Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-01

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Home arrest for two missionary Islamists of Charity Foundation "Al Haramain"

[02] Serbs expel Albanians from mineral bearing regions

[03] Villages of Gryka e Carraleva in Kosove shelled - No information about fate of 200 missing Albanians -

[04] Urgent measures to stop deterioration of situation in Kosove

[05] No to blocking minority in Albanian Commission for the Drafting of Constitution

[06] Unemployment "hits" capital, Tirane

[07] Eight foreign nationals, "Honorary Citizens" in Pogradec

[08] 220 narcotic plants (marijuana) ruined

[09] Two Egyptians are elements of great social danger - Prosecutor

[10] We all must fight crime and smuggling - minister

[11] Movement of troops in Gllogoc

[12] Serbs of Kosove ask explanations from Milosevic and Milutinovic

[13] New news program in Albanian language in Montenegrin television

[14] Rugova, Demaci and Qosja in a joint meeting

[15] Albanian minister says KLA fighters are defending their lands

[16] Next week marks last chance for Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue

[17] DP leader says charges of present SHIK head are groundless

[18] DP urges creation of national commission on corruption

[19] Vienna conference says Albania's situation stabilised

[20] Kosova president meets Albanian political parties

[21] Patrol forces motorboats with smuggled cigarettes to turn off

[01] Home arrest for two missionary Islamists of Charity Foundation "Al Haramain"

Police arrested June 25, 1998, Maget Mustafa, 36,and Muhamet Fonda, 39, Egyptian theologians, because they found in their homes seals of the Department of Public Order Police, of the visas branch, of check passes in Rinas airport, the college of attorneys, etc., a machine gun and a rifle with 60 cartridges, which they kept without permission.

"They have been workers of the charity mission "Al Haramain" and their mission for almost 5 years has been to take care of and assist Albanian orphans, and to convey messages of Islamism," told ATA the defence attorneys of the detained, who considered the charges unmotivated.

In the latest news conference, the General Director of Tirane Police, Fadil Canaj said that "there are signs of involvement in crime activity also of some foreign nationals."

A month ago, a foreigner who had come to Albania as a photo reporter, killed with a machine gun an Albanian student who was his interpreter. While the procedure for entry of foreigners to Albania has been facilitated, during the last month, 7 foreigners from different countries, have not been allowed to enter Albania because they were carrying irregular documents. /ake/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Serbs expel Albanians from mineral bearing regions

Albanian villages of these regions, in the outskirts of Obiliq and Fushe-Kosove are being shelled, ruined and set on fire by Yugoslav Army forces. The regions attacked in the vicinity of Kosove capital are very rich in minerals estimated at about 15 billion tons of coal, and together with the Trepca mines, they are the giants of the Kosove economy.

The number of Albanian war refugees from Kosove within this year has amounted to more than 150 000 people. As a result of the present operations by Serb military forces, whose main aim is ethnic cleansing, Albanians have also been expelled from central Kosove, Drenice and the zones bordering Albania, the outskirts of Decan and Gjakove. By destroying and setting ablaze hundreds of Albanian dwelling areas, the Serbs are trying to create in Kosove regions of "scorched land" and "tampon zones" for a violent change of the ethnic structure and the destruction of the compact ethnic territories of over 2 million Albanians, who comprise more than 90 per cent of the population of Kosove. fh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Villages of Gryka e Carraleva in Kosove shelled - No information about fate of 200 missing Albanians -

On the same day, at about 10.50 a.m. a caravan of Serb forces consisting of nearly 30 vehicles went to Prishtine.

Over the last days, homes of Albanians in the vicinity of the spot where Serbian forces have been stationed, have been ruined and looted.

Last night, the villages Carrabreg i Ulet, Beleg and Prejlep of Kosove were bombed from 6.30-8.30 p.m. by missiles and cannons of big calibers of the Serb forces, Information Centre of Kosove reports.

Also according to the same source, there is no information about the fate of over 200 missing Albanians, inhabitants of Decan. fh/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Urgent measures to stop deterioration of situation in Kosove

According to the press and information department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry, these measures may vary from political interventions and economic-financial sanctions up to NATO military intervention. Mr Milo told Mr Hjertonsen that the Albanian Government will continue to cooperate with the international community to offer more appropriate and long-term solutions to the Albanian question of Kosove.

