Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-06

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Discussion on Project for Archeological Park of Butrint

[02] Mother Teresa association calls on Macedonian citizens to help Drenica

[03] Fresh fighting in suburbs of Gjakova and Decan

[04] Bardh i Madh shelled again, one Albanian killed and two others injured

[05] Serbs attack Loxhe of Peja village

[06] Luxembourg provides 8 million francs for Kosova refugees

[07] Fino says Berisha, strategist of Albania's destruction

[08] War near Peje - Village Loxhe in flames

[09] Three people massacred by Serb gangs in Pirane of Prizren

[10] Increasing assistance of Council of Europe for Albania

[11] CE's readiness to assist Albanian judiciaries

[12] International Red Cross assisting refugees from Kosove

[13] Albania's DP leader neglects requests to quit

[14] France ready to cooperate with Albania in education and culture

[15] Kinkel to visit Albania and Macedonia on July 8-9, 1998

[16] New operating strategy for environment - AKM

[17] Parliament adopts report of Commission for Investigation of Unrest '97

[01] Discussion on Project for Archeological Park of Butrint

Present in the meetings were the founders of the Foundation Butrint, English Lords Rothchild and Sainsbury and a group of the World Bank, led by the director of the section of cultural inheritance and environment, Creszentia Duer.

After visiting most important objects in the ancient city, they had a meeting in the medieval castle of the ancient city.

At the end of the meeting, PM Nano told ATA that "it was a working weekend which symbolizes the future Albania is constructing with integral projects which activize the values of the cultural and historical identity of Albanian civilization in the modern development."

Referring to the project on Butrint, Nano said that the project is a pattern for Ksamil and Saranda with Butrint in the centre. It will have all the necessary infrastructure and will be one of the factors for the economic growth and social development of Albania as a European country because it is linked with North-South and East-West corridors.

With regard to the project for the archaeological park of Butrint, Foundation Butrint in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Culture had in April this year in Saranda a meeting in cooperation with authorities of the local government in which they discussed the future of the defence and strategic management of the archaeological zone of Butrint.

In today's activities also present were chiefs of the district council and municipal officials of Sarande. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Mother Teresa association calls on Macedonian citizens to help Drenica

In the communes where the association carries out its activity, the association has declared its incessant humanitarian drive to gather aid for the inhabitants affected by the Serbian military and police aggression in Kosova. /p.ta/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Fresh fighting in suburbs of Gjakova and Decan

Fighting continued over the last 24 hours along the border belt with Albania, in the Gjakova and Decan suburbs, and an Albanian was found killed by Serbian snipers.

Sources of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) in Gjakove say that the Serbian artillery shelling was concentrated on the villages of the Decan-Gllogjan commune such as Baballoq, Shpatej and Gramce.

LDK sources from Decan say that there was heavy fighting in Prejlep on Friday between the Albanian defensive forces and the Serbian police army, which, employing heavy artillery, shelled from its basis set up in Podi i Geshtenjave and in Hulaj.

Sources in Dacan report that Lebushe village was shelled yesterday and fighting has also extended to Strrellce e Eperme, Gramacel, Crrabreg and Baballoq. /p.ta/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Bardh i Madh shelled again, one Albanian killed and two others injured

Reports available from the spot say that an Albanian, Daut Pllana, 27, was killed and two others were injured.

The village and the suburbs continue to be targets of the Serbian snipers, which track any movement of Albanians. /p.ta/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Serbs attack Loxhe of Peja village

Armed confrontations took place yesterday afternoon in the Loxhe village, four kms nearPeja, between the Serbian attacking forces and the Albanians in defence of their soil.

The attack began with artillery shelling and continued with the arrival of numerous Serbian forces, which have besieged the village, where, according to initial reports, an Albanian is injured. /p.ta/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Luxembourg provides 8 million francs for Kosova refugees

The aid will be delivered to the Kosova refugees through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Last month a delegation of the Kosova Republic Office for Benelux and European Union was received by the representative of the International Economic Relations and Cooperation Department, Stan Myck, who promised that Luxembourg will help Kosova, through the High Commissioner for Refugees, International Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations, the Kosova office reports. /p.ta/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Fino says Berisha, strategist of Albania's destruction

Albania's deputies, at a parliamentary session on Monday, blamed former-president Berisha for the February-March '97 events, which led to the destruction of the Albanian state.

