Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-11-03

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] CRETE SUMMIT STARTS

[02] NANO, SIMITIS SPEAK OF EXCELLENT RELATIONS

[03] SOME 91 ALBANIANS WITHOUT DOCUMENTS RETURN FROM ITALY

[04] THERE CAN BE NO GOOD COOPERATION WITH THE WEST WITHOUT COOPERATION AMONG BALKAN STATES

[05] FATOS NANO SEEMS UNLIKELY TO MEET MILOSEVIC

[06] MEETING NANO-MILOSEVIC EXPECTED TO BE HELD

[07] ALBANIA'S PM IN SUMMIT: I HAVE THREE CONCRETE PROPOSALS FOR BALKANS PEOPLE

[08] ARE THERE POLITICAL TENSIONS IN CRETE?

[09] 1997 - SIX MILLION ECU FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

[10] ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT GERMANY

[11] SDP HEAD FOR SKRAPAR KILLED

[12] SPEECH OF ALBANIA'S PM IN SUMMIT OF CRETE

[13] ALBANIA'S PM MEETS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT

[01] CRETE SUMMIT STARTS

Among the main topics of the draft resolution, which is expected to be signed by the participants, includes: - transformation of the Balkans into a region of peace, stability and prosperity; - European orientation of the Balkan countries and their observation of the charters of the U.N. and Paris and the Final Act of Helsinki; - Solution through peaceful means of the disagreements among Balkan states; - Institutionalization of the all- sided cooperation.

Of extraordinary interests are expected Nano-Milocevic and Simitis- Yilmaz meetings. Although none expects anything impressive from the first Albanian-Yugoslav summit after 50 years, the meeting is considered as a step which would serve to open the road of dialogue between the two sides.

According to sources of the Albanian delegation, nothing was yet determined until late hours of November 2 with regard to the meeting of Albanian PM with Slobodan Milosevic.

"There is no reason for hurry," said Albanian PM when asked whether he would meet with Milosevic on Sunday or on Monday. The Yugoslav President skipped a similar question declaring only that he was happy to be in Crete. kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] NANO, SIMITIS SPEAK OF EXCELLENT RELATIONS

Both prime ministers had a very friendly tete-a-tete talk which lasted for around 20 minutes. They once again referred to the issues discussed in Tirane two days ago.

In a brief statement after the meeting they evaluated the role of the activities like the current one and bilateral contacts as a necessary means to find the ways of cooperation and understanding.

Nano expressed Albania's desire to contribute to the process of cooperation among the Balkan countries.

The two considered excellent the Greek-Albanian ties, stressing that nothing is impossible to be resolved in them.

The Nano-Simitis meeting was the first to open the long series of bilateral meetings in the context of the Crete Summit.

Afterwards Simitis met with the Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Repas, who later informed reporters, hinted that they had also discussed the Kosova issue and the possible Nano-Milosevic meeting, which he said will be held today. kled/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] SOME 91 ALBANIANS WITHOUT DOCUMENTS RETURN FROM ITALY

Italian police authorities have repatriated most of them "for not possessing documents for legal residence in the neighbouring country," Durres port border police sources told ATA.

The total number of the Albanians returned from Italy during October is around 900. Sources say that this number is very small if compared with those repatriated during September (some 3 400).

In the meantime the number of Albanians, who return home voluntarily, has increased because, lacking residence permission, they can hardly find a job and house in Italy. s.sh/pas/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] THERE CAN BE NO GOOD COOPERATION WITH THE WEST WITHOUT COOPERATION AMONG BALKAN STATES

The Prime Minister of Greece, Costas Simitis, who opened the Summit, held a speech appealing the Balkan countries to leave aside the anachronic disagreements, to leave aside lonely streets and start functioning as European states.

"The West will not take interest in the region as long as lonely roads are not abandoned and cooperation among the Balkan states does not exist," said Mr Simitis.

The general spirit of the discussions of all those present in the Summit is positive and aims at building a Balkans without conflicts. Greece declares that it will not interfere in the bilateral meetings among the representatives of the Balkan states which are expected to be held in the afternoon.

At the beginning of today's meeting, it was decided that a summit of the Balkan Foreign ministers be held in Antalia of Turkey in June 1998. The participants have discussed so far the idea of "the institutionalization of Crete," which means that the Balkan countries must have their permanent institution of negotiations for their problems.

At noon, the Summit proposed the creation of a coordinating body among the Balkan states for special fields of activity. So far, the fields such as free trade, finance and customs houses, environment, transport and communication have been mentioned.

The main point under discussion is so far the preservation of the values of democracy and the human rights in the Balkan states.

The heads of states or governments of the Balkan countries have also focused on specific questions. Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano laid the need of a rule of law and public order in Albania.

