ATA News from Albania, 96-09-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR

[02] EIGHTEEN EUROPEAN TV CHANNELS TO BROADCAST "MISS EUROPE '96"

[03] MASSIVE GRAVE OF ALBANIAN VICTIMS OF TIVARI MASSACRE UNCOVERED

[04] BESNIK MUSTAFAJ CORRESPONDENT MEMBER OF EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] POLITICAL FIGURES SCRUTINY COMMISSION REJECTS FIVE DP CANDIDATURES

[07] QUARRELS IN CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATS'S PRESIDENCY

[08] ALBANIA, RUSSIA SIGN AGREEMENT "ON WATER-BORN TRANSPORT"

[09] EXPLANATION OF PREMIERS PRESS OFFICE

[10] SP CANDIDATURES NOT YET IN CEC

[11] AUSTRIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY GENERAL ARRIVES IN PRISTINE

[12] ALBANIA, ISRAEL - BRILLIANT RELATIONS WHICH SHOULD BE WIDENED

[13] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SCHARRENBROICH

[01] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR

Minister Shamata expressed Prevedourakis the delight that despite the political situations, the bilateral cooperation with the Greek police to fight the criminality has been very good. Shamata repeated him the invitation for the Greek Minister of Public Order Gjitonas to pay an official visit to Albania as soon as possible.

Greek Ambassador showed his pleasure that the beginning of his duty coincides with the intensive improvement of the bilateral relations. The procedures of the legalization of the Albanians working in Greece will start soon and at the same time technical measures will be taken in order to facilitate the counselor procedures in Greek Embassy in Tirana and in the consulate in Gjirokastra. He also expressed his readiness for further intensification of the bilateral relations, widening them in the field of local government, which in Greece is supervised by the Interior Ministry. /a.ke/kled/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] EIGHTEEN EUROPEAN TV CHANNELS TO BROADCAST "MISS EUROPE '96"

Sources from the office set up especially for the organization of this beauty spectacle report that the TV channels to broadcast the spectacle include: Ru/rtr (Russia), Ro/tver (Rumania), Trtrt (Turkey), Erte (Egypt), Ct (Czech Republic), Btn (Bulgaria), Lebanon and Jordan, teleMontecarlo Tmc (Italy).

According to the above source, nine other TV networks, respectively Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Israel, Macedonia, Croatia and Island have confirmed that they will broadcast "Miss Europe" a day after the number one of the European beauty is declared. /jz/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] MASSIVE GRAVE OF ALBANIAN VICTIMS OF TIVARI MASSACRE UNCOVERED

The place the victims have been thrown into is called Tuxhemil and is located five kms from the old Tivar. According to data provided by many historians, some 2 000 Albanians were killed at once and perfidiously.

The massive grave was discovered on September 17 by the Kosovar historian, Prof. Dr. Zekeria Cana, who for two years now has been carrying out researches about the Serb genocide exercised against Albanians since 1912, according to Pristine's newspaper "Bujku" of September 18.

The victims of the Tivari massacre are only part of the 4 200 Albanians killed while passing from Prizren, Kosova, via Albania, to Tivar and other territories of Montenegro up to Trogir of the Croatian coast.

The partisan unit Albanian fighters were sent away from Kosova and massively liquidated to facilitate the Serb re-occupation of Kosova and prevent the realisation of the Bujan Conference's decisions to Kosova's self rule and unification with Albania, which was also the main aim of the war against fascism.

In order to realise these goals, on February 8,1945, Kosova was placed under the Serb and Yugoslav military administration, which was followed later by a savage terror, the massive killing of 50 000 Albanians, among who many children, women and old people.

The patriotic association "Kosova" demanded in April this year that the massacre be denounced in the Court on the Second World War crimes. They also demanded that based on the communist genocide law, the Albanian communist chiefs, especially Enver Hoxha, who are responsible for this massacre, be denounced.

Some 3 760 Albanians of Kosova were killed in the Tivari massacre. By order of the Yugoslav Command, issued in January 1945, for the mobilisation of the Albanians from kosova, who should fight in Trieste (in order to send them away from Kosova), the Yugoslav partisans, in cooperation with Albanian partisan units, gathered 5 400 armed people, members of the partisan units and nationalists from Mitrovica, Prizren, Vuciterne, Podujeve and Pristine.

Deceived, they were disarmed and forced to march from Prizren through the Albanian northern lands to arrive in Tivar. During the march the sick were left aside and done away with.

Some 80 people were killed in Tivar, a coastal city. The rest was shot dead in an hour. Surviving from Tivar were around 1 500 people, who continued their way to Trieste. The victims killed in Tivar were either set to fire or thrown into the sea.

