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Albanian Times, Vol. 2, No. 3, January 22, 1996
CONTENTS
[1] Berisha, Goncz Discuss Economic Ties
[2] Germany To Support Training for Albanian Military
[3] European Leftist Concerned About Albanian Controversial Law
[4] Authorities Vow Fight Against Food Tamperers
[5] Former Communist Officials Summoned For Hearing
[6] Albanian Project Drilling Starts, NEBEX Reports
[7] Albanians Jailed In Greece To Complete Terms At Home
[8] Albania Imports Grain To Ease Bread Shortage
[9] Balkan Pipeline May Carry Azeri Crude
[10] Respect Land Deadline, Officials Warn
[11] EU Funds Vaccination Campaign in Albania
[12] Tirana Craft Company Back to Work
[13] Former President Alia Called to Testify
[14] Albanian Teen Dies, Others Injured in Fleeing Attempt
[15] Tirana Court Orders Arrest of Former Communist Officials
[16] Austria's Klestil Pledges Support for Albania
[17] Berisha Gets High Marks In Opinion Poll
[18] New Greek Premier Set For Change
[19] Tirana Hails Choice of Greek PM
[20] Albania in Berlin's Green Week Fair
[21] Officials Move Ahead With Privatization Scheme
[22] Berisha Says China Visit Important
[23] Hungarian President to Discuss Economic Ties in Tirana
[1] Berisha, Goncz Discuss Economic Ties
Albania and Hungary will make joint efforts to speed up their integration in
Europe, President Sali Berisha told reporters after a meeting in Tirana with
Hungarian President Arpad Goncz who arrived on January 24. Both sides signed
agreements on land transportation and on mutual protection of investments. We
also agreed to sign other economic cooperation accords, Berisha said. Both
presidents attended later a meeting between Albanian and Hungarian businessmen.
Private businesses in Albania have asked to set up a Hungarian-Albanian bank in
Tirana to facilitate trade operations. (Albanian Times, January 24)
[2] Germany To Support Training for Albanian Military
German parliamentarians said in Tirana that Bundeswehr will support a long term
training program for the Albanian military personnel. Friedrich Schultz and
Reiner Krzishewitz, members of Bundestag's Defense Commission were meeting with
the Albanian Defence Minister, Safet Zhulali. Minister Zhulali called the
relations with Germany a priority and praised German aid in training of the
Albanian military personnel. Mr. Zhulali pointed to the need for expanding such
an aid in logistics, military medicine and transportation.(ATA/Albanian Times,
January 23)
[3] Authorities Vow Fight Against Food Tamperers
Albanian authorities have pledged war on adulterators who they say are
paralysing the market. Food inspection officials in the Ministry of Agriculture
are stepping up efforts to curb sale of debased foods, imposing huge fines on
violators. Aduterated foods and drinks worth about $400,000 have been destryed
in the last six months, ministry officials told reporters in Tirana. Defrauding
consumers by selling them doctored products not only threatens consumers lives
but also paralyses honest manufacturers and undermines the future of such
important sectors as wine industry, Bashkim Dumani, inspection official at the
ministry said. Everyone should be involved in this fight, he added. Dumani
called on food and drink manufacturers to protect themselves by creating their
own associations. In the local media there have been reports on large
quantities of allegedly adulterated wine sold on New Year's eve in major cities
of Albania. (ATA/Albanian Times, January 24)
[4] Former Communist Officials Summoned For Hearing
Nine former communist officials, under custody since Sunday, were summoned for
a hearing session in Tirana on January 23. Aranit Cela, Simon Stefani, Manush
Myftiu, Rrapi Mino, Veiz Haderi, Qemal Bregasi, Llambi Gegprifti, Hekuran Isai
and Foto Cami have been accused of crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Shkelqim
Ganaj asked the court to change the status of custody from jail to house arrest
for the defendants Foto Cami and Aranit Cela due to their poor health and old
age. Both of the defendants are over 70. Manush Myftiu also was under home
arrest and was not present at the court hearing. The prosecutor asked that
Hekuran Isai, Simon Stefani and Rrapi Mino remain in jail as a security
measure. Three other defendants Qemal Bregasi, Veiz Haderi and Llambi Gegprifti
were abroad and authorities are trying to secure their extradiction in order to
carry out the ruling, Ganaj said. The defendants summoned in court opposed the
ruling and asked to be investigated under house arrest or in bail. The court
decision on their request is expected withing five days. (Albanian Times,
January 23)
[5] Albanian Project Drilling Starts, NEBEX Reports
NEBEX Resources Ltd. (NBX:ASE) reports that drilling has started in Albania on
copper-gold-zinc massive sulphide targets identified on the Mirdita concession,
according to Canada Newswire. This initial large-scale drill program on the
Albanian project is for 30,000 feet. The contractor, Midwest Drilling of
Winnipeg, transported a drill from Canada. Reports of previous drilling
included a 3.3 metre intersection which averaged 3.7% copper, 19.4% zinc and
13.96 grams/tonne gold. Another hole had 4.05% metres of 2.3% copper, 17.5%
zinc and 7.4 grams/tonne gold. A report by the Company's consulting geologist
noted that there are more than 20 known sulphide prospects that require further
testing. NEBEX has an option to earn an 80% interest in the Mirdit concession
in north-central Albania. Other exploration continues to further evaluate the
Mirdita and three other concession areas. NEBEX Resources is a Canadian mining
exploration company currently focussed on Albania and the Yellowknife gold camp
where follow-up drilling is being carried out on an earlier gold discovery. The
Alberta Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information
contained herein. (CNW, January 23) For further information: Brian Douglas,
President, Jim Kelly, Vice-President, 403-262-6064.
