Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-11-21

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] BELGRADE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN CE STRUCTURES IF KOSOVA ISSUE IS NOT SOLVED

[02] TELECOM OF GREEK TOWN OF KOSAN GIVES NEW TELEPHONE CENTRAL TO BILISHT

[03] DOCUMENTARY FILM "I AM ISMAIL QEMALI" SHOWN

[04] FIVE PEOPLE CAUGHT IN ELBASAN UNDER CHARGES OF KILLING

[05] COMMISSION IN ELBASAN FOR FINDING CULPRITS WHO OPENED FIRE AMONG PEOPLE IN A RALLY OF BERISHA

[06] HEAVY SNOW FALL IN KUKES

[07] PRESS REVIEW

[08] TWO BOOKS OF ALBANOLOGY PROMOTED IN SHKODRA

[09] ALBANIA DOES NOT HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

[10] ALBANIAN ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION AIMS TO FURTHER ITS ACTIVITY

[11] DP TO APPEAL AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

[12] ALBANIANS SHOULD BUILD STRONG GOVERNMENT AND AVOID POLITICAL CONFRONTATIONS - CE

[13] UNIDENTIFIED PERSON KILLS POLICEMAN

[14] LOCAL CURRENCY RECOVERS OVER FOREIGN CURRENCIES

[01] BELGRADE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN CE STRUCTURES IF KOSOVA ISSUE IS NOT SOLVED

Responding to the interest of the Council of Europe delegation on relations with Yugoslavia, Minister Milo said that "the Albanian government favours the improvement of relations and is backed on the philosophy of integration and dialogue for the solution of problems."

"We support the German-American initiative regarding the Kosova question," stressed Milo, adding that "there is not any other way, except that of dialogue."

The delegation of the Council of Europe voiced its stand that "Belgrade will not be accepted in the structures of the Council of Europe, if the question of Kosova and the rights of Albanians who live there are not solved."

With regard to the relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Milo said: "We have the good will to develop relations with this country and hope that the Macedonian party will reflect and enlarge the legal rights of Albanians in this republic." /a.ke/kei/mt/

[02] TELECOM OF GREEK TOWN OF KOSAN GIVES NEW TELEPHONE CENTRAL TO BILISHT

"The new telephone central costs 250 000 USD and is of a modern technology," the chairman of the district council in Devoll, Sabri Turabi, reported to ATA.

Specialists of the Albanian Telecom and Greek specialists are working to assemble the central.

According to Mr Turabi, the Albanian Telecom is working for the construction of a radio-relay in the town of Bilisht, which will enable the connection of this town with the national automatic system within December of this year. /a.ke/kled/mt/

[03] DOCUMENTARY FILM "I AM ISMAIL QEMALI" SHOWN

Twelve months of intensive work in many places of Albania, as well as in 17 states and 35 cities of Europe, brought the realisation of this documentary film, in which the figure of Ismail Qemali is given in all the aspects.

The premiere of the documentary film "I am Ismail Qemali" will be shown in Vlore in the last week of November during celebrations to be held in that city on occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Independence. kled/xh/

[04] FIVE PEOPLE CAUGHT IN ELBASAN UNDER CHARGES OF KILLING

Sources of the Police Commissariat No 3 told ATA that the 5 people were declared wanted by police long ago because they had massacred Gentian Isufi, 20, living in Elbasan, whose body was left near the River Zaranika.

Police found arms in their homes. ake/kei/xh/

[05] COMMISSION IN ELBASAN FOR FINDING CULPRITS WHO OPENED FIRE AMONG PEOPLE IN A RALLY OF BERISHA

"We will demand full investigation into that event," Gjergj Babani, one of the leaders of the commission told ATA. He voiced the conviction that "the event was planned by Berisha and his clan."

One of the commission members, Namik Hysi said that the bullets against the citizens present were fired only by the members of the Guard of the former president.

So far, the June 25 event has remained an enigma for the people of Elbasan. Many participants in the rally cannot explain why did the Guard members used their weapons against the people in Elbasan. ake/pas/xh/

[06] HEAVY SNOW FALL IN KUKES

During afternoon hours of Thursday, the situation on the roads was not good, especially in Qafe Mali, on the national road Kukes-Tirane, in which the level of snow was more than 80 cm. ssh/pas/xh/

[07] PRESS REVIEW

Rilindja Demokratike writes "The Council of Europe rapporteurs worried about the grave political situation in Albania: 'The socialist government has mined the national reconciliation'." The paper carries the editorial "The parliament of vote against capitalism." With regard to the end of the press strike, the paper reports: "The strike ended, the crisis remained." "The Council of Europe concerned about the introduction of dictatorship," says another article of the paper. With regard to the meeting of the constitution commission, the paper writes that the effort of socialists to draft the constitution has failed. Under the headline "The Helsinki Group on Human Rights analyses the hundred days of Nano government," the paper publishes the article "Albania on the brink of a new dictatorship."