During the years of communist dictatorship the massacre was kept secret. p.ta/kled/jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] BESNIK MUSTAFAJ CORRESPONDENT MEMBER OF EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

In this academy, also included more than 40 winners of the Nobel Prize from different fields of science, the 38-years old Mustafaj, is the youngest member.

Very successful and with much reputation in the field of letters, Besnik Mustafaj is actually Ambassador of the Albanian Republic in the Republic of France. /jz/mt/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

The paper reports on the title:"Citizen of honour" of the U.S. awarded to Mother Teresa by the U.S. Congress and carries the article: The old nomenclature returns to the SP".

The paper carries the article :"Europe and democracy, the past, the present and the future" and reports on the election of writer Besnik Mustafaj, Albanian ambassador to France, as a correspondent member of the European Academy of Sciences.

"Zeri i Popullit" carries today the editorial: "The SP assigns its representatives to the Central Electoral Commission and carries the article:"100 000 witnesses against the Tirana Mayor S.Kelmendi. The paper carries the article "Fists and pistols among the Christian-democrats" and the article :"Berisha's concessions are a demagogy".

Republika carries the article:"Crime has gripped the state by the throat" and the article:"In Albania one can be killed even while selling bananas". The paper reports on the meeting of the SP chairman S.Godo with the U.S. ambassadress M. Lino.

"The Center Pole carries the article :"Berisha begs America :Do not attack me". The paper carries the article :"The Prosecutor's office against the return of former legal owners".

Balli i Kombit carries the articles :"It is in the honour of the nation to value the heroism of the sons who laid down their lives for it" and "Albanian nationalism survived although violently attacked by communism".

Lajmi i Dites covers the meeting of Prime Minister Meksi with the Greek ambassador.

Rilindja carries the article:"After the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, disputable results of improvised elections, the paper carries the article :"The solution of the Kosova problem depends on the international factor".

Tribuna carries the article :"Dokle, former DP deputy chairman, speaks only after the SP decides to take part in the elections".

Albania carries the article :"F.Nano (socialist leader) tests the socialists' irresponsibility. The paper carries the article :"Dokle : The elections in the SP were manipulated. The paper also carries the editorial :"The The Political Figures Scrutiny Commission provides the first responses".

Koha Jone carries the article :"The government leaves the parties moneyless". The paper carries the article: "The SP 'betrays' the opposition. Another article asks whether there will be changes in the DAP policy . The paper carries the article :"Greece, the leftists quarrel about Albanians".

Dita Informacion carries today the article entitled:"The trade unions want Meksi's head ?! , the paper carries the article :"The causes of poliomyelitis found".

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the article: "The secret plan of democrats" and "cars and motorboats for the European beauties". jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] POLITICAL FIGURES SCRUTINY COMMISSION REJECTS FIVE DP CANDIDATURES

The DP is the first party to complete the political figures scrutiny procedures. The Republican Party is expected to get a final response today.

The Socialist Party, although initially refusing, is now cooperating with the political figures scrutiny commission about the list of mayors and representatives to the Central Electoral Commission.

After long-time hesitation on the participation in the October 20 elections, the socialists have decided in principle to take part in the elections, leaving the possibility of their political boycott open.

A letter sent by the Party's chairman, Fatos Nano, asks participation in the elections at any cost, considering this act a challenge to official policy.

The two parties of the Center Pole (the Social-Democratic and Democratic Alliance Parties), have not yet reported on the beginning of the official commission's political figures scrutiny procedures.

According to the local government existing law, the mayors are examined by the Political Figures Scrutiny Commission while the district councillors and communes not.

These changes are result of a compromise reached at a round table of President Berisha with the political forces at home two weeks ago. sk/a N/jz/pas/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] QUARRELS IN CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATS'S PRESIDENCY

"The CDP decided not to recognise the so-called meeting of the National Council on September 14 and the so-called decisions, considering them illegal and against statute", says a fax sent to ATA.

The CDP Presidency has decided to take part in the local elections, proposing the Democratic Party participation in constituencies with joint candidates.

The CDP will call Saturday, September 21, its National Council and approve the electoral program. In this meeting, they will also analyse the unification of CDP with the Albanian Christian Democratic Union Party.

Today the group that opposes the CDP chairman Bushati, asked to inter forcibly into the headquarters of this party, but was faced there with Bushati's supporters.

Both sides accuse each-other of violating the statute and of "left wing positions".

"The so-called Leading Council is illegal and against the statute", Bushati told the journalists.

The Prela grouping accuses Bushati of left wing positions and according to him Bushati has flirted with the Albanian Socialist Party.

