Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) [1], 97-03-26

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES A PRESS RELEASE ON THE LATEST EVENTS IN ALBANIA

[02] SOROS SUPPORTS EDUCATION PROGRAMME "TIRANA 2000"

[03] POPE APPOINTS NEW APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN TIRANA

[04] SHIK CHIEF HOLDS INTERPELLATION IN PARLIAMENT

[05] TRANSPORT OF TRAVELLERS BY TRAIN STARTS IN ALL LINES

[06] PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JURIDICAL ALBANIAN-ITALIAN RELATIONS EXPECTED TO START

[07] STATEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA

[08] FROM MEETING OF ALBANIAN DELEGATION IN ITALY AND BRUSSELS

[09] USA TO CONTRIBUTE WITH FUNDS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO ALBANIA

[10] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS ITALIAN AND DUTCH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

[11] POLICEMAN KILLED IN BURREL

[12] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS TO EXAMINE DRAFT-LAW FOR ISSUING ACTS ALSO SIGNED BY STATE SECRETARIES

[01] GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES A PRESS RELEASE ON THE LATEST EVENTS IN ALBANIA

"The cooperation on the framework of the development programs with Albania can continue only when the political situation in the country could stabilise and the application in accordance with the necessary objectives of the projects can be guaranteed.

According to the information we possess, the projects of the bilateral cooperation, which are on the application process, are partially or considerably damaged in the country," the press release says stressing that more accurate controls and the verification of the situation are actually being carried out in the country.

The press release says further on that:"The political conditions and the prospect of the country will be the fundamental factors for the future cooperation on the development policy framework. Thus, it is necessary to find out the factors which brought by the violent turbulence, robbing and destruction. The press reports say that 'during the recent days' events, a spontaneous popular uprising has not taken place, but there has been a planned coup d'etat. This coup has developed according to an established scenario.' Its participants have been foreign secret services. mafia as well as foreigners with considerable assets.

Despite all for the President as well, a friendly politician of the West, who tries to link his country to the Western Europe untrue statements or half true statements are spread out, in order to denigrate him in front of the people and in front of the western public.

It is necessary to carefully analyze and to make clear that the real reasons of the latest events, before Germany and the western countries are to decide for further measures to Albania, for the sake of the future of the country and for the sake of the credibility of West."

The German Minister of Economic Cooperation, Karl-Dieter Spranger, of the party of Chancellor Kohl, has visited Albania several times. The German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development has contributed to the financing of many projects including the Rinas Airport, the Milk Processing Factory "Ajka", the aqueducts in Kavaje, Kukes, Kruje, Korce, and many other projects of infrastructure. pas/lm/E

[02] SOROS SUPPORTS EDUCATION PROGRAMME "TIRANA 2000"

The idea for this new programme emerged as a result of the desire of Soros to make possible cooperation in school building, according to an agreement on cooperation funds reached earlier with the President of the Republic Sali Berisha.

Actually it aims, step by step, to resolve problems of the physical infrastructure of education for the capital of Tirana, in support of the vigorous demographic changes the Albanian capital has experienced over the recent years.

According to the vice-director of the project for the development of Education in Albania, at the Soros Foundation, Vasillaq Zoto, since the beginning of its operation, in September 1994 until now, some 86 school institutions have been built and restructured in the Tirana district, as well as in Kavaje and Vlore through the funds provided by this Foundation.

School materials for some 3 000 pupils have been distributed in many other districts of Albania.

"Despite the wave of destructions sweeping different districts of the country, none of the school institutions built or reconstructed by our project has been damaged over the recent days," Zoto says.

The message addressed to the Albanian state authorities, Soros suggests that the "Tirana 2000" programme make up the first step towards the programme "Albania-2000". For this purpose Soros commits himself to provide financial support for the development of education also in the regions of Vlore, Sarande, Gjirokaster, Kavaje, Korce and Elbasan and broader. kei/lm/k

[03] POPE APPOINTS NEW APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN TIRANA

Meanwhile, Nuncio Agostino Marcetto arrived in Albania for a temporary two-month mission, according to the Vatican representative office in Tirana.

