Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-02-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] COOPERATION BETWEEN BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALBANIA WILL CONTINUE

[02] ITALIAN CDP DEPUTIES ASK INTERPELLATION ON SITUATION IN KOSOVA

[03] PRESIDENT BERISHA TALKS WITH LUSHNJE CITIZENS ndations, Berisha

[04] PRESS REVIEW

[05] RP FORMALLY REQUESTS WITHDRAWAL FROM GOVERNMENT COALITION

[06] OVER 40 % OF CREDITORS OPEN SAVINGS BOOKS

[07] PRESS RELEASE

[08] VLORE MAYOR HAS NOT SIGNED ULTIMATUM-RESOLUTION OF VLORA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

[09] CDP ACCUSES SOCIALISTS OF NOT HAVING THE RIGHT TO COMMEMORATE ANTI- COMMUNISM DAY

[10] SP STILL DOMINATED BY PSYCHOLOGY OF BOYCOTT -DP Secretary General

[11] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH CITIZENS OF ELBASAN

[12] 15TH DAY OF PROTESTS IN VLORE

[13] "VEFA-HOLDING" COMPANY STARTS TO REPAY CAPITALS

[14] GOVERNEMNT COMMISSION TO RESOLVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN VLORE

[15] FIERI PREFECT HOLDS MEETING TO SUPPORT AFFILIATES OF COMPANIES

[16] STUDENTS COMMEMORATE DISMANTLE OF DICTATORSHIP SYMBOLS

[17] LACK OF WITNESSES IN TRIAL OF PEOPLE WHO SET FIRE IN FIER

[18] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BONN

[01] COOPERATION BETWEEN BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALBANIA WILL CONTINUE

Mr Barnett said that Albanian state and political personalities and institutions will prepare an indictment for the slanders and the distortions of facts against the newspaper "The Independent" if this paper does not refute and detract all the slanders it has made so far.

Admitting that the slanders have been so serious, Mr Barnett said that Foreign Office is preparing the answer for the petition and the interpellation in the House of Commons regarding this question. Despite the difficult situation created recently "the cooperation between the British government and the representatives of Albania will continue," said Mr Barnett.

He stressed that the British Government has offered the assistance of the Know-how Fund with experts in the context of a request by the Albanian Government to the European Union and other international organizations. jz/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] ITALIAN CDP DEPUTIES ASK INTERPELLATION ON SITUATION IN KOSOVA

The interpellation is asked due to the grave situation in Kosova, in which the request says, Milosevic's regime exercises violence through a military occupation, which allows no cultural, administrative and political autonomy.

The deputies ask the Italian Foreign Minister to make known the initiatives planned to be undertaken regarding the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), so that it stops the oppressive policy exercised against the Kosova people and halt any violation of human rights, as a necessary condition to establish a dialogue between the two parties.

The deputies ask to know the acts to be encouraged in the competent international organisations to ease tension in Kosova as soon as possible. s.sh/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PRESIDENT BERISHA TALKS WITH LUSHNJE CITIZENS ndations, Berisha

Berisha discussed with the participants economic and political problems, created by the loan-taking crisis, and other economic and social problems of the Lushnje district and certain communes and promised to realise them.

Berisha said that one of the ways to come out of this situation would be the credits to be provided by the banks for the development of special economic sectors. He especially stressed that the plastic plant should be made active and credits be provided for this plant to improve its technology so that it be profitable, but a studied plan should be launched.

Berisha also spoke of the privatisation of the industry's major branches, including telecommunication, energy and other branches, which would enable the increase of net production from the existing 80 percent to 90 percent.

Berisha said that that he had ordered the Finance Minister to lift customs taxes on chemical fertilizers to help farmers out of this crisis.said that they had not been licenced because the Civil Code guarantees the right of loan taking at interest rate for Albanian citizens. "We should learn about capitalism," said Berisha.

Focusing in the psychological aspect of the pyramid schemes, Berisha said that "they were a great collective fever. Even if we had informed earlier about these firms, they would have increased the interest rates and between these interests and the words, the interests would win."

President Berisha spoke of the need of a set rate for the delivery of the frozen money of the failed funds because the distribution of this money immediately would cause inflation and lower the real value of the money.

Berisha stressed that the government would try to keep a level of inflation of 8-12 per cent.

With regard to a replacement of the government, President Berisha said:

"DP is a party of revival and continuous changes. I assure you that the Government is seriously committed to solve the problems and overcome the difficult situation."

He said he had asked the government to create a government commission to start an immediate dialogue with Vlora citizens.

"I ask the citizens of Vlora to manifest understanding because the losses have been extraordinary great in that city," said Berisha.

Berisha expressed his grief over the death of Artur Rustemi from Vlora. He said that Rustemi "was not in the scene of demonstrations and serious investigation is going on to find the authors of his killing."

