Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-07-30

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Constitutional commission again "stops" at Assembly Council

[02] Soccer: Cup of Champions-Dinamo of Tbilisi (Georgia) eliminates Vllaznia of Shkoder-

[03] Soccer: UEFA Cup-Inter Bratislava eliminates Tirana

[04] Exhibition of little painters opens

[05] Alarming situation in Skenderaj

[06] Albanian illegal emigrants returned from Italy

[07] Study on tourist spots in Korce district

[08] DP says even national issue would not return us to parliament

[09] National Front party discharges former deputy leader

[10] Media commission urges careful treatment of Kosova issue

[11] Premier says government determined to help business

[12] SP to consider both variants on parliament structure

[13] Minister says Albania praises Italian role in navy restructuring

[14] Foreign Ministry hands over a protest note to Yugoslav official

[15] Platform on national issue

[16] Thousands of refugees from Junik headed for Albania

[01] Constitutional commission again "stops" at Assembly Council

The commission members representing the Socialist Party (SP parliamentary majority) again rejected the section of the draft constitution which has to do with the Assembly Council, or what is called "Second house" and stuck to their initial earlier position.

After the meeting the SP secretary General, Pandeli Majko, told reporters that "we do not give up our position, as we do not consider the council's composition and powers correct from the constitutional point of view.

In this way the effort of the co-chairmen of the constitutional commission, Godo and Imami, to convince the SP representatives to give up their opposite position, failed.

The meetings of the parliamentary commission, which has undertaken to draft the state's fundamental law, were put off in an effort to find consensus among the commission members on the "Second house", which has now turned into the "Gordian knot" of the approval of the new Constitution of the Republic of Albania.

The commission today discussed the section that has to do with the Prosecutor's office, transitional provisions and an additional section, which defines the way of building and functioning of the Central Electoral Commission. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Soccer: Cup of Champions-Dinamo of Tbilisi (Georgia) eliminates Vllaznia of Shkoder-

Despite the victory Vllaznia failed to be qualified for the first tournament of the Champion Cup.

Dinamo of Tbilisi was qualified thanks to the 3-0 result in the first leg.

The match was refereed by four Maltese referees. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Soccer: UEFA Cup-Inter Bratislava eliminates Tirana

The match was refereed by four referees from Northern Ireland. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Exhibition of little painters opens

All the works displayed in this activity were exchanged several days ago for symbolic gifts presented by the Association "Tirana Business Centre", which was inaugurated on Wednesday with the opening of this exhibition.

Of the 1600 works presented, will be selected 25. Ten paintings will be assessed by the public and 15 by a specialised jury. /mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Alarming situation in Skenderaj

Alarming reports arriving from Runik say that the Kastriot village has almost been burnt down by the Serb infantry.

Other villages of this area (Sejdiu quarter has been burnt down), Kllodernica, Leçina, Padalishta, Çitaku, Vitaku, Çubreli, Radisheva and Kotorr have also been attacked.

All these villages have been attacked by the rocket system in the mountains of Mokne, the Kosova Information Centre reports. Villages around Skenderaj, especially Kline e Eperme (quarter of Beranve and Mecinve), where the graves have been seriously damaged, continue to be under attack.

Since Wednesday Llausha, especially Llausha e Eperme, has been grenaded nonstop.

In central Drenica and especially in the Likofci locality, which includes nine villages, is crowded with Albanians who have fled their Serbian attacked homes.

Many who have fled the villages of the Kline commune are passing the nights in the open, near the Fushe-Kosova-Peja railway in Ujmir and the two tunnels linking Ujmir with Cerovik. /p.ta/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Albanian illegal emigrants returned from Italy

Ten women, who exercised prostitution in Italy, were also returned with them.

They were all released after formalities were carried out. /s.s/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Study on tourist spots in Korce district

Urbanist Nina Theodhosi told ATA that the aim of the study is to pave the way for qualitative constructions and attraction of foreign investors for the development of these spots.

She said the study includes the Prespa zone, with 6000 hectares, the Dardhe zone with 2200 hectares and the national park of Drenova with 4500 hectares.

The Prespa zone with the beauty of its lakes promises a speedy development of family tourism, especially in the villages of Liqenas, Zaroshke, Gorice e Vogel and other villages.

Dardha, with its specific climate and landscape offers possibilities for developing tourism in all seasons. It also has a special tradition in architecture, which is preserved even today. In the '30s family tourism was developed here and a photo album testifies to this.

Scholars hold that besides investments by state and foreign donors, priority should also be given by the owners of the site in these areas, themselves. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] DP says even national issue would not return us to parliament

"We are for a final separation with the Albanian parliament and our attitude will not change. It is not only the parliament where we can express our stand on the Kosova issue," Ridvan Bode, the DP Secretary General told a news conference on Thursday.

Bode rejected what part of the Albanian press had written on Thursday. They said that the DP would reconsider its attitude on the boycott of parliament if it was the question on Kosova issue.

The DP decided to boycott parliament after the latter approved the report of the commission on investigation of "97 events at a time when the DP government was in power and the Albanian state was dissolved. The report blamed former president Sali Berisha and present DP leader and his collaborators for the dissolution.

