Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-04-21

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] TIRANA POLICE CONTINUE ARMS COLLECTION OPERATIONS

[02] SPANISH TROOPS ARRIVE AT SHENGJIN

[03] ALBANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN BELGRADE MEETS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LEADERS OF KOSOVA

[04] STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

[05] ECONOMIC AID DISTRIBUTED IN SHKODER

[06] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HAILS VICTORY OF RIGHT WING FORCES IN BULGARIA

[07] 19 TONES TNT RISK TO EXPLODE IN BERAT

[08] MULTINATIONAL FORCES LAND IN VLORE

[09] ALBANIAN SPEAKER MEETS REPRESENTATIVE OF POPE IN TIRANA

[10] TEACHING PROCESS RESTARTS IN KORÇE

[11] SOMEONE KILLED IN VLORE IN HIS EFFORTS TO TAKE THE STOLEN CAR

[12] ECONOMIC MEASURES TO EASE THE SITUATION - SUBJECT OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONS IN ALBANIA

[13] TOWN HALL OF GRAMSH STORMED AND PLUNDERED

[14] ARMED GANGS TERRORIZE TRAVELLERS IN COROVODE

[15] ITALIAN GENERAL GILIO MEETS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES IN VLORE

[16] AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING TO THE MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE ON THE STATUS OF THIS FORCE SIGNED

[17] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT'S SP0KESMAN

[18] FROM THE VISIT OF ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO AUSTRIA

[01] TIRANA POLICE CONTINUE ARMS COLLECTION OPERATIONS

Over the last three days four police commissariats in Tirana have intercepted one machine gun, 39 automatic rifles, 24 guns, four pistols and a considerable amount of ammunition.

Some 36 people have been sent to these commissariats these days for not observing the curfew and the documents of 23 drivers have been blocked.

A large number of articles, including clothes, telephone equipment and 56 white passports have been intercepted during controls exercised by the forces of police commissariat 4.

In the Kasalle village four citizens have been wounded by gunfire by unidentified persons in an attempt to break into a house. The police commissariat is hunting down the criminals. kled/lm/e

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] SPANISH TROOPS ARRIVE AT SHENGJIN

"The Spanish troops will support the humanitarian supplies to arrive in Albania and we are ready to meet all tasks assigned to us by the Alba operation command. We will be installed in this town until the end of the operation, Major Castelloni told ATA.

The Spanish soldiers arriving in Durres on April 15 by the "Aragon" and "Hernan Cortes" ships and a contingent by plane, have some 40 armoured vehicles as well as two doctors.

The Spanish troops are thought to ensure the distribution of aid from Lezha to Koplik of Malesi e Madhe.

A ship arrives in Durres on April 25 from Valencia with military equipment and the rest of the Spanish troops.

The number of the Spanish forces in Albania will total 400. a.ke/eva/lm/E

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] ALBANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN BELGRADE MEETS PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LEADERS OF KOSOVA

The PPK deputy chairman, Bajram Kosumi, familiarised the Albanian diplomat with the stand of this party regarding the constituting of Parliament and fresh elections in Kosova.

During the meeting they also discussed the situation in Albania and its effects in Kosova. They shared the view that the events in Albania have harmed the Kosova issue and weakened its political position.

The leaders of the Democratic Party of Kosova expressed hopes that the President, the Government of National Reconciliation, the political parties and the whole people would find ways to overcome this tragic situation in Albania. l.t/b.j./kled/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

The government can clearly distinguish between the administrative act and the decree on senior officers of Armed Forces, just as it is clear of the fact that in public administration only ministers are constitutionally decreed. The post of deputy ministers is an administrative post.

In taking this decision the government considered the statement of all the political parties participating in the government on March 27-28, 1997 which authorised by consensus the Fino government to operate with reorganisations in the Interior Ministry to replace figures which are unacceptable for the public opinion.

