Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-15

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Fighting on border line with Albania in district of Gjakove and Decan

[02] Turkish people have always been close to Albanian people - Demirel

[03] Traditional friendship between Albania and Turkey is a chance for both countries

[04] New budget draft-law: more spaces for local government independence

[05] Experience in social field exchanged

[06] Demirel says 65 million Turks are close to Albania -Turkish president unfolds plan to resolve Kosova issue-

[07] Lack of funds, obstacle for TV 2 channel to operate

[08] DP to oppose draft constitution even if it is very good

[09] LDK general council discusses constitution of Kosova parliament

[10] United States concerned on situation in Kosova

[11] Sarandopoulos resumes construction of bridges

[12] Albanian, Turkish news agencies sign cooperation agreement

[13] Albanian, Turkish televisions sign cooperation agreement

[14] Albanian, Turkish people to promote economic, trade cooperation

[15] Turkey interested in investments in food industry

[01] Fighting on border line with Albania in district of Gjakove and Decan

KLA (Kosove Liberation Army) forces and Albanian population are defending themselves resolutely against Serb attacks. An Albanian from Babaj i Bokes, Ali Rustemi, who was wounded by the Serb army, died today in the hospital of Gjakove, where another wounded man has also been sent.

Fierce gunfire has taken place last night also in the suburbs of Decan. After three hours of fighting, Serb forces were forced to withdraw, suffering great casualties. Out of revenge the Serb forces while they were withdrawing set on fire some houses in Carrabreg and in the city of Decan.

Serb forces have also attacked the villages Isniq, Lluke e Eperme, Strellc and Prejlep. An Albanian, teacher Isuf Ymeral, 67, was killed by shells of Serb forces in Isniq.

According to sources in the spot, in the mine of Trepce in Stanterg, about 6 km northeast of Mitrovice, the number of the wounded in the ranks of the KLA is four. While the losses in the Serb forces, both material damage and casualties are considerable.

Sources from Prizren report that from 10 p.m. up to 2 a.m. today from the base of the Yugoslav army in Landovice heavy artillery pieces have opened fire in the direction of Suhareke outskirts. Still there are no reports for the consequences. /sh.Dha/mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Turkish people have always been close to Albanian people - Demirel

At this meeting Gjinushi said that the Albanian parliament and all political forces, despite differences in their programmes, want to further expand and promote the relations with the Turkish republic.

Referring to the situation in the region, Gjinushi said that regional integration cannot be realised unless the national problems are resolved.

"Kosova, our main problem, is in armed conflict. Wishing a peaceful solution, we assess that actually Kosova is in Bosnia's conditions and the solution requires a proper political and military alternation towards a second Dayton," said Gjinushi.

President Demirel expressed readiness to increasingly strengthen the relations between the two countries. In the new world context, Albania is building a new democratic state, a new constitution, a new economic reality, he said.

He evaluated the Albanian parliament, which supports the solution of the crisis in Kosova through peaceful means, as well as the stand that Kosovars' demands be articulated in a single voice.

The Bosnian drama should not be repeated, said Demirel.

"We do not see any other way besides that of peaceful solution. The Turkish people have always been close to the Albanian people," he said. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Traditional friendship between Albania and Turkey is a chance for both countries

TIRANE, July 14 (ata) - In the official dinner given Tuesday evening to honour the president of Turkey Sulejman Demirel who is visiting Albania, the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani highlighted the continuous interest of Turkey in the affairs and problems of Albania, in its stability.

"I would like to reiterate that, in particular Turkey of this decade has extended the hand of hospitality to Albania without hesitation," said Meidani.

Mentioning Turkey's participation in NATO, which has been a factor for peace in the region, President Meidani said that "membership in European organizations and in the NATO is the fundamental objective of Albania. In our forward march," he said, we have also accounted the support from friends and allies, hence the unsparing support of Turkey."

Focusing on the international relations, Meidani said that Turkey and Albania are closely cooperating also in the framework of the international organizations or regional initiatives. He mentioned on this occasion the project of East-West Corridor or Corridor 8.

