Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-08-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Hungary urges Belgrade not to send Hungarian policemen, soldiers to Kosova

[02] Elsa Lila wins second prize in Kazakhstan

[03] Satellite information center inaugurated

[04] USAID offers aid to Shkoder town hall

[05] Interregional relations - priority for Greece, Albania

[06] Tepelena's encyclopedia ready to be published, but no sponsor

[07] Greek consulate in Korce to be inaugurated on August 30

[08] 2 000 narcotic plants ruined in Fier

[09] Likovci and other villages in Drenice in flames

[10] DP of Albania opposes new law "On SHIK"

[11] Albanian Government condemns explosions near U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

[01] Hungary urges Belgrade not to send Hungarian policemen, soldiers to Kosova

Secretary of State at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry Zholt Nemet has summoned the Budapest-based Ambassador of the Yugoslav Federation Republic to reiterate him the concern of his ministry as regards the escalation of crisis in Kosova as well as the sending of Hungarian recruits, reservists and policemen from Vojvodina to Kosova, the press communique said.

At the beginning of August, many Hungarian reservists and policemen from Vojvodina have been mobilised and sent to Kosova. s.sh/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Elsa Lila wins second prize in Kazakhstan

Lila, who is twice winner of first prize in the latest song festivals in Albanian radio television sang her winning songs in Kazakhstan festival "Appease hatred", "Ask the tear" and the new song "Song of Lahutar" composed by Valentin Veizi who is considered as the "explorer of Lila's talent."

"I could hardly expressed myself in the stage to whom I dedicated the prize but in Kazakhistan media I said that I had dedicated the prize only to Albania," Lila said in an interview with ATA after her arrival in Tirana. pas/ak/

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[03] Satellite information center inaugurated

This center will increase the number of INTERNET and EMAIL users through a periodic training of the ministry personnel.

Present at the ceremony were Albanian Minister of Defence Luan Hajdaraga, U.S. ambassador to Tirana Marisa Lino and others. s.sh/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] USAID offers aid to Shkoder town hall

The town hall Secretary Bardhyl Shaqiri said to ATA that this is the first contingent of aid including 35 desks, 40 chairs and a photocopy machine. The other contingent expected to arrive next week includes computers, telephone and fax machine for offices of the institution.

The Shkodra town hall was destroyed and raided during unrest of February 22 and 23 this year. A fund of 5 million leks was used to rehabilitate it and now efforts are under way to supply it with necessary equipment. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Interregional relations - priority for Greece, Albania

Thoma Papagjika, head of the district council, spoke about the needs and great possibilities of Greek investments in the region as well as facilities of communication and movement to this inter border region.

"The three border crossings of the Saranda district will function normally next year," The Greek ambassador said meaning the Qafe Boten near Konispol, Tri Urat and the new border crossing in Sopik of Gjirokaster.

Prevedhurakis focused on stimulation of Albanian-Greek investments and business underlining the fact that banks with five billion Drachmas of the Greek credit will give credit to all serious projects.

He suggested that firms or businesses of the Gjirokaster-Saranda region can profit credit to stimulate domestic production, especially agriculture.

As regards Papagjika's proposal on the opening of a branch of the Greek bank in Saranda, the Greek Ambassador said that a branch of the Greek bank will be open soon in some main cities of Albania.

"Since 1996, the Greek government has declared that it considers the cooperation with Albania in an affair way, strategically and not merely through the area of minority," Prevedhurakis said.

"Greece is carefully helping, often in silence. Usually we are discreet and do not go out, shout and sell with nice packing what we produce," Greek ambassador said.

Stressing that Greece and Albania are interested in establishing stability in Albania, Prevedhurakis underlined that "we are on the same wave-length concerning the Kosova crisis."

"Greece helps Albania as regards the crisis in Kosova, exerting pressure on the other side and helping on its own way in the Contact Group and the European Union," he said. ake/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Tepelena's encyclopedia ready to be published, but no sponsor

"The first two volumes of the encyclopedia for Tepelena which has been projected in four volumes, are over but its publication is delaying due to financial reasons," Novruz Shehu, initiator of the encyclopedia said to ATA.

