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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-06-18Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Albanian Foreign Ministry energetically condemns incident on Albanian- Yugoslav borderTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania denounced in a note of protest Wednesday the incident on the Albanian-Yugoslav border last Tuesday, when Serb forces killed an Albanian, considering this act a dangerous precedent, the spokesman said."Such events which add to the factors of tension are a result of the violence that military-police forces of the FRY are using against Albanian population in Kosove, the consequences of which are made public and as such are subject for denunciation also by the international community," writes the note of protest which was handed over to the charge d'affaires of the embassy of the FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) in Tirane, Mr Vukicevic. The Albanian Government, the note stresses, forcefully demands that such adventurous acts of grave consequences be halted. Last Tuesday, on June 16, 1998, at 1.28 p.m. in the region of the border post C 2/1, about 40 meters deep in the Albanian territory, in the sector of border police post of Padesh, the Albanian citizen Adem Bajram Selmani, 33, who was born and lived in the village Tropoje, was killed by fire weapon by Yugoslav border forces that were near the border line. Then, the Yugoslav border guards, who killed the Albanian national, entered the territory of the Republic of Albania and dragged the victim around 20 meters in the Yugoslav territory. /a.ke/mima/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Improvement of country's road network, government's priorityDURRES, June 17 (ATA) - By S. Gjordeni: Albania's PM Fatos Nano, held Wednesday in Durres a meeting with ambassadors and deputy ambassadors of Italy and Greece, representatives of the Council of Europe and the World Bank, as well as with governors of the districts where the 8th road corridor will pass."Today, after 10 months of governing, we have the possibility to analyze what we have done and what we will do for the improvement of the whole road system in Albania, which is one of the government's priorities. Meanwhile, the constructions in the road corridors East-West and North- South have started, and they will finish within two years," said Nano during the meeting. The Ambassador of the Council of Europe, Elio Germano, said that "the priority of the Albanian government for the acceleration of the improvement of the whole road system of the country is also our priority." Nano urged Germano to give priority to the port of Durres (the main entry point to the 8th corridor,) by allocating 350 million ECU for the road from the sea port to the seaside. The Greek Ambassador, Prevedurakis, stressed that the Greek government fully supports this priority of the Albanian government and is engaged to accelerate its contribution in this direction. /a.ke/das/mima/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] State Secretary Ilir Meta meets Czech deputy Foreign MinisterTIRANA, June 17 (ATA) - By I. Paco: The first deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Vinkler, during a meeting held Wednesday with the Albanian State Secretary for the European Integration, Ilir Meta, favoured a peaceful solution of the Kosova issue, Press and Information Department in the Foreign Ministry reported."The good political relations between the two countries should be accompanied by a fruitful economic cooperation," said Meta in the meeting. "Belgrade does not want to understand the political messages of the international community. Even the meetings of Milosevic in Moscow did not bring the expected results," said Meta, stressing that if the Yugoslav President will continue to follow the current policy, then the international community should increase the political, economic and military pressure on Belgrade. Vinkler has come to Albania for a few-day official visit. The Czech deputy Foreign Minister stressed the necessity of interrupting the violence in Kosova and finding a peaceful solution for the future status of the region, which, according to him, should be in the framework of the Yugoslav Federation. /a.ke/mima/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Albanian President Rexhep Meidani visits Tropoje districtTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - Last Wednesday the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Local Government, Bashkim Fino, the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi, the Minister of Public Order Perikli Teta, the Minister of Defence, Luana Hajdaraga and the Minister of Health, Leonard Solis visited the district of Tropoje.President's adviser Mentor Nazarko told ATA that the visit of President Meidani and the delegation accompanying him, members of which also were the U.S. Ambassador Mariza Lino and OSCE Ambassador, Daan Everts, aimed at encouraging the cooperation between various structures of the state for the question of the refugees from Kosova and to sensitize the international community of the difficulties that Tropoja and Albania in general are facing with the arrival of people from Kosova. President Meidani visited a centre of the MCR (Civil Defence Reservists) with tents, set up in cases of emergency. He visited the hospital of Bajram Curri, where he met many of the wounded from Kosova. Meidani demanded also the mobilization of the Ministry of Health to respond to the demands of the hospital of Bajram Curri, being on the forefront of the work with the wounded refugees from Kosova. President Meidani visited an extended peasant family in Margegaj, which had sheltered about 50 people from Kosove, mostly women and children, and some infants as well. Meidani took part in a meeting held by the government staff with representatives of various ministries who are in Tropoje to follow the situation, and with representatives of local government. During