ATA News from Albania, 96-10-28

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF SECOND ROUND FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS

[02] "TODAY'S VICTORY, IS OUR GREATEST VICTORY" - DP chairman

[03] ALBANIAN FIRMS IN "EUR.-PARTNERSHIP ITALY '96"

[04] TRAINING IN LEGISLATION ON ENERGY

[05] FIRST BALKAN CHILDREN SONG FESTIVAL ENDS

[06] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES DECISIONS

[07] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF LOCAL BALLOT RUNOFF

[08] DP CHAIRMAN DECLARES PRELIMINARY LOCAL BALLOT RESULTS

[09] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF LOCAL BALLOT RUNOFF

[10] ALBANIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TOWARDS ECONOMIC-TRADE COOPERATION

[11] PRODUCTS OF ITALIAN COMPANY "IL FORNO D'ORO" IN TIRANA

[12] DP CHAIRMAN DECLARES PRELIMINARY LOCAL BALLOT RESULTS

[13] ALBANIAN WRITER ISMAIL KADARE DECLARED MEMBER OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF MORAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES

[14] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE TO WRITER ISMAIL KADARE

[01] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF SECOND ROUND FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS

DP sources report that the preliminary results are as follows:

The Democratic Party has won municipalities of Vlora, Himara, Permeti, Kelcyra, Memaliaj, Pogradeci, Saranda, Corovoda, Policani, Hasi, Kukesi, Gramshi, Delvina, Bajram Curri, Puka, Gjirokastra, Libohova, Patosi, Manza, Korca and Maliqi.

According to the same perliminary results, the DP has won in 47 communes, the Republican Party in two communes of the Puka district, while the National Front (Balli Kombetar) has won in one commune of the Skrapari district. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] "TODAY'S VICTORY, IS OUR GREATEST VICTORY" - DP chairman

"I am very happy about this victory, which confirmed once again the great power of this party and the trust of the people in it. On the other hand, this fact confirmed once again the May 26th victory, the way started towards the market economy, the integration and others. This is the vicory of our program, our people, DP organization, our future; it's a victory that separates Albania from the past, from communism. In this way it is our greatest victory." /A.ke/kei/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] ALBANIAN FIRMS IN "EUR.-PARTNERSHIP ITALY '96"

Preparations are underway to increase participation of Albanian firms in the "Europartnerity Italy '96", to be held in Genova from November 27 to 29, upon the initiative of the European Community.

The fair is part of the expansion of contacts between the Albanian firms and businessmen with European ones, sources of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tirana report.

The aim of the activity is to stimulate the development of the less favoured regions of a country and to establish business relations with partners of this region.

This autumn has enriched the spectrum of bilateral cooperation between the Albanian productive and trade firms and the European ones, especially of the neighbouring countries.

Over the last 2-3 years Albanian companies and businessmen have participated in several Eur. partnerships including Lille of France, Glasgow of Scotland, Gdansk of Poland, Dortmund of Germany, Bilbao of Spain, Lisbon of Portugal and other counties where they have been familiarised with and have signed contracts with foreign firms.

In the Genova meeting in which take part representatives of economy from the whole Europe, the Albanian businessmen will be enabled to get acquainted with the activity of over 400 Italian representatives of small and medium enterprises as well as with some 2500 enterprises of this kind from other European states.

Business representatives are actually taking part in the fair of Porte de Versailles in Paris where businessmen from 11 states of Eastern and Central Europe and from 12 countries of the former Soviet Union have been gathered with the aim to develop new exports and encourage mutual investment. kei/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] TRAINING IN LEGISLATION ON ENERGY

A two day training seminar on the legislation of the Energy Charter Treaty was held on October 24-25 at the Rogner Hotel in Tirana.

The seminar, part of the PHARE-96 programme on Albania, was attended by specialists of various governmental institutions related to the energy system.

The seminar had to do with technical assistance in the legislation of the Energy Charter Treaty for Eastern and Central Europe.

The seminar was organnised by a three-firm-consortium including Denton Hall, the Energy Institute in Leiden of Netherlands and a Czech consultant firm, which are the winners of the tender for the Treaty's legislation.

The treaty has been signed by 50 countries also including Albania, but it is not yet ratified.

The seminar widely analysed the Albanian legislation on energy to examine its conformity with the treaty's legislation.

The legislation includes various provisions to defend foreign and domestic investment under equal conditions for all investors wherever they work.

This not only defends the investors and does not allow their discrimination but at the same time opens way for Albanian invertors to invest in other countries in the energy sector, the local representative of the Denton Hall Firm, Irena Agalliu, tells ATA.

