Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-21

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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] Press ... 2

[03] Dismissal of court's members is not a rotation, Speaker says

[04] Weapons trafficking continues from Albania to Greece

[05] Unidentified persons throw grenades in police station's yard

[06] Explosion damages city's main water supply line

[07] "The present Government is not to blame for consequences of the crisis of 97," - Parliament Speaker

[08] Tsatsos considers constitution necessary for Albania's integration in Europe

[09] Tsatsos urges DP to return to Parliament

[10] Everts says Constitutional Court decision realises rotation

[11] Soccer: results of 20th week matches of 59th national championship

[12] DP to realise alternative through strikes and protests

[13] Christian-democrats stress cooperation with political opponents

[14] Chairman of Writers' and Journalists' League elected

[15] High Council of Justice decides on nominations in Appeals Court

[01] Press review

Zeri i Popullit says "Enigma of Bezhani commission disclosed. Speaker accuses chairman of the Constitutional court as a UDB's spy." The same paper reports that in yesterday's news conference Gjata has put off his magistrate's robe. He declared himself as a DP's faithful saying that "the best political solution for Albania is Sali Berisha."

Other dailies report on this topic.

The daily Gazeta Shqiptare carries the statements of Gjinushi, who says "Gjata is the spy in the judiciary."

Shekulli carries the article entitled "Gjata, force of despair."

Republika says that Gjata has been a UDB's spy for 40 years under the pseudonym "Valbona". It says that in face of Gjata's rejection the state officials have said that they will publish the facsimile, which shows that he has been recruited in January 1958.

Albania says that Gjata has refused to face parliamentary commission, while Rilindja Demokratike quotes Gjata's statement saying "the state is taking revenge after it defended creditors." ake/ak/

(more)

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Press ... 2

Gazeta Shqiptare reports on this issue: "DP divided in two parts: To return or not to parliament." It says that "yesterday's meeting, after long debates, did not decide anything on the return of Democrats to parliament."

Shekulli says: "DP near divorce with Europe. Blue faithful shouted against the United States. Berisha: "I want to return to parliament, but my people do not allow me."

Rilindja Demokratike carries the statement of the DP National Council, which says "Technical government will normalise situation in Albania."

Albania carries the editorial "DP, threatened by Berisha's lack of determination", which says that the members of the party's national council decided to postpone for other two weeks the decision to return to parliament.

The press highlights yesterday's meeting of the Unity for Democracy to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the toppling of E. Hoxha monument.

Zeri i Popullit carries the article "Berisha's tumultuous shoutings."

Shekulli says "DP's faithful reiterated the calls against interior minister, prime minister and parliament, without bringing anything new in their vocabulary."

On its part, the daily Rilindja Demokratike reporting on yesterday's meeting considered it "an attitude against new blockmen". It also carries the address of the DP leader Sali Berisha.

Albania reports "Tirana gets to the square as seven years ago." ake/ak/

(end)

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Dismissal of court's members is not a rotation, Speaker says

"This decision cannot be called absolutely a rotation process in the court," Gjinushi said.

Rustem Gjata, chairman of the constitutional court, told a press conference on Friday that he saw the decision an expression of compromise asked by the OSCE to resolve the conflict between parliament and constitutional court and at the same time an action which "will release the court, once and for all, from an ongoing attack."

"No compromise can be reached with the law," Gjinushi said.

The OSCE ambassador to Tirana Daan Everts had proposed to Gjata to step up the reshuffle of this court.

The constitutional court did not obey a constitutional amendment passed by the parliament on a rotation process of its members and issued a decision, which ran contrary to this amendment. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Weapons trafficking continues from Albania to Greece

The van had passed the border crossing of Kapshtica, Albania, without problem and was directed to Florina when the police forces blocked it after the latter had received a call by their informers.

Police sources said that this was the largest quantity seized so far which testified the existence of a powerful ring for weapons' trafficking. The driver, who said he did not know anything on the cargo, was believed to be a member of the ring.

Weapons' and drugs trafficking from Albania has become a usual phenomenon in Greece. Police forces of Ioannina seized on Friday some 100 kg cannabis sativa and three Kalashnikov rifles. The drugs packed in six bags and the automatic rifles were found days before in a cave in the Greek- Albanian border, near the Greek city of Konitsa.

Police patrols lurked the site for four days, but none (Greek or Albanian) came to take the weapons and drugs. ssh/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Unidentified persons throw grenades in police station's yard

The same source said that the explosion occurred at 23.20 p.m. at the washing car place. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Explosion damages city's main water supply line

The same source said that the amount of TNT, which blew up early on Saturday at 04.15 a.m., was placed at the entrance of the tunnel where the main water pipe line, supplying the city of Kukes and the surrounding villages, was.

