Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-13

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] KLA says its units achieved considerable successes

[02] Minister says charges against government officials need evidence

[03] Serb paramilitary attack Pantina, Okrashtica

[04] $5.2 million projects to reconstruct Gjirokastra

[05] Lismiri surrounded by Serb forces

[06] Oil daily output reaches 1070 tons

[07] Greek businessmen to accompany Pangalos in Tirana visit

[08] Exchange rate: dollar at 149.0 leks

[09] Two killed, 12 wounded in Peçan, Suhareka

[10] Judges and prosecutors to undergo qualification test

[11] Some $ 2 million of U.S. aid for Albanian hospital network

[12] Fighting near "Trepce" mine in Kosova

[13] DP leader does not regard international community statements as criticism

[14] Turkish President Demirel visits Albania on Tuesday

[15] Fierce fighting in suburbs of Decan

[16] Four Albanian injured on Kosova-Albania border belt

[17] Fighting near Bardhi i Madh and Trepce mines in Kosova

[01] KLA says its units achieved considerable successes

"The KLA units are achieving considerable successes in maintaining and putting under control many strategic points and sites of vital importance for the future of Kosova," the press release said.

It added: "The KLA units of rapid intervention have undertaken important actions especially in Prishtina, Podujeve, Shale, Bardh i Madh and Dukagjin area."

There have been many casualties and wounded among Serb forces and seven Albanian fighters have been killed in these operations, it said.

"The KLA general staff calls on all the people to avoid being prey of shameful splits of some political factors in Kosova," the press release said. fh/pas/ak/

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[02] Minister says charges against government officials need evidence

"So far we are hearing only amateurs' charges, who are only accusing without providing proofs," Teta told journalists following a meeting of the Democratic Alliance party (PAD) in the party headquarters.

An open debate on corruption has started after a World Bank study, which called the government's attention on fight against corruption in the Albanian policy circles, particularly within the government coalition parties.

The Minister of Public Order, Perikli Teta, who is also a PAD presidency member, said on Saturday: "Every charge against any administration official should be based on concrete evidence and allow the accuser the possibility to defend himself." s.s/das/ak/

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[03] Serb paramilitary attack Pantina, Okrashtica

Control of passengers in check points at the access of Nedakoc, Bukosh and Vushtri has been intensified, Center for Information in Kosova (QIK) said.

Sources said that an increasing presence of Serb police forces had been recorded on Sunday in Gllogoc which were deployed along the road from the city's center to Kroni i Mbretit in Korreshtice e Eperme. pta/das/ak/

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[04] $5.2 million projects to reconstruct Gjirokastra

The projects were presented in a round table on "How to rebuild Gjirokastra" held on Saturday.

Ylli Asllani, city mayor, said that the damages caused to museums were estimated at $2 million.

This round table organised by the local town hall and the Commercial Chamber with the participation of intellectuals, directors of institutions and businessmen, suggested the creation of a board for the Gjirokastra city which will sensitize the people for the values of the city and will attract investments to carry out projects of the Institute.

Recently, the directory of museums and History and Geography chair at the University of Gjirokastra organised the symposium "Gjirokastra faces the dilemma of changes."

Gjirokastra, at the south of Albania called also the "Rocky city", has been a civilised center since XIV century. Its key point is the castle bearing the same name whose construction started at the IV century. This is the well-maintained castle in Albania. ake/pas/ak/

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[05] Lismiri surrounded by Serb forces

Two residents of Lismir said that their village, which numbers 120 Albanian families with some 1.200 residents, has only 13 people because the others have left for Prishtina.

They said that all the cattle have been eliminated some for lack of care but the majority from Serb snipers, who are placed in "Djerrina" some 300 meters from the Lismir village and over the railway station in Fushe- Kosove. pta/das/ak/

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[06] Oil daily output reaches 1070 tons

This data, compared with the daily output a month ago, has been improved with 70 tons. The output has been increased to 2.5 times in comparison with the same period last year.

A spokesman of the oil corporation said that the output was due to the increase of wells' active fund. At the end of June, the number of wells under operation was 10 percent higher than a month before.

The quantity of gasoline sold on Saturday in the Oil Processing Plant in Ballsh was two times higher than two weeks ago. s.s/das/ak/

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[07] Greek businessmen to accompany Pangalos in Tirana visit

Pangalos was expected to hold talks with the Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo and other senior officials of the Albanian government. Other members of the delegation will hold separate meetings with different Albanian ministers and businessmen.

The same sources said that the Greek businessmen are distinguished representatives of the National Bank of Greece, which has its affiliation in Tirana, "LATSI" company group, "Pitsos" Bank and other big construction companies, who aim at familiarizing with the Albanian reality and legislation in order to invest their capitals here, especially now when the laws on privatisation of strategic sectors have been adopted.

Greek investments in Albania cover banking system, industry of construction material, infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunication, trade and mine.

The number of Greek investors in Albania is over 200, while the value of Greek investments is over $100 million. /ak/

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[08] Exchange rate: dollar at 149.0 leks

Currencies bought sold

US$1.00 149.0 leks 152.60 leks German Mark 82.50 leks 84.30 leks Italian lire 82.00 leks 87.00 leks Greek Drachmas 48.20 leks 50.80 leks

/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Two killed, 12 wounded in Peçan, Suhareka

Many houses and a school building were destroyed by shelling and sporadic shooting was audible in the city of Suhareka.

