ATA News from Albania, 96-08-14

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE

[02] DECREE "ON CREATION OF CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION IN REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA"

[03] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[04] "SP IS SUBJECTED TO MINOR PARTIES" - Spahia

[05] EURO-SOCIALIST YOUTH FORUM, VICTIM OF CLANS IN SP PRESIDENCY-DPYF

[06] PDK CHAIRMAN REPLIES TO PBSD CHAIRMAN

[07] JOURNALIST BEN BLUSHI OFFENDS REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY AND ITS CONSUL

[08] LA BOUCHE GIVES FIRST PERFORMANCE IN ALBANIAN CAPITAL

[09] Yeltsin having medical tests before vacation -Tass

[10] Czech PM's party holds popularity edge - poll

[11] COOPERATIVE OSPREY 96 EXERCISE STARTS

[12] CONFERENCE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTION PROCESS AND LAWS IN ALBANIA

[13] FOREIGN FIRMS WILL HELP CLEAN TIRANA STREETS

[14] AN ALBANIAN WOMAN HAS AN ABORTION AFTER MALTREATMENT BY SERBIAN POLICE

[15] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[01] ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE

According to the decree, the Permanent Electoral Commission will have 17 members.

Its presidency (chairman, deputy chairman and secretary) is proposed by the Council of Ministers. The chairman and the deputy chairman will belong to the university academic circles, while the duty of the secretary will be carried out by the head of the Elections and Referendums Organization Department at the Local Government State Secretariat.

The other seats of the Commission members will be equally shared by the political parties of the government coalition and the opposition, in accordance with the results of the local elections.

A special article of this decree envisages changes in the interparty relations according to the local elections results and the political position of the respective parties (government coalition or opposition).

On the same day, the President of the Republic by decree 1 580, August 13,1996 "On appointing the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Albania", appointed the presidency and the members of the permanent electoral commission. The presidency of the Central Commission is composed of:

1.Nestor Thereska Chairman
2.Pellumb Cela Deputy Chairman
3.Fiqiri Kupe Secretary

Taking into consideration the proposals submitted to the presidency by 19 political forces and the latest local elections results, the President of the Republic appointed members of the Commission:

1. For the Democratic Party
-Eva Karagjozi
-Hysen Osmani
-Paskal Xallufe
-Arben Xhiku

2. For the Republican Party
-Shkelqim Barushi

3. For the Christian-Democratic Party
-Marenglen Gjonaj

4. For the Social-Democrat party
-Behar Gjoka

In the group of the representatives of the opposition parties, members of the commisison, the President of the Republic appointed for the Human Rights Union Party: -Jorgji Vllaho

In accordance with decree 1 579, dated August 13,1996, which allows political parties to make proposals for members of the Central Electoral Commission no later than 15 days before the elections day, the President of the Republic set 4 seats in the Central Commission for the Socialist Party, one for the Social-Democratic Party and one for the Agrarian Party.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the President of the Republic reports that the opposition parties: The Human Rights Union Party, Balli Kombetar Party, the National Unity Party and the Legaliteti Movement Party have to propose additional candidatures for the Central Electoral Commission because it belongs to these parties to have members in this Commission if the Socialist Party, the Social-Democratic Party or the Agrarian Party, for some reason, do not wish to be represented in the Central Electoral Commission. a.ke/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] DECREE "ON CREATION OF CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION IN REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA"

Article 1

Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Albania is a permanent organism, which organises, leads and controls the elections in the Republic of Albania in accordance with legal election provisions of the Albanian state.

Article 2

CEC will be made up by a Chairman, a deputy Chairman, a Secretary and 14 members.

CEC is appointed by the President of the Republic upon the proposal of the Council of Ministers and the political parties. CEC will exercise its activity for a 7-year period. Its members have the right to be reappointed.

Article 3

The CEC's presidency is proposed by the Council of Ministers from the scientific body of the University. The Secretary of the commission is director of the Organizational Department of elections and referendums close to State Secretariat on Local Government.

Seats of the commission's members are proportionally allocated between political parties members of the governing coalition and opposition. Within these divisions seats are allocated in proportion with results in the local elections.

Article 4

If a political party, member of the governing coalition or of the opposition, quits from the group then its seat or seats in the CEC will be allocated within the group it belongs to in accordance with paragraph 2, Article 3. If this party, in the group it enters, in the local elections has had higher results than the political party which is represented in the CEC then the seats in the CEC are scraped from this and are allocated to the party with higher results.

After the elections for local government the representation of the political parties will change according to the results of these elections.

The possible changes in the CEC can not be done later than the last 15 days before elections.

Article 5

When a political party, which deserves seats in the CEC, does not send its candidates for the seats then its seats will be offered to other political parties according the list on the criteria of paragraph 2, Article 3, not later than 15 days before elections.