Police forces rushed immediately to the site. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] "The present Government is not to blame for consequences of the crisis of 97," - Parliament Speaker

Focusing on the characteristics of the last year crisis, Parliament Speaker Gjinushi stressed that the state has taken its legal form and enjoys full international support. "This was also proved by the European Troika declaration and the approach adopted towards Albania in the Brussels meeting," he stressed.

Gjinushi said that all efforts should be made for a full efficiency of the administration. He declared that there is not organized trafficking from above, but it must be combated from below and wherever it appears. Also efforts must be made that honest and skilled people be engaged in the administration, people who really deserve the posts they will hold.

Gjinushi also spoke of some questions of public order, stressing that the policy of those who are opposing public order is banditry.

"There will be no more crises in Albania," stressed Gjinushi, adding that "fabrication of artificial crisis will also not be allowed." /s.s/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Tsatsos considers constitution necessary for Albania's integration in Europe

Tsatsos evaluated the composition of the Constitutional Commission, in which the political force which has won the elections (SP), although with over 100 seats in parliament, has only six out of the commission's 21 members.

Tsatsos expressed readiness to cooperate in the Constitution drafting Commission and stressed that a democratic constitution is a condition for integration in the European Union (EU).

He considered consensus between the political forces a way to resolve problems of the constitution.

During his visit to Albania, Tsatsos, who is also Euro-deputy, met with the co-chairmen of the Constitution Commission, Sabri Godo, and Arben Imami, President Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Fatos Nano and others. /s.sh/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Tsatsos urges DP to return to Parliament

Speaking of the meeting with DP chairman Sali Berisha, Tsatsos said that he had created the impression that Berisha moved with the logic of the indispensability of a constitution.

"I am optimistic of a compromise solution," said Tsatsos.

He said Berisha did not see unsurmountable obstacles on the composition of the commission. /s.sh/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Everts says Constitutional Court decision realises rotation

In the meantime, Parliamentary speaker Skender Gjinushi told ATA on Friday evening that this act is not at all rotation and that "no compromises can be made with the law".

Two, out of the Constitutional Court's nine members, have been changed, while the Chairman of the Court, Rustem Gjata, has resulted "impure" by the Scrutiny Commission, confirms Gjinushi.

On the other hand, on Friday, Gjata showed he was not pleased with this compromise and said that he, himself, would not resign.

The OSCE ambassador had suggested to parliament and the Chairman of the Court, in several meetings, to find a way of compromise to resolve the Parliament-Constitutional Court conflict, after a constitutional amendment passed by parliament for a rotation in this court.

On its part, the Constitutional Court declared against recognising this amendment. /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Soccer: results of 20th week matches of 59th national championship

Partizani - Besa 3-0

Dinamo - Teuta 0-0

Flamurtari - Vllaznia 0-0

Apolonia - Tomori 1-0

Bylis - Skenderbeu 2-0

Shkumbini - Tirana 1-1

Albpetrol - Laçi 3-0

Lushnja - Sopoti 3-0

Shqiponja - Elbasani 1-0

STANDINGS:

44 pointsVllaznia

43 " Partizani

40 " Tirana

33 " Shkumbini

32 " Laçi, Teuta

30 " Bylis

28 " Elbasani, Apolonia

26 " Lushnja, Flamurtari

25 " Sopoti

23 " Skenderbeu, Tomori

22 " Besa, Shqiponja

19 " Dinamo

17 " Albpetrol

/A.KE/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] DP to realise alternative through strikes and protests

Three of the Democratic party (DP) leaders, Pollo, Brojka and Karamitro, declared at a meeting with members and partisans of this party in Berat on Friday that the DP has postponed return to Parliament until other conditions were met.

Among these conditions, Pollo mentioned the return to his post of the dismissed chairman of the district council, monitoring of parliament, independence of the judiciary and international investigation of the Milot event.

"Facing this situation the DP will realise its alternative through strikes, demonstrations, protests, and rallies. Through this way the DP will accomplish its demand for early elections," said Pollo, reaffirming the confidence of the DP leadership in victory. /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Christian-democrats stress cooperation with political opponents

The Christian-democratic party of Albania has 60 representatives in local government bodies and two deputies. It is also member of the European Christian-Democratic Union. /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Chairman of Writers' and Journalists' League elected

Spahiu is actually one of the country's most renowned poets.

LSHA was created in 1945 with the aim to coordinate the creative work of the Albanian artists. /s.sh/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] High Council of Justice decides on nominations in Appeals Court

The participants in the meeting discussed and took respective decisions on new nominations in the Appeals courts of Tirane, Durres, Vlore, Gjirokaster, Shkoder and Korce.

The meeting also approved the nomination of three prosecutor inspectors who will be included in the inspectorate of the High Council of Justice. /s.sh/das/lm/

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

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