Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-11-22

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] First monitors from international organizations reach Vlore

[02] USD 1.2 million to improve conditions in hospital of Lezhe

[03] Work to normalize situation from snow in northern Albania

[04] Voting for the referendum of the Constitution of Albania starts in Mallakaster district

[05] Voting for referendum of the Constitution of Albania started

[06] Voting in Fier district starts normally

[07] Normal voting started in Durres

[08] Normal voting atmosphere in Vlora town

[09] Voting for Constitution in Elbasan district continues - Voting suspended in polling station 65-

[10] I voted thinking of the state and the future - PM Majko

[11] Voting process on Constitution referendum calm and normal in Tirane

[12] A calm voting, the best testimony to the will we want to be integrated into Europe as soon as possible - Meidani

[13] High voting participation in Vlore district -27% of voters have cast their ballot until 10.30

[14] Voting process for referendum in Albania continues normally except for some technical problems

[15] Normal voting process in Shkoder

[16] High percentage of participation in voting in Rroskovec and Cakran, Fier district

[17] Automobilistic road Kukes-Tirane unblocked

[18] Civil Status offices do not respond to demands of nationals for voting documents

[19] Accident blocks Gjirokaster-Tepelene national road

[20] 33 % per cent of Albanian eligible voters have cast their ballots until 1.p.m. - Secretary

[21] In Kuçove and Skrapari districts the voting participation reaches respectively 51% and 60%

[22] 35 % is turnout in Kavaje district until 1.30 p.m.

[23] 32% of voters have casted their ballots in Gjirokaster prefecture

[24] Reports on voting in Gjirokaster, Diber, Fier, Korce, Lezhe until 12:00

[01] First monitors from international organizations reach Vlore

On their first day in the city, the 11 foreign monitors had a meeting in the district voting commission, organized by the OSCE regional office. They treated questions related to the process for the referendum where the opposition representatives reiterated their opinion for irregularities in the voting lists, something which was opposed by the rest of the commission.

The foreign observers took interest in various issues related with the technical aspect of the voting process. They highlighted the spirit of cooperation among various political forces at local level. /a.ke/xh/

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[02] USD 1.2 million to improve conditions in hospital of Lezhe

The hospital director, Dede Jaku, told ATA that in a period of two years, with the new fund a two-stored building will be constructed attached to the old hospital, where first floor will serve for emergency cases and will be linked with the hospital of infectious diseases and the second floor will have the theater hall, in which different operations will be carried out, thus meeting the needs for surgical operations of the three districts of the prefecture of Lezhe.

Also the building of the existing hospital, with a capacity of nearly 170 beds, will be reconstructed with the same fund. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Work to normalize situation from snow in northern Albania

According to the director of road maintenance, the roads Kukes-Krume and Kukes-Morine were cleared of snow and work is going on to unblock from snow other roads linking Kukes with other zones.

Power failures have been common in the recent days in the communes of Bushtrice, Shishtavec and Topojan and in some zones in the district of Has.

The spokesman of the Prefecture Police said there have been no road accidents in the recent days despite the difficult situation created by the snow on the roads. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Voting for the referendum of the Constitution of Albania starts in Mallakaster district

The chairman of the district voting commission, Shkelqim Skenderi, told ATA that the voting process has normally begun in all the communes and town-halls of Ballshi. According to the preliminary information no incident has been reported till 9.00 o'clock.

In Mallakaster district are registered 21 361 eligible voters who are to vote in 55 polling stations. /s.s/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Voting for referendum of the Constitution of Albania started

There are 1 929 813 eligible voters in the referendum, who with their free ballot, will give the final decision for the new draft of the Constitution.

There are 4583 polling stations, beginning with the big cities up to the remotest communes in all the country.

The referendum for the Constitution will be monitored by nearly 200 observers of OSCE (ODIHR) representing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, etc., and about 1400 observers of the Albanian Association for Democratic Culture who will cover the entire territory of Albania dureing the referendum.

The process for the distribution of the voting material basis ended yesterday even in the remotest regions. In 12 communes of Shkoder, Puke and Kukes, blocked from snow falls, the materials were sent by helicopter, thus creating normal conditions for the voting.

