Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-05-25

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRESS REVIEW

[02] KOSOVA WRITER AZEM SHKRELI DIES

[03] NO AIRCRAFT OR HELICOPTER OF DEFENCE MINISTRY AND ARMY FLEW TOWARDS GJIROKASTER YESTERDAY - confutation

[04] FOREIGN DONORS HELP NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BLIND PUPILS IN TIRANA

[05] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO MEETS WITH ATDHEU ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES

[06] THIRTY-THREE-YEAR OLD KILLED IN GJIROKASTER

[07] ARMED CIVILIANS STORM MILITARY HOSPITAL IN TIRANE

[08] BATTLE FOR JUNE 29 - BATTLE FOR CIVILIZATION OF DURRES AND ENTIRE ALBANIA

[01] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit writes: "May 26 - appeal against Berisha," and publishes the editorial entitled "Don't violate the people's vote!" Regarding the event in Cerrik, the paper publishes the article "Cerrik - a fortified town," and it cites people saying "We do not surrender arms if Berisha does not resign."

Newspaper Republika carries the editorial: "The right wing appears as a demand of the time." The paper writes: "Hysteria of Berisha cannot save Albania." The paper also writes: "35 state officials, pawns of Xhaferr (one of the pyramid investment schemes where Albanians lost their savings.") "The event of Cerrik, the beginning of a wrong campaign," writes the paper.

Rilindja, writing about the meeting of Prime Minister Bashkim Fino with ambassadors of Britain, Holland and Austria, writes: "Closer cooperation demanded for elections." The paper writes that Albanian-American community will stage a manifestation on June 11, in Washington, demanding from the U.S. government to back up the independence of Kosova and the Albanian question in general.

With regard to the event in Cerrik, newspaper Albania, under the headline "A telephone call by the assistant of the prime minister instructed bandits," writes: "Here is how we were betrayed by Tirane." The paper carries the editorial "Criminals in the south heading for Tirane." With regard to the meetings of President Sali Berisha in the context of the electoral campaign, the paper writes "Elections divide violence from democracy." "Otranto, hunger strike for the victims," writes the paper on the hunger strike of the survivors from the Otranto tragedy asking that the bodies of their drowned family members be recovered.

Koha Jone writes "President Berisha declares to foreign press for a forceful oppression of the Salvation Committees before June 29. He is committed to violent solutions." The paper publishes an editorial "Berisha will undermine polls."

As regards the event in Cerrik, Tribuna writes: "Who hits the state," and carries a declaration of the Albanian committee against racism, violence and intolerance which condemns the terrorist act in Cerrik against police forces. The paper writes "Communists in ODHIR, a threat to the elections monitoring."

Gazeta Shqiptare writes: "Proposals and a plan drafted in Switzerland to pay the Albanians with 1.3 billion dollars," related to the proposal of the first man who has undertaken a loan-taking activity in Albania, Hajdin Sejdia, who demands concessions in return to buying the debts of the pyramid investment schemes." The newspaper writes that the government has asked President Berisha to lift the state of emergency.

Newspaper Independent carries an editorial "Maimed spirits in hunger strike," regarding the hunger strike of the survivors from the Otranto tragedy. The paper writes "Foresti, ciao Albania," referring to the naming of a new Italian Ambassador to Albania, to replace Paolo Foresti. kei/xh/k

[02] KOSOVA WRITER AZEM SHKRELI DIES

Shkreli, 59, died in the airport of Prishtine after his return from the West, together with some other creators, where he conducted meetings with compatriots in exile.

Azem Shkreli is the author of 8 books with poetry, some novels and stories, among which "The white caravan," "The droplets," "The street angels", etc.

His works have been translated in many foreign languages. Shkreli has worked as editor in the Rilindja Publishing House and later he led the Writers' Association of Kosova. Shkreli has also been director of the Theater of Kosove and later of Kosova Film, until Serbian authorities dismissed him in 1991.