The European troika, the Council of Europe, European parliament, Organisation for Security and Cooperation, U.S. State Department, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel have considered mistake the parliamentary boycott by the DP and called on it to reconsider the decision. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] National Front party discharges former deputy leader

The PBK leaders urged in a news conference on Thursday that the former deputy chairman Selfo be replaced by another member of this party in the commission on constitution.

Party leaders also asked that he be deprived of his status of deputy. Hysen Selfo represents the National Front Party in parliament.

At the beginning of June the PKB held its ninth congress and elected the new party leadership. Abaz Ermenji was reelected chairman and Shpetim Roqi deputy head.

After the congress, Hysen Selfo had said that "the elections of the new leadership were manipulated" adding that he would work to organize a national conference or urgent party congress. y.pa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Media commission urges careful treatment of Kosova issue

Kosova issue "without harming national interests or kindling hatred among peoples."

A public appeal distributed on Thursday by the head of the public media commission Musa Ulqini which referred to the reality in Kosova, said that "without harming the independence of press, we attract the attention of publishers, journalists or analysts to avoid articles or inaccurate reports which hurt unintentionally the national interests or stir up hatred between peoples."

The appeal urged all central institutions which deal with urgent tasks regarding the Kosova "to better organise information and contacts with the press." /ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Premier says government determined to help business

"The Albanian government is determined to help business through institutional schemes and improve the legislation that guarantees investments," a spokesman of the prime minister said.

The prime minister said that we were asking depolitization of links with business, philosophy which is being adopted by the entire Albanian administration.

Nano discussed with the representatives of the Al-Kharafi different investment projects this group has undertaken or has planned to undertake in Albania.

"Your engagement to invest in Albania is the best message in the delicate moments Albania and the whole region is facing," Nano said.

The Al-Kharafi representatives thanked the government for its support in ongoing investments in Albania. The projects undertaken in the last five years had given their results and were going to be increased in the future due to government

cooperation and order stabilisation. /s.s/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] SP to consider both variants on parliament structure

"Now that the draft has been drawn up by the commission, both variants the one with a council and the other unicameral will be submitted to parliament," Majko told a news conference on Thursday at the parliament's headquarters.

Majko spoke on parliament's structure a day after the commission on constitution failed to reach a consensus on the existence of a parliamentary council or the "second house" in the fundamental state law.

In today's news conference, Majko denied that his party representatives have blocked the constitutional process.

"The constitution has not been blocked because there have been no political problems, but we have rejected only issues related to its content, " Majko said.

He hailed the new DP stand on studying the draft constitution but stressed that everything should be done through legitimate state institutions. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Minister says Albania praises Italian role in navy restructuring

"You are giving a distinguished contribution to put in efficiency Albania's Navy defence forces," Hajdaraga told the Italian military delegation headed by the General Navy Commander Admiral Renato Ferraro, an official of the Public Relations Directorate at the Albanian Defence Ministry said to ATA on Thursday.

Hajdaraga, recalling the assistance offered by the Italian side in reinforcing the Albanian Navy Defence forces, said " We are convinced that our goals cannot be understood without a closed cooperation with countries like you."

He also mentioned the special role of the Italian expert delegation in Tirana headed by General Cantone.

Admiral Ferraro spoke about the efforts under way for ongoing projects, creation and putting into efficacy of the Albanian coast guards. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Foreign Ministry hands over a protest note to Yugoslav official

The protest note urged the Yugoslav authorities to take measures to halt such provocations which heavily compromise relations between the states and run counter to international principles and norms.

The latest border incident in Padesh post, is a repeated case in the recent days with Yugoslav forces violating the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania.

The protest note said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees as an opportunity to make known once again to the Yugoslav side that if such provocations are repeated they will fail. In case they are part of a plan which aims at extending the conflict even in the territory of the Republic of Albania, they would face a determined reaction by the armed forces and the entire Albanian people," the press communique said. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Platform on national issue

TIRANA, July 30 (ATA) - President of Albania Rexhep Meidani held talks on Thursday with leaders and members of the Academy of Science who drawn up a platform of national issue which is a scientific view of the history, its actuality and perspective.

The guests said to president that the Academy will organise a meeting with the Albanian intellectuals from Albania, Kosova and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to discuss and promote the platform which is going to be published in Albanian and other foreign languages, press and information office at the presidency said in press communique obtained by ATA.

President Meidani, hailing the authors of the platform, said that its publication is of great importance and will help the international opinion and chancelleries of the world to better know the Albanian issue in general and the Kosova issue in particular.

He expressed his belief that the platform will serve the rapprochement of pan national political and social factors as regards the national issue. ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Thousands of refugees from Junik headed for Albania

All efforts are under way to evacuate the civil population and the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) is determinably responding to the attacks and defending residents.

Over 1.000 civilians from Junik and the surrounding areas which are on their way to Albania are expected to cross the border today (Thursday). Other 2.000 are treading paths, mountains of Bjeshke te Namuna, without food and protection under the Serb artillery fire.

The KLA has caused increasing loss to Serb forces during the firefights in Junik area, sources on the ground said.

The Serb commander of the border area and some militaries have been killed. Four tanks and other military equipment have been destroyed.

Sources said that fighting has continued in Strelic i Eperm, Carrabreg i Poshtem, Prejlep and Rastavice villages. shdha/das/ak/

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

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