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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-10-13Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Leni Fischer hails Majko as Prime MinisterTIRANA, Oct 12 (ATA)-Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Leni Fischer congratulates Pandeli Majko for his appointment as chairman of the Council of Ministers, according to the Media and Information department."On behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and in my own personal name, I would like to offer my congratulations on the occasion of your nomination as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania," says Fischer in a message to Majko. "We wish you full success in your significant mission and hope to cooperate in the future," the message says. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Inquiries into "Revenge for justice" organisation are overTIRANA, Oct 12 (ATA)-By Th.Thanasi, Investigations into the "Revenge for Justice" organisation ended on Monday, according to sources from the Tirana district prosecutor's office.Eleven persons, members of the organisation "Revenge for Justice", will be brought to justice for crimes committed between 1991 and 1996. The number of the accused of crimes by this organisation has been much larger but the amnesty for several criminal offences has left many of them outside this process, the same sources explain. Some of the accusations hanging over this organisation members are the bomb placed at the former VEFA supermarket, the killing of the prisons' director, Bujar Kaloshi, and the thefts in the savings banks in Tirane and Vlore. "These charges have been fully proved," the sources say. The 11 defendants include brothers Orik and Laert Shyti. They are accused of grave crimes, whose investigations began on October 13, 1996. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Albanian and Greek police discuss issue of passportsGJIROKASTER, oct 13 (ATA)-By H. Cani, Representatives from the Albanian and Greek police on Monday met at the border crossing of Kakavije to discuss the recent issue on Albanian citizens' passports.Albanian specialists at the Public Order Ministry have shown concern that many citizens have been blocked at the border by the Greek side for invalid passports, recently. Sources from the meeting told ATA that the Greek representatives explained that passport checking is carried out based on the information the Greek police receive from INTERPOL and on the principles of the countries, signatories of the Schengen pact. On the same day, Monday, a Greek Consulate source in Gjirokaster said that this consulate, too, will investigate the validity of the passport of every citizen wanting to get a visa and will not issue visas in the passports, which, according to Albanian sources' information, are invalid. /a.ke/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Ministry of Culture "awards" ten prizes to literature of 1997TIRANA, Oct 13 (ATA)-By K.Shehu,The Ministry of Culture has recently decided to award the prizes "Golden feather" and "Silver Feather" to the Albanian literature of 1997. The authors will be awarded these prizes on December 21, the day when the First Book Fair "Tirana '98" closes. Sources from the Ministry of Culture told ATA that "the pretenders who will contest to win these prizes will be suggested by the publishing houses, renowned specialists and readers' reactions." Alongside these prizes, for 1997 the Ministry of Culture has also earmarked six other prizes for the Albanian prose, essay and poetry. The best translation into Albanian and foreign language will also be given a prize. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Soccer: Representative of Albanian juniors to play with Norway todayTIRANA, Oct 13 (ATA)-By A.Keko,The Albanian juniors' football team, on Tuesday at 18.00, will play with the Norwegian team, in the context of the European championship. The Albanian team comes to this match after beating the Georgian team, 1-0, in the latter's field, with a goal scored by defender Albert Duro. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Participant in abortive coup d'etat detainedTIRANA, Oct 13 (ATA)-A participant in the violence of September 14 in Tirana was detained on Monday by the forces of this city's Police Commissariat 3.The spokesman of the Public Order Ministry told ATA that citizen Edmond Ismail Ymeri, age 30, born and resident in Tirana, was detained on Monday. He was arrested after the arrest order ruled by the General Prosecutor's office for this citizen, who, on September 14, 1998, in complicity, took part in violent actions to topple the constitutional order. On September 14, during the funeral ceremony of lawmaker Azem Hajdari, crowds of people launched an armed attack against the Prime Minister's office, radio-television and other governmental institutions. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Number of correspondence students reducedTIRANA,Oct 13 (ATA)-By P.Shuteriqi, The number of students following part time higher studies for the academic year '98-'99 has been substantially reduced, according to sources of the Ministry of Education and Science (MASH).Minister Ethem Ruka told ATA on Tuesday that from the current 35 900 students, more than half continue higher studies through correspondence. "The strategy followed so far, despite advantages from the point of view of the students' number and financial conditions, has lowered the qualitative level of specialists. An example to this is the law faculty which is actually attended by 8 000 students, of whom 1 600 full time and about 6 400 part time," said Ruka. The Ministry, added Ruka, decided to finally end correspondence studies in this domain. The reduction of the number of correspondence students, Edmond Hajderi, director of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education and Science, will be replaced by opening new courses, especially in the higher non-university education, by a gradual extension of the existing university courses or by allowing private higher education. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Only a firm intervention by NATO can save Kosova people - LDKPRISHTINE, Oct 13 (ATA)-Belgrade's declarations on compliance with the demands set forward in the 1199 Resolution of the Security Council are completely untrue and cynical. They only serve the propaganda and efforts to deceive the international opinion and avoid an intervention by the international community, the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) says in a statement released by the Kosova Information Centre (KIC).After stressing that the Serb regime has not met any demand of the Security Council Resolution, the LDK leadership calls on the NATO Council, the U.S., and other international factors to decide on an immediate action by the NATO forces, to defend the Kosova people and force Belgrade to act in full compliance with the demands set forward in the Security Council resolution. Only a firm intervention by NATO, which would attack the Serb military machine, which has caused and continues to cause great tragedy in the Balkans, and an immediate presence of international peacecreating and peacekeeping forces, could be a guarantee to defend the Kosova people and open a political process for the solution to the Kosova issue through negotiations, the statement says. /p.ta/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] This time Milosevic will not dare play with his promises - MinistryTIRANA, Oct 13 (ATA)-By I.Paco,The Albanian Foreign Ministry hopes this time the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, will not play with the promises taken as he has done so far, after an agreement on Monday between U.S. envoy Holbrooke and Yugoslav President to stop military actions and withdraw troops from Kosova. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Sokol Gjoka, told ATA on Tuesday that "despite hopes that the crisis in Kosova will end and that the Yugoslav president will keep his promises to withdraw the troops, the development of events, since the beginning of the crisis in March, has shown that Milosevic has not realised what he has said." "It is not the first time that Milosevic takes pompous political promises. He has done this also other times, disillusioning the international community later, but I hope this time he will not dare play," said Gjoka. He bases his hope on the fact that "now everything is ready for an eventual air attack by NATO in compliance with the resolution 1199 of the Security Council if the troops are not pulled back." Despite the idea created in the Albanian public opinion that the international community threats, like other times, have not been realised, Gjoka hopes that the NATO air strikes against Serbian strategic positions will be carried out unless the Serb security forces begin to be withdrawn from Kosova within the 96 hour time limit set by the Alliance. To the proposal for the creation of a regional police force in Kosova, according to the percentage of the population, the spokesman said that "these are issues to be handled between Prishtine and Belgrade." /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Tense situation in Has, PrizrenPRISHTINE, Oct 13 (ATA)-The situation in the Has zone continues to be tense because of ultimatum warnings by Serbian militaries for the inhabitants of Romaje, Dedaj, Lugishte and Kushnin to hand in their weapons, according to the Kosova Information Centre.Such ultimatums have also been addressed to Albanian inhabitants of the villages of Konjush, where the Serbian forces have arrested seven inhabitants, and Mazrek, where they have arrested nine Albanians and maltreated nine others. /p.ta/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Germany interested in strengthening local government in AlbaniaTIRANA, Oct.13 (ATA) - By R. Xhuvani: Germany was very interested in the local government in Albania. One of the priorities in this field will be strengthening of local government bodies, meaning above all economic independence, the German Ambassador in Tirana, Hans Peter Disdorn, declared Tuesday during a meeting with the Albanian Minister of Local Government, Arben Demeti.With regard to the assistance for the Kosova refugees in Albania, the German Ambassador said that the German aid, worth 5 million DM from KFV foundation, is ready and will be used to repair the existing buildings for the accommodation of the refugees. Regarding the problem of self-administration, Minister Demeti, on his side, said that the Albanian government will undoubtedly move forward to this road. He stressed the fact that this self-administration is also sanctioned in the Albanian draft constitution, based on the German patter, which foresees a wide autonomy of lands or regions, likely to be set up even in Albania. Concerning the assistance of the German government and humanitarian organizations for the Kosova refugees, Demeti said that "we will put at the disposal all our possibilities to create a climate of cooperation so that the assistance be efficacious. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Number of capital population still not exactTIRANE, Oct 13 (ATA) By G. Dilaveri "Tirane Municipality has begun working to find out the evidence which will provide the basis for the registration of metropolitan population. The administration unit nr.1, the biggest unit in the capital, finished a pilot project regarding this initiative," Erind Kraja, director of Personnel Department at the Municipality said on Tuesday to ATA.General registration of the population, legally approved, it is thought to be carried out by an INSTAT project. At a time when demographic movement towards Tirane takes place every day, the real figure of its population, differs a lot from the existing figure in the registration office. "Tirane has some 420 000 legalised inhabitants but it is thought that the real figure to be round 650 000," said Kraja. INSTAT evidences show that the population in Albania from 1,1 million inhabitants it was in 1945, was tripled reaching 3,2 million in 1990. Tirane population, according to 1989 registration, was 259 000 inhabitants. /pas/lola/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Unity of religious communities to guide politicians and partiesTIRANA, Oct. 13 (ATA) - By R. Xhuvani: The problems of the religious communities in Albania and the possibilities of their cooperation with the government were in the focus of the meeting that Albania PM Pandeli Majko held Tuesday with the representatives of the Albanian religious communities.Majko, after appreciating the important role of the institution of cult in Albania, stressed that "the unity of the religious communities should be turned into a model even for the politicians and their parties, which should leave aside the hostility and join together on behalf of national interests," Premier spokesman reported to ATA. The senior clerics thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting, as well as for the cooperation invitation by stressing that the role of the religion will continue to be unchangeable. The stability of the religious communities will help the state and the society in general. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] Nine foreign investors interested in NCB privatisationTIRANE, Oct 13 (ATA) By D.Koca"A World Bank mission will come on Wednesday in Albania. This mission in cooperation with Finance Ministry will begin the negotiations on the process of privatisation of National Commercial Bank (NCB)," said on Tuesday Finance Minister, Anastas Angjeli. Meanwhile the NCB balance-sheet is presented to the Finance Minister, Anastas Angjeli. "The process of NCB privatisation will transparently be carried out and it aims to attract the best and more serious offers," Angjeli said. Finance Minister said that 9 investors, including the renowned and serious banks from Italy, Greece, Austria and Turkey, are at present interested in this process. /lola/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Lek exchange rate at the same quotaTIRANE, Oct 13 (ATA) By L.Thanasi Dollar keeps to have the same exchange rate. The official rate in Tirane is as follow:currency exchange rate USD 143.80 DM 87.00 LIT(1000) 87.80 GRD(100) 50.00 Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Round table of parties on Kosova issueTIRANA, Oct. 13 (ATA) - By U. Bajrami: The round table of the political parties regarding the Kosova issue convened on Tuesday. But, after three hours of discussions, the representatives of the political parties could not issue a joint statement on the question they convened for.The initiator of this table, the Republican Party, presented for discussion a draft-declaration on Kosova, urging among others the immediate intervention of NATO in Kosova, as well as the implementation of the Resolution 1199 of the Security Council. The chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mehdiu, asked the representatives of the parliamentary and non parliamentary parties, present in this round table, to express their opinions regarding the draft- declaration. The representatives of the political parties supported the initiative of the Republican Party and voiced their opinions on the draft-declaration. But, after three hours of discussions, these parties did not manage to issue a joint statement. The representative of the Socialist Party, Musa Ulqini and the other representatives of the coalition parties appreciated this statement and favoured its signing. While, the representatives of Union for Democracy rejected the statement favouring a wider participation of other parties and associations. After too many discussions, the table decided that the Republican Party should draft a statement on Kosova and send them to the main political parties. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Round table on media held in ShkoderSHKODER, Oct. 13 (ATA) - By M. Malja: A round table on media was held Tuesday in Shkoder, which discussed the responsibilities of the newly established Ministry of Information regarding the law on electronic media and the presentation of the regional events in the national media.This table was organized by OSCE and the Institute of Media. The participants there pointed out the difficulties existing in receiving the information from local bodies which inform first the central bodies. The participants said that the establishment of the Ministry of Information is a good chance for the Albanian press, if it will create scopes of information for the journalists. They stressed that it is useful if this Ministry extends its structures even in 12 prefectures of Albania. In the conditions of the current lack of the law on the electronic media, they expressed positive considerations for the newly approved law and said that it will be applicable and successful if the Albanian politics would pass to a new stage which would influence on lowering the tensions noticed in the Albanian press. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Kosova welcomes NATO warningsPRISHTINA, Oct. 13 (ATA) - By B.Jashari: Kosova welcomes the warnings of NATO. The ultimatum of NATO addressed to Belgrade was published today in the first pages of the Albanian newspapers "Bujku," "Koha Ditore," "Kosova sot." Too many people did not sleep last night waiting for new reports.Thousands of Albanian refugees in the mountains of Berisha in Drenice followed the reports from Brussels through foreign radios. The Kosova Red Cross said that the number of war refugees displaced from their territories, which were bombed and torched by the Serb forces, reached more than half a million. Their human drama will continue till the conditions will be created for them to turn back to their homes, in more than 400 villages and towns turned into "scorched lands" due to the Serb ethnic cleansing. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Children activities revive cultural life in townBAJRAM CURRI, Oct 13 (ATA) By R.Hoxha The activities of the children cultural center in Bajram Curri (north of Albania) revives the cultural life of this town."Four regional song and dance performances have been organised. One of the performances, in which children from Kosove participated, took place in the center of the town," Hamit Aliaj, director of this center said to ATA. He also said that two expositions of little painters, whose works conveyed peace messages, were well received along with several sports activities. Children cultural center of this town has over 20 leisure activities attended by 300 pupils. /dast/lola/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Turkey confirms continuation of aid for AlbaniaTIRANA, Oct. 13 (ATA) - By I. Luto: Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo met Tuesday with his Turkish counterpart, Mesut Jilmaz, during the second day of the Antalya Summit, press and information department close to the Foreign Ministry reported.The Turkish Prime Minster expressed to the senior Albanian diplomat the full support of Turkey for Albania and said further on that Turkey is interested in Albania's progress and stability. Jillmaz also voiced the support of his government for the new government of Premier Majko and invited Majko to visit Turkey soon. While focusing on the visit that President Meidani is expected to hold in Turkey, PM Jillmaz said that "this should promote the bilateral relations." The special support of "Friends of Albania," where we adhere, will voice its stand again in the Conference of Tirana, in which we will take part as friends and neighbours of Albania," said Jillmaz. "The last decision of NATO clearly shows the will of the international community to prevent a catastrophe in Kosova and to pave the way for a long- term solution of the crisis there," both senior officials stated, considering it as the maximal solution of the international community to change the course of developments in Kosova." The meeting also discussed concrete issues regarding the further bilateral development. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Albania greets commitment of international community for political solution of Kosova crisisTIRANA, Oct. 13 (ATA) - A statement of the Foreign Ministry spokesman, issued on Tuesday, regarding the situation in Kosova hails the engagement of USA, NATO and other countries of the international community to create the conditions for a political solution of the crisis there.The spokesman stresses in his statement that "taking into consideration that the official Belgrade has not kept its promises so far, we think it is necessary to exert a constant political and military pressure on it until the resolution 1199 of the UN Security Council is implemented. "We support all the steps taken by the international community which would provide a durable and long-term solution of the Kosova crisis, which respects the will of the Kosova Albanians and the international principles, and which also serve the security and stability in the Balkan. Albania will continue to cooperate with the international community to contribute to the solution of the Kosova issue," ends the statement of the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry. /dast/mt/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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