ATA News from Albania, 96-09-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] NEW YORK: ALBANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS HIS COUNTERPARTS

[02] LPK RECEIVED IN US STATE DEPARTMENT AND CONGRESS

[03] BOMB-MAN TO FACE TRIAL TODAY IN TIRANA

[04] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION: "PARTICIPATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND PREMIER IN THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT"

[05] ELECTORAL EDUCATION OF POPULATION AT THE CENTER OF CEC PLATFORM

[06] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION DISCUSSES DIVISION OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY TIME OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON TV

[07] PRESS REVIEW

[08] TRITAN SHEHU CONTINUES MEETINGS IN U.N.

[09] RESULTS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA PRODUCE OPTIMISM AND TRUST IN FUTURE - UNDP

[10] ALBANIA OF FUTURE CENTURY IN A BOOK

[11] GOVERNMENT DELEGATION TO ATTEND BSEC WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY

[12] NINE FORMER PLA SENIOR OFFICIALS ASK INNOCENCE

[01] NEW YORK: ALBANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS HIS COUNTERPARTS

At first Mr Shehu met with the Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Austria, Wolfgang Schussel. Schussel said that the relations between Albania and Austria have continuously been very good and now premises exist for their further consolidation. Shehu informed Schussel of the latest political developments in Albania and the situation before local elections.

In the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Georgi Pirinski they talked mainly in the bilateral cooperation in the regional context, laying the stress on the economic cooperation between Albania and Bulgaria. Minister Shehu asked the understanding and commitment of the Bulgarian party regarding a proposal of Albania for facilitation of procedures for a free circulation of people and especially of businessmen of the two countries. The two ministers exchanged opinions on the situation in the region.

Shehu also met with the Foreign Minister of Portugal, Jaime Gama. They talked on the bilateral cooperation between Albania and Portugal and in the context of the European Union. Minister Gama assured Mr Shehu that Portugal will support Albania's efforts for intergration in the EU structures. To this end, he offered the experience of his country as a state which has had a similar process with that of Albania. Ssh/pas/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] LPK RECEIVED IN US STATE DEPARTMENT AND CONGRESS

Prays said that Kosova issue was a serious concern for the US and stressed that the US government will not recognise Serbia unless it shows its readiness to cooperate in resolution of Kosova issue.

"Serbia will not be accepted in the International Monetary Fund and other international institutions and the "outer wall" of sanctions will remain and be conditioned with the solution of Kosova issue", said Prays.

He also appreciated the agreement on Albanian education in Kosova and called it the first step which would be important if realised in practice.

The delegation during their visit in Washington was also received in the US Congress by John Hercberg, representative of the Republican Party for foreign relations in the US Congress. pta/kled/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] BOMB-MAN TO FACE TRIAL TODAY IN TIRANA

Ilir Buza, 32, from Fushe-Kruja, (north of Tirana), threatened to blow himself up by a hand grenade, unless he was not allowed to meet President Sali Berisha just when the Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro after a meeting with Berisha was ready to leave the Albanian Presidency.

Buza was disarmed by police after a quick interference within an hour after his action. The medical expertise resulted that Buza is mentally sane and legally responsible. During investigations Ilir Buza has accepted the charge and gave minute explanations for the motives and the way he acted.

The jury will be presided by the chairman of Tirana Court Qazim Gjonaj. Buza is charged with terrorism and unauthorised arm keeping, penal acts which envisage sentences up to 20 years in jail.pas/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION: "PARTICIPATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND PREMIER IN THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT"

The reply says:

"This Commission, convened on September 25 in the presence of the majority of the members of the Commission, noted that: 1. The participation of the President of the Republic, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and of other senior state and political officials in the electoral campaign is permitted and guaranteed by legal constitutional provisions. Article 48 of this law is applied to people which fall under the law on civil service.

2. The protest for the television is groundless because it refers to a time when this commission had not yet defined the platform of the electoral campaign.

The reply was adopted by the Permanent Central Election Commission by majority of votes (11 for and 6 against.) xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ELECTORAL EDUCATION OF POPULATION AT THE CENTER OF CEC PLATFORM

The Albanian TV will be open for debates among political parties if they agree on such a thing and confirmed by the CEC.

Besnik Baraj CEC deputy chairman said "This debate would be better if organised among candidates for the post of mayor in Tirana city and in other main Albanian towns."

