Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-02-13

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] DP EXTENDED NATIONAL COUNCIL DETERMINES WAY AND STRATEGY TO RESOLVE SITUATION - Option of toppling government finds no support -

[02] TENDENCY IN ELBASAN TO DEPOSIT MONEY IN SAVINGS BANK

[03] TIRANA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STARTS LEGAL PROCEEDING AGAINST MEMBER OF SP STEERING COMMITTEE

[04] STUDENTS OF FINE ARTS MANIFEST AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION

[05] KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER ASKS ABROGATION OF OSCE DECISION

[06] NINE NAVIGATION AGENCIES AND 13 FERRIES OPERATE IN DURRES -there are 40 000 more Albanians entering than leaving Albania-

[07] ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERIOR MINISTRY

[08] PRESS REVIEW

[09] DP CHAIRMAN STRESSED IMPORTANCE OF OPPOSITION THOUGHT TO SOLVE USURIES PROBLEM

[10] PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN VLORE CONTINUE

[11] PRIME MINISTER MEKSI EXPLAINS A DISTORTION TO HIS STATEMENT

[12] MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE FORMERLY POLITICALLY PERSECUTED TAKE KURT KOLA OUT OF ITS HEADQUARTERS- Association members accuse Kurt Kola as traitor and having appropriated association funds -

[13] INHABITANTS OF TIRANA TURN DOWN APPEAL BY LEFT OPPOSITION FOR GATHERING

[14] PEACEFUL PROTEST IN SARANDA

[15] SABIT BROKAJ TO APPEAR IN JUDICIAL POLICE TWICE A WEEK - Tirana Court

[16] REFUTATION OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT

[17] PROTESTS IN VLORA CONTINUE

[18] ORDER FOR DISCHARGE OF BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR IN ALBANIA INVALID

[19] SP SECRETARY GENERAL IN HIS OFFICE, HIS CAR DUMPED OFF A CLIFF

[20] GATHERING OF PEOPLE IN FIER CITY

[01] DP EXTENDED NATIONAL COUNCIL DETERMINES WAY AND STRATEGY TO RESOLVE SITUATION - Option of toppling government finds no support -

"We are working to see to the consequences and provide the possible solutions to overcome the situation as soon as possible", said Premier Meksi after the meeting.

DP chairman Tritan Shehu, spoke of the discussions in this 8-hour meeting and said that the participants "expressed the desire to minimize the damage suffered by the citizens after what happened, the desire to convey messages of peace, so that people respect law and order as the only ways to mitigate the damage and secure Albania's development on the road to democracy and the market economy".

According to Shehu, concrete measures would be taken, especially to create a complete transparency of the financial situation of the foundations, including the "Gjallica" company.

Those who are in difficulties regarding housing and employment problems will be the first to be provided with assistance. Small business will be stimulated and certain areas affected by these pyramid schemes will as well be provided with fiscal facilities.

"The government has thought to help the Vlora city with its development, first through the resumption of the "Gjallica" activity and then through the creation of special facilities for a speedy recuperation of damage", Shehu said.

According to Shehu the DP National Council's meeting meeting strongly condemned terrorism, vandalism, acts of violence by several segments of the extreme left, who aimed but to hinder development, destabilise Albania, "things linked with their Marxist and Stalinist psychology of the war to take over the power".

Shehu stressed the role that should be played by the Democratic Party structures, the indispensability of a total DP mobilisation so that it contributes not only to maintaining law and order but also to attracting the simple people's views for the best solution to the problem of the economic damage caused.

Shehu reiterated DP's readiness for dialogue with various political forces "to find together the most optimal solution to the issue, and mitigate the economic damage suffered by the population," he said.

Shehu added that "so far no one has provided any exact idea or views, but only the opposition has been intending to speculate and politically manipulate this event in order to create destabilisation in Albania, to create chaos."

Several participants of the DP leading forum asked today the resignation of the government whereas some of them drafted a memorial for the creation of a national salvation government.