In the editorial "Albanians in search of the nation's certificate," Republika writes that "particular segments of the Albanian policy, are surprisingly interested in continuing the constitutional drama, lack of state and prerogatives which incites the institutional development." With regard to the same question, the paper reports "DP and its allies take the commission hostage." On the fifth page, the paper writes that in a meeting with the U.S. ambassador in Tirana, Mariza Lino, the Republican Party has requested implementation of law on scrutiny of figures, and against employment in SHIK of former Sigurimi agents. The paper also carries articles, reporting on corruption in the construction field.

"The diplomacy of scandals," is the editorial of Koha Jone, which treats the theme of Albanian diplomats who have asked political asylum in the countries they have worked. The paper carries an article on the third page regarding this issue, under the headline "Albanian scandal in London. Four employees had presented the request two months ago." The paper writes that Greek parliament has reacted towards the appointment of Kastriot Robo as Albania's Ambassador in Greece, because Robo was declared "persona non grata" during the aggravation of Albanian-Greek relations in 1994. The paper writes that the Committee of Public Salvation in Vlore, with chairman Albert Shyti, has changed the name to the Committee of Protection the People's Interests. Under the headline "The government gives up before the smuggling of cigarettes. Three months, no clearance of goods in Albanian customs." "Albpetrol in the brink of collapse," reports Koha Jone on the thirteenth page. "The ministers against Premier Nano," is another article of the paper.

Dita paper reports "The embassy, illegal traffic with the hard currency," regarding several Albanian diplomats in London, who, after taking the refusal for political asylum, are accused of illegal traffic and corruption. "Under the headline "Albanian creditors threaten Nano," the paper reports "Hunger strike if the money are not refunded." The paper covers the meeting of DP head Sali Berisha with the parliamentarians of the German Bundestag, asking Berisha and DP to take up seats in Parliament. The paper also writes on the meeting of the commission for drafting the constitution, where DP members did not participate and cites co-chairman Godo "The Constitution to be drafted by SP, we agree." Under the title "Robbery with masks at the top of crimes," the paper reports that over the last days, 103 perpetrators have been caught by police.

Albania paper, covering a report of the Human Rights Group of the British Helsinki, reports "Albania in the brink of dictatorship." The paper carries the editorial "The pillars of freedom fall down (for state reasons,)" regarding the amendment to the constitutional law which totally rejects the basis of the justice system in Albania." "The press, strike - who lost, who won,?" the paper reports on the four-day strike of the press which ended today. The paper writes that former chairman of the New Democracy Party of Greece, Miltiadhis Evert, has expressed in the Greek Parliament his non approval for the new Albanian ambassador in Greece, Kastriot Robo.

"The gangs arrive in the capital," reports Shekulli under the headline "Crimes increased in Tirana. The blue uniforms fall victim of criminal." The paper covers the visit of the Council of Europe delegation under the title "There is lack of dialogue, compromise is very difficult." "Albania, the poor state with rich smugglers," reports the paper on the economic page. On the cultural page, the paper writes an article and publishes statements regarding the National Festival of Theatres, which ended three days ago in Tirana.

Rilindja writes that the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, is in France where he is expected to meet with the French Foreign Minister and other senior officials. The paper covers the meeting of the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, with a delegation of the Council of Europe, under the title "Oppositions' participation in parliament is important." The paper writes that the strike of Albanian publishers ended after four days. The newspaper carries, from the chapter "The right to live," the report on the situation of the human rights in former Yugoslavia, held by Elisabeth Rehn, in which she writes of police violence towards Albanians and riots towards Serbian police.

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the editorial: "Strike: What did the press win?" The paper writes that Vlore investors have complained for Nano Government because "so far it has made nothing for Vlore" and demands the opening of an Italian consulate in the city of Vlore. In one of its features, the paper writes "'Crazy' against craziness," related with an armed group which has plundered the psychiatric hospital of Shkoder, and raped one of the patients there. pas/kei/mt/xh/k

[08] TWO BOOKS OF ALBANOLOGY PROMOTED IN SHKODRA

"Italian scholars on Albanian language, literature and culture" and "Contribution of foreign Albanologists on Albanian language study" are prepared by the sector of Albanology of the University," Ass Prof Tomorr Osmani, chief of this sector, said to ATA.

The first book includes works of some Italian, Arberesh and Albanian scholars dealing with problems of Albanian language and literature, evaluating it as the oldest language of the Balkans.

The second book dealt with research and scientific work of the Albanologists from different European countries such as Italian, English, Austrian, Polish and their contribution on the Albanian language.