Also, the government considered the 9th decision of the round table of the ten political parties, which on April 15, 1997, voted in favour of dismissing the deputy Interior Minister and the Police Director General, Agim Shehu. The Government of National Reconciliation has respected the institutions and this is a clear principle of its performance.

As regards the release of the deputy Interior Minister , the decision of the Council of Ministers 168, dated April 19,1997, not only does not infringe upon the presidential institution, but respects it, when it reminds the public opinion and state administration that this decision is an administrative act of constitutional right, the government spokesman concludes. /A.KE/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ECONOMIC AID DISTRIBUTED IN SHKODER

The chief of the office of social assistance near the town hall of the city, Mehmet Ulqini, told ATA that some 7000 families profit economic aid in Shkoder.

According to him, the distribution of this aid is thought to end within this week.

Meanwhile, sources of the town hall report that after the wages of the state budget and social assistance were distributed, it is expected to start the distribution of the money for the pensioners within these days.

Some 13 000 pensioners are registered in this town, who have not received their money.

The social assistance and money for the pensioners will be distributed in the offices of the town hall, because the banking institutions in this town were looted and destroyed. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT HAILS VICTORY OF RIGHT WING FORCES IN BULGARIA

It is also an achievement for the democracy and the friends of the Union of the Democratic Forces of Bulgaria in the Balkans and Europe". /mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] 19 TONES TNT RISK TO EXPLODE IN BERAT

"If this depot explodes, a specialist of Genio told ATA, the whole quarter "Donika Kastrioti" is seriously risked, because the depot is 50-60 km far from the quarter in air line".

Another military source told ATA that the capsules were eliminated, but anyhow the danger of explosion does seriously exist.

After the destructions in the military units, the whole ammunition of the heavy artillery and the depot with TNT remained out of control.

During this time, this depot was guarded by the citizens of Berat. Many times the citizens have addressed to the local government to mediate in the respective ministry to remove the explosive. But nothing is done so far.

After the explosions in Gjoroven and Palikesht, the panic has swept not only the inhabitants of this quarter, but the whole town, because they have now learnt that they live near death. /kei/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] MULTINATIONAL FORCES LAND IN VLORE

The Italian ship, "San Giusto", which transported the troops, the cruiser "Vittorio Veneto" and a minesweeper "Grecale" were anchored in the port of Vlore in the morning, while some 50 troops from the regiment "Col Moschin", of the army and the unit Combusin of the carabinieri, arrived from Fier and took positions in the port, by preparing the terrain for the landing operation.

A vanguard of the Italian forces went in Vlore two days ago to reconnoitre the port of the town and the grounds where the multinational forces will be deployed.

These land forces control the entrances in the port and guarantee the operation of landing.

The armoured vehicles, which arrived from the town of Fier, guaranteed the landing of the Greek and Italian troops.

The landing operation, which started at 09:00, included more than 300 forces, among whom 50 special forces, which arrived on Monday morning, 130 bersaglier troops, which arrived by land, as well as the troops which descended on shore.

Together with the Greek forces, which also arrived on Monday, there are some 850 military men, accompanied by 300 armoured vehicles. The security measures in both sides of the Vlore port have been very high.

The multinational forces were received by the authorities of local government and forces of the police commissariat.

The commander of the Italian troops, general Girolamo Gilio was received by the chairman of the district council, Medin Xhelili and other leaders of local government, the chief of the police commissariat, Milto Kordha, as well as by the leader of the Committee of Public Salvation, Albert Shyti.

The arrival of the multinational forces was also greeted by the citizens of Vlore.

After a peaceful meeting, organized in the Flag Square, the participants went to Skele to greet the arrival of the military troops.

These forces will be deployed in the grounds of the School of Marine and that of Aviation.

The operations of landing are led by general Girolamo Gilio, who will command the multinational forces in Southern Albania. /kei/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] ALBANIAN SPEAKER MEETS REPRESENTATIVE OF POPE IN TIRANA

Arbnori underlined the stand of the Albanian Parliament about the situation and the legal ways for its stabilization, for the restoration of the constitutional order and the preparation of the parliamentary elections.

