Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-02-12

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] EXODUS LIKELY TO INCREASE IN VLORE

[02] EXODUS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN VLORE

[03] PRESIDENT RUGOVA MEETS U.S DIPLOMATS

[04] VERIFICATION OF "ADI PETROL" DOCUMENTATION CONTINUES IN GJIROKASTER

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] BODYGUARD OF "KOHA JONE" ATTACKS DRIVER OF DIRECTOR OF "ALBANIA"

[07] ALBRIGHT WARNS MILOSEVIC OF LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVA

[08] 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN COMMEMORATED

[09] SITUATION IN VLORE HAS PARALYSED ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC LIFE IN THE CITY

[10] SITUATION IN VLORE IS NORMALISING

[11] TENDENCIES FOR ILLEGAL RALLY IN SCANDERBEJ SQUARE IN TIRANA

[12] ALBANIAN PUPILS REFUSE EUROSOCIALISTS' CALL

[13] PEACEFUL PROTEST IN GJIROKASTRA

[14] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY PROTESTS FOR NOT BEING ALLOWED TO HOLD A RALLY

[15] PEACEFUL PROTEST BY FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY IN TEPELENA

[16] EXTENDED NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISCUSSES SOLUTION TO CRISIS IN ALBANIA

[17] ALBANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY REFUTES A DECLARATION OF THE FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY CHAIRMAN

[01] EXODUS LIKELY TO INCREASE IN VLORE

The owners of these speedboats, which have been used for illegal emigration towards the Italian coasts, are now reparing them.

This fact and the lack of public order and border control have added to the danger of the resumption of illegal emigrants traffic towards Italy, likely to reach the proportions of an exodus.

A great number of vehicles were seen on Tuesday in the port while loading the speedboats sequestered since two years ago.

Last night, the Vlore shore has been crowded as ever before with illegal emigrants. There are no reports of the number of speedboats leaving since last night.

For one week now, the Vlore creditors of the failed company "Gjallica" have been staging protests in demand of their own money. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] EXODUS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN VLORE

The owners of these speedboats, which have been used for illegal emigration towards the Italian coasts, are now reparing them.

This fact and the lack of public order and border control have added to the danger of the resumption of illegal emigrants traffic towards Italy, likely to reach the proportions of an exodus.

A great number of vehicles were seen on Tuesday in the port while loading the speedboats sequestered since two years ago.

Last night, the Vlore shore has been crowded as ever before with illegal emigrants. There are no reports of the number of speedboats leaving since last night.

For one week now, the Vlore creditors of the failed company "Gjallica" have been staging protests in demand of their own money. kei/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PRESIDENT RUGOVA MEETS U.S DIPLOMATS

During the meeting they talked about the situation in the region. President Rugova considered the situation in Kosova tense because of the murders, arrests and systematic repression against the Albanians.

"The Kosova people is resolute to realize its political will for independence by political means", stressed Rugova.

The Charge d'Affaires, Richard Miles, stressed that he came to Kosova to familiarize with the current situation and to express the concern of the State Department for this situation.

"The Kosova issue is of priority in the agenda of HBA", said Miles. /p.ta/l/eva/mt/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] VERIFICATION OF "ADI PETROL" DOCUMENTATION CONTINUES IN GJIROKASTER

"Some 100 accountancy documents have so far been sequestered," the district chief prosecutor, Fatmir Kapllani, told ATA.

Regarding the departure of the chief of the finance sector of this tourist enterprise, Lela Selami, to an unknown destination, the chief prosecutor says that "No arrest order has been issued against him, as nothing is clear about his activity. However, the possibility of Selami's involvement in abusing with the money of the Gjirokaster creditors is not excluded."

Meanwhile, the tourist enterprise "Adi Petrol", is not functioning as a whole, as an inventory is being carried out in its supermarket.

Creditors of the "Gjallica" loan-taking company in Vlore have since a week ago been clashing with the police forces, demanding the money lostin this company. s.sh/eva/lm/E

GJIROKASTER, FEB 11 (ATA)- By H. Cani, The prosecutor's office of the Gjirokaster district, southern Albania, in cooperation with a group of economic experts, is verifying the whole accountancy documentation of the enterprise "Adi Petrol", affiliate of the "Gjallica" company, which collapsed several days ago.

"Some 100 accountancy documents have so far been sequestered," the district chief prosecutor, Fatmir Kapllani, told ATA.

