Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-26

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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] Immunity of deputy Azem Hajdari lifted

[03] Hajdari defends himself by insulting parliament

[04] Immunity of anyone who violates law to be revoked - Ceka

[05] Revolt in Tirane prison ends

[06] Police detain three illegal-weapon possessors; among whom a Montenegrin

[07] No explosive planted in aqueduct of Fushe-Kuqe

[08] Majko says Hajdari commits penal acts even with his statement

[09] Mithat Havari named General Director of Prisons

[10] Tirane prison 313 under police control - after extinguishing revolt

[11] Detainees of Shkoder events with service passports since Berisha governing

[12] Albania's premier congratulates Rugova for his reelection in LDK

[13] Parliament ends approval of anti crime law package

[14] MAPE mission to extend mandate for another year, secretary says

[15] Time of cooperation, understanding, no to hatred, president says

[01] Press review

DP leader Azem Hajdari, beginning from yesterday evening, will not have the immunity of deputy to the People's Assembly, Koha Jone says.

The accusation filed by prosecutor Arben Rakipi against Hajdari was: "violent resistance, in complicity, against police officer and insult because of duty," the paper says.

"Hajdari facing lawyers", is the title of an article of Gazeta Shqiptare which says that "by 96 votes for and only six against, the December man will now have to deal with the Prosecutor's office and the charges brought against him".

The floor in the session was also taken by Azem Hajdari, says Zeri i Popullit, which quotes Ilir Meta as saying that "Hajdari's threat in parliament makes me think that he has acted in the same way with the public order forces".

Dita Informacion says that "Today this parliament will vote to revoke Hajdari's immunity; two-three years ago the former parliament voted for lifting Hajdari's immunity only because he had struck a public worker with a fist, on February 14 he struck the state," Majko has said.

"The rebel deputy is deprived of his immunity", is the headline of Shekulli.

Rilindja Demokratike says "the parliament of gangs ask jail sentence for the December leader". TIRANA, Feb. 26 (ATA) - Today's dailies report on their first pages the revolt in the jail of Tirana on Wednesday.

"Revolt in jail, police intervene," is the title of the article published by Koha Jone, which also says that everything has started at about 22:00. It is still unclear how did the revolt break and how the cells were stormed. The same paper continues that tranquility seemed to had been returned in the prison by 00:30.

According to Gazeta Shqiptare, the situation in the Tirana prison has been tense. Bare, in the head of the operation to take over the building, has stressed that "police will put everything under control until morning."

Yesterday's revolt in the Tirana prison, writes Zeri i Popullit, was made possible after a series of provoking articles published in the newspapers close to Berisha and DP. As it is known, in the jail of Tirana are also 22 detainees of the last event in Shkoder and those detained in the previous event of Milot. It is still unclear whether there is any connection between the events in Shkoder and those in the Tirana prison, ends this paper.

With regard to the same topic, Dita Informacion stresses that "the detainees of Shkoder and Milot have been participants in the prison revolt. Three policemen were taken hostage," while Shekulli writes in the subtitle "Revolt in prison, police with armoured vehicles."

Rilindja Demokratike and Albania cover this event under the titles "Revolt in Tirana jail," and "The jail of Tirana was stormed." The Tirane police's request for penal prosecution against organisers of DP's unauthorised rally at the Scanderbeg square on Wednesday is covered by Thursday's papers.

"Police denounce Sali Berisha", is the title of an article by Koha Jone which says that the DP rally at the Scanderbeg Square is denounced. The leaders of this party Sali Berisha, Genc Pollo, Ridvan Bode and others will soon go to the Tirana Prosecutor's office for protesting at a place unaouthorsed by the police.

Gazeta Shqiptare, referring to this issue, says that "Public order's indictment against yesterday's rally of the Union for Democracy is expected to arrive at the Prosecutor's offices today". It says further on that the indictment contains the name of those who issued the request and also of those who spoke at this rally.

"The police: 100 persons to the commissariat for unauthorised rally", under this headline Dita Informacion says that penal prosecution will begin against some of them. One of them is the organiser of the rally, Ridvan Bode, it says.

Shekulli devotes to this issue the article:"Police patience exhausted yesterday".

Rilindja Demokratike, referring to this event, carries the article entitled:"Fetters and terror against the opposition", stressing since in the headline that "after the rally, police arrest 115 protesters".

Several papers report on Wednesday's massacre in Berat, where five people were killed.

Regarding this grave terrorist act Koha Jone reports that yesterday a group of 4-5 armed men attacked a coffee shop, in which there were many people.