Arbnori was against the encouragement and cooperation of any political force, participant in this accord, with illegal military committees.

Morchetta appreciated among others the importance of the legitimate institutions in the country, mainly of the Parliament, and expressed the opinion that the dialogue should always exist.

As fruit of the constructive dialogue, he estimated the Accord of National Reconciliation, "which avoided the civil war in the country". /s.sh/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] TEACHING PROCESS RESTARTS IN KORÇE

"More than 50 per cent of the pupils and all the teachers have come, the director of the education department, Theodhor Theodhori told ATA. The teaching process was held normally today, and it will continue like this due to the measures taken by the police commissariat and school departments."

The teaching process is going on based on the programs reduced by the respective ministry, aiming to complete the pupils at the end of the school year with the necessary knowledge in different subjects.

87 schools function in the district of Korce, 23 of which are high schools with some 34 800 pupils learning in them. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] SOMEONE KILLED IN VLORE IN HIS EFFORTS TO TAKE THE STOLEN CAR

The owner of the car, together with his two friends, followed and reached the robber in the outskirts of Vlore. In his efforts to take the car back, he was shot dead by the robber.

Sources of the police commissariat do not confirm the identity of the victim and his two friends. The author of the crime fled away with the stolen car.

According to the chief of the Vlore police commissariat, Milto Kordha, the criminal police are conducting the necessary investigations to identify the killer and the victim.

This is the second murder in the town of Vlore over the last two days. /kei/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ECONOMIC MEASURES TO EASE THE SITUATION - SUBJECT OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONS IN ALBANIA

The Government of the National Reconciliation has thought of helping the local, foreign physical and judicial people and firms that have had damage in the recent period through acts of fiscal character and one of these measures is also a draft law to be presented to the Parliament in a plenary session on Tuesday.

The Economy Commission said that it agreed to favour the people who have been given soft credits and those who want to invest in ALbania.

The draft law "On the exemption from taxes and levies of humanitarian and emergency aid" was examined and will be presented to the plenary session without any remarks on April 22, 1997. kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] TOWN HALL OF GRAMSH STORMED AND PLUNDERED

"The event took place late last night when a group of armed people stormed the building after a weak resistance from its guard," say sources of the prefecture of Elbasan. In the mean time, the remaining arms have been plundered from depots, something which has endangered more the dwelling centres, especially the possible explosions.

Yesterday, as a result of the explosion of bombs six people were injured and another one lost his leg.

Authorised sources of the district council told ATA that the operation of special forces of the Interior Ministry some days ago was insufficient, at a time when the number of the automatic rifles plundered in that district is over 100 thousand and the other plundered ammunition 50 thousand." According to confirmations by Gramsh inhabitants, the selling of the plundered arms to people from other cities continues openly in this district. This phenomenon puts in danger the city of Elbasam, some inhabitants of which have been the main buyers of the arms in Gramsh.

The above facts show of the tense situation prevailing in the region of Gramsh. Despite the operation of the Interior Ministry special forces last week during which a considerable amount of arms was accumulated, the public order is still unstabilized. ssh/xh

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] ARMED GANGS TERRORIZE TRAVELLERS IN COROVODE

Inhabitants of the district of Skrapar and those of Berat who travel from one district to the other, feel themselves insecure because during the past weeks, several travellers have been stolen while passing through this part of the national road.

An eye witness said that the two people had opened fire against a van of Berat, which did not obey their order to stop.

Some days ago, masked people have plundered soldiers passing on this axis of the road near the villages Fushe-Peshtan and Vodice.

Additionally, in the village Terpan, masked people have stopped the bus of Berat-Permet bus line and have killed the conductor becasue he did not accept to give them the money. ssh/xh

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] ITALIAN GENERAL GILIO MEETS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES IN VLORE

Present in the meeting were the District Council chairman, Mehdi Xhelili, deputy Mayor of Vlore, Agron Shehu and the police commissariat chief Milto Kordha.

