ATA News from Albania, 96-08-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] IRISH GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT ALBANIAN INTEGRATION INTO EU

[02] JUDGES' MOTION ON CORRUPTION IN TIRANA LAW COURT

[03] SOCIALIST PARTY AND EIGHT SMALL PARTIES DICTATE THEIR CONDITIONS FOR THE ROUND TABLE

[04] GREEK CONSUL IN GJIROKASTRA VISITS VLORA

[05] "THE ONE WHO USES AND POLLUTES ENVIRONMENT MUST PAY"

[06] PRESS REVIEW

[07] "FAN.S.NOLI" NATIONAL ASSOCIATION PROTESTS APPOINTMENT OF GREEK BISHOPS IN ALBANIA

[08] ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS PRESENT PRESS SITUATION

[09] POLICE INTERCEPT HEROINE IN TIRANA

[10] OVER 1400 SERB SETTLERS IN FUSHE-KOSOVA

[01] IRISH GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT ALBANIAN INTEGRATION INTO EU

Mitchell congratulated achievements of democratic Albania, its economic reforms, its deepening of the privatisation, the administrative reforms and the preparations of the Albanian government for the local elections.

After the briefing Shehu made on Albania, Mitchell confirmed, as present leader of the EU presidency, his commitment for a quick introduction in the EU meeting agenda of an association agreement for Albania.

He said that the Irish government will strongly support Albania's complete integration in these structures. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Albania and Ireland and to set up a joint commission about economic cooperation and the technical assistance the Irish government will offer to Albania in the context of its integration into the E.U.

The Albanian delegation met Friday, the President and Executive Director of the main national energy company. The meeting focused on a greater participation of the Irish party in the development and privatization of the Albanian energy system.

The Albanian delegation organised, in the evening, a working dinner with Mr. John Corner, chairman of the Foreign Affair Commission in the Irish Parliament, deputies, politicians and others.

The delegation is continuing its visit. ake/kled/fh/sh/

[02] JUDGES' MOTION ON CORRUPTION IN TIRANA LAW COURT

The motion signed by judges, nominated after 1992, charge judges who have exercised their profession even before 1992, as authors of many problems in the Albanian law courts.

Sources from Tirana Court, cited by Albania, say that the division between judges, nominated before and after 1992, was result of problems and different stands the judges hold while trying different judicial cases.

Judges nominated after 1992, in their motion give the authorship of the corruption in the court to judges who have a longer working experience, writes Albania, after clarifying that the motion is discussed for two months in Tirana court. kled/fh/sh/

[03] SOCIALIST PARTY AND EIGHT SMALL PARTIES DICTATE THEIR CONDITIONS FOR THE ROUND TABLE

This idea was stressed in a message that the participating parties addressed to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and other international institutions.

Referring to the points of the resolution of the CE adopted in Strasbourg, the message says that "in order to attain a political solution, the opposition parties have several times asked the DP for dialogue which will define the way for a political solution of the problems which would guarantee free and equal elections, but DP has not accepted an interparty round table talk.

This point contradicts the rest of the message which says that 'at the end of the meeting of these nine parties, public calls have been made to DP to accept the round table although four meetings have been held between DP and SP and four meetings with nine political opposition parties.'

With regard to a political dialogue, DP chairman Tritan Shehu has said that "DP has always been for a dialogue with the opposition," which has started with the meeting held in July 13 between DP and SP. The dialogue will continue and expand with the participation of other political parties. While SP deputy chairman Servet Pellumbi has described the dialogue as "a meeting which opened the way to the creation of a proper climate for dialogue among various parties," DP chairman Tritan Shehu and SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle have considered as fruitful the round table between parties and have stressed the need of discussion in the spirit of understanding and advice from CE.

The message also says that "the president of Albania decided that October 20 be the day for local government elections after a consultation with parties participating in the government," while the fact is that opposition parties such as SP the biggest opposition party, also took part in the consultation.

The message also writes that "in the present conditions no guarantee has been made that the coming elections will be free and equal."

The Government of Albania and highest state institutions have voiced their readiness to accept aid from experts of the Council of Europe for the preparations of the local elections. Some days ago, the chairman of the presidency of the People's Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, through a letter to CE, OSCE and other institutions, has formally invited international observers in the coming elections.

These points have also been discussed by President Berisha in the meeting he had some days ago with the Commissioner Van Den Broek. Mr Broek believed that the elections will be free and held within set norms. He also called on political parties to take part in the local elections.

According to DP and SP leaders, their latest meeting "brought to the fore the will of the political forces to discuss together various political issues, including the preparations for normal local elections."

Two of the parties taking part in the round table, the SDP and the DAP won together 3.8 per cent of the votes while six other parties, according to figures, had a very small number of votes, almost inconsiderable.

At the end of the statement, the parties which took part in the round table asked assistance from European organizations to influence so that dialogue be established, at a time when the DP-SP meetings have discussed an extension of the bilateral table with other political forces. In the latest DP-SP meeting, SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle suggested "another meeting with seven representatives from the government and seven from the opposition forces."

This idea, which was also put for discussion by the SP in the meeting of nine political parties, was accepted. The meeting also decided that a meeting of specialists from each political force be held to discuss possible amendments to the law on local government elections. kled/xh/sh/

[04] GREEK CONSUL IN GJIROKASTRA VISITS VLORA

Shanaj made a panorama of the work of the prefecture of Vlora, underlining that its bordering with Greece makes local cooperation even more indispensable. In this regard he pointed out the good development of contacts in the recent years which are a consequence of the good relations existing between the two countries.

