Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-16

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] DP HOLDS AN EXTENDED MEETING OF PARTY ACTIVISTS IN BERAT

[02] DP PRESENTS CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN POGRADEC

[03] ARMED PERSONS KILL THREE AND INJURE THREE PERSONS IN DURRES

[04] HOMAGE TO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN KILLED

[05] MPF EVACUATES AN INJURED BY FIRE WEAPONS

[06] URBAN BUS BLOWN UP IN DELVINE

[07] ARMED TERROR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR IN VLORE

[08] URBAN BUSES PLUNDERED IN SARANDE

[09] PANIC CASUED IN THE MARKET OF DURRES

[10] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH DIRECTOR OF ODHIR

[11] CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY APPOINTED IN TEPELENE

[12] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH SENIOR OFFICIAL OF U.S. INSTITUTE

[13] PREMIER FINO MEETS WITH OSCE REPRESENTATIVES

[14] ITALIAN REGIMENT OF MPF DEPLOYED IN KORCE

[15] DP PRESENTS CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN TWO CONSTITUENCIES OF EASTERN ALBANIA

[16] RUMANIAN TROOPS OF MPF MOVE TOWARDS SOUTH

[17] STILL TOP SECRET ALBA'S MISSION ON ELECTION DAY IN ALBANIA

[18] YUGOSLAV ARMY DEMONSTRATES ITS STRENGTH IN KOSOVA

[19] WORKING MEETING OF ALBANIAN PM FINO WITH AMBASSADOR OF LUXEMBOURG IN ALBANIA

[20] LETTER OF PRESIDENT BERISHA TO CHAIRMEN OF SDUP, CDP, SDP, HRUP, RP, BKP, DAP AND LMP

[21] PRESIDENT BERISHA APPEALS FOR TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING AND DEVOTION TO DEMOCRACY - Candidates for deputies of DP in the constituencies 43 and 44 in the capital presented -

[22] FOR ACCOMODATION REASONS, OSCE WILL SEND ONLY 450 OBSERVERS TO ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

[23] MEETING OF GROSRUCK WITH DP OFFICIALS DEMI AND VEJSIU

[01] DP HOLDS AN EXTENDED MEETING OF PARTY ACTIVISTS IN BERAT

The party offers to the Albanians the alternative of economic stability, order and restart of projects of different international institutions, Vejsiu said adding that the SP has declared violence, terror and political crime as its alternative with its armed ally.

Demi said that June 29 coincides with the second anniversary of Albania's adherence to the Council of Europe thus we are sure that this will be a final approval of our total integration in Europe. /lgj/kled/ak/sh/

[02] DP PRESENTS CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN POGRADEC

"Former Albanian communists applied the proletarian dictatorship for half a century. They tried for six months to apply the proletarian revolution, but they failed and the June 29 will be the DP's victory because it will assure Albania's further integration into Europe," Pollo said.

Minarolli told the crowd that we offer the message of reconciliation while they offer that of threatening.

Hajdari, Secretary General of the electoral staff assured the Pogradeci people that a six-month emergency program drafted by the Democratic party foresees a reparation of all damages caused by rebellion. lgj/kled/ak/

[03] ARMED PERSONS KILL THREE AND INJURE THREE PERSONS IN DURRES

The first killing occurred in the Tirana-Durres national road, near Maminas, where the unidentified persons shot at Astrit Cela 31, inhabitant of Kavaja who was driving his car from Durres to Tirana.

The armed people shot and killed Luan Plaku, 29, inhabitant of Shenavlash on Sunday at 16.30 p.m. Then they took their car and crashed with another fuori strada car with Lezha number plate at the Roshbulli hills, near Durres. The driver from Lezha Ndue Petushi protested against this accident but was shot at and injured by those persons.

Their bloody adventure continued in Xhafzotaj village when they abandoned the car and took another one, this time a Toyota of Has number plate. During a quarrel with the armed persons, the owner Ali Metaliu, inhabitant of Has and Isuf Ymeri, inhabitant of Yrshek-Tirana were injured. A stray bullet killed Bilbil Neza, inhabitant of Xhafzotaj, who was at the place.

