Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-04-02

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Population of northeastern Albania decreasing

[02] Ex-Interior Minister Celo missing - papers

[03] Head of Parliamentary Law Commission criticises its performance

[04] Albanian hails U.N. Security Council resolution to impose arms embargo

[05] Italy repatriates 57 Albanian illegal emigrants

[06] Mutual accusations for post of constitution co-chairman

[07] To strengthen for local government elections - Republicans

[08] DP ready to vote in favour of establishment of Communist Party

[09] Special penitentiary police to be set up - Parliament

[10] Balli Kombetar to defend rights of communists

[11] Number of Union for Democracy representatives in Constitutional Commission increased

[12] Serbian authorities to discuss with Kosova Albanians - Burns

[13] Protocol of third Albanian-Russian session signed

[14] We see new possibilities at mutual interest in bilateral economic relations - Kudrin

[15] United States concerned on ongoing violence in Drenica

[01] Population of northeastern Albania decreasing

Currently, the number of the inhabitants in this prefecture is 152 000 from 168 000 at the beginning of 1996. That is, 16 000 inhabitants of these areas have left this zone in two years.

Although the birth rate is very high in this zone, the number of the population keeps decreasing.

The northeastern zone or the Kukes prefecture, which included the districts of Kukes, Has, and Tropoje, covers an area of 237 318 hectares and makes up 1/12 of Albania's territory. Only 15 554 hectares is agricultural land. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Ex-Interior Minister Celo missing - papers

Under this frontpaged title, newspapers Koha Jone and Zeri i Popullit report on a several-day absence of Belul Celo, Interior Minister at the time of the National Reconciliation Government.

"Placed under investigation by the Military prosecutor's office since several days ago about the activity of the Republic's Guard when he was interior Minister, Celo is probably missing not only in Tirane but also in Albania," says Koha Jone.

Sources from the General Attorney's office, to which the paper refers, says that former Interior Minister should have appeared before this office, but since Sunday he has kept out of sight.

"Despite repeated summons, there has been no sign of the former minister. The fear of facing penal persecution has driven Celo to a possible departure from Albania, perhaps without return," the paper says.

Several days ago Celo was questioned by a group of prosecutors and explained several important episodes of the events in the Guard of the Republic, Zeri i Popullit says.

The paper adds that "the creation of several enigmatic units, equipping the political militants, especially several structures of the National Information Service, with arms of the Guard, the military acts of "The Cerrik" variant or of "Military hospital" scandal, are reported to be the issues Celo will be responsible for.

"One week ago Celo was interrogated by the prosecutors and gave evidence of what he knew," says Koha Jone. Celo descended the stairs of the military investigation office and seems not to go up again," says the paper hinting that the country the former democrat leader has chosen to avoid investigations seems to be Greece.

"The former minister's departure has been realised shortly after several threats by DP militants, after his first evidence, hinting that everything was done by order of Berisha," Zeri i Popullit says, referring to sources close to him.

Zeri i Popullit says that a number of leading officials, responsible for last March events, such as former commander of the Guard Xhahid Xhaferi, former deputy Interior Minister Agim Shehu, former Chief of the Army General Staff Adem Copani and others have now fled the country.

Although the state bodies have not yet confirmed anything on Cela's departure, all signs and reasons lead to a possible flight". /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Head of Parliamentary Law Commission criticises its performance

"We have been led by wrong concepts in our performance and we have been trying to get a constitution in a voluntary way, that is, we are dealing with its drafting after having finished all the other things," said Abdiu.

He proposed the suspension of any other activity of the members of the Commission, except that of the government members.

Abdiu's proposal was rejected by the two co-chairmen, Sabri Godo (Republican party) and minister of Institutional Reform, Arben Imami (Democratic-Alliance Party), who argued that in this commission the deputies have been assigned by their parties considering their capabilities and not other offices.

