Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-22

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] STATEMENT OF PREMIER FINO

[02] DP FOREIGN SECRETARY HIT AND BLOCKED BY ARMED PERSONS IN SARANDE

[03] BRIDGE OF VRAKE DAMAGED IN KOPLIK

[04] PRESIDENT BERISHA IN TROPOJE

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN AND REMAINS TOTALLY COMMITTED ON TRANSPARENCE OF PYRAMID INVESTMENT SCHEMES

[07] POLITICAL PARTIES CARRY ON THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR JUNE ELECTIONS

[08] PERSONS WHO MALTREATED ME DID NOT HAVE PERSONAL GRUDGES -They asked me to speak against DP and President Berisha,-said Demi

[01] STATEMENT OF PREMIER FINO

The Premier was interested and talked with local representatives and learnt that the situation turned to normal and Mr Demi left for Tirana.

Premier Fino expresses his resolution, as well as of the Government of National Reconciliation, to avoid any kind of violence and terror, volley of shots or ambushes against the politicians of all political forces.

The electoral campaign is a free competition of alternatives in the whole country. He repeats once again, on this occasion, that all the political forces should engage their electorate for a quiet campaign and without left or right extremism, while the order forces should take the necessary measures of security for the isolation of the terrorist element, so that the campaign is not mixed with obscure aims of individuals or particular gangs, ends the statement of Fino. /l.gj/mt/

[02] DP FOREIGN SECRETARY HIT AND BLOCKED BY ARMED PERSONS IN SARANDE

Referring to the witnesses, the correspondent of "Voice of America" said that right after the meeting of Mr Demi has started in the Butrinti theatre with leader of local branch and with supporters of DP, armed persons, present in the hall, hit the DP politician, driving him out of the building. Mr Demi, according to the witnesses, was hurt in the head from the hits and was surrounded later by a crowd of people. The witnesses say that the DP secretary was taken hostage for several hours and then the senior leaders of local government, of police commissariat and politicians of local branches of the parties, have mediated to set him free.

Mr Demi was in Sarande since the morning of June 21 to present the DP candidates for deputy in the electoral constituencies which include Sarande as well. He was accompanied by several cars of DP supporters, as well as by the Prefect of Vlore and Sarande, Afrim Haci.

According to the sources near the event, the politicians were threatened by special persons since they enter Sarande.

Mr Demi turned back to Tirana on Sunday by 09:00. /sk/pas/mt/

[03] BRIDGE OF VRAKE DAMAGED IN KOPLIK

The event happened on Saturday evening by 24:00, sources from the prefecture of Shkoder report. Unidentified persons planted a large quantity of TNT at the beginning of this bridge, whose explosion has damaged it partially.

Due to this explosion only one of its senses functions, which creates difficulties in the movement of many vehicles in this axe of the road.

The bridge of Kiri was damaged in the last two weeks, which is still unpassable. /s.sh/pas/mt/

[04] PRESIDENT BERISHA IN TROPOJE

In the meeting, President Berisha presented the alternatives of the Albanian Democratic Party for the elimination of the consequences of rebellion, for the consolidation of the institutions and the continuation of the economic reform.

Then, President Berisha went to meet with inhabitants of Fierze, over the Drin river, some 15 km South of Bajram Curri. /s.sh/pas/mt/E

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit entitles its editorial "The socialists will govern differently". On the first page the paper reports "Berisha, the competent of usuries." On the same theme, the paper reports on the fourth and fifth page "Berisha, sign the decree!" and "100 000 dollars for the presidency." The paper reports that the directors of IMF and the World Bank, have asked President Berisha to sign presidential draft-decree, just approved by the Council of Ministers, with regard to the control of documentation and assets of pyramid schemes, as well as the management of these assets.

Republika paper entitles its editorial "It is time to change." In the subtitle of the editorial we read "Albania needs a new political construction". Then, on the first page it is written in capital letters "Usuries: 10 milliard dollars uncovered". On the fifth page, the paper informs that a new cycle on usuries will be published, "with documents and confessions from the coordinators in West".

Albania paper reports "Gangs of Fatos Nano and Gramoz Ruci take hostage the DP Secretary, Leonard Demi". The paper carries the editorial "The return of Gramoz Ruci". The paper reports "CEC approves the instructions on the commissions of polling stations."

Rilindja carries the article on the meeting Clinton-Prodi "Albania repeats Bosnia". The paper quotes Leka Zogu in the editorial as saying "If I win, I will restore order within 90 days".

Tribuna, under the title "The Greeks shoot on Ksamil, the Defence Minister Vukaj does not know anything", reports that on Saturday morning a Greek military motor-boat shot by anti-aircraft machine-gun the town of Ksamil (southern Albania).

With regard to the Monday meeting in Italy, with the participation of the chairmen of the parties DP, SP, LMP, RP, NFP, SDP, the paper reports "The parties towards Italy to sign the social pact".

Independent reports on this meeting "The masks are removed in Roma". The paper reports "The Greeks shot without any provocation." Under the title "Terrorist act in Sarande during the meeting", the paper reports "The masks kidnap Leonard Demi of DP."

Koha Jone under the title "The Italian catholic church invites Albanian political parties", reports "Albanian political leaders, the table in Roma." The paper carries an interview with SP leader, Gramoz Ruci, under the title "I do not wish to myself the post of the Minister".

Dita reports "The leaders with special airplane towards Italy to sign the document." The paper reports that three students were hurt due to a bomb explosion on Friday by midnight in the Students' City in Tirana.

