Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-25

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] FRANZ VRANITZKY EXPECTED TO COME TO ALBANIA TODAY

[02] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS INHABITANTS OF LIBRAZHD AND PRRENJAS

[03] ITALIAN TELEVISION CREWS FIND THEMSELVES IN MID OF A CONFLICT

[04] SERBIAN PRESIDENT VISITS KOSOVA

[05] OSCE TO CONTROL EXTRA STAMPS - election authority

[06] GREEK CITIZENS RUN ALBANIAN MAFIA IN SOUTH ALBANIA - paper

[07] DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIVISION CONFUTES ZERI I POPULLIT

[08] KOSOVA PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR FINLAND

[09] PRESS REVIEW

[10] BORDER CHECK POINT OF KAKAVIJA UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL OF POLICE

[11] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO

[12] DP HEADQUARTERS TORCHED IN VLORE

[13] DRESS FOR LADY DIANE FROM DURRES STYLIST

[14] NINE ALBANIAN CHILDREN TO BE TREATED IN MADRID

[15] DP PROTESTS TO CEC FOR FIRE SET ON ITS HEADQUARTERS IN VLORE

[16] MEETING OF PRESIDENT BERISHA WITH INHABITANTS OF BURREL

[17] PREPARATIONS FOR JUNE 29 POLLS TOWARDS THE END - GJIROKASTER

[18] STATEMENT OF MR. SANDOR LEZSAK, ACTING PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY ON GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA, JUNE 1997

[19] "IT WILL BE A CATASTROPHE IF ELECTION OUTCOME IS NOT ACCEPTED" - Vranitzky

[20] A FEW NUMBER OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES COME FROM GREECE TO VOTE

[21] DP OF ALBANIA DECLARATION

[22] MINISTER OF FINANCE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF PYRAMID SCHEMES IN ALBANIA - declares DP

[23] DP HAS DATA ON THE AUTHORS OF THE CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST ITS LEADERS OLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF PYRAMID

[24] PACT OF POLITICAL SUBJECTS FOR ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

[25] MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE CARRIES FOUR ALBANIAN INURED POLICEMEN TO ITALY

[26] STATE SECRETARY OF ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY TAKES PART IN MEETING OF LEADING COMMITTEE OF MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCES

[27] MEETING OF ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES FAILS AGAIN

[28] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTER MALAJ IN A NEWS CONFERENCE

[01] FRANZ VRANITZKY EXPECTED TO COME TO ALBANIA TODAY

[02] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS INHABITANTS OF LIBRAZHD AND PRRENJAS

"The DP promises credit for all those who lost in pyramid investment schemes, and a two-year evasion of taxes for farmers, extension of social assistance but we do not promise white cheque," Berisha said.

Berisha called on the electorate of this area to vote for the DP alternative as the best and safer alternative for the future of Albania.

He presented Fahri Balliu as the DP candidate for future parliament.

* * *

In a meeting with the inhabitants of Librazhd on Tuesday the President Sali Berisha reiterated "the great obligation of the DP to fulfill all promises such as provides jobs, education, infrastructure, and others."

Berisha added "the DP has drafted a special program which aims at protecting the property and the future of the Albanian citizens."

"I asked you to show understanding despite party affiliation," he said.

"The Socialists launched violence to attack democracy, at a time when they present candidatures in areas which are under the control of committees."

Referring to the loss of money in pyramid schemes, Berisha promised the inhabitants of this area "the DP's determination to carry out a complete transparency of these firms." eva/ak/e

[03] ITALIAN TELEVISION CREWS FIND THEMSELVES IN MID OF A CONFLICT

Television crews accompanied by a patrol of San Marco Battalion of FMP belonged to RAI, the Italian state television and the news was transmitted by TG 1, TG 2, TG 3.

"The FMP forces took their cameras, hided them and asked the immediate intervention of the Friuli Brigade," a press release of the FMP said.

RAI staff returned to Friuli command in armoured personnel carriers. No-one was wounded.