the meeting, a report was read on the influx of the refugees and the problems created in the zone of Tropoje due to this. President Meidani gave a news conference for reporters of Albanian and foreign mediae who were in Tropoje. He stressed that only a powerful international presence in Kosove may create the conditions for a peaceful solution for the present and the future. Responding a question regarding the Serb provocations on the border, President Meidani said that Albania will defend its borders from any provocation. During the visit of President Meidani to Bajram Curri, the first to that town since his election as President, he met various citizens who were enthusiastic of his visit there. /a.ke/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Two officers accidentally killed- They are declared national martyrs -PESHKOPI, June 17 (ATA) - By H. Ruspi: Two officers were accidentally killed on Tuesday afternoon in a military unit of Diber. According to the spokesman of this unit, the officers Flamur Ramadani, 35, from Burrel and Mehmet Hysa, 49, from Peshkopia, were accidentally killed while they were deactivating the mines in vicinity of a military depot close to Peshkopi. Upon the proposal of the Defence Minister, Luan Hajdaraga, the council of two districts declared both officers national martyrs. /a.ke/mima/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Members of Union for Democracy threaten they will leave CECTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - By A Haxhiu: The members of the Union for Democracy in the Central Election Commission threatened Wednesday they will definitely leave that Commission.During a news conference, Pellumb Cela, deputy chairman of the CEC and DP representative, said that the act is due to the fact that during the electoral campaign for local polls, the "SP has unjustly profited in its electoral campaign aired on TV." Cela refers to a program on TV on the 7th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party on June 14, which, according to him, "was openly serviing the electoral campaign." "This was also accepted by OSCE representative in Tirane, Daan Everts and by all CEC members," said Cela. But the CEC chairman Daver Cano, said that CEC has accepted the remarks by the Union for Democracy and added that three options have been presented for this issue. First, the time SP has used on TV airing be also given to DP, as the Union for Democracy demands, second, this period of time be reduced from that which SP has at its disposal for the electoral campaign on TV, as CEC has requested, and the third option is that this period of time be divided among opposition political forces, as the United Right Wing has demanded." Chairman Cano said that the members of the Union for Democracy should not have refused to take part in the meeting in which the best option would be decided. "We are waiting for them, because we do not want the commission to adopt unilateral decisions. It is not right that the members of the 'Union for Democracy' condition their participation in this Commission with the acceptance of their proposal," said Cano. pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature and Culture called offTIRANE, June 18 (ata) - The International Seminar of Albanian Language, Literature and Culture, envisaged to be held from August 11-22, 1998 in Tirane will be postponed due to the tragic situation in Kosove, says a report from the organizing group of the seminar.The co-directors of the seminar, prof. dr. Rexhep Ismajli and prof. dr. Jorgo Bulo called on the Albanalogic scientific opinion, the cultural world and the scientific opinion in general, to exert pressure on their state authorities to undertake decisive steps to immediately halt the Serb military-police aggression on the civil Albanian population in Kosove. They demand punishment for those who have committed crimes against mankind, and the creation of conditions for thousands of refugees from Kosove who have come to Northern Albania to escape Serb violence, to return to their homes and to make possible the organization of the life and society of the Albanian population in their century-long territories. /s.sh/mima/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Exports: Commodities worth 11.1 billion lek per monthTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - D.Koca: During the first five months of 1998, the value of Albanian exports amounted to 11.1 billion lek or 51 per cent more than the same period last year, sources from the Statistics Department in the General Department of Customs Houses told ATA.During May, the volume of exports increased 27 per cent as compared with April, reaching to 2.8 billion lek, and this is the "peak" of exports for the first five months of 1998. In the structure of exports, an important weight takes the raw material for the production of textiles with 1 billion lek, while the export of other articles have values which are several times lower. According to these data, the greatest exports from Albania are those with Italy, to the tune of 1.7 billion lek and with Greece estimated at 719 million lek. xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Eight industrial zones for investments are definedTIRANA, June 17 (ATA) - By N. Mano: Eight industrial zones have been defined in Albania from the specialists of the General Department of Industry in the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization. There are the cities of Tirana, Elbasan, Durres, Berat, Korce, Fier and Lac where these zones have been defined based on the number of the current enterprises and their surfaces, which allow the development of complex industries in them.The General Department in the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization is working with foreign investors, who are showing their interest on these zones. /mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Import: 49.6 billion lek commodities in 5 monthsTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - By D Doca: Albanian imports during the past five moths were estimated at 49.6 billion lek, with a growth of 99 per cent as against the same period of the previous year, sources of the Statistics of Department in the General Department of Customs Houses told ATA.In the mean time, the volume of import increased 17 per cent compared with the previous month. In the structure of imports, in an absolute value, an important wight is that of the imported raw material for the production of textiles with around 1.6 billion lek, the mechanical and electric equipment and their spare parts with 1.4 billion lek, and mining products and vegetable items with about 1.2 billion lek. The greatest volume of imports comes from the neighbouring countries, with Italy taking the first place with a general value of about 5.1 billion lek, followed by Greece with nearly 3.4 billion lek. The high quotes of the volume of imports in comparison with exports, make the trade deficit continue to be in almost in the same level. xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Albanian-Greek fair on agricultural products to be held in TiranaTIRANA, June 17 (ATA) - By M. Noti: The Joint Commission of Agriculture and Food between Albania and Greece, which convened in Athens, decided to accelerate the cooperation for the support of the Albanian agriculture in the field of plant protection and veterinary.According to the Albanian Minister of Food and Agriculture, Lufter Xhuveli, a joint fair between Albania and Greece will be organized in Tirana where the producers and merchants of the agriculture and food sector of both countries will present their products and fields of cooperation. The second meeting of the joint commission of food and agriculture between the two countries will be held during the first months of next year in Tirana. /mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] SIEMENS completes illumination and asphalting of the runway of Rinas AirportTIRANE, June 17 (ata) - By Lolita Thanasi: The German SIEMENS completed the illumination and the asphalting with a 25 cm layer, of the runway of the Airport of Rinas.This layer increases the capacity of the runway to 240 tons. On this occasion, a ceremony was held in which Premier Fatos Nano took part. Referring to the good will and the patience of the German party and to the potential of SIEMENS, PM Nano said that "you have manifested what you can make." Then Nano visited the airport which is now in the final stage of its reconstruction to become an airport of international standards. Albanian Minister of Transports, Gaqo Apostoli has officially been handed over everything finished with the illumination of the Rinas Airport. Hence, airplanes can land and leave normally at any time, day and night. The whole reconstruction of the airport is expected to be over in July. They in the ceremony also spoke of the construction of a new terminal which demands a fund of 20-25 million USD. Taking part i nthe tender for the construction of the new termina are powerful companies, including SIEMENS. /xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] exchange rateThursday exchange ratesCurrency Bought Sold USD 150,10 lek 154.90 DM 85,00 lek 86.70 ITL (1000) 80,00 lek 89.00 GRD (100) 49,00 lek 51.40 SFR 101,40 lek 103.60 FRF 25,00 lek 25.90 GBP 252,60 lek 254.80 /xh/ Thursday exchange rates Currency Bought Sold USD 150,10 lek 154.90 DM 85,00 lek 86.70 ITL (1000) 80,00 lek 89.00 GRD (100) 49,00 lek 51.40 SFR 101,40 lek 103.60 FRF 25,00 lek 25.90 GBP 252,60 lek 254.80 /xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14]Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Kosova crisis cannot be resolved only by warring sidesTIRANA, June 18 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: Albanian deputy Defence minister Ilir Boçka said on Thursday to Jan Vinkler, the Czech deputy Foreign minister, "it is clear that the Kosova crisis cannot be resolve only by the warring sides."Boçka said that the Kosova crisis was an outstanding decennial problem and therefore the inherited charges are very great. "We want and hope for an international support to resolve this issue." The crisis has chances to be resolved because there are no extreme demonstrations of nationalism and our option is to respect the international options, Boçka said. He also said that the attitude of the political forces and the population in Kosova was a model. The Czech vice Foreign minister said that "today's meeting will serve create a complete vision in all aspects of the situation." Boçka briefed the guest on the present situation in the northeastern border of Albania presenting problems the Albanian government had to face after the arrival of refugees from Kosova, the measures and the international aid, particularly NATO's aid and support. The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest for both armies, such as training of militaries, technical and medical assistance. s.sh/das/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] New balances needed in framework of Yugoslav federation, ministerTIRANA, June 18 (ATA) - By Ilir Paco: Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo said on Thursday to Jan Vinkler, the Czech deputy Foreign minister, that "the requests of the Albanians in Kosova should be taken into consideration based on international norms and if a durable and long term solution is pretended this needs new balances in the framework of the Yugoslav Federation."Milo said to Vinkler that the Albanian government was not at all satisfied by the result of Yeltsin-Milosevic meeting because it failed to reflect real concrete steps in stopping police and military violence in Kosova, a spokesman of the Albanian Foreign Ministry. He thanked the Czech government and president Vaclav Havel for their support to a right solution to the Kosova issue. s.sh/das/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Facts gathered North of Albania to be presented to International Tribunal on war crimes in former-YugoslaviaTIRANA, June 