Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-08-13

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Let's cooperate with progressive forces but we must also trust each other- Albanian President visits towns of Cerrik and Gramsh -

[02] U.S. Ambassador Hill in Prishtine: "We had good talks with Rugova"

[03] Kosova with a new negotiating group and a full staff government

[04] Calm situation in Tropoje

[05] Municipality of Vlore, pattern of socialist governing

[06] Greek presidential decree for movement of Albanian emigrants from Greece to Albania and vice versa comes to force

[07] About 500 roots of narcotic plants ruined, the responsible declared wanted by police

[08] There are no reports of many missing Albanians

[09] Serb forces shell Fushtice e Eperme and Mirena in Gllogoc

[10] Offensive of Serb forces continues in villages of Gjakove commune

[11] Belgian diplomats visit Prishtine

[12] Serbian paramilitary attack Albanian village

[13] Balli Kombetar favours independent republic for Kosova

[14] Albania president refers law on SHIK to parliament

[15] Government approves draft economic laws, decisions

[16] Albanian Foreign Ministry condemns Serb offensive in Kosova

[17] Dollar increases against lek

[18] President Rugova announces negotiation team of Kosova

[19] Albanian Atlantic Association sends a letter to Solana

[01] Let's cooperate with progressive forces but we must also trust each other- Albanian President visits towns of Cerrik and Gramsh -

In the talks he had in Cerrik (about 50 km south of Tirane) President Meidani expressed the concern of the state structures for the development of the zone for which some projects have been drafted also in cooperation with foreign partners.

Then, Meidani, accompanied by the Turkish Ambassador in Tirane visited the hospital of the city to which he donated an electric generator and other equipment as part of a Turkish aid.

After Cerrik, Meidani visited Gramsh (40 km from Tirane) where he met with local leaders of the district and the prefecture.

Meidani cut the inauguration ribbon of the police commissariat building of the district, which was ruined over the unrest last year.

After the inauguration, President Meidani told those present that the disarmament of Albanian population will start in Gramsh. He stressed that a U.N. project for this purpose will be realised first in that district in which over 100 thousand various weapons have been looted.

In an extended meeting with inhabitants of Gramsh, Mr Meidani considered calls to boycott central government "not only apolitical and uncivil but also anti-national and anti-Albanian." Different from his counterpart in Cerrik, Mishelina Xhelo, the mayor of Gramsh boycotted the visit of the President and Government members. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] U.S. Ambassador Hill in Prishtine: "We had good talks with Rugova"

The U.S. diplomat, who came to the capital of Kosove from Skopje where he is holds the post of the U.S. Ambassador, gave no other details for the content of the talks with Rugova.

Hill will have other meetings in Prishtine. /fh/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Kosova with a new negotiating group and a full staff government

Members of the negotiating group are, according to the sources, the academician Fehmi Agani from the Democratic League of Kosove (LDK,) a close collaborator of the President of Kosove, dr. Ibrahim Rugova; Mehmet Hajrizi, secretary general of the Albanian Democratic League of the academician Rexhep Qosja; Bajram Kosumi, deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Party of Adem Demaci; Edita Tahiri and Fatmir Sejdiu from the LDK.

Still according to unofficial sources, referring to the Government of Kosove, a solution for the moment will be the restructuring of the present government of Bukoshi. /fh/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Calm situation in Tropoje

According to Hoxha, the situation in the district continues to be calm in the recent days, which has enabled the state structures to deal more with the problems worrying the local population.

The spokesman of the district police commissariat told ATA Wednesday that no wounded people have crossed the border while on Tuesday there were three injured who came from Qafe of Morine for medical treatment in the city hospital, and now are out of danger for their life.

The people displaced from Kosove are being registered and provided identification and food cards. So far, 6 800 people have received these cards while the number of the refugees from Kosove is thought to be over 17 000.

Now work for the reconstruction of some buildings in Fierze which will be used to shelter the refugees from Kosove, has started by a German foundation.