In a separate event, a member of a gang fired against an FMP guard who responded to the fire using a MG machine gun forcing the gang to disappear. ak/E

[04] SERBIAN PRESIDENT VISITS KOSOVA

Milosovec is expected to stay in Prishtina and then to continue his visit to Gjilan, Sterpce and Peja. He will address the Serbian people.

Milosevic is not going to hold talks with legitimate representatives of the Albanian people. bj/pta/pm/kled/ak/E

[05] OSCE TO CONTROL EXTRA STAMPS - election authority

The CEC said that 5 000 stamps have arrived in Albania and will be used in 4 525 polling stations. Election authority was concerned about the fact how to control the extra stamps. Thus, it decided that they will be administered by the OSCE and every polling station will use one stamp.

The OSCE representative at the CEC, Dimitar Dimitrov said that a draft agreement has been reached in a meeting with OSCE representatives and Ferdinand Pone, the Director of Local government Directorate at the Interior Ministry which foresees that every constituency shall have an extra stamp which will be used in cases envisaged by the law.

Election authority said that the extra stamps will be given in the presence of all the commission.

Pellumb Cela, CEC member who was in Italy to oversee the printing of ballot papers, said that they (ballot papers) will come earlier on June 26 and will be distributed immediately.

The CEC also approved by consensus, after some technical remarks, the instructions on the distribution of materials necessary for June 29 elections. eva/ak/sh/

[06] GREEK CITIZENS RUN ALBANIAN MAFIA IN SOUTH ALBANIA - paper

The Greek press, Republika says, has published for the first time on Tuesday a series of facts which show that the Albanian mafia is really an apprentice to the Greek mafia.

"We have information that the Greek mafia keeps contact with the Albanian apprentices through 300 mobile phones, but we do not have the apparatus to register the calls which order them for drugs, women and arms traffic," the paper quotes a Corfu high-ranking police official saying to the Greek media.

Republika says that the Greek authorities have conceded the traffic launched and directed in the last six months from Greece. This kind of mafia is estimated to circulate about 1,5 milliard dollars per year for all kinds of traffic.

Albanian citizens were caught four days ago driving a motorboat of a Greek owner with one ton of narcotics on board. Some six motor boats with considerable quantities of drugs on board were blocked recently, the Albanian paper Republika said. kled/ak/sh/

[07] DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIVISION CONFUTES ZERI I POPULLIT

No-one has denounced such an event at the police commissariat in Fier, the DP division for Fier said adding that the car has not come under any attack.

At the place where the presumed incident happened, two persons quarrelled with each other. Their quarrel was for personal reasons and there was no relation to the Socialist candidate or party whatsoever.

What Zeri i Popullit says today is not true. In addition, the Socialist candidate and the Democratic leader for Fier had a lunch and talked for some hours meters away from the place in which the newspaper says that the presumed accident had happened.

It seemed that Zeri i Popullit has lost the links with its candidates for deputy, the DP spokesman said./ssh/kled/ak/sh/

[08] KOSOVA PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR FINLAND

President of Kosova is expected to meet the Foreign minister Tarja Halone and Finnish parliamentarians.

Rugova is also expected to visit Washington after an invitation of the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Allbright, who was recently on a tour to the Balkan region. bj/pta/kled/ak/e

[09] PRESS REVIEW

The paper covers yesterday's press conference of the DP Secretary General Genc Pollo, under the title "Pollo: Elections threatened only by SP gangs."

Regarding the meetings of the Socialist leaders in Elbasan, Gramsh, Cerrik and Belsh, the paper carries the article "Berisha, hand over the power peacefully". "Berisha cannot freeze the smile of anybody," the paper quotes the Socialist leader Fatos Nano as saying. "Berisha projects a new bloodshed for Albanians." The paper says under the title "Berisha threatens the future of Albania." In its second page the paper carries a statement of the Socialist party Steering Committee. "Berisha blocks a decree on transparency," the paper says in its fourth page.

