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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-02Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] OSCE ambassador to Tirana visits Northern AlbaniaKUKES, May 1 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: The OSCE ambassador to Tirana Daan Everts arrived in Kukes city to see the situation in this borderregion with the former Yugoslavia. He held closed door talks with leaders of the local administration, police stations of the Kukes and Has districts and commanders of the second Infantry Division. "The present situation and different reports on the area obliged us to come and see the situation by ourselves," Everts said to journalists at the entrance of the prefecture building. The prefect Qemal Elezi said that "they discussed newest problems in the prefecture and close cooperation with the OSCE." Everts also said that they were closely following the situation and there was no problem so far. "The tense situation in Kosova has in some way affected the social problems of the region," he said adding that nevertheless no price hike was recorded. Meanwhile, the normal movement of the Albanian citizens, who trade with Prizren, through the customs point of Morina continues. The prefect said that the defence staff of the prefecture has taken all the measures including first the defence of border line and avoidance of any kind of weapons trafficking. s.sh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Army's general chief of staff inspects KukesTIRANA, May 2 (ATA) - General chief of staff of the Albanian army, Brigadier General Aleks Andoni, inspected recently the military units of Kukes and Tropoja regions, Northern Albania.The Brigadier General Andoni held talks with commanders of the military units deployed in this area and leaders of the local administration and got acquainted with the situation along the Albanian-Yugoslav border, spokesman of the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. He inspected the Infantry Brigade in Kukes, Artillery Regiment in Bicaj, Infantry brigade in Meteor and the Infantry brigade in Bajram Curri to be familiarised with the situation and military exercises underway. The general chief of staff congratulated the officers of the Kukes Division for their mobilisation and readiness and urged them to improve elements of the military readiness in close cooperation with the structures of the local administration and the population of the region. He also held talks with the secretary of the prefecture of Kukes, head of the town hall of Bajram Curri and chief of the police commissariats in these regions. s.s/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Investigation for former Vefa president do not prevent transparencyTIRANE, May 2 (ata) - By Th Thanasi: After the custody for Vehbi Alimucaj, former president of Vefa company and three other people on the charge of embezzlement in large scale, the group of prosecutors for the case is working to find other written or material proofs."We are working intensively into the matter but the investigation is not an obstacle for the transparence. The Deloitte & Touche is working normally" the head of investigation in the General Attorney's Office told ATA on Saturday. In order to gather facts for the case, the investigators' group has sequestered a number of written documents and disketes of Vefa company, one of the prosecutors of the case said. According to him, these documents will be attached to banking documents sequestered before for January-June 1997, period for which the detained are accused of. The form of custody for Vehbi Alimucaj passed by the Tirana District Court was 15 days in jail, for his collaborators, Kujtim Dervishi was detention for 5 days, while Vangjelica Merkaj and Edmond Leskaj have to report to the Court. The charge of the prosecutors was "theft through deceit in cooperation and in large scale." Alimucaj and three other people were arrested in the midnight of Tuesday upon order of the General Prosecutors Office. /s.s./xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Rugova says we expected more from Contact GroupPRISHTINE, May 2 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that President of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova told a news conference on Friday that they had expected more from the Contact Group.He added that "nevertheless an implementation of the measures of the Contact Group would have influenced on easing the situation in Kosova." President Rugova thanked the members of the Contact Group for their accord on Kosova and urged a constructive commitment from Russia. He evaluated the situation in Kosova as "very grave and dangerous even for the region" and hailed the U.S., European and NATO engagement for the preventive measures on a solution to the Kosova issue. He drew the attention on the grave situation in Drenica, in border line with Albania, in Decan and Gjakova regions. "Violence and massacres are becoming part of Belgrade's program, which aims at ethnic cleansing in Kosova," Rugova said. He called on the citizens of Kosova to show self-restraint and avoid being prey to provocations of irresponsible individuals and false news that, according to him, "are parts of the special war." President Rugova reiterated the necessity to resolve the Kosova issue peacefully through negotiations at the presence of a third side and in a neutral state. He said that the best solution was an independent and neutral Kosova with all guarantees for Serbs of Kosova and an international protectorate as a transition