Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-06-21

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Polls start in all polling stations in Ura Vajgurore

[02] Polls start normally in prefecture of Fier

[03] Polls proceed normally in commune of Lazarat

[04] U.S. ambassador to Albania monitors by-elections

[05] 14 percent of voters cast vote in Shijak

[06] Albania, European Union to promote relations

[07] Polling progressed quietly in Kavaja district

[08] Court sentences former interior minister in absentia, dailies

[09] Polls progress normally, quietly, CEC head

[10] Polls to be repeated in a polling station

[11] Low turnout in local by-elections

[12] Polls go on normally but low turnout

[13] Russia, Albania to discuss bilateral relations, Kosova crisis

[14] Serb forces undertake new attacks against Kosova villages

[15] 50 percent of voters voted in Kavaja

[16] Serbs, Albanians engage in a shoot-out

[17] Fighting in Kosova increasingly extended

[18] President Rugova meets German ambassador

[01] Polls start in all polling stations in Ura Vajgurore

"There is no problem so far," Ndue Gega, Prefect of Berat, said to ATA. "Everything needed for normal elections has been secured."

The first people came to the polling station at 08.00. with identification papers. The number of people who have voted until 08.30. is normal.

Around 4,872 people have been registered in the ten polling stations. 63 of them have been added to the lists 48 hours before the documentation closure. The police are present at every polling station.

The Alliance for State, the Albanian United Right-wing and the Unity for Democracy have their candidates in these polling stations. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Polls start normally in prefecture of Fier

The prefecture Secretary General Ilir Dano said to ATA on Sunday that "in two municipalities and one commune the by-elections started normally at 08.00. a.m."

He added that the situation so far was totally quiet and guaranteed a normal election process.

The head of the commission of the Roskovec municipality Mitrush Goga said to ATA that "the polls started at 08.00. a.m. in four out of five polling station while in the remaining one it was delayed for 40 minutes because there had been some unsealed ballots."

The electorate of the Fier prefecture votes today in the Patos and Roskovec municipalities and the commune of Greshice, Mallakastra district.

The turn-out in by-elections is 18.016 divided between Patos, Roskovec and Greshice 13.498, 3.493 and 1.025 respectively. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Polls proceed normally in commune of Lazarat

"In three polling stations of the commune everything is normal and the elections commissions are complete," Mamaj said.

"A great number of people are waiting to cast their vote at the polling stations," Ilir Basha, head of one polling station and representative of the Alliance for State, said to ATA early in the morning.

The head of the regional commission quitted two days ago, as he said, due to threatening by anonymous persons.

In the commune of Lazarat, which comprises two villages some 1,901 people are expected to vote for two candidates one presented by the Alliance for State, including government coalition parties Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, and the other by the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party.

Chief of the regional office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Lazarat Tobias Svenningsen said to ATA that the elections procedures are normal. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] U.S. ambassador to Albania monitors by-elections

Some 3.493 voters are going to vote for municipality candidates of three political parties i.e. the Alliance for State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party as well as the United Right-wing grouping.

A report obtained at 09.00. by the prefecture of Fier said that the polls are going on normally at the remote commune of Greshica, Mallakastra district. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] 14 percent of voters cast vote in Shijak

The prefecture Secretary General Paqesor Zeneli said to ATA that the polls are going on normally in nine polling stations opened in social, cultural institutions.

Around 14 percent of the electorate has voted until 9.30. a.m.

The Shijak voters will vote for a new mayor among three candidatures presented by three political grouping Alliance for State, Unity for Democracy and United Right-wing. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Albania, European Union to promote relations

Meta met with the European Union Foreign commissioner Hans van den Broek to consider trade regime between Albania and E.U. which will create favourable conditions for Albanian exports.

A mission of the European Commission will come soon to Albania for this issue.

Van den Broek expressed the firm attitude of the commission as regards the immediate stop to Serb violence in Kosova (of 90 percent Albanians) and creation of conditions for dialogue.

Meta held separate talks with Ema Bonnino, commissioner for Social and Humanitarian issues, and Niel Kinok, Transport commissioner.

Bonnino briefed Meta on the Commission's commitment to offer Albania some Ecu10 million to cope with the refugees from Kosova and the initiative to help directly the humanitarian issue in Kosova.

Kinok stressed the Commission's commitment to support and finance infrastructure development in Albania, as a very important direction to make it a European developed state. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Polling progressed quietly in Kavaja district

Over 16.800 voters will cast their vote in 17 polling stations in the city.

"Monitors of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who have been in seven polling stations so far, are satisfied with the progress," Islam Hoxha, head of the election commission for Kavaja said to ATA.

He added that over 100 voters of the quarter 3 have not been included in the voters's lists. They are going to vote in the polling station 10.

