ATA News from Albania, 96-07-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] EARTHQUAKE TREMORS IN ALBANIA

[02] VLORA-CORFU PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST CRIME

[03] ALBANIANS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD BE RESPECTED - Rugova

[04] ASSISTANCE FOR ITALIAN ENTERPRISES IN ALBANIA AND CHINA

[05] ALBANIAN OFFICIALS PAY HOMAGE TO PRISON DIRECTOR GENERAL

[06] FIRST WHEAT INTERNATIONAL TENDER IN TIRANA

[07] ARRESTED HOSTAGE-TAKER DIES

[08] PRESS REVIEW

[09] SOLUTION TO KOSOVA CONFLICT, KEY FACTOR FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS-adviser

[10] LAST FAREWELL TO ARDENT DEMOCRAT BUJAR KALOSHI

[01] EARTHQUAKE TREMORS IN ALBANIA

Its epicentre was in the Greek territories, close to the south eastern borders of Albania. The tremors were felt some 5 degrees on the Mercali scale in Erseka town (Southeastern Albania). There are no damages reported until now. ssh/jz/fh/z/

[02] VLORA-CORFU PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST CRIME

The prefect of Vlora, Bahri Shanaj, after signing recently a cooperation protocol in Corfu held Friday the first official meeting in concretization of mutual exchange of information and cooperation in prevention of crime and clandestine trafficking of drugs and people.

After a briefing of the issues discussed in the meeting with his counterpart Andreas Pangratis, Shanaj said that further contacts will be decided in the context of cooperation between respective departments. ssh/jz/fh/Z/

[03] ALBANIANS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SHOULD BE RESPECTED - Rugova

Rugova asked the European firms that "cooperation and all economic agreements with Kosova be realised through legal institutions of Kosova."

He also asked by the Western governments to help realisation of the road Pristine-Prizren-Lezhe project as a branch of the old Roman road, Via Egnatia. pta/lin/fh/z/

[04] ASSISTANCE FOR ITALIAN ENTERPRISES IN ALBANIA AND CHINA

These two firms are the production and distribution company for bricks and Riva Calzoni. Their initiative is related to productive activities started in these countries, a press release of the Italian Foreign Ministry said. kei/ak/Z/

[05] ALBANIAN OFFICIALS PAY HOMAGE TO PRISON DIRECTOR GENERAL

The coffin with the body of Bujar Kaloshi, 40, was placed today at 9.00 in one of the halls of the Directorate General of Prisons in Tirana.

Albanian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, Interior Minister Halit Shamata, Justice Minister Kristofor Peci, deputies, employees of the Justice and Interior Ministries also paid homage.

Bujar Kaloshi was killed on Friday by two men who were wearing sports clothes when they ran close to the car he was stepping into and fired at him several times at the head. The assailants also fired at the driver who managed to escape and seriously injured a passer-by around fifty who was hospitalized.

Kaloshi, a father of two children, died on the spot.

The driver Arben Duka is on a bad psychological condition.

At the moment of the attack Kaloshi was accompanied only by his driver who was unarmed.

Witnesses said that the assailants left in a grey car thought to be of Fiat Regata type.

The event happened on Friday at 7.40 a.m.(local time), the spokesman of the Interior Ministry said.

Kaloshi lived with his family in a suburb of Tirana near an airfield in homes built for the formerly politically persecuted.

"We still have no information on the motive of the attack," a police source said to ATA.

The autopsy revealed that three out eight bullets had hit him on the head.

His Kaloshi family and relatives have been persecuted and interned since 1946 by the communist dictatorship.

Kaloshi was born in internment in 1956 in Grabjan, Lushnja, where he finished the secondary school (children of the persecuted families were not allowed to continue the higher studies). In 1990 he was one of the main organisers of the democratic processes in Lushnja and one of the founders of the DP division in Lushnja.

