Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-07-28

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ONE KILLED, THREE WOUNDED IN AN ATTACK AGAINST POLICE CHIEF

[02] DP PROTESTS AGAINST TNT EXPLOSION AT MAYOR'S HOUSE IN LUSHNJA

[03] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER

[05] AID AND ASSISTANCE OF WEU FOR ALBANIAN POLICE

[06] WEEKLY AGENDA OF PARLIAMENT'S PROCEEDINGS DEFINED

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS U.S AMBASSADOR

[08] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS PM OF KOSOVA BUKOSHI

[09] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[10] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS U.S. AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA LINO

[11] GJINUSHI AND DOLKE MEET U.S. AMBASSADOR LINO

[12] REPORT OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT'S PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE

[13] EXCERPTS FROM THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM PRESENTED TO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY BY PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO

[14] ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN "THE SPECTRUM" OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT

[01] ONE KILLED, THREE WOUNDED IN AN ATTACK AGAINST POLICE CHIEF

A fire exchange claimed the life of Muhamet Azis Isufi, 30, who is on the run by the police for murder and wounded his brother Lulezim Isufi and another unidentified citizen, who left the scene.

Idriz Bajrami who was standing in front of his shop was also wounded in the fire exchange.

On July 22, armed persons have attacked the Police commissariat in Malesia e Madhe, killing Fran Murrizi, police on duty in this commissariat. kled/ak/sh/

[02] DP PROTESTS AGAINST TNT EXPLOSION AT MAYOR'S HOUSE IN LUSHNJA

The explosion caused considerable damages and terrorised his family.

Fuga lives in his private house and where the Lushnja Congress was convened.

This is a criminal act against symbols of the Albanian history and against leaders of the local government.

The attack against the Lushnja mayor is an attack on leaders of the local government, DP representative, the statement said.

"Through these criminal attacks and other acts of this type against the DP local representatives, the Socialists reveal their strategy to damage the local government and its normal functioning and oblige the DP representatives to step down by a post in which they have been elected by the legitimate vote of October 20.

The DP strongly condemned this criminal act and asked the competent bodies to take measures and defend Fuga family and buildings of museum values," the DP statement said. ake/kled/ak/sh/

[03] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER

Both prime ministers Nano and Bukoshi had two-hour cordial and fraternal talks in the Council of Ministers headquarters and discussed the Kosova problem, situation in Albania and region.

Bukoshi said to the newly-appointed Socialist prime minister that he had come to Albania with the aim of greeting him personally and his party for the success in elections and the important post he assumed.

We, said Bukoshi to Nano, clearly know the difficult situation in which the new government is starting its work and for this, we wish you successes not only in overcoming the crisis but also in carrying out the program of the new government which aims at making Albania a stabilised and strong country and a dignified part of the democratic Euro Atlantic family.

He assured of the will and firm wish of the Kosova government, President Ibrahim Rugova and all the Kosovan leadership for a close cooperation with the new Albanian government.

The Prime Minister Nano assured his Kosova counterpart of the firm will of the Socialist party and coalition government he is leading to stay side by side with the Kosova brothers and all Albanians living in Albanian territories in the Balkan.

We have, said Nano, not only the firm will but also the general experience to deal with the problem of Kosova and national issue in general through competence and concrete aims.

Nano added that our national policy will exclude all those defaults verified during years of intensive efforts and activity, postpone national policy from terrains of slogans in contemporary practices of international relations, in conformity with evolutions of international politics and concrete international stands on Kosova. Establishing realism with clear national and political aims, we are convinced in achieving concrete and positive achievements, Fatos Nano said.

Negotiation table, dialogue on reaching peaceful decisions, joining of forces and coordination of actions should enable the carrying out of a national, civilised and with patriotic stands policy which will have results, Nano said to his Kosova counterpart.

Both politicians agreed on a common wish to make the Albanian national policy non-ideological. They opposed the policy of exclusion on behalf of all stripes, or interests of political groups.

They also agreed that it is time the personal meetings between them be institutionalised, so that the cooperation and coordination of work between Tirana and Prishtina on national issues continue and has results.

