Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-02

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT DECREES CHANGE OF DATE FOR RUN-OFF BALLOT

[02] ALBANIAN FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT TO REPAIR DAMAGED COMMISSARIATS

[03] DP ISSUES STATEMENT ON ROME CONFERENCE

[04] PRESS REVIEW

[05] KOSOVA ALBANIANS SHOULD HAVE A Z-4 PROJECT LIKE

[06] PRESIDENT DECREES CHANGE OF DATE FOR RUN-OFF BALLOT

[07] FROM ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MEIDANI IN MEETING OF NEW GOVERNMENT CABINET AND THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENCY

[08] PRESIDENT, PREMIER AND HIS CABINET IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS

[09] ALBANIAN NEW GOVERNMENT WINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT IN ITS FIRST PRESENTATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

[10] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN PM WITH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES ACCREDITED IN TIRANA

[11] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF DEFENCE MEETS GREEK AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[01] PRESIDENT DECREES CHANGE OF DATE FOR RUN-OFF BALLOT

On the bases of the decree the poll will be held on August 10 in these areas.

The commission demanded a change from the previous date that is August 3 saying that the killing of two commissioners in the constituency 4 created unfavourable conditions for polls what represent a cause of tension and aggravation with negative consequences.

Even in the constituency 22 there have been problems and incidents which ask for a special attention.

A reason why the run-off ballot was postponed is that the documentation is not ready for a regular election process.

Ballot papers are not approved by the government commission and they cannot be used because format, colour and security elements are the same as the one used in the last round.

Based on the taxable request of the respective law the ballot papers to be used in this voting process should be completely different in form, colour and elements of security.

President of the Republic considered August 10 as the optimal date to launch elections in these areas and asked the special government commission to take all measures to have polls within the time defined by the decree, the press release said. ssh/kei/ak/

[02] ALBANIAN FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT TO REPAIR DAMAGED COMMISSARIATS

The Fund's inspector Stravri Collaku said to ATA that "its center in Tirana has foreseen a fund worth 15 to 20 million Leks to repair windows and doors, surround walls and do necessary plastering."

Specialists of the three respective city halls are concluding projects and estimates for three commissariats and bids will be held soon.

Collaku said that procedures will be accelerated in order that the commissariats be repaired and put into operation soon. ssh/kei/ak/

[03] DP ISSUES STATEMENT ON ROME CONFERENCE

"But besides an evident will to help Albania, the participants defined a packet of conditions, whose fulfilment, we judge, is in the vital interest of Albania and Albanian democracy. Thus, the Rome conference can be called the conference of clear-cut definition of preliminaries and unfortunately not those of the green rain or Marshal plan as the new government officials said and how we all would want. The Conference does not make concrete any aid but it only confirmed the sincere will of participants to help Albania," the statement said.

It defines the position of the international community as imposed by the lack of confidence in Europe and world like in Albania towards new government officials.

As reasons for the lack of confidence, the statement defined the "low credentials of the head of state, speaker, prime minister and other government officials who won in rebel areas without election race, the degree of incrimination and cooperation of some present officials with gangs and committees, prime minister's stories of abuse with Italian aid of 1991 known both from the Albanian and Italian justice, unserious statements and the immoral game of Socialist leaders with money lenders and pensioners to return the complete amount of money and doubling of pensions, unserious statement of Mr. Nano that the South of Albania is not under the control of gangs, where two days ago an OSCE and UNDP convoy was grabbed, destabilising statements of Nano's Interior minister for violence against the opposition and areas which did not vote for the Socialists and did not cooperate with gangs, immediate replacement of a national spirit with revanche and political revenge after the election what was expressed in the dismissal of leaders of the opposing parties from the parliament, an attack against justice contrary to all laws and practices of a democratic country."

"Through this attitude we do not aim at making difficult the delivery of aid to Albania. On the contrary, we call on all friendly countries and international institutions to give an urgent grant to Albania, despite conditions, for a fund on pensions and equipment for the Albanian police with appropriate defensive means to restore order." pas/ak/k

[04] PRESS REVIEW

Under the headline: "Rome conference, first serious warning for the SP installed government," the newspaper Rilindja Demokratike says: "'Nano 3' blocks aid." The paper carries the editorial "DP statement: this is the truth of Rome." In the chronicle column, the paper says "Thousands tons of cigarettes towards Montenegro: Smuggling government."