There are 36 districts in Albania with 64 municipal voting commissions, 309 voting commissions in communes and 4 583 polling stations. Members of these commissions are 35 032. Only in the Prefecture of Tirane there are 642 polling stations.

This is the second time that the Albanian people is summoned to referendum to express their verdict for the Constitution of Albania. In the first referendum in 1994, the Albanian people said 'No' to the draft of the Constitution presented by Berisha.

The second draft of the Constitution was prepared by a parliamentary commission with the participation of representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, and in consultation with the Venice Commission. It won more than 80 per cent of the votes in the People's Assembly. The Democratic Party did not take part in the commission and has continuously called on its electorate not to take part in the Referendum of November 22, 1998.

In the mean time, most important international institutions and organizations, such as OSCE, CE, European Parliament, U.N., the U.S. Government and other westeuropean governments, have made reiterated calls on the Albanian people to take part in the Referendum of November 22, 1998. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Voting in Fier district starts normally

The chairman of the district voting commission, Piro Lika told ATA that the atmosphere has been rather normal and until 8.15 a.m. a satisfactory number of voters have come to vote in the polling stations. This has been noticed in particular in the polling stations 20,21, 40, 43 which have been monitored by the leaders of the district commission.

Nevertheless, some partial irregularities have been registered in the polling station 41, in which until 7.45 a.m. the voting had not yet started because the deputy chairman of the voting commission claimed for the addition of 29 voters' names in the voters' list and for a 2 per cent shortage of the ballots.

There are 119 828 eligible voters in the entire Fier district. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Normal voting started in Durres

The chairman of the district voting commission, Adem Muca told ATA that the voting procedure is going on conformed to the law. Only in three polling stations, in 66 and 67 in the Bajram Curri School and in the polling station 58, the voting started a bit late for technical reasons.

The forces of order are in full alert for a calm conduct of the referendum and until 9.30 the voting has continued normally.

The eligible voters in Durres are 115 800 and the number of the polling stations is 88. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Normal voting atmosphere in Vlora town

According to the chairman of this district council, Medin Xhelili, the situation is normal and the opinion of all the representatives of the political parties in the district commission, is that the voting process has normally started in all the polling stations.

In the Vlora district are registered 91 955 eligible voters who are to vote in 196 polling stations. /s.s/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Voting for Constitution in Elbasan district continues - Voting suspended in polling station 65-

But in one of them, No 65, near the hostel of A Xhuvani University, the voting process was suspended at about 08.10 a.m.

Bardhyl Kurmaku, chairman of the polling station in the town-hall of Elbasan, told ATA that the voting was suspended in the polling station 65 because the DP commission members did not accept the students to vote with the entry passes or with other documents of identity.

360 hostel students who wanted to vote in that polling stations, were registered in the voters' list on November 19, because their names were not listed within the legal deadline.

Kurmaku said that "the disagreement will be solved after receiving confirmation from the Central Voting Commission." /s.sh/xh/

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[10] I voted thinking of the state and the future - PM Majko

Surrounded by many reporters of the press and electronic media, Prime Minister Majko cast his ballot for the Constitution.

"I voted while coming from a house with a power failure, walking on an street not yet laid; I voted like all other Albanians normally, for the state and thinking of the future."

Also OSCE monitors were present in that polling station set up in the premises of 26 Nentori school in the capital. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Voting process on Constitution referendum calm and normal in Tirane

The situation has been normal during the first morning hours, sources from the Defence Ministry inform. The Tirane military police battalion is in high readiness in its place of dislocation in Sauk for any unexpected incident.

According to the information sources from the Ministry of Justice, no special event or troublesome problem is encountered during the voting process until 10 o'clock, ends the report of the Information Ministry. /pas/A.A/

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[12] A calm voting, the best testimony to the will we want to be integrated into Europe as soon as possible - Meidani

President Meidani met first with OSCE monitors present in that polling station.