Nano and Bukoshi exchanged views on present Albanian and Kosovan policy, and the development in Serbia and Balkan. kled/ak/sh/

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH KOSOVA PRIME MINISTER

Mejdani expressed his satisfaction for the meeting and greeting message on his election in the highest post of president of the Republic. He acquainted Bukoshi with the situation and great work for the economic and institutional renewal of Albania.

Country's stabilisation should be a contribution of all, ruling party and new opposition, at a time when the political life should distance itself from positions of confrontation and isolation and this is the only alternative to go ahead in interest of the people and national issue, the Albanian president said.

Our messages for Albanians in and out of Albania should be those of the understanding and reconciliation, common engagement, for a dignified integration of Albania in the European civilisation. Only in this way, common efforts should take a more active shape and will find understanding in the international arena.

Bukoshi, showing his satisfaction for meeting the President of the Republic, expressed the great interest of Albanians in Kosova and broader in Albania's stabilising and progressing in the road to democracy.

Without a strong and stable Albania, Bukoshi said, our efforts for a right solution to the Kosova issue cannot be successful.

Acquainting Mejdani on the situation in Kosova, Bukoshi said that contacts should continue in order that an integrated stand on the national issue should be present in all levels.

Mejdani and Bukoshi exchanged views on different problems in Albania, aid that the Albanian community abroad can offer in a sign of fraternal solidarity to encounter the difficult situation Albania is facing. ake/kled/ak/sh/

[05] AID AND ASSISTANCE OF WEU FOR ALBANIAN POLICE

According to the spokesman, in this meeting were discussed the modalities of the assistance and aid offered by this organization to the Albanian police.

Minister Ceka said that this is the moment to operate as soon as possible in the technic aspect, because the situation of the Albanian police dictates emergency in carrying out its operations.

"We are open for a more fruitful cooperation, demanding your aid and assistance for the elaboration of a new style in the work of police. Our aim is to put the complete control in the axes of the roads and to eliminate the armed gangs who plunder", said Ceka. He pointed out that they aim to completely restore order and tranquility within 2-3 months, so that production and investments start immediately.

Meanwhile it was decided the establishment of a special working group under the direction of the State Secretary, Legisi, and made up of specialists and senior officials of the ministry, to cooperate with the representatives and experts of this ministry. /a.ke/pas/mt/k

[06] WEEKLY AGENDA OF PARLIAMENT'S PROCEEDINGS DEFINED

The Presidency of the People's Assembly in its meeting today also examined some of the most important questions which will be presented for discussion and approval to the People's Assembly in the next plenary sessions.

The program of the executive is expected to be examined in the People's Assembly with an accelerated procedure, because July 31 is coming, the day when the foreign donors will meet in Rome, who plan to offer ambitious programs of aid and cooperation for our country, said among other Speaker Skender Gjinushi.

The work in the permanent parliamentary commissions is expected to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, where among others it will be discussed on the election of the new Leading Council of the Albanian Radio Television, as well as on some amendments in the Main Constitutional Provisions, and on the procedures of drafting and approving the new Constitution, etc. /kei/mt/

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS U.S AMBASSADOR

Ceka said in this meeting that "Our aim is to restructure the Interior Ministry as a serious institution up to the levels demanded by the time, where a wider space should be given to the Local Government."

"For this we need urgent aid and technical assistance. Our aim is to completely restore order and tranquility within two or three months, so that the economic activity and investments start," said Ceka.

Ceka also stressed the necessity of a further decentralization of the local government.

Legisi said that it is necessary a more fruitful cooperation between the local government officials and the central body, without any prejudices, always based on the laws.

Lino said that USA are finally resolute in the aid they should offer to Albania in general, and to the police in particular.

"We have thought to sent first a group of experts to estimate the situation and the concrete needs, with the preference that these specialists join the mission of WEU (Western European Union), which actually cooperate with the Albanian police," she said.

Lino said that USA will continue to apply the special programs for the local government, both for the training of the leaders and specialists and for the accord of a considerable material aid, ends the report of the Interior Ministry spokesman. /a.ke/kei/mt/

[08] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS PM OF KOSOVA BUKOSHI

Premier Bukoshi wished Milo for his new and important duty, expressing the delight for the friendly climate and the messages of cooperation he found, the same as in the meetings with President Mejdani and Premier Nano.

