ATA News from Albania, 96-08-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] SP REFUSES TO ATTEND MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC

[02] DP REACTS AGAINST SP STATEMENT

[03] TONS OF FOOD OUT OF USE IN TIRANA MARKET

[04] PRESS REACTS TO SP PRESIDENCY STATEMENT

[05] ALBANIAN ACTRESS TINKA KURTI AWARDED WITH "WOMAN OF YEAR '96"

[06] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER WITH AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN TIRANA

[07] U.S. SHOULD LEAD THE KOSOVA QUESTION AND TALKS BETWEEN PRISHTINE AND BELGRADE - President Rugova

[08] FISCHER CONFIRMS CE COORDINATION AND MONITORING OF ALBANIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

[09] INDEX OF CONSUMPTION PRICES FOR JULY 1996 INCREASES

[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[01] SP REFUSES TO ATTEND MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC

"The SP refuses to take part in the meeting organised by the President of the Republic to avoid any kind of political ploy indended to cover up the May 26 violence and manipulations", says a statement issued on August 8 by the SP Presidency.

The meetings of the President of the Republic with political parties began since July 18; they have discussed the date of local elections. Bilateral DP-SP meetings were also held in the past month on problems of local elections.

European External Affairs Commissioner during his visit to Albania a short awhile ago, appreciated these meetings , considering them very fruitful and a guarantee for free and fair elections.

The statement says that the SP considers "the institutionalisation of the political parties round table and opposition-government dialogue" a guarantee for free and correct elections.

This topic has been discussed in the meetings between the two major Albanian parties, DP and SP, with DP chairman Tritan Shehu and SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle considering this a very constructive round table.

The SP maintains in its statement that the initiative to create a permanent central electoral commission is positive and in compliance with the OSCE demand, but it requires that the "Permanent Central Electoral Commission be set up on a full legal basis, through an organic law".

President Berisha, after the first meetings with the political parties on July 18, stated that "the parties will discuss the present law on local elections and changes to the local government structures".

Today's meeting of Berisha with political parties will discuss the composition of the Permanent Central Electoral Commission and the presentation of the candidatures for this commission by the political parties.

After the first meeting with the political parties on July 18, Berisha confirmed that "there was consensus on the date of local elections", which was also confirmed by the current socialist leader, Servet Pellumbi.

President Berisha on August 3 decreed the creation of the Central Electoral Commission, which will be a permanent body to organise, run and control the elections in the Republic of Albania, in conformity with the electoral legal provisions of the Albanian state.

Based on the Main Constitutional Provisions, the President of the Republic defines the Central Electoral Commission, based on the parties' proposals on the commission's candidatures.

SP refuses to take part in the meeting with the President of the Republic but reaffirms "its readiness to participate in bilateral and multilateral dialogue, with the constant aim of finding a solution to the current crisis".

According to analysts, with this new boycott, the SP intends to create new crises and put off the date of elections after the situation of chaos inside its structures following the motion and messages of Fatos Nano, SP leader, actually convicted of corruption and falsification of official documents while he was Albania's prime minister. ksh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] DP REACTS AGAINST SP STATEMENT

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] TONS OF FOOD OUT OF USE IN TIRANA MARKET

A control exercised during July in some 50 butcher's and 70 refrigerating units in Tirana found some 18 tons of chicken, 15 tons of Bulgarian sausage, 2 tons of Hungarian meat, 400 kg of fish, 10 tons of cheese and 150 thousand eggs with their usage date expired and were immediately exterminated.

Tirana consumes about 45 tons meat and its by-products (twice the quantity of a year before), 12 tons are fresh meat, 10 tons of chickens, 10 tons of sausage and 10 tons of fish, hen's liver and others. The daily consumption should also include 20 tons of cheese, 5 tons of butter, 200 thousand eggs and 80 tons of fresh milk.

The veterinary service is present in all these productions and each of them bears its department seal. eva/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PRESS REACTS TO SP PRESIDENCY STATEMENT

Through the statement the socialists declare they will not take part in the meeting organised by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, regarding the composition of the permanent Central Local Election Commission.

Zeri i Popullit frontpages the statement under the title:"Real dialogue, no demagogic traps".

Rilindja Demokratike carries the reaction of the Democratic Party spokesman, considering the statement "an expression in the course of boycott and their absurd efforts to boycott the electoral process".

The paper cites the spokesman as saying that this "seems to be a result of SP's finding itself in a deep crisis and having no hope for victory in the upcoming local elections".

In its editorial Republika, organ of the Republican Party, considers the boycott of the parties' round table by the socialists an act which does not serve the country's interests.

In its commentary the newspaper Koha Jone says that the socialists' refusal "may also be considered an end to the dialogue between the two major parties".

The paper adds that the while SP has asks that the round table includes all the contending parties in the October 20 elections, the DP insists that it includes only the local government leaders".

Dita Informacion entitles its editorial about SP's refusal to Berisha's second invitation to dialogue:"Berisha receives parties: SP and SDP (Social Democratic Party) boycott the round table" and "The DP reacts: the continuation of the electoral process boycott, a result of the socialists' crisis".

Poli i Qendres carries articles entitled:"The President's underestimated round table", "To the elections without the opposition", and a statement of the SDP deputy chairman, Paskal Milo.

Asked :"Why the SP withdraws from the local elections?", the newspaper Tribuna responds:"This party has been subjected to the craziness of a group of political adventurers headed by the Enverist careerist Neritan Ceka (leader of the Democratic Alliance Party)".

"The Socialists 'refuse' Berisha's invitation", is the title of the statement the DP chairman, Tritan Shehu, has provided to the newspaper Albania.