Gazeta Shqiptare, under the headline "The mysteries of usuries in the file of the Prosecutor's Office. Here it is what the state did to stop the financial catastrophe", reports "The pyramids, here it is the unknown side". The paper carries the editorial "Democratic leader taken hostage". /pas/eva/mt/E

[06] GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN AND REMAINS TOTALLY COMMITTED ON TRANSPARENCE OF [PYRAMID INVESTMENT SCHEMES

The top officials of these two big international and financial bodies inform that they have welcomed the draft decree on the transparence of pyramid investment schemes approved by the Government some days ago, after the IMF and WB did not accept Parliament's law on the pyramid investment schemes.

In this letter the two senior officials have asked the Albanian President to sign as soon as possible the draft decree in order to be converted in a law.

In the letter is stressed out that the decree is compiled in collaboration with IMF experts, who think that they provide a powerful legal base for the administrators to put under control the properties, for the maximum reimbursement of the depositors and the ease of the revision process.

"If the decree is implemented properly, the letter points out, it holds the possibility of solving out the problem of pyramid investment schemes."

In the end Camdessus and Wolfenson assured that if the decree id signed, IMF and WB will find the ways to assist in its implementation and in providing the necessary legal supervision, which in the future other pyramid investment schemes shouldn't prosper.

"After this Albanian authorities will move quickly in searching for possible administrators, especially representatives from big international countable companies, experienced in this field and will treat the issue of financing them in collaboration with the WB and possible donators."

The Albanian Prime Minister, Bashkim Fino expresses on his behalf and of Government his complete approval on the content and concern expressed by the senior officials of IMF and WB in the letter. He expresses once again his thanks for the understanding, aid and continuous support from the senior officials of these international financial institutions, the same as in the case of preparing the above Draft-Decree.

On this occasion, the Albanian Premier appeals to put an end to the debates with propagandistic electoral character and the application of all the requests of the decree should start. This draft-decree speaks much more than any statement or politicized insinuation for the serious predisposition and engagement of the Government and its respective structures for the transparency of pyramid schemes. The sudden return of the draft-decree into law will open way to the Government to take respective actions to provide on this basis international assistance for the realization of the transparency of the Albanian pyramids. If the electoral minutiae are not enough to anyone, it is more fair to demand its duration than to exploit the spokesman for electoral politics. It is not fair to ask any senior leader of the opposition, which has not come to power yet, as is alleged unjustly, to search in three week what was fabricated, not without skills, in three years, only because in this way it is defined in an absurd disposition, approved by the parliamentary majority of DP. Every one knows that they were conceived, assembled and supported by the previous government. So, only after the draft-decree will be signed by the President, as requested by IMF and World Bank, will exist the right to exploit it, even for electoral campaign, ends the report of Premier's press and information office./mt/gen/sh/

[07] POLITICAL PARTIES CARRY ON THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR JUNE ELECTIONS

* * *

The Albanian Democrat Union Party opened up in Kuksi district (north Albania) its election campaign by presenting the candidate for constituency 15, Osman Shehu.

* * *

Today in Shkodra town the Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) had a meeting with its supporters, where they field their candidates for Parliament. DAP's president Neritan Ceka announced the social pact presented by DAP for the restoration of order and law. Later on he presented the respective candidates: Ali Lacej, Skender Leka, Gjergj Zefi, Nik Kodra and Pal Toma.

* * *

Chairman of Democratic Party (DP) Tritan Shehu, had meetings with inhabitants of Bllice, Bellove, Zimur and Cerjan villages of Peshkopia town, where he presented the candidates Ilir Spata and Ismail Feta. Among others Shehu said: "Fatos Nano and Socialist party besides the violent methods, attempted attacks and hostages in the meetings is still using the deceptive card of lost money restitutions, which they know well they can't return the money.

* * *

"My future cabinet will be based on Albanians faith and consciousness, that's why monarchy is the urgent method of governing the Albanian people," said Leka I in his today's meeting with Laci town inhabitants and representatives of local power.

The King's heir was asked if Nano can govern replied that for the socialist leader is better not to participate in the election campaign, instead his collaborators are less compromised figures.

While to the announcement of Ceka in Lac, that DAP can restore order in 15 days, Leka Zogu answered that it would be a miracle to be established in 90 days as we predict./eva/gen/sh/

[08] PERSONS WHO MALTREATED ME DID NOT HAVE PERSONAL GRUDGES -They asked me [to speak against DP and President Berisha,-said Demi

In an interview given to BBC radio, Nano has said that persons, who maltreated him had old personal grudges against him.

"They demanded from me to speak against DP, President Berisha and our program," said Demi, who is a deputy of the area, elected on May 26, 1996.

Demi with scars in his face and lamely walking by beatings, said that persons who beat me were not common citizens, but armed people.

Secretary for Foreign Relation of DP has reached Saranda town yesterday morning to field the candidate for deputy of constituency 115, Dhimitraq Lepa. In this meeting he was accompanied by Vlora and Saranda Prefect, Afrim Haci.

When the meeting started with the supporters of DP, armed persons launched two grenades in the first and second floor said Demi and added "under this circumstances our supporter and members of the branch steering committee decided to suspend the meeting to avoid a possible massacre." Demi said that when they came out, persons armed with Kallashnikow and hand grenades attacked him.

They took him hostage and maltreated him for several hours, demanding from him to speak ill of the four years of DP governing, President Berisha and Democratic Party, whom for Demi are dear and it told so to the persons who were maltreating him. "Such a thing irritated them and used extreme methods against me and could eliminate me, as they asserted many times. These persons decided to stage a meeting later on in Saranda square, but it seemed that they received an order to set me free said Demi.

Last night Demi around 7 PM he went to Gjirokastra where he spent the night and early in the morning he left for Tirana, where he reached at 10 AM./gen/sh/

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