Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] AMENDEMENTS TO LAWS ON STATE CONTROL SERVICE AND THE BANK OF ALBANIA APPROVED

[02] U.S. AMBASSADRESS LINO IN TIRANE MEETS WITH PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION [OF FOREIGN POLICY

[03] PRESS REVIEW

[04] STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT'S SPOKESMAN

[05] POLISH PRESIDENT THANKS ALBANIAN PM

[06] MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PRIVATIZATION YLLI BUFI MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN ALBANIA

[07] MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PRIVATIZATION YLLI BUFI MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN ALBANIA

[08] NEW CHIEF OF POLICE COMMISSARIAT APPOINTED IN KOPLIK

[09] MINISTER BUFI MEETS WB DELEGATION

[10] ALBANIA'S PROSECUTOR GENERAL RESIGNS

[11] NEW PROJECTS FOR RESTORATION OF INVESTMENTS IN ALBANIA

[12] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

[13] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF FORMER POLITICALLY PROSECUTED ASSOCIATION

[14] MESSAGE OF GREETINGS OF U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEIDANI

[15] ASSISTANCE OF ITALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE SYSTEM OF PRISONS IN ALBANIA

[16] DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EMBASSY OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

[17] FOREIGN MINISTER OF ALBANIA PASKAL MILO MEETS WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANE

[18] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MEETS CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF YUGOSLAVIA

[19] PRESENT SITUATION, URGENT MEASURES FOR ALBANIAN ARMY - minister

[20] SERIOUS DIALOGUE TO START FOR KOSOVA POLITICAL STATUS - ambassador

[01] AMENDEMENTS TO LAWS ON STATE CONTROL SERVICE AND THE BANK OF ALBANIA APPROVED

The changes adopted in the law on the State Control Service are related with the fact that the Chairman of this Service must be appointed a representtive of one of the parliamentary opposition parties. But as the Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi stressed, he must not be from the ranks of that opposition which has just left the power." The chairman and his substitutes in the State Control Service must be named by the People's Assembly with the approval of the President of the Republic and this law enters into force on the day it is decreed.

The law presented for adoption by three parliamentary groups, that of SP, SDP and the Centre parties, stressed deputy Pandeli Majko, is important because it distances the SCS from the "hand of the govvernment" which administers continunously by operating on the basis of the laws it itself proposes before its majority. Such an amendement is also dictated by the agreement between political parties, according to which the post of the chirman of the SCS belongs to a representative of the parliamentary opposition. His mandate is the same as that of the People's Assembly.

With the amendements approved to the Law "On the Bank of Albania" the number of the Monitoring Council members increases from 7 to 9. This, said those who proposed the change, becomes necessary with the participation of more specialists of various sectors of the economy closely linked with banking and monetary questions, in contributing to the policies of the Bank of Albania and creating more spaces for a balance of powers in favour of a greater independence of the long term policies which this national institution will follow.

The Governor of the Bank and his deputy are proposed by the Monitoring Council of the Bank of Albania. The Assembly also decided that the amendments will come into force immediately after they are decreed by the President.

The People's Assembly will resume its sessions on Monday. xh/

[02] U.S. AMBASSADRESS LINO IN TIRANE MEETS WITH PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION OF FOREIGN POLICY

"It is a special pleasure to meet with the Commission of the Foreign Policy which consists of distinguished politicians of the position and the opposition parties," said Mrs Lino at the beginning of the meeting.

Ambassador Lino highlighted the clear valuations of the Commission regarding the priorities in the relations of good neighbourliness with the neighbour coutries and especially with Italy and Greece, with regard to the integration strategy of Albania in the European structures abnd the realist stand for a peaceful solution to the question of Kosova and of the Albanians in Macedonia.

Mr Zeneli underlined that the Commission will play an important role in the foreign policy of the Albanian state. He highlighted the restitution of stability in Albania as a positive factor for the stability of the region and opening of Albania to integration processes.