According the TV commission, these programs will be wider and more active than those of May 26 elections, by repairing any shortcomings observed by the OSCE, IRI and others.

The CEC demanded from the TV to put in disposal of elections 10 cameras, which will be divided 50 per cent for the governing coalition parties and 50 per cent for the opposition parties, but today the TV said it was technically impossible and it would offer only eight cameras. pas/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION DISCUSSES DIVISION OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY TIME OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON TV

According to the platform, the electoral subjects are divided in two groups, the parties participating in the government coalition and the opposition parties.

According to the platform approved yesterday, during the news at 20.00 and 22.00 the daily activity of the political parties will have only a 5 minutes flash coverage, dividing this time proportionally, 2.5 minutes for the government coalition parties and 2.5 minutes for the opposition parties.

Today there was a great debate regarding the time for the opposition parties which have not taken 0.5 per cent of the votes in the local elections of 1992 or which did not take part in those elections.

The representatives of the political forces in the Central Election Commission said they agreed yesterday on the platform and had signed it, but today, the SP member Ilir Zela presented an option on the division of the supplementary time.

Yesterday, the deputy chairman of this commission, Besnik Baraj of the Socialist Party, said he did not consider right the fact that participating in the opposition parties group are also parties like that of the Balli Kombetar."

After discussions, all agreed on the alternative that the big parties leave these parties 10 seconds from their time on TV.

The law does not give any possibility to the independent candidates to appear on TV because of their great number.

Today the commission discussed, according to the law "On the election of local government bodies," the amendments presented by political subjects for the members of the election commissions of the communes and municipalities. This was made because until Sept. 27, 1996, the Central Election Commission should announce the composition of the election commissions of the communes and municipalities.

Although this issue was also discussed before, yesterday the commission gave the final reply to a protest that the Socialist Party had made regarding the participation of the President of the Republic, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and other senior state and political officials in the electoral campaign.

By majority of votes, 11 for and 6 against, this commission decided that this activity is permitted and guaranteed by legal constitutional provisions. Article 48 of this law is applied to people which fall under the law on civil service.

The Central Election Commission received today similar protests by the Centre Pole parties, SDP and DAP. xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRESS REVIEW

The paper entitles its editorial "The SP in crisis for candidates." The false reformation of the SP brought about the sterility of the party, as it supported more the political figures with relations to the past than those of the future, says the editorial. It also highlights the meetings of Albanian Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu with his counterparts in UN General Assembly.

Zeri i Popullit entitles its editorial "Optimism with basis." The paper also carries an interview with the SP Secretary for Foreign Relations, Pandeli Majko, under the title "Votes for the opposition will really open a new chapter in history." The press conference of the Centre Pole is highlighted under the title "Let us set up the ruined institution of free elections."

Republika covers this conference under the title "Pole leaders condemn the boycott." It also prints another article "The land-law leads to excess not the Republican project."

Newspaper Lajmi i Dites highlights a chronicle of the meeting between the government and the Albanian Independent Trade Union (ITU) under the title "Trade Union demand correctness of economic figures."

Tribuna writes "Foreign observers are not votes for the left opposition." "Boycott policy followed by left wing political extremism brings no results for those who apply it" says Ali Spahia, chairman of Albanian's delegation in the CE, in an interview with this paper.

Rilindja reports on a meeting of President Rugova with leaders of Popular Democratic Party under the title "For a closer cooperation among political parties" while Sindikalisti gives a coverage of the meeting between the ITU and government entitled "The conclusions Monday."

The woman who identified the criminal Nehat Kulla, demands a higher sum than that appointed by the government, writes Albania. "Electorate crisis and candidate crisis" writes the paper under the head line "Centre Pole cannot secure names for candidates."

In its column "Analysis" Dita Informacion prints the article "Socialists on the eve of victory?" The press conference of the Centre Pole is covered under the title "We aim 20 per cent of the votes in local elections."

Koha Jone writes "Motion 2 in the SP" regarding today's meeting of the SP Leading Committee, where according the paper a new motion from Nano is expected to arrive. Pellumbi, Meta, Poci and others ask the resignation of the SP presidency, underlines the paper.

Central Election Commission (CEC) turns on the "green" light for the participation of President of the Republic in the election campaign, writes Gazeta Shqiptare regarding yesterday meeting of the CEC. kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] TRITAN SHEHU CONTINUES MEETINGS IN U.N.