After taking the car with Has number plate the armed group left for an unknown direction. pas/ak/

[04] HOMAGE TO MOTHERS AND CHILDREN KILLED

This rally in the capital was a protest against macabre killing of dozens of mothers and children all over Albania and at the same an appeal for peace and calm. pas/ak/

[05] MPF EVACUATES AN INJURED BY FIRE WEAPONS

"The Multinational Protection Forces realized the evacuation of Bilo, three days after she was hospitalized in the hospital of Tirana, and her recovery in Albania was almost impossible," says a press release of the MPF.

Bilo is undergoing a surgery in the Umberto hospital, in Ancona.

She was transported by an helicopter of the Military Air-Nautical HH3F, which came from Brindizi. /mt/

[06] URBAN BUS BLOWN UP IN DELVINE

The motives of this explosion, which blew up the only bus that connected the zone of Vergo with Sarande and Delvine, are not known yet.

Meanwhile, nothing is confirmed from the police bodies, regarding the indentification of the authors.

The urban bus line, which connected the zone of Vergo with the centers of these districts was among the fewest that functioned, despite the pressure exercised by the misdoers.

This is the first case an urban bus is blown up in the southern area. /a.ke/pas/mt/

[07] ARMED TERROR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR IN VLORE

The chief of police commissariat, Haxhi Demiri, told ATA that at about 10:00, unidentified persons, inside some vehicles, have shot for more than an hour from different points of the town, causing panic and terror on the inhabitants of Vlore.

According to Demiri, this is not an extraordinary act for the life of this town during the recent months. He considers this act "malevolent and with political orientations." It is said that President Berisha will come, and this is the cause of these acts, he says. "Meanwhile, we as police commissariat, have had no reports on the arrival of President Berisha in Vlore," says Demiri.

Meanwhile, the above source does not report on injured or killed, as well as the hospital of the town. But eye witnesses testify for slight injuries due to the bullets falling from above. /a.ke/mt/Z/

[08] URBAN BUSES PLUNDERED IN SARANDE

[09] PANIC CASUED IN THE MARKET OF DURRES

The police ran after a 16-17 year old boy, who has opened fire by machine gun. Later on, this person, followed by the polcie, threw the gun and fled away.

No reports on injured or killed are available so far.

The criminal police and special forces, who came from Tirana, were placed in the main points of the town to make possible the identification of the authors of this event, as well as those of yesterday.

On Sunday, three people were killed and three were injured by fire weapons in this town. /jz/mt/z/

[10] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH DIRECTOR OF ODHIR

President Berisha stressed that he has the pleasure to notice the serious engagement of the Central Election Commission and lately of the Government for the fulfillment of legal duties towards the electoral process, as it appreciates that, along with the difficulties, the Albanians are participating actively in the electoral campaign, a clear message that they see at the elections the only and irreplaceable solution to overcome the current crisis.

President Berisha assured Ambassador Shtudman that the Democratic Party will recognise the voting result and it invites all the political forces to declare the same thing.

The Ambassador Shtudman presented several problems with regard to the monitoring of elections, security for foreign observers, some technic stages of the electoral process, as well as with the situation in several districts of the country.

President Berisha assured Ambassador Shtudman for his complete support for the solution of these problems and expressed the belief that all the Albanians will give their contribution in the realization of this very important process for the country and the Albanian democracy, ends the report of President's press and information office.EVA /mt/

[11] CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY APPOINTED IN TEPELENE

For the Democratic Party - Astrit Kasa, for the Socialist Party - Fatos Nano, for the Democratic Alliance Party - Kostandin Hitaj, for the Legality Movement - Odhise Bresho, for the United Right - Daut Gumeni. /s.sh/eva/mt/Z

[12] PRESIDENT BERISHA MEETS WITH SENIOR OFFICIAL OF U.S. INSTITUTE

President Berisha, after appreciating the contribution of the U.S. Democratic Institute in the preparation of elections in Albania, assured Mr Melia that the Democratic Party is resolute to recognise the voting result, to sign the social pact with all the political parties, because it considers necessary the conduct of the process of national reconciliation as a long term process, where all the political forces should set a cooperation to the interest of the country and its future. It is very important for the Albanian society, stressed Berisha, that the opposition has a wide space and play an active role in all the political and social problems.