Sent by the Pope, nuncio Agostino Marcetto is assigned to transmit the solidarity of Pope with the catholic community and the whole Albanian people under the difficult condition Albania is faced with.

The temporary mission of Marcetto, the Vatican's representative office underlines, consists in supporting and encouraging the realisation of the national reconciliation process.

During his two day visit to Italy, Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino met with Pope John Paul II, who expressed Fino his readiness and mediation in the international organisations to cope with the difficulties in Albania. kei/lm/Z/

[04] SHIK CHIEF HOLDS INTERPELLATION IN PARLIAMENT

He said the plan was not realised then, but was being realised point by point now.

Gazidede explained the plan and the way it would be realised in Albania. He mentioned several Greek associations, involved in this plan, in Greece, U.S. and other countries, run by Greeks, among whom Nicholas Gage.

Gazidede also said that involved in this plan are also former senior officials of the Albanian army and Interior Ministry, including Kico Mustaqi, ex-chief of the Albanian Army General Staff, during the dictatorship, and Gramoz Ruci, ex-Interior Minister, who have provided details of armed units of Albania and the whereabouts of the weaponry, of which the Greek Secret Service has a very clear idea.

Gazidede said that the loan-taking companies Populli and Xhaferri, besides the economic activity also carried out a political activity, being leaders of the People's Party, which according to him is the Communist Party with another name.

The leaders of these firms and Gjallica in districts have been officers of the former Sigurimi and Army. kei/lm/Z/

[05] TRANSPORT OF TRAVELLERS BY TRAIN STARTS IN ALL LINES

To restore order and tranquility, all the trains are accompanied by policemen of the police commissariats of the districts they pass.

Although the railway was damaged in equipment, storehouses, railway carriages, telephones, etc, now it is solved the problem of connection between the stations and the central dispatcher through radios.

Meanwhile, the transportation of goods has continued normally according to the requests and the existing goods. /a.ke/jz/mt/sh/

[06] PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JURIDICAL ALBANIAN-ITALIAN RELATIONS EXPECTED TO START

The spokesman of this Ministry reports that they agreed during the meeting to start the process of institutionalization of the Juridical Albanian-Italian Relations.

The Ministry of Justice will hold intensive meeting with counterpart ministries of the European Union, aiming to start gradually the institutionalization of juridical relations with all countries of the European Union.

The Italian Minister of Justice promised an aid to his Albanian counterpart, Spartak Ngjela, in order to improve the conditions in prisons and law-courts, which have been damaged recently./jz/mt/sh/

[07] STATEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA

Albania belongs to Europe both in the geographical and political view point. We are resolute towards this end, i.e the full integration of Albania into Europe. EU assistance serves to this goal. It supports the on-going integration of our country to where it belongs Europe.

The DPA avails itself of this opportunity to specially thank Italy, as well as all the other member countries in EU which expressed their readiness to send in Albania armed units in order to protect the aid shipments and the expert missions to assist in restructuring the Albanian police.

Decided to stand in Europe and in compliance with the European offered solutions, DPA is firm in its decision to be faithful and supportive to the political agreement signed in March 9, 1997, being conscious that it serves to the national reconciliation and the civil cooperation, of which Albania is in real need nowadays.

DPA highly appreciates the stand of the Council of Europe and European Union to recognize only the legitimate central and local authorities in Albania and to accept only the political solutions in the constitutional and legal framework of Albania. /mt/sh/

[08] FROM MEETING OF ALBANIAN DELEGATION IN ITALY AND BRUSSELS

Attending the Italian delegation were also the Defence Minister, Andratta, Minister of Treasury Ciampi, Interior Minister, Napolitano, deputy Foreign Minister Piero Fassino, while the Albanian delegation was made up of the Foreign Minister Arjan Starova, Minister of Finances Arben Malaj, of Justice Spartak Ngjela, as well as the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Pavli Zeri.