"Rustemi was a very good youth and a DP activist, but even if he was a SP supporter, this would not change my opinion about him," said Berisha.

With regard to other loan-taking companies, Berisha stressed the need of investors' assemblies, which would allow the state to interfere, "otherwise we will be forced to send the case to the court," he said, underlining once more the confidence in the dialogue.

Berisha said that the productive investments of Gjallica company would be put to efficiency in favour of the shareholders, and pointed out that these are good investments, with an advanced technology. "There are real practical ways to reduce the losses," explained Berisha.

Asked why the Socialist Party is not outlawed, Berisha said:

"This cannot be made, but important is that the political forces respect and executed the laws. They should also be consistent to what they say."

Asked of his opinion about the Forum for Democracy, Berisha said that the president must respect all the parties and associations. "The opposition parties have decided to be led by an association. This is their solution," said Berisha.

In reply to a question about the coming parliamentary elections, Berisha said that "they will be held in spring of the year 2000." pas/lm/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit says that "Berisha harvested in Lushnje what he himself had sown".

Republika covers the meeting citing the President as saying: "The Muzeqe farmers, with his own fantasy, should recover the losses as soon as possible".

Lajmi i Dites says: "Serious commitments to resolve problems".

Rilindja says that "Violence is not linked with Lushnja or Myzeqe".

Albania covers Berisha's meetings in Lushnje under the headline:"Thousands of Lushnje people talk on the loan-taking crisis".

Dita Informacion says:"Aid provided for the Myzeqe farmers and the local soccer team".

Koha Jone covers this meeting under the title :"Lushnja whistles the President" and "President Berisha pledges employment, housing and 'free zones'".

Gazeta Shqiptare cites Berisha as saying: "Taxes will be lifted in Lushnje".

Rilindja Demokratike carries an interview with the director of the Savings Bank, Bedri Collaku, who speaks of the credit to be provided for the creditors who have lost the money of their houses to the pyramid schemes.

The paper carries a letter of Jonathan Sanly published in the newspaper "The Independent" under the title: "Ex-communists exploiting problems created to assume power".

Zeri i Popullit reports on the protests of the Vlore town creditors who have lost their money to the pyramid schemes through an article entitled: "Government resignation, technocrat government, early elections".

The paper reports on an appeal addressed to Tirana citizens by the Forum for Democracy to protest on February 20 at the "Ali Demi" square on the occasion of the anniversary of the overthrow of the communist dictatorship.

Under the title "If the pressure continues I will resign", Rilindja carries an interview of Albanian Premier Aleksander Meksi with the review "Der Spiegel." The newspaper covers the meeting of the general council of the Albanian Christian Democratic Party in Presheve under the title "Events in Albania shook all Albanian public opinion."

"Socialists abandon dialogue" writes Albania about the invitation of the Democratic Party for unconditional talks with the Socialist Party. "We have received no money from Gjallica" writes this paper about a refutation by the DP branch of Tirana for the left wing press regarding alleged aid and sponsoring of this branch by Gjallica.

Republika writes about the judicial process of Ramiz Alia under the title "90 minute scandal in yesterday's trial."

Dita Informacion writes about the protests in Vlora in an article entitled "Reportage from a city where people only protest." The paper makes coverage of the Italian press about the future of the company Vefa under the title "Here is the way Vefa receives its money."

Koha Jone writes about the trial for Alia "Ramiz Alia postpones the process of 'genocide'. Under the title "DP-SP meeting postponed" the paper writes that SP refuses the invitation of DP for a round table discussion, and presents it some conditions.

In its third page, Gazeta Shqiptare cites DP leader, Tritan Shehu, regarding DP's invitation for SP for a round table talk, saying that "I will be present in today's meeting." eva/lm/xh/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] RP FORMALLY REQUESTS WITHDRAWAL FROM GOVERNMENT COALITION

The request, which bears the signature of the Republican Party chairman, says that by decision of the National Council on February 11,1997, the Republican Party has pulled out of the government coalition and asks the resignation of the State Secretaries, Arjan Madhi and Arben Babameto.

The RP National Council has asked the resignation of the government and consequently the Republican Party would pull out of the Government coalition.

The decision has not been respected by the secretary General of the Prime Minister's office, Arjan Madhi, whom the Presidency of the Republican Party has discharged from all duties as well as from the RP membership "for acting contrary to the decision of the National Council". eva/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] OVER 40 % OF CREDITORS OPEN SAVINGS BOOKS

The director of the National Commercial Bank in this district, Agustin Jubani, told ATA that so far some 3000 creditors have retrieved their money, which amount to some of 41 million leks, and that over the last two days the number of those who have opened savings books has substantially increased.

