Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-04-03

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanian ministers report on way how to cope with situation

[02] Precise emergent measures defined for local government in every district of Albania

[03] 16 thousand Kosovars moved to Tirane prefecture

[04] Aid for Kosovars accommodated in local people homes in Albania

[05] Nine Kosova babies born in Tirane

[06] Field schools for Kosovar children in Tirane

[07] Some 900 Kosovars arrive in Pogradec from Mjeda by train

[08] Tirane municipality asks enrolment of Kosovars sheltered in families

[09] The news story issued by ATA at 11.16 on Saturday, entitled "Two powerful explosions in Tirane", the third paragraph wrongly says that the plane was bound for Yugoslavia. Follows the correct version.

[10] OSCE ambassador to Tirana appeals for help in Kukes

[11] Slight increase of foreign currencies in Albania

[12] "San Marko" brings aid for Kosova refugees for third time

[13] Nearly 130 Italian specialists of civil defence arrive in Durres

[14] Some 637 Kosova refugees sheltered in Gjirokaster prefecture

[15] Influx of Kosovars increased in Has

[16] Albania faces most difficult challenge since World War II, PM

[17] Other aid from Italy for Kosovars

[18] Italian specialist to set up camp with 400 tents in Kukes

[19] National Security Council analyses situation created due to Serb genocide in Kosova

[20] International community to help people of Mother Tereza in these difficult days, President

[21] NATO in Albania to deal with emergency situation

[22] Collected money in disposal of Local Power

[23] NATO in Albania, President

[24] Albpetrol: Granted fuels for Kosovars transport

[25] We are resolute for solution of Kosova issue, U.S. official

[26] Kosova people give accounts of concentration camps

[27] AEPC in alert: Duties avoiding hinder investments

[28] UNICEF to provide vaccines for Kosova people

[29] United Nations approved NATO's request on managing humanitarian crises in Albania

[30] Two helicopters airlift bread to Kukes

[31] Xhuveli:Government must not allow prices oscillation

[32] 170 Kosovars enter Albania via Hani Hotit

[01] Albanian ministers report on way how to cope with situation

The Ministry of Information told ATA that with the measures adopted, 16 thousand people were ferried from the Kukes prefecture to other zones.

The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Health informed the government of the measures that their ministries have adopted for the supply of the people from Kosove with food and their protection from infectious diseases.

The Council of Ministers was also informed of the work started for the setting up of refugees camps, 8 altogether throughout the country, with a capacity of nearly 55 000 people.

The Council of Ministers decided that special envoys of the government must be sent to customs points in Durres, Kakavije, Kapshtice and Rinas, and they will be omnipotent for the quick management of the humanitarian aid flied into Albania from different countries and organizations. It was also decided that all the ministries will appoint their envoys in the staffs of the prefectures to coordinate the work between these staffs and the Government Emergency Commission. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Precise emergent measures defined for local government in every district of Albania

Participants in the meeting stressed the indispensable need for cooperation between the local and central government to cope with the grave situation and most emergent measures were determined for every council, town-hall and prefecture council, the Information Ministry reported today.

PM Majko had also on Friday continuous contacts with senior personalities of the international community, briefing them of the situation which has been worsening, especially in the past 24 hours.

The Government called on released militaries in particular to contribute to the staffs in the town-halls, councils of the districts and prefectures through their experience and abilities to face the situation. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] 16 thousand Kosovars moved to Tirane prefecture

So far, there are 10 thousand Kosovars accommodated in temporary centers in the capital, other 6 thousand in Kavaje, said to ATA on Saturday Makbule Çeco, Tirana prefect.

According to Çeco, in order to ferry the Kosovars from Kukes to other parts of the country, the prefecture of Tirane sent 20 vehicles and many vans and during Saturday it will sent other means to carry them elsewhere.

Students of the Faculty of Law, along others who are assisting the Kosovars, are contributing with various clothes, while other firms and the Albanian Red Cross are helping as well.