After casting the ballot, President Meidani stated before numerous reporters present there, that "No statements are allowed to be made on this day. I would say that a calm voting of the Albanians would be the best testimony that Albanians are an ancient people and want, with a great spiritual force, to be integrated into Europe as soon as possible."

Leaving the polling station, President Meidani met cordially with inhabitants of that city quarter. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] High voting participation in Vlore district -27% of voters have cast their ballot until 10.30

Some 27% of the voters have cast their ballot until 10.30 in the polling stations of this district, the chairman of Vlora district Council, Medin Xhelili, told ATA. He also added that in general there have been no problems. Some problems were created only in the polling stations no. 49 and 50, because two commission members belonging to different political parties, were not present. Afterwards measures were taken for their substitute and the voting process continued normally. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Voting process for referendum in Albania continues normally except for some technical problems

In Shkoder, in village Fushe-Kiras, of the commune Shale-Shoshaj and in Rreshen, in village Lajthize of the commune of Orosh, up to 10.00 a.m. the ballots had not been distributed. Finally, it was decided that the whole documents for the voting be flown to those zones.

In the commune Balldre, in Lezhe, the chairman of the commune has not opened the polling station today because the voters' list were not announced, and consequently a conflict has emerged between the people who want to vote and the chairman of the commune. The police commissariat chief went to the spot to clarify the situation.

In the northern zone of Albania as well as in Korce, Pogradec, Kolonje and Devoll, snow is falling but so far the roads are not blocked. The icy roads are being cleaned so that they be passable for people and vehicles.

The situation is calm across the country. Police are on the alert to keep peace and tranquillity in the polling stations, the a report from the Ministry of Public Order says. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Normal voting process in Shkoder

All 81 polling stations of the city have opened at 7.00 a.m. today and the voting is continuing normally. There are 62 000 eligible voters in all the city of Shkoder.

Sources from the voting commission in the town-hall say that so far nearly 15 % of the voters have cast the ballot.

Eight OSCE monitors are observing the voting process for the Referendum of the Constitution in this district as well as in Puke and Malesi e Madhe.

The situation in the city is calm, all trade units are open, while the presence of the public order forces is felt in all city streets.

The town-hall voting commission reported that names of some dead people, and of some who have left the city, have also been registered, while in some city quarters many people have not found their names in the voters' lists. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] High percentage of participation in voting in Rroskovec and Cakran, Fier district

Ilir Dushi, secretary in the district voting commission told ATA that the participation in the voting in town-hall of Rroskovec and the commune of Cakran has been respectively 35 and 40 percent until 10.00 a.m.

He added that, at 10.50, in the polling station 18 in the city quarter Liri, in Fier city, the voting was interrupted because, according to Dushi, a great number of voters did not have their names in the voters' lists.

"The absence of the responsible persons in the town-hall who must make the identification of the voters so that they can continue with other procedures in the district court, has led to a blocked voting," said Dushi.

To clarify the problem and to adopt the necessary measures members of the district voting commission and its chairman himself went to the polling station 18. According to Dushi, such a problem has also emerged partially in some other polling stations in Fier city. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Automobilistic road Kukes-Tirane unblocked

The chief of the road maintenance sector, Azis Doçi, said that a convoy of 40 vehicles, accompanied by the police forces and the snowplows, have entered today the Kukes district (northeastern Albania).

Mr. Doci said that the work is being carried out by two snowplows to widen the road because the unblocking is actually made only for a part of the road. Such a thing has caused the stop of the vehicles coming towards Tirane.

In the meantime is blocked also the Kukes-Krume, and Kukes-Morine road, while the other roads linking Kukes with other district areas continue to be blocked. Doçi said that despite the grave situation created by the snow falls, no accident is made. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Civil Status offices do not respond to demands of nationals for voting documents

The administrative units in the Tirane city-hall are not functioning today to provide people with documents for voting which they are missing. Also the civil status offices in the district of Tirane are closed.

The leaders in town-halls and communes, reports the ministry, should adopt immediate measures for the opening of these offices so that citizens can get certificates with photo valid for voting until 6 p.m. on Sunday. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Accident blocks Gjirokaster-Tepelene national road

At about 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, the turn of Shtepezit, two lorries crashed while trying to parade each-other. They were both damaged and have blocked the road there.

