Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-09

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] DP of Gjirokaster accuses deputy PM of smuggling

[02] Defence Minister inspects units of Shkoder Division

[03] Around 69,6 of population engaged in agricultural sector

[04] Two dinghies with Albanian illegal emigrants turned back

[05] Deputy PM to bring to court DP secretary of Gjirokaster

[06] "White tulip" on Mothers' Day

[07] Albania urges intervention of Europe to stop violence in Kosova

[08] Ruling coalition, opposition to have equal representation in local election commission

[09] Five people killed in Kosova on Friday

[10] UNHCR backs Albanian govt. policy on refugees

[11] Average mark removed as criteria of enrollment in higher school

[12] Albanians protest against Serbian massacres in Kosova

[13] World Bank to prepare finance program for state arbitration

[14] Commission for Drafting of Constitution discusses possibility for a two-chamber parliament in Albania

[15] Reactions against DP meeting in Vlore

[16] Fierce fighting in Gllogoc

[17] USD quoted at lek 157,30

[18] Results of 31st week of football championship in Albania

[19] Albanian Government discusses draft laws and decisions

[20] SP turns down charges against deputy PM Fino

[01] DP of Gjirokaster accuses deputy PM of smuggling

"The people of Fino have escorted on Monday from the customs point of Kakavije some 12 vans with smuggling goods along the road segment of Gjirokaster," the DP secretary of Gjirokaster, Adriatic Islami, told a news conference.

"It is a matter of trading in large quantities without recognising the procedures of clearing the goods," added Islami.

Meanwhile, the head of the Gjirokaster police, lieutenant colonel Ilirian Dida, has considered the statement as "a political intentional accusation and not serious at all."

"The statement is courageous and the police cannot take into consideration such irresponsible sayings," Dida told the journalists. /a.ke/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Defence Minister inspects units of Shkoder Division

"The units we inspected are in complete military readiness. Our army is taking its full shape," Hajdaraga told ATA at the end of the visit.

With regard to the situation in Kosova, the Defence Minister said that "it continues to be difficult, but the Albanian army has taken all the measures to defend the frontiers." /a.ke/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Around 69,6 of population engaged in agricultural sector

Their number reached the peak in 1996, when 784,478 people worked in agricultural sector, while in 1997 the number dropped to 770,841.

Processing industry includes 5,3 percent of employed people. Contrary to agricultural sector, the number of employed people in industrial sector is increased from 1996 to 1997. Out of 57,095 in 1996, the number rose to 57,860 in 1997.

The lowest rate of employment belongs to education and trade sector with 4,4 percent each. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Two dinghies with Albanian illegal emigrants turned back

The Italian corvettes of Guarda di Finanza intercepted on Friday by 22:40 the two dinghies, which had started towards the Italian shores and called on them for some 30 minutes to stop. The owners of the dinghies did not respond to the call, but preferred to turn back.

The border police of the port, in cooperation with Guarda di Finanza is carrying on the control for finding the dinghies hidden along the seashore. /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Deputy PM to bring to court DP secretary of Gjirokaster

"This slander passes all the limits of logics and normally I have to say that I am not worried about this malicious slander because the aim and the character of the author of this misinformation are clear for everyone," declared Fino, quoted by the above source.

Islami, in a news conference on Friday, accused Fino of involvement in smuggling, declaring that "the people of Fino escorted on Monday some 12 lorries with smuggling goods along the road segment of Gjirokaster."

"In this case, as it is normal in a rule of law, I will leave the Court to resolve this problem," Fino said.

The head of the Gjirokaster police, lieutenant colonel Ilirian Dida, asked Friday by ATA, considered the statement of Islami as "an intentional political accusation and not serious at all." /s.s/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] "White tulip" on Mothers' Day

"I want to keep alive the memory of my mother. Please, declare May 9 the Mothers' Day."

May 9, the Mother's Day, since then, is celebrated throughout the world. England was the first to decree this holiday, and was followed then by Spain, Italy, Latin America, France...

In Albania, because of the time, the day of the goddess of life, beauty, love, protection, wisdom, was not decreed by any government..., the time decreed it.

Today, it was celebrated officially for the first time by a group of mothers, upon the initiative of the association "The Albanian Mother."

The president of this association, Margarita Syziu, said that "The mother is a figure without nationality, she is the same all over the world. If we would like to talk about a civil society, we can say that it begins only with the mother."

The association "The Albanian Mother, set up a year ago, proposed to honor all the mothers by giving a white tulip. /a.ke/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Albania urges intervention of Europe to stop violence in Kosova

Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi, will go to Strasbourg on Sunday for a two-day visit, where he will meet with the presidency of the European Parliament, the chairmen of the political groups and other senior personalities, to whom he will present a specific information on Kosova.

"The main themes of talks will be the situation in Albania and the work of the Parliament for the improvement of the legislation, as well as a more specific information on Kosova, because in some cases there have been misinformations regarding the position of the Albanian state," Gjinushi told ATA on Saturday.

According to Gjinushi, the situation in Kosova is not resolved only through diplomatic means.

