Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-06-05

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] AUTHOR OF THE LIFE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA IDENTIFIED

[02] ROMANIAN MULTINATIONAL FORCES COLLABORATE WITH PREFECTURE STAFF

[03] PRONUNCIATION OF PRESIDENT BERISHA AFTER THE ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE

[04] ROMANIAN MULTINATIONAL FORCES COLLABORATE WITH PREFECTURE STAFF

[05] PRESS RELEASE OF ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO

[06] SP ANNOUNCES ALLIANCES AND CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS

[07] DP NATIONAL COUNCIL DISCUSSES CANDIDATURES FOR DEPUTY IN TIRANA

[08] CEC DISCUSSES MARK TO BE PUT ON THE VOTERS

[09] LIST OF DP CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN TIRANA

[10] PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THE ALBANIAN TELEVISION ABOUT THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT'S LIFE

[11] DP DISCUSSES ON EMERGENCY PLAN TO OVERCOME CRISIS IN ALBANIA

[12] COUNCIL OF EUROPE: LAW ON MEDIA AND ROLE OF FOREIGN RADIOS IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

[13] OSCE WILL COMPLETE ENGAGEMENTS TAKEN FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

[14] "WITH SP WE SHALL HAVE ONLY PRE-ELECTORAL COOPERATION" - Melo

[15] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF FINANCES MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DEPARTMENT 21 OF EC

[16] CREATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN SLAVERY, THE GREATEST DEFECT - Demaci

[17] ATTORNEY'S GENERAL OFFICE STARTS PENAL CASE FOR EVENT OF SHKALLNUR, RRASHBULL

[18] PRESS RELEASE

[19] DECLARATION OF THE DPA NATIONAL COUNCIL

[20] BOMB EXPLOSION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL DORMITORY

[01] AUTHOR OF THE LIFE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT BERISHA IDENTIFIED

His name is Ilir Ceta, 27 years, and described by police as a strong left extremist.

Participants in the rally could block Ceta from removing the safety catch of an offensive grenade he intended to throw towrds the tribune, nevertheless he threw the grenade without managing to remove the safety catch. The people present told how they gripped Ceta by his arms and how he was thrown on the ground.

"I, together with my child," said an eye witness, who was hodling a four year old girl," tried to avoid the incident."

Then the author of the act was rioted and hit by the present.

Forces of the Presidential Guard took him to a hospital in Tirane.

Sources from the hospital say he is in a state of coma. xh/k

[02] ROMANIAN MULTINATIONAL FORCES COLLABORATE WITH PREFECTURE STAFF

The aim was to remove necessary materials for a normal electoral process from Gjirokastra to these cities.

The mayor and leading officials of the Romanian battalion "Shengjergji" held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon in which the latter agreed to the demand of the official authorities to help in the election process. s.sh/eva/ak/k

[03] PRONUNCIATION OF PRESIDENT BERISHA AFTER THE ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE

"It was an ugly act with which the terrorist aimed to take scores of lives with the means he intended to use in his act. I want once more to powerfully denounce this terrorist act and every terrorist act. Terrorism is the most amoral arm of the defeated, of the lost, of those who belong to the darkest faculties of the human world, but on the other hand I would like to appeal to the Albanians to keep cool, to be committed to this electoral campaign, to conduct it with dignity and to carry Albania to elections despite these difficulties. We must not lose our faith, optimism, determination to give Albania its stability through elections, to give the Albanian democracy a new impetus, to open a new chapter on its road towards consolidation, and on its road towards Europe.

I also avail myself of the opportunity to express my profound gratitude and thanks, to all those present in the meeting, who even after the great terrorist threat to their lives, did not leave but continued the rally calmly, exchanged their opinions and, in one way, the stand of the electors of Rrushbull was a symbol of the stand of all Albanian electors, who despite the difficulties should determingly go to the polls.

I admired greatly the bravery and courage of those people, their calmness towards the act, and I want to express my thanks and great appreciation for their bravery and courage of the group of escort, who managed to catch the means of the crime and made it ineffective and unharmful.