With regard to the situation in Kosove, Meidani said: "We are realistic, we consider calmly the space and land parameters and we take into account the developments in the field when we say that a genuine peace in Kosove will be that based on the legitimate right of the Albanian people of Kosove to enjoy what they are entitled to according to international conventions."

"Turkey has always proved a high sensitiveness towards developments in Kosove," said Meidani. He voiced the gratitude of the Albanian people for the continuous and unreserved contribution that the Turkish state, government and society have in general made to support a lasting and peaceful solution to the question of Kosove.

"The word and role of Turkey have a special weight in the road that the solution of this internationalized problem will take," stressed President Meidani. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] New budget draft-law: more spaces for local government independence

The existing law approved since 1992, because of lack of experience, as well as because it were the first months of the economic reform, does not reflect a series of functions and instruments of financial and budget management which now have been present in Albania's economic and financial reality. The current law does not treat budget execution functions, debt management functions.

The new draft-law ensures improvement of budget auditing procedures by the High State Control and creates spaces for the local budget to have its independence and flexibility to help strengthen the fund managing role by the local government bodies.

The draft has been realised in cooperation with the international organisations, among which SIGMA, European Community and U.S. Department of Treasury have played a key role.

Consultations on drafting the law have been carried out also with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Experience in social field exchanged

The two agreed that an administrative agreement is signed between the two institutions in September of this year.

They also spoke of exchanging experience in various fields such as employment, migration politics, monitoring of labour market, evaluation of impacts of social politics, statistics and other fields. /a.gj/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Demirel says 65 million Turks are close to Albania -Turkish president unfolds plan to resolve Kosova issue-

"The aim of this visit is to publicly declare that 65 million Turks are close to the Albanian people," said Demirel in his speech before deputies.

In the context of a two day visit to Albania, the president of the Turkish Republic, on Wednesday before noon, held a speech at the Albanian parliament.

He proposed a four-point plan to resolve the Kosova issue.

This plan consists in an immediate halt of bloodshed in Kosova; restoration of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Albanians in Kosova; immediate start and without hesitation of dialogue between the parties and return to their lands of all the people forcefully driven out of Kosova.

Demirel criticised the international community for delay in intervening in Kosova. Turkey, he said, is ready to take part in any operation of peace, if decided upon by the International Community.

"We should in no case allow a repeat of the terrible tragedy of Bosnia," he said.

The Turkish president also spoke of the indispensability of expanding Albanian-Turkish relations in all fields.

Also present in this parliamentary session was Albanian President Rexhep Meidani. /s.sh/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Lack of funds, obstacle for TV 2 channel to operate

Safedin Cela, deputy director general of the Albanian RTV, considered "strange slander by today's press that the Albanian RTV 2 channel, to broadcast parallel with the existing station TVA, is ready to operate.

The Albanian TV, based on a project, intends to have three programmes, the existing one, the TVA 2 programme as well as the satellite programme.

But all these, according to Cela, will be realised after some time. As regard to the second station all broadcast licenses and frequencies have been secured. This channel will be part of the TVA.

"Other programmes will very soon be added to the existing screen, but this is conditioned by the financial relations with the state," says Cela. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] DP to oppose draft constitution even if it is very good

"The Democratic Party will be against the draft constitution even if the work for its outlining is excellent," Genc Pollo, deputy leader of the DP said.

Pollo said that the reason why they would reject it despite the good work of the constitution commission, was that the draft could not be appropriate to the present conditions in Albania.

The constitution commission ended the work for the drawing up of the constitution last Thursday.

Tomorrow, the leaders of the commission will leave for Venice to submit the draft to the European Union Commission "Democracy through law". Following Venice's approval, the draft will be submitted to parliament and is expected to be voted through referendum.

The DP representatives have not been present since the beginning in the process of constitution and even rejected the suggestions of the European troika to return to parliament.

The European troika considered the DP's participation in drawing up constitution "the last chance to demonstrate that they are a real opposition and alternative." s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] LDK general council discusses constitution of Kosova parliament

The LDK parliamentary Group, which is going to elect if head, will also deal with the issue on Thursday. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] United States concerned on situation in Kosova

"An artificial shortage in foodstuff and other necessary goods for the population has been created in Kosova. We think that this is a known threatening tactic and we denounce such actions as violation to human rights," James Rubin, State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.