After the introduction of democracy, he was appointed as the chief of the Staff Directorate at the Financial Police Department and since 1995 he has been the General Director of the Prison Administration having a Colonel grade.

He graduated the Law Faculty and Military College in 1955.

His funeral will be organised on Saturday at 12.00. pas/kei/ak/k/Z/

[06] FIRST WHEAT INTERNATIONAL TENDER IN TIRANA

The British economic newspaper "Financial Times" is chosen to announce the news that the Albanian government intends to buy this quantity of wheat to meet needs of the population.

"So far foreign firms have been greatly interested in it" Ilir Maci, director of Technical Department close to State Reserves said to Albania.

Home and foreign firms' bids will be opened and the winning firm will be decided according to points. The firm will deliver the wheat within eight weeks according to the contract's conditions.

The maximum limit of the wheat is about USD 11.5 million, equal to the value of government's subsidies provided by a law passed a year ago by the Albanian government on liberalisation of wheat and flour price.

Five, out of the ten firms which have confirmed their participation in the tender, are powerful foreign firms. kei/fh/k

[07] ARRESTED HOSTAGE-TAKER DIES

Cashku, armed with a weapon, entered the Savings Bank threatening the staff and taking five of them hostage after they refused to give him a grant worth 300 thousand dollars. But he managed to hold only two of the bank staff.

Later he tried to commit suicide.

The police struggling to disarm Cashku shot at and warned him to surrender but he refused and fired at them instead.

"The motives of his action are unknown," Agim Shehu, Police Director General said after the blitz.

None of the hostages were hurt. ak/k

[08] PRESS REVIEW

Rilindja Demokratike carries a biography of Kaloshi and the article "State should say stop to iron-hand crime."

Zeri i Popullit carries a special editorial under the headline "Tirana shocked by crime."

Republika carries the editorial entitled "Crime in day light."

Poli i Qendres carries the article "Anxiety in Tirana."

Under the headline "Bullets hit again the state", the daily Albania carries the article "Director General of Prisons killed."

Dita Informacion under the headline "Two senior officials killed in 15 days" carries the article "Director General of prisons killed."

Koha Jone carries the editorial "Life - cheapest item", and the article "Biggest attack against the state officials."

Gazeta Shqiptare under the headline "Day of bullets" reports on the killing of Bujar Kaloshi, Director General of Prisons.

Following are other topics covered by today's newspapers.

Rilindja Demokratike under the headline "EU fully backs Albania" carries the editorial entitled "EU: Opposition becomes aware of." It also highlights yesterday's press conference of Hans van den Broek, European Commissioner for Relations with East Europe and carries the EU official report entitled: "European Commission is working on an accord with Albania." In its fourth page the paper says "The United States back Albania's possible membership in NATO. Regarding the SP inner development, the daily carries two articles entitled: "Here is the SP shadow leadership," under the headline "Old clan and platform to return to power." It also carries the article entitled "Majko: "King left! Long Live the King".

Zeri i Popullit carries the article "Will the aid program continue? ..." referring to the U.S. aid to Albania and the article "Albania-European Union relationships depend on democratic development in Albania." In its second page the daily carries the articles "Socialist party is a living organism" and "Changes in program should not damage the SP authority" referring to party inner problems.

Poli i Qendres carries the article "Foundations of US-Albanian relations are weakened." It publishes an interview of Rudolf Perines, deputy assistant of the US State Secretary for Europe with radio "The Voice of America" under the title "Development of Albania as a democratic country is the corner stone for our relations."

Republika also carries the above interview under the title "Foudations of Albanian-US relations are weakened." It also carries the article "Van Den Broek: Local elections test of the E.U. for Albania."

Rilindja highlights Friday's press conference of Kosova President Ibrahim Rugova entitled "Kosova's issue should be discussed in the presence of a third party." It also reports on a gathering of some thousands of Albanians in front of the US Embassy and the OSCE centre in Skopje under the title "Gathering under the motto: We ask defence."

