Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-12-12

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] FIVE CITIZENS, WHO DISTRIBUTED DRUGS, DETAINED IN TIRANA

[02] CEKA THREATENS HIS PARTY WILL LEAVE GODO'S TABLE OF DISCUSSION

[03] "U.S. AID SHOULD BE MORE CONCRETE IN ELBASAN" - U.S. Ambassador

[04] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES QUESTION OF EMIGRATION

[05] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY RESPONDS QUESTIONS BY DEPUTIES

[06] BAD WEATHER PREVENTS PRESIDENT MEIDANI FROM VISITING KUKES

[07] PRESS REVIEW

[08] JUSTICE MINISTER REJECTS ABOLITION OF DEATH PUNISHMENT

[09] PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ASKS 16 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MAZREKU

[10] LOCAL CURRENCY "LEK" DIPS FURTHER DON

[11] 25th ANNIVERSARY OF ALBANIAN LANGUAGE ORTHOGRAPHY COMMEMORATED

[12] ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO DISCUSS OPENING OF BORDER CROSSING POINT

[13] BERISHA CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT'S OVERTHROW

[14] HANI HOTIT BORDER CROSSING POINT TO BE OPEN SOON

[15] ITALIAN COASTAL GUARD BLOCKS A DINGHY WITH 12 PERSON ABOARD

[16] INTER-MINISTERIAL ANTI-CONTRABAND COMMISSION CONVENES

[17] MYRTEZA CAUSHI (ZANI) CREATES PROBLEMS IN JAIL

[01] FIVE CITIZENS, WHO DISTRIBUTED DRUGS, DETAINED IN TIRANA

The denunciations of several teen-agers who were detained while stealing to provide money for buying drugs, helped identifying and later detaining the distributers of drugs.

The police forces of commissariat no. 2, in cooperation with the office of fight against drugs close to the Tirana Police Directorate, found in their houses considerable amounts of cocaine and heroine. /a.ke/mir/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] CEKA THREATENS HIS PARTY WILL LEAVE GODO'S TABLE OF DISCUSSION

The number 1 of the Democratic Alliance Party spoke in the debate for the question of emigration, reminding Republican Godo that the construction of institutions is of primary importance in a democratic state. On the basis of this principle, Ceka considered as the most important the preparation of the constitution and said that any demagogic speech when institutions are not normally functioning is valueless. This is the first time that a minister or other member of the governing coalition has really threatened the parliamentary table for the compilation of the constitution, which is presided over by co-chairmen Godo and Imami. ssh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] "U.S. AID SHOULD BE MORE CONCRETE IN ELBASAN" - U.S. Ambassador

In a meeting held in the town hall, the prefect Durim Hushi and the other local leaders, made a description of their work, stressing mainly the understanding that exists between the powers in this region, and spoke of the exploitation of resources to come out of the crisis as soon as possible.

"I have come here to make the U.S. aid more concrete," said Lino, adding that "the projects of USAID and other international organizations, which were interrupted due to the riots in March, will soon restart in this town."

USA has accorded an aid worth 10 million dollars for the eighth road corridor.

The U.S. Ambassador also visited the art gallery, the church "Saint Marie" in the "Kala" headquarters, and the University "A. Xhuvani," in which seven American pedagogues give lessons since seven years.

The possibility of opening an American high professional school in Elbasan was proposed in the meeting organized in the presence of local leaders.

The U.S. ambassador was accompanied in this meeting by the Director of USAID, Deede Blane. /s.sh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES QUESTION OF EMIGRATION

Upon the request of deputies Godo, Selfo, Hushi and Kalaj, the Government members, Interior Minister Neritan Ceka and State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Maqo Lakrori responded the questions made by parliamentarians.

In his address, Mr Lakrori underlined the fact that the Albanian Government has adopted measures for many Albanians to live in the countries where they have emigrated conformed to normal standards of the democratic countries.

Lakrori said that a great part of Albanian refugees work in illegality and find themselves under a great pressure, while their dignity has been impaired. Mr Lakrori declared before the deputies that Albania in one of the European countries with the highest flux of emigrants. Albania has 600 000 refugees. About 350 000 up to 400 000 of them are in Greece, 10 000 - 14 000 are in Italy, 10 000 - 15 000 in Germany and the rest in the U.S. Referring to the proportion between the legalized and illegal emigrants from Albania, only in Italy the number of the legalized, 82 600, is greater than those without documents, at a time when in other countries this proportion disfavours the Albanians. Lakrori spoke of the agreements on emigrants, those for their seasonal employment and the work of the Albanian Government to open Albanian consulates in the neighbouring countries with the aim of establishing the status of the emigrant.