Bashkim Fino, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government, speaking of the events of those months and the time he led the National Reconciliation government, said that "responsibility has now a name and this is Sali Berisha".

He said Berisha "should have no place in this parliament as he is the strategist who conceived the idea of ruining Albania".

Deputy Servet Pellumbi expressed hope that the authors of these events will be now brought to justice.

Arben Malaj accused Berisha of being the main cause of ruining the state, saying that "besides fascism, no one had behaved in this way towards his own people."

He asked that legal actions be undertaken to pave the way for the justice to start inquiries about Sali Berisha.

Deputy Zamira Zaka, head of the parliamentary law commission, said that Berisha should have no place in this hall, but the way should be paved for the justice to begin investigations.

The parliament's deputy speaker, Namik Dokle, considered last year's events as a key point in the history of Albania and presented several facts, extracted from the then press, in which Berisha said he would crush his opponents. He, too, said Berisha has no place in this parliament. /s.s/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] War near Peje - Village Loxhe in flames

The attacks are reportedly extending towards the village Raushiq.

Sources from the scene say that fierce fighting is taking place and the forces of the Albanian resistance are strongly opposing the Serb attacks.

The exchange of arms fire in Loxhe started yesterday at about 1 p.m. when Serb forces attacked the Albanians who responded the fire, while in the afternoon the village was completely sealed off. /p.ta/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Three people massacred by Serb gangs in Pirane of Prizren

According to sources of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Kosove, the massacred are two Albanians, father and son, Muhamet and Afrim Elshani, respectively 60 and 20 years, and a Rom, Sali Gashi, 22, who worked in the family Elshani. /p.ta/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Increasing assistance of Council of Europe for Albania

TIRANE, July 6 (ata) - The president of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, met on Monday with the Political Director of the Council of Europe, Furrer, who is visiting Albania, accompanied by the residential representative of the CE Secretary General, Andreas Papakonstantino.

As the President's press and information office told ATA, Meidani stressed during the meeting the great importance of the cooperation with CE for the consolidation of local democratic institutions and continuous perfection of legislation.

With regard to the Constitution, Meidani said that it would serve as a basis for the improvement of the Albanian legislation and asked for this a closer cooperation with CE.

President Meidani also asked that CE send permanent missions in Kosove where precipitation and radicalization of the situation demands an immediate mediation of the international community.

Mr Furrer highlighted the visits and meetings that President Meidani has had in Strasbourg as a very positive signal and guarantee for the institutional and democratic development of Albania and assured Mr Meidani for a growing assistance of CE especially in the field of judiciary. Furrer hailed cooperation with Albania pointing out that the Council of Europe in Tirane will influence in the increase of an all-round assistance for the consolidation of the rule of law and the civil society. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] CE's readiness to assist Albanian judiciaries

As the spokesman of the Ministry of Justice told ATA, Mr Furrer laid the stress on the question of judiciaries as a key issue, adding that not all judiciary can be charged with corruption. He expressed the readiness for cooperation to fight the corruption through regular procedures.

Minister Kondi made a panorama of the work and problems of the Albanian judiciary and the fight against corruption. He expressed the objective of an independent judiciary and asked assistance from the CE for the qualification of judges and their training in different judiciary fields, etc. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] International Red Cross assisting refugees from Kosove

"The emergency aid with medicaments, medical equipment, food and clothes for the northern zones from the International Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations cooperating with it, cover nearly 60 per cent of all the contingents sent so far for the refugees," said after the meeting the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Artur Rada.

Speakers in the meeting said that this organization had inaugurated a pharmacy in the hospital of Bajram Curri which in the period of the influx of Kosovars, met their demands for medicaments, free of charge.

The International Red Cross is studying with priority the present situation of the drinking water in the northern part of Albania. It envisages the establishment of a permanent water drinking supply system for the hospital of Bajram Curri. In this context, measures are being adopted for the creation of a new system of sterilization for all medical equipment and means. /s.s./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albania's DP leader neglects requests to quit

"Any party member has the right to make requests. Nevertheless the demands for my resignation are an expression of the pessimism of those who have not been voted," said Sali Berisha in a press conference on Monday.

According to Berisha, the elections for the DP chairman are held democratically. "They have been secret with the party chairman winning 2/3 of the votes," he said.