General Gilio presented the objectives of the mission of the multinational forces in general and for the district of Vlore in particular, and he was also briefed of the questions that Vlore has at present.

The Italian general invited the Albanian party to cooperate for the successful realisation of the mission, which would be in the interest of both sides. General Gilio asked from Vlore local authorities a continuous assistance for the creation of the best possible conditions for the deployment of the multinational troops and esepcially for the hydro- sanitary supplies, drinking water and electricity supplying for the troops, something which would have a positive impact in the best accomplishment of the objectives of this mission in the Vlore district.

The Vlore local government authorities hailed the coming of the multinational forces in their city and assured the Italian General of a fruitful cooperation and continuous support for them during all the time they would be in their city. They told the General of all the problems existing in Vlore.

General Gilio also took special interest in the problems of order in the city and planned another meeting on Tuesday with the chief of the police commissariat, Mr Kordha to discuss this issue.

A contingent of 850 Italian and Greek forces were installed in the city of Vlore on Monday. ssh/xh

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNTRIES CONTRIBUTING TO THE MULTINATIONAL SECURITY FORCE ON THE STATUS OF THIS FORCE SIGNED

Attending the special ceremony held on this occasion were senior Italy's personalities and personalities of other participating countries.

For the Albanian party the agreement was signed by Albanian Ambassador in Rome Pandeli Pasko and for the Italian party by the Chief of the Italian General Defence Headquarters, Venturoni, for the other participating countries signed their ambassadors in Rome.

This agreement is a fundamental legal basis for the presence and the activity of the multinational security forces in the Republic of Albania. Its text is based on the SOFA type agreement of the United Nations and on the Convetion on the U.N. Privileges and Immunities, of February 13, 1946, ratified by Albania on July 2, 1957. With the law 8203, dated March 30, 1997 "On the acceptance in Albania of a multinational military force in support of humanitarian operations," the Albanian state opened the way to the coming of the forces and the adoption of this agreement.

The object of the agreement covers the civil and military staff and the assets of the units of the participating states in the Multinational Security Forces, MSF, and defines clearly their mandate by direct reference to the Resolution 1101 of the U.N. Security Council. The agreement envisages the concrete position of the MSF, determining the obligation of the multinational force members to respect the international and unbiased nature of their mission, abiding by the local laws and rules as well as the respective obligation by the Albanian Government.

The agreement envisages in particular the obligation of the multinational security force that during their activity in Albania they will cooperate with the legitimate central and local authorities according to Article 2 of the Albanian law 8203.

The staff of the multinational security force is recognized the privileges and immunities determined in the Convention of 1946 regarding the experts during the mission. In the privileges and immunities are included the protection of the MSF assets and those of the participating countries, the exemption from taxes on the payments and salaries, recognition as valid of their licences and travelling passes, the right of the possession of arms and of the keeping of their flag and other distinctive signs. The MSF is also entitled a number of facilities such as free movement within the Albanian territory, free entering and leaving of it, easy procedures in the customs field, use of the bases and transport means, the putting into their disposal of premises needed for the activity of the MSF, the supply with indispensable commodities and equipment, assistance for the exchange of currency, usage of special communication channels, cooperation for health problems, etc. A number of articles in the agreement defines the rules to be observed by the MSF members related to their facilities and priveleges. Additionally, the agreement adjusts the questions of jurisdiction and the legal procedures for the resolution of disagreements.

