Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-25

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01]

[02] HUNGER STRIKE OF FOUR DP DEPUTIES PARALYSES LIFE AROUND RTSH

[03] PHARE PROGRAM TO ACCORD 10 MILLION ECU TO ALBANIA

[04] LOCAL TIME IN ALBANIA TO BE CHANGED

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] BURIAL CEREMONY FOR ARCH BISHOP FRANO ILIA HELD

[07] WE WILL STOP STRIKING WHEN PARTIES SIGN IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENT ARBNORI - DP strikers

[08] PRESIDENT MEIDANI MEETS DELEGATION OF PDP IN FYROM

[09] PATRIOTS FROM ALBANIA EXECUTED IN PRISHTINE NAZI-FASCIST CAMP COMMEMORATED

[10] WORLD BANK ADVANCES ITS PROJECTS IN ALBANIA

[01]

Krenar Xhavara is one of the survivors, who lost his wife and daughter in the tragedy while his brother lost the wife and his three children.

"It was a very important action, which encouraged us. I asked the president to create a government commission to deal with our case. I told him that the Italians have said that they have found 52 corpses. I urged him that the Albanian government should make a note of protest to ask for other corpses. I asked him that an Albanian doctor should be present while the identification of corpses is underway," Xhavara said. kei/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] HUNGER STRIKE OF FOUR DP DEPUTIES PARALYSES LIFE AROUND RTSH

"We were forced to take these measures in support of the law for the protection of the institutions of special importance, such as the Albanian Radio and Television, due to the unexpected decision of four DP deputies in choosing this location for the hunger strike," said the director of Tirana Police Directorate, Pashk Tusha.

To bar the way to any abuse and to secure the life of the strikers Azem Hajdari, Ylli Vejsiu, Vili Minarolli and Shaban Memia, the movement of vehicles and pedestrians is interrupted and all consular operations in the Italian Embassy are suspended, the same sources added.

The strikers who went on strike in a "Benz" car on Thursday night, demanded on Friday a tent or renting any of the nearby kiosks.

The rented "Benz" of the hunger strike was replaced by the "Benz" of DP head Sali Berisha, who entered violently in the police roadblock to shelter the strikers.

According to police confessions, the family members of the strikers were allowed to meet and give the necessary vital materials to them. The police also explain that they will allow any deputy, journalist or doctor, authorized to closely follow the health situation of the strikers. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] PHARE PROGRAM TO ACCORD 10 MILLION ECU TO ALBANIA

Some 7.2 million Ecu will be used to rehabilitate Kakavija-Gjirokastra road, 2.4 million Ecu to construct new border points in Konispol and Tre Urat, and 0.4 million to administer these projects.

The meeting also discussed the creation of areas for free cooperation in border regions.

The Albanian delegation is headed by the minister of Economic Cooperation Ermelinda Meksi, who met the Greek minister of National Economy Janos Papaantoniu and the minister of Development, Trade and Tourism Vaso Papandreu. ssh/kei/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] LOCAL TIME IN ALBANIA TO BE CHANGED

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Under the headline "Cordon of kallashnikovs around RTSH," Rilindja Demokratike writes "The state surrenders the deputies." Under this title, the paper widely covers the hunger strike of four DP deputies "against the information darkness of RTSH for their protests." With regard to the security measures of police around RTSH, as an object of special importance, the paper carries a statement of DP, under the title "The police isolate the strikers." Covering the interpellation of Defence Minister in Parliament, the paper writes "The thesis that 'the destruction of the Albanian army has started since 1992,' shows that the current state power is turning down the assistance of NATO, Pentagon and other friendly countries for the modernisation and democratisation of the Albanian army."

Republika paper carries the editorial "Brussels encourages the strikers," which says that the police cordon against four DP deputies in hunger strike, proves that this strike is not a spontaneous act, but provoked by the power of socialists. With regard to the table of parliamentary parties, convened by the Republican chairman Sabri Godo, the paper reports "The DAP members, the only who boycotted the table." The paper writes that the Italian police have taken the victims' relatives hostage for three hours. The paper quotes for this problem the Republican chairman Godo "The state should have made much more for the 'Otranto question'."

Koha Jone covers the hunger strike of four DP deputies and quotes Azem Hajdari as saying "They can take the vehicle only if they pass on our bodies," regarding the possibility that the police may take the vehicle where they have staged the strike. Under the headline "The Godo table, Berisha deviates the topic of discussions," the paper reports "Joint visit of DP strikers." In the heading "Actuality," the paper reports "17 000 angels abandon the school benches," on a joint report of UNICEF and Ministry of Education. Among the economic topics, the paper reports "KESH (Albanian Corporation of Energetic) is risked by non payments of electric energy."

Rilindja covers the news conference of the head of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova under the title "Serbian violence resembles that of 1945 when 55 thousand Albanians were killed." As regards the Kosova visit of the U.N. special envoy for the Human Rights in former Yugoslavia Elisabeth Rehn the paper says "Violation of human rights is an international issue."

Albania carries the editorial "Opposition cordoned off," and reports "Police: 'we will drag the deputies along'". Under the headline "120 participants in the DP rally arrested. Masked police maltreat deputies of hunger strike," the paper says. "Police maltreat peaceful marchers." The paper carries the article "This is the one who killed police in Vlora." In the actuality column the paper reports "Finances plunder VEFA's assets."

Shekulli reports "Pyramid schemes, which financed parties under investigation." The paper questions "Which is the party or the leader that received aid or sponsoring by pyramid schemes?" It says "DP leaders went on fasting." In the social column the paper says "New level of poverty."