At the end of the meeting Prodi and Fino told the journalists that they their talks focused on the measures to restore order and tranquility in Albania, the humanitarian and economic aid of emergency in the context of the international community, the financial aid, which, according to Prodi, should pass through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB).

Prodi was in favour of offering as soon as possible technical assistance to reconstruct the structures and functioning of the institutions, in order to normalize the life in Albania.

According to Fino they agreed that both governments, the Italian and that of National Reconciliation cooperate together for the problems of the illegal emigration.

With regard to this problem they agreed that the Italian party should patrol the coastal line in order to prevent the wave of emigrants, "because the problems should be solved by the Albanians themselves," stressed Fino.

According to the Italian party, as soon as the order is restored in Albania, the Albanian refugees who have arrived recently in Italy, will be turned back to Albania.

Fino thanked the Italian government for the support given to the Albanian people and the Government of National Reconciliation, which according to him, does not have political aims, but to restore order and prepare the new elections.

Both parties stressed the necessity to examine the aid for Albania to normalize the grave situation as soon as possible.

Further on, the delegation continued the meetings in the Foreign Ministry of Italy. A meeting was held with the representatives of the international financial institutions, like with IMF and WB.

The Minister of Finances, Arben Malaj, exchanged opinions on the improvement of the financial situation of Albania at present.

Meetings were also held in the Holy See in Vatican. After the meeting tete a tete with Fino, His Holiness, Pope John Paul, received and greeted the Albanian delegation. Pope promised complete support for the National Reconciliation Government to help Albania come out of the current crisis as soon as possible.

Pope also stressed that he will exercise his influence to the International Community to help Albania.

Fino ensured Pope that the Albanian people would not return again to the past, because he belongs to Europe.

The Council of Ministers of the European Union convened Tuesday in Brussels, attending was also the Albanian Premier Fino.

The European Union is resolute to help Albania in these moments. Europe is with you," said Van der Mierlo, Chairman of the EU Council of Ministers.

Fino briefed Ministers on the situation in Albania, and informed on the measures taken recently by the Government of National Reconciliation.

"Europe should help that democracy functions in Albania to face all what happened. The aid you have asked should be handled soon, but we need your help in order to be effective. We will do everything that depends on us," said Jack Santer.

Lamberto Dini said that Italy is working to help for the stabilization of the situation in Albania in the head of a multinational force.

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Emigration Secretariat of Greece, George Papandreu, said that Greece will help with food articles. Further on, he said that the minority would serve as a bridge of cooperation, as friends in difficult moments./kled/mt/sh/

[09] USA TO CONTRIBUTE WITH FUNDS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO ALBANIA

The ICRC appeal for some $10 million was released on March 17 to cover the programs and the activity of ICRC and the Albanian Red Cross, supported by the associations of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Semi-moon.

This contribution of $1 million dollars will be given to face the most immediate needs. USA will follow the situation and will notice whether a further financing is asked, concludes the report of USIS./s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[10] ALBANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS ITALIAN AND DUTCH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA

Minister aelo briefed Foresti on the situation of order and security in Albania, as well as on the measures taken by police to put into complete efficience the police commissariats in the whole country.

Appreciating the current work, the Italian Ambassador, Foresti, expressed his support and readiness to realize within a short time all the urgent needs of the Albanian police.

Minister aelo met on the same day the Dutch Ambassador in Tirana, Henk Heinen.

In the meeting, Heinen guaranteed Minister aelo for a support without reserves of the Dutch government and European Union for Albania in the current situation./s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[11] POLICEMAN KILLED IN BURREL

An armed person opened fire on the two policemen who were on duty near the Savings Bank in Burrel, and as a result, the policeman Fiqiri Kozi, 32, was killed, while his friend, Riza Katuci was injured.

The police forces went immediately there to give the first aid to the injured, who is out of danger now.

According to the preliminary inquiries, the event had not been an organized action, but of an irresponsible person, who is detained by police. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[12] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS TO EXAMINE DRAFT-LAW FOR ISSUING ACTS ALSO SIGNED BY STATE SECRETARIES

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