After he spoke about the situation in Kosova and the efforts of the Albanians to achieve their political and national aims, Premier Bukoshi stressed the importance to further strengthen the cooperation between Albania and Kosova.

Also he underlined the importance of further coordination of the stands and national policies in the region and wider, as well as in the international organizations.

Foreign Minister Milo stressed that the Kosova question and the national issue are one of the most fundamental directions of the foreign policy of Albania, for which Albania respects with resolution the rules and norms, already accepted by the international community.

"In the program of the Government, which will be approved on Monday afternoon, continued Milo, is underlined the stand towards the national issue and that the new Government will be always led, in its police in the Balkan and wider, from the aim to create favourable international circumstances for the fulfillment of the Albanian national objectives."

During the meeting they exchanged thoughts regarding the situation of Albanians in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the situation in the Balkan and the cooperation with the neighbours, etc. /s.sh/kei/mt/

[09] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

Ambassador Okcun, after expressing to Milo the best wishes for his appointment in this important duty, repeated again the support of Turkey for the new Albanian Government, stressing that Turkey has built and builds its relations with Albania, not on the basis of the party convictions, but on the basis of the mutual interest, cooperation, understanding, peace and security in the region.

Minister Milo expressed to the Turkish Ambassador the thanks for the friendly message of the Turkish party and stressed that the relations of Albania with Turkey will be constant relations of friendship and cooperation.

The new Albanian Government, stressed Milo later on, expresses its engagement that it will continue further on in the best tradition of the Albanian-Turkish relations and of the friendship between our people. /s.sh/kei/mt/

[10] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS U.S. AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA LINO

Lino conveyed the support of the U.S. government for the new Albanian government, as well as her readiness for the further development of relations between both countries.

Lino also expressed the wish of the U.S. administration that the opposition should participate and be integrated in the political and parliamentary life of the country.

Minister Milo stressed that the new Albanian Government considers the relations with USA with special priority and expresses its will to develop them further on in all the fields and levels. /s.sh/kei/mt/

[11] GJINUSHI AND DOLKE MEET U.S. AMBASSADOR LINO

Lino expressed her delight for the conduct of the parliamentary elections in the country, for the culture reflected in shifting of powers without serious excesses, while estimated that this will be the basis for the installment of democracy and stability in the country.

Ambassador Lino underlined on this occasion the readiness of USA to give a contribution to the good of the further development of the values of democracy in Albania.

Gjinushi on his side underlined the role of the People's Assembly in the situation created recently in the country. He said that an intensive work for the consolidation of the institutions and the rule of law is requested.

"Concretely, in the field of legislation, said Gjinushi, we will focus on the process of drafting a constitution over the parties, of all the Albanians, drafted on the basis of the professionist opinion. The drafting of the Constitution will follow all the democratic procedures to avoid any kind of misinterpretation. We have thought the draft pass normally through the Constitutional Commission in Parliament and be approved by a people's referendum, so that the Constitution secures a wide support and be long-lived."

The U.S. Ambassador said that the realization of a public professional debate regarding the Constitution would be very fruitful, and confirmed the possibility of a technic professional assistance from the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute and USAID. /a.sh/kei/mt/

[12] REPORT OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT'S PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE

"I want to convey to you, Mr Mejdani, most cordial wishes for your appointment to the post of the President of the Republic of Albania. I am pleased that the perspective of work with you is opened for the consolidation of the friendly relations and cooperation which link our two countries.

You must be sure, besides others, Mr President, of the will of France to continue its active contribution even after the withdrawal of the Multinational Protection Forces, which together with the efforts of the international community, to encourage a stabilized situation in Albania and the rapproachement of your country with the European Union.

Accept, Mr President, the expression of my esteem consideration," ends the leter of President Chirak to Mr Mejdani.

After reading the letter, President Mejdani thanked the French Ambassador and asked him to convey to Mr Chirac his warmest thanks for the message and the full readiness of the new structures of the Albanian people to further the relations between the two countries in all the fields.

Mr Mejdani voiced his gratitude for the contribution of the French trooops in the context of the Multinational Protection Forces in Albania and the conviction that the French assistance in the biletaral aspect and in the context of the international organizations will be rather important for the Albanian people in these difficult days for them.

The President briefed the French Ambassador of the great work and serious commitment of all state structures to bring the country out of the crisis, to establish a normal public order and for the institutional recovery of the country.

