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ATA News from Albania (96-06-16)Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS FOREIGN OBSERVER GROUPTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA)-The President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received on Saturday observers from the Italian parties- Forza Italia, the National Alliance, the Christian-Democratic Party of the Right, from the Party of the Union for the French Republic, from the Austrian parties- the People's Party and the Free Party, invited by the Albanian Democratic Party to observe the re-run of elections in 17 constituencies.Berisha assured the foreign observers that, like on May 26 and June 2, the elections to be rerun in 17 constituencies will be free, fair and transparent. kled/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] STOPPEL, OSCE OBSERVER IN MAY 26 POLLS, SPIED ON COMPATRIOTS TO ALBANIAN SECRET SERVICESTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA)- The German Wolfgang Erich Stoppel, carrying out the OSCE oberver mission in the May 26 elections in Albania, previously spied on his compatriots to the Albanian secret services, today's newspaper Albania says.Stoppel came for the first time to Albania in 1983, together with his Greek wife, the paper says explaining that he systematically spied to the Albanian secret services on a good part of the Germans who visited Albania at that time, especially those German who were members of the Albania- Germany friendship association. "The Albanologue Armin Hetzer is not a well-wisher of Albania, says Stoppel in a testimony against his own compatriot," the paper says. After this denunciation, Hetzer was immediately expelled from the Albania-Germany friendship Association, the paper says adding that after this Stoppel continued to provide other testimony substantially increasing the number of articles on Hoxha's victories in the magazine "Albanien Heute". The newspaper Albania has recently been carrying articles and facsimiles providing evidence that the OSCE observers for the May 26 parliamentary elections invited by the Socialist Party, and picked out among European extreme left, also included agents of the former State Security, ill-famed body of the communist regime in Albania which has been the tool of this regime to pursue, kill and persecute innocent people during the dictatorship. kled/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA)-Today's Rilindja Demokratike carries the article "Communism today is given its final blow", regarding the rerun of the ballot in 17 constituencies ". The paper entitles its editorial:"The DP victory, a victory of democracy". The paper also carries an interview with the democratic leader, Shehu, entitled: "Abandoning the will of the sovereign people is a Marxist style of the Red front".The newspaper Zeri i Popullit carries the article "Today the third stage of electoral farce", regarding the rerun of polls in 17 constituencies today. The paper calls on the Albanian voters to boycott the last act of the coup d'etat, concerning today's voting. "The Constitutional court considers today's elections valid", says Republika. The paper also carries another article entitled: "The Central Pole and the SP return with their hand empty from Greece". "The Constitutional court seals the coup d'etat", says Poli i Qendres about the dropping of the demand of the Central Pole to annul the elections in 17 constituencies. "Again before the ballot boxes" is an article in the newspaper Balli i Kombit. In the feature: "Communist genocide during the war", the paper carries the article "Blood-feud assumes tragic proportions". The newspaper Lajmi i Dites entitles its editorial:"The opposition naps in hotel: 'Titania' of Athens". The paper also covers the three day visit of the Albanian reporters to Greece. "Since today, communism is over!" , the newspaper says regarding today's parliamentary elections in 17 constituencies. "The Democratic Party will again win the majority", says the newspaper. It also carries the resolution of EUCD on the elections in Albania entitled :"The final result of May 26 is an indication of the Albanian electorate vote". Albania in its feature: "To know the observers sent by the OSCE" carries :"The German who spied on Germans to Enver Hoxha". "Woldang Erich Stoppel, born in Bremen and resident in Munchen, of German nationality, is one of the most compromised names the OSCE engaged in the observer mission in the Albanian elections", the paper says. Under the headline:"The request of the Central Pole rejected by the Court on Saturday. Elections to be held today in 17 constituencies", Koha Jone says:"The Constitutional Court: 'OK to today's elections in 17 constituencies". The request of the Central Pole rejected by the Constitutional Court, Dita Informacion says. "The third Sunday of voting in Albania", says Gazeta Shqiptare regarding today's polls in 17 constituencies. "The opposition refuses: "We will not participate in elections", the paper says. Drita carries the article:"The contest:'The new pianist', an activity of the future of the Albanian piano