"Berisha tries to go to Vlora but returned back half way," Republika says. "Vranitzky again in Tirana. This time the OSCE envoy will stay for three days and will have a busy agenda", the editorial of Republika says. "The pact signed by SP and DP on Monday in Italy is strongly condemned by many Albanian politicians as a pact of shame at the detriment of the political and social life in the future," the paper says under the title "Pact of Rome, pact of shame."

The Kosova leader Ibrahim Rugova left on Tuesday for Helsinki, Rilindja says. "On election day in Albania the FMP will not escort the observers," it says. "Outstanding problem of Kosova exists," the paper says referring to the Albanian-Serbian round table in Ulqin.

"Italy: Nano directed the stealing of aid," Albanian says under the headline "Humanitarian aid's file: investigations on former Italian Foreign Minister and Albanian former prime minister." "Socialist leader Fatos Nano has paid 300 thousand dollars to have access to Shkodra today," the paper says. "Vlora is swept by an unprecedented communist terror," the paper says under the title "We will eliminate the democrats." "Berisha: establish order within 75 days", the paper says regarding the meetings of president Berisha in the southeastern part of Albania.

Tribuna quotes the Council of Europe saying as "We do not leave Albania in the hands of committees in an article entitled "Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe discuss Albania's affair". The paper carries an interview with the Italian Defence minister Beniamino Andreata entitled "Albania needs the art of compromise."

Koha Jone referring to a decree on a draft law of transparency from President Berisha says "President changes and decrees an anti-money lending draft." It carries an interview with the Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka. In the column Chronicles, the paper says "An extraordinary alarm situation for blue uniforms in the capital - Terror on police staff not to safeguard votes of June 29."

Dita covers the meeting of the Socialist leader Kastriot Islami with inhabitants of Tropoja under the titled "SP: 65 safe constituencies." The paper covers yesterday's press conference of the Democrat leader Genc Pollo under the title "Berisha in opposition, leading figure." In its third page, the paper carries an interview with the spokesman of Vranitzky.

Indipendenti carries the editorial entitled "Today, Vranitzky in Tirana." The paper says "Police patrol attacked near the house of the General Agim Shehu (deputy Interior Minister). Three wounded." The paper covers the meetings of the Socialist leaders in Pogradec, Korce and Kolonja under the title "Nano kissed Servet Pellumbi." The paper carries an interview with the candidate for deputy of the Social Democrat party Albert Shyti under the title "If the money are not return to 100 percent we will go to the street."

Gazeta Shqiptare under the title "Tropoja, two grave incidents, peasants exchange fire with Yugoslavian patrol", says "Shots in the border, five wounded." In its fifth page the paper says "Where are the money of pyramid schemes."/kled/eva/ak/sh/

[10] BORDER CHECK POINT OF KAKAVIJA UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL OF POLICE

"50 policemen serve in this point, who are always ready to stop the persons who do not want to respect the law," says one of the leaders of police commissariat in Gjirokaster.

A policeman of this effective was injured recently by persons who exercise illegal trade.

Sources from this commissariat report on a flux of emigrants who are coming to Albania. /eva/mt/e

[11] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER BASHKIM FINO

"The Albanian people, are, unfortunately, being bombarded by the presidence with rather politicized declarations regarding the law on the transparence of the pyramid investment schemes.

At a time when the draft-decree was adopted by consensus by the Government of National Reconciliation, at a time when this draft was also served to the President for signing by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as the only road for international assistance for our ruined economy, the President of the Republic signed it after making essential changes.

If the President lacks the will to estimate that the IMF, the World Bank and the Government of National Reconciliation are trying to solve definitely the gravest wound of our society in favour of the people, then let him label these powerful international organizations as "the last bastion of communism in Albania," "ideators" of the pyramid investment schemes and "realisers of the all-Albanian revolts." This would "legalize" his latest position and absurd references to the Prime Minister of the Government of the National Reconciliation and the Finance Minister.