The Summit will continue tomorrow. ake/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] FATOS NANO SEEMS UNLIKELY TO MEET MILOSEVIC

But, while on Sunday evening the Crete participants were optimistic of these two meetings, Monday dawned with a cloudy political weather.

The first rumor spreading in reporters' surroundings was that the Nano-Milosevic meeting is not likely to be held. With the passing of hours, the rumor has, in someway, assumed the shape of a true news.

Now it is said almost openly that Fatos Nano may not meet Slobodan Milosevic. A cause for this has become the Kosova issue. Milosevic has declared he refuses to discuss the Kosova issue, as "This is an internal affair of Serbia"; Nano has added that Kosova is on the agenda of his talks.

With the Albanian and Yugoslav delegations being installed in their own positions, information inside them says that the other parties are trying to exert influence in favour of the Nano-Milosevic meeting.

On Monday evening everything will be clear; more over for the fact that the meeting has been scheduled for this evening.

At a time when in Crete the issue "Will Nano and Milosevic meet?" is pending, a telephone rings in Room-Press of Crete with someone in the Albanian language wanting to know some fax number in Crete.

A few minutes later, the fax of Room-Press brings a statement of the Kosova government which was sent from Bonn not on the 3rd but the 2nd of November.

The statement of the Kosova government says:"Nothing can be talked about the Kosova issue unless the legitimate representatives, elected by the Kosova people, are present".

However, great interest is centered on what will follow in the next hours. a.ke/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] MEETING NANO-MILOSEVIC EXPECTED TO BE HELD

It seems that the midday in the Summit of Crete has brought two solutions regarding the enigma of the meeting between Nano and Milosevic: The first is that the red light of the hall where the bilateral meeting was due to be held was switched off before noon and the green light is expected to switch on during the afternoon.

Now, the meeting Nano-Milosevic is scheduled for this evening at 19:30. The second solution is: There is no conflict between Nano and Bujar Bukoshi, Prime Minister of Kosova.

But the question is: How can the meeting Nano-Milosevic be held at a time when the statement of Bukoshi should be both against Nano and Milosevic, even when Nano stays on the side of Bukoshi?! Although, this obstacle, as it seems, is overcome. Sources from the Albanian government show that the stand of Bukoshi that "for Kosova should talk and decide only the legitimate representatives, elected by the Kosova people," is very acceptable for Nano as well.

Anyhow, Nano will talk with Milosevic even for the Kosova issue, but in the sense of setting up good bridges of negotiations between Prishtine and Belgrade. The government of Tirana does not play the role of doubling the representatives, elected in Kosova.

The stand of Nano for the meeting with Milosevic is that this will not be a formal or propagandistic meeting, but it will mark a serious step in two aspects: The first in the aspect of improving bilateral relations and second to the good of the Albanians' question in Yugoslavia.

A few hours have remained from the meeting Nano-Milosevic. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] ALBANIA'S PM IN SUMMIT: I HAVE THREE CONCRETE PROPOSALS FOR BALKANS PEOPLE

Albania's PM Fatos Nano had come in the summit, as it seemed, with concrete problems and proposals.

"The salvation of the Balkans, said Nano, is only its Europeanization, " an idea elaborated by him times before in the Albanian and foreign press.

According to Nano, there are destined to fail those countries which still keep the concepts of isolation of the security policies and the economic ones.

Nano proposed to the Summit of Crete the establishment of three permanent Balkanic centers. These centers, according to Nano will be: 1. The center for the economic promotion which will enable the contact among trades, both through information and legislation; 2. The center for the coordination of NGO-s, which, as Nano said "play an important role in the societies emerged from totalitarian systems, such as several Balkanic countries. What NGO-s can do, perhaps cannot be done by the governments"; 3. The Center of cooperation among universities was the third proposal of Premier Nano.

"More encouragement is needed for the new Balkanic generations to be educated, by mentioning the fact that hundreds of Albanian students study in Greece, Rumania, Bulgaria," said Nano.

The proposals of Albanian Premier were mentioned as one of the most important ones in the briefings of the press outside the hall of the conference.

Along with these proposals made by the government of Tirana, a proposal for the establishment of a pan-Balkanic flight agency was added, as well as the institutionalization of meetings among the Ministers of Transport and Telecommunication. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] ARE THERE POLITICAL TENSIONS IN CRETE?

CRETE, NOV. 3 (ATA) - By F Cupi: The first day of the Crete Summit passed without problems. This is how it was considered the political climate of the Summit of South-Eastern European countries. But the anxiety for any possible tension is always present.

At the beginning, the cloud, coming from Shkup, seemed to approach on the rocky ground of Crete.