The sector of Albanology has focused on drafting monographic from language, literature, folklor, history and others.

Enzo Bornoboro, representative of the Italian institute of Culture addressed the meeting. ssh/pas/ak/sh/

[09] ALBANIA DOES NOT HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

In a ceremony organised on the 44th anniversary of the Chemical Weapons at the central military unit, Teta said that the "Chemical weapons should serve defend the population according to new concepts in case of infections, chemical damages, industrial pollution or chemical disasters of Chernobyl-type."

Teta praised the work of the chemical regiment and other military units in the framework of raising the Albanian army on the NATO military standards.

Teta stressed that Albania's defence policy aims at preventing any foreign army "to use or transport chemical weapons in land, air and sea territory of Albania."

Thoma Sterjo, chief of the Chemical weapons department at the Defence Ministry, acquainted the audience with the history of the chemical weapons which dated back to November 21, 1953. ake/kled/ak/

[10] ALBANIAN ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION AIMS TO FURTHER ITS ACTIVITY

The two stressed the role the Albanian Atlantic association should play as a forum open for discussions to all those wishing to contribute to its activities, irrespective of political affiliations.

Ways to extend its activity serving the country's integration into the Euro-Atlantic Structures, also including NATO, made up another important topic of the talks conducted between Lakrori and Georgiu.

The head of the North Atlantic Association is visiting Albania on the occasion of the Third International Conference of the Albanian Atlantic Association. kei/lm

[11] DP TO APPEAL AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

"Parliament has violated article 3 of the constitutional provisions," former president said adding "the constitutional amendments should be presented for approval by one fourth of the deputies while one third of them, Pandeli Majko, Arben Imami and Ingrid Shuli, have signed the latest amendments."

Berisha attacked the Nano government "for cheating officials of the international community on Albania's events," and "seriously violating the judiciary" . . ., that is "a quick installment of dictatorship in Albania."

Albina Karamitro, member of the DP leadership told the news conference that she had met, on her request, the representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Albania, John King, who "confuted the words of Pandeli Majko and other state officials that the IMF has suggested the constitutional changes."

Karamitro also said that she had not discussed with the IMF official on firms plunged in debts like VEFA, which won the case in the Constitutional Court. This marked the start of provision changes.

Extra amendments to the article 10 of the constitutional provisions allow the state to intervene in private activity of enterprises, when this activity runs contrary to the national and international interests. ake/ak/sh/

[12] ALBANIANS SHOULD BUILD STRONG GOVERNMENT AND AVOID POLITICAL CONFRONTATIONS - CE

"Spirit of cooperation lacks in the Albanian politics," the chairmen of the CE political groups said in a news conference on Friday, after a three day visit to Albania, with the aim to observe the post-election situation in the country.

Lord Russel Johnson considered that the political dialogue had not proceeded properly due to Albanians' way of behaving.

"If this dialogue continues in this way, you will have no future," said Johnson adding that "the Albanian people who voted in the latest elections are right to expect from the politicians".

Referring to the role the Democratic Party is playing in the new situation, now that this party is in opposition, Johnson said he hoped the DP would retake its seats in parliament and stressed he did not want to repeat arguments against the boycott, which the DP had well fixed in the previous year when the SP boycotted parliament.

He also showed concern about the issue of the constitution. "It would be sad if your constitution became victim of the politics," he considered.

Switmer, member of the delegation, said that the Assembly was seriously worried about the opposition. "We have listened to the concerns of the opposition and how it is being treated in parliament," he said.

He insisted that the constitution be drafted in a broad consensus.

The delegation aired its remarks concerning the changes in the High Council of Justice, stressing that yet there is no concept on separation of powers.

The Assembly's secretary general observed that in Albania people are working hard; this is perhaps result of the electoral campaign in which they vowed so much.

The heads of the CE political groups pledged to come back in December to hold a political seminar. a.ke/kled/lm/sh/

[13] UNIDENTIFIED PERSON KILLS POLICEMAN

Zef Gjoci, 25, policeman of the 712 unit in Tirana was killed at around 20. 00 p.m. in front of the Museum of National History.

The killer immediately left the scene and his whereabouts were unknown, police sources said.

Witnesses said that he was killed for personal motives. ake/kled/ak/sh/

[14] LOCAL CURRENCY RECOVERS OVER FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Following are the average buying and selling rates of foreign currencies.

Currencies                    Thursday        Friday
US$1.00  COSTS                142.40 leks     142.35 leks
German marks                   81.90 leks      81.48 leks
Italian lira (1000)            83.32 leks      82.86 leks
Greek Drachmas (100)           52.04 leks      51.83 leks
Swiss Francs                  100.33 leks      99.75 leks

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article