phase. pta/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Defence Minister of Albania meets with a Turkish military delegationTIRANE, May 2 (ata) - Albanian Minister of Defence Luan Hajdaraga met on Friday with a Turkish high ranking military delegation led by Lieutenant General Yldirim Turker, Albanian Defence Ministry spokesman reports.The aim of the visit of the delegation, which consists of six generals, is to inspect and see in the spot the military units which have received assistance from the Turkish army and to further promote this assistance. Defence Minister Hajdaraga made panorama of the present situation of the Albanian armed forces and of the latest events in Kosove. Hajdaraga highlighted the great and unsparing aid of Turkey for Albania and its army. Speaking of the question of Kosova, Hajdaraga said that it is a delicate issue for all the Balkans and voiced the option of the Albanian Government for a political settlement of the question through talks and in the presence of a third party. "Our Government," said Mr Hajdaraga, "has conducted and is conducting an intense diplomatic activity, and has urged the presence of the NATO forces. The head of the Turkish military delegation, General Turker, stressed that the Turkish Army does not want Kosova become a second Bosnia. "Turkey will be near you and will keep assisting you to rehabilitate the army to the contemporary standards," said General Turker. The delegation had a separate meeting with the Chief of the Albanian Army General Staff, Brigade General Aleks Andoni. During its stay in Albania, the Turkish military delegation will visit the Naval Military Base of Pashaliman, the Academy of Navigation in Vlore and the Commando Brigade in Tirane. /s.s./pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] OSCE Ambassador in Tirane Daan Everts visits customs point of MorineKUKES, May 2 (ata) - By R Hoxha: OSCE Ambassador Daan Everest went on Friday to the customs house of Morine, the district of Kukes.The Police Commissar of Morine, Xhemali Syla said to Mr Everts that no extraordinary event had taken place in that customs house and that work there was continuing normally. The number of the Albanian citizens going to Kosove has been lower as compared with the first months of the current year due to the situation created in Kosove, while nobody comes from the other side of the border, said Syla. Ambassador Everts used binoculars to watch the border line and voiced his opinion that official Tirane has adopted mature steps with regard to the developments in Kosove. In the mean time, one of the inhabitants of the village Morine, present in the meeting, asked Ambassador Everts for a more energetic mediation of the international factor to stop the massacres in Kosove, telling him that recently Serbs had killed his nephew on the Prizren- Gjakove road. Mr Everts stressed that it was important that the question be settled through dialogue and not violence. /s.s/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Four Albanians killed, five injured in intensive bombardmentsPRISHTINE, May 2 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported on Saturday that Vojnik and some other villages of Drenica came under intensive bombardments on Friday, an attack which lasted all day and night.The attack of the forces of the Yugoslav army, the paramilitary and police against these villages continued even on Saturday. Albanian sources from Skenderaj issued a preliminary report saying that many houses were burned down and destroyed and four Albanians were killed, five others injured. Three out of four killed and three out of five injured were members of the Asllan Gashi family in Vojnik whose house was attacked by the artillery shells on Friday at 22.00. p.m. The fourth Albanian killed was from Rakinice village. It was also reported that the Serbian forces facing the resistance of the Albanian population fighting in defence of their houses were forced to withdraw late on Friday from their positions in the check point of Rakinica towards the hill of Thaēi, in Turiēef. The Council of Human Rights and Liberties said that the Serb military- police forces supported by tanks attacked a number of villages in the commune of Skenderaj. The artillery attack started from all the check points where these forces were deployed overlooking the villages of Kopiliq i Epėrm and i Ulėt, Buroje, Vojnik, Jashanice, Aēarevė, quarter of Havallėve, Resnik, quarter of Qarkaj, Rakinicė, and part of Llausha. Friday's battle was a real war, the council reported from Skenderaj. pta/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] "Please, say things that are true" - EvertsKUKES, May 2 (ata) - By R Hoxha: OSCE Ambassador in Albania Daan Everts criticized the press for an unreal coverage of the events.On Friday afternoon, during a visit to Northeastern zone of Albania, Everts told the numerous reporters present in the customs point of Morine: "Please, writes of things that are true, because nothing good comes from gossip." He said that we must gather true information and avoid panic and gossip. Everts advised the reporters that the reporting must be accurate and reliable, so that Albania does not fall prey to propaganda. "Recently the written and electronic mediae have been inaccurate with regard to their reports of the northeastern zone of Albania," said Mr Everts. /s.s./pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Albanian, Macedonian experts discuss promotion of cooperationTIRANA, May 2 (ATA) - A group of experts of the Albanian Ministry of Public Order held a working meeting in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) from