Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-04-02

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

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CONTENTS

[01] About 30 thousand Kosova people arrive in Kukes

[02] Albanian state provides bread supply to Kukes prefecture

[03] Premier to meet local authorities

[04] Ongoing efforts to accommodate Kosova people

[05] Labour ministry, NGO discuss aid for Kosova people

[06] E.U. to respond to emergency needs of Kosova refugees

[07] Council of ministers adopts urgent measures for Kosova people in Kukes

[08] EU presidency urges ongoing military pressure against Belgrade

[09] Prosecutor's office of Durres starts gathering testimonies for massacres on Kosova civilians

[10] All Kosovars in Saranda are accommodated

[11] 800 tons of flour sent to Kukes

[12] Better coordination for accommodation of Kosovars in Durres

[13] Number of Kosovars estimated at 5180 persons in Elbasan

[14] Dollar exchanged at 147 lek on Friday

[15] Govt. discusses current situation in Albania, mainly in Kukes

[16] German govt. allocates 55 million DM for Kosovars

[17] Italian ships to brought humanitarian assistance

[18] Assistance in Kukes should be larger, Everts

[19] Kuksi hospital difficulties to stand visits' flux

[20] 20 000 Kosovars arrive in Kukes over Thursday night, Friday morning

[21] 300 USD night accommodation in Kukes

[22] Some 1 000 displaced Kosovars arrive in Vlore over Thursday night

[23] Xhuveli:Albanian Government cooperate with International organizations

[24] Europe, USA resolute to put an end to genocide, President

[25] AHC:Identity of Kosova Refugees Documented

[26] Gjirokaster metropolis accords aid for displaced Kosovars

[27] Twelve busloads and three vanloads of Kosovars bound for South

[28] Extra fund of $3 million of humanitarian aid by UNICEF

[29] Cooperation between Albanian Prosecutor's Office and two international investigators

[30] More than 200 000 dollars cashed by contributions

[31] Humanitarian catastrophe needs the cooperation of all political forces, SP

[32] Increase vehicles number toward Kuksi

[33] Albania issues "SOS" to International Community

[34] Another 300 Kosovars enter Shkoder

[01] About 30 thousand Kosova people arrive in Kukes

The same source said that the figure was higher since about 60 thousand Kosova people had not been evacuated from Kukes.

An extremely difficult situation is created especially in has district where the number is estimated at 15 thousand people.

The number of people with serious health problems has been increased late in the day.

The above sources said that "until 15.00. two children and an old man died on their way to hospital of Kukes and other 75 had been hospitalised.

Only 7.000 people have been evacuated until 20.00. on Thursday with state or private vehicles. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Albanian state provides bread supply to Kukes prefecture

The state reserves included 500 tons of wheat for the city of Kukes and 200 tons for communes. A considerable quantity of wheat has been distributed to village families in Kukes which have accommodated Kosova people.

The Ministry of Information reported that "the Council of Ministers decided on Thursday that 60 tons of wheat be delivered free of charge to the Kukes prefecture to meet the city needs."

The Council of Minister issued a special decision putting one thousand tons of wheat free of charge at the disposal of prefectures. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Premier to meet local authorities

The meeting will focus on problems facing town halls and prefectures as a result of a huge influx of people from Kosova as well as the urgent measures to cope with the situation. /das/tak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Ongoing efforts to accommodate Kosova people

The council of Ministers decided on Thursday to set up a camp in the area of the former agricultural enterprise Spitall, Durres district to shelter the Kosova people.

The camp to be financed by the German government with a fund worth 5.5 million marks was expected to house about 15 thousand people.

The same source said that other four camps were being set up, one in the Kep i Rodonit, Durres, the others in Lushnje, Fier and a large camp in Kukes. /f.n/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Labour ministry, NGO discuss aid for Kosova people

The meeting took place under the emergency resulting from a huge influx of people from Kosova and was aimed at informing the NGO on responsible government structures as well as urgent needs drafted by the government to cope with the present situation.

The NGO Directorate of Coordination at the ministry presented a distribution plan for refugees from Kosova all over Albania, list of urgent needs drafted by the government as well as free customs clearance for humanitarian aid.

The office and staff dealing with humanitarian aid was ordered to be on duty at every moment to facilitate and speed up the procedures.

The meeting asked the NGO to help Albanian families, which had sheltered Kosova people, registered them, find contact units, the way how to help, treatment of voluntaries, creation of a unit to coordinate aid distribution.