Hjertonsen confirmed a Swedish direct program of assistance for Kosove, to the amount of 1 million USD.

During the meetings, the bilateral relations between Albania and Sweden were considered good and with perspective for their extension in the future.

The high Swedish diplomat said that on the plan of multilateral relations, Sweden supports Albania's policy for integration in the euro- atlantic structures.

The policy of regional cooperation of Albania was considered as very efficient and a premise which reflects the will of the Albanian Government to integrate in the European processes. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] No to blocking minority in Albanian Commission for the Drafting of Constitution

The delegation composed of six officials from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey refuted a request of BPD to have a blocking minority in the Commission for the Constitution.

Jordi Sole Tura, Spanish rapporteur in CE, said that "the practice of 'blocking minority' has not been used in any other country before" and that this is not at all necessary.

The tri-parliamentary European delegation, whose last visit to Tirane was in January 1998, said it "welcomes the progress of the Constitutional Commission for the drafting of the Constitution and the transparent and open work it has made."

The Venice Commission, which will be present in the final reading of the draft of the constitution, okayed on June 15, 1998 all the part of the draft of the Constitution approved by the commission for the Drafting of the Constitution. This commission, which was boycotted by the Union for Democracy led by the DP party of former president Sali Berisha, presently consists of representatives of the Government coalition and the Right wing Grouping (DBSH.) /a.ke/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Unemployment "hits" capital, Tirane

But poverty is one one side of the unemployment. It also leads to the growth of crime, drug-addiction, prostitution, especially among youth.

At a time when figures of unemployment are high, the unemployed people are showing little care for the jobs created by the projects on public work of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Albania. One of the reasons is, perhaps, the low salary that these projects offer. /a.ke/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Eight foreign nationals, "Honorary Citizens" in Pogradec

According to the chairman of the municipal council, Tajar Koleci, the title was conferred to Arnold Geiger, director of German Foundation Nehemia, Hasan Abdulla, director of the Islamic foundation Reliev and the leading staff of the USAID foundation, Haj Nicola, Bard Kennedy, James Bach, Piter Xekins, Johan Adams and Nikola Meizer.

Nehemia foundation has been operating in Pogradec since 1992 delivering humanitarian aid for thousands of families. It has funded the construction of a dental clinic in that city and a medical centre in one of the villages. The Foundation Reliev which has started its charity mission since 1992, has run tailor courses, computer training and foreign language courses. The staff of USAID has helped in the training of local administration and has financed some projects for the improvement of the infrastructure and the protection of the lake from pollution. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] 220 narcotic plants (marijuana) ruined

The spokesman of the Ministry of Public Order told ATA that the regional office for the fight against drugs, in cooperation with the public order police of the district of Gjirokaster, realised a joint action against drugs cultivated in the villages Arshi Lengo and Asim Zeneli, where 220 narcotic plants, cultivated in personal gardens of some inhabitants of these villages, were uprooted and eliminated.

Two inhabitants of the village Asim Zeneli were taken to the police commissariat of the district.

The spokesman said that such operations will be also carried out in other villages of the district for which police have signals that narcotics are being cultivated. /s.s/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Two Egyptians are elements of great social danger - Prosecutor

"Albanian nationals charged similarly and with the same facts have received custody in prison by the Tirane Court, while in the case of the two Egyptians the form of custody has been maximally lighter," Fadil Canaj, director of Tirane Police Department told ATA.

According to sources in the Department of Investigation in the General Attorney's Office, there are facts for the two Egyptians for which they myst be arrested in jail, in addition, the facts "are far more advanced than those made public."

"The court has not taken into consideration the great social danger of the activity of the two Egyptians," the same sources said.

Two Egyptian nationals, Maget Mustafa (36) and Muhammad Houda,(39) temporarily residing in Tirane, were detained last Sunday under the charge of fraud with false documents with the purpose of profiting. They were arrested by the police forces of the economic-financial crime sector in the Public Order Ministry because, according to police sources, they have been systematically making false documents.

The Egyptian nationals had functions in the association "Revival of Islamic inheritance" operating in Albania.

