Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-22

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press review

[02] Police intercept a dinghy, owner detained

[03] Creditors' association holds peaceful rally

[04] Albania, EU to promote cooperation

[05] Italian motorboat seized in Albanian coast for smuggled cigarette

[06] Armed persons control police directorate

[07] Interior ministry denies report that Tirana-Shkoder road blocked

[08] Shkodra police forces are bringing situation under control

[09] Ali Kazazi put under house arrest

[10] Minister says terrorist action of clear political intentions

[01] Press review

The daily Koha Jone highlights the visit of the Albanian prime minister in Macedonia saying "Ohrid, Albania-Macedonia bridge." It says that the Macedonian side considered Nano's visit in Macedonia a progress in friendly relations between the two countries and a factor of stability in the region.

"Nano in Ohrid, Kosova again," the daily Gazeta Shqiptare reports on this visit saying "according to formal reports, Nano and Cervenkovski focused on the situation in the Balkans and especially in Kosova."

The daily Shekulli focusing on the Nano-Cervenkovski said "A special attention was devoted to Kosova in talks," and the daily Dita Informacion says "Kosova and telecommunication have been the main topics of negotiations."

Rilindja says that "both prime ministers committed themselves to frequent meetings, which will serve exchange information and help implement common projects between the two countries." ake/ak/

The daily Koha Jone carries the article entitled "Constitution even without DP", quoting the Greek Euro deputy Dimitris Tsatsos saying in yesterday's news conference at the end of his Albania visit. He said that "if the procedures for the approval are regular, Europe will recognize the Albanian constitution."

The daily Zeri i Popullit, covering the same topic, carries the article "Constitution - passport to Europe." It quotes Tsatsos as saying "the procedural structure for a draft of constitution in Albania is laudable.

He added: "this is the first time he faces such a tolerant composition of the commission on constitution." Under the tittle "Constitution urgent, not new elections," it carries the statement of three parliamentary missions in Albania, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of Europe and European Parliament.

Other dailies also cover the visit of the Euro deputy.

Shekulli reports that "the constitution is a condition to enter Europe" quoting Tsatsos as saying "It is the first time for him to see that a political force with over 100 seats in parliament, to have only six members in the constitutional commission."

Republika reports that Greek Euro constitutionalist Tsatsos said "Constitutional commission in Albania is an example for all Europe."

The daily Rilindja Demokratike says "constitutionalist and Greek Euro parliamentarian Tsatsos said on Saturday that the Democratic party leader Sali Berisha was predisposed to find a compromise concerning the constitution." ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Police intercept a dinghy, owner detained

The same sources told ATA on Saturday at 22.30 p.m. that the patrol boat intercepted and blocked the dinghy some 10 miles from the Lagji cape, South of Kavaja.

Twelve men, four women, one of them pregnant, and two little children were aboard of an eight-meter long motorised dinghy.

The dinghy was tugged to the port of Durres where the Albanian police detained the owner Mehmet Ismaili, 18, inhabitant of Kavaja, Central Albania. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Creditors' association holds peaceful rally

"Our association numbers over 40,000 members," Fatos Kadeshi, head of the Tirana division said to ATA He added: "Our request 'we want our money' is legally addressed to everyone in power."

First, the crowd gathered in front of the VEFA Holding headquarters at the "Avni Rustemi" square and later they were directed to the Skenderbej square.

They strongly asked that "Deloite & Touche", a foreign company which is auditing the collapsed pyramid investment schemes, leave Albania.

The crowd called it "suspected" and urged that the administration of five biggest money lending companies such as VEFA, Gjallica, Cenaj, Silva, M.Leka, be done after a nationwide refendum.

Misret Sahiti head of the association addressed the peaceful rally saying that "the present government's cabinet should not submit to pressure of foreigners."

Representatives of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund should be aware of that "Albania will be built by Albanians themselves and so it would be."

Some 500 participants of the legal rally signed a petition, which will be addressed to prime minister Fatos Nano asking him " to allow VEFA Holding continues its activity in the interest of creditors."

Police which attended the meeting maintained law and order. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Albania, EU to promote cooperation

The meeting drafted a program of interministerial cooperation to prepare a meeting of the Albania-E.U. common commission scheduled on March 23-24 in Tirana, the same source said. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Italian motorboat seized in Albanian coast for smuggled cigarette

The same sources that two Italians and a Polish citizen were intercepted at 11.30. a.m. on board of the Patricia motor boat, which was 18 meters long with four Sietec motors six miles from the Lagji cape.

They were handed over to Durres police because three packages of Marlboro cigare were found in their boat and they did not have regular papers. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Armed persons control police directorate

Armed persons entered the building of the directorate, released the detainees and raided the offices, the same source said.

The source considered the situation difficult with fire arms heard in the city. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Interior ministry denies report that Tirana-Shkoder road blocked

They said that all the important works in this road axis, such as bridge and others, are protected by police forces and the road traffic continues normally.

The same sources said that police forces of Shkodra control all important buildings and institutions in the city such as bank, governor's office, town hall and Radio Shkodra. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Shkodra police forces are bringing situation under control

Police forces facing such a terrorist attack were forced not to respond to the fusillade, what could cause innocent victims, the spokesman said.

The armed persons put fire on the police station after releasing their criminal friends, who were in the detention rooms pending trial.

Recalling the latest events in the city, the spokesman said that it was not difficult to understand who were the persons carrying out the action of clear terrorist intentions.

The police forces are bringing the situation under control and restoring law and order in the city. mima/ak/

[09] Ali Kazazi put under house arrest

"Something has been achieved, however I am not satisfied with the decision. This is a court's ruling but before this legal process I have recourse to the Supreme Court," Kazazi's lawyer said to ATA.

Kazazi was one of the 14 persons detained after the Milot event and accused of opposing the police forces in group and illegal possession of arms. ake/mima/ak/

[10] Minister says terrorist action of clear political intentions

Ceka told the Albanian television on Sunday evening that "cooperation between terrorism linked with foreign services, is trying to destabilize Albania."

He added: "This shows that we have to do with a defined group, which tries to destabilize Shkodra, Albania at the time when the Kosova issue is on the agenda. This is why they have been isolated from the people of Shkodra, despite their efforts to stir up terror in other parts of the city."

Ceka said that those, who attacked the police station in Shkoder were "a 15-member masked group, part of them coming from Montenegro, who aimed at creating terror and releasing the criminals pending trial in the commissariat's detention rooms.

Taking advantage of the fact that it was Sunday they have managed to neutralize a small number of policemen, who were in police station shooting from all sides from the surrounding houses and flats, using even an armoured personnel carrier.

Ceka said that terrorists "have inspired terror and released other 35 criminals, who are on the run, arrested for murder and others for petty larceny."

He said that "the police have maintained their positions and the reinforcements from the surrounding districts will help establish order as soon as possible."

Commissariats and units of the rapid intervention force in Shkodra are under the control of police and the situation in other northern cities is calm, he added.

"We have to do with only clearly defined terrorist action and with clear political intentions to destabilize Albania at a time when the situation is calm and the fight against criminality has recorded successes and criminals are paralysed," Ceka said expressing that "surely, this effort had failed since it was planned." s.s/mima/ak/

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

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