Article 6

Paragraph 2, Article 35 of the law 7556 of February 1, 1996 is amended as follows:

"The political parties which have no members in the CEC have the right to send their observers close to CEC from the beginning of the election campaign till its end."

Article 7

In the first sentence of Article 46 of the law Nr. 7556, of February 4, 1992 "On election of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Albania" and amended by law 8055 of February 1, 1996 words ". . . in the Central Commission or . . ." should be scrapped.

Article 8

Paragraphs 2 and 3, Article 29 of the law Nr. 7573 of June 16, 1992 "On elections of local government" are amended as follows:

Political parties which have no members in the Central Election Commission have the right to send their observers close to this commission from the beginning of the election campaign until its end."

Article 9

On paragraph 1, Article 36 of the law Nr. 7573 of June 16, 1992 "On elections of local government words ". . . in the Central Commission or . . ." should be scrapped.

Article 10

Decree Nr. 1568, of August 2, 1996 "On Central election Commission on the republic of Albania" has no more effect.

Article 11

This decree takes effect immediately.

ake/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

The French Ambassador expressed to Mr Shamata the readiness of the French state at all levels and especially of the Interior Ministry of France to expand the cooperation with Albania.

The French senior diplomat confirmed the encouraging stand of France towards Albania and appreciated the great progress Albania has made regarding the human rights and freedom and the consolidation of the rule of law. Mr Christman confirmed the faith in the new Albanian government.

Minister Shamata voiced his readiness and that of his institution to develop bilateral relations between the two countries.

The French Ambassador handed over to Mr Shamata a message of the Interior Minister of France Jean Louis Debres, through which he congratulates Mr Shamata on the new post of the Interior Minister. He also voiced his readiness to contribute to an efficient cooperation between the Interior Ministry of France and the Interior Ministry of Albania. ksh/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] "SP IS SUBJECTED TO MINOR PARTIES" - Spahia

The SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle said that "The SP refuses to talk with the DP because it has not considered the SP's proposals about organisation of the round table as agreed in the previous SP-DP bilateral talks."

Spahia considered the SP continuous refusal to discuss with political parties "a continuation of the boycott policy the socialist opposition is following."

Different political analysts think the SP's fail to attend the political parties meeting of August 19 will heavily impair its political image. jz/fh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] EURO-SOCIALIST YOUTH FORUM, VICTIM OF CLANS IN SP PRESIDENCY-DPYF

"The Nano phenomenon has also divided the youths, who were the only hope of the SP for its renovation," said the Democratic Party Youth Forum (DPYF), Afrim Krasniqi, commenting the latest meeting of the ESYFA presidency and the SP conferences in districts.

After the ESYFA latest meeting, which had a very small participation, Krasniqi said that "This was something forewarned as the ESYFA has long since ceased to function as a youth forum. It has been a weak imitator of the SP presidency stands".

The new SP status, to be adopted in its convention, envisages that 20 per cent of the leaders of the SP leading forums be from the ESYFA ranks.

Krasniqi considers this figure an indication of the fact that the SP has no youth, that SP is run by conservator veterans and that its presidency is trying to satisfy the careerist ambitions of a group of youths. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] PDK CHAIRMAN REPLIES TO PBSD CHAIRMAN

The newspaper Koha Jone says that Bushati has sent a letter to the chairman of the Democratic Party (PD), Tritan Shehu, through which he asks that "The PBSD pulls out of the government coalition" and claims that this party's place in the government belongs to the PDK.

"I cannot but restate that the party of Teodor Laco is a left one and his natural allies are the Socialist Party and the Social-Democrat Party", Bushati says in his reply, adding that :"The left-right mixture is a solution yielding no results in Europe".

This reply comes after Laco considered absurd Bushati's claim that the PBSD, as a left wing party, should not take part in the government coalition. eva/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] JOURNALIST BEN BLUSHI OFFENDS REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY AND ITS CONSUL

Mr. Balla in a press conference, held Tuesday, in the Hungarian Embassy spoke about an incident of July 31 in this Embassy with the editor in chief of "Koha Jone" Ben Blushi.

He said that an article of "Koha Jone" has written that a Hungarian visa was refused to him and his wife.

"We can put a visa in a passport which has at least a six-month validity" said Balla.

The Hungarian Consul said that there has been no offence for the Albanian state in this incident.

The Hungarian Embassy has sent a note to the Albanian Foreign Ministry regarding this event. jz/fh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] LA BOUCHE GIVES FIRST PERFORMANCE IN ALBANIAN CAPITAL

Melany Thorton and Lenny McRay, with their famous songs "Be my lover", "We Wanna you sing together", greeted the 2 000 spectators present at the stadium.