Under the headline "Party round table failed again. They convened on constitution and discussed where to lodge the strikers", the newspaper Dita reports in an article entitled 'SP and DP quarrel about a tent." The paper quotes former president Berisha saying to Socialist Secretary General Pandeli Majko "I will come to Vlora for the funerals if you ask me pardon publicly." Covering the visit of the Interior minister Neritan Ceka in Greece, the paper reports that he will meet with his counterpart Romeo on Saturday.

Gazeta Shqiptare says "Hunger (strike), Majko next to Berisha," referring to a meeting of Majko with his political opponents, the DP deputies who went on hunger strike in front of the Radio Television building. It quotes the Speaker Skender Gjinushi as saying "this is not a strike but an attempt for coup d'etat." kei/mt/ak/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] BURIAL CEREMONY FOR ARCH BISHOP FRANO ILIA HELD

Taking part in the ceremony were the Minister of State, Kastriot Islami, the Minister of Finances, Arben Malaj, political adviser of the President, Prec Zogaj, SP Secretary General, Pandeli Majko, DP chairman Sali Berisha, representatives of three religious communities and other people.

The Mass on the occasion was conducted by My Lord Rrok Mirdita.

Speaking of the life of Monsignor Frano Ilia, the assistant bishop of Shkoder, Zef Simoni said that the "Figure of Ilia takes a special place regarding the spread of Christianity in Albania."

Then a telegram from President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, sent on the occasion, was read. It said among others that "The death of Monsignor Frano Ilia is a loss not only for the Albanian Catholic community, but also for all the people."

The coffin with the body of Monsignor Frano Ilia was buried in the crypt of the city Cathedral Church. ssh/kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] WE WILL STOP STRIKING WHEN PARTIES SIGN IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENT ARBNORI - DP strikers

The health state of the four deputies of the Democratic Party who are staging a hunger strike since Tuesday evening, was still good until Saturday, except for Vili Minarolli, who suffers from a grave chronic disease.

The four deputies, Minarolli, Hajdari, Vejsiu and Memia started the hunger strike, because, they say, Albanian Radio and Television were not implementing the Arbnori amendment according to which the RTV must cover in one of its news hours the activities of the political opposition in one third of the airing of the activities of the ruling parties.

The Amendment was approved by the parliament following a number of negotiations and with the mediation of the President of the Republic, at the time when DP deputy Pjeter Arbnori was staging a hunger strike for some days.

During the period when DP chairman, former President Sali Berisha was in power, the Television did rarely air the activity of the opposition parties, and only as subject of attacks and direct offences by the state power or its press. ake/kei/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PRESIDENT MEIDANI MEETS DELEGATION OF PDP IN FYROM

Views were exchanged in the meeting on the Albanian issue in the region and the inter-ethnic relations in FYROM, the president's press and information office reports.

The issue of the Tetove University was considered an important step for the creation, according to Meidani "of mutual trust between the Macedonians and Albanians because only the civil state of equal citizens and not the national state is the best way to show democracy and integration".

"We should create in the region a climate in which the issue and the right to education in the framework of a liberal concept should be regarded by the authorities as an element in which one can intervene only for financial effects and equivalence of diplomas," Meidani said.

The meeting concluded that Albanian integration in state administration and civic society to optimal relations serves the creation of mutual loyalty and share of responsibilities for the good proceeding of works, which would lead to the further normalisation of the domestic situation.

Haliti considered the meeting of FYROM's major parties with president Gligorov an initial and promising step for the future.

Meidani made known several of the issues he had discussed in his latest visits to Strasbourg and Italy in which the Albanian issue, particularly that of Kosova, were of special interest.

"There are a series of programmes in which we enjoy the support of the international community such as that of the eighth corridor, Durres- Shkup-Sofia, as well as the Kakavije-Hani i Hotit which will enable communication and exchanges and which, besides the economic aspect, have great regional integrating values".

Meidani considered as much positive the construction of a shorter corridor Shengjin-Prizren for economic, political and social emancipation of the area it traverses.

The meeting stressed the need for all the Albanian political forces to give up isolationist and conflictual positions as this would help resolve the Albanian problems in the region. a.ke/pas/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PATRIOTS FROM ALBANIA EXECUTED IN PRISHTINE NAZI-FASCIST CAMP COMMEMORATED

The Serb regime has been trying to wipe out traces of memory in the execution place, near the Prishtine university compound.

The monument of the Albanians exiled and executed by the fascists has been ruined and a Serb monument devoted to Vuk Karadzic has been raised in its stead.

A plate, on the edge of the main street, which pointed to the nearby monument of the Albanian patriots was taken away as well.

However, something has remained on their collective grave from the monuments and commemoration signs raised by the Kosova Albania in respect for their brothers from Albania. b.j/ag/pas/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] WORLD BANK ADVANCES ITS PROJECTS IN ALBANIA

It is more than $70 million the value of new projects that the WB pledged at the Donors Conference, to carry out in Albania for the next 12 months. Here are included the credit for state budget worth $25 million, the project for technical assistance to improve banking sector worth $5 million, around $17 million for a project in health sector, other $17 million for Durres port rehabilitation and $10 million for setting up an agency to guarantee foreign investments in Albania.

Elbirt also said that "the implementation of new projects will go hand in hand with the release of remaining funds from the previous projects." The unreleased fund is worth $130 million, from the total amount of $272 million that the WB had committed in Albania during 1992-96 period.

While in relation to the $100 million that the Donors Conference approved for Albania to assist the balance sheet payment, Elbirt said:"this fund is forecasted to reach Albania in the next six months."

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

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