Mr Zeneli expressed his thanks for the support that the U.S. has given and is giving to the institutionalization of democracy in Albania. xh/

[03] PRESS REVIEW

Under the headline "Albert Minga elected SP commissar in RTSH. Illegal dismissal of Pollo," the newspaper Rilindja Demokratike says "Nano occupies television." It carries the editorial "Revanche of force and flatteries." The paper covers the meeting of parties gathered in the political grouping Unity for democracy, under the title "Communist revanche oppresses opposition." Regarding the interpellation of the Defence Minister Sabit Brokaj, the paper says "Brokaj and platform of communist broom in the army."

Republika carries an interview with the Albanian former prime minister Aleksander Meksi, under the title "Let garbage of DP sue me." The paper carries the editorial "Death has no right to live." Referring to the election of the new director general of the RTSH, Albert Minga, the paper says that Albanian Radio Television has changed steersman. In the chronicle column the paper reports that a thief was beaten to death by two women in Elbasan.

Rilindja carries in its first page a story of its correspondent in New York under the title "IMF ready to help Albania, as soon as the conditions are created." The paper reports on a scheduled meeting in Belgrade today between Richard Holbook and a Kosova delegation. In its second page the paper carries an article on the 7th anniversary of the ban on the newspaper Rilindja of Kosova. Under the title "Ali Ukaj, a mysterious killing," the paper reports on the arrival of the corpse of the journalist, killed in Tirana ten days ago, in Kosova. "Three months ago, Belgrade's Borba newspaper had accused the journalist as "spokesman of the Kosova terrorist organisation 'Liberation Army of Kosova'" - the paper says.

Albania carries in the first page a dialogue of the deputy prime minister Bashkim Fino with the Governor of the Bank of Albania Qemal Tusha, under the title "Fino: Children to remain without food." In the same page, the paper also says "Nano 3 cabinet, 'Steersman of cigarette smuggling'". The paper reports on "Karelia" cigarettes which were smuggled by sea from Igumenica, Greece to Albania. The paper says that some 40 armed persons have prevented on Thursday the officials of the Qafe Thana customs house to control four trucks with foreign number plates. Referring to a change of RTSH leading staff, the paper says "Albanian Radio and Television occupied." It carries a statement of the head of the Independent Trade Unions, Llubani, under the title "We are waiting the government keep the promise on money-lending."

"Nano passed the U.S. test", the newspaper Koha Jone says in the first page referring to the greeting message of the U.S. President Bill Clinton. The paper carries the editorial "Clinton: Nano success." In relation to the election of RTSH leading staff, the paper says "RTSH, last bunker fell." Referring to rumors that senior officials are involved in cigarette smuggling, the paper says that SHIK, Interior and Defence Ministries are operating to investigate on the case,.

Dita says "SP: This is how the administration will be purged," and it carries the editorial "How institutions are reconstructed?" On the cigarette smuggling, the paper says "'Anti-cigarette' operation soon in the city of Shkodra."

Gazeta Shqiptare says that the Minister of Health Leonard Solis does not agree with purges in administration. "Battle for RTSH: Minga wins," the paper says regarding the election of the new RTSH director. Covering the debate on death penalty in Albania, the paper says that the head of the Tirana Court Qazim Gjonaj considered this a "necessity."

Sindikalisti says "Independent Trade Unions, ready to restructuring in favour of its historic mission." kei/pas/ak/

[04] STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT'S SPOKESMAN

"With regard to the noise and the extremely politicized insinuations of a part of the Albanian press for the alleged campaign of cleansing in the administration, we consider necessary to make the following explanation:

The overcoming of the extraordinary economic and social difficulties, the institutional restoration, the restoration of order and public tranquility, the normalization of life in general throughout the country, put forward as immediate duty of the broad based government coalition, emerged from the plebiscitary vote of June 29, measures which should be taken according to the Program that took the vote of confidence in parliament and was welcomed in the Conference of Rome, even for the restructuring of the current state administration.

The challenges of the new government are overcome through the involvement in the leading administration activity of the entire qualified human potential, with contemporary mentality, set free from the political prejudices, and based on the criteria of meritocracy .