The offices of this bank and those of the savings bank are distributing the money deposited by the creditors to the "Xhaferri" foundation between November 1 and 4 and to the "Populli" foundation between November 1-5. s.sh/pas/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRESS RELEASE

Our office asked the correspondent of the Voice of America, Mero Baze, who was present in all this activity, to dismiss this report. Otherwise, Baze will lose his right to follow the activities of the President of the Republic. s.sh/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] VLORE MAYOR HAS NOT SIGNED ULTIMATUM-RESOLUTION OF VLORA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] CDP ACCUSES SOCIALISTS OF NOT HAVING THE RIGHT TO COMMEMORATE ANTI- COMMUNISM DAY

"The Socialists do not have the moral right to be the organizers of this holiday, but to commemorate shamefully the 50 year period of their governing", says a statement of the CDP.

The CDP denounces the establishment of the Forum for Democracy, in which participate left and right opposition political groupings, considering it a "manipulating maneuver of the communists".

The CDP has requested the resignation of Meksi government, after the problems created in Albania due to the collapse of the pyramid schemes, according to it "to keep clean and to protect democracy", and has also invited in a round table right wing parties to establish "a real democratic forum". /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] SP STILL DOMINATED BY PSYCHOLOGY OF BOYCOTT -DP Secretary General

The SP did not participate in the dialogue for three reasons: "The prohibition in opposition to the constitutional law of the peaceful protests; fair conditions for the participation of SP and the other members of the Forum for Democracy in the round table as well as the interruption of penal procedures against the SP leaders, Mejdani, Majko, Brokaj, Alushi and other innocent protesters", says the SP statement.

The approach of socialists was not accidental to the DP. According to the DP Secretary General, Besnik Gjongecaj, the socialists are following the same line since the boycott of parliament, the boycott of the calls for dialogue by DP, the boycott of the round tables called by the President and other political forces.

"SP is dominated by the psychology of boycott, by the psychology of self-isolation", declared Gjongecaj.

SP, on its side, has declared that the preliminary conditions sent Tuesday in the round table of the DP chairman, are not conditions imposed by SP, but factual conditions to be removed by DP.

Gjongecaj, on behalf of DP, has also explained the reasons of the request for dialogue, as well as the rejection of the preliminary conditions of the socialists.

According to Gjongecaj, the preliminary conditions of SP for dialogue, the one to set free those who are accused of damaging the public property, and that of defining the time for the new political elections, made impossible its realization.

SP declared through its spokesman it considers as first reflection the allowance of a peaceful protest on February 20 "to commemorate the toppling of dictatorship in Albania", requested by the Forum for Democracy.

Gjongecaj has declared that DP will continue to be open in its requests for dialogue. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH CITIZENS OF ELBASAN

Berisha expressed his solidarity to all the creditors who have lost their money in the fraudulent companies and congratulated them "for the self-control, for the civilized way they treated the problem of their lost money".

Berisha considered the stand of Elbasani people another great support for the Democratic Party at a time when "the extremists and adventurers are trying to get the power through violence or to destroy what is built so far".

To Berisha, the problem of loan-taking, as a financial activity without license, makes up the most negative aspect of the private activity and the abuse by some fraudulent charlatans with the free initiative and the freedoms guaranteed by the Civil Code.

"These (loan-taking) were turned into a real collective profitable fever, whose continuity would have had catastrophic political, economic, moral and social consequences", said Berisha.

He repeated the responsibility of parliament, of government and all the political forces regarding the problem of loan-taking.

"The political forces were unique in their stand towards loan-taking and I can say for the only issue during 4 years", said Berisha.

"Because of the responsibility towards the silence they should closely cooperate for the solution of these problems. But this did not happen. Now in their stand towards it, they are in quite reverse positions", he said.

Talking about the approach of the left opposition parties, which did not even beg pardon to their electors, Berisha said: "The opposition formed alliances with the foundations for the establishment of the campaign based on pyramid schemes, it preferred to manipulate on the despair of people, not to offer any alternative for the solution of this problem. The chair is their mayor preoccupation".

Further on, Berisha presented the measures to overcome quickly the difficulties created by loan-taking in this district, such as: the setting up of social assistance for the families without living means, the drafting of the employment program for the families without employed people, giving credits to the small private activities, giving housing credits to all those who have sold their houses.

He told the participants that the documentation to declare in Elbasan the free zones at a surface of 286 hectares, the largest in the country was handed over to the government.

"I also promise you that according to your excellent tradition, the education will face rapid development", Berisha said.

"There will be attraction of foreign investments for Elbasan, credit systems for the small business, facilities for the licences in the construction field, as well as acceleration in the privatization process", Berisha said.

Within this year it will start the privatization of mayor sectors, telecommunication, banks, energetics and the citizens will be their shareholders, he added.

