Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-01-31

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] LAW ON DISTRIBUTION OF BANK ASSETS OF PYRAMID SCHEME FOUNDATIONS APPROVED

[02] CONFERENCE OF RECTORS OF UNIVERSITIES HOLDS PROCEEDINGS

[03] PARTIES' ROUND TABLE CONTINUES, SP DOES NOT ACCEPT REPUBLICAN DECLARATION

[04] PEACEFUL RALLY IN VLORA

[05] XHAFERRI FOUNDATION - A PYRAMID SCHEME

[06] KOHA JONE CALLS ON INVESTORS TO "TAKE" THEIR MONEY FROM GJALLICA FIRM

[07] COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY DENOUNCES VIOLENCE IN KOSOVA

[08] PRESS REVIEW

[09] "I WOULD LIKE TO BE FIRST AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN PRISHTINE"

[10] "I DON'T SEE ANY TENDENCY FOR POLITICAL CRISIS IN ALBANIA"

[11] NO ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF BLOOD DONORS

[12] DITA INFORMACION CONFUTES ITSELF

[13] INTEREST RATES FOR DEPOSITS IN LEK INCREASE

[14] MEETING TO STUDY AND MAINTAIN WETLANDS TO BE HELD IN TIRANA

[15] ARREST ORDERS ISSUED FOR 96 PERSONS

[16] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS RECTOR OF PRISHTINE UNIVERSITY AND VICE- RECTORS OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY

[01] LAW ON DISTRIBUTION OF BANK ASSETS OF PYRAMID SCHEME FOUNDATIONS APPROVED

The distribution will be made on the basis of the investment. For the return of the deposit, the coefficient which comes out from the ratio of the total value of the investors' deposits with the total value of the asset of the foundations, separately for the immovables and separately for the movables, will be taken into consideration.

Finance Minister Ridvan Bode, after the adoption of the law, said that its aim is that these procedures come out of the normal procedures of the companies' bankruptcy, because if the normal procedures were followed, then the question of deposits would be resolved by court, and this would take a lot of time because the number of savers is rather great. "This would not be in the interest of the investors," said Bode.

"We shall see the most efficient way to realise the distribution of the money, in cash of through savings cards, taking care that this distribution be not accompanied with inflation."

Regarding the return of the distribution, to be observed is the date when the money is deposited and which exists in the foundations registers, making exceptions only for the most needy people.

The distribution of the frozen deposits to investors will be made by commissions set up by the government.

Bode said that the distribution of the immovable assets of the founders and the leaders of the foundations, of those who have worked in these foundations and who are proven to have had a direct cooperation with these foundations, will be left for a second stage.

The law leaves without final decision by the Council of Ministers the turn and the places for the money distribution, and the right for appeal to government commissions by those people who would not find their names in the foundation lists, and who with authentic documents which cannot be changed, prove that they have deposited their money in the foundations. For this category, Bode says that "the distribution of money to these people will be made later, on the basis of the incomes from the immovable assets. A second distribution will be made after the sequestration and their selling in auctions when their value will finally come out, because this value cannot be defined before-handed".

These operations are under the supervision of the government commissions, in which along with the Premier and Ministers, will take part the Attorney General's Office, the Bank of Albania, directors of state banks of the second level where these foundations have deposited their money, in order not to create conditions and possibilities of abuse during the distribution process.

Meanwhile, according to Bode, "the government commissions will supervise continuously the loan-taking companies, which have economic activities"./pas/mt/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] CONFERENCE OF RECTORS OF UNIVERSITIES HOLDS PROCEEDINGS

The conference supported the reform undertaken by the Albanian government for the high education and the scientific research in Albania during 1996-2000. It expressed the support by all means of the Pristina University, and asked the institutionalization of the Tetova University.

The Conference of the Universities' Rectors expressed the engagement that the objectives of this conference will serve as an "intellectual compass", and a starting point for other activities of the Albanian universities. /pas/mt/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PARTIES' ROUND TABLE CONTINUES, SP DOES NOT ACCEPT REPUBLICAN DECLARATION

The declaration was generally considered as concrete and constructive. The Socialist Party strongly opposed the point 10 which opposes the withdrawal of the government.

