Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-02-21

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ITALIAN-ALBANIAN BANK DECLARES IT HAS HAD NO RELATIONS WITH PYRAMID SCHEMES

[02] VEFA CONTINUES TO REPAY CAPITALS FOR ITS CREDITORS

[03] PRESS REVIEW

[04] PREMIER MEKSI MEETS WITH PEOPLE IN KORCA

[05] SOME DP NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT - Petition

[06] DAY OF TOPPLING OF COMMUNIST SYMBOLS COMMEMORATED IN FIER

[07] RECTOR OF VLORA UNIVERSITY CALLS FOR THE INTERRUPTION OF STUDENTS' HUNGER STRIKE

[08] STUDENTS OF "ISMAIL QEMALI" UNIVERSITY ON HUNGER STRIKE - Vlore

[09] HUNGER STRIKE OF SOME VLORA STUDENTS CONTINUES

[10] TWO ALBANIAN GIRLS BROUGHT DEAD FROM ITALY

[11] ALBANIAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP LIKELY TO RESUME SOON

[12] EX-DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL HISTORIC MUSEUM DISMISSES SLANDER BY "KOHA JONE"

[13] FORMERLY POLITICALLY PERSECUTED DENOUNCE ADVENTUROUS ACTS OF KURT KOLA

[14] UNION OF VLORE INTELLECTUALS CREATED

[15] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY TAKES UNDER PROTECTION PROTESTORS WHO HURLED STONES AT POLICE

[01] ITALIAN-ALBANIAN BANK DECLARES IT HAS HAD NO RELATIONS WITH PYRAMID SCHEMES

In a press release, the Italian-Albanian Bank, a joint venture between the Bank of Rome, the National Commercial Bank of Albania and the European Bank for Construction and Development, declares that "it has never had any relation with the collapsed pyramid foundations in Albania".

"The Italian-Albanian Bank has always respected rigorously all the laws and other acts in force regarding banking operations, also including money transfers abroad", says the press release. /mt/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] VEFA CONTINUES TO REPAY CAPITALS FOR ITS CREDITORS

The creditors who were given the capital deposits yesterday, thus cutting relations with VEFA, were those who had to take the interest rates from Vefa on February 7.

The spokesman of the company explains that those who did not want to take their investment, have been paid only the interest, thus continuing relations with Vefa."

According to the lists announced in the credit office in Tirana, the number of the creditors who would take their capitals yesterday was 270. More the 125 of them had taken the capitals by 14.30, while work was going on with the other creditors according to the lists.

There were many creditors gathered in front of the credit office in Tirana yesterday. Most of them wanted to know about operations in the coming days.

The spokesman said that the names of the creditors who have the turn to get the capitals, will be announced through the daily press and in the credit office.

Also in Vlora, Vefa affiliate started to pay back the creditors.

Vefa Company began to pay the capital money to the creditors who have invested from 100 000 - 500 000 lek, or up to $5000 for those whose deposits are in dollars. pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit. under the title "Vlora in hunger strike writes that 60 students of Ismail Qemali University in Vlora go in a hunger strike without a fixed deadline. With regard to yesterday's rally held in Tirana by the Forum for Democracy, the paper writes that "30 thousand citizens of Tirana protest against dictatorship."

Under the title "Vefa announces the lists of creditors for today," Republika writes that Vefa Company continues for the second day to pay back its creditors. Yesterday's DP rally is covered by this paper under the title "DP commemorates Feb 20, the day of the overthrow of the dictatorship."

Albania paper covers the DP meeting held Thursday in Tirana to commemorate the 6th anniversary of toppling dictatorship under the title "We should not forget how we were six years ago". The paper reports on the first page: "European Parliament approves the resolution for Albania". Albania covers the meeting of the Forum for democracy under the title "The Forum leads the violence of the crowd". With regard to the memorial of the 14 DP deputies, the paper reports: "The memorial is for the lost posts".

Dita Informacion reports "60 students of Vlore start hunger strike". Regarding the memorial of the 14 DP deputies the paper reports "The authors of the motion publish their alternative". With regard to the distribution of the capitals from Vefa company, the paper reports "Some 50 people receive their capitals".

Koha Jone reports "Vlora students start their hunger strike". The paper, under the headline "Big rally of the opposition in 'Ali Demi' field", reports "We toppled the monument, but the dictator is still alive". On the fifth page the paper reports "The foreign Minister of the European Union will request conduct of early elections in Albania".

Gazeta Shqiptare reports "The memorial presented in the DP National Council published". On the first page the paper covers the hunger strike of Vlora students. /eva/xh/mt/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PREMIER MEKSI MEETS WITH PEOPLE IN KORCA

Speaking of the local situation, Mr Meksi said that the failure of the pyramid investment funds is being exploited by those who want to change the rule of law through violence and who are a left extreme minority. "They are precisely those who have gained their money through illegal ways and speculation and who are violating order and law in Vlora," said Meksi.

He focused on the causes why pyramid schemes emerged and the intervention through a special law of the government for the distribution of the money assets of the foundations Populli and Xhaferri.

