ATA News from Albania, 96-10-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] SEAL FALSIFIER SENTENCED

[02] CENTRE POLE UNABLE TO FIND MEMBERS FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONS

[03] DEMOCRAT LEADERS ENGAGED IN ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

[04] BRANCH OF SP LAUNCHES ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ELBASANI DISTRICT

[05] GERMANY TO SUPPORT ALBANIA

[06] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS DELEGATION OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY

[07] TRADE UNIONS STAGE ONE-DAY GENERAL STRIKE

[08] DELEGATION OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY ON LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

[09] CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DECIDES OBSERVERS' AGE

[10] REPUBLICAN PARTY STARTS ELECTION CAMPAIGN

[11] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER AT INTERIOR MINISTERS CONFERENCE IN BRATISLAVA

[12] PRESS REVIEW

[01] SEAL FALSIFIER SENTENCED

The six defendants in collaboration have falsified the seal of Interior Ministry, of Tirana Municipality, of Civil State Office and have made false passports.

Police took them under arrest on January 23, 1996. They were charged and found guilty for the penal act of fraud. jz/fh/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] CENTRE POLE UNABLE TO FIND MEMBERS FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONS

After a complaint from the Socialist Party about the functioning of election commissions in Peqini district, the Permanent Central Election Commission (PCEC) verified the situation and found that in a process-verbal of the meetings of this commission was said that "the commission has functioned and has organised meetings but members of the National Union Party, Centre Pole and any other political party have not attended them despite many invitations."

According the source, the Centre Pole has not assured the members of election commissions because the number of its members and sympathizers in these constituencies is very low.

Political parties of the Centre Pole are conducting the electoral campaign with the pretension that they are the third political force in Albania, but there have also been cases when leaders of this political grouping have declared that "if elections are held regularely this grouping will manage to win them."

In the parliamentary elections of May 26, according the final figures, these parties have assured some 2.8 per cent of the votes. kled/fh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] DEMOCRAT LEADERS ENGAGED IN ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

Shehu held a meeting with inhabitants of the Korca city district, quarters 3 and 4, and expressed the conviction that on October 20, not only in Korca but all over Albania, DP's victory would be deeper than on May 26.

Shehu introduced the DP candidature for mayor, Dhionis Kotmilo.

Shehu said this conviction was based not only on the fact that the DP had chosen dignified candidatures but also the fact that the left front was plunged into a deep crisis. "The SP did not know to renovate and with its programme and hot heads has projected Albania's isolation," he said.

Shehu promised the participants that the DP in the next four years would strengthen local government, provide it with many powers.

"Korca wants a better governing from the local government and more aid from the government," said Shehu assuring the participants that Korca would be provided with all these.

On the same day, Shehu met the electorate and introduced the DP candidate for Maliqi town mayor, Behar Luman; in Zvirine he introduced the candidate for Pirgu's commune chairman, Pandi Rista; in Zvezde the candidate for Pojan's commune's chairman, Eduard Malleli; in Mborje the candidate for Drenova's commune chairman, Arbezi and in Dersnik, the candidate for commune chairman of Voskopi, Kujtim Sulo.

The democrat candidate for Tirana's mayor, Albert Brojka, continues meetings with the electorate of the capital in the context of the October 20 elections.

"My strength as candidate for the Tirana Mayor lies in the strength of the party that put up my candidature, the strength of the DP, because it alone can govern Albania and finally integrate it into Europe," Brojka said.

Later he spoke of the major problems preoccupying the capital's population today.

"Some $18 million have been invested in electric energy supply over the last four years," said Brojka. In the next four years, an investment of $11.5 million from Japan and $5 million from Electricity Corporation Corporation will help solve this problem finally," Brojka said.

As regards the drinking water supply "the completion of the Bovilla dam, on which $10 million will be spent and the restructuring of the internal network, with an investment of $44 million, "will help resolve this problem by the middle of 1997", Brojka said. s.sh/kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] BRANCH OF SP LAUNCHES ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ELBASANI DISTRICT

Attending the meeting were also the SP Secretary General Rexhep Mejdani, chief of the foreign affairs Maqo Lakrori, and others.

Mejdani said that the people' vote will be in favour of the party he represents. He stressed that "the SP is open to cooperate with any political party in favour of Albania's integration into Europe", but he did not specified any party.

In the meeting, the candidate promised a prosperous Elbasan, opening up of 5-6 thousand jobs with a rational policy and others. /kled/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] GERMANY TO SUPPORT ALBANIA

Belortaja thanked the German guest for the generous help given to Albania through the Ministry he represents. He stressed that he considered Hedrich visit an important political gesture and a great contribution in support of reforms in Albania.

"We are pleased that Europe appreciates our political standards", said Blortaja, adding that Albania's priority is its integration in the European Union.

Hedrich pointed out that a particular sympathy for the Albanians in Germany does exist. /s.sh/kled/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ALBANIAN PREMIER MEETS DELEGATION OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY

The Albanian Premier briefed on the developments of the reforms and informed about the measures taken by the government to secure free and fair elections, confirm the law.

The English friends estimated the achievements in Albania and congratulated the serious engagement of the government to hold normal elections. They ensured Premier Meksi that the conservators and the English government will support the development of reforms in Albania. /a.ke/kled/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] TRADE UNIONS STAGE ONE-DAY GENERAL STRIKE

The Union of the Independent Trade Unions of Albania (UITUA), after failing to reach a consensus in the talks with the government, decided to stage the one-day general strike on Friday.