Regarding the departure of the chief of the finance sector of this tourist enterprise, Lela Selami, to an unknown destination, the chief prosecutor says that "No arrest order has been issued against him, as nothing is clear about his activity. However, the possibility of Selami's involvement in abusing with the money of the Gjirokaster creditors is not excluded."

Meanwhile, the tourist enterprise "Adi Petrol", is not functioning as a whole, as an inventory is being carried out in its supermarket.

Creditors of the "Gjallica" loan-taking company in Vlore have since a week ago been clashing with the police forces, demanding the money lostin this company. s.sh/eva/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit reports: "Regime of Berisha leads Vlora and the whole Albania into mourning". The paper reports regarding the extraordinary meeting of the SP leading committee and the news conference after it under the title: "SP denounces the scenario Berisha-Meksi of holding the power with blood and terror". The paper also publishes an appeal of the Forum for Democracy led by Tirana citizens to participate in a peaceful rally in the Scanderbeg Square and boulevard "Deshmoret e Kombit", today at 12.00.

Republika reports: "The republicans withdraw from the government", regarding the National Council of the Republika Party which convened on Tuesday. The paper also reports" "Violence is threatening free press and journalists. The paper publishes a memorial of Vefa Holding citing its president Vehbi Alimucaj: Vefa strengthens its position. We will help Gajllica and other companies".

With regard to the protests in Vlore, Rilindja reports: "The DP headquarters in Vlore was set ablaze". The paper also highlights the meeting of President Berisha with the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek National Defence, general Athanasios Tzoganis, under the title: "High level of friendship and cooperation", as well as the meeting of President Rugova with the Charge d' Affaires in the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Richard Miles.

Albania reports: "The Austrian press uncovers a new track of the usuries crisis in Albania - the Italian mafia in the Vlora protests". The paper also reports "The crowd set fire on DP headquarters"", as well as "Vefa distributes the returns". The paper reports that the Mayor of Vlore was against the parliamentary draft law for the state of emergency.

Koha Jone reports: "The opposition Forum requests rallies in the whole country today at 12.00". The paper carries the editorial: "Conflict in DP. Many deputies against the army in Vlore. A new government is expected today".

Ushtria dhe Koha paper reports: "The army as part of the people understands the situation the loan-taking companies led us to", as well as "Slanders for the police forces have ill intentions". The paper reports on the visit of the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek National Defence in Albania.

Dita Informacion reports: "DP withdraws: No to state of emergency in Vlore", as well as "Manifestations even in Gjirokaster, Tepelene and Shkoder".

With regard to the situation in Vlore, Gazeta Shqiptare reports: The seven day of protests". The protesters have rushed in streets and squares until evening". Regarding to the draft law for state of emergency, the paper reports: "Government draft law refused". /kei/mt/E

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] BODYGUARD OF "KOHA JONE" ATTACKS DRIVER OF DIRECTOR OF "ALBANIA"

Murati committed this act shortly after the main newspaper directors in Albania had decided to create a joint institution to defend reporters against violence.

The participants in the meeting, held upon the initiative of Nikolle Lesi, concluded that the Committee of Rescuing the Reporters should be created. This institution which would be represented by the two local reporters' associations would defend the physical integrity and tranquility of reporters, Albania says.

After the meeting, Tufina asked Lesi's driver to open the way which he had blocked with his car.

Instead of the driver, it was Murati, the bodyguard, who responded, saying he wouldn't open the way and threatened Albania's driver. Later, Murati attacked Tufina, the paper says.

The Journalists' League of Albania has issued a protest against the violence exercised on the driver of Albania's director. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] ALBRIGHT WARNS MILOSEVIC OF LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVA

At a news conference held Monday at the State Department, spokesman Nicholas Berns told reporters that the charge d'affaires in the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Richard Miles, had handed over to President Milosevic a letter of the State Secretary, pressing for the approval of the law on the elections in Serbia, as well as the adoption of positive steps to resolve the Kosova issue.

Berns expressed the concern of the U.S. government over the deterioration of the situation in Kosova during the last weeks. He said that Albright's letter clearly stressed the U.S. position that Serbia should fully meet all the demands of the Dayton agreement, also including the extradition of the war criminals and Kosova.

Berns told reporters that the tone of Albright's letter, addressed to president Milosevic, was very harsh and dids not at all question the U.S. stand towards the outer wall of sanctions. p.ta/shq/kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN COMMEMORATED

On this occasion, the "50 vjetori" school was named after "Musine Kokalari" and a meeting was held at the National Historic Museum in Tirana with deputy Uran Butka speaking of her life and activity.