Shehu made a presentation of the Albanian foreign policy, emphasizing its efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Trevino expressed the view that a broader cooperation between the two countries was indispensable and that Albania was really of interest for Mexico.

Later the two ministers treated issues of mutual interest of the activity of various U.N. structures.

Shehu had a special meeting with the President of the "Appeal of Consciousness" Foundation, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who is very important and well-known in the American social and political life. His Holiness, the Catholic Arch-bishop of New York, was also invited to this meeting.

They accepted with pleasure the invitation to send observers from the "Appeal of consciousness" Foundation to the local elections in Albania.

Shehu's meetings with figures of the Italian diplomacy started with greetings to Foreign Minister Dini for his speech in the General Assembly. Dini stressed the need of intensifying bilateral communication, being two close neighbours and having numerous mutual interests.

Shehu also talked with Italian deputy Foreign Minister, Fassino. Shehu spoke of the promotion of reforms in Albania, the current situation, the pre-election situation, the Albanian government's engagement in organising free, fair and transparent elections.

Later the two ministers dwelt on specific fields of general reformation of the United Nations Organisation and its structures.

Shehu's meeting with the President of the U.N. General Assembly, His Excellency, Razali Ismail, Malaysian ambassador to the Organisation, was an exchange of views on the way the UNO functions and the assistance certain countries provide in it.

The two especially appreciated Albania's assistance in the United nations. They also discussed relations between Malaysia and Albania. His Excellency stressed that Malaysia was a friendly country of Albania and showed interest in having close relations with it also in the future.

Shehu dwelt on the relations between Albania and Malaysia. He availed himself of the occasion to thank the Malaysian Government for encouraging investment which have begun with much success in Albania. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] RESULTS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA PRODUCE OPTIMISM AND TRUST IN FUTURE - UNDP

The report is fruit of the joint work carried out by an independent team of Albanian experts from the government, local and foreign non- governmental organisations and other foreign institutions cooperating with Albania.

"It is the second time this report appears by the UNDP contribution and provides the framework of a human development strategy in Albania. The ongoing results produce optimism and trust in the future," the UNDP representative to Albania, Peter Schuman, said.

The report has been evaluated for its impartiality of information on the current situation and the tendency of development in Albania.

According to several surveys of the Euro-barometer the report refers to, 79% of the population holds the country is developing on the right path and 59% declare themselves satisfied with the developments of democracy at home.

"The report," Premier Aleksander Meksi said, "presents at a broader spectrum the human developments in Albania and encourages governmental and non-governmental structures to realise the changes carried out during the implementation of the economic reform".

During the year 1994-1995 employment reached the figures 1 154 446 and the number of the unemployed was 171 001. Investment, which made up 18% of the GDP in 1992-1993, reached 20-22% in 1994-1995.

The report says that in the private sector in 1995 there were 2 600 private firms and 56 000 private activities employing 128 000 workers. jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIA OF FUTURE CENTURY IN A BOOK

A work of this kind which covers 21 fields of the economic, social and political activity appears for the first time in the history of the Albanian culture.

The co-workers are academicians, professors, doctors and specialists from Albania, Kosova, Macedonia and diaspora.

The book has 320 pages and will appear in Albania by the beginning of November. kled/lm/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] GOVERNMENT DELEGATION TO ATTEND BSEC WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY

The meeting's agenda includes problems of energy cooperation between these countries and the creation of the electric-energy Assembly in the Black Sea region.

In this meeting Albania will set forward proposals on the energy situation, the ways to develop cooperation in this field and views on a protocol-agreement which will serve as a working programme for the high level meeting of the countries of Black Sea region. a.ke/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] NINE FORMER PLA SENIOR OFFICIALS ASK INNOCENCE

The defence lawyers of the defendants rejected the charge and asked innocence from the court's panel.

In the last sitting, prosecutor Shkelqim Gani accused the nine defendants in his final statement of indicting crimes against humanity in complicity and asked sentences totalling 183 years in jail.

The defendants are considered guilty of the committed acts based on the materials available as well as on the denunciation filed by the Albanian Intellectuals Forum which includes names of 36 persons. They are accused of abuse of power while in top state and party posts.

According to the denunciation, the ex-communist dictatorship senior officials, put under arrest, have exercised terror and massive genocide, have sent people to internal exile contrary to the Constitution and the laws in force also for the period these acts were committed.

The nine ex-senior officials are the signers of many report-proposals for political retaliation against many citizens. jz/lm

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

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