Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press review

[02] Mayors from 14 Southeast European countries discuss ways of cooperation

[03] Law on Scrutiny of Figures opens files for first time

[04] Vlore to commemorate protests of 1997

[05] Albanian prosecutors in Italy carry out investigations on concrete issues

[06] Soccer: Georgia beat Albania

[01] Press review

TIRANE, Feb 8 (ATA)-Today's newspapers comment the visit of President Meidani to the U.S.

Zeri i Popullit says:"U.S. powerful support for Albania", dwelling on the meeting of President Meidani with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the of U.S. Justice Department.

The same paper also reports on Meidani's meeting with U.S. senator Bob Dole.

Koha Jone says:"Former candidate for U.S. President meets Albanian president", concentrating on the Meidani-Dole visit.

Reporting on the end of this visit the paper says that "Albanian diplomatic sources in Washington and New York consider the visit of Albanian president to the U.S. very successful, serving the further strengthening and development of the U.S.-Albanian ties.

The warm reception extended to Meidani in all the meetings is regarded as a support for the Albanian democracy and the launched reforms, which aim to reconstruct and consolidate the Albanian democratic institutions, the paper says.

Meidani's visit to the U.S. is also covered by Gazeta Shqiptare, concentrating on the situation in Kosova.

Dita Informacion says:"The U.S.to provide assistance in fighting crime and trafficking", stressing that the chief of the U.S. Justice, Janet Reno, has declared:"We will help you in fighting crime, contraband and money laundering".a.ke/lm (more) BC-ALBANIA-PRESS-REVIEW (2) (Press...2)

Koha Jone carries the editorial "Coalition at stake". It says that "If Nano still keeps to his words several days ago for changes in the government, then the prime minister and SP chairman will seriously be faced with the problem of the five- party coalition.

Right after Nano held his tough speech, the editorial says, almost all of his partners, who have not accepted the dismissal of their people from the government, reacted with the same language. .. Seven months after governing, the paper says, Nano needs play with capable people, even at the risk of reconsidering the coalition".

As regards this issue, Zeri i Popullit dwells on the explanation of prime minister's spokesman Blushi at Saturday's news conference, according to him "the message of prime minister Nano has a different direction from that commented by the press recently. The government head, said Blushi, asked more responsibility and commitment, which only strengthen the coalition.

Dwelling on the news conference of prime minister's spokesman, Dita Informacion says:"Blushi has declared that "the coalition table is different from the executive". Also, as regards German aid, the paper cites him as saying:"The grant of 128 million DM will be released within the Nano government mandate". a.ke/lm (more)

BC-ALBANIA-PRESS-REVIWEW(3) (Press...3)

Today's papers also report on the recent decision of the Figure Scrutiny Commission, chaired by lawyer Bezhani.

"Spy at the head of the army", says Koha Jone and further:"Senior epaulets shocked. He should be discharged from office in 15 days". The paper says that so far the Bezhani commission has fired five senior officials of public sector".

Zeri i Popullit says:"The Bezhani Commission makes the analysis: "Another senior Defence official 'impure'".

Gazeta Shqiptare says:"Bezhani uncovers the army's spy". The paper quotes Bezhani as signaling the Nano cabinet: Here is the "stained" men. You should implement the law. The name of the person still secret, but many know who he is..."

Dita Informacion says:"The Figure Scrutiny Commission makes the weekly analysis. Bezhani uncovers spy in defence".

Shekulli says:"Spy close to Defence Minister Brokaj. The official at the Defence Ministry, collaborator with the former State Security. Bezhani issues the ultimatum:"You should leave in two weeks, otherwise I will make the file public".

Albania says:"The Figure Scrutiny Commission opens files of the Defence Ministry. Bezhani:"Here is Brokaj's spy".

Republika says:"Spy with epaulets at the Defence Ministry". a.ke/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Mayors from 14 Southeast European countries discuss ways of cooperation

The conference embraced the initiative of Athens' Mayor Dimitrios Avramopoulos, for the creation of a regional Cooperation Committee, which will organise sports activities among the municipalities of the respective capitals on the eve of the Olympic Games, due in Athens in 2004.