"As a nationalist, she opposed fascism, nazism and communism. Together with the other nationalists she founded in 1943 the Albanian Social- Democratic Party, which created the possibility of a political and party pluralism in Albania," Butka said.

Musine expressed openly her views against dictatorship, and because of this she served 16 years in jail and 22 year in internal exile. Kokolari was killed by communism. sh.sh/eva/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] SITUATION IN VLORE HAS PARALYSED ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC LIFE IN THE CITY

The protests have started on February 5, 1997.

The situation is more critical in the market, there is a shortage of bread in many trade units, prices have increased for many food items and an alarming economic decline have been noticed.

Meanwhile in the coasts of Vlore some tens of traffickers have transport freely emigrants during the late hours of night.

This flux of movements of illegal emigrants has taken advantage of the lack of police control, as well as by the fact that tens of speedboats sequestered before by the police have been taken back by their owners. /sk/shq/eva/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] SITUATION IN VLORE IS NORMALISING

For several days now the work has been suspended in all the local institution. Since Monday, by a decision of the district education department, schools have been closed until Sunday.

Meanwhile, all the police officers have been withdrawn from the public environments, as well as from the building of the police commissariat. Crowds of people continued their protests in various ways along the city's streets also today.

The SP leader, Namik Dokle, was also present at the square this noon.

As regards the presence of various exponents of the Albanian politics, the majority of the Vlora people are against politicisation of their protests because, as they say, there is no reason to play with the economic disaster of the citizens.

Also on Monday, the two reporters' associations in Vlora, that of the League and the other of the Professional Reporters, have pronounced themselves in a statement to be read in the local channel Tele Blu.

It stresses that no political force can manipulate the crowds at this moment of economic crisis sweeping the whole coastal city.

The demands of the Vlore citizens, the statement says, should be taken into account and resolved as soon as possible. However, this does not mean that these days the solution of the demands be required through destruction and terror in the city. a.ke/kei/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] TENDENCIES FOR ILLEGAL RALLY IN SCANDERBEJ SQUARE IN TIRANA

The illegal rally was called by the Forum for Democracy, which, despite police efforts to disperse the crowd, kept on calling for crowding the square and the boulevard "Deshmoret e Kombit".

Unidentified persons, who spoke inside the SP headquarters, chanted anti-constitutional slogans to topple the current system in Albania: "To topple Berisha's regime through violence", "Youth should join us", etc.

The organizations for gathering by SP have started in the early hours of morning, through some members of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth Forum, who have gone in high schools of Tirana and have called on the pupils of these schools to rally in the square, violating the school rules.

The same thing has happened in the Institute of the Fine Arts.

For the time being the situation in the Scanderbeg Square is calm and the public order forces have taken all the measures not to allow the illegal meeting. /a.ke/kei/mt/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIAN PUPILS REFUSE EUROSOCIALISTS' CALL

Reports show that today the Forum of the Eurosocialist Youth appealed through ZP to all pupils of secondary schools in Tirana and throughout Albania "to boycott classes until a political solution is reached ..."

This appeal was ignored because in 70 eight form and secondary schools of the capital, tells the chief of the control and qualification sector in the Education Department of this city, Caci Simoni, the classes continued normally with the exception of the Petro Nini Luarasi secondary general school."

"We talked with a 3 member representation from the pupils of this school, who said that 'we have no complaint or any relation with the political demands. Our protest is simply to say No to Violence,'" said to ATA reporter the director of this secondary school, Gjergji Konomi.

Some pupils were lighting candles and singing in the school yard. In fact a group of eurosocialists, pupils of this school, tried to give a political character to the interruption of the classes.

Sources from other districts, with the exception of Vlora, reported that classes today have continued normally. kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] PEACEFUL PROTEST IN GJIROKASTRA

The people, who started their protest at 12.00, marched in the main street of the 18 shtatori city quarter, launching slogans which are now so commonly heard.

After 45 minutes, the protesters massed in the square in front of the stadium and then dispersed peacefully.

During that period, police blocked the traffic. There were no clashes with forces of order although the rally was illegal. ake/kled/x/h/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY PROTESTS FOR NOT BEING ALLOWED TO HOLD A RALLY

"We demand that police do not prevent us from our right to protest," said the three Forum leaders.

The calls from the SP headquarters to go to the Skanderbeg Square did not find support among the citizens.

"Permission for the leaders to hold the rally was rejected for security reasons for them," said an official of public order.