Republika carries the editorial "Nano government and jealousy of neighbours." It quotes the Interior Minister Neritan Ceka as saying that "Prosecutors have taken money from criminals."

Rilindja covering the press conference of the head of the Kosova Republic, Ibrahim Rugova, says "E.U. should use pressure to stop provocation and violence in Kosova." Referring to the Rome conference, the paper says that the democracy is a condition for the international support.

Albania says "War of classes resumes," and carries the editorial "Gangs and committees, power of the state." Regarding the return of the government delegation from Italy, the paper says: "Gang of bosses returns."

Koha Jone says that former Minister of Finance Genc Ruli has issued an appeal to reopen Arsidi scandal. Referring to the return of the government delegation from Italy, the paper says "Nano, return with champagne," "Malaj (Finance Minister) continues talks in Rome" and it carries the DP statement that the government did not gain West's vote of confidence. It carries the editorial "DP towards suicide?" and quotes the Speaker Skender Gjinushi as saying: "Parliament will stay four years."

Under the headline "Vefa rebels against Nano government after judges, and television director," Dita newspaper says: "Vefa: Do not interfere in my affairs." Referring to the Rome conference, the paper says Nano is pleased of the visit in Italy and ready to fulfil IMF conditions.

Gazeta Shqiptare says: "Anti crime, condition for aid," and "Meidani postpones second run-off ballot."

Gazeta Bashkimi carries the editorial "South - government, North - two string musical instrument", and says "Storm on Radio Television." kei/ak/k

[05] KOSOVA ALBANIANS SHOULD HAVE A Z-4 PROJECT LIKE

"I think that if Kosova had accepted as a republic after the Second World War, many Serb-Albanian problems existing today would have been solved ... Albanians should have been offered something like the Z-4 project offered to Serbs in Croatia," Mihajlov said.

This will mean, he added, different specific forms: their currency, police and others., but within Yugoslavia.

For me, this is something real which will happen soon or later. Unfortunately, the Serbian opposition, at least not the most articulated, does not support this project which already exists." pas/ag/ak/sh/

[06] PRESIDENT DECREES CHANGE OF DATE FOR RUN-OFF BALLOT

On the bases of the decree the poll will be held on August 10 in these areas.

The commission demanded a change from the previous date that is August 3 saying that the killing of two commissioners in the constituency 4 created unfavourable conditions for polls what represent a cause of tension and aggravation with negative consequences.

Even in the constituency 22 there have been problems and incidents which ask for a special attention.

A reason why the run-off ballot was postponed is that the documentation is not ready for a regular election process.

Ballot papers are not approved by the government commission and they cannot be used because format, colour and security elements are the same as the one used in the last round.

Based on the taxable request of the respective law the ballot papers to be used in this voting process should be completely different in form, colour and elements of security.

President of the Republic considered August 10 as the optimal date to launch elections in these areas and asked the special government commission to take all measures to have polls within the time defined by the decree, the press release said. ssh/kei/ak/

[07] FROM ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MEIDANI IN MEETING OF NEW GOVERNMENT CABINET AND THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENCY

"With the memory of a painful experience but with the great faith in the construction of a new future, Albanians have directed the eyes to their parliament, their government and other legitimate institutions which have taken upon themselves the heavy burden but very noble of materilizing the all people's aspirations for freedom, justice, state, order, work, progress, peace, human and national dignity," said President Mejdani.

Hailing the presentation of these apirations in the program of the new government and the good beginning of the work by the cabinet of PM Fatos Nano, Meidani assured the executive, the parliament, the political parties and all Albanian nationals of this maximal commitment in the all-sided effort for a normal democratic Albania, first of all in favour of national reconciliation, without which the transformation we all aspire to cannot be imagined.

"In the June 29 elections, the Albanian people gave to the new parliamentary majority the high responsibility to govern, whereas the opposition the same lofty responsibility to contribute and control. In this division and converging of the position-opposition responsiliblities stands one of the fundamental guarantees for the efficient functioning of democracy, the abandoning once and for ever of the traditionalist policies of expulsion and the embracing of the policies of cooperation and alternatives," said President Meidani. He pointed out that all the Albanians know the heavy burden of the problems and the negative figures that we have inherited from the far and near past, the government and people are conscious that there are colossal difficulties and the work to overcome them demands devotion and great energies.