Some days ago, Tritan Shehu, former DP chairman and Bashkim Kopliku, former member of this party's presidency and deputy Premier in the period when this party was in power, have declared for the Albanian press that the return in the party of many people unjustly expelled from its ranks is conditioned with the removal of Berisha from the leading post of the party.

"Berisha is hindering the democratization of the party and the free thinking in its ranks," Kopliku has stated.

Since the creation of DP until now, most of the founders of the DP, such as Neritan Ceka, Arben Imami, Eduard Selami, Prec Zogaj, Perikli Teta, Gramoz Pashko and a number of former ministers as Dashamir Shehu, Genc Ruli, Petrit Kalakula, Agron Musaraj have been dismissed from the ranks of this party, while ex-Premier Aleksander Meksi, DP ex-chairman, Tritan Shehu and ex member of the party presidency, Bashkim Kopliku have been removed from the leading posts in that party. /s.s/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] France ready to cooperate with Albania in education and culture

Mr Vedrine expressed in his letter the satisfaction of the French Government for the opening of bilingual classes, Albanian-French, in Korce and Tirane.

"Such an act serves the revival of the good traditions in this field, dating back in the French Lyceum of Korce, years ago," writes the French minister.

Through the letter, Mr Vedrine responds to the demands of his Albanian counterpart, Paskal Milo for continuation of the intensive Albanian-French cooperation, the same source reports.

The French minister expressed through the letter the readiness of his government to offer supplementary scholarships for Albanian students in the field of Economy, and the establishment of a French Cultural Centre in Albania.

"Such a centre will help promote the fruitful cooperation already existing between our two countries," writes Vedrine. /s.sh/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Kinkel to visit Albania and Macedonia on July 8-9, 1998

According to above source, Kinkel is expected to meet with senior officials of the two countries and will visit Northern Albania.

"In the centre of the talks will be the efforts for the solution to the conflict in Kosove. Albania and Macedonia are playing a key role in this direction as a result of their geographic position and the structure of the population. The international community is trying to halt the spillover of the conflict and the destabilization of the entire region through the adoption of preventive measures," says the repot.

There are 13 000 refugees from Kosove (with 90 per cent Albanian population) in Northern Albania, who fled their homes to escape Serb violence and repression.

"The Federal Government attaches special importance to the question of the 13 000 Kosovars who have asked asylum in the neighbouring country (Albania) following the operations by Serb special forces against the Albanian civilians of Kosove. To this end, Kinkel has demanded the elaboration of a regional concept on the problem of the refugees in cooperation with UNHCR," says the report.

"For the Albanian refugees from Kosove, the German Foreign Ministry has earmarked an emergency aid which so far amounts to 1.4 million DM," ends the report. /s.sh./mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] New operating strategy for environment - AKM

"This law was drafted first in 1993, but the social and economic changes have made indispensable that it be reviewed and amended," said to ATA the chairman of the AKM, Maksim Deliana.

According to Deliana, this process will be also accompanied by a "National Strategic Plan for the Protection of Environment." This plan will protect sites from illegal constructions, will establish criteria for the protection of green areas, will protect forests and pastures from the climatic and human factors and will make efficient coastal zones with the aim of developing domestic tourism.

For the realisation of this coordinating plan, which will be over the next spring, AKM will be assisted financially by the World Bank, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, that of Economy, Construction, the Directorate of Forests and the Local Government which have voiced their readiness to help in this direction. /s.sh/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Parliament adopts report of Commission for Investigation of Unrest '97

After six hours of discussion which made responsible for the destruction of the state the former president Sali Berisha and his collaborators, the report was adopted with 88 votes for, one against and one abstention.

At the beginning of the session, the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi, stated that in case the report was approved, then the list of the persons mentioned in it as responsible for the unrest of 1997 will be penally prosecuted.

The deputies of the political grouping Union for Democracy (a member of which is also the democratic party of Berisha) did not take part in the session.

The collapse of the pyramid investment schemes, which took the savings of thousands of Albanians, provoked turmoil in Southern Albania and toppled the ruling Democratic Party of the ex-president, Sali Berisha. During this period, nearly 2 000 people lost their lives as a result of the uncontrolled use of the arms looted after the violent opening of about 1 5000 military depots. On March 10, 1997, ten political parties created the National Reconciliation government which led Albania to earlier elections of June 29, 1997.

The Commission for Investigation of the Unrest of Spring 1997 was formed in October 1997 upon request of the Parliament. /s.sh/mima/xh/

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

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