The paper makes known the victims of this act and refers to ATA, which informed by police sources, says that "two of the criminals have been caught, while until around 17.15 the police forces held sieged a building near Vertop where one of the criminals was".

The police kill one of the bandits and arrest two others, says Zeri i Popullit on this event.

Shekulli reports that "the killings were result of a conflict of two rival groups".

Several papers also refer to an explosive placed at the water pipeline supplying Durres and Kavaje.

Koha Jone, on this event, quotes the Durres governor as saying :"A mere terrorist deed". /s.sh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Immunity of deputy Azem Hajdari lifted

In this way, the deputies approved the request of the Attorney General, under the charge of objection to the police forces and insult because of duty, thus opening way to the investigations into the event of Milot.

Attending the voting were 100 deputies and 93 of them voted for lifting the immunity, 6 against and a ballot paper was invalid. /a.ke/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Hajdari defends himself by insulting parliament

Hajdari spoke after the chairman of the commission of regulation, mandates and immunity, Spartak Braho, read the report that the Attorney General had presented in this commission to support his request for the removal of the immunity of deputy Azem Hajdari.

Hajdari is accused of "violent resistance to police forces because of duty."

"The immunity commission did not say whether Hajdari is guilty or no, but considered that the immunity should be revoked to open way to investigations," said Braho in response to several questions of deputies.

Deputy Hajdari, using severe tones, the same as in news conference or other public declarations, gave a different version from that of the prosecutor's office regarding the event of Milot. Hajdari claimed that "the event of Milot was an attempt on his life."

He addressed his insults to Interior Minister Neritan Ceka and Attorney General Arben Rakipi.

After responding to several questions, Hajdari left parliament's hall. /a.ke/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Immunity of anyone who violates law to be revoked - Ceka

Minister Ceka added that police are very motivated in their acts. He read before parliament the information from the police of Lezhe and Kurbin, which gave facts about the acts of persons who accompanied Hajdari and considered them armed gangs. The information spoke of arm threat against police forces and says that the criminals throw their weapons away.

"I agree not to treat this case as a political one," said Ceka.

He informed parliament that the Interior Ministry has decided to arrest the persons who travel in car convoys throughout Albania and said that "these vehicles will be sequestrated."

Ceka warned all deputies not to hold bodyguards, because it is illegal. /a.ke/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Revolt in Tirane prison ends

Interior Ministry sources confirmed to ATA that "the revolt in Tirana's prison ended at 05.30 on Thursday. The special forces dealt with this event overnight".

These are preliminary reports on the revolt launched by the prison's inmates at 22.00 on Wednesday. /s.sh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Police detain three illegal-weapon possessors; among whom a Montenegrin

The car did not stop at the police roadblock sign, near the Krume town, but the police forces hunted it down and managed to block it.

In this car were the driver, Sali Abaz Gjonbalaj, 25, born and inhabitant of Plave of Montenegro, Rec Sule Dollapi, 34, and Sadik Tahir Aliaj, 52, both born and inhabitants of Tropoje.

The spokesman says that during the car check the police found three automatic rifles, 25 hand grenades, five prepared assault grenades and around 1 600 shells. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] No explosive planted in aqueduct of Fushe-Kuqe

According to the above sources, after the report for planting a quantity of explosive in the Fushe-Kuqe aqueduct, district of Kurbin, an investigating group and specialists of this aqueduct went immediately to the spot and reached the conclusion that only a technical breakdown had occurred in the aqueduct.

The chairwoman of the district council of Kurbin told ATA that "the technical breakdown was avoided and the aqueduct functions normally since Thursday morning." /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Majko says Hajdari commits penal acts even with his statement

"Hajdari was once deprived of his immunity by his party, DP, as he slapped a public worker in his face. Now his immunity is being asked to be revoked because he opposes the state," said Majko.

"Hajdari says that parliament is illegitimate, but forgets to say that he is chairman of the defence commission," said Majko.

According to Majko, the DP group should have attended today's session, which discusses the request of the Prosecutor General to remove Hajdari's immunity, to defend its deputy.

"I think there are segments of the Albanian politics which undertake revanche relying on mafia and anti-law", said Majko referring to the latest events.

Meanwhile, Zef Bushati, on behalf of the parliamentary centre-right group, expressed himself against lifting Hajdari's immunity. While Vladimir Fejzo, on behalf of the Liberal-democratic group, expressed in favour of revoking Hajdari's immunity. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Mithat Havari named General Director of Prisons

According to the same sources, Havari replaced in this duty former director Dalip Zhabolli. The proposal for the appointment of Havari in this post has been made by the Justice Minister, Thimjo Kondi.