[6] Albanians Jailed In Greece To Complete Terms At Home
About 790 Albanian inmates held in Greek prisons will complete the remainder of
their sentences in their home country, according to Albanian sources quoted by
Gazeta Shqiptare. The first group of inmates includes 14 women and 140 teen age
offenders. The extradictions are based on the agreement signed by the Justice
Ministers of Greece and Albania in Tirana on August 16. The move follows
violent incidents in Greek prisons, in which Albanian inmates were reportedly
involved. The European Commission recently offered $1,3 million to improve
prison conditions in Albania. Meanwhile, on January 21, Greek police arrested
43 Albanian illegal immigrants, including three who were carrying eight kilos
of hashish, Athens News Agency reported.
[7] Albania Imports Grain To Ease Bread Shortage
Large amounts of grain are being shipped to Albania from neighboring Macedonia
at the request of the Albanian government struggling to maintain stable bread
prices. Albania has signed a contract with Macedonia on a grain supply
amounting to 10,000 tons, officials sources told reporters in Tirana. The
government, resisting pressures from grain merchants, has refused to exceed
certain bread price limits and is selling bakeries flour at prices lower than
international market quotas. Officials say the bread shortage situation is
normalizing. (Albanian Times, January 23)
[8] Balkan Pipeline May Carry Azeri Crude
A major trans-Balkan pipeline planned to carry Russian, Azeri and Kazakh crude
could be a major supplier for oil-hungry Europe, Reuter reported on January 22.
By the middle of next year, early crude oil exports from a huge $8 billion
project should have started flowing through Russia and out of the Black Sea
port of Novorossiisk. It is the long term production from this project and
others which Vuko Tashkovich, the president of the Albanian, Macedonian and
Bulgarian Oil Corp (AMBO) is targeting as part of his plans to build and
operate a trans-Balkan pipeline from the Black Sea to the Adriatic. The company
intends to build a 567 mile pipeline from Bourgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast
to Albania's Vlore on the Adriatic Sea, but only if it can win the backing of
the foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and secure the
support of Russian firms. Tashkovich is undeterred by the competition. He says
the AMBO route would cut the cost of transporting former Soviet crude to
refiners in the Mediterranean and the United States and alleviate congestion in
the already crowded Bosphorus strait. "Our prices will be competitive with
tankers," he told Reuters. While he claims Azerbaijan and certain foreign
lenders have expressed an interest in the route, he acknowledged this has not
yet amounted to any sort of commitment and admits the interest from the foreign
oil companies has at best been lukewarm. "The western oil companies are very
cautious, especially Chevron (the major foreign operator In Kazakhstan). They
are treading very carefully," said Tashkovich. The Azeri oil consortium is not
expected to make any sort of decision on the long term export route from the
Caspian at least until next year. (Reuter/Albanian Times, January 22)
[9] Respect Land Deadline, Officials Warn
Albanian officials have called on all land beneficiaries to speed up submitting
property identification papers before the March 31 deadline. The would be
owners are required by a government commission to present identification papers
in order to actually own the share of land they have been given "for use". They
also include former land owners expropriated by the communist regime who are
claiming compensation. However, many claimants have refused to accept the
government allocated share raising problems with the quality of land or its
distance from the market. The commission has warned that the deadline should be
respected or "the opportunity to receive free land from the state would be
missed". The deadline was set by the parliament in legislation passed last
December. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Hasan Halili told reporters that
after the deadline, all land without proper identification will become
government property and will be put for sale or lease. (Albanian Times, January
22)
[10] EU Funds Vaccination Campaign in Albania
The European Commission is funding a project in Albania worth 150,000 ECU to
vaccinate children against polio, a Commission press release said on January
22. The aid, channelled via the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO),
will enable an Italian non-governmental organisation, Associazione Italiana per
la Solidarieta tra i Popoli (AISPO), to vaccinate 350,000 children nationwide
under the age of five. The grant will pay for vaccine, a cold chain and a
health education campaign. ECHO's partners in the field will work closely with
Albania's Ministry of Health. The project is scheduled to last four months and
is in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) plan to eradicate polio in
Albania by the year 2,000. The European Commission agreed to put nearly three
