Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-26

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Pogradec intends sister-city relations with Kraiova of Romania

[02] Reconstruction of Shelbeum Church begins

[03] Serb border provocation, Morina customs attacked

[04] Serb border provocation, Morina customs attacked

[01] Pogradec intends sister-city relations with Kraiova of Romania

The ambassador of Romania in Tirana, Filip Todoresku, met with local government leaders, businessmen, intellectuals and others in the town of Pogradec recently.

The aim of the meeting was to strengthen relations of cooperation between the town of Pogradec and Romania, giving priority to trade relations, the spokesman of the district council told ATA.

The Romanian ambassador expressed readiness and left open the discussion on establishing sister-city relations between Pogradec and the city of Kraiova in Romania, the chairman of the district council, Sokol Vako, told ATA.

On this occasion the Romanian ambassador invited the Chamber of Commerce of Pogradec to take part in the annual fair of the Chambers of Commerce in Romania, due in October. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Reconstruction of Shelbeum Church begins

The works include the reconstruction of the building ans other premises of the Fathers' Monastery. As for the six frescoes among which that of Shelbues and St Ndou, which belong to the 12th century, and which have been gravely damaged by humidity,the aid of the Vatican specialists has been requested.

The Catholic Church of Shelbuem, set up on a rock as a natural monument in Rubik, is among the most ancient in the Balkans and dates back to 1162.

Based on a project drafted by father Gjergj Fishta this church damaged over the years was reconstructed and completed around the year 1910. In 1967 the church was turned into a military unit by the communist regime and suffered heavy damages.

Last year, the catholic community of Treviso (Italy) financed the paving of the road and the construction of various arts works from the town to the church. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Serb border provocation, Morina customs attacked

The event took place on Sunday at around 01.00 a.m., the police director of the Kukes Prefecture, Remzi Brahimi, told ATA. The frontier Serb soldiers fired volleys of gunfire in the direction of the Morina customs building as well as the Rexhe and Shalqi villages.

The customs building is riddled with bullet holes. The inhabitants of these villages have sent the children and women to the Bardhoc village and they themselves have taken up arms and approached the border.

Upon receving the news, at around 02.00 a.m. the Kukes police and division forces were rushed to the area. They called on the inhabitants of these villages not to respond to the Serb army fire.

Also, leading officials of the Public Order Ministry went to the spot to follow the situation closely. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Serb border provocation, Morina customs attacked

The event took place on Sunday at around 01.00 a.m., the police director of the Kukes Prefecture, Remzi Brahimi, told ATA. The frontier Serb soldiers fired volleys of gunfire in the direction of the Morina customs building as well as the Rexhe and Shalqi villages.

The customs building is riddled with bullet holes. The inhabitants of these villages have sent the children and women to the Bardhoc village and they themselves have taken up arms and approached the border.

Upon receiving the news, at around 02.00 a.m. the Kukes police and division forces were rushed to the area. They called on the inhabitants of these villages not to respond to the Serb army fire.

Also, leading officials of the Public Order Ministry went to the spot to follow the situation closely.

One weak ago, on July 18, Serb artillery shells fell up to 500 m inside Albanian territory, in the zone of Tropoje (north of Kukes).

The Albanian government, in a statement, described these attacks as open provocations which aim to engulf Albania in the flames of a regional conflict and stressed it is ready to cope with any provocation and threat against Albania's integrity.

The Albanian government has regarded the Serb barbarous acts against the Kosova population as part of Belgrade's strategy of mass extermination and ethnic cleansing in Kosova. /s.s/pas/lm/

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

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