Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-29

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Council of Ministers convenes

[02] Closed-door session of Albanian parliament -Ministers Milo and Teta report

[03] Demirel praises constructive stand of Meidani to resolve Kosova issue

[04] Creation of judicial circles intends improvement of performance - Kondi

[05] Restoration of 300 year-old St Kolli church begins

[06] National theatre addresses petition to senior state authorities

[07] EU delegation arrives in Prishtine

[08] No news available from Malisheve

[09] Belgium to ask NATO intervention in Kosova -Lizin

[10] 76 NATO militaries to attend "cooperative assembly" exercises

[11] Romanian foreign minister to visit Albania

[12] Yugoslav forces deployed around Skenderaj

[13] Political party round table could not reject commission's work

[14] EU urges immediate halt to violence, start of dialogue in Kosova

[15] US diplomat meets KLA fighters

[16] UN pilot project to disarm Albanian population

[01] Council of Ministers convenes

The council analysed the situation created on the northeastern border of Albania due to the fighting in Kosova and, considering the situation, took the respective measures. /s.s/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Closed-door session of Albanian parliament -Ministers Milo and Teta report

Foreign Minister Paskal Milo and Minister of Public Order Perikli Teta reported at the closed-door session.

Numerous deputies also discussed the situation at the session. /a.ke/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Demirel praises constructive stand of Meidani to resolve Kosova issue

"The visit enabled me to discuss and exchange opinions on regional issues and problems linked with bilateral relations," the letter says.

"I particularly evaluated your principled and constructive stand in resolving the Kosova issue. Allow me to stress once again that Turkey is ready and would like to contribute to all measures to resolve this issue."

"With the same message I have addressed letters to leaders of the Contact Group countries and several regional countries, to express my increasing concern about the situation in Kosova. I have also written a letter to President Milosevic and stressed the importance of Yugoslav forces's withdrawal from Kosova, the safe return home of the refugees and the start of a dialogue for a peaceful settlement of this issue".

"I hope, Your Excellency, to meet you in Turkey and continue our consultations on issues of mutual interest. I avail myself of the opportunity to reiterate my highest consideration," the letter concludes. /a.ke/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Creation of judicial circles intends improvement of performance - Kondi

The spokesman of the Justice Ministry told ATA that thoughts were exchanged on the creation of several judicial circles, for a more efficient operation of the courts.

The creation of these circles should serve a better organisation of performance.

The heads of the district courts reported on the measures taken by the judicial sections on the operation of the mortgage and other offices.

At the end of the meeting Kondi asked from the court heads discipline at work and non-procrastination of citizens' cases. /a.ke/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Restoration of 300 year-old St Kolli church begins

For the fist phase, that of building the ruined walls and restoration of wood objects, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania has recently provided 30 million leks, which have begun to be released by the local construction firm "Sogora", the head of the district council, Bashkim Koci, told ATA.

St Kolli, besides its architectonic values, has especially become known for the frescoes and icons realised in the 18th century by the Cetiri brothers from Grabova.

Specialists in monuments of culture will work for the second phase in order to preserve the artistic originality of works. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] National theatre addresses petition to senior state authorities

"We want that the wrong initiative of the Minister of Culture which will result in the destruction of this institution and its tradition, be curbed" says a petition addressed to the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi and Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

The troupe of the National Theatre, accusing Minister of Culture Edi Rama of freezing the law on Theatre, asks through this petition "that the new law on the national theatre which will lead to a contemporary engagement of the entire Albanian theatre be speeded up".

The 60 workers of the national theatre ask through the petition "a more careful study by specialists, technical and financial support." /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] EU delegation arrives in Prishtine

The EU "troika" is due to meet with the president of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, and hold other meetings with Albanian representatives. /bj/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] No news available from Malisheve

Sources from the spot say that the population have fled Malisheve and many villages.

Public opinion in Kosova and the Prishtine press express the fear that massacres might take place there. Serbian post office last night cut off mobile telephone links in Prishtine and other centres of Kosova.

Yugoslav army military planes are hovering over Prishtine today, while fighting is going on in many parts of Kosova. The most dramatic situation prevails in Junik, the biggest village in the area bordering Albania, which has been under the siege and attack of Serb forces for several days now. /la/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Belgium to ask NATO intervention in Kosova -Lizin

Belgium will ask NATO intervention in Kosova if the situation there continues to aggravate.

Belgian senator Anne Marie Lizin told a news conference in Tirana on Wednesday that "further aggravation of the situation would mount pressure on Belgrade to halt violence against the civilian population of Kosova and if the conflict continued to escalate at this rate, Belgium would ask the intervention of the NATO troops".