"The Central Election Commission has been informed on that and a commission member has immediately left for Kavaja," Hoxha.

Three political groupings i.e. the Alliance for State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party as well as the United Right-wing grouping, have presented their candidates for the post of municipality head of Kavaja. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Court sentences former interior minister in absentia, dailies

Shehu has been accused of "rebellion", army desertion under the state of emergency and abuse of armaments, the independent daily "Gazeta Shqiptare" and the Socialist daily "Zeri i Popullit" report on Sunday.

The investigations carried out by the Tirana prosecutor's office were over and the military prosecutors charged with Shehu's case, presented on Saturday incriminating proofs against him in the Tirana Court, dailies said.

Prosecutors told "Gazeta Shqiptare" that the former deputy Interior Minister taking advantage of his post, organised a special paramilitary unit arming it without any criterion. These troops had been recruited out of any physical or moral norm and used during the first months of 1997 to quell the popular revolts in south Albania.

Agim Shehu who fled Albania after the early elections of June 29, '97 shirking obligations under the law (return of armaments) was considered as the right wing of former president Sali Berisha and leader of the military operation to quell revolts in the south.

The Southern Albania was engulfed by popular revolts in the spring '97, after the collapse of get-rich-quick investment schemes where people lost their life savings. The then Albanian parliament with the Democratic party of former president Sali Berisha having two third of the seats, imposed nationwide state of emergency.

Shehu comes from a Dibra family, north of Albania, with patriotic and communist traditions. He has been one of the bodyguards of ex prime minister Mehmet Shehu at the time of communist regime of Enver Hoxha and quited the post after the enigmatic killing of Shehu (Mehmet).

Agim Shehu was accused of ordering killings in the border in 1991 when he was the Border Director General.

At the time when the Democratic party was in power, Shehu was nominated police director in Tirana and later deputy Interior Minister. During this period, he ordered maltreatment of opposition politicians and independent journalists. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Polls progress normally, quietly, CEC head

Çano said that the by-elections are being monitored by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe, the Human Right Union group, Helsinki Committee and the Association for Democratic Culture in areas considered hot spots by monitors.

Local by-elections are being held in seven municipalities and 9 communes of the constituencies where the local officials abandoned or quited the post during the unrest last year.

The by-elections are under way in communes of Lazarat (Gjirokaster), Proger (Devoll), Lure (Diber), Dhiver (Sarande), Zavaline (Elbasan), Gjergjan (Elbasan), Sineballaj (Kavaje), Bushtrice (Kukes), Greshice (Mallakaster) and in municipalities of Vlora, Roskovec, Vore, Patos, Ura Vajgurore, Shijak and Kavaja. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Polls to be repeated in a polling station

The municipality commission with the participation of Daan Everts the ambassador of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Tirana discussed whether to extend the hour of closure or to suspend the by- elections. At last they decided through a 4 to 3 voting that polls be held again when the Central Election Commission see it appropriate.

The suspension of elections occurred at 12.00.a.m when the municipality commission and that of the polling station at the presence of the OSCE ambassador Everts noticed a series of irregularities as the absence of the Unity for Democracy and United Right-wing representatives, irregularities in the voters' lists and three cases when voters had two ballot papers.

Xhelili said that the polls are going on well in other polling stations. ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Low turnout in local by-elections

Secretary of the Vlora elections commission Afrim Kaçi said to ATA that "a low turnout is registered in polls but the elections are going on normally."

Some 70 polling stations have been opened in the city in which 52.556 voters are expected to cast their vote for the new mayor among candidatures presented by the Alliance for the State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party as well as the United Right-wing grouping, and an independent candidate.

The by-elections were called in seven municipalities and nine communes after the mayors and commune chairmen abandoned or quitted during a wave of civil unrest last year.

The by-elections are under way in communes of Lazarat (Gjirokaster), Proger (Devoll), Lure (Diber), Dhiver (Sarande), Zavaline (Elbasan), Gjergjan (Elbasan), Sineballaj (Kavaje), Bushtrice (Kukes), Greshice (Mallakaster) and in municipalities of Vlora, Roskovec, Vore, Patos, Ura Vajgurore, Shijak and Kavaja. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Polls go on normally but low turnout

Afrat Aliko, head of the regional commission, said that some 20 percent of the voters or 400 of 1.900 registered had cast their ballots.

Sources of the Secretary of the Gjirokastra prefecture said to ATA that the low turnout in polling is linked with the fact that they (voters) are busy working at the fields in the early morning.

Monitors of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe are present at the polling stations.

Chief of the police station, lieutenant colonel Edmond Stepa said to ATA that "two policemen under an officer have been placed at every polling station."