The president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kiro Gligorov was late for the conference. It was thought that the cause of this delay was the tension in the relations between Shkup and Athens.

After a while, it was noted that the Rumanian Premier was also late. But everything was corrected soon. Both heads of states came in the meeting, and Gligorov, as to correct the mistake, was the first to take the floor in the sitting.

As it seems, with the common aim to avoid the tension, all the participants in the Summit decided unanimously to discuss in the first sitting only about economic problems and intensification of regional relations.

Anyhow, it cannot be said that everything is far from tension. Today's afternoon will be under a severe observation and may not pass quietly, moreover for the fact that Simitis and Yilmaz refused on Sunday to shake hands with one another.

While Nano and Milosevic, although they shook hands before the cameras, have not decided yet about the bilateral meeting. The tension comes and goes the same as the clouds today above Crete. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] 1997 - SIX MILLION ECU FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

The delivery of this amount will immediately start during this month based on some projects presented for the development of agriculture.

EU started its support for Albania since May of 1992, when our country was included in this Program, first in the sector of agriculture and then in other sectors.

The amount of six million ECU is included in the total amount of 90 million ECU that EU accorded to the Albania right after the Donors' Conference in Brussels. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT GERMANY

The delegation of the Albanian Foreign Ministry is headed by the State Secretary for Euro-Atlantic integration, Maqo Lakrori.

During this visit, according to sources from the Foreign Ministry, a series of high ranking meetings will be held in the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, Ministry of Economic Cooperation and in Parliament. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] SDP HEAD FOR SKRAPAR KILLED

Two bandits lied in ambush for the vehicle with which Lajthia, 42, was travelling towards Gjerbes village and in a bid to rob they shot him dead.

The Chairman of the Albanian Social Democratic Party, Skender Gjinushi, went to express condolences to the family for the loss of Lajthia. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] SPEECH OF ALBANIA'S PM IN SUMMIT OF CRETE

The Rule of Law defines the very fabric of a democratic society. Transparent rules and legislation, full implementation of them and equal treatment before the law are still preconditions for securing the individual in exercising his or her rights, be they political or economic. market economy in any proper sense of the word cannot exist without the rule of law that defines and enforces the rights and obligations of economic operators. And just as the Rule of Law is fundamental for the security of the individuals within the State, respect of the Rule of Law is essential for security among States.

The shift to market economy has left countries in transition with a huge task of transforming their society in a multitude of ways. The legal situation is at the core of the transformation process. It comprises not only the amount and content of legislation in place, but as much the institutions, the procedures and officials to implement the legislation.

Globalization of production and liberalization of trade offer opportunities for all including developing countries in transition to play a more active role in the world economy. Possibilities now exist for increased regional trade to become an unprecedented engine of growth and an important mechanism for integrating all countries into the global economy.

We attache great importance to regional cooperation in all its aspects, be it economic, political, social, military, environmental, legal or cultural. We are sure that economic integration is a very important factor in achieving security and stability. More problems can find practical solution more easily within the regional framework and that the experience thus acquired can be turned to good account by emerging cooperation process. This process intervenes in all fields and sectors, like development of trade, energy, transportation and telecommunications, health, tourism, agriculture, science and technology, cross-border cooperation, nuclear safety, environment, etc.

Economic integration usually is the first step in developing regional cooperation, partly because it is, comparatively speaking, an easy step to begin with.

Regional Economic Cooperation

Regional Cooperation more than an important tool in the benefit of the participant countries in a necessity of modern times. Countries which instead of the regional cooperation and integration, choose protectionism, isolation and rigid foreign policies are destined to set back and face great difficulties in a reality of general economic globalization and integration in the world. Albania is deeply and seriously interested in strengthening the regional cooperation and economic integration, amongst other known reasons, because it considers its economic development closely linked with integration and globalization.

Regional cooperation should become a permanent priority and a major element of our policies in general and economic policies in particular. Probably it will have a considerable cost for some countries, but the long- term results of such policies undoubtedly will bring great benefits.

European integration is a main objective for all the countries of the region. The members countries aim at consolidating their presence in EU while all the others aim their membership. Efforts and achievements for European integration contribute at the same time to our regional cooperation. If all countries of the region would involve themselves in the process of legislation harmonization, unification of statistics, customs and trade codes, etc., with those of ECU, this will facilitate and contribute to the regional integration.

Above all, if we really mean cooperation and integration, this should primarily focus on economic cooperation. Trade, investment and economic cooperation in general should be the main objective s to be aimed. In this field various steps could be taken.

All the countries of the region should conclude the main bilateral economic agreements including the double taxation, investments protection and mutual economic cooperation agreements. Albania has concretely shown its promptness and seriously in this direction.

Common policies for elimination of trade barriers and obstacles should be developed including customs procedures, facilitation and cooperation and preferential system in trade.