The collision has caused no casualties in persons.

The accident have caused the blocking of several vehicles moving in this road axe. With the passing of time, the line of the vehicles is becoming longer, while some of the buses moving in these two cities are returned back, annulling their travels or realizing the exchanging of travelers in the two parts of the accident spot. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] 33 % per cent of Albanian eligible voters have cast their ballots until 1.p.m. - Secretary

The voting is going on normally, said Bistri, except for some small technical problems in some remote zones, as a result of the bad weather.

But, anyhow these problems have been already solved without any report now reaching the Commission for failure of the voting in any polling station.

Bistri said to ATA that until 1 p.m. about 33 % of the voters have voted on national level, with the districts of Gjirokaster, Permet, Lushnje and Fier registering the highest turnout so far.

The secretary of the Central Voting Commission stated that these reports are received through the contacts of his Commission with the voting commissions in the polling stations. /y.pa/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] In Kuçove and Skrapari districts the voting participation reaches respectively 51% and 60%

In the communes of Perondi and that of Kozara, the participation in the voting process is higher than in Kuçove. In district level the total number of voters is 20 882 persons.

In Skrapari district, the voters' participation is high and until 13.00 o'clock, it was 60%.

In Çorovoda and Poliçani town-halls have respectively voted 62% and 64% of the people registered. Even in Qender commune, where are involved a large number of villages, the voting participation has reached 58%. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] 35 % is turnout in Kavaje district until 1.30 p.m.

The chairman of the district voting commission, Ismail Kadiu, said to ATA that in the town of Rrogozhine and in the villages of the commune of Sinaballajt, over 60 per cent of the voters have cast their ballots so far. A high turnover is also registered in the polling stations in the communes of Gose and Kryevidh, and a lower turnover is noticed in Synej and Helmes.

Kadiu said that the constitutional referendum is going on calmly and normally in all the polling stations, 106, functioning in that district.

The voting in Kavaje district is being monitored by representatives of international organizations and by local observers. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] 32% of voters have casted their ballots in Gjirokaster prefecture

According to the above mentioned sources, in district level, 6 hours after the opening of the polling stations have participated about 32% of the voters registered.

In Permeti town-hall have participated 38% of the voters, in Kelcyra town-hall about 35%, while in the communes have voted 35% of the voters.

In the town-halls of Gjirokaster prefecture the observers of ODHIR, EC, and the Democratic Culture Association have been present.

Gjirokaster town-hall encounters 33 365 eligible voters, and 16 000 of them belong only to Gjirokaster prefecture.

According to the recent datas, in Tepelene district have voted: in Tepelene town-hall 35% of voters, in Memaliaj 36%, while in communes 38%. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Reports on voting in Gjirokaster, Diber, Fier, Korce, Lezhe until 12:00

In the prefecture of Diber (Northeastern Albania) the percentage of voters in the districts of Diber and Mat is 30%, in the district of Bulqize 25%. In Fushe-Cidhen of Qender commune some irregularities have been noticed because the commune chairmen have corrected the lists compiled by the prefecture. In the Qender commune, the problem was solved, while in Fushe-Cidhen, a group from the prefecture went to take the process-verbal of falsification and penalization of the authors.

In the district of Lushnje (Western Albania), in the commune of Dushk, the participation in voting was 40% until 12:00, in the commune of Kolonje 45-50%, in Krutje 40%.

In the district of Korce (Southeastern Albania) 37% of the voters had voted, in the district if Pogradec 29%, in the district of Devoll 31%, in the district of Kolonje 44%, in the town-hall of Maliq 40%, in the commune of Moglices more than 50%, in Lozhan 43%, in the town-hall of Pogradec 36%, in the commune of Cerrave 40%.

In the prefecture of Elbasan, in the polling station no. 56 and 57, the representatives of the Democratic Party have threatened the people not to vote. The chairman of the constituency no. 2, Ramaz Luga, who is also member of the district voting commission, has threatened the voters. /pas/mt/

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