Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER MEETS GERMAN MILITARY DELEGATION

[02] MINISTER OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS MEETS REPRESENTATIVE OF MONITORING MISSION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

[03] INTERIOR MINISTRY ORDERS COLLECTION OF HEAVY ARMAMENT

[04] NEW CLIMATE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND SP STRUCTURES

[05] POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED IN KORCE

[06] PRESS REVIEW

[07] TWO EXPONENTS OF ARMED GROUP KILLED IN ERSEKE - five others hurt, two policemen among them-

[08] NANO CONVEYS MESSAGES OF COEXISTENCE BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[09] FORTY ANTITANK WEAPONS VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED IN VLORE

[10] PROBLEMS IN ALBANIAN PRESS DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT COUNTRY'S TERRITORY

[11] POLICE COMMISSARIAT OF TEPELENE TAKES MEASURES TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER

[12] SEMINAR HELD ON GENERAL ISSUES OF CONSTITUTION

[13] UNDP: $ 2 MILLION FOR RURAL AREAS IN ALBANIA

[14] COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR ALBANIAN ARMY IS IMPORTANT - NATO team leader

[15] GREEK COLLEGE IN TIRANA SOON, KRT PUTS OFF APPROVAL

[16] TALKS BETWEEN ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTRY AND IMF START

[17] NANO CONVEYS MESSAGES OF COEXISTENCE BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[18] POLICE COMMISSARIAT OF TEPELENE TAKES MEASURES TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER

[19] THERE ARE NO CASES OF CHOLERA IN GRAMSH - Ministry of Health

[01] ALBANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER MEETS GERMAN MILITARY DELEGATION

Brokaj informed the German high ranking military men on the work done for the restoration of the army, putting forward the necessity of support and aid from the western armies, both in the bilateral context and in the framework of NATO.

During the meeting was also expressed the readiness for the support of Bundesver, also in training the Albanian military men in the German military academies, in preparation of the third contingent of the Albanian troops for the continuation of the operation in the context of SFOR, and others.

The necessity of support of the Albanian army from Bundesver was also pointed out by the State Secretary for the Policy of Defence, Perikli Teta, in the meeting he held on the same day with the German delegation.

The head of the German delegation, Lather, expressed the readiness to further promote the bilateral cooperation.

Experts of the Albanian army and of the German military delegation continue talks to make concrete the fields of cooperation./s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[02] MINISTER OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS MEETS REPRESENTATIVE OF MONITORING MISSION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Upon the request of Mrs Shuman, Minister Dade made during the meeting a detailed description of the current situation of the Albanian culture.

Dade and Shuman stressed the necessity of a wider cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Monitoring Mission of the European Community./kled/mt/sh/

[03] INTERIOR MINISTRY ORDERS COLLECTION OF HEAVY ARMAMENT

The Interior Ministry instructs the population that the other part of the armament be not used until all the weapons are registered.

According to the existing law, the weapons will be kept only with permission and registered. Anyone who will be detained with an arm without permission will be punished according to the measures envisaged by law and the weapon will be sequestrated.

"The law envisages severe punishments for those who keep arms without permission, but it is thought respective amendments be made to it," declared Legisi. kled/mt/sh/

[04] NEW CLIMATE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND SP STRUCTURES

Attending the meeting were also the SP Secretary General, Pandeli Majko, Organization Secretary Petro Koci, State Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Ndre Legisi, as well as the State Secretary for the Euro-Atlantic integration, Maqo Lakrori.

During the meeting were defined the deadlines for the conduct of the Conferences in districts in September-October, to go towards the National Conference of SP in November.

A working consult was also held during the meeting with the State Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Ndre Legisi, who made a description of the situation in Albania and the work done for the restoration of order and stability. /kled/mt/sh

[05] POLICE DEPARTMENT CREATED IN KORCE

"This department will have two commissariats, one for the town and the other for the village," the newly appointed director, lieutenant colonel, Arben Zylyftary, told ATA.

Zylyftari has made the reorganization of the current commissariat, appointing in leading posts 6 new chiefs, former officers, released during the reform in 1993. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[06] PRESS REVIEW

"Guarantee for the consolidation of the national reconciliation," reports the paper on the third page, with regard to the visit and meeting of Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, in Lezhe.

The paper writes regarding the meeting held in the headquarters of the Socialist Party with the chairmen of SP branches, under the title "To manifest the intellectual potential." The paper carries a pronouncement of the SP Secretary General, Pandeli Majko, after this meeting."

On the economic page the paper publishes an interview with the Minister of Finances, Arben Malaj, under the title "The reorganization of Banks does not infringe the depositors."

"The gangs of thought," is the editorial of Rilindja Demokratike. "The communist tentacles towards the Albanian thought and history have started to throw their poison," says the editorial among others.

