Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-04-07

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTER HOLDS MEETINGS IN VLORE

[02] INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN TIRANA

[03] SHKODER DISTRICT CUSTOMS ACTIVE AGAIN

[04] KOSOVA ISSUE, STUMBLING-BLOCK IN U.S.-SERB RELATIONS

[05] ALBANIANS COMMEMORATE 58-TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESISTANCE AGAINST FASCIST INVASION

[06] MEETING OF DP CHAIRMAN TRITAN SHEHU WITH U.S. AMBASSADRESS MARIZA LINO

[07] "IT IS ABSURD TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION NOW"- Socialists

[08] SMUGGLING OF SCRAP-IRON TOWARDS MONTE-NEGRO STOPPED - Shkoder

[09] SITUATION IN TROPOJE STILL NOT STABLE

[10] PRESS RELEASE

[11] "THE INITIATIVE OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT TO DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION IS

[12] UNO FOOD PROGRAM HELPS ALBANIA

[01] ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTER HOLDS MEETINGS IN VLORE

Malaj also attended a religious ceremony in honour of the victims and at the end of the ceremony he threw into the sea a bouquet of flowers, which the Albanian emigrants had given him for this purpose.

In midday, Finance minister met at the District Council with councillors of all political forces of this council and municipality. Also present at the meeting were leading officials of the banks which operate in this district.

Malaj dwelt especially on the quick refunctioning of the financial system, underscoring the possibility for providing pensions and wages for state employees.

Malas informed the participants in the meeting of a near visit to the Vlore city of the Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi. He said that his planned visit was put off to the next two-three days.

Relief for the families losing their relatives during the latest months events, especially in the March 28 tragedy, was also discussed at the meeting.

In this relation Malaj raised the idea of setting up a foundation which would administer, besides other things, the aid provided by other countries, such as Greece and Italy, for these families. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[02] INTERIOR MINISTER MEETS POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN TIRANA

Celo raised the need of enhancing the striking force against crime and efficient protection and guarantee for all foreign investors carrying out their activity in Tirana.

Celo said that schools should resume soon, stressing that the police forces in the capital should take strict measures to guarantee normal development of the school process.

During the meeting, Celo received full guaranty for further strengthening law, order and peace in the capital. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[03] SHKODER DISTRICT CUSTOMS ACTIVE AGAIN

According to the district customs director, Engjell Ceka, work in this customs will increase with the opening of the customs point of Hani i Hotit.

The government has spent 48 million leks for building the city's customs, which was destroyed during the latest turmoil. a.ke/kled/lm/z/

[04] KOSOVA ISSUE, STUMBLING-BLOCK IN U.S.-SERB RELATIONS

State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns stressed that the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had stressed in her meeting with Serb opposition leaders the powerful support the U.S. gives to the democratic changes in Serbia and Montenegro and the need of resolving the Kosova issue.

"Albright underlined the indispensability of finding a solution to the important issue of Kosova," Burns said. He added that the head of the U.S. diplomacy had exploited the meeting to tell the opposition leaders that Serbia can take part in the international family of the nations' community only if it accepts the fundamental, democratic norms. p.ta/z/lm/z/

[05] ALBANIANS COMMEMORATE 58-TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESISTANCE AGAINST FASCIST INVASION

The representative of the town hall, Shpetim Kodra, stressed that Durres was the first place where the Italian invaders arrived, and they faced the resistance of the Albanians. When the fascist Italy capitulated, the Albanians sheltered the simple sons of the Italian people in their houses, he said.

It is absurd to use the weapons against each-other nowadays, which have been used once only against the invaders, said Kodra.

The deputy chairman of the Legality Movement Party, Bari Kollcaku, also spoke in the meeting. /a.ke/kled/mt/k

[06] MEETING OF DP CHAIRMAN TRITAN SHEHU WITH U.S. AMBASSADRESS MARIZA LINO

The talk focused on the present situation in Albania, the problems that have emerged, the efforts DP is making to overcome the crisis etc. Mr Shehu explained the stand of the Democratic Party towards the latest events in the country and stressed the indispensable need that legal structures resume work everywhere.