The French Ambassador stressed the full readiness of the French President, Chirac and Prime Minister Jospen for the consolidation of the relations between France and Albania and the assistance, especially in the fields of defence and public order that France is preparing for Albania with the departure of the French troops.

He confirmed the full commitment of the French governnment to help the Albanian economy and the active contribution of France in the international aspect for the Donators' Conference to be held in October this year.

During the meeting, President Mejdani and the French Ambassador exchanged opinions on the local situation and the commitment of the international community for Albania's overcoming of the difficulties and its institutional and democratic recovery.

At the end, Mr Mejdani asked the French Ambassador to convey the warmest greetings to President Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospen, ends the report of the Albanian President's Press and information office. /s.sh./kei/xh/

[13] EXCERPTS FROM THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM PRESENTED TO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY BY PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO

In this report, Mr Nano described as "fundamental pillars of the new Government the further development of pluralism through the perfection of the parliamentary democracy and reconstruction of the democratic institutions, constitutional and practical realisation of the division and equlibriums of legislative, excecutive and judicial powers.

As such, it comes to evidence the development of the market economy in which the private sector dominates with the state social influence, the social insurance and assistance. In the direction of the security of the country's independence and integration, the newly-appointed prime minister stressed the active participation and membership of Albania in all international euro-atlantic structures, with the aim to find a final solution to the Albanian national question according to the standards of united Europe.

Dwelling on the economic policies of the new government, Mr Nano focused extensively on the main macro-economic indeces and the financial policies. With regard to the transparence on the pyramid investment schemes, Mr Nano stressed that the aim to find and transform all possible liquidities to return to creditors every source that these companies may have as their own monetary account and in the banks within the country at first and in other countries as well.

A selection of the profitable activities will be made and the the immovable and movable assets of these companies will be transformed into liquidities through legal administrative ways.

The difinite amount of the loss in those pyramid schemes will be defined and it will serve as a basis to construct the schemes of lowering these losses.

As regards the relations with international financial organizations, PM Fatos Nano said: "Our efforts to have a full support of these institutions will be finalized with a three-year-term agreement to be reached with the IMF, and which will be the pillar of the measures for the improvement of the economy that the government should adopt in the coming years."

Nano bases the strategy of privatization on preparation of sectorial policies for the administration and privatization of the public ownership of all economic sectors, placing importance to sectors of special importance for the national economy.

This will be realised on the basis of the experience that other countries have in this direction, without neglecting the specific conditions of our country.

Ensurance of the value of the market of the enterprises which are privatized on the basis of an efficient marketing;

Selection of proper techniques of privatization, taking into account the objectives of privatization and the characteristics of the enterprises to be privatized;

Determination of rules, instructions and standard procedures for the selection of the enterprises for privatization, along with the encouragement of the transparence of this process in general.

The report also dwells on the construction of the new active policies for the employment, self-employment and professional formation, adoption of immediate measures to overcome the hindrances to the progress of the projects and investments which are linked with expropriations, compilation of laws, decisions and rules on the tasks of the public administration, ensurance of financial sources for the restitution of the damages caused during the period of extraordinary events in the system of agriculture and food sector, especially in the state structures, completion of the legislation for the protection of the private ownership and creation of the free market for the transaction of the land, support for the development of a modern and efficient agrculture, improvement of the food situation in the country, accelerated development of rural areas, etc.

The program is also focused on the educational policies of the new government by guaranteeing free schooling at all levels of public schools, so that education be massive and laic and at the same time a guaranteed the education for national minorities conformed to the rights set in international conventions. It is forecast a significant increase of the number of the students in universities creating more space for admissions of students from Kosova and other Albanian territories in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and from Montenegro.

Mr Nano treated in the government program also problems of the development of literature, culture, arts and sports. xh/

[14] ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN "THE SPECTRUM" OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT

The foreign policy of the government, he stressed, will be led by the national interests and in their defence, it will be to the benefit of all the Albanians wherever they are, being dynamic and in equilibrium, searching the friendship of reliable and stable partners, it will deliever and create messages of understanding and cooperation, peace and security.

"We," said Mr Nano further on, "will turn Albania from a worring problem for the European democracy into one of its democratic segments, from a subject which needed the care of the Council of Europe into one of its constructive members, from a source of concerns for the European community to one of its loyal partners.