An interview of Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu is also in this paper entitled "The U.S. and Europe - priorities of the Albanian foreign policy."

Albania carries its editorial entitled "Soros' abuse" and an official report of the EU regarding on the reciprocal relations with Albania."

Koha Jone under the headline "EU Commissioner discovers his visit's aim in Tirana" publishes the article "The key of aids: Elections and Constitution." On page four it publishes "Berisha and Zhulali in contrary paths."

Tribuna publishes "EC and Albania will deepen their collaboration." On its third page it carries "Criminal of the Albanian policy" about the DAP chairman Neritan Ceka.

Dita Informacion carries an article entitled "Tirana manipulators" regarding the Soros economic operations to help the newspaper Koha Jone.

Bashkimi's editorial is entitled "Europe should not forget itself." jz/ak/fh/k

[09] SOLUTION TO KOSOVA CONFLICT, KEY FACTOR FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS-adviser

Zherga said in an interview with the Voice of America that the meeting with president Milosevic was a disillusion because of the slanders and manipulation of facts over the situation in the former Yugoslavia, especially in Kosova.

"But at the end of the meeting Milosevic stressed he would engage in the normalisation of the educational system before the beginning of the academic year in Kosova and expressed readiness to meet with the Albanian leader, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova," he said.

Zherga said that Milosevic would engage in solving several problems in Kosova, which were of no political importance, but would not allow the discussion of Albania's self-rule.

"However, Milosevic seemed to make allowances only if faced with a strong international pressure or, maybe, some internal pressure, which would be effective," he said.

"I hope the West and the Kosovars themselves will continue pressure against him until a solution is found to this issue," he added.

As regards the opening of the U.S. Information Office in Pristina, Zherga said that the office was of importance for three reasons: 1. Serbia allowed its opening, 2. America engaged itself in opening the office, 3. Kosova gained what it wanted.

"The opening of the office should be the first step among a series of steps leading towards Albanians' self-rule in Kosova. We in the Congress believe that this will take place and until then the outer wall of sanctions will continue. I said this to Milosevic," Zherga said adding that the sanctions on Serbia would be intensified unless Albanians were guaranteed the political rights. He said this view was embraced by the Congress, the State department and president Clinton.

"I am convinced that the Congress and the White House understand that the solution of the Kosova conflict is a key factor for peace in the Balkans. Unless the Kosova issue is resolved, there will be no lasting peace in the region," he said.

Zherga added that the Albanians' issue in Yugoslavia could be solved only by guaranteeing the right to self-rule.

"The Albanians of Kosova will agree to no less than this". lt/pas/lm

[10] LAST FAREWELL TO ARDENT DEMOCRAT BUJAR KALOSHI

The last farewell was bid to the ardent democrat, head of the Prison Administration Department, Bujar Kaloshi, on Saturday at noon.

Attending the funeral were deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, deputy speaker of parliament Margarita Qirko, Interior Minister Halit Shamata, Defence Minister Safet Zhulali, deputies, friends and relatives of the late and the Kaloshi family.

In the farewell speech Justice Minister Kristofor Peci said that "the loss of Bujar Kaloshi, the pioneer of democracy, was a heavy blow to the Albanian democracy" and vowed that "justice will punish the criminals".

The chairman of the Democrat Anti-communist Persecuted Association Gjon Shllaku, said that "the terrorist hand killed the anticommunist, the patriot, whom the communist dictatorship considered and treated in barbarous way, one of the early witness of freedom. This is the hand of those who go beyond out tolerance, those who counterpoise organised crime to the state".

Bujar Kaloshi, 40, was killed on Friday morning, outside his home in the suburbs of the capital Tirana, while stepping into his official car. He was shot by three persons wearing sports clothes, allegedly in cross- country race. Kaloshi at the moment of the shooting was accompanied only by the driver, who was unarmed. s.sh/lm

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

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