Mr Melia familiarized President Berisha with the estimation of the group of the U. S. Institute for the situation of the electoral process in Albania, with their concerns for a deceleration in the technic stages of the conduct of this process, as well as with the grave situation in several zones of the country.

President Berisha assured Mr Melia that there is a more serious engagement from the Albanian authorities for the implementation of the legal obligations towards this process and that he believes that all the institutions, political forces and especially the Government, will engage to overcome the delays and current difficulties, deliver on time lists of candidates and respect the election law, ends the reports of President's press and information office. /s.sh/jz/mt/

[13] PREMIER FINO MEETS WITH OSCE REPRESENTATIVES

Both parties expressed thoughts and gave options for the intensification of efforts and measures for the preparations and realization of an intensive and massive monitoring of the June 29 elections. They pointed out different concerns and difficulties, and expressed the opinion that with an engagement of all the electoral structures, the Government and OSCE, all the possibilities exist to hold on time free and fair elections in Albania.

Premier Fino asked aid, cooperation and active participation from OSCE and Multinational Force, which would help the successful ending of the June 29 polls.

Both ambassadors expressed the readiness for the intensification of the contacts and cooperation during these decisive days for the June 29 elections. /s.sh/jz/mt/Z/

[14] ITALIAN REGIMENT OF MPF DEPLOYED IN KORCE

According to the sources of local government, these forces are deployed in the workers' resting home.

On June 14, at 12:30, eight armed and masked persons attacked the guards of the branch of soldiers' mobilization in the district of Korce (Southeastern Albania) and took away the documents which had to do with the mobilization of soldiers in the districts of Pogradec and Korce. /eva/mt/Z/

[15] DP PRESENTS CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN TWO CONSTITUENCIES OF EASTERN ALBANIA

The DP Secretary General, Genc Pollo, in the meeting organized to present the candidate of the Democratic Party in Perrenjas, Mr Fahri Balliu, talked about the short-term program of DP. He said that the Democratic Party will restore order and tranquility and that the trade and economic activity will restart normally.

In Librazh, DP presented the candidates for deputy of the Democratic party, Mr Naum Sinani and Myqerem Tafaj. /s.sh/jz/mt/Z/

[16] RUMANIAN TROOPS OF MPF MOVE TOWARDS SOUTH

Eye witnesses confessed that units of the Rumanian forces were seen on Sunday morning in the Qafe e Muzines, known for the macabre scenes of killings without warning and episodes of plundering by the armed gangs.

But, official sources of the district council and officials of the town hall have not confirmed any information for their arrival here. If they have passed the Qafe e Muzines, add these sources, we will welcome them. /a.ke/jz/mt/Z/

[17] STILL TOP SECRET ALBA'S MISSION ON ELECTION DAY IN ALBANIA

He reported of new deployments of the Italian contingent in Korce and tranfer of other forces to other places.

Today the Spanish forces extended towards Shkoder and the Romanian ones towards Saranda. According to reports, another Italian company will join the Romanian forces which operate in Southern Albania, while the Turkish forces will extend to Diber.

With the arrival of the new Italian contingent which will be over until June 20, the number of the Italian soldiers in Albania in the context of Alba mission will amount to 3 00 people and that of the multinational forces to 7 000 people.

According to their mandate, the Multinational Forces of the Albania mission in Albania will protect directly the foreign observers but will not accompany the polling boxes.

These forces will support OSCE in the organization and conduct of the elections, the general and direct security of the groups of observres during their activity in Albania. eva/xh

[18] YUGOSLAV ARMY DEMONSTRATES ITS STRENGTH IN KOSOVA

Colonel Branisllav Tashic, envoy of the commander of the war aviation addressed the aviation units near Prishtine and other Serbian militaries the message for special duties in the situation in Kosove, which he described as complicated. He said that "due to the situation in Kosova, the military alert should continue uninterruptedly."