The Albanian Prime Minister has demanded from Minister Malaj to clear up everything in his news conference. In the mean time, he appeals to the President's office, that, for the sake of the social peace, three days before elections, to put an end to the messages of electoral strife, to the denigrating and threatening words. The harsh language used on vital questions for Albania's future does further aggravate instead of calming down the situation. If the Presidence likes to use this language, then we too are responding them by saying that such declarations are signals of the loss. They are the last agonies of the declarations on the state security which came out of the mouth of the President referring to the money that Albanians had invested in the loan-taking firms, they are the last efforts to hide the truth on these schemes.

Anyhow, the Prime Minister explains on this occasion, that despite the insistence by the office of the Presidence, the government he is leading is not a socialist governmment. It is the Government of the National Reconciliation that emerged from the March 9, 1997 Agreement between the President and ten Albanian political parties." xh

[12] DP HEADQUARTERS TORCHED IN VLORE

The DP branch of Vlore considers that after these acts and other acts the electoral campaign cannot continue and it considers impossible the normal conduct of elections in the town of Vlore. For this, it has addressed a statement to the Central Election Commission and OSCE.

The same sources report that cruel open pressure and violence were exercised for the second time on the chairman of the DP Youth Forum, Besnik Lula. The houses of DP activists have been shot by Kalashnikovs and bombs.

DP has put up six candidates and has issued the lists of members of all electoral commissions.

The new headquarters of the Democratic Party was rented two week ago after the first building was torched during the rebellion in March.

As it is reported by different sources, the situation in the town of Vlore has been very tense. Announcement have been put in the quarter which is the center of the gangs of Zani Caushi. They tell the inhabitants to leave the quarter because "war will start" by different rival groups. /jz/mt/Z/

[13] DRESS FOR LADY DIANE FROM DURRES STYLIST

For the preparation of this dress with all the body dimensions of Lady Diane, Abdullai has used a French silk material of 22 metres.

Abdullai finished the dress today and will sent it immediately to Lady Diane together with the birthday wish.

He is the first stylist not only in Albania, but also in the Balkan, who sent a modest present to the princess of England. kled/mt/Z/

[14] NINE ALBANIAN CHILDREN TO BE TREATED IN MADRID

The spokesman of the Spanish troops, deployed in Shengjin, Garzon, confessed that the nine children aged 3-15 years old, accompanied by a family member and a doctor and nurse, who have come from Spain on this purpose, started for the military hospital of Madrid where they will be treated. These children have serious health problems.

Garzon said that these children were visited before by the Spanish doctors in Shengjin and their treatment will be financed by the Spanish state with the initiative of the Spanish Defence Minister, Eduardo Serra Rexach. /jz/mt/Z/

[15] DP PROTESTS TO CEC FOR FIRE SET ON ITS HEADQUARTERS IN VLORE

We stress that DP is pursuing attentively the progress of the electoral process and notices that Nano's party is forbidding the normal progress of the electoral campaign in some southern towns, this is why we are reserved on our judgement according to the progress of this process, ends the protest. /jz/mt/ Z/

[16] MEETING OF PRESIDENT BERISHA WITH INHABITANTS OF BURREL

President Berisha invited the inhabitants of Mat and all the Albanians to turn June 29 into a day of the triumph of democracy, into a day when the terrorists and their supporters receive the merited answer.

Berisha called on the honest socialists of Mat not to join the committees and those who aim at dividing Albania, but to join the alternative of DP, the best alternative for its future.

Talking about the problem of pyramid investments schemes, Berisha stressed once again that he had asked their complete transparency, because mistakes could have been made, but the former opposition did not make this during the recent months. He accused the opposition of making promises for the full restitution of the lost money. /jz/mt/ Z/

[17] PREPARATIONS FOR JUNE 29 POLLS TOWARDS THE END - GJIROKASTER

According to the prefect, Thanas Merkuri, the voters' lists have been drafted as well as their declaration, the polling stations and the number of voters for each polling stations have been defined, the ballots boxes have arrived from the center, while the ballot boxes for the referendum are likely to be provided soon.