"The sectors likely to be affected by the walk-out include education, health care, except emergency service, telecommunications, Independent Trade Union of Food Industry, chemical industry, urban, railway and maritime transports, all civil defence officials and other sectors.

The wal-kout will also affect private firms and non budgetary enterprises," the spokesman of the UITUA, Zef Luca, says.

In yesterday's meeting, the trade union representatives demanded that the problem of the bread price compensation be reexamined and treated.

According to the UITUA deputy president, Estref Mersini, the number of the unionists to go on strike will amount to 200 000.

According to the law in force the strike will be stopped because of the local elections.

"After 21 days unless the government takes measures the strike will resume until our demands are met," Mr. Mersinaj said. a.ke/kled/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] DELEGATION OF BRITISH CONSERVATIVE PARTY ON LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

"These elections are not important only for Albania, but also for the Eastern Europe, because especially Albania turned its back to communism. The Albanian people will confirm this once again in these elections", said the chairman of the delegation, Roy Tomason, member of the British Parliament.

Tomason said that "we are very pleased by the performance of the Democratic Party about the elections and the selection of the candidates to the local posts, who will be able to solve the urgent problems concerning the people today".

The delegation member, Judy Fourner, said that "Tirana has today problems that London passed times ago, most of which are present in many European countries. It is not easy to achieve something. It will always take more time than it is thought. The DP has achieved great successes and will make a lot in the future, because it is on the right path".

Asked about his opinion on the general elections of May 26, Tomason answered that "the elections of May 26 were free and fair and expressed the will of the people". /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DECIDES OBSERVERS' AGE

The commission, after several debates, agreed to lower the age of the observers, leaving the age 25 as a limit for the Albanian observers and 22 for the foreign ones.

The opposition representatives in the commission appreciated the age reduction but voted against setting age limits for observers.

According to the Permanent Central Electoral Commission (PCEC) regulation the foreign observers should have observation experience.

This, according to the commission, was done to secure worthy observers for the elections and this has nothing to do with the constitutional rights to election and voting.

The commission charged the juridical sub-commission with the task to offer some opinion on the possibility of signing by the SP deputy chairman of the envelopes with the voter lists to be examined tomorrow. pas/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] REPUBLICAN PARTY STARTS ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Gjok Beci, RP Deputy Chairman, briefed on the situation of the RP before the local elections and the political situation at home.

"We are late", said at the beginning of his speech the RP chairman, Sabri Godo. He informed that the RP runs for 52 municipalities and 300 communes with some 3400 candidatures at all the levels. "We have good candidates", declared Godo. He explained that the RP will cooperate only with right wing parties. /pas/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER AT INTERIOR MINISTERS CONFERENCE IN BRATISLAVA

Shamata met on Thursday with Austrian Interior Minister Gaspar Aimen and discussed the latter's visit to Tirana on October 9, 1996 as well as the points to be discussed on bilateral cooperation.

Shamata also met with Mr. Giacomelli, Italian ambassador in the capacity of the director of the U.N. anti-drug war programme.

The two exchanged very fruitful views on a closer cooperation between the Albanian Interior Ministry and the institutions he runs. Giacomelli expressed readiness to cooperate with Albania and help it regarding all the points discussed.

In these meetings Shamata was accompanied by the Albanian permanent representative to the international organisations in Vienna, ambassador Zef Mazi. a.ke/kled/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit in its editorial raise the question: "Who made the Albanian Independent Trade Unions go on strike"? It also publishes a statement of American State Department spokesman, Nikolas Burns, on the meeting of the Albanian Foreign Ministry, Tritan Shehu, with deputy secretary of state, Timothy Wirth, entitled "New parliamentarian elections - a logical result".

Republika carries an article entitled "The country does not bear the political anarchy anymore", in which it underlines the fact that it is high time for political parties to give up nervousness, to show objectivity, correctness and real democratic culture.

"American criticism on Shehu", write Poli i Qendres, regarding the visit of the Albanian Foreign Minister in USA. It says that "Timothy Wirth asks our Minister to re-run the elections. This paper also reports that Centre Pole has begun the electoral rallies.

"British conservatives appreciates the performance and preparations of the DP on local elections", writes Tribuna paper, regarding the meeting of the British Conservative delegation in Albania. "Dow Jones opens its branch in Tirana" is another article of this paper.

"Germany always supporting Albania", writes Rilindja paper, regarding the visit of the high ranking German delegation in Tirana. Liria paper publishes the article "opposition campaign to justify the defeat". Pasqyra newspaper reports on a 24 hour general strike to be staged today.

Albania paper under the headline "Kukes, Kruje: Chronicle of socialists' despair", publishes the article "We lose our votes with you", which stresses the fact that the grass-root socialists offended by abandoning votes counting.

Ushtria dhe Koha publishes a chronicle on the beginning of the Albanian-German joint military exercise "Mati '96".

"USA: Constitution and elections", write Koha Jone, regarding the statement of the State Department after the visit of Tritan Shehu in Washington".

Under the headline "The Confederation and Independent trade Union on the same front and the same goal", Gazeta Shqiptare publishes the article "Albania on strike on the bread issue". /kled/mt/k

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

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