According to Bushati, the conflict started "when the CDP recognized the elections of May 26, condemned the opposition boycott and accepted the government coalition". /jz/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] ALBANIA, RUSSIA SIGN AGREEMENT "ON WATER-BORN TRANSPORT"

Babameto said that "the agreement is realised with the desire of realising water-borne transport between two countries and help international transport on basis of free international trade transportation."

The Russian deputy Minister said "The newly signed agreement creates favourable conditions and security for both countries sea ports. Previous experts' talks enabled its realisation in principle. Further talks will be realised during a visit Albanian specialist will pay to the Russian Federation soon."

"We believe that concrete results will be reached with the Russian Federation not only in field of transport but in other fields as well" said Babameto.

This agreement is a continuity of bilateral Albanian-Russian talks, which aim to establish good relations and further cooperation between two countries in all fields. kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] EXPLANATION OF PREMIERS PRESS OFFICE

Referring to article's first two paragraphs it says that ZP's ill- willing fantasy is not result of not knowing the agenda of the meeting, as it has been made clear through the daily media.

"The truth is quite different" writes the ZP, leaving free hand to cheating and slanders.

According the ZP "Thaci and Xhaferri were called to Tirana to coordinate the activity, how the DPP would support the local elections."

Publicly denouncing this slander, we once more explain the public opinion that the meeting with Meksi was realised upon the DPP delegation demand and no such questions as alluded by the ZP were discussed during the talks.

As it is well known, the agenda of the meeting was about issues regarding the respect of human and national rights of Albanians in the FYROM and their treatment as a state-creating element, concluded the explanation of Premier's press office. ake/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] SP CANDIDATURES NOT YET IN CEC

"No official confirmation has arrived yet for the names of the changed list of the CEC members," said Secretary of this Commission Fiqiri Kupe.

"Nevertheless, these changes should be decreed first by the President" added Kupe.

The SP newspaper "Zeri i Popullit" printed today a statement which said that the SP has sent yesterday its representative's list to the President of the Republic for the decree.

According a consensus of the President's round table with the political parties was decided that the CEC deputy chairman post would be allocated to the main opposition party, which was sanctioned by a law passed by the Parliament.

Even the Socialist Democratic Party has not yet sent its candidates. jz/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] AUSTRIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY GENERAL ARRIVES IN PRISTINE

President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova received Rohan at noon and held talks without the presence of journalists.

Rohan will also meet other representatives of Albanian organisations and the Serbian Governor in Kosova. He is the first Austrian official representative to visit Kosova.

He arrived to Pristine after an official visit to Belgrade and tomorrow will meet in Skopje besides the Macedonian President Gligorov, Albanian representatives in Macedonia. aca/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIA, ISRAEL - BRILLIANT RELATIONS WHICH SHOULD BE WIDENED

This was expressed in a reception that deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Margarita Qirko offered to the Israeli Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Albania, Jehuda Millo.

Close relations which are being realised, said Qirko, spring from the traditional friendship between the two countries. These relations were further strengthened after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and reciprocal visits of senior personalities in Tirana and Jerusalem.

Then, voicing Albania's determination in the peace process in the region and elsewhere, Qirko stressed that "Albania is a country which tries to work for stability and peace, it wants to establish stability everywhere. Albanian Parliament backs every Israeli's initiative for a just and stable peace in the region and believes that dialogue is the best way for all parties."

Regarding the priorities of the perspective, where potential economic scientific and education cooperation possibilities exist Qirko underlined agriculture, telecommunication, light and foodstuff industry, construction, tourism and health as fields where Albania needs Israeli's experience and investments.

Millo answered positively to Qirko's proposals for the institutionalisation of relations, experience exchange and parliamentary visits in all levels.

He said that "interest for this is reciprocal, and this step will be realised, it will be very fruitful for the strengthening of relations as all potentials exist for a further development of these relations." ssh/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SCHARRENBROICH

Shehu briefed the interlocutor with democratic government's program and objectives in the field of employment and social support, where undoubtedly stimulating and inciting the free individual initiative is of a special importance.

"Three are the main principles to realise our government's objectives" said Shehu "the deepening of privatisation, complete liberalisation of prices and decentralisation of the power."

Then Shehu said that he considered October 20, elections a step forward in the consolidation of democracy and a clear contribution in the decentralisation of power by giving more autonomy and competencies to the local government.

Shehu assured him for the readiness of Albanian government in the widening of bilateral cooperation.

Scharrenbroich greatly estimated the cooperation with Albania. "As we know the transition problems from the experience we had won in former East Germany we understand the difficulties you had to face and congratulate the determination your government has shown in applying courageous reforms, but which at the same time are the only way out" he said.

Then he estimated the engagement of the government to respect job standards and its application of social protection programs. He ensured that the office he represents will support Albanian government in developing private sector, small enterprises, tourism, environment protection and others. ake/kled/fh/sh/

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

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