The two detained, in cooperation with each other and for a long time have made false documents of state and consular institutions. Police found in their home seals of the the Department of Public Order Police, of the visas branch, of check passes in Rinas airport, the college of attorneys, etc., a machine gun and a rifle with 60 cartridges, which they kept without permission. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] We all must fight crime and smuggling - minister

Teta said that only in the first half of this year, 37 people, workers in the Public Order Ministry, have been killed and 41 others have been injured in clashes with criminals and violators of law.

Teta said that many people, from the criminals of various categories up to deputies and their former drivers, continue to keep arms illegally. Among them are also 38 former prosecutors and 21 judges, 30 ex-officers of taxation police, etc., for whom penal prosecution has been demanded.

"Clashes with armed criminals are a charge for those working in judiciary who release from jail criminals caught red-handed," said Teta.

For minister Teta, in the first place for smuggling are cigarettes. He said that smuggling centers have been also found in neighbouring Greece. Teta stressed that although illegal entry of commodities from the sea border line has been refrained thanks to the cooperation with Italian financial police, a problem continue to be the roads leading to Montenegro and to the border points of Korce, Librazhd, Pogradec, etc.

"From the smuggling commodities caught by police, the state budget has profited over 4 million dollars," said Teta.

He reiterated that Albanian nationals, involved in smuggling in cooperation with other people abroad, even when caught, give attorneys extraordinary amounts of money for their release. /s.s./das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Movement of troops in Gllogoc

Sources of ICK say that a military caravan consisting of 13 tanks passed on Iber-Lepenc road from the direction of Fushice to the quarter Zogu i Komoranit up to the road leading to Nekovic, and after this, the caravan returned to the Cuke e Zabelit.

LDK sources also report of a mobilization of hundreds of Serbs and Montenegrins in Istog (about 25 km in northeast of Peje.) p.ta/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Serbs of Kosove ask explanations from Milosevic and Milutinovic

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] New news program in Albanian language in Montenegrin television

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Rugova, Demaci and Qosja in a joint meeting

The meeting, considered as very important for the present situation and from which important agreements and decisions are also expected, is attended by representatives of all Albanian political parties and the Negotiating Group of Kosove. /p.ta.das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Albanian minister says KLA fighters are defending their lands

"KLA fighters are the most vital part of the Albanian populations in Kosova. They are defending their lands and are demonstrating that they are not terrorists," Milo said.

As regards the U.S. efforts to include the KLA in Belgrade-Prishtina negotiations, Milo said that "there is a realism in this American movement because the liberation army is a concrete fact."

"With such an undertaking the Americans firstly cause perplexity in the European diplomacy but this shows that the KLA reputation is increasing, " Milo said without elaborating on the European Union's attitude.

The latter had recently said that only Ibrahim Rugova could be the partner of international diplomacy in negotiations on Kosova.

Milo told journalists that efforts are under way for a joint institution in Kosova, including the KLA, to launch dialogue with Belgrade. /s.s/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Next week marks last chance for Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue

Milo said that the Albanian government was undertaking maximum efforts in cooperation with the international factor to convince Belgrade and Prishtina resume talks.

"During this time we have had frequent diplomatic contacts and tomorrow (Thursday) will directly negotiate with Javier Solana on NATO options for a solution to the Kosova crisis," Milo said.

He said that he and the NATO Secretary General, who will arrive on Thursday for a two-day visit in Albania, would discuss both political and military solutions.

"We believe that there is still time to find a political solution and we are backing this but if we fail, then there are military actions which vary from air exercises to military deployment in Kosova," chief of the Albanian diplomacy said.

However, he said that the procedures for an international military intervention would need more time.

Milo also said that defence of civilians from the attacks of Serb army and police would be a preliminary to start dialogue.

Asked why the Albanian government is not for a republic option within Yugoslavia, when the Albanian leaders of Kosova are for a complete independence from Yugoslavia, Milo said: "There is a great difference between the wish and reality and we, though would have wished independence, should not forget that we are part of the international community and should respect the signed conventions such as the Final Act of Helsinki which ensure no change of borders with force and others." s.s/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] DP leader says charges of present SHIK head are groundless

"What the head of SHIK has said against the Democratic party while it (DP) was in power are not true. The documents Klosi presented in parliament are totally falsified," Sali Berisha, the DP leader told a news conference on Wednesday.