But this process, stresses Merkuri, has also a lot of difficulties, in the telephonic connection, as well as in the transport by vehicles, due to the mountainous terrain.

The prefecture of the districts Gjirokaster, Tepelene, Permet, has 96.099 voters, who will vote in 328 polling stations. /jz/mt/Z

[18] STATEMENT OF MR. SANDOR LEZSAK, ACTING PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY ON GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA, JUNE 1997

We, Central European Forum for Democracy members know very well the difficulties of overcoming the communist legacy. Unfortunately, this struggle in Albania has become violent, something from which most of our countries have thankfully been spared.

It should be recognized that President Sali Berisha and the Democratic Party of Albania were elected freely by the Albanian people on May 26, 1996. The legality and legitimacy of that government cannot be questioned.

It is therefore regrettable that some individuals and groups in Albania have chosen the road of violence and intimidation rather than democracy in efforts to illegally seize the reigns of power Albania's former communists, now called socialists, and their allied opposition partner parties have unfortunately consistently refused to distance themselves from these groups.

President Berisha has shown a willingness to place the well-being of his country and the legality of his government above his position by allowing new elections.

We fully recognise that the new parliament can only be based on free and fair elections. The committees of armed rebels that have been appeared in the south of the country have no democratic mandate or legal basis.

We regret that the Socialist Party has once more shown that it is not a social democratic party by publicly supporting these committees. The Socialist Party and its allied opposition parties have even included leaders of these committees on their candidate lists for the upcoming elections.

We fear that in the current atmosphere, where the Democratic Party of Albania has been prevented by force from campaigning in the south of the country - although the Socialist Party has been able to freely campaign everywhere - the fairness of the elections are in danger.

We call on all democratic-minded parties and individuals in Albania to respect the rules of democracy in the upcoming elections and afterward.

We also call on all democratic parties n other countries of Europe to recognise that the violence in Albania has been instigated by non-representative, self-proclaimed bodies that must not be removed for their unlawfulness.

In these difficult years in Central and Eastern Europe, where the inheritance of the communist past has to be overcome, democratic dialogue is the only viable road to the future. By allowing the establishment of a government of national reconciliation, although he was not legally bound to do so, President Berisha has shown that he subscribes to these principles.

We call on our like-minded center-right parties in the longer established democracies of Europe and the United States to recognize that the struggle to overcome the inheritance of communism is more difficult than we all first imagined. We regard to the predicament of the Democratic Party of Albania as an extreme, but not unrecognizable form of that struggle. /mt/Z/

[19] "IT WILL BE A CATASTROPHE IF ELECTION OUTCOME IS NOT ACCEPTED" - Vranitzky

"It would be a catastrophe for you and for us if these polls outcome would not be accepted," said Franz Vranitzky in the meeting.

According to Mr Vranitzky, many parties and people will not reach what they wish and will try to deny the polls, said one of the commission members present in the talks.

Vranitzky appreaciated in the meeting with the Central Election Commission the work made so far by the CEC. He voiced his pleasure that the agreement of the Albanian political parties had progressed.

In the meetings that Vranitzky had made in Europe and the U.S. he had noticed the interest for a democratic society in Albania.

"You must not lose this vision which will be followed by a brilliant future for Albania,' said Vranitzky.

"The polls will be monitored by a considerable number of observers," he said further on, adding that "also 100 independent foreign observers will come to Albania for the ballot."

Mr Vranitzky voiced his concern that a part of the constituencies have many problems and made two remarks for the members of the CEC: first the CEC must not take political decisions and it must not shift on constituency election commissions "burdens that they cannot carry." Vranitzky stressed the need that all the problems be solved before election day because a day after would be late.

With regard to the voting hours, he was of the opinion that the closing hour be earlier and explained the role of the Mutlinational Security Forces on the election day. jz/xh

[20] A FEW NUMBER OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES COME FROM GREECE TO VOTE

"But, according to the previous experience," these sources say, "the flux of the emigrants who return home for voting increases with the approach of the election day."