The initiative of Skopje's town-hall for the creation of a Cultural and Information Agency of the Southeast European capitals, which will help secure an accurate and fast information through the region's urban centres was also considered of interest by the participants.

The conference discussed the proposal of the municipalities of Athens, Zagreb, Ljubljana and Bucharest to organise a tourist tour by the so-called "Train of the Southeast European Youth", which will traverse the Southeast European capitals, conveying messages of peace and fraternity by the youths of the region's capitals.

The Tirane mayors and at the same time chairman of Albanian Mayors' Association, Albert Brojka, said in his speech that "The citizens of Tirane and of all over Albania favour these initiatives, as they strengthen ties and cooperation in the region".

Brojka also hailed the idea of his Athens' counterpart "for the broadcast of a special programme in the Albanian language by radio Athens" as well as the initiative of Bucharest's mayor, Viorel Lis", "to organise 'The month of Culture' in Bucharest in May 1998". s.s/s.sh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Law on Scrutiny of Figures opens files for first time

"With the changes adopted by parliament, the law has improved," Gjinushi told ATA on Saturday.

As regards the hunger strike of several formerly politically persecuted, who do not agree with the changes in the law, Gjinushi said that this act should not have been undertaken before being familiarised with the law first.

The members of the National Association of the Formerly Politically Persecuted have asked the OSCE and its ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts, to intervene to save the lives of the strikers.

"The hunger strike was untimely. The strikers should have first tried all the other ways and known the facts before undertaking this step," Everts told ATA on Friday.

He said a misunderstanding between parliament and the formerly persecuted was most likely.

Dhori Sallaku, Juridical Advisor of President Rexhep Meidani told ATA on Saturday that the Law on Scrutiny of Figures has been decreed some two weeks ago. lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Vlore to commemorate protests of 1997

In commemoration of the protests, a memorial, "Vlore 1997", will be inaugurated on February 10, the day when youth Artur Rustemi was killed last year, and the square will be named after Rustemi.

The Vlore inhabitants will place wreaths by the memorial.

A commemorative meeting will be held and a recital concert performed by the "Laberia" ensemble in the city's cine-theatre.

All the ceremonies have been organised by the association Fraternity Union "February 10", Vlore.

After the collapse of the "Gjallica" firm, in the first days of February, the Vlore inhabitants started protests first to ask for their money and later to topple the government and Berisha.

The economic and political crisis as well as the people's revolts led to the creation of the national reconciliation government in March 1997 and to the parliamentary elections in which the Socialist Party scored a crushing victory.

A parliamentary commission, headed by Spartak Ngjela, was set up in October to throw light on the January-March events. The commission is expected next week to report before parliament on the documentation gathered so far. lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Albanian prosecutors in Italy carry out investigations on concrete issues

In Brindisi, the group of the Albanian prosecutors, in the presence of renowned Italian antimafia prosecutors, carried out investigative activities on concrete issues," the investigations director at the Attorney General's office, Agim Tirana, also head of the Albanian prosecutors' group taking part in the investigations in Italy, told ATA.

Tirana said that the Albanian prosecutors, along with the Italian counterparts, questioned three Albanians arrested in the Brindisi jail, which bringing about new investigation developments and complementary data to throw light on the events".

"It was about organised trafficking, of grave consequences for both countries," Tirana said.

The Italian side, as regards organised illegal traffic, had finalised the expertise acts, the text of the condition of the Otranto 1 boat and the procedure of medical expertise of the accused persons.

The investigations carried out in Italy will be also completed with investigations in Albania and the emerging problems will be made known to the Italian prosecutors who will inquire into the Otranto 1 event.

Tirana explains that, although the investigations will be independent, "both sides will cooperate to inform each other of the stage of investigations. It is not unlikely that the Italian side also carries investigations in Albania, in the presence of our prosecutors".

The Albanian prosecutors have met Italian antimafia prosecutors in Bari, Brindisi and Lecce. In all the meetings, besides planned procedures, a series of penal cases, which have not yet been made public, were discussed and experience in fighting organised crime was exchanged. das/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Soccer: Georgia beat Albania

The Albanian representative has suffered three goals, two of which halftime, by the team of the former Soviet Union.

Albania will play Latvia after two days.lm

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

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