"I do not support the memorial. I only have asked the ousting of Prime Minister Meksi and the creation of a new DP government, said deputy Bashkim Kopliku, one of the toughest criticiser of the government's performance.

Whereas deputy and ex-Prime Minister Dashamir Shehi, who submitted the memorial for the creation of a national salvation government also in cooperation with the opposition, which did not find support, made no comment after the meeting.

The DP has decided to recall its National Council, a few days later, after attracting views from the grassroot. /mt/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] TENDENCY IN ELBASAN TO DEPOSIT MONEY IN SAVINGS BANK

Recently the Elbasani creditors of the "Xhaferri" pyramid scheme have been preferring to deposit their money retrieved from the offices of the district National Commerce Bank in the savings banks.

"Yesterday. alone, over 57 per cent of the creditors deposited their money in savings banks. From the first day of distribution until today their number has reached 300," the director of the bank's affiliate, Afrim Dumani, told ATA.

The people who do not receive the money in cash but deposit them in the bank are given priority.

According to Dumani, some 1500 creditors of the district, whose amount of money reaches 33 million leks, have been reimbursed in the offices of this bank.

This tendency is being noticed also among the creditors of the "Populli" foundation. On Tuesday 132 people deposted their money in savings banks, and 24 in cash. On Wednesday until 12:00 the number of people demanding bank certificates amounted to 40, their money worth 3.5 million leks.

Also in Durres many creditors have preferred of late to receive bank certificates. s.sh/kei/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] TIRANA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE STARTS LEGAL PROCEEDING AGAINST MEMBER OF SP STEERING COMMITTEE

Brokaj will go on trial on Thursday and the court will decide the custody form against him.

He was detained in Lushnje on Tuesday beforenoon, on his way to Vlore, and on Wednesday he was sent to prison, the paper says.

"Legal proceeding has been started against this person and investigations continue. He is accused, based on article 233, of the penal offence of stirring and organising armed crowds to destabilise the public law and order," the paper quotes the charge made by the Tirana chief-prosecutor, Adnan Xhelili.

According to Xhelili, investigations are also being carried out as regards Brokaj's possible links with the terrorist organisation "Albanian Revenge of Justice".

Xhelili tells the paper that the National Information Service has asked the prosecutor's office permission to bug Brokaj's telephone after he has been suspected of giving instructions from Tirana regarding the developments in Vlore.

The judges possess a cassette in which Brokaj instructs what the protestors should do, how to act and whom to attack.

"Brokaj's lawyer, Spartak Braho, has told the paper that "there is no proof to motivate the charge on which the prosecutor's office is sending Brokaj to trial today to decide the custody form." kei/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] STUDENTS OF FINE ARTS MANIFEST AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION

"We decided not to stay idle, but to launch in the Albanian sky the message so necessary for fraternization, quietness, patience and solidarity between the Albanians wherever they are", says the statement distributed on Wednesday noon in the inside garden of the Academy, where it was conducted the manifestation of the first day of this activity.

The artists aim to give to the manifestation a humanitarian character, collecting the money contribution to be provided by anyone.

"This aid given by humanitarian citizens will go on a public account which later will be distributed to students whose families have been gravely affected by "usuries" phenomenon", said the organizer of the activity, student Agron Biba. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER ASKS ABROGATION OF OSCE DECISION

Considering that this decision will bring about more complications than expected, Bukoshi asks its abrogation.

"This decision suits only the Belgrade and its policy towards Kosova," the letter of Bukoshi says.

The government of the Republic of Kosova has also opposed through a statement the appointment of Max Van der Stoel and has warned that the government of Kosova will not agree to meet him, for as long as he is at the same time commissioner for national minorities, considering that this would be the most direct prejudgement and compromise of the political aspiration of the Kosova people expressed in the all-people's referendum. p.ta/kei/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] NINE NAVIGATION AGENCIES AND 13 FERRIES OPERATE IN DURRES -there are 40 000 more Albanians entering than leaving Albania-

Eight of these agencies are private and only one is state owned, according to the district statistics department.