We consider fair to explain that we have not to do with the so-called cleansing, castings of arbitrary discharges from work. It is a matter of an administration reform in complete accordance with existing constitutional and legal provisions, as well as with the rules and standards adopted in all the western democratic countries.

More concretely. The juridical relations of labour in the public, central and local administration and in the budget institutions are regulated on the basis of law "On the Civil Service in the Republic of Albania," approved by the Albanian parliament, on March 1, 1996 and the respective decision of the Council of Ministers of that time. Participating in this service, always according to the above law, are the political officials, that is, the persons who exercise leading political functions in the central and local bodies of the public administration, the officials and their deputies in the specialized public institutions, as well as the persons who exercise direct accessory activity for the realization of the political functions of the above persons. According to this law, the duration of their juridical relations of work is limited and is defined by the political mandate.

Along with what was stressed above, it should be stressed that in the framework of this reformation, there should be created all the possibilities offered by the legislation in force to systematize and engage in job positions all the persons and specialists who reach the criteria of capability and merit," ends the release of the government's spokesman. /kled/mt/sh/

[05] POLISH PRESIDENT THANKS ALBANIAN PM

[06] MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PRIVATIZATION YLLI BUFI MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN ALBANIA

In the meeting with U.S. Ambassadress in Tirana, Mariza Lino, of the United Kingdom, Andrew Tressoriere, of Switzerland Tomas Feller, of Turkey Stanimir Vukicevic, Minister Bufi explained the position of the ministry he leads in the new structure of the Albanian government.

The representatives of the diplomatic corps confirmed the interests of their countries to increase the economic relations in the fields with mutual interests, ends the report of the spokesman of this ministry. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[07] MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND PRIVATIZATION YLLI BUFI MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN ALBANIA

In the meeting with U.S. Ambassadress in Tirana, Mariza Lino, of the United Kingdom, Andrew Tressoriere, of Switzerland Tomas Feller, of Turkey Stanimir Vukicevic, Minister Bufi explained the position of the ministry he leads in the new structure of the Albanian government.

[08] NEW CHIEF OF POLICE COMMISSARIAT APPOINTED IN KOPLIK

Ferrizaj told ATA that rapid measures have been taken to fight criminality in this district.

The police commissariat of this district was attacked several days ago by armed persons, and due to this the policeman Fran Murrizi was killed. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[09] MINISTER BUFI MEETS WB DELEGATION

The recent destabilization, both in the public order and legal aspect, has caused loss and insecurity on the foreign investors. To pass this situation, Mr Elbirt and the specialists accompanying him, proposed the establishment of a mechanism named the Agency of Guarantee, which would enable facilities in the creation of guarantees, needed to foreign operators to invest in Albania.

Minister Bufi, after familiarizing with this proposal, was engaged to set up as soon as as possible the joint working groups to put into life this mechanism and assured Mr Elbirt for the immediate support of this program. In the meeting they also talked about the continuity of programs, and to accelerate the process of privatization, ends the report of the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization./mt/sh/

[10] ALBANIA'S PROSECUTOR GENERAL RESIGNS

[11] NEW PROJECTS FOR RESTORATION OF INVESTMENTS IN ALBANIA

As it seems, the first great donor for the post crisis Albania will be BERD (The Bank of Europe for Reconstruction and Development). The representatives of the World Bank said that this institution is ready to immediately accord 10 million dollars for the the Albanian private business. The accord will be carried out through the private commercial banks.

Both parties agreed that despite that how many funds will be accorded by BERD and IFC, it is important to restore order, to limit the customs duties for the import of the row materials, as well as to put into function the collection of taxes for all.

In the projects of the World Bank for the future from the representatives of this institution were presented two of them, which are thought to be adopted in Albania: the first includes an agreement to cover the damages due to the crisis in Albania and the other includes a line of credit for the private banks. /kled/mt/sh/

[12] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

President Meidani stressed the fight for the independence of the individual so that the rights for political freedoms, those of the creativity etc, be not inflicted, because "the human right is universal," he said.