With the mediation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the centres of Kosovars in Kavaje, the Asllan Rusi sports palace in Tirane and the centre set up in Mullet, near Tirane, were supplied with 2 800 breads free of charge from local bakeries on Friday. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Aid for Kosovars accommodated in local people homes in Albania

On Saturday, a working group from the prefecture of Tirane will hand over to the Red Cross of Tirane the full list with the addresses of the people from Kosove housed in Tirana families, Prefect of Tirane Makbule Çeco told ATA on Saturday.

On the basis of these lists, the Tirane Red Cross must organize soon the delivery of the assistance for the Kosovars or the concerned may receive them in the Red Cross centres. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Nine Kosova babies born in Tirane

Nine Kosova mothers, forcibly dislodged from their homes by the Serb army, were born on Thursday and Friday in the capital of Albania, sources from the prefecture of Tirane told ATA.

The same sources said, referring to hospital information, that the deliveries were without problems and all the newly-born are in good health.

Efforts are underway to create normal conditions for the babies when they will be out of the hospital, said the maternity home sources. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Field schools for Kosovar children in Tirane

The Albanian Youth Council, in cooperation with the Tirane prefecture, have taken the initiative to conduct classes with children from Kosove settled in the capital, the prefect of Tirane Makbule Çeco told ATA on Saturday.

The children will be grouped according to their ages and will take classes in main subjects, without neglecting their needs for games and entertainment.

The aim of this process is to focus on the knowledge children have already been taught and to ease their minds from the atrocities they have seen in Kosove in the past days, said Çeco.

Teachers from Kosova will also be involved in this drive, said the Prefect. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Some 900 Kosovars arrive in Pogradec from Mjeda by train

Beginning with Monday the Albanian railways have transported nearly 2 400 Kosovars to the cities of Elbasan, Vlore, Librazhd ands Pogradec, conform the government defined plan.

Burnaci says that the train arriving in Pogradec in the morning left again for Mjede station and will be at the disposal of the refugees' transportation inside the country.

He adds that despite the emergency situation and technical difficulties, the trains have moved normally. /s.sh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Tirane municipality asks enrolment of Kosovars sheltered in families

"We call for a close cooperation with the citizens, as this evidence will help prepare the lists of the families to receive aid. These lists will rapidly be put at the disposal of the humanitarian associations dealing with aid distribution," the municipality's press office reports. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] The news story issued by ATA at 11.16 on Saturday, entitled "Two powerful explosions in Tirane", the third paragraph wrongly says that the plane was bound for Yugoslavia. Follows the correct version.

TIRANE, April 3 (ATA)-By U. Bajrami, Two loud blasts were heard in the city of Tirane on Saturday at around 07.50.

The explosions were caused by a NATO plane, which was flying in Albania's air space, according to the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Public Order, Edlira Birko.

"The aircraft, which was flying over the Dajti mountain, is thought to have developed technical defect. The aircraft ditched two missiles in the mountain, in an uninhabited area, in order not to create further problems in the surrounding areas," the spokesman explained. /s.s/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] OSCE ambassador to Tirana appeals for help in Kukes

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Slight increase of foreign currencies in Albania

Exchange rates of the foreign currencies against the Albanian lek are as follows:

CURRENCY Exchange rate

Buying Selling

USD 148 148.5

DM 81.7 82

LIT(1000) 82 82.2

GRD(100) 48.3 48.5

/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] "San Marko" brings aid for Kosova refugees for third time

The navy ship commander, Nicola Heusch, told ATA that the ship carries some 57 vehicles and 69 containers with a total weight of 2043. Eighteen tank trucks, 17 trucks, six Iveco vans as well 17 various vehicles have begun to be unloaded.

The containers have 82.2 tonnes of milk, 165 tonnes of meat and tinned fish, 27,3 tonnes of cooking oil, 31 tonnes of flour, 24,4 tonnes of sugar, 10 tonnes of cheese, five tonnes of coffee, 20 tonnes of cocoa, 29,7 tonnes of biscuits, 14 tonnes of tomatoes, 3225 litres of fruit juice, five tonnes of beans, 1625 tents.

"San Marko" is one of the three biggest ships of the Italian Navy and, according to commander Heusch, it will continue to transport humanitarian aid from Italy to Albania. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Nearly 130 Italian specialists of civil defence arrive in Durres

The number of volunteers of civil defence coming from Italy is expected to reach in 400.