During the past year they carried out 270 journeys, during which nearly 75 thousand Albanians and 44 thousand foreginers have travelled abroad, and over 114 000 Albanians and over 47 000 foreigners have entered Albania.

Most of the people, who have travelled by these ferries, have been Albanian emigrants employed in Italy, organised groups of tourists as well as local and foreign businessmen. s.sh/kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERIOR MINISTRY

When Dule came out of his house in effort to rescue his daughter, the kidnappers wounded him by fire arm and took away his daughter.

Dule is in hospital in a critical condition.

The spokesman also reports that last night, at about 20.30, in Vlore, unidentified persons with masks threw explosive material at the house of Limoz Sallani, officer of criminal police at the police commissariat in this city. The explosion has caused no damages in people as his family was not at home.

The police are intensively working to intercept the authors of these crimes, the spokesman concludes. a.ke/eva/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit carries a statement of the SP presidency under the title "Immediately release from prison our friend Sabit Brokaj". The paper covers the meeting of the DP National Council under the title "The protests sweep the whole Albania".

Republika, under the headline "Presiding judge of Tirana uncovers the enigma of usuries. Prosecutor's office to carry out investigations", publishes the article "The head of the loan-taking companies under investigations". The paper entitles its editorial "Stop the violence Mr. President". "Yesterday, in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana: marathon meeting of the DP National Council" reports the paper.

Albania paper covers the yesterday's meeting of the DP National Council under the title "DP challenges opponents".

"Brokaj risks 10 years in jail" reports the paper. With regard to the murder of a police officer in Vlore, Albania reports "Vlora covers with blood the peace of the third day"; on the third page the paper reports "President of the Forum for Democracy Kurt Kola involved in pyramid schemes". "We are open to discuss" is entitled the interview of the Albanian Foreign Minister, Tritan Shehu given to BBC.

Under the title "(DP) Discusses the solution to crisis in Albania", Rilindja paper covers the meeting of the Democratic Party. "Police avoids an illegal rally" reports the paper regarding an illegal rally organized by the Socialist Party in the Scanderbeg Square in Tirana. "The protests do not need politicization", reports Rilindja regarding the situation which is getting back to normal in Vlore.

"Will Vefa President Vehbi Alimucaj leave Albania for good?" reports Koha Jone regarding the refusal of the U.S. Embassy in Tirana to give a visa to Alimucaj. "The debts are inconsiderable" is entitled the interview of Alimucaj published in this paper. With regard to the illegal meeting organized Wednesday in the Scanderbeg Square in Tirana by the Socialist Party, the paper reports "The effort of thousands people to protest in the Scanderbeg Square repressed".

"SP leader Sabit Brokaj is accused of being linked with terrorist organization 'Albanian Revenge of Justice'" reports Dita Informacion. "Peaceful rallies" reports the paper regarding the calm situation in Vlore.

"Murders in Vlore, accuses on Brojka" reports Gazeta Shqiptare. "The third day of revolt. The protests continue peacefully", writes the paper regarding the protests in Vlore on Wednesday. /eva/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] DP CHAIRMAN STRESSED IMPORTANCE OF OPPOSITION THOUGHT TO SOLVE USURIES PROBLEM

"If someone else thinks and has concrete solutions and clearer views let him say so. We are open and welcome them", said Shehu.

But he pointed out that nobody has given more concrete ideas to minimize the economic damage.

According to Shehu the opposition "has only speculated and politically manipulated this event to create destabilization and anarchy in Albania".

Shehu told RD that if the opposition does not accept even this time the invitation of DP for dialogue, it will bear the responsibility.

"We will continue our way for the solution of the problem to minimize the damages created by the collapse of the pyramid schemes", ended Shehu.