Prefect Shanaj asked the Greek consul in Gjirokastra to influence in encouraging seasonal employment for Albanians in the regions bordering Greece, the opening of the Qafe-Bota customs point, which will be rather important, as well as Greek investments for the region of Vlora prefecture.

"The relations between our two countries are in a good level," said the Greek consul Kanellos in his address. "Their basis lies in the democratic changes that Albania has had in the recent years. The open policy followed by our two countries will strengthen the relations in the future."

Kanellos said that the situation in the Greek minority is rather good and bears no comparison with the period before 1990. He also said that religious questions have also been solved. Kanellos proposed the opening of a Greek bank in Gjirokastra. ake/kled/xh/sh/

[05] "THE ONE WHO USES AND POLLUTES ENVIRONMENT MUST PAY"

The National Environmental Fond is created from the accumulation of these payments and will be totally used for the protection of the environment. Besides, the state and foreign donator's financial sources for this fund create possibilities for the rehabilitation of the damage caused by pollution and the elimination of negative influences in the environment resulting from new industrial, agricultural activities, tourism etc. ksh/xh/sh/

[06] PRESS REVIEW

The paper entitles its editorial "Clandestine policy." Another article is entitled "US interest for consolidation of democracy in Albania" where among others it says that the US will continue to exercise its pressure on Milosevic about Kosova issue.

Zeri i Popullit entitles its editorial "A party always in movement and development." Under the headline "Warren Christopher in the US Congress about the violated Albanian elections of May 26" carries the article "I join with your disillusionment." "Constitutional Assembly - the opposition's guarantee for tomorrow" is another article.

Republika publishes "Nomination of three other Greek clericals is asked when Janullatos' stand is still discussable" regarding a decision of the Istanbul Patriarchate.

"It is the defence of unity, the thesis that is recently mostly attacked by Nano's disciples after his last letter" writes the paper on its second page.

Poli i Qendres writes "Christopher: I am disillusioned with May 26 election in Albania." Regarding the third meeting of the political parties it carries the article "We are open for dialogue - government should offer its final answer."

Lajmi i Dites publishes "Political Dialogue" regarding the meeting of nine parties. It also carries the article "Political tango with the East - a funeral procession."

Tribuna writes "Fatos Nano - dangerous relic of the socialist foolishness." As the Socialist Congress is approaching the debate between Nano and his party's presidency is deepening towards banality, the paper writes. It also highlights a chronicle of the meeting the Albanian Foreign Minister Shehu had in Ireland.

Albania carries the article "Who arrested Fatos Nano?" where among others it answers to questions like "Which are the main lines in the Albanian policy which have projected the file Nano and who were the executing shadow persons inside the DP and the SP."

Rilindja carries the article "Albanians in Kosova manage and control their own life." It also highlights the meeting of President Rugova with officials of the US Embassy in Belgrade.

Koha Jone writes "US State secretary: Elections were not free and fair." The paper entitles its editorial "Albanian crime hits Germany." An unidentified Albanian shot and badly injured a federal worker of foreign affairs in Gersenkirschen, Germany, the paper writes.

Sindikalisti covers an interview with Chief of the Sector for Eastern and Central Europe in the ICFTU, Mrs. Anna Oulotar, while the newspaper Pasqyra carries the article "Greece turns on the green light for Albanian immigrants."

Dita Informacion writes the article "Will the SP be accepted into the Socialist International?" and Sporti Shqiptar writes "Albanians and Albania in the Olympic games."

Gazeta Shqiptare says that, Thursday evening, half a kilo drug (heroin) was sequestered and four traffickers were arrested. kled/fh/sh/

[07] "FAN.S.NOLI" NATIONAL ASSOCIATION PROTESTS APPOINTMENT OF GREEK BISHOPS IN ALBANIA

"We consider this act an interference not only into the rights of the Albanian Autocephalous Church but also into the internal affairs of the Albanian state", the protest says.

"How is it possible that the Istanbul Patriarchy thinks to ordain in Albania only Greek orthodox ministers and not send them to other countries of the former communist East?", the Presidency of the association asks.

The protest says that "It is not the first time the patriarchy tries to put the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church in the clutches of the Hellenic Church".

The decision of the Istanbul patriarchy runs contrary to the Statute of 1926 of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church. The Patriarchy recognised the autocephaly of this church in 1936.

Fan Noli, the association is named after, was chairman of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church in the U.S. He was the most outstanding activist in creating the Albanian Orthodox Church and detaching it from the denationalising influence of the Greek Church. lm

[08] ALBANIAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS PRESENT PRESS SITUATION

Albanian newspaper chief editors and editors familiarised Charles Wallsh, charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in Tirana and chief of USIA in Tirana, with their concerns over the situation of the Albanian press after the "Soros" foundation provided a credit of $ 135 000 for newspaper Koha Jone.

During the meeting the responsible for the Albanian press stressed the importance of the newspapers' survival for the Albanian democracy and the danger that the focus of aid and attention on only one newspaper presents for the freedom of speech.

They also expressed concern over manipulations and misinformations on the part of the "Soros" people in Tirana. kled/lm

[09] POLICE INTERCEPT HEROINE IN TIRANA

In a blitz operation police forces uncovered the heroine hidden in a vehicle. The police also detained four youths. eva/lm

[10] OVER 1400 SERB SETTLERS IN FUSHE-KOSOVA

Over 1400 Serb colons, refugees who came last year from the war fronts in Croatia and Bosnia, have been settled in the Fushe-Kosova commune, according to the latest records.

Most of the refugees say they will stay for ever in Kosova, where special dwelling centers are also being set up.

According to Serb Red Cross data, the Serb colons in Fushe-Kosova have been also provided with jobs. Some 300 Serb refugees have so far been employed in the rail transport enterprise alone. p.ta/kled/lm

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

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