Interior Minister Ceka responded the questions related with the fate of the emigrants penalized by the courts of neighbouring countries and the issue of crime. He said that only Greece has the exact number of the Albanians who are serving jail terms in the Greek prisons and their number is 1 200. Ceka also mentioned some hundreds of others who are in the prisons of Germany, Italy and Switzerland, at a time when an agreement of extradition has been signed only with Greece. He also said that many other Albanians are missing and since 1991 until 1997 about 535 dead bodies have been repatriated. Ceka pointed out that 72 Albanians have been killed on the border and 166 other were drowned.

Deputy Godo stressed at the end of his explanations that the Parliament must conven once more for the question of emigration in January with the presence of the Prime Minister Fatos Nano. Godo demanded explanation before the Parliament from PM Nano about an article which made the headlines of the Albanian daily press on December 11, referring to the Italian daily "La Republica.ake/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ALBANIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY RESPONDS QUESTIONS BY DEPUTIES

Minister Bufi said that the bad situation of the energy system is caused by the frequent use and without criteria of the energy for heating. He also declared that the consumption of energy keeps increasing each year. Bufi mentioned the needs for energy which do normally increase from 10-18 per cent every year. The Minister declared that 17 million kilowatt hours are used every day in Albania.

Bufi said that the energy network is old and only during the months of the unrest the damage caused to the energy system was 8 million dollars. The Minister said that during this winter, despite week points in the energy network, blackouts will be rare in Albania. ssh/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] BAD WEATHER PREVENTS PRESIDENT MEIDANI FROM VISITING KUKES

The pilots of the helicopter, in which were President Meidani, parliament's deputy speaker Namik Dokle, Deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, two members of the presidential staff and the television team, decided to return to Tirane after a 80 minute flight in order not to complicate the situation further, the report says. s.s/pas/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit publishes a statement of the Italian Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini on the policy of Italy in Albania. "Italy is resolute to help Albania," the paper cites Dini as saying. "Put an end to the violence in Kosova," writes the paper regarding the meeting of Bon of the Council for the implementation of peace in Bosnia-ercegovina.

Rilindja Demokratike entitles its editorial "DP celebrates its seventh anniversary." "155 million dollars robbed," writes the paper under the headline "The Democratic Party denounces the governmental smuggling; the state budget goes to the pockets of government officials." On the same topic the paper reports "The special groups of smuggling are set up," under the headline "The State Sigurimi takes in his hands the big keys of trafficks." With regard to the statement of PM Fatos Nano for the Italian newsapaper "La Republica," RD reports "The opposition and the Human Rights Union Party comment the statement of Nano for Italian protectorate," under the title "Nano humbles the Albanias." "Lek is rolled up, deposits are ruined," writes the paper under the headline "DP: We warned the danger."

Republika carries the editorial "A provked sovereignty." "The duty of a governing is not to provoke the sovereignty, but to provide the integrating abilities," writes the paper. On the third page the paper carries a statement of the former Republican Chairman, Godo, under the title "Nano, think of the resignation," with the headline "Nano is invited for a debate on the protectorate." The paper also publishes an interview with the Republican chairman Mehdiu "The protectorate shows the collapse of Nano." On the fourth page, the paper writes "Mafia controlls Albania," with the subtitle "Many of the government officials are getting ready to leave Albania." Republika also informs that the Minister of Labour, Sherifi, has confirmed large reduction in the state administration in January 1998. With regard to smuggling, the paper reports "The Italians: The contraband is govered by Premier Nano." Under the title "Big fraudulence," Republika publishes an article taken by the Italian press.

Koha Jone carries the editorial "Nano: You are Prime Minister!" "There is no dilema that the Albanian Prime Minister thinks of Albania becoming a colony of Italy, but the language used by Nano is confused and is more similar with the language of an Albanian intellectual, than with the language of the Prime Minister of a country, which is underway reconstruction," writes the paper. Under the headline "The republicans severely react for the statement of Premier Nano," Koha Jone carries a declaration of former Republican chairman Godo "Nano to resign." The paper reports that Rome is examining the problem of visas given by the Italian Embassay in Tirana and the hypothesis of the involvement of Italian officials in the contraband of visas. On the sixth page, the paper reports "Control for the food articles on eve of the New Year." Under the title "The laboratory of falsifications is uncovered," the paper writes on a network that falsified seals even for Italy, Greece, China." "The senior officials involved in smuggling," reports the paper on the economic page.

