ATA News from Albania, 96-10-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] DEMOCRATIC PARTY HOLDS RALLY TO CLOSE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

[02] VARIOUS PARTIES IN THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

[03] SOCIALIST PARTY IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

[04] "ALBANIAN TOWARDS A RELIABLE DEMOCRACY" - RUFFY

[05] DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MEETS BULGARIAN DFU DELEGATION

[06] ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ALBANIANS WHO WANT TO GET AN OXFORD DIPLOMA

[07] SOCIALISTS DISTRIBUTE "STEREOTYPED" DECLARATIONS

[08] PRESS REVIEW

[09] DIFFERENT PARTIES HOLD ELECTION CAMPAIGN

[10] NEW FACTS ABOUT THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION "ALBANIAN JUSTICE REVENGE"

[01] DEMOCRATIC PARTY HOLDS RALLY TO CLOSE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

Thousands of inhabitants attended the rally in which President of Albania Sali Berisha took the floor. He said that "October 20 invites the democrats of Tirana and all the voters of Albania to confirm with their free vote their western pertaining, our democratic ideals, our resolution to integrate Albania into Europe.

By presenting Albert Brojka as a candidate of the Democratic Party for Mayor of Tirana, Berisha said: "Albert Brojka and the municipal council he will direct will carry Tirana to the year 2000, with the features of a European developed city which with its western values will be nearer western metropolis."

"All together," said Berisha, "let us vote for the local government, the local parliament, because they are very important, they are related with our most vital problems, the water supply, sewage and other systems, employment, housing, order and tranquility."

Brojka promised Tirana "European infrastructure, water supply, electricity, telecommunication, housing, employment, education, medical care and welfare."

Tritan Shehu, DP chairman, said in his address that "Tirana will vote for the Democratic Party showing its responsibility towards itself and the country, because Tirana is the mind and heart of all Albania.

Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi and Parliament Speaker Pjeter Abnori also spoke in the meeting.

At the end of the rally a concert was performed with most renowned Albanian light music singers. kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] VARIOUS PARTIES IN THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

The Agrarian Party does not compete in these elections for mayor, but it aims to win posts in some communes of the region in which its electoral campaign has been spearheaded.

During the last days, the chairman of the branch of the Social Democratic Union Party of Elbasan, Arben Haxhiymeri had meetings in the communes of this district presenting the candidates of this electoral subject for commune chairmen.

"We are a strong party, with skilled people, therefore we aim to take posts in the government," said Haxhiymeri before electors. A week ago he withdraw his candidacy for mayor of Elbasan.

The candidate for mayor of the Human Rights Union Party (HRUP) in Saranda, doctor Dhimiter Xhaferri, had some meetings with inhabitants of the city quarters and the villages of Senegar and Metoq. By comparing the task of the mayor with the profession of a doctor, he said that the common point for the two is the service to the people in general without any distinction, and according to the law. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] SOCIALIST PARTY IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Mejdani said among others that "after a successful campaigning in various districts of the country, we are back again with the message of the socialists' victory".

The meetings of the SP candidate for Mayor, Gafur Mazreku focused on the problems of the fight against corruption, as well as on the establishment of an effective local administration devoted to solve the social issues.

The Socialist Party's branch in Saranda district held Friday a rally with its electorate. Attending the meeting were also the SP Secretary General, prof.dr. Rexhep Mejdani, the organisational secretary, Namik Dokle, member of the Presidency Sabit Brojkaj and others.

Mejdani talked about the new vision of the Socialist party to go towards Europe. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] "ALBANIAN TOWARDS A RELIABLE DEMOCRACY" - RUFFY

The PCEC chairman Nestor Thereska informed the CE observers of the work of his commission in all the aspects during the pre-election period.

"I see," said Mr Ruffy, "that many of the remarks of the CE and the Ad-Hoc commission have been taken into consideration in the new law 'On elections of local government bodies.'We are conscious that we have asked a lot from the Albanian Government, we placed a very high ceiling and were confident that they would be taken into consideration."

CE observers made many questions related to the object of the work of the commission and some PCEC members and its deputy chairman Besnik Baraj, SP representative and representatives of other political forces put questions to CE observers as well.