After this debate, the commission did not hold its proceedings, as the majority was absent, because of the parliament's plenary session. /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Albanian hails U.N. Security Council resolution to impose arms embargo

TIRANA, April 2 (ATA)-The Albanian government on Wednesday hailed the Resolution of the U.N. Security Council to impose arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

"The resolution, recommended by the Contact Group which met in London on March 9, 1998, is a positive step towards the settlement of the crisis in Kosova," says a press release of the Foreign Ministry of Albania.

"The imposition of arms embargo on Yugoslavia constitutes a tough measure, which narrows the possibility of exercising violence on the unprotected Albanian population of Kosova and favours the beginning of a political process in whose essence are the negotiations between Belgrade and Prishtine".

"The Foreign Ministry would like to express the belief that the nationals which ensured the approval of this resolution, first of all the Contact Group nations, will continue to employ the proper measures and instruments to force Milosevic to respect the obligations defined on the Contact Group Statement on March 9," says the release.

Closely following the latest developments in Kosova, the ministry considers the handover of the Institute for Albanian Studies in Prishtine to the Albanian scholars of Kosova as a first step towards the implementation of the education accord hoped to be followed by other steps.

"The promotion of this process would help defuse tensions and create conditions for the beginning of a genuine dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtine with international mediation, the release says.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry expresses the belief that "The U.S. and the European Union, chaired by Britain, will keep playing a decisive role in handling the current crisis in Kosova and finding a fair and long-term solution." /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Italy repatriates 57 Albanian illegal emigrants

The 57 illegal emigrants, found by the Italian police without papers, arrived in Durres port by the Bari-Durres and Brindisi-Durres line ferries.

The border police of Durres Port released them after the respective identifications. /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Mutual accusations for post of constitution co-chairman

"The government appoints Godo like Enver Hoxha who appointed Vitori Curri as representative of the minority," said the democratic leader, Sali Berisha, in a public statement published Thursday in the press of the Democratic Party.

The reply of the leading staff of the Republic Party on the same day has been immediate and severe. According to the spokesman of this party, "it is easy for Berisha to make parallelisms with that time when every decision was taken by the former Party of Labour, and he has been its secretary for several consecutive years."

Meanwhile, it is Godo himself who has presented in Parliament the problem of reexamining his appointment in this function, because only the People's Assembly has the right to do this. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] To strengthen for local government elections - Republicans

The forth-coming campaign for the elections of the local government in those zones where the posts are vacant, forces the presidency of the Republican Party to dedicate its meeting to the improvement and strengthening of its bodies in different prefectures. /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] DP ready to vote in favour of establishment of Communist Party

The parliamentary commission of laws and that of economy presented during the parliamentary sitting on Thursday the problems faced during the examination of these draft-laws.

The independent deputy Maksim Hasani, who has proposed one of these draft-laws which would open way to the legalization of the Communist Party, expressed the discontent for the continuous postponement of the examination in the plenary session of the draft and asked its examination separated from the other draft.

Meanwhile, the deputy of the Democratic Party, Ylli Vejsiu, said that the democratic deputies were prepared to vote against the draft-law proposed by a group of deputies, but not against it which would open way to the legalization of the Communist Party.

The parliament presidency has decided to discuss the two draft-laws in parliament next week. /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Special penitentiary police to be set up - Parliament

With this law, it is set up a special force depended directly by the General Department of Prisons and therefore by the Justice Ministry to secure order in the penitentiary system. Actually, the duties of these police are carried out by the order police.

The law "On the penitentiary system" is part of a package of laws prepared by the government for the penitentiary system, the other laws of which will be discussed in the following parliamentary sittings.

Parliament also ratified the European Convention of Extradition and two supplementary protocols for it. /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Balli Kombetar to defend rights of communists

Since the World War II, the communists and "ballists" have been political enemies. The Communist Party, set up in 1941, led the National Liberation War, meanwhile that it accused Balli Kombetar of collaborating with Nazi-fascists. The nationalists also participated in this party (Balli). /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Number of Union for Democracy representatives in Constitutional Commission increased

Now, from this grouping, only the Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Union Party have not proposed their candidatures for representatives in the Constitutional Commission.