On their part, the NGO asked the government to treat families, which welcomed refugees and the operation of a center for the coordination of humanitarian aid provided by NGO. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] E.U. to respond to emergency needs of Kosova refugees

Milo briefed their counterparts on the Albanian views about a solution to the conflict, NATO intervention against Yugoslavia and the catastrophic humanitarian situation facing Albania.

"A second holocaust following that of the Second World War is being applied in the heart of Europe," Milo said.

"The start of NATO air strikes was inevitable when the diplomacy used all means at its disposal," he said.

Speaking about the role of the alliance in the conflict, Milo underlined the idea that the refugee crisis resulted only from the extermination policy of Belgrade and not from NATO attack on the ground.

He acquainted them with the humanitarian situation and urgent needs of Albania to that end.

Foreign ministers discussed the necessity of ongoing pressure against Belgrade as well as expressed the E.U. determination to continue air strikes until the regime of Milosevic accepted the conditions envisaged by the Rambouillet accord adding that the accord should have a supplement on the return of refugees to their lands.

The meting said that the European Union had adopted decisions to act immediately in order to respond to the urgent needs of refugees for food, shelter and transport means, a regular air transport, close cooperation with international organisations specialised in refugee issues.

Present at the meeting were foreign minister of Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Rumania, Hungary, Foreign minister of Norway Knut Vollebaek, and High commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata. /f.n/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Council of ministers adopts urgent measures for Kosova people in Kukes

Prime minister Majko urged that "all vehicles of the defence and order ministries, Guard of the Republic, Health Ministry and all other health institutions should be headed immediately for Kukes. Even the 21 buses, which arrived on Thursday from Italy, and others expected to come in the coming days would be sent to Kukes.

Majko ordered all the members of the cabinet to communicate urgently with the prefecture staffs and explain the dramatic situation created late on Thursday, with the number of new arrivals reaching over 90 thousand people in Kukes.

The Council of Ministers decided to ease procedures of the government commission for humanitarian aid in order to allow humanitarian aid arrive on Friday via airlines or customs houses and be distributed whenever the need was. /f.n./ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] EU presidency urges ongoing military pressure against Belgrade

"President Milosevic is totally aware of what the international community wants from him," the statement said.

"Until he was ready to stop bloodshed and massacres in Kosova, respect all commitments adopted and accept a political solution based on the Rambouillet accord, there would be no other option except the present course," it said.

The statement said that the Southeastern Europe urged an accord of stability to pave the way for a long-term economic stability process. This strategy should be incorporated in the existing regional initiatives such as SECI, Royamont and the like. /f.n/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Prosecutor's office of Durres starts gathering testimonies for massacres on Kosova civilians

Six groups with prosecutors and officers of judicial police have met with civilians evicted from Kosova recently and are stationed in two acceptance centres in Durres, along with the centres in the Beach, Maminas and Shkallnuer.

Sources of the prosecutor's office report that this procedure has started following the instructions by the Attorney General and aims at gathering full and accurate testimonies on a common penal case to be suggested to the Hague Tribunal. The stories by the Kosovars settled in Durres about the Serb massacres are terrible, and the prosecutors are taking care of the procedural aspect in the conditions when the majority of the people coming from Kosove have had their identification documents torn by Serbs during massive expulsions. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] All Kosovars in Saranda are accommodated

According to the member of the emergency staff in Sarande, Zana Mehmeti, the number of the Kosovars in Sarande is 333, 51 of them were accommodated bu the staff of emergency in Delvine. "The group of Kosovars in Sarande consists of 62 men, 103 women and 168 children."

In the mean time, scores of inhabitants of the city keep going to the Kosovars' centres sending them clothes and other necessary things. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] 800 tons of flour sent to Kukes

In order to supply bread for the population now when the influx of the people from Kosove keeps growing and in order to hold the situation under control also in other cities of the country, the Albanian Government has issued a special decision. According to it, within Thursday 120 tons of flour will be ready for use and 1000 tons of wheat will be sent to the flour-mill. These amounts of flour will be distributed in different points where most people are concentrated.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, also in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations, is working to meet the needs for bread and food items, the same sources said. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Better coordination for accommodation of Kosovars in Durres

The Prefect of Durres, Cukalla briefed those present of the geographic infrastructures of the zones where the new arrivals are settled and the aid provided by the town-hall of Durres, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Evangelistic Church, businessmen and various individuals, estimated at about 20 million lek.