"The mobile unit is also in the village to cope with whatever may happen," Stepa said adding that so far there is no problem.

Head of the election commission of the commune of Lazarat and representative of the Alliance for the State, quitted two days ago, as he said, due to threatening by anonymous persons.

Three political groupings the Alliance for the State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party, have presented their candidates for commune chairman.

The by-elections were called in seven municipalities and nine communes after the mayors and commune chairmen resigned or quitted during a wave of civil unrest last year.

The by-elections are under way in communes of Lazarat (Gjirokaster), Proger (Devoll), Lure (Diber), Dhiver (Sarande), Zavaline (Elbasan), Gjergjan (Elbasan), Sineballaj (Kavaje), Bushtrice (Kukes), Greshice (Mallakaster) and in municipalities of Vlora, Roskovec, Vore, Patos, Ura Vajgurore, Shijak and Kavaja. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Russia, Albania to discuss bilateral relations, Kosova crisis

Avdejev, who landed in Rinas airport at 14.30. p.m. will start talks on Monday with the Albanian authorities focusing on bilateral relations and crisis in Kosova region.

Sources of the press and information office at the Foreign Ministry said to ATA that the Russian deputy Foreign minister would hold talks with the chief of the Albanian diplomacy Paskal Milo, deputy prime minister Kastriot Islami and president of Albania Rexhep Meidani and exchange views on a solution to the Kosova issue.

Avdejev is also going to visit Skopje to discuss the situation in the region with the authorities of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Serb forces undertake new attacks against Kosova villages

Serb forces from Gjakova headed for Rekes e Keqe villages on Saturday and an helicopter flew over the region.

Sources of the Democratic League of Kosova in Gjakova said that the villages of Gramaçel, Gllogjan and Baballoq of Deçan have been pounded on Saturday by the Serb forces who have taken positions in Suken of Biteshi and Zhdrelle hill.

Gjakova has run short of food and medicine while access to the city is under tight control of Serbian forces. pta/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] 50 percent of voters voted in Kavaja

"Until 12.30.p.m. some 8,000 voters out of 16.300 registered or 50 percent have cast their vote in 17 polling stations," Koçiaj said.

The by-elections are being monitored by three representatives of the Council of Europe and four of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

"The only problem is that 35 families have not been registered," Koçia said.

Mehmet Shyri of the Alliance for the State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, will face Hysen Arkaxhiu of the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party and Fatmir Haveriku of the United Right-wing.

The previous mayor quitted some months ago for health reasons.

The by-elections were called in seven municipalities and nine communes after the mayors and commune chairmen resigned or quitted during a wave of civil unrest last year.

The by-elections are under way in communes of Lazarat (Gjirokaster), Proger (Devoll), Lure (Diber), Dhiver (Sarande), Zavaline (Elbasan), Gjergjan (Elbasan), Sineballaj (Kavaje), Bushtrice (Kukes), Greshice (Mallakaster) and in municipalities of Vlora, Roskovec, Vore, Patos, Ura Vajgurore, Shijak and Kavaja. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Serbs, Albanians engage in a shoot-out

Serb reinforcements deployed in Prilluzha, the biggest village inhabited by Serbs in Kosova, attacked during the night with firearms the Albanian villages at the bottom of Qyqavica mountain at the direction of Drenica. Sporadic shootings are audible even on Sunday.

The residents of the nearest Albanian village Gllavotin have fled during the night under volleys of firearms while men and the Albanian resistance forces remained there to defend their lands.

There are no reports on casualties but the situation is very tense, according to sources on the ground.

Serbs of the Prilluzhe village have erected barricades and in cooperation with Serbian forces have prevented the movement of Albanians in the village. pta/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Fighting in Kosova increasingly extended

The fighting are intensively extended along the Shtimje-Suhareke highway recently.

Recent reports said that an Albanian Valon Kurti was killed in a grenade attack against border villages in Gjakova area. Other villages of Deçan and Gryke e Caraleves have come under grenade attack while heavy fighting have continued in suburbs of Runiku, Drenice where an Albanian has been injured.

Dangerous and increasingly tense situation prevails in other parts of Kosova, particularly in Ferrizaj, some 30 km south of Prishtina. cela/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] President Rugova meets German ambassador

Ambassador Gruber handed over to Rugova a letter of the Foreign minister Klaus Kinkel, who invited him to visit Bonn.

The talks were focused on the situation in Kosova and possibilities to find a solution to that.

President Rugova said that due to the police and military operations, the situation in Kosova was very grave and risked to be further aggravated. He asked for urgent international intervention to prevent the conflict, killings and ethnic cleansing in Kosova.

The people of Kosova and its leadership continue to fight for the independence of Kosova through political and peaceful means. cela/das/ak/

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

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