million European currency units ($3.75 million) into a range of humanitarian
aid projects in east and central Europe. (Albanian Times, January 22)
[11] Tirana Craft Company Back to Work
Albania's biggest handicraft enterprize has resumed operation after a three
year long shutdown, Radio Tirana reported. The company, Ndermarrja Artistike
Migjeni, was partialy bought by a family business and is employing about 400
people. The owner, Ismail Gjura, has been investing with 5 foreign companies
after some heavy remodelling in the shabby factory structures. With silver
crafts for starters, Gjura hopes to expand his operation in other yet
unprivatized sections of the enterprize - embroydery and copper ware. Company
officials have blamed city authorities for procrastination.(Albanian Times,
January 23)
[12] Former President Alia Called to Testify
Albania's prosecutor's office has again called former communist president Ramiz
Alia as a witness to testify on a shooting incident 5 years ago when he held
office. The hearing is related to the slaying of 3 anti-communist protesters in
Shkodra on April 2, 1991 and other charges raised by a so-called Forum of
Intellectuals. Alia, who until last year was in jail for abuse of power may be
put again under arrest, according to reports. The number of former communist
officials arrested on charges of political persecution while in power before
1990, has climbed to 30 since December with 9 other former officials arrested
on January 20, Reuter reported. The officials were charged with expulsions and
deportations which trespassed the two communist constitutions of the period in
which they held office. The arrested include former politbureau members, a
former supreme court chairman, and communist party leaders. The charges could
lead to jail sentences ranging from 15 years to life. (Albanian Times, January
22)
[13] Albanian Teen Dies, Others Injured in Fleeing Attempt
A 17 year old Albanian boy died and more than two dozen were injured during an
attempt to flee to Italy on board of an inflatable boat which caught fire 5
miles from the southern port of Vlora, Radio Tirana reported on January 21. The
incident occurred 5 days ago, the radio said. The Albanians, trying to reach
Italy in search of jobs, were rescued by the Italian vessel "Laura Express",
patrolling the channel between Vlora and the Italian port of Otranto. The
injured were taken to a Vlora hospital. There is no word on their condition.
[14] Tirana Court Orders Arrest of Former Communist Officials
A Tirana court ordered the arrest of nine former officials for alleged crimes
during the communist regime, Albanian media reported on January 20. Former
politbureau members Simon Stefani, Manush Muftiu, Llambi Gegprifti, Foto Cami
and Hekuran Isai are among the persons whose arrest was ordered. They are part
of a long list of former officials accused of trespassing the constitutions of
the period in which they served and of committing crimes against the
population. The list containing 36 names was prepared by a group of
intellectuals and includes former President Ramiz Alia. No court order has been
released for the arrest of Alia who has already served prison term for abuse of
public funds. A court order for the arrest of 14 other former officials was
released last month. (Albanian Times, January 20)
[15] Austria's Klestil Pledges Support for Albania
Austria will support a start of negociations on Albania's eventual admission to
the Europian Union, Albanian President's office said on January 20. The
statement came after a meeting in Vienna between Albanian President Sali
Berisha and Austrian President Thomas Klestil. Klestil said it would be
reciprocally beneficial if powerful and successful Austrian companies invest in
Albania. He promised more investments in support of Albania's backward
infrastructure, Berisha's office said. Berisha, returning from a China trip,
praised relations with Austria, saying "they correspond with the friendship
between the two countries." (Albanian Times, January 20)
[16] Berisha Gets High Marks In Opinion Poll
A survey conducted by U.S. polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, shows that
President Sali Berisha has a strong approval rating with over 40 percent of
voter support, Reuter reported on January 20. About 41 percent of those
interviewed said they would vote for Berisha and his Democratic Party and 19
percent said they supported the opposition socialists and their jailed leader
leader Fatos Nano. About 16 percent of voters were undecided or declined to
respond. The poll shows 61 percent of eligible voters had a favourable
impression of Berisha, while 37 percent said their impression was unfavourable.
Two percent were undecided. The general elections will likely take place in May
and must be held in the first half of 1996. The date will be set once Albania's
parliament is dissolved in March. In 1992, Berisha's Democratic Party won 62
percent of the vote, with 65.71 percent of the seats in the 140-member
parliament. The Socialists won 25.73 percent, with only 27.14 percent of seats.