However, the great exodus is not yet covered completely with all their needs. Cukalla said that still there are shortages of beds, mattresses, blankets, food and in the hygiene-sanitary aspect.

Prefect Cukalla ordered that within 10 p.m. on Friday the registration of all the Kosovars must be completed according to the set forms which record the exact number and the location of the Kosovars, thus creating the possibility to assist them. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Number of Kosovars estimated at 5180 persons in Elbasan

Some 56% of Kosovars have been sheltered in the families of Elbasan, while 44% of them in the grounds and buildings adopted by the local government, the chairman of the district council told ATA.

Meanwhile, intensive preparations are being made to accommodate some 4000 Kosovars, because their influx is going on. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Dollar exchanged at 147 lek on Friday

CURRENCY Exchange rate

USD 147

DM 81.6

LIT(1000) 81.9

GRD(100) 48.43

EURO 157.5

/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Govt. discusses current situation in Albania, mainly in Kukes

The meeting pointed out that the influx of Kosovars is extraordinary until now. It is a critical situation in the prefecture of Kukes. After the appeal of the government and the order issued by Premier Majko for the staff of prefectures, local government and ministries to urgently sent vehicles during the night and early in the morning towards Kukes, the situation is as follows:

- The Ministry of Public Works and Transports reports that 69 busses went towards Kukes today.

- The Ministry of Defence has sent 100 vehicles towards Kukes.

- The Ministry of Economy and Privatisation has sent 49 vehicles.

There is still no exact report about the total number of vehicles which has gone towards Kukes.

The Council of Ministers also decided to use all the schools of Kukes prefecture for the temporary accommodation of Kosovars.

A considerable number of trains are at disposal in Mjede, which will distribute all refugees towards other districts of Albania.

The Council of Ministers decided to put at the disposal of the Ministry of Local Government the amount of money collected in the bank account of the Savings' Bank from the contribution of citizens and different subjects for the Kosova refugees. The Ministry of Local Government will immediately distribute them to the district councils, town- halls and prefectures. Some 10 million lek were accorded to the Kukes prefecture and 200 million lek were allocated to the town-halls, district councils and prefectures to cope with the situation.

An increased number of airplanes, ferryboats and vehicles with humanitarian aid for the Albanian government, UNHCR and NGO-s is expected today. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] German govt. allocates 55 million DM for Kosovars

The German embassy reported to ATA that a German airplane brought on 31 March an aid of 25 tons in food items, which will be distributed by UNHCR, while another airplane is expected to arrive today with 27 tons of materials like blankets, tents, rise for the camp of refugees in Durres and the assisting organizations. German airplanes will come next week in the airport of Rinas, which will bring aid for refugees.

The German embassy reports that through the project of the emergent aid, it is mainly aimed at creating the conditions for the accommodation of some 40 000 refugees.

Also, the German Red Cross is contributing to supply the Kosovars with articles. Through the other bodies included in giving the emergent aid for Albania, attending are also CARE Deutschland and Humanitarian Cargo Carriers (HCC). /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Italian ships to brought humanitarian assistance

Different equipment and food are brought by this ship,such as umbrellas, mattresses, and 1.150 tons wheat, whose destination is Kuksi district.

Another private Italian ship came in Durresi port, which is loaded mainly with food such as meat, fish, biscuits, etc, help for the kosovars.

The assistance brought by the Italian ships followed the ones that come by airline after the four days of reopening of Rinas airport.

According to the officials 10 airplanes come every day in Rinas airport, while the number of the planes landed yesterday is 17 ones./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Assistance in Kukes should be larger, Everts

Everts stressed that the assistance for this poor country should be larger and more efficacious. The control must also increase on where the aid goes, because the local government complains of abuses in this direction.

The governor of Kukes, Qemal Elezi, urged the humanitarian organizations and NGO-s to closely cooperate with the structures of local government so that the aid goes to the right destination.

A commission has been set up for the management of aid and coordination of NGO-s operating in Kukes in order to eliminate the abuses in distribution. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Kuksi hospital difficulties to stand visits' flux

The director of Public Health Gani Gashi told ATA that on Friday till 10.00 are visited more than 3 000 kosovars, meanwhile 150 persons are hospitalized.

In maternity home are born thirteen babies, while the number of the dead persons in Kuksi hospital is eight.