"The using the balance of the problems of the past simpy to ensure the alibi of incapability and destructivism has not resisted time. Our negative experience shows that this is not the road to reach progress. The best road to separate from yesterday is to be open to the future," said Meidani, who invited all Albanians to take together this road, to see forward, to uncover and exploit all their possibilities for a life of dignity in family and everywhere.

The President expressed his confidence and desire that these values will be reflected with a special appearance and force in the case when one of the fundamental pledges of the government and parliament will be accomplished, the preparation and approval of the Constitution.

"I exploit this case to invite the opposition to play its irreplacable role in the new institutional spaces. The Constitution must emerge as the first document of the real consensus between the position and the opposition, between the Parliament and the people in order that it become the sure foundation of Democratic Albania for today and the coming decades," said Meidani, who invited the deputies, specialists, politicians, medias and the public opinion to contribute to this major work.

He stressed that a broad political and people's consensus is indispensable for this critical period not only for the constitution but also for the emergent tasks envisaged in the government program.

"TOne of the basic needs of the people today is public order, restitution of the security of life, job, property and movement.

The government shares the same opinion with the people since it has placed the questions of the public order in the first priority tasks for it.

But I am convinced that all the political forces, judiciaries, cells of civic society, various religious and non-religious communities and free individuals will be honoured and renowned for patriotism if they support and contribute to this decisive mission," said the President.

"We are aware of the cardinal role of the Interior Ministry in the restitution of public order, but at the same time we have it clear that the level of public order follows the level of the development and general emancipation of the country," he said, adding that the moment demands an immediate commitment of every ministry to carry out their work.

Meidani pointed out that Albania needs foreign assistance and that support for it has not lacked and will not be lacking also in the future. "The institutions which emerged from the June 29 elections have been cordially hailed by our friends and partners throughout democratic world," he said.

"The Rome Conference in which a government delegation from our country, led by Fatos Nano, took part, highlighted the orientation and projects of the government. This appreciation is a reliable premise for the materialization of the all-round agreement for a near future," said Mr Meidani. He noted that the basic factor of the special attention of the Euro-American commitments to Albania has been, during this period first of all, the Albanian people. "With their civilian behaviour, the Albanian people established direct contact with the friendly countries, by turning down dogmas, misinformations and old practices of the relations between us and the others," said Meidani.

"The Albanian people has opened the road to a new diplomacy. The task of our diplomacy is to conceive and interpret professionally these new relations, to negotiate with competence and dignity the mutual profits stemming from them. Our affirmation as a negotiating party with foreign partners may become more efficient first of all with the position of Albania," he pointed out.

"In our conditions, the level of the success of the foreign policy from which its priorities would derive, should be first of all based on the volume of exchanges, investments and mutual benefits of our country with the international partners. From here we may lay the foundations for a really open, national and pragmatist policy," said President Meidani. pas/xh/sh/

[08] PRESIDENT, PREMIER AND HIS CABINET IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS

Asked that the composition of the new government is widely treated in the Albanian press as "regional narrowness", President Mejdani answered that "to divide into parts Albania with a surface of 28 000 square meters, is out of any real political concept. The regional definitions are not in favour of unity.

This is not a matter of real concepts. I don't know what kind of definitions can be made in this small Albania. I politically denounce, even as a citizen, any division, any concept which does not serve to the people's unity as a whole."

With regard to the statements of the new government members on the policies of partnership with neighbouring countries, asked about how this partnership would be implemented with Belgrade, President Mejdani answered that it is a matter of pragmatic policy, that is without prejudices, to the interest of the Albanians' question wherever they are and which is based on the economic development of the country.

Asked whether will USA or neighbouring countries be priorities in the foreign policy of Albania, Premier Nano answered that "our concept now is pragmatic and totally supported by the international community, it is the concept of partnership of the values and not of the hierarchy of the values. Our secure neighbours are Italy and Greece, by which we are providing even a sensibility of the international community. At the same time, USA are present, are partners and serious in the policy of partnership with Europe and its special countries, where we, Albanians are included. This policy would serve to the stabilization of the Balkan. We will work to create open borders both in the north and south of Albania. We, with all the neighbouring countries, instead of the weapons, will create open borders, free zones. Thus, we will be closer to our compatriots, with a new national policy, with a climate and orientation according to the European standards, to also solve the old problems of the Albanian national question, to be together integrated into the new Europe, to make our country worthy member of the European family."