Literary critique describes Shkreli as one of the best authors of Albanian literature.

Recently, Shkreli was a member of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedom. sk/kei/xh/k

[03] NO AIRCRAFT OR HELICOPTER OF DEFENCE MINISTRY AND ARMY FLEW TOWARDS GJIROKASTER YESTERDAY - confutation

The Ministry dismissed some papers' reports according to which aircrafts, helicopters of the Defence Ministry have landed or made efforts to land in Gjirokaster.

These papers claim that the planes carried engineering experts to inspect the Kardhiqi and Viroi waters.

The Defence Ministry says that these reports are not true, but there are probably certain elements who want to involve the army in actions or mission it has not committed.

It is true that the Defence Ministry has sent specialists to study the situation of the damaged bridges, but they have travelled to the area by road.

We make known that the army has used the helicopters only to come to the aid of the population and save the life of the endangered people. We also confirm that the army has never carried out flights without cooperation with the local government.

The testimony provided by sources of police commissariat and anonymous militaries on such missions is not true.

The Defence Ministry and the army are intensively working to reconstruct the damaged military units and they do this in cooperation with the local government and the people of the area, where they are located.

The aim and the mission of the Albanian army is to defend the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of Albania, the confutation says in conclusion. s.sh/kled/lm

[04] FOREIGN DONORS HELP NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BLIND PUPILS IN TIRANA

This institute was recently visited by the Turkish ambassador in Tirana, Ahmet Okcun, and a medical team of the Turkish forces, in the context of the "Alba" mission in Albania.

Besides relief in food aid and clothes provided by the embassy, the Turkish medical team examined the pupils and provided medicines.

A Dutch benevolent association has provided 25 000 dollars for the heating system.

The Swiss Caritas has helped complete the kitchen and canteen.

The Institute has 60 pupils and a teaching and serving staff of 35 people. s.sh/kled/lm

[05] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER FINO MEETS WITH ATDHEU ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES

As the spokesman of the Prime Minister reports, representatives of this patriotic association thanked the Prime Minister in the name of the Albanian refugees for the humane efforts the government has made for the systematization of Albanian refugees in Italy and his personal commitment as Prime Minister of all the Albanians and Albania.

On this occasiion, they asked Prime Minister Fino that during his visit to Italy on May 26 to discuss again with high ranking Italian authorities the question of the Albanian refugees and the hunger strike of the survivors of the Otranto tragedy, asking a greater commitment from the friendly Italian government to recover the bodies of the victims of Otranto.

Highlighting the association Atdheu, Mr Fino appreciated the work of non-government organizatins and the valuable assistance they are giving in preserving and developing the civic and patriotic values of Albania. He reiterated his commitment and that of all the government in defence of the refugees' rights. On this occasion, he expressed his profound commitment to re-discuss in the meetings he will have tomorrow to Italy with the highest authorities of the Italian Government the problems raised by Albanian refugees.

The visit to Italy on May 26, said Mr Fino, is of great importance, because in the bilateral contacts, as well as in the International Conmference of the Donators for Albania, conditions and concrete possibilities will be created for the beginning of the economic and social revival of Albania, so that the Albanian people find themselves happy in their beloved homeland. ake/xh./

[06] THIRTY-THREE-YEAR OLD KILLED IN GJIROKASTER

The motives of this murder are not clear, sources of the district criminal police say. s.sh/kled/lm/sh/

[07] ARMED CIVILIANS STORM MILITARY HOSPITAL IN TIRANE

One of the official vehicle was Iveco, with the number plate TR 0542 Z, the other was a transport vehicle of the type Ifa.

At first, the armed civilians disarmed the military guards and dispersed the people from the square of the hospital. They terrorized the people and the medical staff, by firing their arms.

In an effort to clarify the situation and to learn what those people wanted, the chief of the military guards and military police patrols received no answer but fists and hitting with butts of rifles, as a result of which one man was gravely injured.