By once more denouncing this act, I call on all Albanians who with equilibrium, cool-headedness, determination and respect for one another, must take part in the polls as the road which has, without doubt difficulties, but which is the best for us, for Albania, for the Albanian nation in general.

When asked how he felt in the moment of the terrorist act, both as a president and as a man, Berisha said that:

"I was defending there my ideas, and I think I was defending correct ideas." xh

[04] ROMANIAN MULTINATIONAL FORCES COLLABORATE WITH PREFECTURE STAFF

The aim was to remove necessary materials for a normal electoral process from Gjirokastra to these cities.

The mayor and leading officials of the Saint George Romanian battalion held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon in which the latter ag eed to the demand of the official authorities to help in the election process. s.sh/eva/ak/k

[05] PRESS RELEASE OF ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO

"The request is related to the convening of an urgent plenary meeting of the parliament to discuss a proposal on the abrogation of the law on the state of emergency.

"The Speaker violated again the fundamental laws of the Albanian state by deciding arbitrarily not to convene parliament. In this way, the speaker instead of fulfilling his duty makes commentaries, ironies and mockeries of the institutions of the Albanian state. He cited a parliamentary decision date May 13 and declared that "the request of Fino is satisfied by the above mentioned decision for which the Prime minister has not been clearly informed."

"The speaker and his colleagues of the Democratic party give a political character to this problem speaking about 'armed rebellion committees, which are an armed ally of the Socialist party' and bomb terrorists. These statements are not serious attitudes and more less from the politicians which want to create a quiet electoral campaign free of emotions and party hatred.

"I, as a prime minister of the National Reconciliation government have made clear more than once the request made on behalf of the government. And this consists particularly on the desire and total commitment to create a quiet and peaceful electoral situation. I reiterate my conviction that the lifting of the state of emergency will be an extra element to enable the Albanian electorate have faith in a free vote and express their preference without any pressure and fear.

"The Albanian government has reiterated that the state of emergency reduced only to a curfew is being turned into an element of abuse from the destructive forces and elements who aimed at creating terror and fear. The decision on May 13 presented as a pretext not to convene the parliament and including only two lines saying 'the duty of the competent bodies is to create conditions and guarantee safety for the political forces during the election campaign,' cannot be considered as an argument because it is drafted in a state of emergency when the commander can move his troops how and when he likes.

"On this occasion I reiterate my public statement that the SP I represent is not aiming at sweeping back to power if this means innocent human lives. I hope that even the Democratic party and Arbnori do not wish such a thing. Based of these humane and democratic aims, legal provisions of the Albanian state I call on the Speaker to carry out his duty and allow parliament to decide what it thinks is reasonable." ak/k

[06] SP ANNOUNCES ALLIANCES AND CANDIDATES IN ELECTIONS

Party sources spoke of heated debates on candidates in the so-called safe constituencies where party leaders and supporters of Fatos Nano, the SP leader, have been set.

The SP considers "safe" constituencies the cities of Tepelena, Vlora and Cerrik. At the same time it is said that "less safe" constituencies are given to the opponents of Nano.

An SP statement said that the party is for alliance with progressive opposition and defined as its ally the Social democratic party, Human Rights Union party, Agrarian party and National Unity party.

These alliances according to the SP defend much better the interests of the Albanian people.

Organisation Secretary Namik Dokle spoke about the efficiency of the party structures.

"Socialist electorate should not only consider its participation in polling a duty but also should defend a free vote," Dokle said.

The meeting discussed the platform and aims of the SP during the electoral campaign to build "an Albania which can be integrated into the Euro Atlantic alliance." kei/pas/ak/k

[07] DP NATIONAL COUNCIL DISCUSSES CANDIDATURES FOR DEPUTY IN TIRANA

President Berisha explained in his speech with regard to the yesterday's attempt on his life and stressed that the politicians should be not discouraged, because the election campaign is the largest engagement of a human in politics.

"There is of importance not to make things dramatic, and calm down", said Berisha.

Berisha said that DP is against terror.

Further on he stressed the necessity of a national reconciliation and said that "the terrorists will take the merited punishment by the law."