Water chlorine three times a day is continuing in order to eliminate a possible epidemic, said he./pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] 20 000 Kosovars arrive in Kukes over Thursday night, Friday morning

The spokesman of Kukes prefecture, Emri Peca, told ATA on Friday that the majority part of people arriving in Kukes during the late hours of Thursday and early hours of Friday, are children, women and elderly people.

Peca stressed that the influx of people coming in Kukes is always increasing because the line of cars waiting to pass Morine border point is more than 20 kilometers long.

The latest newcomers are mainly from Prishtine, Malisheve, Klina and others.

Sources from the Kukes prefecture told ATA that a few buses left for other Albanian cities during the early Friday. The main squares of the city are occupied by the displaced Kosovars.

Some 55 000 Kosovars are evacuated from the city of Kukes towards other cities. The total number of displaced Kosovars is estimated at 150 000 people. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] 300 USD night accommodation in Kukes

The moves of Kosova new comers toward Kuksi attract a considerable number of journalists from all over the world. They are obliged to rent private houses, due to the lack of hotels in this town.

The owners of the flats, taking into consideration the increasing demands by the journalists or the heads of the humanitarian associations, increase the accommodation price per night to 300 USD.

The number of the rented flats in this town is nearly 150, while the demand is always increasing.

A DM exchange rate against the Albanian currency is 70-75 lek, and USD is exchanged with 130-140 lek, while the official exchange rates are respectively 81.6 and 157.5 lek./pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Some 1 000 displaced Kosovars arrive in Vlore over Thursday night

The total number of Kosovars arriving in the city of Vlore due the Serb repression is estimated at 1 800. The majority part of them are accommodated in the houses of Vlore people who have welcomed all their brothers from Kosova. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Xhuveli:Albanian Government cooperate with International organizations

Since the first day of Kosova new comers in Kukes nearly 40 tons wheat, 12 tons biscuits and other products are sent in this town by the World Food Program.

The Office of European Union brought nearly 10 tons veal, Baptist European Federate distributed 23 ton wheat and Albanian Red Cross distributed a thousand packets with food, to be used by a person for some days.

These organizations, like different countries, are involved to send as soon as possible other aids in Albania, said Albanian Minister of Food and Agriculture Lufter Xhuveli./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Europe, USA resolute to put an end to genocide, President

The Minister of Israel came Friday in Tirana in the head of a government delegation, which was also made up of the deputy Foreign Minister and Commander of the Air Force of Israel. This delegation escorted the aid of Israel for the Kosova refugees.

President's press office reported that in the meeting with Minister Shalom, President Meidani stressed that Europe and the United States are resolute to put an end to the genocide and ethnic cleansing by guaranteeing the stability and democratic developments in the entire region.

Attending the meeting was also the Albanian Minister of Education and Science, Ethem Ruka. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] AHC:Identity of Kosova Refugees Documented

AHC considers this significant and indispensable to preserve the identity of the Kosova refugees, as the Serbs are trying to eliminate the archives of the civil record offices where the documentation of the Albanian inhabitants is filed.

AHC thinks that the enrolment procedure underway requires its unification so that the data are complete and exact.

"The engagement of the international organisations in the operation for the enrolment of the expelled should be required as an additional guarantee to renew the documentation destroyed by the Serb police. The U.N. Centre for refugees might provide a valuable contribution to the solution of this issue," today's AHC statement says. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] Gjirokaster metropolis accords aid for displaced Kosovars

The same source said that the secured aid will be transferred in Tirane and they will be delivered afterwards to places where the Kosovars are sheltered. A part of these aids are to be used also for the refugees' centers settled in the southern regions.

The aid of our religious institution is an obligation which derives from the principles of the orthodox religion, the metropolitans said. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Twelve busloads and three vanloads of Kosovars bound for South

According to the spokesman of the prefecture, Zylfo Cobani, six buses are bound for Gjirokaster, three are bound for Permet while the rest of the buses and the vans will stay in Gjirokaster.

Some 1500 refugees from Kosova are thought to be accommodated in the districts of this prefecture and all the necessary measures are taken for this purpose, said Cobani. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] Extra fund of $3 million of humanitarian aid by UNICEF

The president's press office reports that Laurentis, after assessing the very difficult situation, said that UNICEF will provide contingents of food and medical aid for some 40 000 refugees as well as an extra fund of $3 million in humanitarian aid. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[29] Cooperation between Albanian Prosecutor's Office and two international investigators

The Albanian Prosecutor General expressed his readiness to help the two international investigators with the necessary logistic means, to place in their disposition more than 400 testimonies collected in video cassettes, and to help them in gathering facts and testimonies on the tragedy happening in Kosove, the spokesman of the Albanian Attorney's Office, Ardian Visha, told ATA on Friday.