SP and left opposition, profiting from the economic difficulties the country is passing after the collapse of pyramid schemes, has required the withdrawal of the government and the creation of a technical government which would open the way to early elections.

The declaration of the republicans said that the government should continue working and accomplish the pledge that the frozen money would start to be distributed on February 5, 1997. It also adds that the stand of the Republican Party on this issue will depend on how it develops.

The 14 point declaration demands that public institutions be guarded and an unhesitating punishment for the culprits of the fires set and the destructions. The declaration asks that state officials who allowed the torching of institutions bear responsibility, and a full transparency and daily information on the development of matters in all directions.

"Stop to great politization of the issue of pyramid schemes which sparkles fresh tensions," says the Republican declaration. It also demands an urgent technical assistance by the World Bank and crediting assistance by European structures in order to reduce the losses and for an all-sided encouragement of the national production.

The declaration calls for continuous talks among the parties, aiming at a joint stand of the political forces on the way how to come out of the crisis.

"Anyone who wants to distance himself from this goal acts counter to the country's interests," says the declaration. The economic and political collapse is a real threat to all. The Republican Party holds that the round table must work out a program of the issues to be examined."

The party representatives said they needed time for consultations with their parties regarding the republican declaration, but they did not agree on the date of the coming meeting. pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PEACEFUL RALLY IN VLORA

Some 20 000 citizens of Vlora city (southwestern Albania) organized Thursday a peaceful rally in the square in front of the town hall to protest against the barbarous violence, fires and destructions exercised in Vlora in the rally of January 26the, led by forces of the left extreme. During this rally in Vlora the town hall was set on fire and destructed, a building which had resisted to the two big wars with foreign invaders.

In this rally also spoke the chairman of the former politically prosecuted democrats association, representatives of the Democratic Party Youth Forum, students of the "Ismail Qemali" University, and others, who condemned by force the cruel and barbarous violence exercised in the building of the town hall and the district council of Vlora. They called on the Vlora people to help voluntarily in the reconstruction of the town hall. /eva/mt/E/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] XHAFERRI FOUNDATION - A PYRAMID SCHEME

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - In an interview with Albanian Television, the director of the Albanian National Commercial Bank, Eduard Ypi, said that Xhaferri Foundation functioned on the basis of pyramid schemes.

"Resources of Xhaferri are completely the deposits of his investors. We have not yet found any cheque, or invoice to prove that a foreign or local foundation has invested money for the account of Xhaferri," said Ypi. eva/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] KOHA JONE CALLS ON INVESTORS TO "TAKE" THEIR MONEY FROM GJALLICA FIRM

"Without citing any sources from the firm or mentioning any financial guarantee, Koha Jone is trying to send as many people as possible by the counters of the Gjallica so that their disillusion provoke again a tense and violent situation in Vlora or other cities of Albania," writes the paper.

On January 24, the Vlora district court decided to announce the beginning of the bankrupt procedure for the trade firm, Gjallica. The firm has also gathered credits from savers, mainly in southern Albania. eva/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY DENOUNCES VIOLENCE IN KOSOVA

According to the above radio, two special points of this resolution are devoted to the question of Kosova. The text of the resolution says that "The Assembly voices its deep concern on the general situation in Kosova, it denounces the recent incidents and warns that any escalation of the violence would bring about grave consequences for the 'FRY' and the region."

The Council of Europe also attaches importance to the cooperation with the Hague Court by the rump Yugoslavia, and conditions the cooperation with the institutions of former-Yugoslavia with the execution of the above mentioned policies. At the same time, it expects the opposition be clearly committed to respect democracy and human rights in Kosova, Voivodina and Sandjak, and for the complete implementation of the Dayton Accord.

The report said that many parliamentarians of the Council of Europe stressed in their debates that the stands of the Serb opposition leaders towards the Dayton Accord, the pending national questions and especially towards Kosova, are not completely clear. The Serb opposition is asked to prepare a clear program about the democratic transformation of Serbia and with an alternative towards Milosevic. pta/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PRESS REVIEW

"A brave religious pastor lost," writes Rilindja. "Berisha attends funeral for Mikel Koliqi," writes Dita Informacion. Whereas Albania carries the article "Shkodra bids farewell to Cardinal Koliqi."

"The last travel for the Cardinal" writes Gazeta Shqiptare about the funeral ceremony for Koliqi held in Shkodra yesterday.