"One thing should be made clear to Serbia, as long as it will use violence, it will receive the same answer. In this direction, Europe has been a little bit heterogeneous in such situations," said Gjinushi, referring to the stand of Europe in Bosnia.

According to him, the situation in Bosnia would have been resolved if the stand of the European countries would have been unique, expressing the same opinion on the current situation in Kosova.

"If Milosevic will use military means, the response must be military, if he will be ready to use diplomatic means, the response must be diplomatic," ended Gjinushi. /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Ruling coalition, opposition to have equal representation in local election commission

"Changes to the law on elections in the local government bodies scheduled for next week will make possible an equal representation of political forces, an earlier time for the commission to end its work than the existing law," Skender Gjinushi, parliamentary Speaker said to ATA on Saturday.

The changes to the law are being made a month before the forthcoming partial local elections scheduled for June 21.

Amendments to the law would have to do also with control of electorate lists and the air time devoted to the campaign.

"I hope there would be not problem on the air time because the opposition now has wide possibilities to highlight its activity in the TV," Gjinushi said.

Changes to the law on elections in the local government bodies are foreseen for next Thursday in parliament. s.sh/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Five people killed in Kosova on Friday

On Friday evening at 21.30 p.m., the Serbian forces sent the body of a 60-years-old Albanian, whose identity was unknown, to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital.

Sources of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) said that he possibly died because of tortures.

Serbian forces have arrested and kidnapped dozens of Albanians in areas under military operations and their fate is not known, according to recent reports.

Albanian sources said that four Albanians were killed during Friday's military operations, while the Serb sources said that four Serb policemen were injured, three in Balnice village, of the Klina commune and one in the Smolice village,

Gjakova region.

Sources from Malisheva said that during yesterday's confrontations in the regions between Gjurgjice of Glogovc and Balnice, the Serbian forces had killed two old Albanians and injured a woman, while the fate of a 16- year-old teenager was not known.

The Albanian sources reported on two armoured carriers and a truck of the Serb forces destroyed. An Albanian youth, 21, was killed when the Serbian forces attacked Glareva and some other villages of the Klina commune. While another Albanian, 35, was killed by the Serbian military forces late on Friday near his house in Lobushe, Decan.

The daily Koha Ditore has reported that there are other Albanians killed and injured in "heavy fighting", which started at 17.30 p.m. on Friday "between the Serbian military-police forces and Albanian armed units in the regions of Ponoshec, Morine and Smolice villages."

Sources close to the daily said that "the army and police have used different kinds of weapons, including heavy artillery and helicopters".

Friday's operation were extended to the border line with Albania, other regions of Dukagjin in Gjakova, Decan, Malisheve, Kline and Western Kosova regions as well as regions of Drenica at the center of Kosova. Yugoslav aircraft were seen flying over these regions.

The newspaper Bujku has reported that many houses were destroyed and burned down during these operations. There are no reports on casualties but the Albanian sources expressed the concern that the death toll is higher. pta/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] UNHCR backs Albanian govt. policy on refugees

The UNHCR chief to Albania Thim Rongsak Mecchubot said on Saturday to Bashkim Fino, the deputy prime minister and minister of Local Government, that this organisation supported the policy of open doors followed by Albania on refugees from Kosova and that in these efforts Albania would have the support of the UNHCR institutions.

In today's meeting with Peter Nicolaus, UNHCR representative and expert of refugees' rights and Mecchubot, Fino said that the Albanian government would coordinate efforts with the UNHCR to tackle the technical and logistic situation that could arise. s.s/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Average mark removed as criteria of enrollment in higher school

was a basic criterion in accepting tests for higher schools was removed on Saturday in a meeting of the board of the Education and Science Ministry.

This decision was taken in unanimity by all the delegates, including the principals of the secondary schools. s.s/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Albanians protest against Serbian massacres in Kosova

They were a message for the Contact Group whom they urged to take urgent measures against Serbia in order to end the ethnic cleansing, ethnocide, holocaust, and prevent making Kosova a second Bosnia.

The text of the message was written in the English language in a three-km long streamer at the main road of Prishtina and was read by almost one hundred thousand protesters.

Protesters carried Albanian, US and EU flags and chanted for Kosova, Drenica, Deçan, Gjakova, Rugova.

They chanted slogans even for Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and others as "We are not terrorists" and "We give our lives but not Kosova." mp/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] World Bank to prepare finance program for state arbitration

for establishing the legal basis to set up state arbitration offices and institution of mediation, which will deal with disputes in the trade.

A spokesman of the Justice Ministry said that the deputy Justice minister Artan Hajdari discussed the issue with a delegation of the World Bank, headed by Sandra Blenkamp.

The financial program will cover the training of specialists in and out of Albania. s.s/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Commission for Drafting of Constitution discusses possibility for a two-chamber parliament in Albania

to be as it is, with one chamber, or with two chambers.

The two co-chairmen of the Commission, Sabri Godo and Arben Imami and some other members of the Commission have proposed that the Albanian Parliament be with two chambers, but the majority of the commission members did not agree to that proposal.