The DP National Council is going on the proceedings, where are expected to be defined the 19 candidatures for the district of Tirana, while the presentation of candidatures for the other districts will be done in another meeting on Sunday.

The program of the Democratic Party in this election campaign is the same with the program presented in the elections of May 26, last year. The emergency measures, proposed by DP, will be added to this program to overcome the political and economic crisis after winning the June 29 elections. /kei/mt/k

[08] CEC DISCUSSES MARK TO BE PUT ON THE VOTERS

One of the members of CEC, Pellumb aela, said that the problem stands on the fact how will the formulation of this sub-legal act will be done. He added that this problem should be solved by the government in cooperation with OSCE.

"The representatives of the Democratic Party in the CEC completely agree with the marking, but they ask the formulation leaves a space if OSCE and the government do not guarantee the technic of marking, and elections are not hindered, but continue normally," said aela. He added that the representatives of the Socialist Party are against this opinion, but anyhow the hope of a consensus still exists. "If the consensus is not reached, then we will reject this, because we cannot agree with the fact that the CEC become a hindrance for the conduct of elections", he said. /pas/mt/

[09] LIST OF DP CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY IN TIRANA

The respective candidates, according to the constituencies of Tirana will be:

Constituency 39 Hatixhe Kellezi

40 Bamir Topi

41 Ruxhdi Koci

42 Shaban Kamberi

43 Burhan Kaceli

44 Albina Karamitro

45 Engjell Hysenbegasi

46 Emin Riza

47 Margarita Qirko

48 Ekerem Kastrati

49 Ylli Vejsiu

50 Vili Minarolli

51 Albert Brojka

52 Rexhep Karapici

53 Njazi Kosovrasti

54 Uran Butka

55 Alush Shima

56 Fatos Beja

57 Aleksander Meksi From 19 candidates elected, 16 of them have been deputies even in the last legislatures.

Nine deputies have put up their candidature in Tirana and 5 of them in the same electoral constituency in the last legislature./kled/mt/sh/

[10] PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THE ALBANIAN TELEVISION ABOUT THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT'S LIFE

A member of the escort of the Albanian President, who caught the grenade and made it inactive, tells the Albanian Television the circumstances of the event.

The terrorist Ilir aeta, who tried to kill the President, is in the military hospital of Tirana for medical treatment.

aeta told the Albanian Television on Thursday the circumstances until the moment he threw the grenade. "I was told to go to Shkallnuer at 18:00... I was staying on the sixth line and after 10 minutes the order was issued: 'Make ready to remove the safety catch'" - said aeta from the Military Hospital of Tirana.

The prosecutor's office in Durres, the group of prosecutors of the General Prosecutor's Office and officers of the juridical police of the Interior Ministry have started the penal procedure on the event which occurred Wednesday in Shkallnuer, at the time when the The President of the Republic was holding an electoral meeting with the inhabitants of this commune. /kld/mt/

[11] DP DISCUSSES ON EMERGENCY PLAN TO OVERCOME CRISIS IN ALBANIA

DP defines in its platform the directions of the fight against corruption, strengthening of labour for the implementation of law, for the restoration of the rule of law, for the protection of the market economy, as well as measures for providing public and constitutional order.

These measures, according to this program, will be completed within six months, if DP will win in the June 29 elections. In this context, for the restoration of the rule of law it is envisaged to establish and restore the order police, based on the law on the state police, as well as to organize a gendarmerie for the quick restoration of order, according to the models of the foreign aid and experience.

It is expected to change the law on weapons, for their keeping and usage according to the standard of the modern countries.

In this program are also expected changes and reformations even in SHIK.

DP according to the platform will play an encouraging role through the strong fiscal economic policies, which makes a real economic capacity and can be put into efficience by drafting the strategies of restoration of sectors and the drafting of the micro-credits system, providing funds of foreign investments, and others./kled/jz/mt/sh/

[12] COUNCIL OF EUROPE: LAW ON MEDIA AND ROLE OF FOREIGN RADIOS IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

The theme of the discussion was the regulation of media during the election campaign. The specialists of the audio-vision system from Great Britain, France, Germany, gave their experience in this field and in their respective realities.

