of overthrowing the government through violence rejected".

Gazeta Shqiptare comments yesterday's trial against four persons charged with the creation of the reconstructed Communist Party and stressed that according to new evidence, the four persons have tried to forge contacts with many communist parties abroad, especially with the Communist Party of Cuba".

Ushtria dhe Koha quotes an article of the Austrian newspaper "Die Presse" of July 28 as saying that Albania has met the criteria for NATO membership. kei/lm/k

[07] IMPROVEMENT OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK - HELP FOR INTERIOR MINISTRY

He demanded in this context, as soon as possible, approval of the Road Code, of the law on border, of an ethic code for the military personnel in the Interior Ministry, of setting up police control structures within the Interior Ministry to check the law implementation.

Shamata said that it was necessary to make amendments in the law on arms and changes in the structures of some police commissariats in different districts of the country. A further increasing of the role of Interpol and creation of an Anti-crime Committee is necessary, he added.

Shamata made a briefing of the present situation in the Interior Ministry and especially stressed the need of professionalism and creation of new structures.

He briefed the measures taken to discover the authors of the recent crimes against senior police officials. kei/fh/k

[08] TRADE UNION PRESIDENT MEETS SECRETARY OF FREE EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

Xheka briefed her about the new developments in Albania focusing on their influence in the economic aspect of all categories of Albanian employees.

He underlined the active role of the trade union in the life of the country, a role which is oriented totally towards the protection of the interests of the employees.

Concrete steps have been undertaken in this direction without neglecting the aspect of labour legislation by giving a significant help to the improvement of the Albanian juridical state.

Ulotari was urged that her institution devotes more attention to the Albanian independent trade union.

She appreciated the work and contribution of trade union since its creation and considered its experience a promising start for its future integration into international trade union structures. kled/ak/sh/

[09] PARLIAMENT APPROVES DECREE, CREDIT AGREEMENT AND RESOLUTION

This agreement envisaged a credit worth 8 million and 550 thousand dollars and a grant worth 2 million and 500 thousand dollars to develop forestry in Albania.

It also approved a resolution which says, among others, that the Albanian public opinion is seriously concerned about the imprisonment of the rector of the Tetova University Prof Dr Fadil Sulejmani, head of the University Senate Milaim Fejziu and other activists.

The Albanian government being always interested in mutual and friendly good neighbourliness in the interest of two peoples and peace and stability in the region has helped for the legitimacy of the new Macedonian state since its founding. It has also eased the inter-ethnic dialogue between the Macedonians and Albanians as two major entities of this country.

Therefore, the negation of the right for higher education in the mother tongue as well as severe measures against personalities of the Tetova University, not only are contrary to the international right but also compromise the spirit of bilateral cooperation. Without being a referee in this issue, the resolution said, it is our duty to stress that the observance of the fundamental rights of Albanians living in their territories in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia inevitably determines the level of Albanian-Macedonian relationships.

This is the reason why the Albanian parliament protests against the Macedonian police act which led to the imprisonment of the rector and other activists of the Tetova University.

Albanian parliament expressing its good will hopes that the Macedonian government considers the right demands of the Albanians for higher education in their mother tongue and put an end to these practices. At the same time the parliament urged the Albanian government and the Foreign Ministry to undertake all necessary actions to pave the way for the rights for higher education of the Albanians in Macedonia. kled/ak/sh/

[10] MALTA MILITARY SOVRAN ORDER HELPS ALBANIAN CHILDREN

This was announced by the officials of the Embassy of the Malta Military Sovran Order that is the first secretary Reinhard W. Schmidt, manager of the Malta Order in Albania Manfred Hoffman and Michael Faber during a working morning with the representatives of the Albanian media.

Koln-based German division of Maltese help is operating in Albania for some years. This state within a state was introduced in Albania for the first time in 1991 and the credentials were presented in 1994 by the Ambassador of the Military Sovran Order.

Gunther Granser as the ambassador of the Malta Military Sovran Order has stressed recently that the help and the support of this Order in Albania will be increased. kled/ak/sh/

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

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