Shehu considers the meeting with the President of the Republic "....a significant meeting on the eve of the upcoming electoral campaign", whereas the refusal of the socialists to take part in this meeting..."a political approach based on the line of SP boycott and its absurd attempt to boycott the electoral process".

Gazeta Shqiptare also devotes a special place to the SP and SDP refusing the President's invitation to take part in his meeting with parties and considers them "...unexpected responses". ksh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ALBANIAN ACTRESS TINKA KURTI AWARDED WITH "WOMAN OF YEAR '96"

Kurti received on August 8, a surprising letter where this prestigious award was announced to her.

Her artistic biography is well-known for all Albanians. She got for the first time the award of career in the Film Festival in Salerno, Italy. The Albanian theatre in Malmo, Sweden holds her name.

When she got awarded with "Woman of the Year '96" she said: "I thank from my heart those who honoured me with this award. I learned only a short time ago about it but it is something which is not so easily forgotten." eva/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER WITH AMBASSADORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN TIRANA

Both parties in the meeting with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic Paolo Foresti expressed their readiness to promote the cooperation between the police of the two countries and the need for a more efficient cooperation in the fight against crime.

Mr Foresti congratulated Minister Shamata on the new post and said that the relations and cooperation between Italy and Albania will be promoted in the future.

Mr Shamata briefed Mr Foresto of some problems related with the restructuring of some structures of the police so that they be more efficient in the fight against crime.

Today before noon, Mr Shamata had a meeting with the charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Mr Robert Chekuta and the second secretary of this embassy, Lin Gurina.

After congratulating Mr shamata on the new post of the Interior Minister, U.S. diplomats discussed the great interest and support of the U.S. for the diplomatic developments in Albania.

Mr Chekuta expressed his condolences to Mr. Shamata over the killing of two police officials and took interest in the work to uncover the authors and the truth about the two crimes.

U.S. diplomats also asked regarding the rally that left wing opposition conducted on May 28 this year.

Mr Shamata said that there are two cases still under investigation with regard to that rally. He said that also contacts have been established between the Interior Ministry and the Parliamentary commission set up for this purpose.

The talk with U.S. diplomats also focused on questions of restructuring in the Interior Ministry conformed with European norms and standards. Minister Shamata said that in order to realise this process an intensive work is going on to make the necessary changes in the existing legislation.

Both parties in the meetings expressed the need of a close cooperation between the U.S. embassy and the Albanian Interior Ministry.

The U.S. diplomats said that Washington is interested in the drives towards the perfection of legislation and the restructuring of this Ministry according to international standards, the report of the spokesman says. ssh/kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] U.S. SHOULD LEAD THE KOSOVA QUESTION AND TALKS BETWEEN PRISHTINE AND BELGRADE - President Rugova

The statement was made after he commented some press reports that Belgrade is seeking a mediator in the talks with Prishtine.

"It is our policy and demand that the solution to the Kosova issue be reached through negotiations, this is the stand of the international community," said Rugova asked about the readiness to start talks with Serbian President Milosevic.

"As in all the talks even in those between Belgrade and Prishtine each party has its own stands. We are defending and will continue to defend our stands, those of the referendum for an independent and neutral Kosova, those of the Kosova leadership and people," said President Rugova. aca/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] FISCHER CONFIRMS CE COORDINATION AND MONITORING OF ALBANIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

"The elections will also be an important proof and contribution to the consolidation of democracy in Albania," writes Fischer in reply to an invitation send to her by the chairman of the Presidency of the People's Assembly, Mr Pjeter Arbnori.

On July 30, Mr Arbnori sent a letter to Mr Fischer through which he invited the Parliamentary Assembly to send observers for the local government elections of October 20, 1996 in Albania and to coordinate work with the Election Commission of the Republic of Albania for the monitoring of these elections.

Fischer writes that the Parliamentary Assembly of the CE had decided to send a delegation of observers in the local government elections in Albania, possibly along with members of the Congress for Local and Regional Affairs of the Council of Europe.

On September 3, the Bureau of the Assembly will decide on the composition of this delegation and the ways of cooperation with the Congress.

On June 26 the Council of Europe, after a debate in the Parliamentary Assembly, adopted the resolution of the Political Commission on the elections in Albania, which recognized the legitimacy of the Albanian elected Parliament and decided to increase assistance for Albania for the improvement of its legislation, institutions and the work in the public order bodies, always based on the European democratic principles. pas/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] INDEX OF CONSUMPTION PRICES FOR JULY 1996 INCREASES

The increasing tendency for July is mainly a result of the rise of the prices of food articles, drinks, tobacco which have also led to a rising index by one percent. The highest increase in this group is registered in the price rise of bread and grains, by 15.8 per cent, leading to an increase of 2 per cent in the index of consumption prices. The price in the group of fruits and vegetables have increased 8.5 per cent whereas the prices of the group of rents, water, fuel, energy have increased by 1 percent which has led to an increase by 12 per cent of the index with the greatest effect by the 3.1 increase of the kerosene price. sh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Representatives of the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the National Unity and the Agrarian parties did not take part in the meeting.

Those present in the meeting agreed that the representation of the political parties in the local government be a basis for the composition of the commission. The parties of the position and the opposition will be equally represented in the Central Election Commission. The meeting proposed that the decree of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Albania be completed with an article which will reflect the percentage of the political forces in view of the result of the voting.

Those present in the meeting said that the commission should be directed by representatives proposed by the government and stressed the need of an election office whose chairman should be the secretary of the Central Election Commission.

The meeting was characterised by constructive debate and consensus. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

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

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