Mrs Lino expressed her opinion only in support of the legal power and not of the so-called committees, as a condition for the restoration of order, tranquillity and for a normal political life in Albania.

Mr Shehu and Mrs Lino underlined the will for indispensible continuous contacts to exchange opinions, ends the report from the DP seat. lgj/xh/

[07] "IT IS ABSURD TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION NOW"- Socialists

Albanian President Sali Berisha, in a meeting held Saturday with a delegation of the Council of Europe, put forward even the possibility of the discussion for the approval of the Constitution, following the pattern of one of the constitutions of the European Union countries.

"It is not the time to discuss such a thing, and my logic does not have time to spend with this absurd," said SP Secretary General, Rexhep Mejdani.

While the SP Secretary for Public Relations, Pandeli Majko, spoke widely on this problem.

"The discussion of the Constitution is groundless. We respect the political process of March 9, signed by 10 political parties in the meeting with the President, in which were presented the stabilization of the situation, and the guarantee for the free elections of June. It seems absurd to discuss about the constitution with tanks along the streets," said Majko. /kei/mt/k

[08] SMUGGLING OF SCRAP-IRON TOWARDS MONTE-NEGRO STOPPED - Shkoder

These vehicles, after being stopped by police, threw these pieces of iron along the national road by blocking it.

The police forces of this commissariat have established two road-blocks in order to stop this smuggling.

According to the police sources, the majority of the vehicles, which transported the scrap-iron, were from Kruje, Lac, Tirana, Puke, Tropoje, etc.

The police commissariat of the district detained on August last year 20 persons, who were transporting scrap-iron. The court of the district sentenced some of them with two years in jails, and the others with fines up to 100 000 leks. /a.ke.kled/mt/k

[09] SITUATION IN TROPOJE STILL NOT STABLE

37 people have been injured, while 5 others have been killed so far in the Northern district of Tropoje, two of whom were children.

Despite the efforts of local government and police commissariat, the uncontrolled gunshots continue not only during the night, but also during the day.

Sources from Bajram Curri report that crowds of young people have destroyed recently the headquarters of all political parties in the district. During the first days of riots there have been destroyed even the district council, the town hall, the branch of levies and taxes, etc.

There is lack of food articles in this district. The merchants are afraid to go to Tirana or other districts to get supplies due to the insecurity in the axe of the road Bajram Curri-Tirana. /kei/mt/

[10] PRESS RELEASE

[11] "THE INITIATIVE OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT TO DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION IS HISTORIC" - Arbnori

"Along with the difficulties that Albania is experiencing now, the drafting and the approval of a Constitution would be a major contribution of the Parliament and the political parties for the country and a fundamental guarantee for the democracy in Albania," says Arbnori in a letter addressed to the President of the Council of Europe, Leni Fischer.

According to him, the return of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party in Parliament would influence in this historic initiative.

Arbnori thanks in this letter the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly for their engagement regarding the situation in Albania.

"I think that the recommendation of the Parliamentary Assembly, approved by the Permanent Commission, in which it is presented an initiative of three parties (the Council of Europe, European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) to offer a multinational support to the Government of National Reconciliation, is a very good initiative," says Arbnori.

"There is of special importance the wide participation in monitoring the elections" and based on the cooperation with the Council of Europe in the local elections of October 20th, he says that "it would be very useful to continue this cooperation even in the coordination and monitoring of the parliamentary elections." /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[12] UNO FOOD PROGRAM HELPS ALBANIA

Hauser presented a program of an economic aid for 150 000 Albanian families, as well as for the social care institutions .

According to this program, an aid of 340 tonne flour will arrive to Albania on April 12.

The spokesman reports that considering the conditions in Albania regarding order and tranquility, Hauser said that a second operation of aid will continue, including flour and necessary food articles.

Sherifi ensured Hauser that the Ministry he leads would make maximal efforts to distribute this aid to the families which need them more. /kei/mt/k

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