In the course of the efforts for the elevation of the level of democracy, the President said that "the law on manifestations should be corrected."

"This contact is a signal that the new leading political class has as a compass the human rights freedom," said Prec Zogaj, adviser of the President on political and press questions.

Vasil Melo, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of the Human Rights said that the state is not a mechanism which falls as a burden on the shoulders of the citizens, but a state which helps them.

Representatives of the Helsinki Committed, Open Civil Society, Albanian Group for Human Rights, Human Rights Centre etc., expressed their opinions regarding the level of the observation of the rights of the citizens in Albania, stressing that "there is a lot to be done because the abuses have been serious."

"We have been neglected and our voice was not heard," stressed the chairman of the Helsinki Committee, Arben Puto. Pointing out that Albania has inherited an experience with problems, he admitted that "in a state power there may be violations as well." ake/kled/xh/sh/

[13] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF FORMER POLITICALLY PROSECUTED ASSOCIATION

On behalf of the association, Kurt Kola conveyed to President Meidani the best wishes and complete successes in the high post for the people and the homeland.

President Meidani appreciated the support that the association has given to the democratic process in Albania and pointed out the engagement of all the state structures to make everything possible in the continuous integration of this prosecuted strata into the democratic society and in the big process of national reconciliation.

Meidani estimated the inauguration of the Institute of Integration as a serious engagement of the new government in this direction and for this he assured his complete support.

The talk was focused on the contribution of the association and of any structure of the association to attain the common goal of reconciliation and understanding to the good of all the Albanians./a.ke/kled/mt/sh/

[14] MESSAGE OF GREETINGS OF U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEIDANI

Dr Mr President,

Congratulations and best wishes on your appointment as President of the Republic of Albania. The crisis in Albania has been very much on my mind these past few months and I was gratified that the parliamentary elections and government transition proceeded as smoothly as they did, given the difficult circumstances.

While the international community played a key role in the success of this process, writes president Clinton in his message, ultimate credit must go to the Albanian people, who set aside their political differences to work through the democratic process.

As you undertake your duties as Head of state, I am pleased that you have placed such high emphasis on the role of a president must play in unifying the citizenry. The process of reconciliation will be key to progress in Albania. The United States will give its full support in your pursuit of this all-important goal."

After reading the message, the President of Albania asked the U.S.Ambassadress Lino to convey to U.S. President warmest thanks and the assurance for his commitment, of the Albanian government and people to go forward on the road of democracy, democratic institutions, rule of law and national reconciliation, so much necessary for the country.

President Meidani and Ambassadress Lino exchanged opinions on problems of democratic and economic normalization of the life in Albania and the need of finding the mechanisms and the creation of legal spaces for the legal and normal democratic functioning of all the structures of the country. ake/kled/xh/sh/

[15] ASSISTANCE OF ITALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE SYSTEM OF PRISONS IN ALBANIA

It had 10 tons of materials for people who are serving imprisonment terms such as beds, mattresses, tv sets, etc., three ambulances, a bus, another vehicle, a van, etc. The aid will be delivered in the prisons of Tirane and Lushnja which are presently functioning.

The rest of the aid, consisting of 190 tons of materials for Albanian prisons, will be delivered to other prisons which will be restored soon.

The assistance follows directly the meeting of Albanian Minister of Justice with his Italian counterpart in Rome in the context of the cooperation between the two ministries.

Albanian Minister of Justice Thimio Kondi expressed his thanks to the coordinator of the Italian Government, Mr Songiorno for the assistance for the system of prisons.

Justice Minister Kondi and his deputy Artan Hajdari had a working meeting with OSCE representatives.

OSCE representatives, Mr Berngard and Svenningsen, voiced their readiness to help Albanian judiciary.