"The sosie of Rexhep Meidani," is the editorial of Albania paper. "Meidani wants to make a spectacle with the idea of reconciliation, by forgetting that he should be the head of the state and should intervene within the competencies of the constitutional package. The paper reports that the chairman of the parliamentary foreign commission, Godo, has rejected the recent statements of Premier Nano. "Nano, resign," the paper cites Godo. On the fourth page, the paper carries an interview that Italian Foreign Minister Dini gave to BBC, under the title "We repatriated the refugees in cooperation with the Albanian government." "The Albanian Rural Bank collapses," writes the paper, under the headline "The financial institution of the second level suspends all the financial activities." "Kosova can destabilize the whole region," the paper cites the German Foreign Minister, Kinkel.

Rilindja carries a statement of the special charge of the U.S. President for respecting the Dayton Accord, Robert Gelbard, under the title "The abandonment of the conference prevent Belgrade. The paper covers the meeting of the academician Rexhep Qosja with British diplomats in Belgrade, under the title "The state of occupation should be not kept anymore in Kosova." The paper carries an interview of Albania's Foreign Minister Milo given to BBC under the title "Russia supports the autonomy of Kosova.' The paper highlights the trial against 21 Albanian, by quoting one of the condemned "The Republic of Kosova will aggravate either through peace or through war."

"Party politics and state violation," is the title of the editorial of Shekulli. "It is a task of the Albanian state that besides a nation-wide politics to get a state politics into shape, in which its integrity cannot be violated in any case by party politics and other natures," the paper says. "Corridor 8 starts 'going'", the paper says under the headline "Clinton initiative for an infrastructure - Europe's artery." In the second page the paper reports on a network of falsifiers, who have obtained the seals of the Italian police. The paper quotes former Republican leader Sabri Godo as saying "Prime minister's confutation is insufficent" and that Nano should resign after the statement on an Italian protectorate for Albania. Referring to a news conference of the former president Berisha, the paper says that "Berisha has conceded on Thursday his government's corruption." "Prime minister declares war on smuggling," is another article carried under the headline "World Bank gives green light." "Privatisation, a process, which urges maturity," the paper says in the economic column.

"Mistery on the stolen Benz Mercedes cars," is the title of an article carried by Gazeta Shqiptare under the headline "Hundreds of cars dissapeared within some months. Most of them Mercedes." "Nano's protectorate brings about storm," the paper says in the second page. "Godo to Nano: It is time to resign," is another article. In the third page the paper reports on the arrest of "Chief of the gang of Cerrik." pas/mt/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] JUSTICE MINISTER REJECTS ABOLITION OF DEATH PUNISHMENT

Though this decision is neither civilising nor contemporary from the humanitarian point of view, it is necessary for the conditions under which Albania is, a spokesman of the Justice ministry said.

"Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which are free of political passions, can conduct a survey in the people and find out the attitude on this decision. The referendum will be the best solution," the spokesman said. kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ASKS 16 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR MAZREKU

Prosecutor Beqir Kokoshi said that the "cause of the incident is not that Hajdari put his hand in his jacket and Gafurri thought he would take out his pistol (Hajdari did not have a pistol with him). He said that the cause of the incident dates back to a day before, when Hajdari pushed the defendant in front of the parliament's platform.

The defence attorney, Riza Icka, asked a five day time to prepare the defence, adding that "it was a entirely political charge".

As it is known, on September 18 of this year, former deputy Mazreku shot five times at deputy Hajdari inside the parliament building, causing him four wounds. s.sh/kled/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] LOCAL CURRENCY "LEK" DIPS FURTHER DON

In the informal market the average exchange rate was $1 = 150,25 lek. While the German currency DM was traded for 85,06 lek, ITL(1000) traded for 86,29 lek, gaining 0,66 points compared with yesterday's 85,63 lek and so on.

Friday average exchange rates

Currency	Average exchange rates
USD		150,25 lek
DM		 85,32 lek
ITL (1000)	 86,29 lek
GRD (100)	 54,07 lek
SFR		104,50 lek

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] 25th ANNIVERSARY OF ALBANIAN LANGUAGE ORTHOGRAPHY COMMEMORATED

"This deserves our deepest respect and that of the coming generations for it is a historical and cultural heritage without which the existence of a nation, progress of national culture and education cannot be understood," Ethem Ruka, minister of Education and Science, said.

During the last 25 years, the Congress of Orthography, has been the most important institution, which help spread and inculcate the literary norms of the Albanian language.