The spies take revenge of the Commission of Scrutiny of Figures," reports the paper under the title "The people accused of genocide topple Mezini (the chairman of the above commission).

The communists of the parliament offend the victims of dictatorship," underlines the paper. "Incident in the border with Macedonia," reports the paper under the title "The Slavic guards shoot the Dibra citizen." Although Ceka (Interior Minister) continues to make propaganda on his successful operations, none of the known gunmen is detained, on the contrary innocent people have been killed," reports the paper under the title "The crime can not be eliminated by the criminals."

"The socialists privatize the transparency" is the editorial of Republika. "The worst thing of the politicians is that they do not know how to learn from the mistakes of their previous officials, although they may their opponents," says the editorial. "Finally Berisha is becoming conscious of his role in the opposition," writes the paper under the title "Terror in the presidency of the Democratic Party." "Vefa calls the Americans for help," reports the paper.

"The refugees: Italian sweeping starts," reports Koha Jone. "The Albanian refugees refuse to leave Italy," underlines the paper.

"The Italian media payed attention yesterday to the report that their government has decided to bring back to Albania until August 31 some 10 000 Albanian emigrants, who went to Italy when the riots swept the country this year," says the editorial under the title "The emigrants, Nano 3 cross".

On the fifth page the paper carries pronouncements of the political parties representatives about the 4000 armed people of the Democratic Party.

"The government which hides the crime" is the editorial of Albania paper. "The Albanian government is trying to hide what is really happening with the crime and criminals last month, where at least 200 people lost their life," says the editorial.

"The Albanian emigrants in Italy, the second political sacrifice of former Albanian communists," reports the paper under the title "Refugees will be back with the blessing of Nano."

"Kosova, the emblem of the Republic and the manacles of autonomy," writes the paper on the third page. "Tirana and Pristina seem to become used with the idea that USA can give a legal support for a new political statute of Kosova," reports the paper. "Albania risks the aid of IMF," writes the paper.

Rilindja quotes the President of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, as saying "There will be a greater engagement of USA for Kosova", after the meeting with the U.S. diplomat in chief, Madeleine Albright.

The paper covers the meeting of President Meidani in Lezhe under the title "The new law for the local government."

"The pre-diplomatic statute" is another article published by the paper.

"The Defence Minister makes the fearful balance: 100 milliard cartridges, thousands of heavy machine guns, scores of warships and air-jets," reports Gazeta Shqiptare under the title "Albania in arm trafficking". "Gjinushi has asked the conduct of early elections for the local government in a meeting held in Gjirokaster," reports the paper under the title "Gjinushi: Local elections and the referendum for the Constitution soon." "Weapons, the next battle for the disarmament," is another article published by the paper on the fifth page./kled/mt/sh/

[07] TWO EXPONENTS OF ARMED GROUP KILLED IN ERSEKE - five others hurt, two policemen among them-

Sources from the police commissariat of Kolonje report that last night by 20:00, in the police road-block in the entrance of Erseke, the policemen on duty made signals to a vehicle without number plate to stop. The persons inside opened fire against the policemen and they replied the same. The special forces of the Interior Ministry, deployed in the customs of Kapshtice and forces from the police commissariat of Korce went to reinforce the policemen of the road-block.

From the fire exchange were killed two members of the armed group, Daniel Sageri and Kreshnik Jaupi, and were also injured Denis Sageri, Spartak Sageri and Idian Murati. One of the members of this group, Astrit Bulla, managed to escape. Two policemen were also hurt due to the fire exchange. The injured were sent to the hospital of Korce and are out of danger.

The members of this group are suspected to be responsible for many crimes, like murders, robbery of citizens and refugees. They are also identified as authors of the attack against the police commissariat of Kolonje during the unrest in this town. /mt/sh/

[08] NANO CONVEYS MESSAGES OF COEXISTENCE BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Considering cooperation indispensable to get out of the crisis and resolve the problems, Nano proposed the creation of a group of local government representatives from Shkoder, Korce, Vlore, Peshkopi and other towns whose partner will be a governmental group, headed by deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Fino.

Nano described as a positive challenge the cohabitation between the executive that emerged from the parliamentary elections of June 19, 1997 and the legitimate representatives of the local government elected on June 20, 1996.

Speaking of the chaos created in the country and especially of the role of the mayors in the days of the crisis, Nano highlighted the dignified behavior of some them, who "did not abandon the post but bore their responsibility before their citizens."

PM Nano stressed that the program of the government attached priority to the local self-governing which must be realised through reforms reached by broad consensus, avoiding the administrative tutelage and through the decentralization in decision-making.

Most of the local government officials that were elected in the October 20, 1996 polls, were representatives of the Democratic Party. ssh/kei/lm/xh/k

[09] FORTY ANTITANK WEAPONS VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED IN VLORE

After an anonymous telephone call, at 18.00, police forces went near the airfield, where the coordinates of the whereabouts of the weaponry were as well given.