One of the claims that the opposition presented to the observers' group was that they wanted it to control the voting process and the ballots' counting during all the time without moving from the place.

The reply to this claim by Mr Ruffy, according to Pellumb Cela, member of PCEC, was that 'we have not come here as controllers and do not allow international monitors to act as controllers."

CE acts as a coordinator in the local vote monitoring process in Albania on October 20.

A special interest in the work of the commission was shown by Mr Ulrich Bohner, deputy chairman of the Congress of Local Authorities of CE, who analysed some details of the work of the commission which emerged from the discussions.

At the end of the meeting, Thereska, said that "Mr Bohner in the name of the Congress of Local Authorities extended an invitation for a PCEC delegation to take its place in this high-ranking structure of the CE."

With regard to the OSCE observers' withdrawal, Thereska explained that "PCEC is a technical body and these are problems between the Albanian Government and ODHIR, which should be solved. I think that the Albanian Government was ready to accept observers from ODHIR, but it is the latter that should reconsider its act."

CE observers appreciated the transparence of the Albanian Government marked by the arrival of about 600 foreign observers in Albania, among whom many technical specialists from England, France, Germany, Austria and others, and the possibility for more than 200 observers of the Association for Democratic Culture and many others from electoral subjects to monitor the vote. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MEETS BULGARIAN DFU DELEGATION

"Albania has progressed at faster rates than Bulgaria", said Kavaldjev in the meeting. In his description of Bulgaria, he told that the communists are able to rule, because they totally paralyzed the processes of privatization, organized the illicit privatization of the national asset which led to the bread crisis.

Vejsiu, after talking about the traditional relations which have existed and still exists between the Albanian and Bulgarian people, acquainted the Bulgarian guests with the electoral situation in Albania.

Wishing victory to democratic forces in the Presidential elections, Brojka said that "all the anti communist parties, not only in Eastern and Central Europe, but in the whole world, must coordinate their work to eliminate communism once and for ever, because it is not only the enemy of Albania and Bulgaria, but of the whole world". /a.ke/eva/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ALBANIANS WHO WANT TO GET AN OXFORD DIPLOMA

Courses for English teaching are about to start next Monday in the World Centre of English Language Teaching in Tirana. All those who want to have their diploma in June next year should pay a total of about 1 thousand dollars for the course. The diploma they will receive is equal with a diploma obtained in Oxford.

It is a private Greek-Albanian initiative to conduct a business with the analogous school Stratigakis in Salonica, founded in 1964. Beginning with 1991, this school decided to pass the Greek borders to increase the number of English-speaking pupils from 25 to 35 thousands in its affiliates opened in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Albania.

"There are 700 pupils and 15 teachers who will start classes in English according to four levels, from the elementary to the most advanced, by 4-6 hours per week, for which every pupils has to pay 280 dollars for each level," said the directress of this non-political and non-religious centre, Pranvera Hackaj.

Text-books, audio and videos in the scientific language of the Oxford University will be put at the disposal of the pupils.

The centre also offers a cultural, educational service, through summer camping in Salonica for the perfection of the language. eva/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] SOCIALISTS DISTRIBUTE "STEREOTYPED" DECLARATIONS

Three typical declarations, one for deputy chairmen of the election commissions, one for the Socialist sympathizers and one for socialist observers have been distributed in English. These people have to put only the name and the number of the polling station and then hand the declaration to the foreign observers who will monitor the vote.

The first declaration to be used by the socialist deputy chairman of the election commission consists of threats during the polling process and pressures exerted on him so that, according to the declaration, he, the deputy chairman, should not create problems for the lists which carry additional names. Patterns of this declaration has been distributed to every district in about 100 copies.

The second stereotyped declaration is for SP sympathizers. It envisages a scene created as a result of the absence of names in the voters' list. A more detailed pattern is the declaration for the socialist observers. It carries five points on alleged violations. These observers should hand over the declaration to any foreign observer they will have the chance to contact, writes Albania. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit carries an article "Socialists have faith in a fair victory." The paper carries the news conference of SP held yesterday. We have told our people, our electorate to vote as they did on May 26 polls, speakers in the conference underlined.