Sources from Rahovec said that forces of the Serb army pounded early today with earth-to-earth Katjusha rockets the village of Drenoce. There are no reports on casualties from this village which is under the control of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA).

Serb military and police forces have been redeployed in the Hade village in Grabofc e Ulet what warns of possible new attacks on Bardh i Madh and surrounding areas. pta/das/ak/

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[10] Judges and prosecutors to undergo qualification test

The test will be organised and assessed by the School of Magistrates in cooperation with the Law Faculty of the Tirana University, under the authority and responsibility of the High Council of Justice.

The test will be observed by representatives of the Council of Europe, OSCE and other international institutions interested.

The topic of the test, due in the first three months of the coming year, will contain logical tests to see the general cultural level of the candidates, knowledge of the European standards on defending human rights, basic knowledge of the Constitutional Law, as well as of the penal and civil legislation. /s.s/pas/lm/

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[11] Some $ 2 million of U.S. aid for Albanian hospital network

"The aid is result of a agreement signed between Albanian Health minister Leonard Solis and representatives of the Albanian Health Fund in the U.S., the spokesman of the Health Ministry, Artur Rada, told ATA.

This contingent consists of medicaments and medical appliances of contemporary pharmaceutical standards.

The U.S. medical aid will be distributed to all the country's hospitals.

"This aid is the largest provided so far for the Albanian health," said Rada, adding that it is assumed to meet all needs of our hospitals. /s.s/mima/lm/

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[12] Fighting near "Trepce" mine in Kosova

Shooting took place overnight, while the region is under the siege of the Serbian forces.

This morning armed Serbians in the Fushe-Kosova town (southwest of Prishtine) set on fire a house and a bar of Albanians.

Recently, the Serbs have often bombarded houses of Albanians and there have been large displacements among the Albanian population, children, women and old people from the region. /p.ta/pas/lm/

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[13] DP leader does not regard international community statements as criticism

"The statements of OSCE, CoE and U.S. expressed regret at our act, which is also expressed by us," Berisha told a news conference on Monday.

He said that these declarations did not condemn the DP decision, but only expressed concern over the situation created and that the Albanian press had misinterpreted these declarations.

"The OSCE Presence and the special representative of the Council of Europe are very worried about the decision of the largest opposition party to start a new, undefined boycott of Parliament and call on it to reconsider its decision," says a joint statement of the OSCE Presence in Tirana and the special representative of the Council of Europe.

The DP decision was considered by these international organisations a counter-effect to the consolidation of a democratic state, based on the force of the law, which all the parties are responsible for.

The U.S., through a statement of the State Department made public last Thursday, after powerfully supporting the joint statement of the OSCE Presence and CoE, considers the DP decision to boycott parliament "a step backward in the consolidation of democratic development of Albania, and calls on the DP to reconsider its deciosn and take up its seat in parliament."

"This action of Sali Berisha is something very negative. Internal reconciliation remains the main demand of the International Community for Albania and in this direction Sali Berisha's action is wrong," German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said during his visit to Albania last week. /s.s/mima/lm/

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[14] Turkish President Demirel visits Albania on Tuesday

The Turkish delegation is composed of Minister of State Serkiner, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Minister of Labour and Social Assistance Iami Cagan, the chairman of parliament's Foreign Policy Commission as well as a large number of senior authorities, leaders of various Turkish institutions, businessmen and a large number of Turkish media and press, according to the president's spokesman.

The Turkish president will also meet with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi and representatives of the political forces, with whom he will also discuss the crisis in Kosova.

During this visit cooperation agreements are expected to be signed between the two country's state radio-televisions, telegraphic agencies as well as cooperation agreements in the field of social assistance and social insurances. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Fierce fighting in suburbs of Decan

Fierce fighting took place over the last 24 hours between the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav army, Serbian police and paramilitaries.

The KLA forces yesterday afternoon killed two Serbian policemen and injured two others in the village of Carrabeg i Poshtem. While last night and today the Serbian forces have grenaded Carrabeg i Poshtem, Baballoq and Gramacel. Fierce fighting has also taken place in Preljep last night and today.

Sources from the spot report that there have been casualties on the Albanian side and several houses have been burned and damaged. /sara/lm/

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[16] Four Albanian injured on Kosova-Albania border belt

Four Albanians of the Shishman village of Gjakova were wounded in the latest fighting on the Kosova-Albania border belt.

The fighting between the forces of the Albanian resistance and the Serbian forces continued today in the villages of Nec and Smolice.

Meanwhile reports from Gjakova say that the villages of Raskove and Malesi e Vogel today have been shelled by Serbian heavy artillery. /sara/lm/

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[17] Fighting near Bardhi i Madh and Trepce mines in Kosova

The movements of the Serbian military and police forces in the suburbs of the coal mine in Bardhi i Madh, 10 km west of Prishtine, were followed today by fresh attacks in these regions.

The Serbian heavy artillery is shelling in the direction of Shipitulle, Grabofc and Sibofc at the foot of Qyqavica mountain. The KLA forces have counterpoised the attacks, while the population of the attacked region, women, old people and children are leaving for safer villages.

Fighting is also continuing near the Trepce mine in Stanterg, some six km northeast of Mitrovice. /sara/lm/

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

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