Later, forty antitank weapons and the packed military munition, found near this field, were transported to the grounds of the police department, where the necessary procedures for their registration and storing were carried out.

According to the same sources, such cases have been numerous over the last week. s.sh/kei/lm/k

[10] PROBLEMS IN ALBANIAN PRESS DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT COUNTRY'S TERRITORY

The right and left press is not distributed or "accepted" in all the country's territory, both in the south and in the north.

"The obstacles in the southern districts are political and created by the rear of the political forces," says Ylli Rakipi, editor-in-chief of newspaper Albania, warning of the stand of the right wing press when he said that "we will escalate the protest up to the suspension of the publication of these papers in face of the continuous silence by the government."

For the editor-in-chief of the independent daily Koha Jone, Alfred Peza, "the hindrances created by ordinary gangs do not have a set geographic extension and have been a consequence of the lack of the state."

In most of the cases, Peza does not see any political motive behind the compulsory non-distribution of the press, but nevertheless, he admits that a part of the gangs was inspired and acted in the name of one or another party group.

"The non-distribution of the independent press limits the scope of the readers, for whom only the official information remains available," stresses Fatos Baxhaku, editor-in-chief of Gazeta Shqiptare.

The situation has become extremely dangerous when such a fact has been accompanied by threats, beatings or torching of the vehicles which distribute the party and independent press.

The Press Distribution agencies have been paralyzed for nearly two months and have not been able to penetrate in various areas of the country.

"I condemn the blocking of a part of the press of all kinds by ordinary gangs, although there is a sort of political doses in the demands of the right wing press," said the publisher of the daily Koha Jone, and also Secretary of the Mass-Media Parliamentary Commission, Nikolle Lesi, adding that the Interior Ministry must secure the distribution of the press.

In the mean time, Lesi considers as a long-term solution to the problems of the press also the realisation of some changes in the Law "On the press," which must sanction the rights that are mostly violated by reporters, and have some of the articles, which he described as "repressive towards the press," lifted.

How was the precedent created?

The mostly mentioned is the political motive. The tense political situation, particularly after March during which in most of the cases not the dialogue but irresponsibility and the policy of confrontation applied by politicians existed, was reflected in the pages of the newspaper, some of which forget the sacred mission of the press for an accurate information of the reader, and eclipsed the Albanian reality.

The politization of the country's life to an extreme limit made that personal convictions, the lack of ethic and the use of the street language prevail in the articles of many reporters and were unjustly imposed on the readers. The latter, through individual acts, demanded that those papers be not distributed because they found in them the factor for irritation.

What did Albanian readers inherited from the 50 year period of the communist regime and how did the change occur ?

For fifty years Albanians had in their hands one newspaper (Zeri i Popullit) and alike. Under the conditions of democracy, the press was liberalised, many papers appeared on the market, but the psychology of one often dominated. Extreme militants forced the newspaper sellers not to sell opposition papers. The precedent created was widely applied following March and on.

While the political life experienced its our developments, which led to elections and later to the creation of a coalition government, the situation for the press changed very little.

For the Secretary of the Professional Reporters Association, Genc Tirana, "The restoration of order in the country will enable the distribution of the press all over the country, a problem, which according to him, should not be politicised". Meanwhile the Reporters' League of Albania has protested to the government and international institutions, such as OSCE and other organisations.

International institutions, sensitive to the rights and freedoms of the press, often violated in Albania, have cooperated with nongovernmental organisations in defence of human rights and freedoms which have had the problems of the Albanian press at the centre of their activity. pas/xh/lm/k

[11] POLICE COMMISSARIAT OF TEPELENE TAKES MEASURES TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER

Sources of that commissariat told ATA that roadblocks are established in three points and several automatic rifles and amounts of ammunition have been blocked by police during control of vehicles from various districts.

The same sources report that the police roadblocks have also eliminated the activity of gangs, which in the recent months have frequently looted passengers and traders. Through round o'clock service police are putting under control the situation in the city.

Last week, the Interior Ministry named to the post of the chief of the police commissariat of this district, lieutenant colonel Sadajev Kerpaci. ssh/kei/xh/k

[12] SEMINAR HELD ON GENERAL ISSUES OF CONSTITUTION

The seminar was held based on the decision of the People's Assembly regarding the preparatory process of drafting and adopting the Constitution.

Opening the seminar, speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi stressed the importance of sensitizing the public opinion and specialists of this field on the indispensability of drafting a constitution of contemporary standards, free of party influences, the spokesman of the People's Assembly said.

"As the country is at a crucial moment of reconstructing democratic institutions, the drafting of a Constitution, in which all Albanians take part through integrating processes, assumes a multiple interest", Gjinushi said.