Mithat Havari has worked recently as director of police directorate in Berat (South) and then in Shkoder (North). During this time he has been outstanding for rigorously respecting law and as a result he has been gravely accused by set segments of the Democratic Party (opposition). /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Tirane prison 313 under police control - after extinguishing revolt

Neza said that on Wednesday night, at around 22.00, the detained and the convicted of prison 313 staged a revolt, taking hostage four policemen on duty. Later the inmates opened doors and involved in destructions, but none of them could flee the jail's internal spaces.

According to Neza, Myrteza Çaushi, dubbed Zani of Vlore, was as well in the pre-trial rooms. (Zani is convicted of a series of criminal acts during the February-March '97 riots in the Vlore city). But the spokesman said that he was not aware of the fact whether Zani had been the initiator of the revolt.

The spokesman said that in this revolt the inmates asked improvement of their living conditions.

The revolt ended after Justice deputy Minister Artan Hajdari and Police Director General Sokol Bare met with prisoners' representatives.

Hajdari and Bare gave the convicts a 10 minute's time to surrender otherwise the law would be implemented.

"Faced with this alternative, the convicted, one by one, surrendered themselves to the prison bodies," said Neza.

"During this revolt, no one was injured on either side (the police forces or the convicted), the spokesman said.

"The prosecutor's office is carrying out investigations about the inmates who initiated the revolt and about the prison's administration staff on duty that day", said Neza.

According to the spokesman the Interior Ministry has asked help from the Government and international institutions to repair the damages. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Detainees of Shkoder events with service passports since Berisha governing

The above mentioned persons are Bepin Mark Ndoci and Gjergj Deda, arrested Monday as perpetrators of robberies and destructions on February 22 and 23. While Gjergj Deda is arrested for involvement into the event of taking hostage former governor of Shkoder, Gezim Podgorica. Avni Mustafaraj and Akil Gjoni are part of the group of 14 persons, accused of illegally possessing of weapons and violently resisting police officers, detained in the town of Milot.

According to the spokesman, Gjoni was declared wanted by police commissariat of Kukes, accused of committing several penal acts. /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Albania's premier congratulates Rugova for his reelection in LDK

"We are convinced that your reelection in this post of highest responsibility will contribute to find a right and peaceful solution to the very difficult and complicated issue of Kosova," the message said.

"It will also influence not only on reviving the LDK prestige in the political life in Kosova but especially on giving this issue an international character and mobilising the international opinion to avert the conflict and their maximum engagement in resolving the Kosova issue," it said.

Expressing his regret for failing to attend the assembly, Nano said to Rugova that "we are sure that ongoing meetings between our parties and us will serve exchange views to find a way out from the crisis and at the same time contribute not only to the interests of the Albanian people, wherever they are, but also safeguard peace and stability in the region." s.sh/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Parliament ends approval of anti crime law package

Law on criminal police was considered and approved by an accelerated procedure due to the latest events in Shkoder.

Other laws are those on the use of fire arms, code of the police ethic, special and rapid intervention forces. ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] MAPE mission to extend mandate for another year, secretary says

The department of information and media at the Council of Ministers said that the prime minister Nano acquainted the guests with the security situation in Albania, measures to pave way for reforms in the Albanian police, lift the level of professionalism and keeping it away from party politics.

Nano praised the aid WEU has offered so far and the special contribution of the MAPE police mission in restructuring the Albanian police.

Cutileiro made an analysis of the cooperation between Albania and WEU, results the MAPE mission achieved and informed that the mandate of this mission will be extended for another year.

The meeting was addressed by the Albanian Minister of State Kastriot Islami, Interior Minister Neritan Ceka and ambassadors of France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Bulgaria who made questions and expressed views on promotion of cooperation. ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Time of cooperation, understanding, no to hatred, president says

Representatives from Mokra province and thousand of inhabitants attended the convention "Say yes to Love, no to hatred" held in Proptisht commune.

Head of the initiating commission Hamit Balliu said "that Mokra does not have blood feud problems but disagreements and disputes stirred up by the tensed political situation. We call on all Albanian politicians and the people to say yes to love and understanding, and no to hatred."

President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, attending the convention, said: "I am here to sign together with you the decisions of this convention, to be united and get rid of vain disputes, which sow only sufferings and backwardness."

President Meidani thanked the Mokra people who attended the convention of good understanding despite political affiliations.

Later, orators called on the people for reconciliation, understanding and nationwide tolerance.

The Mokra convention decided that zonal commissions find out disagreements and mediate between the sides in conflict to reconcile them, private property be considered sacred and weapons be surrendered.

President Meidani and village representatives of Mokra province signed the decision. ake/das/ak/

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

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