The forum hailed the decision not to introduce emergency rule in the Vlora district.

"This shows that there are real democrats in the Democratic Party. The imposition of a state of emergency would mark the end of Meksi Government," said the leader of the Forum, Kurt Kola.

The Forum has insisted in the resignation of the Meksi cabinet and creation of a technocrat government.

Regarding a report on RTV last night that Mafia too has a finger in the pie (referring to the question of pyramid schemes) the Forum leaders accused the state for a tendency to shift the responsibility.

Italian papers, citing the Italian chief prosecutor of anti-mafia, Pier Luiggi Vigna, have stressed that 'we have information that groups of Italian crime are involved in the financial scandal of Albania." The other Forum leader, Daut Gumeni, has stressed as an urgent need the request for dialogue.

Asked whether concrete names for the technocrat Government proposed by the Forum have been discussed or not, Kurt Kola said: "We are for a Technocrat Government, but no names have been mentioned. But a pluralist government may also be discussed," said Kola.

Asked about the basis of the declarations by the leader of the Forum that foreign soldiers have been seen in the city of Vlora, they said:

"We have heard them say 'Stoj'. The people have caught some but have let them free again (!)"

The Albanian Defence Ministry has refuted the report for the existence of any foreign soldier in Albania. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] PEACEFUL PROTEST BY FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY IN TEPELENA

Opposition leaders repeated the already known demands for the resignation of the government, creation of a technocrat government and the 100 per cent return of the money invested by creditors in loan-taking firms.

The participants in the really launched slogans such as "Vlora-Vlora, " "Down with the Government," etc.

Although the rally was illegal, something also admitted by the Forum for Democracy, police did not interfere but followed the situation in distance. An illegal peaceful rally was also held in the town of Memaliaj.

After protesting for about 30 minutes, the participants in the gathering left calmly.ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] EXTENDED NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISCUSSES SOLUTION TO CRISIS IN ALBANIA

So far, no decision has been taken. Participants in the meeting have voiced various opinions regarding a solution to the situation. The DP Council denounced the terrorists and the recent violent acts encouraged by left wing forces.

"The meeting anlysed the causes and defined the responsibility" said deputy Bashkim Kopliku, "but there were also opinions that the government has responsibility and requests for its resignation."

At the beginning of the meeting, President Berisha addressed the meeting and "was openly in favour of the idea of resolving the question and not giving directives."

Most of the opinions expressed were for a complex analysis and for the solution to the crisis in favour of the people, through a dialogue to be held on through all possible alternatives.

Asked whether he meant the opposition option for a technocrat government, Mr Kopliku said that "We must make clear to some people that a DP government is the best possible option, because with a strong democratic government, which accepts the mistakes, which addresses the people, the DP is for the moment the best option."

The DP extended National Council, consisting of 105 elected members and of the deputies of the Democratic Party, will discuss more extensively the question and will adopt concrete decisions after an hour break, from 18.00-19.00 hrs. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] ALBANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY REFUTES A DECLARATION OF THE FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY CHAIRMAN

The Defence Ministry refutes this report as untrue, deliberate, ill- willing and anti-national. This is an open and indignant provocation for the Albanian Army and Albania. This is the greatest offence to the dignity of the soldiers, the sons of the Albanian people, of the army and the entire Albanian nation.

Serbian and Bosnian soldiers are in plenty only in the "Army of the Forum for Democracy."

Asked about the basis of the declarations by the leaders of the Forum in a news conference some days ago that foreign soldiers have been seen in the city of Vlora, they said: "We have heard them say 'Stoj'. The people have caught some but have let them go again (!)"

The Defence Ministry has sent a report in the Prosecutor's Office about Kurt Kola with regard to his declaration.

By a decision of the Parliament, limited army units, less than 1 per cent of its effective, have been engaged to guard the main state institutions.

The spokesman of the Defence Ministry declares that all the army is in garrisons today.

Forum for Democracy chairman Kurt Kola accused the Albanian government today on the Voice of America that it has mobilized Bosnian and Serbian soldiers to restore order and tranquillity in the city of Vlore. Kola did not hesitate to declare before reportsers' microphones that "We want to go to Europe. One cannot go to Europe with police, with army and quarrels. Bosnian soldiers have been captured in Vlora. Stoj, they said, stoj, they did not know Albanian."

The declaration of Mr Kola was opposed by none of the leaders of the political parties present in the news conference recently as members of the Forum for democracy. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

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