"Parliament adopts the law on the return of the frozen funds," writes Rilindja Dmokratike with a subtitle "Return of the money to investors guaranteed." The paper carries the law with 12 articles passed yesterday by the parliament, law which defined the ways how the frozen funds of pyramid schemes will be distributed to investors.

In the feature "Reflections," the paper carries the article entitled "Old messages and appeals in a new situation," with the subtitle "SOS! by Milosevic in Belgrade; fire to Albania by its allies in Tirana." "Political forces sit again in a round table for talks," writes the paper, stressing that Socialists are divided in two with regard to a continuous round table.

Zeri i Popullit writes under the headline "Report of the U.S. State Department, on the human rights in Albania for 1996," carries the article "Albania - big regressive steps for democracy." The paper writes that since the very beginning, the report concludes that "Albania is a Parliamentary Republic with a parliament elected in a seriously affected process."

Under the title "European right wing goes crazy," the paper writes that "declarations by representatives of the European right wing seem to be crazy."

The word is for the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe which demanded from the Albanian opposition to take part in the sittings of the Parliament. The Assembly also asked that the new constitution be worked out by a Parliamentary Commission and did not demand new elections to be held.

The paper also has another article entitled "The Council of Europe values fraudulent reforms of Tirana." Right wing deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CE did this when they considered as accomplished the commitments that Albania had undertaken when it was accepted a CE member in 1995," writes the paper.

The article is illustrated with two photos, with the inscription "Two most renowned ladies in Albania." One of the photos is that of Sude, the former president of the pyramid scheme SUDE, and actually detained by police under charges for fraud, and the other photo is that of Mrs Leni Fischer, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

"The criminals of the criminal state against the opposition", is another article published by the paper. Under the headline "The imprisonment of the peaceful protesters and SP leaders in districts aims to hide the real criminals who burnt and destructed Albania", the paper publishes the article "The immediate setting free of them - the first evidence that the state is not involved in the crime".

"VEFA starts distributing the capitals", reports Republika paper. The paper carries a statement of the Republican Party Leading Committee. "The deep crisis which exploited with usuries is not treated with technical competence and self-control. The very grave situation can be facilitated only with open dialogue and transparency in every step", says the statement among others. There are presented the 14 points that the RP Leading Committee suggests to the political forces and government.

Under the headline "The insistence for violence of the political extremes continues", Sindikalisti paper publishes the article "The emancipation, historic obligation of the new Albanian policy". The paper entitles its editorial "The violent insistence against the government, primitiveness of those who provoke it...".

"Military troops lifted up from the protection of objects", reports Rilindja. Under the headline "From the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe" the paper reports "Violence in Kosova condemned".

"Extremists on the road of violence" is the editorial of Albania paper. "The efforts to politicize law implementation on these organizers and executors should be another effort to give a false description on Albania".

Under the headline "IMF: No money to the firms which operates with pyramid schemes", the paper carries the article "Alimuca: We are only distributing money". "Since January 20th the company has closed the accounts with loan-takings" - said Alimuca.

"The draft-law to reimburse the creditors of foundations passes through parliament", reports Dita Informacion. The paper publishes the article "Usuries: victims, anti-rallies and detentions".

Under the headline "The operation for the verification of the foundations' documents continues", Gazeta Shqiptare publishes the article "Xhaferri: No money are missing". The paper cites Rrapush Xhaferri, president of "Demokracia Popullore" foundation from Tirana jail to have said "Don't allow politics manipulate you. Take care of documents". /kled/xh/mt/E/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] "I WOULD LIKE TO BE FIRST AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN PRISHTINE"

PRISHTINE, JAN 31 (ATA) - U.S. congressman Eliot Angel, co-chairman of the Albanian-American Council in the U.S. Congress, spoke of the right for self-determination of the Albanians of Kosova in a meeting held some days ago by this council of Brooklyn, reports Information Centre of Kosova referring to the newspaper Illyria.

Angel pointed out that "the option circulating about the autonomy of Kosova in the framework of the rump Yugoslavia is consumed, at a time when former Yugoslavia does not exist any longer."