Even after receiving permissions by the Greek police to come to Albania for the polls, a process which has started since June 17, the number of the emigrants is small. Today a ship has left form Patras towards Albania with emigrants on board.

The guarantee for the return to Greece of Albanian emigrants was publicly reiterated by the Greek Foreign Minister Theodhoros Pangallos, who met previously with the chairman of the Organization Omonia and two candidates for deputy of the Human Rights Union Party, Thoma Mico and Vangjel Dule.

The number of the voters in the southern areas reduced due to the emigration and departure of the population because of the situation in those zones. jz/xh

[21] DP OF ALBANIA DECLARATION

This group consisted of members of the electoral staff of the candidate for deputy of the Socialist Party Fatos nano.

Mr Vejsiu was hindered before going to Memaliaj to present the candidate for deputy of the Democratic Party, Agron Kasa, who competes with Fatos Nano in the polls. The rally in Memaliaj was notified in time and the commissariat police chief had given the permit for the rally.

The ultimatum came from the cousin of Gramoz Ruci and nephew of Elmaz Sherifi, the present socialist minister in the Fino cabinet, who threatened Vejsiu and the sons of Memaliaj who accompanied him, not to make towards Memaliaj.

In order to avoid a possible incident, Mr Vejsiu preferred not to hold the rally, calling on the activists of the Democratic Party to keep cool during the coming days of the electoral campign and particularly on June 29.

The decision of Fatos Nano to prevent through armed gangs his political opponents proves that Albanian socialists have given up definitely the political competition and are seeking to win seats in the Albanian Parliament through the force of arms," writes the declaration. jz/xh

[22] MINISTER OF FINANCE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF PYRAMID SCHEMES IN ALBANIA - declares DP

This declaration is a clear testimony to his involvement in the construction of four pyramid schemes in Albania and gives a clear response to the question why Minister Malaj is interested, more than for the transparence of the pyramid schemes where he has worked, in the destruction of those companies which have not yet declared their bankruptcy, thus blocking artificially the process of the transparence, ends the declaration of Dp. jz/xh/

[23] DP HAS DATA ON THE AUTHORS OF THE CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST ITS LEADERS OLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF PYRAMID

DP has managed to identify the authors who took hostage Mr Leonard Demi. The terrorists are members of a known SP gang which operates in Sarande, and is directed by Xhevat Kociaj, Mersin Lapa and others.

Mr Vejsiu was hidndered by the cousin of Gramoz Ruci and nephew of Elmaz Sherifi, present minister of the cabinet Fino. The SP gang which is terrorizing all the constituency where Fatos Nano is a candidate and demands that the voting be 100 per cent for him, is a clear proof that Fatos Nano and Gramoz Ruci and all SP deputies in the south of the country are ilegitimate deputies because they are trying to win noth through votes but through the barrel of the rifle. jz/xh

[24] PACT OF POLITICAL SUBJECTS FOR ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

"After events and an incident with the secretary of the DP foreign relations Leonard Demi, this pact was considered as a message of peace for the normal realisation of the June 29 elections," said to ATA the chairman of the district council Thoma Gjika.

Some of the points of the pact by the political subjects of DP, SP, HRUP, ARW, NUP, DAP are that firing of arms be banned throughout the district, nobody be allowed to play with arms, full participation in the June 29 elections and none of the voters carry arms with himself when he goes to cast his ballot. jz/xh/

[25] MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE CARRIES FOUR ALBANIAN INURED POLICEMEN TO ITALY

"The policemen were transported by two helicopters, one went to Brindizi with two of the wounded and the other left for Bari with the two other wounded policemen," said the spokesman of the MSF Giovanni Bernardi. jz/xh

[26] STATE SECRETARY OF ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY TAKES PART IN MEETING OF LEADING COMMITTEE OF MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCES

The meeting was devoted to the question of the commitment of the multinational forces in the electoral process in Albania.