Shehu said that scholars and doctors of sciences, particularly of Tepelena origin, in and out of Albania, worked for the first two volumes of the encyclopedia.

They include chapters on the ancient origin of Tepelena, archaeological ruins, buildings of Christian and Muslim religions, flora, fauna, climate, ethnography, linguistic, folklore, local seismologic data and others.

The second volume includes biographies of 536 distinguished figures of Tepelena origin who have lived and worked in Tepelena or visited that district such as the figure of Ali Pashe Tepelena and Bayron, or that of the co-fighter of Garibaldi Domeniko Damis whose family left Tepelena in 1480, the actor of Tepelena origin Sten Dragoti and others.

The work for the encyclopedia started in 1992. Four round tables on its drawing up have been organised in Tepelena and Tirana with some 300 intellectuals. ake/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Greek consulate in Korce to be inaugurated on August 30

The same sources confirmed that attending the inauguration ceremony will also be the Greek Foreign Minister, Theodhoros Pangallos.

Mentioning this fact, the Greek Ambassador in Tirane, Prevendurakis, said in Sarande where he was on a visit recently, that August 30 will be the inauguration day for the Greek consulate in Korce.

Diplomatic sources said that "right after the Greek consulate Korce, another one is expected to be established in Vlore as well."

The establishment of the Greek consulate in Korce was mentioned for the first time formally in the diplomatic relations in 1996. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] 2 000 narcotic plants ruined in Fier

In the course of the action started by police in the districts in which narcotic plants are cultivated, last Friday 2 000 narcotic plants, cannabis sativa, were ruined in village Peshtan, Fier district, spokesman of Public Order police told ATA.

According to the spokesman, the plants were found in the private plots belonging to K. Qellia, R Qellia and H Qellia. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Likovci and other villages in Drenice in flames

It is reported that bullets have been fired and troops have been seen moving yesterday from the base of Serb forces to the building of the Feronickel plant, while aircraft flights have been frequent.

* * *

After the third Serb attacks in the villages Nerodime e Eperme and Nerodine e Poshtme (Southern Kosove,) their Albanian inhabitants who had abandoned homes to escape Serb massacres, are now returning to their houses but still threatened by Serb strikes.

In the mean time, representatives of the Human Rights in Belgrade, Aleksander Cvjeic and Mirjana Cokovic have reportedly visited these days the LDK branch and the sub-branch of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Ferizaj. /p.ta/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] DP of Albania opposes new law "On SHIK"

"The new law which changes the National Information Service into a police of Fatos Nano is a setback to the old platform of the State Sigurimi and transforms this institution into a powerful instrument in the hands of Fatos Nano," said a statement that Democratic Party distributed in its today's news conference.

Pollo accused SHIK of exerting business activity.

Two days ago Albanian Parliament adopted a new law for the organization and functioning of the National Information Service which was considered by the majority as similar to the experiences of the secret services of the Western democratic countries.

During the past six years, SHIK has been greatly accused by the then opposition and associations for the defence of human rights of surveying and persecuting the people who opposed the then ruling DP. In March 1997, SHIK led the military operations to crush the people's revolt which had started in southern districts of Albania.

The Democratic Party presented in its today's news conference a platform for the National Information Service (SHIK) while the present law was considered as "short-termed like the Parliament which adopted it." /y.pa/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Albanian Government condemns explosions near U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

With regard to this grave terrorist act, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of Albania states that the Albanian Government condemns energetically the strong explosions near U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar el Salaam, considering them as criminal and terrorist acts directed against legal international institutions.

Such events, accompanied with casualties and considerable material damage, must be powerfully denounced and must not affect the activity of the institutions which adjust and develop international relations so indispensable in the present stage of the processes of cooperation and integration," ends the declaration of the spokesman of Albania's Foreign Ministry. s.sh/das/xh/

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

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