The specialists of the Albanian Energy Committee showed optimism in completing the legal framework on the energy situation of Albania with the recognition of the Energy Charter legislation, which intends Albania's inclusion in all European energy structures. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] FIRST BALKAN CHILDREN SONG FESTIVAL ENDS

The jury was made up of representatives from participating countries in this Festival, Albania, Rumania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey, with jury chairman the People's Artist Tish Daija. The first prize was awarded to the Albanian song "Motherland", composed by Shpetim Kushta, text by Cajupi (Albanian author of Renaissance), sung by Mariza Ikonomi, second prize to the Bulgarian song "Light in the eye", composed by B. Shkarov, text by T. Anastav, sung by Ventisllava Stoillova, and the third prize was awarded to the song from Bosnia-Herzegoviana, composed by M. Maraus, text by M. Jelicic, sung by Dila Rizvanovic.

Attending the final night of the festival were also Liri Berisha (under the special care of whom the festival was held), the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the Ambassador of Rumania to Tirana, Georgi Miku, as well as representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana. /jz/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES DECISIONS

It approved the draft-law "On customs' estimation", which consists in defining the customs' value and applying the customs' tariffs and other no- tax measures determined by special provisions in the goods' exchange field.

The ministers agreed to a decision to maintain and administer cultural assets. The decision deals with the administration, maintenance, duties and powers of the specialised institutions. It also deals with the relations of the state, institutions and specialists with the people, owners of the cultural assets.

The ministers also discussed the draft-law on "The creation of the Environmental Monetary Fund". jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF LOCAL BALLOT RUNOFF

DP sources report that the preliminary results are as follows:

The Democratic Party has won municipalities of Vlora, Himara, Permeti, Kelcyra, Memaliaj, Pogradeci, Saranda, Corovoda, Policani, Hasi, Kukesi, Gramshi, Delvina, Bajram Curri, Puka, Gjirokastra, Libohova, Patosi, Manza, Korca and Maliqi.

According to the same perliminary results, the DP has won in 47 communes, the Republican Party in two communes of the Puka district, while the National Front (Balli Kombetar) has won in one commune of the Skrapari district. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] DP CHAIRMAN DECLARES PRELIMINARY LOCAL BALLOT RESULTS

The Democratic Party has won in 58 out of 64 municipalities, by 90.6%, the Socialist Party in four municipalities by 6.25%, the Shkodra Right Wing League in one municipality by 1.5%, and an independent candidate in one municipality by 1.5%.

The DP has won in 268 out of 309 communes by 86.7%, the SP in 14 communes by 4.5%, the Human Rights Union Party in nine communes by 2.9%, the Republican Party in six by 1.95%, the National Front Party in four communes by 1.3%, independent candidates in five communes by 1.61%, and the Christian Democratic Party in one commune by 0.32%.

Shehu also confirmed the DP victory in the runoff ballot in 21 out of 22 city halls, which contested on Sunday. The Shkodra Right Wing League (coalition of the National Front with the Legality Party in Shkoder) won in one municipality.

Responding to a question, precisely on the lost of DP in Shkoder where it has always had a large scale electorate, Shehu said that:"This has to do with organisational problems", but expressed the delight that "the mayor's post was taken by a DP ally and not a left force".

Asked whether "the DP is somehow inclined to the left because Shehu has often mentioned the fact that the left is giving its votes to the DP," Shehu said:

"It does not show that we are leading towards the left, but that the left electorate is coming towards us". lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF LOCAL BALLOT RUNOFF

DP sources report that the preliminary results are as follows:

The Democratic Party has won municipalities of Vlora, Himara, Permeti, Kelcyra, Memaliaj, Pogradeci, Saranda, Corovoda, Policani, Hasi, Kukesi, Gramshi, Delvina, Bajram Curri, Puka, Gjirokastra, Libohova, Patosi, Manza, Korca and Maliqi.

According to the same perliminary results, the DP has won in 47 communes, the Republican Party in two communes of the Puka district, while the National Front (Balli Kombetar) has won in one commune of the Skrapari district. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TOWARDS ECONOMIC-TRADE COOPERATION

Mr Shehi stressed the full readiness of his institution to establish contacts with analogous institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He proposed an exchange of business missions in the two countries and the signing of an agreement of cooperation as a basis for the institutionalization of these relations.

Mr Zejnullahu spoke of the economic situation of his country, the third Conference of Donators, Investments and Reconstruction of Bosnia- Herzegovina, and the tendencies of the present business development.

They agreed on a participation of Bosnia-herzegovina in the Fair "Tirana Trade 96" held by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana from November 16-20, 1996 and the participation of Albania in the International Fair of Zenica in Bosnia. ake/jz/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] PRODUCTS OF ITALIAN COMPANY "IL FORNO D'ORO" IN TIRANA

These are products of the Italian Company "Il forno d'oro" (The Golden Oven) centered in Venice, which has established one of its affiliates in the Albanian capital too.

At present the "Il Forno d'oro" works on one shift, producing 24 quintals of the above assortments. Soon it will work on two shifts thus doubling its capacity of production.kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] DP CHAIRMAN DECLARES PRELIMINARY LOCAL BALLOT RESULTS

The Democratic Party has won in 58 out of 64 municipalities, by 90.6%, the Socialist Party in four municipalities by 6.25%, the Shkodra Right Wing League in one municipality by 1.5%, and an independent candidate in one municipality by 1.5%.