According to local government leaders, a plan has been drafted for the creation of optimal conditions for a normal life for the refugees from Kosove. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Municipality of Vlore, pattern of socialist governing

According to those present, this is linked with the fact that the Vlore town-hall is the largest in the country and led by SP after the local elections of June 21, 1998.

The conference analyzed the work of the SP branch structures since the 4th conference, focusing on the main moments which determined the future of this party for Vlore.

The chairman of the branch, Niko Veizi, in the report to the conference explained that SP in Vlore is not only the main political force but also the most effective and organized. This is also confirmed with the victory in the June 29, 1997 elections where SP received more than 70 percent of the votes.

Representatives of the SP Steering Committee, Arben Malaj and Sabit Brokaj, also spoke in the conference. /a.ke/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Greek presidential decree for movement of Albanian emigrants from Greece to Albania and vice versa comes to force

The press and information department in the Albanian Foreign Ministry told ATA that on a basis of a report of the Albanian Embassy in Athens, the decree signed by the Greek President, Stefanopulous on July 24, 1998, entitles the right to travel to Albania and return to Greece to all those emigrants who met some conditions.

Hence, those emigrants who have made a request to Greek offices of labour which have provided them the initial request accompanied with photo; those who have provisional permit to stay in Greece or the white card; those who have received the request for green card and those already have the green card (3-5 year permit) are entitled the above right.

According to the decree, together with the applicant, other applicant's family members are allowed to travel to Albania and after they must return to Greece in two months' time, except for serious medical reasons.

The office of the Public Order minister of the Greek Republic has notified for the functioning, observation and defence of all the rights the presidential decree offers, all Greek organizations which have to implement the decree. /y.pa/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] About 500 roots of narcotic plants ruined, the responsible declared wanted by police

The spokesman of the Public Order Ministry said to ATA Thursday that the narcotics were planted in Mbiet village of Fier district and the person responsible had left and all procedure was made in absentia. He was declared a wanted person by police, the spokesman said. /s.sh/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] There are no reports of many missing Albanians

The same source cited by Kosove Information Centre reports that after the offensive Serb military-police forces embarked on July 25 on the villages of Kiline and Malisheve communes, the population has fled, in the mean time there is no news for the fate of 38 inhabitants of the village Doberdol of Kline, which have been taken hostage, stresses KIC. The same sources said that no reports are available for four women in village Siceve who were taken out of their homes which were set ablaze.

Sources of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights report that there is no report for the fate of Xhevdet Haxhiaj, Bajram Ali Kryeziu and Hajdin Demush Kryeziu who are supposed to be have been taken hostage on July 25 together with some other Albanians in Kijeve or in the elementary school of Bubavec. /p.ta/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Serb forces shell Fushtice e Eperme and Mirena in Gllogoc

Also villages Budakove and Maqiteve were intensively bombed while sporadic bullets were heard also in the direction of villages Peqan and Sllapuzhan. The Information Commission of the LDK branch in Suhareke has not yet had any report of the consequences of the strikes, said KIC. /p.ta/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Offensive of Serb forces continues in villages of Gjakove commune

The above sources report that numerous blasts which are thought to have been powerful explosions and not by artillery, and the police road checks in the roads leading to and out of the city especially in Piskote are preventing the displaced population in the villages at war to resettle, while in many cases Albanian population has been arrested or maltreated by Serb police.

A grave situation is prevailing in the city of Gjakove, Albanian citizens are facing with a great influx of people displaced from the warring villages and many food articles are lacking, stressed LDK sources in Gjakove. /p.ta.das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Belgian diplomats visit Prishtine

The Belgian diplomats discussed with President Rugova in a closed- door meeting, according to Gust van Hove, the situation in Kosove and the suggestions of the Contact Group which, said the Belgian diplomat, Rugova "has taken into consideration."