"The question of Kosova will be solved only if the will of the people for Kosova to be an independent state is observed," said the U.S. congressman, adding that "then it is up to the Albanians of Kosova to unite, if they want, with Albania." "I would like to be the first American Ambassador in the capital of the Republic of Kosova, Prishtine," said Eliot Angel. pta/pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] "I DON'T SEE ANY TENDENCY FOR POLITICAL CRISIS IN ALBANIA"

TIRANA, JAN 31 (ATA) - "I don't see any tendency for political crisis in Albania", said in an interview for Gazeta Shqiptare on Friday, the Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer, asked whether there is any sign of a political crisis in Albania.

In an answer to the question whether the Government has its own responsibility for this situation, Fischer says "I cannot say that it is guilty, as long as we don't know the situation in Albania from the very beginning. I think that the political parties are exploiting the situation to find any guilty person".

"We should not complicate the situation with the tendencies to politicize it (the situation). The important thing is to find an urgent solution in order to give an end to the destructions and people's revolts", said in the interview for Gazeta Shqiptare the chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] NO ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF BLOOD DONORS

This statement, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health announces, is linked with several media reports that in Albania the number of paid blood donors to cope with the economic effects caused by the collapse of the cheating foundations, has increased.

The spokesman says that the National Blood Transfusion Centre, in full conformity with the policy of the Ministry of Health and Environment, has long since been implementing a programme to limit the paid blood donation in favour of its voluntary donation.

"Once again we declare with responsibility that we have no additional number of the persons asking to donate blood for payment," the spokesman of the Ministry of Health concludes. s.sh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] DITA INFORMACION CONFUTES ITSELF

This inaccuracy stands precisely in the name of the interviewed who was unjustly said to be Mr. Manol Konomi, actually a member of the Constitutional Court. The paper said Konomi was "participant in the January 26 rally in Tirana". In its confutation, the paper begs pardon to Mr Konomi, who was not participant in Sunday's rally.

With the desire to find fault with as much honest people as possible, who have no connection with the violent protest of the left forces last Sunday at the main square in Tirana, the newspaper Dita Informacion interviewed people without knowing their identity.

The paper confutes itself under the justification of "a mistake in a situation like that of Sunday's demonstration, based on a physical similarity." kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] INTEREST RATES FOR DEPOSITS IN LEK INCREASE

So, the interest rates for three month deposits will be 20.5 per cent, for six month deposits 21 per cent and 12 month deposits 22 per cent. These are the minimum interest rate levels necessarily to be applied by bank affiliates.

The Bank of Albania will also intervene at moments it considers appropriate in order to maintain a macro-economic stability. In this context the Bank of Albania is closely cooperating with the Finance Ministry and other institutions. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] MEETING TO STUDY AND MAINTAIN WETLANDS TO BE HELD IN TIRANA

The study and maintenance of wetlands will be the topic of a meeting to be held in Tirana on the occasion of February 2, the International Day of Wetlands, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Health and Environment.

This day is commemorated for the first time in Albania, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Protection Committee.

The Convention "On Wetlands" is signed by 96 states of the world.

Albania has been member of this convention since March 29, 1996. The area protected in this context is the lagoon of Karavasta, Southwestern Albania, for whose study and maintenance the World Bank has financed two million dollars.

During 1997 another project, in the framework of the PHARE Programme, intends to "discipline" the sewages in the villages around the lagoon of Karavasta. kled/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] ARREST ORDERS ISSUED FOR 96 PERSONS

These persons are accused of carrying out violent acts against public property through theft, damage and destruction, with the intention to disturb public order and arouse massive panic and uncertainty.

This charge, according to article 231 of the Penal Code, envisages no less than 15 years imprisonment as well as a fine for the damage caused.

In the districts of Lushnja, Berat, Vlora and other districts violent acts have been committed against public property recently, incited by extreme left forces. s.sh/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS RECTOR OF PRISHTINE UNIVERSITY AND VICE- RECTORS OF TETOVA UNIVERSITY

Berisha expressed delight at the cooperation established between the Albanian universities and greatly appreciated their very significant and comprehensive role in the life of our nation. The relations between the Albanian universities should cover all fields, Berisha said.

"We are determined to double the number of students by the year 2000," he said.

The participants in the meeting expressed gratitude for Berisha's continuous support of the university cooperation as a whole. s.sh/jz/lm/z/

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