18 (ATA)-President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Thursday before noon met with representatives of the World Helsinki Federation, who have arrived in Tirana after a fact-gathering mission in Tropoje (Northern Albania), among refugees from Kosova, the press and information office close to the President of the Republic told ATA."We will present our facts to the International Tribunal on war crimes in former Yugoslavia," Mr. Borcrevink, member of this mission told Meidani. Further on the guests interested themselves in the position of the Albanian government on the refugees forcibly displaced from Kosova as well as in the President's views on the situation in Kosova and broader. Meidani informed the human rights activists on the problems created in Northern Albania following the influx of the Kosova refugees. Referring to the Kosova issue, Meidani said that important in the international community actions is to halt bloodshed among innocent people, genocide and ethnic cleansing. /a.ke/das/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Meidani says crime, war be wiped out of region's memoryTIRANA, June 18 (ATA) - President of Albania Rexhep Meidani told on Thursday Jan Vinkler, the Czech deputy Foreign minister, that "crime and war should be wiped out of memory of the region to pave way for democratic developments."Meidani briefed Vinkler about the grave situation created in north Albania by the forced displacement of Kosova populations due to Serb military violence. Albanian president underlined the interest of many countries, and in this framework, the Czech humanitarian aid, as a sign of solidarity for the people, who are subjected to genocide and war in the center of Europe. Meidani said that a quick international presence in Kosova increased chances to build up confidence to resolve this issue democratically. The Czech deputy foreign minister Vinkler conveyed the cordial greetings of his president Vaclav Havel to President Meidani and said that his country would back every action which would lead to a real solution to Kosova issue. ake/das/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency<a href="/ata/980618/hdlines.htm#1">CEC still not active TIRANA, June 18 (ATA)-A.Haxhiu, The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) continues not to operate due to contradictions rising among its members, on a request presented by the political grouping "Union for democracy" in the CEC. "Our request to be given as much time to cover the electoral campaign as it has unjustly been given to the Socialist Party, has not yet found understanding on the part of the "Alliance for State" members, Pellumb Cela, deputy member of the CEC, told ATA on Thursday. Cela refers to a programme broadcast by the Albanian TV which was devoted to the seventh anniversary of the Socialist Party on June 14 and which, according to him, "openly served the electoral campaign". He said members of the Alliance have agreed to give the opposition more exposure on the TV. "The only point of disagreement is the broadcasting time, which we insist to be the same with that when the programme of the Socialist Party was transmitted," Cela said. The Alliance for State grouping comprises SP, SDP, DAP, HRUP, AP, while the Union for Democracy the DP, SDUP, LMP, DUPA and CDP)./a.ke/das/lm/Albanian Telegraphic Agency [19] OSCE to asses Albanian By-electionsTIRANA, June 18 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, At the request of the government of Albania, the OSCE and the Council of Europe observation teams will conduct the assessment of the local by-elections to be held on June 21, 1998.The OSCE ambassador in Tirana, Daan Everts, the OSCE office told ATA, will head the assessment and lead a team in Vlore (southwest of Albania). An OSCE press release sent to ATA says that about 30 international teams will be sent to field, covering 14 of the 16 municipalities and communes, also complemented by 150 domestic observers, who will cover all municipalities. /a.ke/das/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Anti contraband forces seize smuggled weaponsTIRANA, June 18 (ATA) - By D. Koça: Anti contraband forces in cooperation with customs police seized on Thursday at 10.00. a.m. a 10-ton long van carrying smuggled weapons hidden in detergent cargo in the Durres customs house.Artur Koçia, chief of the anti contraband in the Customs General Directorate said the long van arrived in Durres port on June 11 aboard of "Sansovino" ferry, which had left Ancona, Italy. The customs police and anti-contraband forces waited for seven days but none came to take the cargo and the driver left for an unknown direction. The Benz-type van with number plate 575 M 520 was confiscated on Thursday at 10.00. a.m. An amount of weapons starting from anti-tanks, fire launchers, snipers, automatic rifles to pistols and a considerable quantity of ammunition were found in the long van. ake/das/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Union for Democracy wound up electoral campaign in VloreVLORE, June 18 (ATA)-By H. Koci,Political grouping "Union for Democracy", comprising DP, SDUP, LMP, DUPA, SDP and CDP, ended the campaign for the June 21 elections in the Vlore city (Southwest of Albania). The rally held on Thursday At the Independence Square, the DP deputy chairman, Genc Pollo, underlined that the appearance of the DP at the Independence Square after one and a half year, shows that this is an important force in Albania. Pollo and other party leaders of this grouping said at the rally that the democrat candidate for the Vlore mayor will win in the June 21 elections and the Nano government has its days numbered. The police had taken tough measures to prevent any possible incident, while its numerous vehicles accompanied the DP leaders escort. A number of people launched slogans against the rally such as "Away from Vlore" etc. /a.ke/das/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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