The armed civilians wanted the director of the Hospital, but since he was not there, they stormed his office and then made for the office of the deputy director. By threatening and beating him, they asked to know where were the surgeons and that they be brought urgently to the hospital. Despite the efforts of the deputy director of the hospital to explain to them what they inquired and to calm them down, the civilians hit him with fists and butts, injuring him in the face.

Present in these acts of terror were about 30 armed civilians.

In the mean time, the armed people forced the driver of the hospital ambulance to go the the director's home and take him but since he was not at home, they took to the hospital through force the director's father.

The Interior Ministry declares that the armoured vehicles that entered the hospital premises did not belong to the army. We also explain that such means are in the possession of the public order police commissariats and the Guard of the Republic.

At about 12.00 the armed civialians left the hospital. Work is going on to inquire into the matter, to calm the situation and for a normal functioning and service in the military hospital.

We have to say that this is a very grave event for this institution of military medicine, for its medical staff and for military police. At a time when the doctors and all the medical staff are totally committed to save people's lives, they are rioted and terrorized. We appeal that the medical people must be protected and create for them the calmest possible conditions in order they they be able to assist the people whose lives are at risk. ssh/xh/

[08] BATTLE FOR JUNE 29 - BATTLE FOR CIVILIZATION OF DURRES AND ENTIRE ALBANIA

Amidst continuous applauses and chanting by those present "Down with communism!" "Democratic Party will win," President Berisha took the floor.

President Berisha hailed the people of Durres who have given and will give a powerful support to Albanian democracy. He stressed that "The battle for June 29 is the battle for the civilization of Durres and all Albania. On June 29, we all, the democratic electors, will give Albania the greatest victory of democracy won throughout its history."

After accepting some mistakes of the Democratic Party and the Government, he stressed that nevertheless it was the Democratic Party that made about 800 thousand Albanians owners, raised Albania to high levels of production and dominated the inflation.

In these moments, Berisha pointed out, democracy needs more than any other time the free vote of the Albanians.

Further on, the President underlined that democracy is in the people's hearts and that on June 29 "we will tell Europe that we have a great confidence in it and we shall vote for our future and for Albania's dignified integration into Europe."

Berisha invited the people to conduct a calm and dignified electoral campaign, to listen to the programs of all the parties and to vote for the DP program as the most reliable and best alternative.

With regard to the recent events, President Berisha said that DP did not envisage rebellion, did not think it, but it thought for the people's prosperity. "We," he underlined, "dominated it completely through democratic means, offering national reconciliation which is the platform of the national salvation. DP was the force that realised this reconciliation," stressed the president.

The Democratic Party goes to the June 29 vote being sure of its victory for the third time, said Berisha.

President Berisha called on all Durres people to conduct during June a more civilized and dignified electoral camapign, thus showing the culture and emancipating values of democracy.

President Berisha appealed to opposition members to disassociate themselves from the committees in the south, which are not the future of the country, but they, through their gangs, thefts and destructions are accumulating hatred among the people.

"The greater the victory of democracy, the sooner shall we repair all the damage, and put into efficiency the institutions, restore order and peace and make the train of democracy head towards Europe quicker," said Berisha.

Then President Berisha answered the questions put to him, stressing among others that left wing extremists have resorted to the armed wing, but they will fail.

"Albanian socialism is nothing else but rebellion and dictatorship."

He said that "we shall not fall into the positions of those who think to set Albanians against one another, but we will fight for peace, harmony, freedom and fraternity among all Albanians."

Regarding the event of Cerrik, Berisha stressed that the Government has condemned the gangs and we will punish the organizers and executers of the event, not mixing them the inhabitants of a block of flats or a city quarter.

President Berisha was seen off warmly and with enthusiasm by inhabitants of Durres who were inside and outside the palace of sports, following Berisha address through loudspeakers. ssh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article