In the two previous sittings, Parliament has approved the candidatures of the representative of Legality Movement Party, Spartak Ngjela and that of the Christian Democratic Party, Zef Bushati. /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Serbian authorities to discuss with Kosova Albanians - Burns

The press and information department close to the Council of Ministers informs that Mrs. Meksi discussed in this Forum on the priorities of the economic stabilization and the development of the energetic industry in Albania.

In his speech, the U.S. ambassador in Greece, Nicolas Burns, made a presentation of the U.S. policy in the region and the ways how to stimulate the political and economic development of the Balkans.

With regard to the situation in Kosova, Burns said that the USA sees as the only way for the peaceful solutions of the conflict "the defence of the territorial integrity and the existing borders, putting an end to the acts of violence, both from the Serbian police and the Albanian extremists, and meanwhile that we do not support the independence of Kosova, we would like to promote a substantial increase of the political freedom there, which should contain a real self-administration."

Burns said that "at the time that there is noted no progress in several fields, it is very important that the Serbian authorities go immediately towards the political discussions with the Kosova Albanians. Like the U.S. State Secretary, Madeleine Albright, warned in Boon on March 25, the Contact Group should be ready to undertake concrete measures, if within four weeks President Milosevic fails to start the serious dialogue between the two parties."

The U.S. government is convinced that only strong operations, coordinated by the international community, could help the solution of the Kosovar crisis, said Burns. /s.sh/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Protocol of third Albanian-Russian session signed

The press and information department, close to this ministry, informs that for the Albanian party the protocol was signed by the deputy Minister of Economy, Adriana Berberi, while for the Russian party is was signed by the deputy Minister of Finances of the Russian Federation, Aleksej Kudrin.

The Russian party reconfirmed the interest of the Russian organizations to take part in the construction of the gas pipeline in the territory of Albania, of hydro and thermo power stations, objects of the metallurgic works of Elbasan, and others.

Both parties were engaged to promote the cooperation of touristic agencies of both countries, the cooperation between universities and other educational, research and scientific institutions, exchange of information and increase of cooperation between agencies to encourage foreign investments. /s.sh/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] We see new possibilities at mutual interest in bilateral economic relations - Kudrin

Kudrin said in this meeting that the current sitting of the joint commission should be a serious promotion for the improvement of the bilateral economic relations, press and information department in the Foreign Ministry reported.

He greeted the Albanian government for restoring order and the ambitions it has in the introduction of the market economy.

"The all-round cooperation of Albania with international bodies is a guarantee for a serious partnership," he stressed, adding that "we see in Albania new possibilities which may have mutual interest in the bilateral economic relations."

Minister Milo voiced the will of the Albanian government for the development of relations with the Russian Federation.

"I have expressed the sincere wish of the Albanian government for the development of relations with Russia also in the meeting with Mr. Primakov in Moscow," said Milo, adding that "I am glad that what we decided in Moscow regarding the Joint Commission was realized on time."

Further on, the Albanian Foreign Minister considered as important the work of the Commission for the improvement of bilateral relations, as well as fixing in the protocol the steps to be taken by both sides for the realization of mutual engagements in the field of economic cooperation. /s.sh/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] United States concerned on ongoing violence in Drenica

Rugova and Ischinger held a long talk on the situation in Kosova and the steps to be taken for the peaceful solution of the Kosova issue.

Ambassador Ischinger stressed the determination and engagement of Germany for the rapid progress regarding the solution of the Kosova issue and pointed out the importance of appeal of the Contact Group for an unconditional dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.

Chairman Rugova stressed that the situation in Kosova is very tense due to the Serbian police actions carried out in several regions of Kosova. He said that despite the escalated violence, the people and leadership of Kosova are resolute to realize the freedom and independence through political and peaceful means. The dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, with the help and mediation of a third party, is necessary for the fair solution of the Kosova matter, Rugova pointed out.

Ambassador Ischinger was engaged in the rapid implementation of the Agreement on Education. He stressed that the European Union is ready to help in this direction and called on all parties to cooperate with the San Egidio community to alleviate tensions in Kosova.

President Rugova thanked on this occasion Germany for the engagement and constant help in the solution of the Kosova issue. /la/das/mt/

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

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