On the basis of its content, this agreement becomes enforced temporarily today for the Albanian state. The realisation of this agreement and of other agreements related to its implementation, has a great importance because it determines clearly the status of the forces, their relations with Albanian authorities and the way how various problems can be solved on the course of operations, helping a great deal to their best accomplishment conformed to the Resolution of the U.N. Security Council and the international legislation. ssh/xh

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN PRESIDENT'S SP0KESMAN

Concerning this declaration and the arguments used in it that the decision was legal and that in the public administration are decreed constitutionally only the ministers, the spokesman of the President is authorized to inform the public opinion that this decion, on the basis of the main constitutional provisions of the Albanian state and the respective legislature, is illegal.

Despite the opinion of the Premier's spokesman, this decison has been taken by the Government by exploiting in an inadmisssable way an exclusive competence of the President of the Republic. This competence is based on the law "On the armed forces of the Republic of Albania" which entitles the President the right to name, transfer and release from their tasks the highest ranking officers, as well as on the special judicial position of the Interior Ministry and its structures as compared with other senior institutions. This legal competence is based on the constitutional prerogaive of the President of the Republic for the appointment or release from the posts not only of the ministers, as claimed in that declaration, but also of a considerable number of leading staff in central institutions and in diplomatic representations, envisaged by Article 28, points 8 and 11 of the main constitutional provisions. It is part of the competence, which is recognized by special laws, of the President for the naming and release of the functionaries of the state administration who, in some cases belong even to a lower rank than the post of the deputy minister.

The presidential competence for the naming of functionaries of the public aministration is not a specific legal feature of the Albanian state. It exists also in the constitutions of the parliamentary republics of Western Europe such as in that of Italy, Greece, Germany etc.

The use by the government in its decision of the notion "administrative release" as an artifice which is based nowhere in the Albanian legislation, does by all means lead to the conclusion that at least for a part of the government members has been known the lack of the legal basis of this decion. Moreover, the Government did also know the fact that the Interior Deputy Minister and General Police Director was named to these posts by decree of the President of the Republic, as an institution which makes such appointments, and by a strict observation of the respective legal procedure.

Consequently, the spokesman of the Prime Minister should have taken into consideration the greater legal power of the decree of the President as compared with the government's decision, instead of focusing on the use of judicial nonsenses, such as "the administrative act by a constitutional right," which, unfortunately, are in plenty in his declaration.

The President of the Republic holds that the constitutional and legal cooperation between the institution of the President of the Republic and that of the Prime Minister or the Government for the naming of senior functionaries of the public administration is an indispensable guarantee for the realisation of the control and balance between powers, and for a normal functioning of the institutions. xh

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] FROM THE VISIT OF ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO AUSTRIA

The meeting focused on the present situation in Albania, the efforts of the National Reconciliation Government to restore order, to overcome the economic and financial crisis, to stabilize legal institutions and to carry the country towards earlier fresh elections.

Foreign Minister Starova briefed his Austrian counterpart of the measures that the Government has taken and is adopting to restore order and to normalize the country's life.

"We consider as precious the international assistance and support from OSCE, CE, UN, EU to take Albania out of the chaos and anarchy," underlined Mr Starova. In this context he voiced his gratuitude to Mr Schussel for Austria' special contribution not only to the bilateral aspect but also to the multilateral aspect in these difficult days Albania is passing. The two interlocutors exchanged opinions regarding the present political life in Albania and particularly the creation of premises for the realisation, according to the March 9 agreement, of the parliamentary elections and continuous cooperation between the political forces.

Speaking of the historic relations existing between Austria and Albania, Mr Schussel voiced his optimism that with its human and natural resources, and also with the assistance not only by Austria but also by international institutions, Albania will progress as part of Europe, and that Europe must support and help Albania revive completely.

After the official talks in the presence of and amidst the interest of local and foreign midias, the two ministers gave a news conference through which they confirmed once more the very good level of the relations between the two countries and informed the audience of the talks they had made.

In the afternoon, meetings were held with the Law and Interior Ministers, in which quick aid through experts and material was promised for Albania.

Mr Starova closed today's schedule with the meeting he had with Mr Vranitzky during which they exchanged opinions on the situation in Albania and the importance of the coming parliamentary elections. xh

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