He stressed the government commitment for transparence in the distribution of this money assets. Meksi added that no one had taken under protection these foundations by the government and DP, but he accepted that the state structures should have been more attentive.

"The government is committed through transparence and it will make public the names of those who have organized these pyramid schemes," said Meksi. "Nevertheless, even now I am telling you that they are former officials of the Labour Party committees and former state security members, " said Meksi adding that they were going to make public the names of those government members, if there is any, who have taken their investment from the foundations on eve of their collapse.

Regarding some firms that have conducted an economic and loan-taking activity, Meksi said that the Government has demanded from them to stop the loan-taking service, to lower the interest rates and above all, to stop abuses and put into operation the objects for which investments have already been made.

Meksi also explained the social measures the government has undertaken to help the hardest-hit people. pas/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] SOME DP NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT - Petition

In the nine-point petition to the DP National Council and the Parliament, mainly ex-ministers of the former government ask "all possible options be discussed for the creation of a new government as the only rapid political solution in order to restore faith for the institution of the government and stress that Government Meksi has responsibility for the situation created."

The petition demands "the improvement of the relations with the U.S. which have been so gravely harmed recently."

One of the points demands that that "the President of the Republic must distance himself from the parties, play an unbiased role and become a guarantee for the inter-party debate and the constitutional package."

DP should adopt "collegial and resultant stands of all the party and not only of some individuals," says the petition.

It was presented to the meeting of the activists of the DP National Council last week and did not have the support of the majority of the leading council.

Among those who have signed the petition are former ministers Dashamir Shehi and Alfred Serreqi, Maksim Konomi, Genc Ruli, former DP leader, Leka Toto and Tomor Dosti,the Mayor of Vlora, deputy Gezim Zile, and others.

But Mr Bashkim Kopliku, who had signed the petition previously, told ATA that his stand "differs" from that of the others who have signed the petition, and he considers it "a staged petition from which he distances himself."

"I have signed a similar petition on the day when the national Council was holding its meeting, and the petition was prepared for the meeting and not for publication, besides, I did not agree with point 8, according to which the President should come out of DP, because, in my opinion, the President, as the law has it, must be a member of the Presidency of the Democratic Party, and secondly I did not agree with point 10 and especially with category C which had to do with the naming of a public salvation government, because I am only for a DP government and for its foreign policy."

"I supported the petition mainly for the resignation of Premier Meksi referring to the mistakes made in relation to pyramid-schemes and for a not rapid and efficient intervention," said Kopliku to ATA. xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] DAY OF TOPPLING OF COMMUNIST SYMBOLS COMMEMORATED IN FIER

In his address, Arbnori said that on Feb 20, they all were commemorating the martyrs, the wounded and the reality of the democratic changes in Albania.

Regarding the violent acts in some towns of Albania recently, Arbnori said that it was important for all the Albanians to safeguard the democracy they have won with so many sacrifices.

Arbnori criticized the destructive stands of the left opposition and the so called Forum for Democracy. eva/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] RECTOR OF VLORA UNIVERSITY CALLS FOR THE INTERRUPTION OF STUDENTS' HUNGER STRIKE

"Please, in the name of our children," he said, "elect your representations and experts. I am ready to meet in the university the representations from all the districts."

The rector called on all political parties and associations of the district of Vlora to approve the commission of transparence for the firm Gjallica on Feb. 21, 1997, at 21.00. EVA/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] STUDENTS OF "ISMAIL QEMALI" UNIVERSITY ON HUNGER STRIKE - Vlore

Some 45 students from Vlora and other towns entered Thursday one of the study rooms on the first floor of the university building to continue the hunger strike, announced several days ago through two petitions in which they expressed their solidarity with the requests of the Vlora protesters, creditors of "Gjallica" company. They defined February 20th as the deadline for the fulfillment of their requests.

A commission is established which will take upon itself all the attributions to lead the strike and at the same time to contact with the press.

The exact number of the students on strike is not known so far because there are no contacts with the strikers. Many creditors and demonstrators are gathered around the university building and protest.

The members of this commission met Thursday with the mayor of the city, as well as with the Chief of the Vlore Police Commissariat, asking them to take measures for the normal continuation of the hunger strike, as well as medical aid, blankets and police forces.

The students say that their requests, simply economic, (according to student Arben Rama) should be considered now economic-political, because in the petition and the requests presented in the meeting of a student's assembly with President Berisha, it is demanded the government resignation, and mainly the purchase by the government of the debt of the collapsed company "Gjallica", and repayment of capitals and returns to every citizen.

In an appeal addressed to the creditors, the rector of the "Ismail Qemali" University in Vlore called on the creditors of "Gjallica", on behalf of all students, teaching staff and other employees of the university to help them stop the hunger strike. /mt/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] HUNGER STRIKE OF SOME VLORA STUDENTS CONTINUES

The first 45 students who went to the hunger strike yesterday at 11.00 were joined by 15 others, thus carrying their number to 60.