Asked whether can such reforms, like restoration of order and dissolution of the pyramid schemes, go together, Nano responded that they can be realized, that the solution of problems, related with them, will be carried out with exact programs, experimented in other countries, by specialized experts, by structures which will provide the consolidation of institutions, both for the public order and the economic one.

With regard to the statements of the DP leader, Genc Pollo, for the longevity of the new government, as well as the stands of the opposition press that the law approved in the parliament on the transparence of loan-taking, aims at the destruction of these companies, Nano answered that "this logic in Albania was overcome by the prebiscitary elections of June 29, vote of confidence given to the new government and the institutions by more than two thirds of the Albanians, which will not act as triumphant or swindlers, but as institutions of all the Albanians, not to have murders and losses of chances anymore, so that no one feels lost and without possibilities of integration."

With regard to the pyramid-investment schemes, continued Nano, we have already started the work for the investigation of everything and even from that which has collapsed we will get money for the Albanians, wherever they have gone and how they will be returned in the recuperative manner.

The second important aspect, continued Nano is the conduct of the final analysis, which was also stressed by the deputy director of the World Bank, Mr Lin, that is, the conduct of the common analysis with these specialized institutions, to give the answer to the question that why did this happen, what is to be done so that it never happens, that such fraudulent phenomena, which swallow the blood and the sweat of the Albanians so massively, be not repeated again. Now it is clear that any kind of this activity will never exist in Albania, he said.

In response to a question regarding order, the Interior Minister, Ceka, said that our short-term aim is to take control of the key routes and elimination of the gangs in different towns. He pointed out that in the coming days, these police operations will be intensified in the road towards the border check point of Kakavije, as well as in the towns of Berat and Vlore. He said that the restructuring of the special forces, to be charged with the above duties, continues. /mt/

[09] ALBANIAN NEW GOVERNMENT WINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT IN ITS FIRST PRESENTATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PM Fatos Nano said that it was precisely the plebiscitary vote of June 29, 1997 which created the possibility for a rapid recovery and intergration of Albania in the civilized Europe.

Nano declared that the government "is increasing the force of the executive with each passing day, by taking the situation under its control."

Referring to the international conference of donators held in Rome recently, Nano said that along with the responsibilities and commitment of his cabinet, Europe showed clearly its commitment by undertaking the first successful act to assist Albania which has just emerged from a crisis which carried it back to the year 0.

Nano stressed that the latest conference in Rome hailed the election of the new President of Albania in the high post of the unity of the country and of the arbiter. The appointment of new government and election of Fatos Nano as Prime Minister were also hailed. That conference, he said, expressed its full readiness to cooperate with the new Albanian Government.

"Albania passed its stage of emergence," said Nano, "and it is invited to take part in the international democratic family as a powerful partner."

"I declared clearly in the Rome Conference," said Nano, "that we will not accept a penny without knowing where to use it and will not to allow it to lose in the dark holes of corruption of incapability. We did not go there to beg, but to implement together programs of development and not simply humanitarian assistance programs for people who were treated as inferior until yesterday."

"Such illusions as 'We govern, the world helps us,' will not have room in our phylosophy of cooperation with international community to reconstruct this country," said Nano.

"The aid for Albania will be institutionalised in two stages: in the Conference of foreign ministers in Rome at the end of September and in the Donators' Conference at the end of October in Brussels to ensure defenitevely not sacks with money but reliable donations and financing through development programs: said Nano.

"We reiterated in the conference our obligation and phylosophy for cogoverning and cohabitation and the division of responsibilities between the majority and the opposition, by putting the work of the government under the control of the opposition," he said.

The priorities defined in the conference were the normality of the civilian society, institutional reforms, restitution of law and order and of the state authority which were ruined in the last months' crisis, said Nano.

The economic and financial stabilization of the country, the control of the budgetary deficit, the internal and foreign debt are now already included in the programs of the IMF, the World Bank, etc. We have now met the last condition inherited by the old regime, to unblock the activity, and to put an end pyramid investment schemes and every other fraudulent activity, said Nano.