Berisha said that when he was in power SHIK was based on professional criteria. However, he did not negate the fact that this institution had its mistakes.

"Party leaders of the former opposition, opposition press, disobedient intelligentsia and even organisations as that of the formerly politically prosecuted have been followed and surveyed by SHIK when former president Sali Berisha was in power," Klosi told parliament on Tuesday.

He accused the previous SHIK for being involved in military activity for which he had documents on distribution of weapons to different people, elements involved in crimes mostly during the unrest of '97. /s.s/das/ak

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] DP urges creation of national commission on corruption

"The national commission should be an institution, which should comprise all political forces, groups of prosecutors and investigators, to help uncover this negative phenomenon in Albania," Berisha told a news conference on Wednesday.

He said that the necessity to have such a commission resulted from the concerns of the European troika on a high level corruption in Albania.

In Tuesday's news conference, the European troika delegation hailed Albania's efforts to establish a professional and independent judiciary and progress of the constitutional commission in drawing up a constitution.

Nevertheless, troika expressed concern on the situation of public security in Albania, which, as the tri-partite delegation said, was characterised by high-level of criminality and corruption.

On Tuesday the Albanian government organised a conference on fight against corruption, the first of this kind in the recent years.

The Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano addressed the conference saying that the present level of corruption had its roots and faults in the DP's governing, which surrendered unconditionally in front of it. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Vienna conference says Albania's situation stabilised

"All orators concluded that the situation in Albania has been increasingly improved after events of 1997 when Albania plunged into anarchy due to the collapse of investment schemes where thousands of people lost their live savings. Meanwhile, important steps have been undertaken to reorganise institutions and stabilise the state," Kondi told a news conference on Wednesday.

The conference, which was held between June 26 and 27, 1998, in Vienna, discussed the key topic of establishing and upholding the rule of law in countries emerging from conflicts.

They said independence of the judicial system in Albania had been noticed in the activity of the Supreme Council of Justice and the preparations of draft laws to administer the budget of courts and put into operation the Supreme court, Kondi said.

"Situation in Kosova has been considered much aggravated, an open act of genocide, flagrant violation of the human rights which urges decisive and prompt international intervention not to allow a second Bosnia," Kondi said.

Present at the conference were United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Director of U.N. office in Vienna, Pino Arlacchi, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Austrian deputy chancellor Volfgang Schuessel, Ambassador of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Tirana Daan Everts, actor and activist of human rights Michael Douglas.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the U.N. in 1948 in an effort to ensure that the horrors of the Nazi German Holocaust of the World War Two would never be repeated. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Kosova president meets Albanian political parties

"The meeting urged the convening of parliament and urgent creation of the National Council, which will comprise all political parties of Kosova. This council will establish links with the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and it would be its political wing if the latter (KLA) accepted it. But the second proposal failed to reach any consensus and we agreed to meet again in a near future," Luljeta Pula Beqiri, head of one wing of the Social Democratic party of Kosova.

Present at the meeting were Adem Demaçi, leader of the parliamentarian party of Kosova, the Academician Rexhep Qosja, leader of the Albanian Democratic Movement, Luljeta Pula head of one wing of the Social Democratic party of Kosova, Nekibe Kelmendi, Secretary General of the LDK and Negotiating Group of Kosova. fh/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Patrol forces motorboats with smuggled cigarettes to turn off

He said that two motorboats of Guardia di Finanza spotted the motorboats 8 miles west of Kep i Rodonit and pursued but failed to catch them.

"White and 16 meters long Super-Napoli motorboats have four persons each aboard. One of them threw a quantity of packages, worth 136 kg cigarettes, off to escape the patrol boats. The motorboats managed to cross into the Yugoslav territorial waters," the spokesman said.

Some 11 motorboats with smuggled cigarettes navigating in Albanian territorial waters from Montenegro, were forced to turn off. One of them has been intercepted by Italian-Albanian forces of Guardia di Finanza, while others have threw off part of the cargo to avoid blocking. ake/mima/ak/

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

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