International financial organisations have praised Albania's economic record
since the democrat take over, reining in galloping inflation to six percent a
year in 1995, boosting economic growth and keeping a stable exchange rate for
the local currency, the lek. The new opinion poll showed 66 percent of voters
were satisfied with the progress of economic reforms, while 33 percent were
not. The survey polled 1,050 eligible voters across Albania from December 4 to
16, 1995.
[17] New Greek Premier Set For Change
New Prime Minister Costas Simitis's new cabinet is likely to focus on turning
around Greece's ailing economy and keeping the ruling socialist party united,
Reuter reported on January 20. Simitis, 59, a German-educated lawyer and
economist faces the tough task of bringing in enough younger reformists to push
for change and keeping enough of the old guard to hold the party together. He
is an advocate of more development funds, more privatisation and greater
compliance with European Union standards. Simitis is expected to make sweeping
changes not only at major ministries but on the boards of state companies and
banks. The most striking change is likely to be at the foreign ministry where
Papandreou's personal friend Karolos Papoulias looks set to pass the portfolio
to Theodoros Pangalos, the outspoken former European Affairs minister. The new
premier has called for a less emotional approach to Greece's fragile relations
with Balkan neighbours Albania and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia,
saying economic ties should be strengthened. He will swear in the government on
January 20.
[18] Tirana Hails Choice of Greek PM
Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi welcomed the election of Costas
Simitis as Greece's new prime minister and said he hoped the Albanian-Greek
relations will be a model for cooperation in the region and beyond, Radio
Tirana reported. Albanian-Greek relations have shown signs of improvements
since last spring after a bitter dispute in 1994 when Albania convicted five
ethnic Greeks on espionage charges. This month, Albanian President Sali Berisha
lifted visa requirements for Greek citizens although Albanians still require
visas for Greece. An estimated 300,000 Albanians have illegally entered the
country in recent years mostly in search of seasonal jobs. (Albanian Times,
January 19)
[19] Albania in Berlin's Green Week Fair
Liquors, honey, olive oil, fish and vegetables are Albania's major items in
Berlin's Green Week Fair. Albanian officials say they are trying to improve
marketing techniques, a lesson they have drawn from last year's participation.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is acting as coordinatior for the Albanian
private companies which are exhibiting their produce on their own expenses,
officials said. (Albanian Times, January 19))
[20] Officials Move Ahead With Privatization Scheme
Many Albanian hesitate to invest their privatization vouchers, Radio Tirana
reported. About 30 percent of vouchers distributed so far have not been
invested. Vouchers have dropped 20-22 percent in real value and many think this
is not the right time to invest. Vouchers are going through a lot of
unregulated trading which officials do not consider illegal. In an attempt to
speed up privatization, the government is encouraging people to visit Savings
Bank branches in their living areas to withdraw their share. Citizens of Tirana
and Albanian citizens living abroad have until the end of January to withdraw
their vouchers, officials say. the government has set the end of June as the
deadline when all vouchers must have been invested or they would turn into
valueless paper. (Albanian Times, January 20)
[21] Berisha Says China Visit Important
President Sali Berisha described his three day China tour as very important and
a complete success. "In talks with President Jiang Zemin we agreed to enhance
political and economic cooperation" Berisha told TV interviewers in Beijing. "I
asked the President (Jiang Zemin) to encourage Chinese investments in Albania
and I presented him the real possibilities that exists in Albania for foreign
investments," Berisha said adding that President Jiang was willing to
renegotiate Albania's debt to China, estimated at $35 million. Trade between
the two countries amounts to $20 million, up from 1992. Recalling past
ideological friendship between the two communist governments, Berisha said
China gave Albania a precious aid but it was mismanaged by the Albanian
leadership of that time. This is the highests ranking visit by an Albanian
official to China since the two countries broke apart in late 70s. (Albanian
Times, January 18)
[22] Hungarian President to Discuss Economic Ties in Tirana
Hungarian President Arpad Goncz will focus on economic issues when he visits
Albania this month, a Hungarian diplomat told reporters in Tirana. Hyngary is
willing to deepen economic cooperation with Albania, the secretary of the
Hungarian embassy in Tirana Shandor Abai said. A big team of investors which
will accompany the President during his visit from January 24 to 26, will seek
specific possibilities to invest in Albania, the Hungarian diplomat said. The
two sides are expected to sign agreements on lifting reciprocal taxation and
protecting investments, the official said. The agreements aim at improving
trade relations between Hungary and Albania which according to Mr. Abai have
been declining in the recent years. Albania's biggest trade partner is Italy
followed by Greece. Statistics show that Albania's trade with other former
European countries is rather insignificant. (Albanian Times, January 18)
The material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & Consulting
International. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, please
Copyright (c) ATCI, 1996
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