school". kled/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] VOTING BEGINS IN 17 CONSTITUENCIESTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA)- By S.Spahiu, Voting began today, on Sunday, in 17 constituencies of Albania, in which the May 26 elections have been decided to be re-run due to irregularities noted by the Central Electoral Commission.The same subjects and candidates of the May 26 elections, except the Socialist Party, the Democratic Alliance Party and the Social-Democratic Party, which withdrew for the first round of poll for alleged vote rigging and voter intimidation, are contesting in this round. The 17 constituencies, in which elections will be re-run, are distributed almost throughout the country's territory. The districts in which elections will be re-run in two constituencies, include Korca, Elbasan and Fier. The districts with only one constituency include Mati, Puka, Tirana, Peqini, Lushnja, Berati, Kucova, Tepelena, Vlora, Delvina and Saranda. Some 340 thousand voters are expected to take part in this round of poll in about 600 polling stations. The left wing parties, including the SP, the SDP and the Democratic Alliance have called on their electorate not to take part in the polls. They issued the same appeal in the second-round of poll on June 2, but the participation in the voting was considered complete. In the May 26, 1996 elections, only five candidates for SP deputies won, whereas the Central Pole candidates did not win in any of the constituencies. The Democratic Party won 95 constituencies in the May 26 elections and six in the June 2 elections. The vote re-run in 17 constituencies is being followed by some 30 foreign observers from Italy, France, Austria, Greece and other countries. kled/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] GREAT ATTENDANCE IN TODAY'S RE-RUN OF ELECTIONS IN ALBANIATIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA) - According to the Central Electoral Commission, a great number of voters, ranging between 40-60 per cent, have taken part until 1400 in today's re-run of election in 17 constituencies of Albania.Until 1400, the greatest number of people who have voted is registered in the zone of Peqin, 60 per cent, followed by voters in Lushnja, Berat, Puke, Delvine and in one constituency of Vlora 50 per cent, in Tepelena, Libofsh, Kucove, Korce, in Elbasan the constituencies 67 and 69 have voted 40 per cent of electors, while in the constituencies of Patos, Saranda, Vora and in one constituency in Korca over 35 per cent of electors have cast their ballots. The Central Electoral Commission adopted the decision for a re-run of polling in 17 constituencies after irregularities noted during elections in these constituencies. Contesting in today's elections are the same political subjects and candidates as on May 26 elections, with the exception of the Socialist Party, the Democratic Alliance Party and the Social-Democratic Party which pulled out of elections during the first round on May 26 claiming that polling was rigged and voters were pressurized. Today's elections are being observed by about 30 foreign observers from Italy, France, Austria, Greece, etc. tt/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] CHAIRMAN OF FRESH IN ELBASAN RESIGNSELBASAN, JUNE 16 (ATA) - By Pellumb Zekthi: Chairman of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth Forum (FRESH) for Elbasan district Bledar Starova through a declaration addressed the Elbasan district Socialist Party announces resignation from his three posts: as FRESH chairman, a member of the SP presidency of Elbasan district and a member of SP.Asked by ATA reporter for the motives of his resignation, Starova, 22, poet and student in the Language-Literature Faculty in the Aleksander Xhuvani University of Elbasan, said that "they (the motives) are personal" and that "he would not like to make them public." This act of Starova has not been welcomed by SP presidency of Elbasan at all. Starova is known for his progressive European social-democratic inclined viewpoints. In the May 26 parliamentary elections, SP won only five seats on the majority system. It did not take part in the second round of elections and in the partial-rerun of voting being held today. SP boycotted the May 26 elections three hours before voting closed claiming that polling was rigged. Recently, many SP members have resigned or pulled out of presidency posts due to their reformed ideas. The Socialist Party continues to keep Marx in its program. