Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-05-05

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] CE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DELEGATION IN ALBANIA

[02] ROMANIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR GJIROKASTER

[03] PRESIDENT BERISHA AND ITALIAN PREMIER PRODI HOLD TELEPHONE TALK

[04] CE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS

[05] SEVENTY PER CENT OF SCHOOLS IN GRAMSH REOPEN

[06] HOMAGE PAID TO MARTYRS OF THE NATION

[07] FAN NOLI UNIVERSITY IN KORCE REOPENS

[08] ONE HUNDRED MACHINE GUN SHELLS FOR 1 USD

[01] CE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DELEGATION IN ALBANIA

The delegation is made up of the chairmen of the political groups of this Assembly.

The delegation had its first meeting with the representatives of the political parties, signatories of the March 9 agreement, at Rogner Hotel in Tirana yesterday.

This meeting and the other meeting to be held by this delegation during its stay in Albania will focus on the preparations for the new parliamentary elections.

Yesterday evening the delegation of the CE Parliamentary Assembly met the ambassadors of the Council of Europe member countries.

Meetings are expected today with OSCE and CE representatives in Tirana, with Foreign, Interior and Justice Ministries senior officials, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Reconciliation, Bashkim Fino, Parliament Speaker Pjeter Arbnori and the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha.

At the end of the meetings the delegation of the CE Parliamentary Assembly is expected to hold a news conference. kled/lm/E

[02] ROMANIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR GJIROKASTER

The Romanian troops, according to ongoing data, are backed by some 100 armoured vehicles of various kinds as well as armoured personnel carriers.

The Romanian military troops are among the last troops to arrive in Albania, in the context of the operation Alba.

The 6000-strong multinational force began arriving in Albanian on April 15, based on a three-month mandate, approved on March 28.

Some 2 755 troops from Italy, 923 from France, 345 from Spain, 630 from Greece, 691 from Turkey and 116 from Austria have taken up their positions. jz/lm/e

[03] PRESIDENT BERISHA AND ITALIAN PREMIER PRODI HOLD TELEPHONE TALK

Prodi also expressed Berisha the concern of the Italian government over the growing influx of illegal emigrants to Italy from Albania over recent days.

Berisha held that the elections could and should be held as scheduled in the March 9 agreement, the Press and Information office close to the President of the Republic reports.

Berisha said that the only major obstacle for holding the elections in the planned time-frame was the armed rebel committees in several districts in the south of the country.

He said that the committees were backed up not by the people, who were being terrorised by these committees, but by the Socialist Party leadership and the alliance the SP had signed with these committees on March 28, as well as by the SP political wing in the government.

He told Prodi that this alliance should be denounced and the government be authorised by all the political forces to restore constitutional and public order in these districts, in which the rebel committees hamper the people's free movement, circulation of the non-leftist press and of the parties opposing the SP.

Referring to the outflow of emigrants, Berisha assured Prodi that Albania was determined, within its currently limited possibilities, to halt any kind of illegal traffic.

But, he added that a very positive move and a very great assistance would be the beginning of a seasonal emigration and hosting by Italy of Albanian seasonal workers.

Prodi fully agreed to the indispensability of holding elections as planned, which, he said, would pave the way for a broad and comprehensive aid and cooperation of Albania.

He said that he would seriously consider organised seasonal employment of Albanians in Italy. a.ke/pas/lm/E

[04] CE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS

During the meeting, Zeri said that the Albanian government of National Recon ciliation is working to cope with the emergency situation as regards humanitarian aid, restoration of order and preparations for elections.

Responding to the interest shown by the delegation in the electoral law, Zeri stressed that: "There are real difficulties as the parties are failing to agree with each other, but, nevertheless, this week the government will send the electoral law to parliament for approval".

The CE Parliamentary Assembly delegation will hold a news conference at the end of its meetings with Albanian political authorities. eva/lm/e

[05] SEVENTY PER CENT OF SCHOOLS IN GRAMSH REOPEN

Town-hall sources say that reopening of schools in several communes where the situation has been tense is being considered.

School is being attended by 80 per cent of the pupils in the town and 70 per cent in the countryside, according to education department sources. a.ke/eva/lm/e

[06] HOMAGE PAID TO MARTYRS OF THE NATION

Also present at the cemetery to respect the deed of the martyrs were their members and relatives, fello-fighters of the fallen, veterans and many inhabitants of Tirana.

President of the Republic Sali Berisha was also present. He met with martyrs' family members, veterans, militaries and other participants.

The ceremony was also attended by Speaker of Parliament Pjeter Arbnori, Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and other leaders and representatives of political parties, veterans' organisations and others.jz/lm/sh/

[07] FAN NOLI UNIVERSITY IN KORCE REOPENS

The rector of this university, Gjergj Pendavinji, told ATA that "Students' attendance on the first day of school was over 60 per cent".

School programmes and hours have been reduced to gain for the lost time of school interruption.

The latest turmoil in this city had its effect on the University, whose damage amounted to $15 000. eva/lm/sh/

[08] ONE HUNDRED MACHINE GUN SHELLS FOR 1 USD

This event took place in Shengjin, where the Spanish troop contingent, part of the Multinational force operation Albania, is deployed.

A seven-year-old child, who was hardly carrying this ammunition was asked by a Spanish soldier to exchange the ammunition with one dollar.

The spokesman of the Spanish troops said that "We do not want that the Albanian people suffer a tragedy like that of Bosnia, which besides men and women, killed many children."

"The act of Spanish soldier served this idea, because we do neither buy nor collect weapons, but the child would not only risk his own life but also that of the others," he said .

The Police Commissariat was announced on the spot to take the ammunition. jz/lm/sh/

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