The demand of other students to join their friends in the hunger strike today was not met for lack of conditions for more than 60 people.

The students are given blankets and medical assistance if needed.

The police commissariat of the Vlora district has sent a number of policemen to guard the building where the strikers are.

Inner sources of the strike report that so far there are no troubles with the health of the strikers.

During this morning, a great number of people gathered in front of the university premises, and sided with the student strikers. Various protesters called on those present on a loud speaker to continue protests until their demands were met.

The crowd of people chanted different slogans against the government, the Democratic Party and demanded the return of their money. Then, the crowd of people made for the Flag Square. ssh/xh/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] TWO ALBANIAN GIRLS BROUGHT DEAD FROM ITALY

Yesterday, two 23 year-old-girls, inhabitants of Berat, were brought dead from Italy, where they had gone to work.

The girls, Majlinda Sadushi and Donika Hoxhallari, killed in Lece and Turin, respectively, were buried in the city's cemeteries on Friday.

According to relatives of their families the girls had gone to Italy to work and they still do not know details on the circumstances they were killed.

Hoxhallari was killed ten days ago, while Sadushi three months ago and was held in morgue. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] ALBANIAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP LIKELY TO RESUME SOON

The government had earlier taken a decision to resume the national soccer championship, cancelled since January 25 amid country-wide unrest sparked by e collapse of several pyramid investment schemes.

The Secretary General of the Albanian Football Federation, AFF, Eduard Dervishi, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the championship might to resume this Saturday but they were awaiting an answer from the Interior Ministry.

Meanwhile the Interior Ministry has not yet given permission to resume the championship.

The decision for this resumption was enabled by the constant persistence of the Sports Secretary of State, Marjeta Zace, as by the request of the AFF. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] EX-DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL HISTORIC MUSEUM DISMISSES SLANDER BY "KOHA JONE"

According Islami, the text inserted in the article that "...ex-director of the National Museum, M.Islami, is reported to have admitted to the British press that the antique objects Berisha has presented to the British Queen, Prime Minister and other ministers have been obtained from the Museum," is a mean slander.

"I will accept no justification by means of confutation by the editorial board, the author or any other bodies of the newspaper. The consumed slander cannot be undone," he said.

Islami reports that he reserves his right to address the justice bodies for penal prosecution for slandering. a.ke/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] FORMERLY POLITICALLY PERSECUTED DENOUNCE ADVENTUROUS ACTS OF KURT KOLA

The number of the branches of the National Association of the Formerly Politically persecuted, denouncing the adventurous acts of their chairman, is increasing.

"The persecuted consider union with with the left extremists a betrayal of their strata, therefore they distance themselves from him," a statement of the formerly politically persecuted of the branches of this association in Mirdite, Gramsh and Shijak says.

Kola and another two members of this association, Daut Gumeni and Fatos Lubonja, initiated the creation of the Forum for Democracy, with the engagement of several political forces, PS, PAD, PA, PID, PDD, PRD, PLP, PDK (united), the Trade Union Confederation and the December Association '90.

"We dissociate ourselves from Kurt Kola, denouncing the greatest irony towards our association, and the adherence to the Forum for Democracy as the greatest hypocrisy," the statement of the Shijaku persecuted says.

The three branches also ask the unification of the persecuted into a single association.

"The unification into a single association is our honour and dignity," the statements of the persecuted says. a.ke/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] UNION OF VLORE INTELLECTUALS CREATED

The first initiators of this body held today the first meeting, in which they also approved a resolution, calling on the Vlore citizens put an end to violence and destruction.

They also supported the protests of the Vlore citizens, the students' hunger strike as well as the resolution of the municipal council of the Vlore city of late.

The Vlore intellectuals also back the statements of the trade union councils of the Vlore city as well as the petitions of the students of the "Ismail Qemali" University and the city's schools. a.ke/kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY TAKES UNDER PROTECTION PROTESTORS WHO HURLED STONES AT POLICE

"It is understandable that amongst the demonstrators there were also despaired people, who pelted stones at the police, but it seemed to us that yesterday's confrontation was provoked by the police rather than by the protestors.

The call to head for the square to protest was not a destructive call, Fatos Lubonja, one of the three leaders of the forum said after today's meeting.

The Forum for Democracy was created recently by several political parties, mainly left wing, and the National Association of the Formerly Politically Persecuted, which is at the same time the initiator.

"The forum is a round table. We have made it clear that the forum is not an electoral alliance, but a round table, which has also initiated a political movement," Lubonja said.

The chairman of this "grouping" is Kurt Kola, who is known as the chairman of the National Association of the Formerly Politically Persecuted. Several members of this association do not recognize him as chairman any more. Some days ago they forced their ex-chairman out of the association's headquarters.

The main leaders of the Forum for Democracy consider this body a grouping of left and right wing political forces and, besides the SP, the other parties are parties without electorate or with an inconsiderable electorate.

In its today's meeting the forum decided to respond tomorrow with a statement to the memorial of 14 DP deputies and former-ministers. kei/lm/k

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

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