Such manifestations of the Yugoslav army, as Radio-Prishtine reports in Serbian language, have taken place also in other cities of Kosova.

According to reports, over 70 thousand militaries and policemen are members of the Serbian repressive apparatus which threatens and terrorizes continuously ethnic Albanians in Kosova. bj/ag/n/jz

[19] WORKING MEETING OF ALBANIAN PM FINO WITH AMBASSADOR OF LUXEMBOURG IN ALBANIA

In the name of his government and of the European Union, Mr Spautz highlighted the efforts that the Government of National Reconciliation is making to restore the democratic normality and to realise the June 29 elections in this country.

Referring to the March 9 and May 9 agreements, Ambassador Spautz stressed the political responsiblity for the present electoral process and the need for continuous efforts for the national reconciliation also after June 29, as premises for numerous and all-sided assistance by Europer and the entire international community. He mentioned on this occasion the conference of the foreign donators due the next month in Rome, and another meeting of financial institutions in autumn, in which a total economic program for the recovery of Albania will be presented.

The European Commission, according to Mr Spautz, has already identified the necessary lines of crediting, and has prepared a package of technical aid for the rehabilitation of the public institutional administration in Albania.

By confirming the broad participation of the foreign observers, the Ambassador of Luxembourg pointed out that the main responsibility for the organization and the outcome of the elections depends on the Albanians themselves.

PM Fino thanked for the meeting which was of great interest both for the assistance and support for his Government by all the international community and the European Union.

Sharing the same opinions with Mr Spautz on all the issues and the options presented, Mr Fino asked that as many foreign observers as possible be present in the elections, without fixed quotas, to monitor the ballot on June 29.

Only in this way, he continued, they will give the so much necessary political solution for Albania, which will mark the great returning point. The coming pluralist parliament and government which will have a broad political basis, said Mr Fino, would make possible not only the restoration of public order and peace but also the definite solution to the numerous and difficult economic problems.

On occasion of the European Union presidence by Luxembourg, Mr Fino expressed to Mr Sprautz the warmest wishes for a successful presidence and the readiness for further and fruitful cooperation with it.

Attending in the friendly meeting, was also the Ambassador in Albania of Holland as the EU presiding country, Mr Van Heyen, ends the report of thr PM's spokesman. ssh/xh

[20] LETTER OF PRESIDENT BERISHA TO CHAIRMEN OF SDUP, CDP, SDP, HRUP, RP, BKP, DAP AND LMP

"I do share completely with you the concern created by the decision of the Constitutional Court on the basis of the indictment of the Socialist Party parliamentary group to annul to formula of the law which left for the two main parties only 10 deputies from the proportional system whereas 30 seats remained to be distributed among other parties. I also would like to inform you that the favouring of the small parties in the proportioanl system, I think, is in the direct interest of the Albanian democratic pluralism and is in full conformity with the national reconciliation line.

On the basis of this concept, I suggested the limit of 2 per cent for access to the parliament of an electoral subject and insisted during the second week of May that a limited number of deputies of the proportional list be defined for the two main parties, leaving the Socialist party the right to define this number. After talks conducted on this issue, the socialists suggested that 75 per cent or 30 seats of the proportinal be distributed among the parties which are not the main ones and this percentage was fixed on the same day in the electoral law.

This decision was taken not for specific interests of a set party, but first of all for the profound conviction that it is so important that that the new parliament has a broad representation and possibly from all the Albanians, despite their convictions. This serves the consolidation of democracy, in my oopinion.

I also have to stress that from the 75 per cent seats fixed for other parties, it is true that the two main parties will have some deputies less, by their allied parties would be more broadly represented in the Parliament and in this way, each group would be given the possiblity for a broad based governing.

Finally, the so-called small parties, for me, they are not such, and they represent 20-30 per cent of the Albanian electors and as a block they have a real power perhaps consisting the second political force in Albania, and their ingnoring would produce harmuful consequences for the country, democracy, DP, and I think for SP as well.