"We are for a contract signed not only by us but also by the people," writes Republika. The paper also carries a message of the republican candidate for Mayor of Tirana, Neritan Alibali, under the title "we are here for Tirana."

Poli i Qendres carries an interview with the social democratic leader Skender Gjinushi, under the title "Albania will vote for the Centre Pole, Tirana for Ceka."

Lajmi i Dites writes of the rally held yesterday in Tirana by the Democratic Party under the title "Tirana - the blue locomotive, western metropolis in the DP alternative."

Rilindja writes of the news conference of the president of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova under the title "We want that elections in Albania be held in the spirit of tolerance and understanding."

Sindikalisti carries an article "Justice wins over crime," whereas Dita Informacion writes that "CIA cooperates with Albanian police."

Tribuna carries a message that Albanian President Berisha has addressed to voters, under the title "Alternative of Albania, sublime alternative."

"Oct. 20 - transparence of the Albanians," is the title of one editorial in Albania. Investigation brings new facts on the group "Albanian justice revenge," the paper writes.

Under the headline "Socialists distribute 'prefabricated' declarations" the paper carries an article entitled "Here is the scheme of how to discredit the polls." "A final fight tomorrow," writes Koha Jone under the headline "Socialists close the electoral campaign: 'An unfair loss will be a loss for the entire Albania."

Bashkimi has an editorial entitled "A western campaign. What about the result?"

"Storm in Benca (prison): Any relation with the gang?" writes Gazeta Shqiptare which reports that the former director of high security prison confinements, the chief of the Interior Service and four policemen have been detained. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] DIFFERENT PARTIES HOLD ELECTION CAMPAIGN

The Agrarian Party has not presented candidates for Mayor in these elections, but aims at winning in some of the communes where it focused its electoral campaign.

The chairman of the Social Democratic Party's branch in Elbasani district, Arben Haxhiymeri, held recently meetings with people of Elbasani communes, in which he presented candidates of his party for commune chairmen.

"We are a strong party, with qualified people, that's why we aim at coming to power," said among others Haxhiymeri. A week ago he withdrew his candidature from Elbasani Mayor.

The candidate of the Human Rights Union Party for Saranda Mayor, doctor Dhimiter Xhaferri, held several meetings with inhabitants of city quarters, as well as in Senegar and Metoq villages. Comparing the duty of the Mayor with the profession of the doctor, he added that the main vision must be the people' service in general, without distinction, by facing citizens with the law. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] NEW FACTS ABOUT THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION "ALBANIAN JUSTICE REVENGE"

Sources of the prosecutor's office report that the majority of the arsenal of the arms that this organization has had at its disposal besides those stolen in the arms centre in Linza, have been offered by Ardian Sherif Kuba, also called Artur Kubajevi. With regard to these arms, Kuba has declared that he has bought them in Ulqin and Podgorice (Titograd), but investigation has come to the conclusion that most sophisticated weapons and especially explosion substances have been taken by Secret Services.

Enkelejd Agaj has testified before investigators that the so-called "the chief of the pyramid" Orik Shyti, 20, has met with Klement Kolaneci before the director of Prisons was killed. "He had frequent meetings with other people whose names were not in the gang's scheme, but I have not been present during the talks," said Agaj.

According to him, another powerful relation has been that between Orik and Luan Pobrati (Orik is the nephew of Pobrati) and this relation has been closer, more powerful and confident than that between Pobrati and Orik's brother, Leart.

The organizational structure of the group was similar to that of the State Sigurimi, with elements of Russian gangs in the U.S., writes Albania, pointing out that the three-member group system did not allow the members of the organization to know each other.

The conditions for acceptance in the organization, the inner regulation and other elements show that inspirer and organizer of the organization were not the youths but experienced experts of the defunct State security.

According to the present investigation, the highest point of the pyramid of the terrorist organization consisted of Hajredin Shyti, former chief of the secret service under the dictatorship, Klement Kolaneci, the son-in-law of the dictator Hoxha, and Luan Pobrati. eva/xh/sh/

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

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