Godo said that the Senate would serve as a regulator.

"During the last three elections, the winning majorities have changed from one side to the other, and if a senate does not exist, its authority will be conferred either on the President or the parliament," Godo said to ATA on Saturday.

The socialist member of the Commission for the Constitution, Spartak Braho, said that "the Senate would slowdown the efficiency of the Parliament. A two-chamber parliament can be applied in a country with parliamentary traditions."

While for Godo, it is high time for the creation of the senate.

"After 20 years, perhaps, the senate will be unnecessary because a democratic culture will dominate and will not allow the majority to decide, " said Godo.

On Thursday the Commission for the drafting of the constitution went to Lezhe to work intensively for the draft of the constitution. It adopted there two chapters of the constitution that on "People's Attorney," (an institution which, according to the Swedish experience, will be a mediator between the citizen and the state,) and that on "Legislative Institutions."

The People's Assembly will adopt soon a calendar for the work of the Commission which will make possible that the examining of the draft by the Commission be over within June, and consequently the draft of the constitution will be ready for approval at the end of the year. /s.s./das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Reactions against DP meeting in Vlore

Staying near the palace of sports, where the meeting was planned to be held, they launched slogans against DP and Sali Berisha, describing him as the one who caused the tragedy and the crisis Albania experienced last year. Some of the people hurled stones in the direction of the palace of sports, breaking some of the glasses on its side part.

Police, said the director of police department of Vlore, Reban Memushi, managed to avoid any confrontation, for which it was congratulated by OSCE representative in Vlore, Aldo Tenich, in the name of the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts.

It was the first time following the unrest of last year, that DP was organizing a meeting in the city of Vlore with the participation of its main leaders.

Participants in the meeting, which lasted for about one hour, chanted slogans against Nano Government, blaming it and the allied political forces for the present crisis in Albania.

The meeting, notified to be held several days ago, had caused negative reactions among Vlore people. A number of protests were addressed to the prefecture, asking that the DP leaders be not allowed to enter Vlore. /s.s./das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Fierce fighting in Gllogoc

The same direction was also targeted by weapons deployed in the fortified checkpoint in Kosmaran and movements and reinforcements by the Serb army, police and paramilitary are noticed continuously. The township of Gllogoc is sealed off and a target for Serb gunmen.

The regions where fighting goes on are isolated and reports on the consequences are not available. fh/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] USD quoted at lek 157,30

So $1 = 157,30 lek, gaining 0,30 points compared with yesterday's 157, 00 lek.

The DM was traded for 87,10 lek, gaining 0,10 points compared to yesterday's 87,00 lek.

The ITL (1000) was traded for 87,80 lek gaining 0.10 points compared with yesterday's 87,70 lek.

GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,50 lek, gaining 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 50,30

The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 1,00 points compared with yesterday's 105,30 lek and so on.

Saturday exchange rates

Currency Average exchange rates

USD 157,30 lek DM 87,10 lek ITL (1000) 87,80 lek GRD (100) 50,50 lek SFR 103,10 lek FRF 23,60 lek GBP 220,50 lek JPY (100) 111,50 lek NLG 73,50 lek

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Results of 31st week of football championship in Albania

Tomori - Teuta 2-0

Flamurtari - Shqiponja (to be played tomorrow)

Dinamo - Lushnja 3-1

Apolonia - Besa 1-0

Tirana - Bylis (not played)

Skenderbeu - Sopoti 3-0

Shkumbini - Vllaznia 1-0

Albpetrol - Partizani 2-5

Elbasani - Laçi 5-2

Standings:

Vllaznia 68

Partizani 61

Tirana 56 (-1)

Teuta 50

Apolonia 49

Shkumbini 48

Laçi 45

Tomori 44

Elbasani 43

Skenderbeu 42

Bylis 42 (-1)

Lushnja 41

Dinamo 38

Besa 38

Flamurtari 37 (-1)

Shqiponja 34 (-1)

Sopoti 32

Albpetrol 19

/A.KE/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Albanian Government discusses draft laws and decisions

As the information and media department of the Council of Ministers reports, the meeting examined the draft law for the ratification of the convention between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden for the elimination of double taxation, which aims to promote the trade relations between the two countries.

The meeting adopted a number of decisions on problems such as the establishment of administrative councils and the drafting of the statutes for state anonymous companies, Albania's participation in the World Exhibition in Lisbon, the proclamation of the Rinas airport an object of special importance and other decisions. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] SP turns down charges against deputy PM Fino

A SP press release said that "in Gjirokaster and throughout the country, the coalition government is making maximal efforts to establish the rule of law, to fight crime and smuggling, an wound inherited from Berisha governing."

The statement points out that "the slanders against Fino are made at a time when the political climate in Gjirokaster and in all the country is going towards normality, whereas DP is sticking to its policy of destabilization."

The local SP branch urges from competent bodies to throw light on the truth objectively. It also appealed to the DP local branch to renounce the policy of slander and deceit. /a.ke/das/xh/

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

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