Lizin considered positive the stand of the Albanian government towards the crisis in Kosova and, referring to the latest incident at the customs point of Morine, she added that "the Albanian authorities should continue to keep calm in face of these situations, because it seems Serb provocations against Albania will continue."

Referring to the efforts of the European diplomacy Lizin said that it has not at all been indifferent towards the developments in Kosova, but the Contact Group's activity leaves to be desired and this has been criticised by Belgium, she said.

The Belgian senator considered right the reaction of the Kosova people to self-defence and considered the KLA "the army of the freedom fighters".

As to the problem of refugees, she proposed the setting up of an urgent cell in the CE so as to aid the Albanian government to cope with the influx of the Kosova refugees. /s.s/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] 76 NATO militaries to attend "cooperative assembly" exercises

The NATO team, which includes 76 high ranking chiefs of staff at different levels of command, and the Albanian team, comprising specialists of the General Staff and other staffs, discussed how to coordinate the activity expected to start in the coming days in Tirana-Durres-Kruje-Bize area.

Forces of the participating countries will be deployed in the Biza region some 25 km east of Tirana where they will launch their activity from August 17 to 22.

The Albanian military experts under lieutenant colonel Zija Bahja, chief of the Albanian team and NATO experts under English lieutenant colonel Mike Woolley are carrying out a reconnaissance mission in the area according to a detailed program and types of weapons and troops.

The "cooperative Assembly" exercises are held in the framework of the Partnership for Peace program and aim at promoting cooperation and coordination between forces of the NATO member states and their partners for peace-keeping mission. The Albanian troops, whose country is hosting the exercises, will be on equal footing with other countries involved in such missions. s.s/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Romanian foreign minister to visit Albania

The chief of the Romanian diplomacy will hold a series of meetings with senior officials, president of Albania Rexhep Meidani and prime minister Fatos Nano, press and information directorate at the Albanian Foreign Ministry said in a communique obtained by ATA.

The Romanian delegation, headed by the minister Pleshu will hold official talks in the Albanian Foreign Ministry.

Both ministers are expected to hold a news conference at the end of the visit. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Yugoslav forces deployed around Skenderaj

The thumps of artillery rounds could be heard from Runiku surroundings engulfed by columns of black smoke. /bj/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Political party round table could not reject commission's work

"The political forces should discuss the draft constitution but the round table of political parties should not cast the parliamentary commission on constitution aside," Fatmir Mediu, leader of the Republican party told a news conference on Wednesday on behalf of the "United Right"

political formation.

Mediu, after hailing the DP's engagement in this process, said that this party should give up its groundless requests, which do not serve the political climate in Albania.

The Democratic party voiced on Monday its engagement to participate in the constitutional process imposing conditions on the participation.

"We would engage ourselves in studying the draft constitution in a 25- day period and later ask for a round table of political parties to express our options on the constitution," Sali Berisha, the DP leader, said on Monday criticising the work of the constitutional commission.

The Democratic party has boycotted the parliamentary commission on constitution since the beginning. This attitude was criticised by the U.S. Department of State, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European troika, which has considered the DP's participation in commission as the last chance to be a constructive opposition. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] EU urges immediate halt to violence, start of dialogue in Kosova

Rohan and Rugova said that the meeting was very important particularly in these difficult moments Kosova is facing and the latest Serb offensives in Malisheve, Junik and other parts.

Rugova asked for preventive measures by the European Union, United States and international community to prevent massacres and ethnic cleansing under way in Kosova.

"We are in unity with all the political groupings. We will include all political forces in a wide ranging coalition government to pave the way for dialogue," Rugova said.

"Given the conditions Kosova is facing is very difficult to negotiate but, however we should negotiate," Rugova said.

The delegation comprising political directors of the foreign ministries of Great Britain and Germany, held close door meetings with parliamentary deputies and the negotiating group of Kosova. It (delegation) was expected to meet with the U.S. diplomat on Kosova Christopher Hill. mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] US diplomat meets KLA fighters

Informal sources said that the U.S. diplomat, who was accompanied by representatives of political parties and associations in Kosova, held a close door meeting with the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) fighters and no statement was made after it. rxh/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] UN pilot project to disarm Albanian population

project to disarm the population in Albania, which is foreseen to be applied in the Gramsh district through United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) after the approval of the Albanian government, press and information office at the Foreign Ministry said to ATA on Wednesday.

This project gained a full shape after a visit of the deputy Secretary General of the U.N. Disarmament office Jayatha Dhanapal to get acquainted with the situation and possibilities of disarming the Albanian population.

The project will be supported by a propaganda campaign particularly by television.

During the unrest of Spring '97 provoked by the collapse of pyramid schemes which swallowed all the life savings of thousands of Albanians, around 1.500 military depots were raided and over two thousands people were killed due to an uncontrolled use of weapons. ake/mima/ak/

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

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