The members of the international investigating group for crimes in ex- Yugoslavia expressed their interest to cooperate with the Albanian authorities, foreign organizations, and Albanian non-governmental organizations which have helped the Kosova people in these difficult days. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[30] More than 200 000 dollars cashed by contributions

The sum collected will be collected in the Saving Bank to used by the emergence commission of the Albanian Governement to meet the kosovars needs.

For contributions collection, being in cash or currencies, two bank accounts are opened in the Saving Bank.

The contributions are provided by different persons physical, juridical, public or private ones.

Having the mind the contributions flux and the continous appeals of the Albanian Government the sum of 200 000 dollars it is predicted to increase in the coming days./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[31] Humanitarian catastrophe needs the cooperation of all political forces, SP

Zela said that "very high figures continue to be registered in the Morine border point in Kukes, and this thing creates difficulties in accommodation of these persons". The Albanian government has adopted a transparent structure for managing all the aids coming in Albania for them.

Regarding the aids offered from several states to face the situation created in Albania, Zela said that the visit the Italian Premier will pay in Albania is comprised in the function of these aids.

Regarding the meeting between Rugova and Miloshevic, SP secretary said that taking into consideration the fact that this meeting was broadcasted by the Serb-run television, it can bring about many allusions. However this meeting can not bring any changes in the strategy of the crises in Kosove. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[32] Increase vehicles number toward Kuksi

According to the same source till 12.30 the number of the transports means toward the Northern Eastern region of Albania to transport the comers from Kosova is 95 busses and 8 minibuses.

The coming hours are associated with an increase of the transport means toward Kuksi. They start from Elbasani, Fieri, Durresi and Shkodra./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[33] Albania issues "SOS" to International Community

"I am here to give a strong SOS on behalf of the Albanian government to the international community," Ulqini told a news conference today.

"The latest reports coming from Kukes prefectures speak of an emergency situation. During the night and up to now, some 25 000 Albanians in need of help, fleeing their homes in Kosova due to unprecedented repression and genocide exercised on them by the military machine of Milosevic, are reported to have come into Albania through Qafe e Prushit and Morine border posts.

"Reports from the army's observations posts show that an endless train of refugees are coming towards Kukes. Their number is expected to reach 40 000 late at night.

"Although the Government has put on the alert all the headquarters of prefectures, town-halls and district Councils, although all possible vehicles have been ordered to leave for Kukes, although some 350 vehicles full of Kosovars have left since 04.00 today from Kukes, still the evacuation of the population from Kukes is far from meeting the emergency demands.

"Although the Government has sent to Kukes considerable amounts of wheat, flour and bread, consuming the food reserves at a considerable degree, the situation getting worse in this direction. A town like Kukes with 20 000 inhabitants finds it impossible to provide food for days on end for a population thrice as much. A town like Kruma with 4000 inhabitants finds it impossible to provide food for a population five times as much.

"Meanwhile the number of Kosovars being transferred to all the districts of the country has reached 50 000, but the heaviest weight is borne by the capital, Durres and Elbasan.

"The government is taking all measures for the refugees to be distributed throughout the country and calling on citizens to help cope with this situation, unpredictable for Albania's economic potential.

"Facing this situation, the government has tried to stick to its maximum engagement and avoid a catastrophe, although reserves keep diminishing.

"The government today reiterates its appeal to the international community for urgent aid, immediate intervention.

"Majko has had constant contacts today with the International Community's senior politicians. The government last night took all the necessary legal measures that the operations of handling the aid, likely to come by air, land and sea, be simple and efficient.

"I am here to issue this strong SOS on behalf of the Albanian government, first of all for the International Community. Meanwhile, we hope that the community will not leave Albania alone at this moment. Promises of support have been received from Europe and the United States, but now the situation is becoming more and more dramatic and it requires urgent intervention," Ulqini said. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[34] Another 300 Kosovars enter Shkoder

The refugees from Kosova were accompanied by the public order forces towards the city of Shkoder.

They are accommodated in the premises of the city's sports hall, while a part of them have left to various districts of the country.

Around 1600 Kosovars have entered Albania through the Hani i Hotit border point over the last four days. /lh/lm/

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