April 28 to 30 invited by the Macedonians.Albanian and Macedonian experts discussed promotion of cooperation in fight against drugs, road traffic, illegal smuggling, border regime in the Dibra region and others, a spokesman of the Public Order Ministry said. Representatives of the Macedonian Interior Ministry reconfirmed the assistance in training Albanian specialists and exchanging necessary information on problems concerning both sides. The Albanian delegation met with the Macedonian Interior Minister Tomislav Cokrevski, who confirmed his invitation for a visit of the Albanian Public Order minister in Skopje. Both ministries are expected to sign a protocol on cooperation. s.s/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] "Tirana Beer" holds around 25 percent of local marketTirana, May 1 (ATA) - At present Tirana Beer meets 20 to 25 percent of the Albanian market demands and aims until the end of 1999 to cover 40 percent of this market, General Manager of the brewery told ATA Friday.Tirana brewery, which early 90' had a backward technology and its existence was questionable, could survive and entered the market economy due to an Ecu 1 million loan from the European Community. The loan supported in bringing in the raw material and the package equipment. Currently the first phase of reconstruction is over. According to director Jovan Bregu, Tirana Beer quality has acquired international parameters and has an expiry period of 12-month. The brewery has 150 employees and with an annual output of 150,000 hecto liters, but its current output is 96,000 hecto liter yearly. Two are the worrying factors for brewery's senior representatives, the smuggling of imported beer, which has a competitive price with the locally produced one and secondly are the high taxes applied for factory's equipment and raw materials. At present state applies 20 percent customs duties and 20 percent value added tax for brewery's raw material. Bregu said that they have suggested to the Government to remove these taxes in order to boost the production and to sell it in the market with lower prices. The brewery is run bu the state and in the near future it will be converted into a share holding. But Bregu explains that they are in the initial stage of study ti find out the most effective ways to privatized Tirana Beer. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Import volume of fuel during Q1 is lowTirana, May 1 (ATA) - The import volume of fuel during the first quarter of 1998 is lower compared with the last quarter of 1997.According to data from the customs department, during the last quarter of 1997 have entered Albania 39,650 tonnes of imported fuel, while during first quarter of 1998 only 20,370 tonnes of fuel. Only from Durres custom house entered 14 tonnes of fuel. The figures from customs clearance are still low, when it is known that in Albania is consumed on the average 40,000 liters of fuel monthly. But, besides the rumored fuel smuggling, a negative impact in the reduction of import volume is due to kerosine excise increase to 150 percent in order to prevent the import of kerosine with low taxes. Also in the curtailing of fuel import has influenced the increase of sales from the state run company Albpetrol, which competes the imported products with lower prices. With this market move, the selling of Albpetrol products until the end of March augmented with 30 percent. The sellings, according to companies representatives, are expected to rise in the coming months. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Some Ecu 44 million allocated for Durres-Vlore road segmentTirana, May 1 (ATA) - The total cost of the road segment Vlore - Durres project is figured out to be worth Ecu 44 million and will be co financed by Phare program grant, Ecu 17 million, and a loan Ecu 17 million from the European Bank for Investments, (EBI).Also the Albanian government will contribute with Ecu 5 million in clearing away the construction sites. The Durres - Vlore road segment is part of the project of Tirana- Durres highway construction. The project aims at rehabilitating the road segment which provides the vital connection between the country's capital and the main port. Vlore - Durres road segment is part of East West corridor and also of the main road north east, from Montenegro down to Greece. The total length of Durres - Tirana highway will be 31 km. Works on the project are divided into two phases, starting the construction in both ends of the road segment and are financed separately by Phare program and EBI. Works on this road segment are predicted to be over by the end of 2001. The terms of the Ecu 22 million loan, negotiated by the EBI are that the loan is given for 20 years and will be paid off starting in 2003, covering a 15-year period. The payment of the interest rates depends on the currency and the situation of the financial markets. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Among the killed two are women - DrenicePRISHTINE, May 2 (ata) - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports: According to an incomplete balance sheet of the operations of the Serb forces yesterday in Drenice four Albanians were killed, among them two women, and four wounded in Drenice yesterday. An Albanian was killed during the day in Turicec, while the rest were killed in the evening, at about 10 p.m., when artillery mortars hit their houses in Vojnik. Three of the wounded were of the same family. An 11 year girl was wounded in the village Buroje.As a result of the riot, 24 houses were ruined and set to fire in Rakinice, while no reports are available of the consequences in other villages. /p.ta/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] "Fragments of the sold history. Albania's treasures" presented in RomeTIRANA, May 2 (ATA) - A cultural activity was organized recently in the Italian Ministry of Defence for the presentation of the book "Fragments of the sold history. The treasures of Albania," written by the military architect, Fabio Maniscaico.Attending the ceremony was also the Italian Defence Minister, Beniamino Andreatta, as well as the Albanian ambassador in Italy, Pandeli Pasko. Andreatta, who wrote the preface of this book, appreciated the real friendship between the two peoples and governments, as well as the human role of the "Alba" operation in Albania. The Albanian ambassador, estimating this activity, proposed that the book and the documentary film showed later, be also presented in Tirana, when the Fair of East will be opened. /s.s/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Everts interested in problems of Has peopleEverts interested in problems of Has peopleKRUME, May 2 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: In a meeting that the OSCE ambassador in Albania, Daan Everts held Saturday with the main leaders of the local government and the police commissariat of Has, asked them a general information regarding the problems faced by the population of this zone.Showing interest mainly on the problems of the border zones with former Yugoslavia, Everts urged the leaders of local government a closer cooperation with the OSCE office so that to take real data regarding the concerns of this zone and to help it. After the meeting, which was held without the presence of journalists, ambassador Everts, accompanied by the chairman of the district council, Hysni Alia and the mayor Zenel Kastrati, visited the town of Krume. He was also interested in the improvements made in the infrastructure of this district with the aid of the German credit. During the visit in Krume, the OSCE ambassador also visited the bear factory "Brea." From there he went to visit the border point of Qafe Prush and in the evening he will be in Bajram Curri. /s.sh/mima/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Refugees from Kosova will also receive aid by international organisations-OSCE ambassador to Albania states-KRUME, May 2 (ATA)-By R. Hoxha, The ambassador of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Albania, Daan Everts, during his visit to the Has district, North of Albania, on Saturday, also visited the refugees coming from Planeja of the Prizreni commune of Kosova because of the Serbian terror. He asked one of the refugees, Muhamet Shergjini, what was happening on the other side of the border. "We left our hearths due to the massacre exercised by the Serbian police against our family on April 15," said Shergjini, adding that the pressure of the Serbian police is being felt by the entire Kosovar people. He said that all this was done to cause panic among the Kosova Albanians so that they leave their soil. Everts also showed interest in the conditions of the refugees from Kosova and so promised them aid from the international organisations. The members of Shergjini's family said they were pleased with the hospitality of their brothers on this side of the border. "Our children have begun school at Krume and have become friendly with the children here," they said. /s.sh/mima/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Killed citizen found on Gramoz mountainERSEKE, May 2 (ATA)-By B. Fejzullai, The police of Kolonje, south of Albania, on Friday found a murdered citizen, about 30 years old, on the Gramoz mountain, near the border post 7, in close vicinity to the border with Greece.The spokesman of the police commissariat of this district told ATA that the citizen had been shot dead by automatic gunfire from a distance of three metres. A pistol and a mask were found near the victim, which is not yet identified. In the meantime, the his body has been taken to the central lab of criminalistics in Tirana, the spokesman of the Kolonje police station said. /mima/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Catholic University and Greek College to open in AlbaniaTIRANA,MAY 2 (ATA)-By I. Paco,A Catholic University and a Greek College will open their doors to Albanian students in September, the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, told leaders of Albanian Education at a meeting on Saturday. "A delegation from the Catholic university of Rome will visit Tirana this month to discuss the modalities of opening it in the Albanian capital, " Sotiraq Hroni, spokesman of the Republic, told ATA. /s.sh/mima/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] NATO and future architecture of European SecurityELBASAN, May 2 (ATA)-By P. Zekthi, NATO's present and future objectives and tomorrow's architecture of European Security were at the centre of a meeting, held by the youth group of the North Atlantic Association's branch in Elbasan on Saturday.Addressing an audience of intellectual, youths, students and others, the president of this association, Alfred Moisiu, made present NATO's role in the world equilibrium and its tendencies to strengthen its structures on the eve of the 21st century. Moisiu spoke of various meetings with counterparts of other countries of Central and Eastern Europe and dwelt on the situation in Kosova, which, he said, requires a greater engagement by the world structures to resolve the crisis. /s.s/lm/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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