Gjinushi also said that "We are neither hasty, nor do we have time to lose in this undertaking".

Later, the participants at this meeting, constitutional experts and deputies discussed topics regarding the development of the constitutional process in Albania and aspects of preparing and adopting the Constitution. s.sh/kei/lm/k

[13] UNDP: $ 2 MILLION FOR RURAL AREAS IN ALBANIA

This was confirmed today during a meeting held between the Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, and the resident representative of UNDP accredited to Albania.

They discussed adoption of emergency measures for a normal resumption of new education process and bilateral cooperation.

The interlocutors agreed to calling a "Round Table", also with the participation of UNESCO which has signed many agreements with the Albanian government. kled/lm/k

[14] COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR ALBANIAN ARMY IS IMPORTANT - NATO team leader

According to Katairdakis, the assistance should be bilateral and multilateral, reports the Defence Ministry spokesman.

"The Alliance is interested in Albania's development," said Katairdakis.

Brokaj considered as vital the aid and support by NATO in the conditions when a new Albanian army is being set up.

"The restructuring will start from the Defence Ministry down to the military units," said Brokaj, who added that this should be realised conformed to NATO principles.

Brokaj also stressed that "aid for the Albanian army in the bilateral aspect by partners would be better given in the context of NATO, and coordinated by NATO."

He proposed the establishment of a NATO office in the Defence Ministry in Tirane, so that the assistance be constant and efficient, and motivated the indispensability for the harmonization of bilateral assistance, the realisation of an aid and complete support in all aspects.

Albania's active participation in this clearinghouse, would, according to him, make possible the presentation of the achievements and needs for the reorganization of the Albanian army in this NATO structure through which the proper assistance may be offered. ssh/kei/xh/k

[15] GREEK COLLEGE IN TIRANA SOON, KRT PUTS OFF APPROVAL

The study presented at the latest KRT meeting of the Tirana district envisages the construction of an elementary school, eight year and secondary school with the necessary environments.

According to the urban specialist at the council of this district, Ferdinant Mino, the Greek foundation "Philekpedeftiki" has presented the documentation for the construction of a school on its own expenditures at the Sauk Village, south of the capital, near the Tirana-Elbasan national route.

The total sum of this investment goes up to $ 1 million. kled/lm/k

[16] TALKS BETWEEN ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTRY AND IMF START

The negotiations, which are conducted without the presence of the press, will continue until September the 2nd. The programme of talks and conditions of Albania's agreement with the IMF are not yet made clear, but transparence and elimination of pyramid schemes are the main problems to be discussed. kled/lm/k

[17] NANO CONVEYS MESSAGES OF COEXISTENCE BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Considering cooperation indispensable to get out of the crisis and resolve the problems, Nano proposed the creation of a group of local government representatives from Shkoder, Korce, Vlore, Peshkopi and other towns whose partner will be a governmental group, headed by deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Fino.

Speaking of the chaos created in the country and especially of the role of the mayors in the days of the crisis, Nano highlighted the dignified behavior of some them, who "did not abandon the post but bore their responsibility before their citizens."

PM Nano stressed that the program of the government attached priority to the local self-governing which must be realised through reforms reached by broad consensus, avoiding the administrative tutelage and through the decentralization in decision-making. ssh/kei/lm/xh/k

[18] POLICE COMMISSARIAT OF TEPELENE TAKES MEASURES TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER

Sources of that commissariat told ATA that roadblocks are established in three points and several automatic rifles and amounts of ammunition have been blocked by police during control of vehicles from various districts.

The same sources report that the police roadblocks have also eliminated the activity of gangs, which in the recent months have frequently looted passengers and traders. Through round o'clock service police are putting under control the situation in the city.

Last week, the Interior Ministry named to the post of the chief of the police commissariat of this district, lieutenant colonel Sadajev Kerpaci. ssh/kei/xh/k

[19] THERE ARE NO CASES OF CHOLERA IN GRAMSH - Ministry of Health

"If such a problem had really existed the Ministry of Health would have been informed in 24 hours by the Gramsh Hospital department," the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Health told ATA.

Asked about this problem Dr Kristo Pano, director of the Contagious Diseases in Tirana, says that if some team from the Ministry of Health had gone to the Gramsh town, as the papers say today, there would have necessarily been specialists from this hospital, a thing that has not happened.

The news according to which six people have been affected by the virus of cholera in village Shushice, Gramsh district, was also belied by the Health Department, the hospital of Gramsh and the inspector of health in the prefecture of Elbasan.

The director of the Gramsh district hospital, Fatos Xhangolli, told ATA correspondent that nobody of the so-called Myftari family or "two of their neighbours" have come to hospital for treatment as newspaper have reported. kei/lm/xh/k

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