The activity was organised by the Institute of Linguistic and Literature of the Academy of Science and Faculty of History and Philology of the Tirana University, in cooperation with the Association "Friends of the Albanian language." Present were scholars from the Academy of Science, Prishtina University and other guests from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro. ssh/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO DISCUSS OPENING OF BORDER CROSSING POINT

Vukaj asked the Montenegrin side to open the border point of Hani i Hotit, which creates wide possibilities of bilateral trade cooperation.

Vujoviç said that he has undertaken an initiative aiming at opening the border crossing point of Hani i Hotit and those of Vermosh and Sukopini.

"Our visit is a possibility to accelerate the opening what can enable legal passing through these crossings avoiding illegal trade," Vujoviç said.

The meeting focused on the implementation of some agreements which, though signed, have not been carried out. They also spoke of other possible agreements such as North-South highway, Tirana-Podgorica airline and the exploitation of Vermosh forest.

Actually, the trade exchanges between Albania and Montenegro, though bordering countries, are estimated at some $700 thousand per year. Albanian exports mainly salt to lay the icy roads, unprocessed leather, sulphur, medicinal herbs, and others. ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] BERISHA CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT'S OVERTHROW

Berisha exploited the activity devoted to the 7th anniversary of the first anticommunist demonstration in this city to attack the Nano government and repeat slogans for its overthrow, but without showing the ways to realise it.

He called on the participants in one of the Luigj Gurakuqi university halls to raise to topple the current regime, which according to him, is to humiliate the Albanians, their freedom, the Albanian nation.

"This regime is anti-national, this is why it brings to Albanians humiliation and poverty, in order to stay in power," Berisha said.

Berisha regarded June 29,1997, the day of the parliamentary elections, in which the Democratic Party suffered a great loss, as the day of national disaster.

The June 29 elections, which put an end to the chaos created in Albania in the spring of this year due to the bad governing of the Democratic Party, have been considered by the international community fair and acceptable. lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] HANI HOTIT BORDER CROSSING POINT TO BE OPEN SOON

Prefect of Shkodra Gezim Podgorica urged the Montenegrin side to open the Hani i Hotit soon, a border crossing which has been closed since the March unrest.

Vujoviç expressed his readiness to establish closer cooperation not only in trade but also in telecommunication, tourism and others. He said that this cooperation will start with the opening of this border crossing and added that Muriqani border crossing, 6 km from Shkodra, closed since 1948, is expected to be opened soon.

The meeting decided that both commercial chambers hold a working meeting to promote trade and stimulate investments of interest for the Shkodra region. ake/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] ITALIAN COASTAL GUARD BLOCKS A DINGHY WITH 12 PERSON ABOARD

Sources from the Group 28 of the Italian military marine corps said that the dinghy was handed over to police authorities of the Durres port, while 12 people were detained for some hours to check the documents. ake/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] INTER-MINISTERIAL ANTI-CONTRABAND COMMISSION CONVENES

Present were Minister of Finance Arben Malaj, Interior minister Neritan Ceka, Justice minister Thimjo Kondi, Attorney General Arben Rakipi.

Information and Media Department at the Council of Minister said that Fino informed them on the last government meeting, which passed two bills to combat contraband and they have been submitted to parliament.

Fino presented two other draft projects and the meeting agreed to sign within next week an instruction of the inter-ministerial committee on how to lead and coordinate the fight against smuggling. It asked that two draft projects be submitted to the next routine government meeting. ake/kled/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] MYRTEZA CAUSHI (ZANI) CREATES PROBLEMS IN JAIL

The Justice Ministry reports that yesterday at around 22.10, when the second shift was being replaced by the third, a conflict took place between policeman Pashk Bushati and prisoner Myrteza Caushi.

Caushi, who was out of the room for personal needs, did not obey the order of the policeman to go into his room, and after insulting words he hit the policeman.

Caushi managed to forcibly open another room in which were two other inmates and, with their help, he stroke the policeman. The ready police unit and that of the policemen of other sectors intervened and avoided an unforeseen incident.

The Prison General Department assessed the event on Friday and decided to put Çaushi and another inmate, whose name was not revealed, under solitary confinement. The inmate Gezim Bushgjoka, who claimed responsibility for the incident, was put under tight security.

The attacked policeman has brought a law suit at the Judicial police of Commissariat 3 in Tirana.

A spokesman of the Justice Ministry said that the government on Friday adopted a new prison regulation, submitted by the ministry. s.s/kled/lm/ak/

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