The conference determined three stages of the program of assistance for Albania: short-term, mid-term and long term, said Nano further on. In the short-term stage, the plan of the government to restore law and order was apporved. Also in relation to the army, they welcomed the readiness of NATO and some countries to help reconstruct the armed forces of Albania.

In this stage, it was decided that the economic stability must also have the proper legislation for the treatment of pyramid investment schemes, for which programs are ready to be applied in August, so that those firms be put under control, and the economic-financial situation of the country be stabilized. The World Bank is working to find donators on the basis of the rapid efforts for the economic recovery of Albania.

Nano stressed that the new government is not creating any vacuum in the line of the foreign policy and he considered successful the Italian-Albanian negotiations and the beginning of a new stage in the relations between our two countries. This will be followed at the beginning of the next week also by a summit with the same objectives and level with the delegation of the Greek Government.

Nano stressed that the responsibility for the reconstruction of Albania belongs equally to all the political class, including the opposition, which must be constructive.

In conclusion, Nano said that "the international community gave the Albanian new government its blessing, vote of confidence and support." kled/xh/sh/

[10] MEETINGS OF ALBANIAN PM WITH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES ACCREDITED IN TIRANA

Premier Nano, with the German Ambassador, Hans Peter Disdorn, held a talk regarding the current engagements of the government, reports with the international community and bilateral relations. The meeting of Rome on July 31 was a successful verification of the program of the new government, which was approved and greeted by the representatives of the participating countries and international financial organizations, said Nano. In the meeting they also talked about the Albanian-German relations and their further development in all the fields with mutual interest.

Premier Nano also held today a meeting with the Macedonian Ambassador in Tirana, Nikola Todorcevski, who conveyed the wishes of the Macedonian Prime Minister, B. Cervenkovski.

Nano stressed among others that the Albanian government wants the further and fruitful development of the relations with the government of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, based on the democratic principals of relations between neighbouring countries.

The declaration and guarantee of the human and national rights, the creation of an equal space for all, the guarantee of the rights internationally accepted, would make the Albanian-Macedonian relations fruitful in the future, said Nano.

Ambassador Todorcevski expressed the will of his government to develop the Albanian-Macedonian relations in all the directions. The fields of cooperation exist and their realization would enrich the cooperation and understanding between both peoples.

Todorcevski informed the Albanian Premier on the existence of a considerable quantity of aid of the Macedonian government to be distributed in Albania.

In the meeting with the Premier Nano, the Ambassador of the Great Britain in Tirana, Mr Andrew Tresoriere, conveyed to him the greetings and wishes of the British PM, Tony Blair, for the high and important duty, and expressed the will of the British government to strengthen the all-round relations between both countries.

During the meeting, Premier Nano briefed on the priority of the program of the new government and the results of the participation in the Preparatory Conference of Rome on Albania.

The Ambassador of Russia, Igor Saprikin, gave today the message of greeting sent by the Russian Premier, Viktor Cernomirdin, to the Albanian Prime Minister, Fatos Nano. Cernomirdin stressed that Russia is ready to cooperate, both in the bilateral and multilateral plan, in the respective and regional interests.

Premier Nano expressed the conviction that the Albanian-Russian relations can develop further on.

Ambassador Saprikin presented during the meeting the possibilities of cooperation and conveyed the will of the Russian government to hold high ranking meetings between both countries, which was welcomed by Premier Nano.

In the meeting that Premier Nano held with the ambassador of the Confederation of Switzerland, Tomas Feller, the latter conveyed the greetings of the Swiss Premier and the will of Berne to continue the Albanian-Swiss cooperation and development in other fields. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[11] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF DEFENCE MEETS GREEK AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

The Greek Ambassador informed that a military delegation, headed by the Greek deputy Minister of Defence will come to Albania on August 5. He proposed that in the framework of the preparations and work to give to the Albanian army immediate aid for its reconstruction.

Minister Brokaj pointed out the contribution given by the Greek forces in the framework of Alba mission, as well as the engagement of Greece in the Conference of Rome.

In the meeting they also talked about the ways to be found and the exploitation of other possibilities to provide an urgent aid.

Both parties said that all the possibilities for transparency and fruitful bilateral and multilateral cooperation exist. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

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