The press office quoted Rubin as saying that the U.S. had conveyed its concern on the food embargo to the leaders of the Yugoslav Federation and Serb officials.

"NATO is continuing to consider a series of possibilities but has not yet found a final decision on military intervention," Kenet Beckon, a Pentagon spokesman told a news conference on Tuesday.

Beckon said that in the last two weeks they had clearly seen that the Albanians of Kosova, which comprise 90 percent of the population there, were becoming more energetic in their movement for independence and military actions.

The Pentagon spokesman said that this was one of the reasons why the U.S. special envoy in the Balkan Richard Holbrooke held talks with the representatives of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) during his latest mission in the region.

"All are trying to find a diplomatic solution to that. We believe that this is the way to be followed as we and our European partners are interested in finding a diplomatic solution," Beckon said. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Sarandopoulos resumes construction of bridges

The works were interrupted during the unrest last year and the construction-site was raided.

Now Sarandopoulos has decided to construct bridges included in the eighth corridor project.

A spokesman of the Prefecture of Elbasan said to ATA that some 70 percent of the work in 13 bridges of the project has finished. The firm has vowed to finish them as soon as possible to pave the way for the works of the eighth corridor.

The Greek firm has signed contracts with other Albanian firms to speed up work.

Sarandopoulos, which has won two bids for the important part of the eighth corridor and the infrastructure, suffered a damage estimated at $2 million during the unrest or equal to the amount needed for the construction of 13 bridges in Librazhd, according to the firm's administration. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Albanian, Turkish news agencies sign cooperation agreement

The agreement, which was signed by the ATA Director General Frrok Çupi and AA Director General Mehmet Gyler at the presence of the president of Albania Rexhep Meidani and president of Turkey Sulejman Demirel, showed the willingness of both sides to promote the existing cooperation between the agencies.

This agreement acknowledges mutual exchange and distribution of news.

Each signatory side creates necessary facilities for the correspondents of the other side to carry out their task when they are in the territory of the host side. The agreement also envisages personnel training.

An agreement on technical assistance was also singed between the agencies. Anatolu Ajans has decided to offer technical assistance to the ATA. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albanian, Turkish televisions sign cooperation agreement

The new agreement of cooperation was signed by Albanian Radio- Television Director General Albert Minga and Turkish Radio Television ARD Jusel Jenel.

"It included a series of provisions starting with the exchange of programmes, experience and necessary equipment," Mira Blushi, the television Foreign director, said to ATA.

Blushi said that the Albanian television will be provided with contemporary equipment, which will be put into operation during the restructuring and television specialists would be trained in Turkey.

Protocol agreements between Albanian Television and ARD are signed for the first time in 1993. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian, Turkish people to promote economic, trade cooperation

President Meidani considered macro economic stability and possibility to further develop reforms which were crowned with the signing of the ESAF 2 arrangement between Albania and the International Monetary Fund a stimulation to increase volume of economic exchanges between the two countries.

"Turkish investors have found and will find a human environment in Albania, an economy which offers increasing possibility in which the Turkish capital will find its place," Meidani said.

President Meidani said that he was convinced that the two governments would offer new mutual possibilities to stimulate bilateral economic cooperation and especially active participation of Turkish powerful capital in the process of privatisation of strategic sector of the Albanian economy, in tourism infrastructure development.

The opening of a new Turkish bank affiliation in Tirana would stimulate cooperation between the states.

"On this occasion, I would urge the diplomatic representatives in Ankara and Tirana, Chambers of Commerce and Industry of both countries and all economic, public or private institutions to institutionalize constantly and actively the relations between them to exchange information and everything necessary aiming at strengthening economic cooperation," Meidani said. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Turkey interested in investments in food industry

The bilateral cooperation includes Turkish investments in food industry, power distribution industry, construction of small and big hydro power plants and Vlore-Ballsh oil pipeline, as well as investments in chromium industry.

They agreed that the fifth session of the joint Albanian-Turkish economic session be held in Tirana between September 1 to 5, 1998. /a.gj/ak/

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

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