Building up and strengthening common infrastructure more than a direct help to the economic development of each country is the most powerful tool towards the regional cooperation. Indeed without developing the infrastructures we can hardly build cooperation. Besides the present international projects such as telecommunication ADRA project and eighth road corridor, we should develop joint projects in this area. An important element we should carefully consider is the joint action and application for financing such projects. We believe that regional infrastructure projects which have the full support for all the region countries could more easily be financed by international financing institutions.

A lot can be done as well in the field of investments. In line with establishing foreign investments the same status and facilities as domestic ones, we could as well develop joint programs to support respective investments in the region. The cross border cooperation has proved to be a powerful mean of harmonization and integration. For this reason, the bilateral cooperation in developing the border areas and improving the cross-border links and infrastructure should be a priority. To this end the support for economic development of border areas should be a priority for our governments investments programs and foreign aid financed projects. In addition, the foreign aid financed cross-border project could be co- financed and complimented by domestic financing.

Another element for strengthening our relations is the cooperation and support within the international organizations and forums. We should aim at creating a so-called regional lobbing or pressure especially at economic organizations. It will help in bringing our countries closer and at the same time enabling integration of the whole region in the international reality. Particularly Greece, a member of EU and NATO and Turkey, member of NATO, could play a great role supporting the other countries to participate and integrate in these structures.

Information exchange is a fundamental element of our cooperation, especially in the field of trade and our institutions relations. Actually the level of information exchange is unsatisfactory. For example, while we agree that NGO cooperation is crucial to the general cooperation of our countries, the respective information we have in the NGO area is insufficient thus making their links difficult if not impossible. In this contest, one of the main purposes of the regional agencies already established of proposed to be set up should be information exchange and promotion of experience exchange between institutions, NGOs, businesses etc.

University cooperation is not only an important element but one of the most efficient in strengthening regional cooperation. It helps in establishing communication bridges, as well as in adaption of positive experiences and achievements.

Cooperation in the field of environment both through bilateral initiatives for protection and promotion of common resources and as well through regional programs should be a priority. Environmental issues are global and the impact of environmental pollution and spoiling can easily reach each other countries. Environmental cooperation assumes importance even from the fact that our region countries have different space of their economic development. Thus quite easily one's country's efforts on environment might be damaged by the non sustainable economic growth initiatives in other countries.

1. Trade Promotion Center

We would like to express our support for the creation of a Trade Promotion Centre and underlining that one of the main functions of it should be trade information. It should collect, process and coordinate information for products, imports, exports etc. in the region. In addition it should offer the relevant information on legal framework, standards, regulations, taxes and duties for trade in our countries. It should as well offer the relevant information on markets demands, prices, trade and economic operators and potential partners.

2. Establishment of a regional center for NGOs

The role of NGOs is indispensable and their impact on our societies has increased dramatically.

A considerable number of problems faced in our societies are similar, while different social problems have regional dimensions or impact other countries, which means that their treatment should be based on a broad cooperation.

From their nature the NGOs are opened and flexible for international cooperation, so they can play a great role in establishing contacts between different countries.

In the previous declaration of Foreign Ministers is particularly stressed the importance of NGO cooperation.

The center will offer general information on NGO operation in our countries, will facilitate and contacts and coordinate NGO activities, promote joint programs and projects and help in experience exchange.

3. Center for University Cooperation

A considerable number of young people are studying in different other than native countries. Only from Albania study every year thousands of students in Greece, Turkey, Rumania, Bulgaria, etc. This number may and should increase.

In all our countries university different subjects are being studied about our history, culture, languages etc. In this context information exchange could help students and professors in their studies and lectures. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] ALBANIA'S PM MEETS YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT

In their brief statements, they considered their meeting as historic and said that it creates new basis for the relations between both countries. They declared that they discussed widely about the Kosova question, and Milosevic, while talking about this, used the term "minority" for the Kosova Albanians and stressed that Kosova is a territory of Yugoslavia, but he was engaged that the problem for the rights of this minority be treated on basis of international standards and rights.

Milosevic declared that with Albania's PM also discussed the issue of "Serbian and Malaysian minorities in Albania." Nano on his side talked about "a community of Albanians in Kosova" and asked the respect of all their rights, the testimony of which should be the accord for education signed by Rugova and Milosevic in September 1996. Nano said that today's meeting creates a new framework for the solution of the Kosova question under the example of the European Union rules and in the climate of the Crete Summit. According to both leaders, the bilateral contacts will increase in the future.

Nano and Milosevic held a tete-a-tete meeting.

The meeting Nano-Milosevic is the first of this rank for Albania and Yugoslavia after 50 years. /kei/mt/k

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