We will respect all the obligations stemming from our membership in the Council of Europe and will work for the extension of political, economic and cultural relations with the European Union, aiming especially at the promotion of contractual relations.

Our objective will be the accomplishment of all conditions to sign in time the associate agreement with the European Union. The new government will work that Albania be a worthy member of OSCE, that it overcome the infantile stage of democracy and carry out with full responsibility all its obligations in this organization, which has made so much to raise on foot the Albanian maimed democracy. Unfortunately, we are inheriting a situation in which regressive steps have been made regarding the integration of Albania into European structures, as well as in the NATO," said Nano.

Albania will, also in the future, be an active member in the relations with U.N. its specialized agencies and other international organizations.

The government which I have the honour to lead, said Mr Nano further on, expresses its profound gratitude to the U.S. Government and the U.S. President, Mr Bill Clinton, for the valuable assistance they have given and are giving to Albania and the Albanian people in the development of democracy and the market economy and to the elimination of deformations and authoritarian and subjective excesses which are manifested in these directions.

We consider the relations with the United States of America, Nano underlined, as very important for Albania, as vital for its democratic prosperity. Therefore, the new Albanian Government guarantees a sincere will and desire that these relations will develop and intensify on the basis of the observation of the democratic values, human rights and freedoms in Albania, the peace and security in the region, and on the basis of the mutual interests in all fields, political, economic and military.

The promotion, extension and intensification of bilateral relations with all European Union member countries and with other countries of Western Europe, said Albanian PM further on, will be a powerful dimension of our foreign policy.

Focusing on the relations with the neighbouring countries, PM Nano said that Italy and Greece, taking into account the geographic-natural specifics of the neighbourliness with Albania, the intensity of the economic exchanges and the volume of investments, the extension of the human and cultural contact, their all-sided and detailed recognition of the Albanian situation by these friendly countries, of the role and priority contributions they have in the overcoming of the present crisis, as well as taking into account the logic of the perspective of albanian's integration in the European Community and NATO, will to be for us the main partner in the region.

We, he continued, will intensify especially with these countries, the political, economic, cultural and consular relations. The assistance and support that the friendly governments of these two countries gave to the Government of National Reconciliation is a good basis of cooperation and understanding to overcome the extremely difficult and tense situation that Albania is in.

We want to hope that the encouraging Italian and Greek promises to help Albania's reconstruction also imply the objective for the legal adjustment of the status of the Albanians who are actually working and living in Italy and Greece.

The new Albanian government holds that questions of bilateral relations of mutual benefit may be discussed through dialogue concerning the relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Monenegro.) Understanding towards te legal rights of the Albanians of Kosova and their realisation will be a positive qualitative development of the relations between the two countries from which mutual profits will also derive.

The new Albanian Government considers the question of the Albanians of Kosova as a priority, all-national question, the solution of which demands the elaboration and application of a joint policy of these proportions. It will try to create most favourable conditions for the realisation of the legitimate rights of the Albanians in Kosove, through democratic ways and conformed to the recognized international acts.

We also declare, said the Prime Minister, our sincere will for the further and useful development of the relations with the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We think that the publication, materialisation and guarantee of the internationally accepted and recognized rights of the Albanians in that country create vary favourable premises not only to solve the problems like those created recently but also to guarantee a better future for our neighbouring relations.

The new Albanian government is inclined to seek more possibilities for the extension of the relations with other Balkan countries and first of all with Turkey. The traditional cooperation and understanding will find new spaces. We will support and take part in every new regional initative or plan which aims the peace, security, understanding and cooperation between the peoples and countries of the Balkans and the Mediterranean regions,as well as will contribute to the organizations and initiatives which already exist in the region and outside it.

Bringing to a close the report on the foreign policy, Mr Nano said:

The relations with Russia will be naturally in the attention of the new government. They will be realised and further developed in all the mutually interested fields. We shall conduct an active foreign policy in the context of the European family also with other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Our governnment will develop mutually beneficial relations also with Asian countries, especially with China and Japan. The Albanian Government will further develop the relations with the countries of the Middle East and with every other country which will manifest its interest and readiness, ended his address the Albanian PM Fatos Nano. /xh/

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