"At the time when we as an election commission, in our television platform calculate even the seconds from the presentation in Television of the political parties, the foreign radios in Albanian language are free to broadcast their news which last until three hours a day out of this control," said the chairman of the sub-commission of media in the Central ElectionCommission, Pellumb aela.

The main theme of discussion also focused on the new law on media and the way it is applied in Albania.

The referrers Domenique Laveau, Dieter Roth, Mario Oethiner, discussed on the Albanian status of media, in proportion to the international legislation./kled/mt/sh/

[13] OSCE WILL COMPLETE ENGAGEMENTS TAKEN FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

"We are able and will provide all the main materials for the preparation of the election process before June 29," said the spokesman of this Organization, Jeff Murray.

This Office informs that they are making all the efforts and plans to bring the ballot boxes and papers from Bosnia where ODHIR has its own stores.

With regard to the last request of the Central Election Commission for the usage on the election day of a 24-hour indelible ink on the hands of voters, Murrey stresses that it is a fair request which "does not allow a voter to vote twice" and OSCE confirms its complete readiness on the fulfillment of this request.

Some teams of these organization have conducted a series of "expeditions" in many regions of Albania, where they are familiarized with the situation and are contributing in the preparations of the pre-election process./jz/mt/sh/

[14] "WITH SP WE SHALL HAVE ONLY PRE-ELECTORAL COOPERATION" - Melo

SP and HRUP have left each other a free constituency in Korce, HRUP has left SP a free constituency in Shkoder while SP a free constituency for HRUP in the South.

"We have not made any alliance in the full meaning of this word, but it is a cooperation in two constituencies, one in Korce and another in the South," said HRUP chairman, Vasil Melo.

A declaration Wednesday by SP said that this party would make alliances with progressive opposition, and as allies were qualified SDP, HRUP, Agrarian Party and the National Unity Party. In the mean time, HRUP had not declared before any alliance prior to and after the elections, but Melo said that "we have accepted to have local pre-electoral agreements and not alliances of a high politically charater."

According to Melo, "this is only a pre-electoral cooperation at local level and serves mutual interest," whereas regarding a post-electoral cooperation, he said that "we shall see how the coming Parliament will be and will decide on those grounds."

After SP's declaration on alliances, analysts saw there was not any alliance with Democratic Alliance Parrty and a new alliance with HRUP, a party which expresses the interests of the Greek minority in Abania and, which now, after its chairman, Vasil Melo, is not standing for elections, is inclining to the left.

"This cooperation has not to do with two opposite policies in the HRUP, because the Leading General Council decided only on local agreements of mutual interest with all the political forces," said Melo, adding that his party considered him better to be elected deputy according to the proportional system list where he is the first."

Additionally, Melo said "HRUP is seeing the possibility for such a cooperation also with right wing parties, including DP." xh/sh/

[15] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF FINANCES MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF DEPARTMENT 21 OF EC

They talked on making concrete the aid and assistance offered by the European Community in this context for the customs system, spokesman of the Minister of Finances reports.

The representatives of the mission said in the meeting that the European Commission has expressed the readiness to put at the disposal of this mission for Albania the amount of 1.5 million ECU.

With regard to this fund, the Minister of Finances expressed its objectives, asking that a better part of it will be used for material aid and in logistics for the customs system, for which there are urgent needs, because in the base of the preliminary structure, presented by the representatives of the mission, the whole fund is planned as expenditures for its representatives, who will stay in Albania. In the meeting, Malaj presented three directions for further bilateral cooperation. /s.sh/jz/mt/

[16] CREATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN SLAVERY, THE GREATEST DEFECT - Demaci

Asked what would he do if he won in the parliamentary elections, Demaci replied that "the first thing to do is the dissolution of the political parties and creation of a national council, whose objective would the organization of the people on a joint front to win the freedom. Our main defect is the creation of many parties in slavery, while we have split the united people according to Serbia's interest."