The Forum for Democracy, made up of opposition left and right wing political groupings, has given several times in news conferences the idea of government resignation and establishment of a technocrat government, but has given no idea for the solution of the crisis.

They have also refused the invitation of the Albanian President, Sali Berisha to participate in a round table to discuss about the usuries problem. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN VLORE CONTINUE

Some thousands of citizens, gathered in the Flag Square, have started their protest now peacefully towards the main boulevard of the city Vlore- Skele, shouting slogans "We want our money", as well as "To topple the government".

At about 12.30, the group of protesters dispersed.

During these days, everything is paralysed in the city. The shops, schools and universities are closed.

The ferryboats and the ships from Italy do not come in the port of Vlore since February 5th. /a.ke/eva/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] PRIME MINISTER MEKSI EXPLAINS A DISTORTION TO HIS STATEMENT

He told the "Voice of America" that "over the last weeks in Albania the opposition led the fires, violence, violation of public order forces, public tranquility and social property."

"In this aspect, the acts of the opposition were very clear: to violate the Albanians state and institutions, to violate Albania," Meksi explains.

But this is nothing but an act in the proportions of and similar to a civil war, proletarian revolution, to assume power through violence.

"Asked to give my opinion of this issue, I said among other things, after explanations, that they wished a civil war and that the Albanians were ready to respond to such a war. I meant that it were the socialists who wanted the civil war, not that the civil war was being staged by the Democratic Party or the government," Meksi says further on.

"On the contrary, we have appealed to the Albanians to maintain law and order, to respect the constitutional order," he says further on.

Meksi reiterated that the DP favors order, institution, protection of the property and life of the citizens.

"It is them, (the socialists) who are using anti-constitutional, illegal means of violence," Meksi said further on. kei/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE FORMERLY POLITICALLY PERSECUTED TAKE KURT KOLA OUT OF ITS HEADQUARTERS- Association members accuse Kurt Kola as traitor and having appropriated association funds -

Members of the association today accused Kola of betraying the ideals of the formerly politically persecuted under communism for his cooperation with leaders of the left parties, which they consider as followers of their persecutors.

Two weeks ago, Kurt Kola, in cooperation with Albanian left wing parties formed the Forum for Democracy, whose program has demands presented by SP, SDP and DAP for the resignation of the democratic government and the taking over of the power through violence by the left wing parties.

In the moment when members of the association were expelling their "treacherous" chairman, his bodyguard threatened and offended the association members, who counter acted powerfully. Also present in the headquarters was the leader of the Right Democratic Party, Petrit Kalakula, who was brought out of the building as well.

The members in front of the association headquarters said they were going to elect a new chairman, who would really protect their interests.

"Kurt Kola ruined the association for a post. Five years ago Berisha organized us, whereas now Kurt Kola opposes him to get posts and money from the opposition," said one of the members.

They accused Kola of abuses with the money of the association saying that Kola has three houses, he sold the homes built for the formerly persecuted in cash price, leaving homeless many formerly politically persecuted people.kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] INHABITANTS OF TIRANA TURN DOWN APPEAL BY LEFT OPPOSITION FOR GATHERING

Wednesday unidentified speakers from within the Socialist Party headquarters called on people, students and pupils of secondary schools of Tirana to gather and ask for the toppling of the present system in Albania, with the slogans "Let's overthrow violently the Berisha regime," "Youth must join us," etc.

Thursday a few number of police forces controlled the traffic of people and vehicles in Tirana. Also some unidentified people have made phone calls to some schools of Tirana, asking them to leave classes, make shorter classes and take to streets and squares.

These anonymous people have phoned on behalf of the deputy minister, the adviser or spokesman of the Ministry of Education.

Three days ago, members of SP and of the youth organization of this party, FRESH, have gone to secondary schools of the city of Tirana and in the Academy of Fine Arts, calling on pupils to leave classes and gather in the square, but pupils have not accepted.