The high price of the ticket, equal to nearly one fourth of a minimum salary in Albania, may be the cause of the lack of the La Bouche music fans.

The music of this group, over the last three years has been among the most well-known musics for the Albanian youth, who, despite their desire, could not follow live their preferred music.

"I love you and thank you", Melany said while greeting the public. "I want my voice to penetrate into every family of yours".

The VEFA Holding company, actually the most powerful private one in Albania, is the initiator of bringing "La bouche" to Albania.

"Our aim has not been to profit but to satisfy the Albanian youth ", said the son of the Vefa family, Artan Alimuca, 21 years old, and deputy president of the Company, studying art management abroad. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Yeltsin having medical tests before vacation -Tass

It quoted Yeltsin's spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky as saying that Yeltsin, 65, was working in the Kremlin. Aides have said the president was exhausted by a vigorous re-election campaign, but they denied that Yeltsin, who had two heart attacks last year, had been taken ill.

MORE

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Czech PM's party holds popularity edge - poll

Candidates of the centre-right ODS would get support from 29.1 percent of the electorate, compared with 24.9 percent for the Social Democrats, according to the late-July poll by the independent agency Factum non Fabula released on Wednesday.

The ODS is the senior member of a three-party conservative coalition which lost its majority in the lower house of parliament in June elections after a surprisingly strong second place showing by the centre-left Social Democrats.

But it is hard to gauge how the poll's numbers might actually translate into seats in the Senate, since the upper house elections are between candidates contesting individual constituencies, not the state-wide vote for the party.

Analysts are watching the Senate election closely to see if it shows any shift in support from the June vote.

Some say a clear move showing a firming of support for the coalition or the opposition might trigger momentum to push for early elections.

The parties are now formulating their candidate lists for the Senate race, and few voters yet know the candidates in their district.

In the lower-house elections ending in June, the ODS took 29.62 percent of the vote, 3.2 percentage points more than the Social Democrats. The coalition ended up with only 99 seats in the 200-seat house.

The ODS formed a minority cabinet with the tacit support of some of the opposition after a month of horse trading.

The new Factum poll showed 6.7 percent said they would support candidates of the junior coalition partner, the Christian Democratic Union (KDU-CSL), while the third coalition partner, the Civic Democratic Alliance, would get 5.0 percent.

The candidates of the Communist Party (KSCM) would get 6.2 percent, and those of the ultra-right Republican Party (SPR-RSC) would get support from 3.8 percent of respondents.

The Senate will act primarily as an advisory body, but will have limited authority over legislation.

REUTER

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] COOPERATIVE OSPREY 96 EXERCISE STARTS

Attending the opening ceremony today will also be the Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali invited in this exercise by the NATO Secretary General Havier Solana.

The Albanian troops in the exercise will be included in the first company of the first battalion together with the troops of two U.S. American units and a Romanian unit.

The exercise is the 20th joint exercise of the Albanian army with those of the member countries of NATO, the Partnership for Peace and the U.S.

This year, Albanian troops will also take part in other exercises of peace-keeping and humanitarian character in cooperation with NATO countries. kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] CONFERENCE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTION PROCESS AND LAWS IN ALBANIA

The conference will be held in Tirana from August 27-29, 1996, and invited in it will also be a group of foreign experts on election laws and campaigns who will offer their experience to the participants in the conference.

Albanian political parties which will take part in the conference are the Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance Party, the Republican Party, the Balli Kombetar and the Human Rights Union parties.

Also invited in the conference is the Association for Democratic Culture, representatives from the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). eva/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] FOREIGN FIRMS WILL HELP CLEAN TIRANA STREETS

Last year foreign cleaning firms like the Italian Nuova Ecolega and the Austrian Saubermacher started work for the cleaning of Tirana streets, and according to observers of the Tirana Municipality for these firms, the work is being carried out properly. eva/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] AN ALBANIAN WOMAN HAS AN ABORTION AFTER MALTREATMENT BY SERBIAN POLICE

Zhyltenja Fejza intervened when her husband, Gani, was being manhandled by some Serbian policemen who were searching their home. The pregnant woman fell to the ground after one of the policemen pushed her. She was carried to hospital but her baby died ten hours later.

Serbian police made a through search into the house of Fejza family and maltreated them in Llanshe e Poshtme in Podujeva under the pretext of searching for arms. aca/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

After congratulating Mr Shamata on the important and difficult post of the Interior Minister, the ambassador stressed that the German assistance and support for Albania and especially for the Interior Ministry will expand in the future.

Mr Shamata pointed out the intensive activity of the Albanian Interior ministry with federal and land police structures of Germany and stressed that these relations would intensify in the future. This, he said, is also proved by the visit to Albania right after May 26, 1996 elections, of the State Secretary in the Interior Ministry of Bavaria, Mr Regensburger. ake/xh/

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

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