For all these reasons, I have agreed on the electoral law and I am open to discuss with you. But in the present circumstances, I see as the only possible solution only a new inter-party agreement which must be signed by all political forces with a written pledge that none of them would make any indictment against it.

I think that this must be made with the particpation of the President, because the decision of the Constitutional Court is obligatory for all other institutions and an unjustifiable confrontation of the constitutional institutions is unuseful. I assure you that I will ask DP to sign and respect the agreement on which other forces would agree," ends the letter of President Berisha addressed to the above-said party chairmen. ssh/xh

[21] PRESIDENT BERISHA APPEALS FOR TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING AND DEVOTION TO DEMOCRACY - Candidates for deputies of DP in the constituencies 43 and 44 in the capital presented -

Speaking in a meeting with inhabitants of Ali Demi quarter in Tirane, Berisha called on the democrats to be committed to this campaign to clear up the smog created by the communist rebellion and the mind of every Albanian that with the alternative of the Democratic Party the Albanians relate two great valuable histories, the history of democracy, the history of integration into Europe, the values of their civilization, their future, the road of prosperity, dignity and respect for one another." Berisha considered the pledge of the socialists to return all the savings Albanians lost in the failed pyramid schemes as a greater fraud than all fraudulent pyramid schemes. The Democratic Party, he said, would be committed to ease the losses of the Albanians in the pyramid schemes through credits for the construction of homes and development of the small business.

Then, President Berisha presented the candidate for deputies of the Democratic Party in the constituency 43 and 44 of the capital, namely Albina Karamitro and Buron Kaceli. xh

[22] FOR ACCOMODATION REASONS, OSCE WILL SEND ONLY 450 OBSERVERS TO ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

"Only 450 will be the number of the foreigners who will serve as direct OSCE observers in Albania. This number is more limited than we wanted due to the lack of possiblities for their accomodation and security," told ATA Melissa Fleming, the spokeswoman of the special envoy of OSCE for Albania, Franz Vranitzky.

Fleming guaranteed for an all-sided monitoring of the poll which would be completed "with local observers from Albania in the context of OSCE and by foreign parliamentarians from other international organizations."

OSCE has also pledged for the material election basis, the polling boxes, the printing of the ballots and the invisible ink to be used for the seals on the voters' hand in order to avoid double voting.

With regard to the cooperation with the Mutinational Security Force, Ms Fleming said that in the Rome meeting they had defined the requests, the aid and tasks of these forces on the election day.

"It is the task of these forces to create possibilities for OSCE for a guaranteed monitoring of the majority of the polling stations," said Ms Fleming. xh

[23] MEETING OF GROSRUCK WITH DP OFFICIALS DEMI AND VEJSIU

In response to the interest of Mr Grossruck for the electoral campaign, the DP political activity in the cities where the salvation committes are operating, for media and distribution of the press throughout the territory and other issues, Mr Demi and Mr Vejsiu made a panorama of the difficult situation in Albania. They said that despite the difficulties and pressures by the left opposition, the Democratic Party is holding and is committed to a fair electoral camapign.

Mr Grosruck said that the Austrian People's Party and EDU are expecting the election outcome in Albania to continue cooperation for the realisation of the projects interrupted by the communist rebellion.

"We are for a positive development of Albania and those who think to come to power through violent means and forms are mistaken. Europe cannot accept today the revolutionary practices for the coming into the power."

On the same day, Mr Grosruck had another meeting wih the parties of the Union for Democracy. Mr Grosruck took interest in the problems that the left wing parties are encountering in the present electoral campaign.

The chairman of the Union for Democracy, Remzi Ndreu said that SP is seeking to come to power at any cost by restoring to the ways of violence, attempts and rebellion. It is holding a fierce and unprincipled propaganda against the right wing. It is deceiving the people with the white cheque which is rather dangerous for the country, said Ndreu.

Also representatives of other parties stressed that they have not been able to conduct a free political activity in some southern cities.

"We are on the side of the Democratic Party, convinced in the victory of the Albanian right wing and to prevent the communists from coming to power."

Mr Grosbruck thanked the party chairmen for the panorama on the situation and stressed that the Albanians will choose democracy and not violence. ssh/xh

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