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] UNTIL 1600 ABOUT 55 PER CENT OF VOTERS HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOTSTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA) - By R Floqi: Sources from the Central Electoral Commission report on the basis of preliminary information that 55 per cent of the voters in 17 constituencies which have a rerun of elections today have voted until 1600. Hence in the constituency 101 of Tepelena, the constituency 75 in Lushnja and in 104 in Vlora about 55 per cent of eligible voters has voted, in the constituency 113 of Delvina have voted 58 per cent of voters, in the constituency 62 of Elbasan and 90 of Kucova 50 per cent, in constituency 69 of Peqin have voted 69 percent, in constituency 24 of Mat 60 per cent and in the constituency 11 of Puka 52 per cent of the electors.Information are expected to reach the Commission from other constituencies as well. A smaller number of voters is registered to have voted in the coastal areas because of the beach. So far there are no reports about irregularities in any constituency. Voting is going on calmly despite the opposition boycott. A great number of foreign observers from European institutions and from EDU and EUCD are monitoring today's elections in 17 constituencies in Albania. ssh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] MINISTER ZHULALI ATTENDS MEETING OF DEFENCE MINISTERS OF NATO COUNTRIES AND PARTNERSTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA) - On June 13-14 Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali attended the annual meetings of the defence ministers of the NATO member countries and partners held in Brussels from June 13-14, spokesman of Defence ministry reports.In his discussion Zhulali confirmed Albania's assurance and determination to be an active partner in the activity of the Council of North Atlantic Cooperation and the Partnership for Peace, with the aim to integrate in the euro-atlantic security structures. Hailing the Berlin meeting, Zhulali presented the opinions of the Albanian government regarding the spirit of that meeting, the viewpoints for the Partnership for Peace and the most successful activities and experiences of the Albanian army and Albania. A special attention was also attached to the meeting of the Southern Balkan Defence ministers held upon the initiative of the Albanian government. The exercise "Peace Eagle '96" to be conducted in July with the participation of three NATO member states and partners was considered as fruit of the cooperation and participation in the activities that regional countries are conducting in the context of the Partnership for Peace. Zhulali said that "we would highly valuate the international initiatives for a full solution to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, including Kosova. The increase of the international pressure on Belgrade to start a dialogue with the leadership of the Albanians of Kosova in the presence of a third party will be an encouraging step." During the days of the meeting, Zhulali also had a number of meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Defence Perry, with the German Defence minister Ruehe, with defence ministers of Italy, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain, Holland etc. He had a separate meeting with the NATO Military Committee chairman General Nauman and Assistant Secretary of Defence Kramer. The Zhulali-Perry meeting focused on a close cooperation between Albanian and American armies, the perspectives of promotion and continuation of a U.S. powerful support for Albania in the field of defence. ssh/kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] ALBANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE HAS NOT PHYSICALLY ATTACKED REPORTERTIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA) - Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Tourism Dashamir Shehi today told ATA he had not hit reporter Frrok Cupi.The statement followed the publication today by left wing papers, Koha Jone, Zeri i Popullit and Poli i Qendres of a report saying that last Saturday at about 1500 Shehi had physically attacked the journalist, Frrok Cupi, at a bar in Tirana. "Citing" Shehi, the above papers say the latter hit and threatened Cupi after an article Cupi had published in Koha Jone, in which he declared that "Shehi had been Cupi's bodyguard when the latter was chief editor of Rilindja Demokratike." "For the above misinformation I will address myself to the judiciary, " said Shehi to ATA. kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] SP SYMPATHISERS PREVENT ELECTORATE TO VOTETIRANA, JUNE 16 (ATA) - By R Floqi: According to reports to the Central Electoral Commission, SP representatives and sympathisers are trying to prevent voters from voting freely. Hence, in Rreze village of Patos a group of people was seen pressurizing electors who wanted to take part in voting and intimidating them in different ways.Left wing parties, Socialist Party (SP), Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) the National Unity Party (NUP) and the Agrarian Party (AP) through their papers and in other forms, have called on the electorate not to take part in today's rerun of voting in 17 constituencies. These parties made the same call two weeks ago, in the second round of balloting on June 2, 1996. In that round of elections 60 per cent of voters took part thus marking a reduction of the voter turnout by 30 per cent as compared with elections held a week ago, on May 26, 1996. Left wing opposition parties declared their boycott of elections on May 26, 1996 three hours before polling closed alleging that elections "were rigged" and ordered the withdrawal of their representatives from the polling stations. ssh/pas/xh/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |