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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-15Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] RESOLUTION OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH ITALY-Telephone conversation Nano-Prodi-TIRANA, OCT. 15 (ATA) - Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano expressed Tuesday the resolution of his government to continue cooperation with Italy. Premier Nano, in a telephone conversation with Italian Premier Prodi, considered Italy as one of the main partners of Albania in accomplishing the commitments taken to pull the country out of the crisis and for the Euro-Atlantic cooperation, PM's spokesman reports. Nano congratulated Premier Prodi for the solution of the political crisis in Italy, and wished that the successful reforms of the government he heads be carried through. "The continuation of his work, to the head of the Italian government, is an advantage for this long-term partnership," Nano stressed to Prodi. Expressing special pleasure that they will continue to work together, Prodi told the Albanian PM that "he is looking forward to his visit to Italy to attend the Rome conference, especially to their meeting on Thursday, a day before the conference." Prodi reconfirmed His unshakeable will and of the Italian government to continue the common work aiming at the realisation of joint projects and programs for the restoration of Albania. Premier Prodi thanked Nano for the high award accorded by the President of the Republic and which will be granted to him in Rome on Thursday. At the end of the conversation, Prodi welcomed the invitation to visit Albania and confirmed that "the visit will be realised as soon as possible." /a.sh/kei/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] GREEK PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN TIRANETIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA)- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived in Tirane this morning, at around 8.00.During the eight hour visit in Tirane the Greek Prime Minister will meet with his Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano, President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, leaders of Parliament, political parties and others. Nano and Simitis will exchange views on strengthening cooperation between the two countries. They are also expected to sign a joint statement on cooperation, an agreement to open new border crossing points as well as a memorandum on the conditions of the macro-economic aid the Greek government will accord to Albania. Simitis is accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other members of his cabinet. Present at Rinas airport to receive the Greek Prime Minister were Albanian prime Minister Fatos Nano and other members of the Albanian government. Meanwhile, after the tete-a-tete meeting between Nano and Simits, the meeting between the two delegations is being held. pas/lm Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] COLLECTION OF WEAPONS DISCUSSED IN BERATBERAT, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By I Manka: Collecting weapons and removing people from state buildings, forcefully occupied during the unrest, were in the focus of the administration council meeting of the Berat prefecture, organised on Tuesday.After the report of the prefect of Berat, Ndue Gega, regarding the work done in these directions, the participants in the meeting addressed questions to the Interior Minister, Neritan Ceka, State Secretary in the Interior Ministry Ndre Legisi and to the State Secretary for Local Government, Lush Perpali, present in the meeting. In the meeting was said that in Skrapar have been collected so far only 600 weapons out of 9000 that were looted, and the police bodies do not have the necessary means to gather weapons even in the near villages. State Secretary Legisi repeated the idea of gathering weapons as condition to restore order and stability. Legisi considered the policy for the registration of weapons, "policy of destabilisation." Minister Ceka proposed the establishment of the commission for the collection of weapons. He said that "the weapons should be collected for two reasons: first because they were looted from the state depots and belong to the army, and secondly because their presence in people is always source of conflicts." /s.sh/kei/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, OCT. 15 (ATA) - On the first page, Zeri i Popullit reports "NATO will help Albania," regarding a letter that the NATO Secretary General, Havier Solana, sent to Albania's PM Fatos Nano. The paper carries on the first page an information from the press office of SP, which says that the president of VEFA, Vehbi Alimucaj, did not go to the meeting that he himself requested to SP Secretary General Pandeli Majko. "New impulse in the Tirana-Athens relations," reports the paper regarding the visit that Greek Premier Simitis will pay Wednesday in Albania. On the second page, under the title "For a party in continuous reformation," the paper publishes an interview with the organisation secretary of SP, Petro Koci. Under the headline "Premier Nano, initiator of an event in the Albanian politics, the paper carries the articles "In Rome together with the opposition," and "Turning point." "The official invitation that Premier Nano made to Sali Berisha to take part in the conference of Rome in October 17, represents a political movement on time," reports the paper. Among the other topics we quote "15 000 drug addicts only in Tirana." With regard to smuggling the paper reports on the seventh page that the criminal police of Patos have blocked 900 000 USD of cigarettes L&M. "Bode, 'the gangster' of customs," reports the paper regarding the Minister of Finances, Ridvan Bode.Rilindja Demokratike quotes on the first page the message of the Albanian opposition addressed to the Donors's Conference in Rome: Berisha: Help Albania," writes the paper. With regard to this topic the paper covers on the third page a news conference of DP leader Berisha in several articles, among which we quote "The opposition will not become the facade of Nano," "Berisha takes off the gloves to the government," "Ignoring reality revives the nationalisms." Among the titles of the second page we quote "The Democratic Party ready to take up power again," "The state stifles the local government," and "Gjinushi meets his victims in South of the country." "The capital swept by unemployment," reports the paper on the fifth page, under the headline "One third of the Albanians pay the pockets of Albanian officials. Albania, the country where the labour power is the cheapest." Republika entitles the editorial "The ministers of Nano in conflict with the institutions." "Being out of their profiles, the ministers go beyond their competencies," reports the paper. On the third page Republika covers the invitation that Premier Nano made to Berisha to go together to Rome, as well as the replies exchanged on this occasion between the Council of Ministers's office and Berisha. On the fourth page the paper carries an interview with the Republican leader Godo, under the title "It is high time for all of us to come to terms." "The move of Nano and Berisha goes to the positive sense," the paper cites Godo as saying. On the ninth page the paper reports that from the expertise it comes out that the documents of VEFA are not complete. "Greece cannot be the tutor of Albania," and "The Greek Archbishop severely attacks Albania," reports the paper on the heading "Opinions." Koha Jone entitles its editorial: "Opposition changes attitude". Within few days, first with the telephone conversation in which he begged pardon to the arch-mayor of Tirane, Brojka, and now with the invitation extended to opposition leader Berisha to join the government delegation to Rome, Prime Minister Fatos Nano issues two meaningful signals of tolerance which should characterise the Albanian policy in the future," the paper says. Regarding this topic the paper carries the article "Berisha hails the Nano government", under the headline: "Ex-President confirms participation in the government delegation". The paper also says that "Gjinushi risks congress of the Democratic Alliance", under the subtitle:"Non-recongnition of the liberal democrats as a parliamentary group deprives the party of the centre of its financing. As regards the visit of Greek Prime Minister in Tirane, the paper says that:"Simitis and the serial of promises". It says that the patriotic association "Çameria" has asked to hold a peaceful rally near the Tirane centre today but police have not allowed it, because the request has been delayed. The paper says that a toxic substance was thrown in a classroom of "Sami Frasheri" secondary school in Tirane yesterday. "Americans sign with VEFA" says Albania under the headline:"Giant corporation 'REDD' will exploit the bitumen of the Albanian company". The paper carries on the third page the note: "Nano, the best alternative inside the SP". On the same page the paper cites DP leader Berisha, addressing Prime Minister Nano, as saying: "Thank you, but no facade". The paper reports that the SDP has requested new local government elections, after March 1998. Under the title "Greek class instead of priests", the paper says that Greek President Stephanopoulos has asked Albanian President Meidani in Strasbourg to open Greek schools all over the territory of Albania. Rilindja reports that negotiations of Albanian education in Kosove will continue this week. "This is confirmed by the Albanian and Serb sides as well as by the mediators of the "St Exhidio", the paper says. The paper reports that the Conference of the European committees of the new socialists' International Union, which met in Budapest three days ago, has approved a resolution on Kosova, asking the implementation of the agreement on education signed one year ago between Serb President Milosevic and that of Kosova, Rugova. "The Greek Prime Minister offers assistance and cooperation" the paper says on the first page. Dita reports today on details of the Albanian opposition going to the Rome meeting. "Gjinushi in Vlore accuses Berisha of usuries" the paper says. On the four page it cites speaker of parliament Gjinushi as saying at a meeting in Gjirokaster with the SDP branch that the power"is not a cake, but a tree of fruits". "Elbasani is the poorest city in the republic" the paper says on its 15th page. Shekulli reports that the "Director general of the customs police has been accused of releasing the chief of the gang of the cigarette mafia". "The Greek Prime Minister visits Tirane today", says that paper on its first page. The paper carries a pronouncement of the Republican leader, Godo, who requests the unification of the whole Albanian right wing spectrum. On the same page the paper reports that the distribution of funds by speaker of parliament Gjinushi has benefited only the SP, DP and SDP groups. Gazeta Shqiptare says that: "One billion leks disappear" regarding the contraband of cigarettes. "Former PLA senior officials between guilt and pardon", is the editorial of the paper today. "The Tragedy of the Army: This is how Vlore began", the paper says on the 4th page. The paper also carries an article regarding the alarm in the Italian Senate regarding the 800 cubic metres of arsenic found in the Azotic Fertilizers plant of Fier. pas/mt/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] NANO, SIMITIS SHARE SAME VIEWS ON RESOLVING PROBLEMS-From the meeting of Greek Prime Minister with Albanian counterpartTIRANE, OCT.15 (ATA)- By E. Allushi, Albanian and Greek Prime Ministers Fatos Nano and Costas Simitis stated after a meeting held in Tirane on Wednesday they had shared the same views and found joint solutions on issues preoccupying the two neighbouring countries. "There is a basis on which we can resolve any problem that has to do with both countries", considered the two prime ministers relying on the idea that "the development of the Balkan region favours all the countries in this region". Nano made clear that the priority of the Albanian government is partnership, which will help create institutions of European Democratic standards in Albania. "We will build a civic society which offers its citizens all possibilities to get schooling, to work and secure the welfare of their families, to exercise religious freedoms, like in all the the United Europe', said Nano also referring to the Greek minority education in Albania. Greek Prime Minister Simitis stressed that "the contradictions characterising the region in the past are now over". The problems discussed between the two included that of Albanian emigrants in Greece. Simitis said that the issue of the Greek minority and its schooling was also a topic of discussion. Cooperation in many fields, including public order, defence and other issues were on the agenda. "But mostly we treated issues of economic cooperation," said Simitis. "Albania's development is for the good of Greece and better cooperation with Greece is in favour of Albania," said Simitis. During the eight-hour meeting in Tirane Simitis will meet the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, leaders of parliament and political parties and others. In his visit to Albania Simitis is accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other members of his cabinet. pas/lm Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] GREEK MINISTER OF ORDER PRAISES ALBANIAN POLICE ACHIEVEMENTSTIRANA, OCT. 15 (ATA) - The Greek Minister of Public Order, Jorgos Romeros, who is member of the Greek government delegation, which is paying an official visit in Tirana on Wednesday, appreciated the achievements of the Albanian police recently.In the meeting that Romeros had with Albania's Interior Minister Neritan Ceka and the State Secretary in this Ministry Ndre Legisi said that "at the time of your governing, you have made superhuman efforts to restore order and the results have been excellent." In the context of the concrete measures taken to coordinate work in the fight against crime, the meeting decided that a meeting be held on October 24th in Ioannina, where attending will also be all the leaders of police commissariats in the neighbouring districts with Greece. Also, according to the spokesman, it was decided that within the first two weeks of November of this year, a seminar be held in Athens with specialists of the Albanian anti-drug police. The meeting also agreed on the meeting of working groups, which are engaged for the accord of cooperation to be signed on the occasion of the visit of Albania's Interior Minister Neritan Ceka in Greece. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] LOCAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS MORE DECENTRALISATION - news conferenceTIRANA, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By P Shuteriqi: The leaders of the National Association of Albanian Mayors requested Wednesday in a news conference, organised in Tirana, that the local government be more independent, aiming at self-governing and has more powers in managing the funds of taxes and the budget. They said that this would be a concrete step of separation of powers and decentralisation of governing.In the news conference, the chairman of this non government organization, Albert Brojka, who is also the mayor of Tirana, said that he considers "satisfactory and sufficient" the reaction of Premier Nano, who condemned the violent act against the mayor of Fushe-Arrez, Mark Nikolli. The association of mayors strongly condemned the dismissal of Nikolli from a working meeting between Premier Fatos Nano and mayors, held in the Palace of Congresses on October 2. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] GREECE, PARTNER OF PRIORITY FOR ALBANIA - Simitis-NanoTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: "Greece is a partner of priority in the efforts of Albania for its Euro-Atlantic integration," declared Prime Minister Fatos Nano to his Greek counterpart, Costas Simitis over a tete-a-tete meeting and in the official meeting of the two delegations."This meeting opens a new page in the relations between the two countries," said Nano, adding that new political conditions have now been created to raise the relations of cooperation to a higher level." Nano confirmed the desire of the Albanian government to make the relations between the two neighbouring countries "be a positive example among civilized countries." An important place in the discussion of the Albanian PM with his Greek counterpart took the issue of Albanian emigration in Greece. "The objective of the Albanian Government is that Albanians do not leave their country as illegal emigrants but conditions be created for them to work in Greece as a factor of friendship ad for the consolidation of the relations between the two countries," Nano underlined. Speaking of the stance of the Albanian Government for the question of the Greek minority in Albania, Nano stressed the readiness to create for them "all the possibilities to be educated in their national language, to move freely wherever it is good for them." pas/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] SIMITIS GUARANTEED LEGALIZATION OF ALBANIANS IN GREECE - Albanian Deputy Parliament SpeakerTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: "I received guarantees from Prime Minister Simitis that the Greek Government will find an appropriate solution to the legalization of Albanian emigrants in Greece," Namik Dokle, deputy Parliament Speaker declared Wednesday following a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis.Dokle said that he appreciated in the meeting a decision of the Greek Government adopted on September 5, 1997 for the legalization of Albanian emigrants. "There are difficulties for the Greek Government in this direction," Dokle said, "but Albanian emigrants too have their needs and wills. It is good that both sides' requests be met." "I spoke to the Greek PM about the appreciation of the Albanian Parliament and institutions for good relations with Greece," said Dokle, "the determination to create new space for the Greek minority to engage in the political, social, economic life of the country, serving as a bridge for friendship and the normal relations between the two countries, thus overcoming the small and unimportant hindrances or misunderstandings noted in the past." "PM Simitis highlighted the determination of the Albanian Government and voiced his government's will to take further steps in the development of these relations. The Greek PM said that Albania, Greece and other Balkan countries must accelerate rates to integrate in the Euro-Atlantic structures." Also attending the meeting was the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission, Sabri Godo. pas/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] I MEET YOU AS FORMER PRESIDENT OF ALBANIA - SimitisTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: The first sentence that Greek Prime Minister Simitis addressed Albanian DP leader Sali Berisha, with in today's meeting, was: "Besides the tradition urging a meeting with the ex-president of the Republic, I also came to meet you to clear me up of what happened in Albania.""You must know things better," said the Greek PM, "since you have been in the lead of the state for six years in succession." One of the topics of the talk were the collapsed pyramid investment schemes in Albania which sparkled people's protests against the president. While coming out of the Greek Ambassador's seat together with the other DP leader, Genc Pollo, Sali Berisha said to ATA: "It was a very sincere, open and friendly meeting." xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] NO CONTRADICTIONS EXIST WITH GREECE - HRUP leaderTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: Leader of the Human Rights Union party (HRUP) Vasil Melo told on Wednesday the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis that no contradictions exist now between Albania and Greece."There are no contradictions because they have not existed in reality, but they were deliberate, invented, because we have common interests and what the Greek minority is asking for does not represent any problem," Melo said. He expressed to Simitis the satisfaction that the relations are well and said that HRUP has tried to improve them. "The Greek minority has greater space to win its legal rights in this improvement," Melo said. It is the first time since its creation that the HRUP, which represents the interests of the Greek minority but also of other minorities, takes part in the government. "Improvements will be gradually and the rights will be fulfilled," Melo said. kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEIDANI MEETS WITH GREEK PRIME MINISTER SIMITISTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - Albania's President Rexhep Meidani today met with the Greek Government delegation led by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.Highlighting the role of Greece as member of the European Union and NATO and as a Balkan country with a more developed economy, President Meidani said that the Greek role is very important in the creation of a positive climate for the development of a regional cooperation so that all together help give a European character to the Balkan policies. Mr Meidani said that concrete steps in this direction would be the positive developments for which Albania is rather interested, along with the Albanian issue and especially the question of Kosova. President Meidani mentioned some fields of cooperation such as that of economic assistance, aid in the fields of public order and defence, in which Greece is committed to increase its contribution to the recovery of the Albanian society and economy. The President placed a special stress on the need for the legalization of Albanian emigrants and procedural facilities in the granting of visas for various categories of people who because of their profession and due to the need for communication and exchanges must have no difficulty in their free movement. To this communication would also serve the opening of three new border points, said President Meidani. Mr Meidani confirmed once more the will of the Albanian authorities that the treatment for minorities be fully conformed to the internationally recognized standards, whereas the ratification of the Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation by respective parliaments, was considered by Mr Meidani as a question to be realised soon. The Greek PM qualified as indisputable the will for friendship and cooperation. "We live in a region in which the free movement of people and exchanges have traditionally been a reality and only after the Second World War there were technical factors which made peoples feel alien to one another." Mr Simitis stressed that "joint political elements of the stand towards the European Union urge us for a bilateral fruitful cooperation." He confirmed the commitment of his country to assist Albania's integration in the EU and NATO and for an economic aid at favourable conditions. The meeting, which was also attended by foreign ministers of Albania and Greece, respectively Milo and Pangallos, confirmed the official visit of President Meidani to Greece in March next year. pas/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE FOR COORDINATION OF ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (ACCAPP) INAUGURATED IN TIRANETIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: Albania too will have its Administrative Centre for Coordination of Assistance and Public Participation (ACCAPP) which will create facilities for the preparation of the Albanian Constitution.Attending the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday were the Minister of State for the legislative Reform and the Relations with the Parliament, Arben Imami and the charge d'affaires of the OSCE Representation in Albania, Ray Snider. ACCAPP will be committed to the organization and coordination of the participation of the local public and international organizations in the process for the compilation of the Albanian constitution. The Centre will cooperate with the Albanians and the international community to create the conditions for technical aid, accumulation and distribution of information and encouragement of the initiatives for the education of the population. According to OSCE sources, ACCAPP does not represent the interests of any political force or government. kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] ALBANIAN, GREEK PMs INAUGURATE SUBSIDIARY OF GREEK NATIONAL BANKTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By M. Noti - The Greek prime minister Costas Simitis cut on Wednesday the ribbons inaugurating the Albanian subsidiary of the Greek National Bank at the presence of the Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano.This bank has started operation on November 25 and aims at supporting the activity of the Greek businessmen in Albania and the money transfer of Albanian refugees in Greece. Theodoros Karatzas, the Governor of the Greek National Bank, said that his message is more support for the Greek businessmen, who are willing to start businesses in Albania. During his Albania visit, he is accompanied by businessmen representing major sectors of the Greek economy who are willing to start an activity in Albania. Karatzas said "Greece aims at establishing long-term economic cooperation with Albania through a peace and development prospective." kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT APPRECIATED AID OF NATIONAL BANK OF GREECETIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - Albanian President Rexhep Meidani on Wednesday appreciated in a meeting with the governor of the National Bank of Greece Theodhoros Karaxhas the assistance of that bank for the economic development of Albania and in the Greek exchanges and investments in this country. Mr Meidani encouraged the assistance of that bank in the process of the reform and the privatization of the banking system in Albania, Albanian President's press and information office reports.Governor Karaxhas confirmed the desire of many Greek investors to be present in the economic prospects of Albania. He voiced the readiness for the extension of his Bank with two other affiliates, one in the north and another in the south of Albania, besides that in Tirane. "Your country is preparing for Europe, and in this context the Tirana branch of the Bank of Greece will support Albania in all the stages of development," said the Greek banker. kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] GREECE OFFERS A CREDIT WORTH $80 MILLION TO ALBANIATIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By N. Mano: Greece promised on Wednesday to grant Albania a soft credit worth 20 billion drachmas or $80 million dollars.This credit is sanctioned by an agreement signed on Wednesday midday in Tirana by the Albanian minister for Development and Economic Cooperation Ermelinda Meksi and the deputy minister of National Economy of Greece Aleksander Baltas. The agreement contains a protocol on the Greek soft credit worth 20 billion drachmas with a 25-year maturity period and 3 to 5 percent interest per year. Minister Meksi said to ATA "this credit will be used to support the deficit of balance of payment worth 3 billion drachmas, social infrastructure 5 billion drachmas, housing projects 5 billion drachmas and other 5 billion to develop private business in Albania. kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] TRIAL ON LAST COMMUNIST PRESIDENT ADJOURNEDTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - The penal decided on Wednesday to adjourn the trial against last communist president of Albania and three other senior officials accused of genocide and crimes against humanity due to the absence of a court member.The indictment said that former president Ramiz Alia, 72, two former Interior ministers Simon Stefani and Hekuran Isai and former general chief of Investigation office Qemal Lame, had ordered killing in the border and internal exile for those who tried to flee the country. Prosecutor of the case Shkelqim Cani asked on Tuesday for dropping the accusation of genocide and crimes against humanity based on the previous decision of the Supreme Court, which annulled the accusation against 32 former communist leaders because the then law did not consider such actions as crimes. VÇ/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] GREECE TO ASSIST ALBANIA IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH - SimitisTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Th Thanasi: Greek Prime Ministers Wednesday said that Greece will help the Albanian people in the sector of health."We have many spaces to enable mutual cooperation to the benefit of our two peoples," declared Greek PM Costas Simitis in the inauguration ceremony of the out patient clinic in the Central Military Hospital in Tirane, which was also attended by Albanian Minister of Defence, Sabit Brokaj. The reconstruction of the clinic in Tirana was made possible by an investment of the Greek aviation and marine and was realised by the Greek firm, Sarandaopulos. Besides 420 million drachmas needed for the reconstruction of the clinic building, some 220 million drachmas will also be funded for its equipment. Simitis voiced the conviction that the clinic would be the "first step for a closer cooperation in the medical field." ssh/kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] GREEK PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP JANULATOSTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Driola Kaloshi: Greek prime minister Costas Simitis, who is on an official visit to Albania, met on Wednesday midday the leader of the Orthodox Church of Albania, Archbishop Anastas Janulatos."The Orthodox Church, for about six years, has revived in Albanians the love and belief in God, belief which had been negated for 50 years. It is the devoted work of the Orthodox clergy, who helped construct and reconstruct almost all the Orthodox churches destroyed in Albania," Archbishop Janulatos said. This church has given a great spiritual and material help in Albania in the last years. Prime minister Simitis praised the work of the Orthodox Church for the sake of ties and help rendered to the Albanian people. kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] JUSTICE MINISTER URGES VERIFICATION OF FIGURES FOR DP MEMBERSTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Arban Hasani: Minister of Justice Thimio Kondi has officially asked the head of the Commission on the Scrutiny of figures, Nazif Bezhani, to verify the figure of members of the Albanian Democratic party (DP) leadership.Since a group of DP members was not convinced of the decisions of the Commission on Scrutiny of Figures for officials and last elections, he urged Kondi to clarify finally "the purity" of the DP present leaders. Kondi, verifying that there is no similar request by the DP leadership, was based on the one presented by ordinary members of the DP to ask Bezhani verify the purity of the present leaders of the biggest opposition party in conformity with the article 12 of the law 8043. The debate on the issue has started since Arben Mece, leader of the fraction created inside the party said that former president of Albania Sali Berisha has been implicated in former State Sigurimi and the commission functioning under his rule, has not verified his figure. Berisha is now a member of the DP leadership. The commission has been created times before the contested elections of May 26, 1996 with the insistence of DP. Many Albanian politicians have been barred by the commission to present the candidacy for deputies of parliament in 1996 and 1997. So far, it is not known whether former president Berisha, present member of the DP leadership, has faced the commission. Minister Kondi orders him to face the commission. ssh/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] ALBANIA TO DETERMINE POVERTY LEVEL - ConferenceTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - Albania must make a national observation on the incomes and expenditures of the family by better determining the extension of poverty, the classification of the poor so that a policy and a program of public assistance be worked out, said participants in a conference on Wednesday held by UNDP on occasion of the day of the uprooting of poverty."The lack national data which throw light on the Albanian families make the analysis of poverty difficult," said participants in the conference. According to them, the level of poverty in rural areas is lower than in urban areas, in coastal zones it is lower than in many cities while in the north, northeast areas the level of poverty is much lower. "Birth rate, infantile mortality and malnutrition level in infants and children are the highest," said one of the organizers of the conference. ksh/kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[22] ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS IN GREECE TO BE LEGALISED SOON - premieTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: The Greek Prime minister promised on Wednesday during a one-day visit to Albania that the legalization of the Albanian emigrants in Greece will be done soon.The Greek government decided on September 5 this year that the legalization of the Albanian emigrants ends in October next year. Albania's prime minister Fatos Nano asked his Greek counterpart Simitis to advance the deadline, an adviser for the prime minister said to ATA. "The Greek side confirmed its predisposition to advance the legalization for a possible great number of Albanians in Greece in the framework of regulating the status of the foreign workers in its territory considering its international obligations," both prime ministers said in a join statement. Nano asked his Greek counterpart to create more facilities for the Albanian emigrants to deposit their savings in the Greek banks. Simitis also agreed on this issue. ssh/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[23] KOSOVA - AN ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE - SimitisTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: Greece's Prime minister Costas Simitis said on Wednesday in Tirana that Kosova is one of the problems in the Balkans that should be resolved through dialogue."A summit of prime ministers or heads of states of the Southeastern Europe scheduled in Crete at the beginning of November will discuss how can peace and stability exist for a long time in the region," the Greek prime minister told a press conference winding up his one-day visit to Albania. He added that balanced solutions should be found for the Kosova issue. "Kosova shall be a substantial part of bilateral and multilateral initiatives to calm the relations between Balkan neighbours," the Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano said. Simitis, referring to the education of the minority children in Albania said "we discussed with Nano possible ways to educate all the Greek children all over the territory of Albania." He added that they did not discuss religious issues, "because they are under the responsibility and initiative of the Albanian church." ssh/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[24] ALBANIA AND GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT FOR OPENING OF THREE BORDER CROSSINGSTIRANE, OCT. 15 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: Albania and Greece signed an agreement for the establishment of three new border crossings between the two countries on Wednesday in Tirane."There are no questions of border, but only some technical issues regarding the border line and signs," Greek PM Costas Simitis said in a news conference at the end of his one-day-visit to Albania. The agreement was signed by Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo and his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangallos. Mr Simitis considered his visit to Albania as stationary and which will open way to other successes." After this visit, many bilateral exchanges and meetings are expected. The conference confirmed the program for the opening in the coming months of a Greek Consulate in Korce. "My visit was a message of friendship for the Albanian people and support for their efforts to reconstruct the country. Here I found the same great message of friendship," said Mr Simitis. ssh/kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[25] COOPERATION OF ALBANIAN AND GREEK ARMY - A NECESSITY - ministerTIRANA, OCT 15 (ATA) - By Th.Thanasi: The Greek deputy minister of Defence Dimitrios Apostolakis said on Wednesday in Tirana that the cooperation between the Albanian and Greek army is a necessity for both countries and especially for the stability in the region."We are on the good track and the cooperation between the two armies will be wide and fruitful," Apostolakis said in a meeting with Albania's Minister of Defence Sabit Brokaj. The meeting was focused on bilateral relations, promotion of cooperation in the field of defence, assistance which Greece has and is rendering and the future of these relations. "Greece's assistance is a factor, which has increasingly influenced in stabilising the situation in the army and the Albanian life, which every military personnel is aware of," Brokaj said. Apostolakis was a member of the Greek senior government delegation headed by prime minister Costas Simitis who was on a one-day visit to Albania on Wednesday. kei/ak/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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