A commission of experts will come to Albania the coming week to meet with chiefs of Albanian judiciaries and to materialize the assistance to recover courts, 15 of which are completely damaged, the restoration of prisons and the construction of other prisons (3 from 7 previous jails are functioning,) aid for the School of Magistrature, training of jurists and the staff of prisons. ake/kled/xh/sh/

[16] DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EMBASSY OF FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

According to the spokesman, the solution of the past differences and establishment of relations of good neighborliness between the two countries on the basis of mutual exchanges and the observation of the recognized international standards were the main topics of the meeting between deputy parliament speaker Dokle and Mr Vukicevic.

The program of the government for the foreign policy determines correctly the relations of good neighbourliness and the integration objectives of Albania in the European and euro-Atlantic structures, underlined Dokle.

"With regard to the solution of the question of Kosova," said Dokle, "we will be abided by the definition in the program of the Albanian government which is for a peaceful solution to the problem, according to known international standards.

Mr Dokle spoke of the importance of the extension of the interborder relations between the two countries, presenting on that occasion the request of the electorate of his constituency for the opening of new customs border points, creation of facilities in the granting of visas for Albanian nationals in the district of Kukes, etc.

Vukicevic expressed understanding for the problems discussed and assured the deputy chairman Dokle that he would convey the disucced questions to his government. He considered that the reciprocity in the steps for the expansion of the relations will be a basis for the concrete realisation of the coming cooperation and exchanges. ake/kled/xh/sh/

[17] FOREIGN MINISTER OF ALBANIA PASKAL MILO MEETS WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANE

Ambassador Tessoriere pointed out the "bilateral Albanian-British relations which are very good," stressing that "the voice of the Great britain in EU and in NATO on the questions of Albania, is powerful. The March crisis and the later developments brought about an increase of the British interests in Albania," he said. "We have many working programs here and some proposals for joint British-European investments in the sector of oil and mines."

Minister Milo pointed out that "the new Albanian Government aims at intensifying the relations with the European Union, especially with the big countries like Britain. A priority of our foreign policy will be Europe," he said. "We want that Great Britain to be ever more engaged in the Albanian problems," said Milo.

On the same day, Milo also met with the charges d'affaires of Austria and Iran in Tirane. kled/xh/sh/

[18] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MEETS CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF YUGOSLAVIA

During the meeting, Vukicevic showed interest for the establishment of cooperation in the field of health, as neighbouring countries," and that such thing "will become concrete with the aid that Yugoslavia will accord to Albania in the field of health," says among others the announcement of the Ministry of Health and Environment, Elda Kongoli./kled/mt/sh/

[19] PRESENT SITUATION, URGENT MEASURES FOR ALBANIAN ARMY - minister

"The reasons which brought about the destruction of the army were: unfair release of military specialists, their replacement with inexperienced officers and civilians without appropriate education, insufficient economic treatment of military personnel and removal of experienced officers from the grass roots," Brokaj said.

Brokaj added that the measures to be taken for the army's restructuring should be urgent, of legal character and will be more complete after the introduction of the constitution of the Republic of Albania.

We will aim, he said, at stabilising the army, reconsidering the present situation and the status of the military personnel, raising the armed forces to the structures of NATO framework and dismissal of the inexperienced and incriminated persons from the army ranks and replaced them with the experienced released officers.

Answering other questions, Brokaj informed the deputies about finding of the looted missiles from Arshilengo and their storing, documents, war plans and diaries which implicate generals, extra arming of SHIK (National Information Service), quick and non motivated rank promotion for officers.

Reconsidering the problem of army's reorganisation, Minister Brokaj explained that the recruitment of soldiers will be based on a three-year payment and it is thought that some six thousand soldiers will be recruited until the situation in the army is improved. kei/ak/k

[20] SERIOUS DIALOGUE TO START FOR KOSOVA POLITICAL STATUS - ambassador

Gruber said "Kosova should have a high degree of autonomy, within Yugoslav Federation. This is our official position, similar to what European Union has presented," the German diplomat said in an interview to the newspaper "Koha ditore."

Gruber had a meeting in Prishtina with the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr Ibrahim Rugova, representatives of two Albanian big parties - Democratic League and Parliamentarian party, and representatives of the Serbian installed administration. bj/pta/ak/

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