Today there were no calls from the SP headquarters to the citizens of Tirana. kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] PEACEFUL PROTEST IN SARANDA

More than 1 000 people, a part of whom affected by the collapse of pyramid schemes, gathered first at the hand games stadium, then made for the square in front of the town hall and city streets. They protested peacefully, chanting slogans such as "We want our money," "Vlora, Vlora," and slogans against the government.

In his address, the SP branch chairman, Astrit Llanaj blamed the government for the crisis. He called on protesters to disassociate themselves from excesses and extreme acts. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] SABIT BROKAJ TO APPEAR IN JUDICIAL POLICE TWICE A WEEK - Tirana Court

Accused by the prosecutor's office of having influenced in the gathering of armed crowds of people to oppose the public order through violent acts, socialist Brokaj was brought before court after a telephone eavesdropping by National Information Service (NIS.)

According to prosecutors, Brokaj has given instructions through his telephone from Tirana for the violent acts that protesters in Vlora had to carry out.

According to chief prosecutor of Tirana Adnand Xhelili, the telephone eaves-dropping for the defendant, Brokaj, has been permitted by the Tirana Prosecutor's office, upon the request of NIS, to prove their suspicions for Brokaj being an instructor and leader of violent riots of people in Vlora. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] REFUTATION OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT

The Government Service Department has full documentation for all the expenditure for the wedding of the daughter of the Albanian President, which have been paid by the President's family.

Today, the newspaper Zeri i Popullit carries a report under the title "Has 'Gjallica' granted money for the wedding party of Berisha's daughter?" Citing sources from DP, it writes that "Gjallica firm has sponsored the wedding party of the President and her honeymoon in Belgium."

According to ZP, the DP source, which did not want to be identified, claims to have been present in the wedding party of Berisha's daughter, held last year in the residential block of buildings in Durres.

It is not the first time that President's family has been subject to groundless rumors by the left wing press. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] PROTESTS IN VLORA CONTINUE

In the afternoon hours, the marchers went from the Flag Square to Skela (harbour) and returned.

There are concerns about the supply of the population with food articles. Besides frequent insufficiency of some item, the prices of some products such as meat, sugar, cooking oil, rice have risen 20 per cent more than a week ago.

The burial ceremony of a 12 year old boy Bledar Bega was held in Vlore today. Bega was injured in the protests on Monday.

A great number of people, with the coffin on their shoulders, turned the burial ceremony into a demonstration, where slogans against the government were chanted.ake/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] ORDER FOR DISCHARGE OF BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR IN ALBANIA INVALID

This decision has been covered by various Bulgarian papers.

"Stefan Naumov is the legal Ambassador of Bulgaria in the Albanian capital" wrote the newspaper Trud yesterday, referring to the decision of the Bulgarian Administrative Supreme Court. After pointing out that Foreign Minister Pirinski had not the right to take such measures against the Ambassador, the newspaper stressed that "By Constitution, only the President has the status to discharge chiefs of diplomatic representations of the Republic of Bulgaria."

Another Bulgarian paper, Demokracia, writes that "Pirinski has abused with his office."ssh/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] SP SECRETARY GENERAL IN HIS OFFICE, HIS CAR DUMPED OFF A CLIFF

While officials in SP headquarters were calm looking from the headquarters' yard the passers by, hoping for rally, a SP source said that Mejdani was in his office.

The news for the car had reached SP before traffic police of Tirana knew about it.

Later, traffic police sources reported that a state-owned car was found plunged to a cliff near Ibe. rf/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] GATHERING OF PEOPLE IN FIER CITY

Except for sporadic cases, no incidents have occurred in the protests and police have acted correctly.

Last evening, Fier prefect Haki Mustafa and deputies of the zone and district council had a working meeting with chairmen and secretaries of communes, leaders of various institutions and state enterprises of Fier. They are asked to do everything possible to respect the law and public order in the city.

Mustafa told ATA that "most of the protesters in the last two days in Fier have not been creditors of investment firms, but people who wanted to exploit the gathering for their political aims." ake/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

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