Mr Zeri voiced the evaluation of the Albanian Government for the understanding and support regarding the increase of the number of the Multinational forces and the extension of their mandate in Albania.

"The cooperation between the multinational forces, the Albanian authorities and public opinion has been very good and this continues to be the basis of the success of this operation,' said Zeri.

In the name of the Albanian Government Mr Zeri expressed his belief that the polls would not solve, perhaps, all the problems we are faced with, but they will mark the beginning of the process of the restoration of normaluity in the country.

All the parties in the meeting voiced their satisfaction for the creation of the central command of the multinaltional forces in Tirane, of a cendre of coordination between the multinational forces, OSCE abnd Albanian authorities to follow the electoral activity of the June 29 polls.ssh/xh

[27] MEETING OF ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES FAILS AGAIN

"After the failure of the round table of the parties on June 24 because the Socialist Party was not taking part, an invitation was sent to notify the holding of the meeting on June 25 at 8.00 but until 9.30 these parties did not appear. The eight participating parties decided to address the Council of Ministers and the CEC to ask the Constittutional Court to set the closing hour of the polls.

The question for the division of the proportional list which should be determined by consensus by the ten parties remains unsolved for their second refusal to appear. The declaration said that the signatories, DAP, BKP, HRUP, USDP, CDP, MLP and RP expressed their deep dissatisfcationm for the boycott of the round table by SP and DP. "These two parties bear all the responsibility for the possible consequences stemming from such an act," writes the declaration.

The eight parties said that before they adopted a final decision, they were going to ask a possible meeting with the OSCE special envoy, former Austrian Chancellor,, Franz Vraniatzky.

In this table, on June 24, the SP representative Mr Ethem Ruka said he was not told for the meeting, "I have informed in written the Socialist party since in the morning for the meeting," said Mr Godo, organizer of the round table. This act seems to me to be irresponsible and similar to the acts undertaken by vagabonds," said he. xh/

[28] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTER MALAJ IN A NEWS CONFERENCE

Malaj said that "in no case the Ministry of Finance had not favoured the control of the collapsed firms. It has demanded "that the constitutonal package for the division of the powers be observed and on the other hand, it has taken the legal commitment to help the prosecutor's office with independent experts."

Minister Malaj said that he had proposed to the President that the transparence be carried out by the Government because it has a broader political basis and not "simply a DP or SP Minister."

With regard to the beginning of the work for the transparence by his ministry, Malaj said that it could not be realised because, according to the law, a group of experts was needed, and this was a task for the Council of Ministers.

"But the setting up of these group of experts would be made in cooperation with international organizations, which did not accept any cooperation before administrators were appointed in the existing companies," said Malaj. He added that he was professionally calm that for this period the legal frame for the treatment at present and in the future of the companies which have taken credits by the people has been reached.

"Without a legal framework, the transparence would not serve the creditors but the policy," said Malaj. He pointed out that the documents prove that the creation, spread and consequences of the pyramid investment schemes have not been unclear for the President and the DP Government. "Unclear is the fact why there have not been any intervention to stop this calamity. If there was carried out any of such action since the end of 1995, the conseuqences of the pyramid investment schemes would be rather small, smaller would also be the bad fortune of the Albanians," said Minister Malaj.

Asked whether he had been expert in two pyramid investment schemes and which has been his salary, Malaj said that he had been a consulent and that his clients had not been pre-defined. "I serve all and I am paid on the basis of honorariums," said Minister Malaj.

Asked why he did not sign the decree on the schemes, Malaj said that the draft decree had to be signed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers or by the respective minister to whom this task is charged. "The second signing aas not made because the draft was not complete and the president should return it to be reviewed in the Government.

"The Prime Minister cannot sign again a decree which does not carry to the letter what the Government has approved" said Malaj.

The response for the question how did Malaj envisage the return of the money to the creditors, was that "I cannot speak without having the figures." ssh/kei/pas/xh

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