The Belgian diplomats also met with academician Rexhep Qosja, chairman of the Albanian Democratic League, Adem Demaci, chairman of the Parliamentary Party and other Albanian personalities. /p.ta/das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Serbian paramilitary attack Albanian village

Last night they attacked with different armaments for more than four hours the Albanian village Gllatovi, destroying several houses. Gllatovi village has been attacked many times by Serbs from Prilluzhe village, sources on the ground reported. /P.Ta/das/ld/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Balli Kombetar favours independent republic for Kosova

Deputy party leader Shpetim Roqi told a news conference on Thursday that he opposed the options of the E.U. Troika delegation a day before saying that the only solution to Kosova was "an independent republic and self-rule for Albanians according to relations established with the Republic of Albania."

In a press communique the party hailed "the latest successes of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) in the conflict in Kosova."

Balli Kombetar is the only political party which is presenting a concrete proposal for the political status of Kosova. No one of the Albanian political forces has been openly expressed on this issue, but has said that the legitimate representatives of Albanians in Kosova will decide on that.

During a recent visit in Tirana, the E.U. Troika delegation presented the option for a wide ranging autonomy as the future status of Kosova according to some models applied in some European states.

Roqi also criticised the approval of the law on National Information Service by parliament on August 6. ypa/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albania president refers law on SHIK to parliament

It said that the reason for that "has to do with the lack conformity of the law with the present constitutional provisions, and at the same time with important concerns and remarks of different non-governmental organisations."

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Government approves draft economic laws, decisions

Deputy prime minister Islami briefed them on the main aspects of the present situation, tense situation in Kosova, complications resulting from the situation as well as the efforts of the government to improve order and security and fight contraband especially weapon trafficking, press and information office at the Council of Ministers said in a press release obtained by ATA.

Islami condemned acts of international terrorism such as Kenyian and Tanzanian bomb blast at the U.S. embassies and offered the cooperation of the Albanian government in fight against terrorism.

The meeting approved a draft decision on an action plan in fight against corruption. It foresees the mechanism which will monitor the execution of this plan and defines periodical deadlines of reporting on main recommendations.

The government approved a draft decision to register real estate of trade firms created after the collapse of state enterprises.

It also approved two draft decisions on declaring expropriations of the real estates for public interest, estates which should be eliminated due to the construction of the Milot-Lezhe section part of the eight corridor North-South and road section Librazhd-Qukes, part of the East-West corridor.

Another draft decision approved is that on the contribution of the Albanian government on 1998 in a project for the maintenance of the Ohrid lake according to which the Albanian government will put into disposal a fund worth 3 million leks. ake/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Albanian Foreign Ministry condemns Serb offensive in Kosova

It said that "the catastrophe of Albanians in Kosova is continued to be felt much more in Albania where the number of Kosova people, some of them wounded, exhausted and terrorised, has begun to grow again."

The Ministry of Albania urged Belgrade authorities not to speculate with the much moderate stand of Albania against situations such as border incidents where Yugoslav military forces are responsible, incidents which are frequently taking place. ypa/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Dollar increases against lek

Following is the buying and selling rates of the foreign currencies against the dollar in Bank of Albania.

US$1.00 costs 149.50 leks German mark 83.20 leks Italian Lire 83.50 leks Greek Drachmas 49.50 leks /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] President Rugova announces negotiation team of Kosova

Rugova said that the team included representatives of the parties in parliament of the Republic of Kosova, that is professor Fehmi Agani, Fatmir Sejdiu, Tadej Rodiqi, Edita Tahiri and Iljaz Kurteshi.

He said that the Kosova parliamentary party and the Albanian Democratic movement had been invited to have their representatives there.

"Unfortunately, they have rejected to take part in the team. We ask them to reconsider their decision and join the efforts to halt this situation in Kosova," Rugova said.

Christopher Hill, the U.S. diplomat on Kosova, and Wolfgang Petriç, Austrian Ambassador, whose country is holding the presidency of the European Union, spoke with journalists.

Asked by journalists on the participation of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) in the talk team, the U.S. diplomat said "doors are opened to all." shdha/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Albanian Atlantic Association sends a letter to Solana

The letter obtained by ATA praised the decisive role NATO was playing in a solution to this crisis which would have consequences for the whole region and urged the Secretary General Solana to enable an intervention of NATO troops as soon as possible in Kosova in order to stop another "development with unprecedented consequences." ypa/das/ak/

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

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