The DP has won in 268 out of 309 communes by 86.7%, the SP in 14 communes by 4.5%, the Human Rights Union Party in nine communes by 2.9%, the Republican Party in six by 1.95%, the National Front Party in four communes by 1.3%, independent candidates in five communes by 1.61%, and the Christian Democratic Party in one commune by 0.32%.

Shehu also confirmed the DP victory in the runoff ballot in 21 out of 22 city halls, which contested on Sunday. The Shkodra Right Wing League (coalition of the National Front with the Legality Party in Shkoder) won in one municipality.

Shehu said that the October 20 elections dealt a heavy blow to SP and its levers, DAP, SDP, etc. "Now there are no more 'strong zones' for socialists" said Shehu, speaking of the geographic aspect of the election turnover and mentioning the fact that DP won also in regions which SP considered as its undisputable supporters.

"Now Albania has no more unchangeable people, with unchangeable concepts and unchangeable zones" said Shehu, pointing out that the local ballot turnout has its basis in the changes made in the past four years in the Albanian reality.

Responding to a question, precisely on the loss of DP in Shkoder where it has always had a large electorate, Shehu said that:"This has to do with organisational problems", but expressed the delight that "the mayor's post was taken by a DP ally and not by a left force".

Asked whether "the DP is somehow inclined to the left because Shehu has often mentioned the fact that the left is giving its votes to the DP," Shehu said:

"It does not show that we are leading towards the left, but that the left electorate is coming towards us".

In reply to another question on the SP's claims for a vote rigging on May 26 elections and in the local vote on October 20, Shehu said: "Socialists have always followed a policy of destability, denial and tensions for four past years."

He said he hoped that a constructive left wing would be created and consolidated in Albania soon.

Also in regard to manipulations, DP organizational secretary Ylli Vejsiu said that "foreign observers who have followed the elections, even in the cases when irregularities were reported during the electoral process, they have verified everything on the spot and in most of the cases have found the reports not true."

With regard to the role of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth Forum in the reformation of the Socialist party, Shehu said that without doubt, they are the mass of socialists which have no relation at all with the past and its crimes, "they cannot be Marxists," but he deplored the fact that "the youth who were against Marx and the structure of SP, were expelled from the conservative wing."

He considered it a fatal mistake.

DP Secretary General Besnik Gjongecaj said that CE representatives had declared that the left wing boycott in the May 26 elections was not an act of protest but a political strategy which made the left wing loose too much.

Shehu confirmed once more in the conference that DP is open to dialogue and stressed the fact that "DP has not promised miracles but it has kept all its promises."lm/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] ALBANIAN WRITER ISMAIL KADARE DECLARED MEMBER OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF MORAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES

In the opening address, the President of the Institute of France, Mr Plantey, highlighted the importance of this act of culture. He also read for those present the message that Albanian President Sali Berisha addressed to the French Academy on this occasion. The message carried thanks for the appreciation made to the Albanian writer and considers this act as a promotion for all the Albanian culture and history.

The member of the French Academy Henri Amouroux spoke about the intellectual, moral and political values and the creativeness of Kadare.

Kadare is one of the twelve foreigners, who are members of the Academy.

Present in the ceremony also were Albanian Minister of Culture Teodor Laco, Ambassador of Albania in Paris Besnik Mustafaj, director of Albanian Television Qemal Sakajeva and reporters from the Albanian Telegraphic Agency. Also attending were artists and writers from Albania, well-wishers and friends from the diaspora. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE TO WRITER ISMAIL KADARE

"Your membership today in the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences is a special event not only for you but also for the entire world of Albanian letters, whose most renowned representative you are.

Your membership in the French Academy is an homage to all the colossi of Albanian letters and thinking, to those brilliant-minded men who in centuries created Albanization as part of western civilization and which you are representing with great dignity. All Albanians wherever they are feel proud of you.

By honouring you, the temple of French thinking has honoured the genius of the letters and courage of the Albanian nation. Therefore, the Albanians today are grateful to France, the great country of the Declaration of Freedom, the country which has inspired all the great movements and efforts of the peoples for freedom and dignity in the last centuries.

It was the French political and social thinking the one which inspired our great patriots of renaissance in all their titanic efforts to transform Albania into an honoured state among the developed nations of Western Europe.

It is France and President Chirak, a distinguished and great friend of the Albanian nation, those that have powerfully backed up the Albanians in their second national Renaissance, their efforts for freedom, democracy and integration into Europe.

France is the second homeland and also a birthplace of your works, from where they would be spread throughout the world. Also for this, Albanians are and will be grateful to France and the French nation.

Your membership in the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences is a great success of the Albanian thinking and nation and a gratitude to its contribution to the foundations and development of the European civilization," writes the message of Albanian President. ake/kled/xh/sh/

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

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