In a question about the Liberation Army of Kosova, Demaci stressed that they know it only through some fax messages. ag/xh/sh/

[17] ATTORNEY'S GENERAL OFFICE STARTS PENAL CASE FOR EVENT OF SHKALLNUR, RRASHBULL

The preliminary investigation results that the citizen Ilir Elez Ceta, 26, resident in Rrashbull, has thrown a military grenade with the aim of attempting on the President's life, as well as has carried out a terrorist act against the participants in the meeting, crimes envisaged in articles 219, 230 and 22 of the Penal Code.

The Prosecutor decided the flagrant arrest of Ilir Elez Ceta, who is now in hospital, being intensively treated and out of danger for his life.

The group of prosecutors and officers of judicial police, charged with preliminary investigation into the matter, and the group of experts, are working intensively to explain all the versions regarding the causes, motives, instigators and organizers of this grave criminal event, ends the report of the Attorney's General Office. ssh/xh

[18] PRESS RELEASE

The meeting discussed and approved the program of the Democratic Party to bring the country out of the crisis within a short period of time. The program focuses on the most emergent needs of the Albanian society today to overcome the crisis.

The main attention in the program is devoted to the support for the public order structures in restoring law within some months, considation of the institutions and measures for the recovery of the economy, guarantee for Albanian farmers, local and foreign investors, extension of assistance for the unemployed, strengthening of the control against corruption, transparency for pyramid investment schemes, etc.

In his address, President Berisha stressed that "we shall offer to the Albanian electorate a program which will repair as soon as possible the damage caused by the rebellion and will strengthen the democratic state institutions."

With regard to the transparence, he stressed that every candidate should, first of all, declare his assets in order that the transparence be realistic and DP must not hold on its shoulders untrue accusations.

Further on Mr Berisha said that DP is resolute to conduct a civilized and intensive electoral campaign towards victory on June 29 ballot.

The National Council adopted in this meeting a declaration on the terrorist act in Shkallnuer of Durres yesterday, during which a left wing extremeist threw a bomb against President Berisha and hundreds of inhabitans of that area.

The National Council of DP will convene again on Sunday to adopt the candidacies for all constituencies. xh

[19] DECLARATION OF THE DPA NATIONAL COUNCIL

Regarding this act, the council members expressed in the meeting the concern and indignation of DP members, sympathizers, and the electorate throughout the country.

The National Council judges that it belongs to the judiciary to find and declare the links and motives of the terrorist for the act he undertook, but despite the links and the motives which have encouraged him, yesterday's act is a product of the terror-inciting policy of the left wing extremists and their allies, who organized the rebellion and who, instead of political solutions, are seeking to impose violent solutions to the Albanian society. There are these forces which, for several months now, through all means of propaganda and the support for the rebels and rebellion, have aimed at creating in Albania the impression that DP and Berisha must be removed from the political stage at any cost and by all manner of means.

The theory and tactics of the Albanian left wing to eliminate through the communist type attempts on the lives of distinguished political figures and symbols of Albanian patriotism and democracy, is not a present reality but it has its beginnings since 1941. Albanians must not forget the history how communism occupied Albania.

In particular, the National Council highlighted the stand of inhabitants of Shkallnur, writes the declaration, who did not leave the rally, but joined President Berisha, thus becoming a clear symbol of the challenge that Albanian electorate has made and will make to the communist terror. On this occasion it was streesed once more the fact that the Democratic Party will continue its campaign more intensively being convinced that only the free vote and its victory will take Albania out of the chaos and communist rebellion.

The National Council appeals to DPs leaders, members and sympathizers to be committed to a civilized campaign, avoiding any provocation, because the victory is with the democrats.

The Democratic Party of Albania, as a party against violence and any form of terror, protest once more against any form of violence which aims at sabotaging the elections and a normal realisation of the electoral campaign for June 29 polls. The DP has insisted in the signing of the social pact in this electoral campaign and it insistsin a free activity throughout the country for every Albanian political force so that the electorate have the chance to know all political alternatives, ends the declaration of the National Council of the DPA. ssh/xh/

[20] BOMB EXPLOSION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL DORMITORY

According to preliminary information of police, the bomb was planted there by some people who had got off a vehicle in brown colour. There are nor reports for damages.

Some police sources say that the authors of the crime are identified and caught. xh

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