At the end Berisha shared opinions with the participants regarding the problems created due to the loan-taking crisis and the ways to come out of it./A.KE/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] 15TH DAY OF PROTESTS IN VLORE

They repeated the same requests.

The protesters also gathered in the afternoon, at 17.00 to organize their usual movement. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] "VEFA-HOLDING" COMPANY STARTS TO REPAY CAPITALS

In an announcement posted up on the walls of the residence of this company in Tirana, its president Vehbi Alimucaj reports that "Beginning from February 19, 1997, Vefa will make full repayment to all investors who had deposited their money from 100 000 to 500 000 lek, or in hard currencies up to $5 000".

Asked about this announcement, the spokesman of this company, Arben Iljazi, explains that ""VEFA-HOLDING" company, for about a month since the loan-taking was interrupted, has repaid partially the capitals and returns. It has not closed the offices, except the cases when the situation had been tense.

The company decided to realize first the repayment of capitals in small amounts, as they are more necessary for the citizens.

"The process of repayment for the above mentioned capitals, according to the graphics drafted by the company, will last 2-3 weeks, says the spokesman, who adds that the graphic will continue further on with the repayment of the other part of the creditors for the amounts from 5-10 000 dollars and from 10 000 to 20 000 dollars".

The whole this program of repayment is thought to finish within a short time.

Alimucaj assures through a statement all the creditors that the rules of repayment will be applied in a rigorous way, stressing that those investors who want to withdraw money should go to the offices on the defined date. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] GOVERNEMNT COMMISSION TO RESOLVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN VLORE

The commission is made up of Hasan Halili, chairman, and members Bamir Topi, Arlinda Ymeraj, Njazi Kosovrasti, Ernest Noka, Gezim Hado. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] FIERI PREFECT HOLDS MEETING TO SUPPORT AFFILIATES OF COMPANIES

In the meeting called with the advise of the Albanian President Sali Berisha, attending were officials of the district council and the town hall of Fier. They also discussed on the role of the local government in the coordination of this aid.

The local officials will contact with the representatives of the above companies, aiming to take from them concrete proposals, especially for putting into efficience the objects that the companies have in the Fieri district.

The work in all the institutions or enterprises has continued during these two days and at the same time the trade units have been open to serve to the clients.

The deputies of the district have held meetings with inhabitants of their constituencies, aiming to explain the measures taken by the government to overcome the consequences due to the collapse of pyramid schemes. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] STUDENTS COMMEMORATE DISMANTLE OF DICTATORSHIP SYMBOLS

"The road we followed, beginning it with 723 students and pedagogues who staged hungry strike in this city, has been the best and the fastest", stressed the student Aleksander Dhima, one of the organizers of the meeting.

"Let the students be those who will say stop to the manipulators, who have changed nothing from thier actions of 1991", said one of the students.

"The citizens of Vlore are not those who exercised violence, but the violence was exercised by those who killed Arben Broci (student killed during the efforts to topple dictatorship)", said chairman of the Independent Student Union, Margjekaj, referring to the destructions in the Vlore city due to the protests after the collapse of pyramid schemes.

The chairman of the Democratic Party, Tritan Shehu, invited in the meeting, honoured the sacrifices of the students whose aim was to destroy communism.

Shehu expressed the resolution to follow the road of democracy, and stressed at the same time the importance of dialogue with the political forces, especially with the Socialist Party as "the mayor political force", in overcoming the difficulties created in the country.

"Those who want the destruction of Albania are very few, that's why they should be considered lost", said Shehu.

Shehu expressed the security of support from Europe and USA for the development of democracy in Albania.

"I don't believe the Forum will continue long, but I feel sorry for SP because it loses its integrity hiding under this forum", said Shehu talking about the Forum for Democracy, made up of left and right opposition political groupings.

With regard to the events in Vlore, Shehu said that "The government has a program to overcome the damages created in Vlore. But we all know that the actions do not belong to any party, but to a special grouping of the left extreme". /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] LACK OF WITNESSES IN TRIAL OF PEOPLE WHO SET FIRE IN FIER

In the judicial sitting, the defence of defendants asked to call 12 witnesses. Even a previous sitting was postponed because of lack of witnesses.

The accusing body has provided lot of evidence, such as photos and videotapes which prove the charge for violence and destruction of the common property on the four accused Gezim Kastrati, Julian Calamani, Gramoz Hazisi and Pellumb Dervishi (in absentia). /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BONN

The invitation was made known to Shehu in a meeting on Wednesday by the German Ambassador in Albania, Hans Piter Disdorn.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman reported that in his visit in Germany and official meeting with Kinkel, Shehu will discuss on deepening the friendship and political-economic cooperation between both countries.

Shehu will discuss about the help of Germany to deepen the reform in Albania, all-round cooperation, integration of Albania into the European and Euroatlantic institutions, as well as on the situation in the region. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

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