The ferry-boat "Expresso Venezia" also brought 30 vehicles and other aid to improve the emergent situation Albania is facing through due to the influx of Kosova refugees.

A camp is going to be set up in the area of Bishti i Palles with the assistance of the Italian specialists of civil defence. More than 30 000 persons will be sheltered in this camp.

The Italian navy ship "San Marco" brought today for the third time within a few days a contingent of humanitarian aid, as well as tents for the establishment of camps. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Some 637 Kosova refugees sheltered in Gjirokaster prefecture

Three busses from Permet brought in the town hall 145 persons who were sheltered in the private grounds. According to the mayor, Spartak Kondi, their distribution in the families of Permet started on Saturday, meanwhile that public grounds, like the palace of culture and the former dormitory of the high school of the town are put at their disposal.

Nearly 72 persons were accommodated in the town hall of Memaliaj, most of them were sheltered in families. Medical assistance was also provided for 3 elders and 4 children.

Some 46 Kosovars were accommodated in the town hall of Tepelene, while 323 others in the town hall of Gjirokaster. Some 103 Kosovars were sheltered in families and in houses of Lazarat village. A group of missionaries of the Albanian Red Cross took care of the distribution of aid, mainly food items and juices. A team of doctors carried out more than 50 examinations and two children were hospitalized in the civil hospital of Gjirokaster.

Students of the university "E. Cabej" temporarily accommodated 12 girls and three little kids.

Some 51 persons were sheltered in the town hall of Libohove in the grounds of the former dormitory of the veterinary school and the citizens supplied them with food items and blankets.

Officials of the prefecture said that others busses will leave towards Kukes to take Kosovars. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Influx of Kosovars increased in Has

Nearly 8000 persons, mainly elders, children and women, have crossed this border point, thus the population of Has has become three times larger.

The new arrivals told ATA that almost all the inhabitants of Gjakove are coming towards Albania. In these conditions, it is difficult for the state structures in Has to cope with such an influx. Less aid has been provided for this district, because they are concentrated in the district of Kukes, where nearly 100 000 Kosovars are sheltered.

Leaders of local government in Has have issued S.O.S. signal, because it is impossible for the inhabitants of this poor district to face this influx.

Sources from the police department in this prefecture reported that only the district of Tropoje in the Kukes prefecture is a bit quieter. Only 200 persons have crossed the border through the zone of Padesh.

The district of Tropoje was the first which accommodated the influx of Kosovars since the beginning of June of last year. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Albania faces most difficult challenge since World War II, PM

Majko told the U.S. senior diplomat that Albania is in front of the most difficult challenge since the World War II, due to the humanitarian crisis, caused by the influx of Kosova refugees, forcibly expelled from the regime of Milosevic.

Talbot arrived on Saturday noon in Tirana and after the meeting with Premier Majko, which is held behind closed doors, he will meet with the President of the Republic, as well as with representatives of international organizations operating in Albania to discuss about the situation created due to the influx of Kosovars, as well as about the measures to cope with it. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Other aid from Italy for Kosovars

It brought 80 ambulances and 5000 tents. Some 200 Italian specialists of the civil defence arrived by this ferry. They, together with the other 130 specialists, will help for the establishment of camps.

According to sources from the sea port, two Italian navy ships and four of the line are expected to arrive Sunday with different aid for the Kosova refugees. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Italian specialist to set up camp with 400 tents in Kukes

The Italian specialists in setting up tents, arrived Friday in Durres by the ferryboat "Expresso Venezia." They left towards Kukes by their vehicles. Nearly 3000 Kosovars will be sheltered in 400 tents, which will be set up within Monday. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] National Security Council analyses situation created due to Serb genocide in Kosova

The meeting analysed the very grave situation created in the country due to the Serb genocide in Kosova.

The National Security Council examined in this meeting the further measures to be taken to cope with the situation created in the country due to the influx of displaced Kosovars. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] International community to help people of Mother Tereza in these difficult days, President

President Meidani considered the anniversary of Resurrection of Christ a "Painful Eastern" for the Albanians, who are experiencing a real tragedy in this end of the century. But, President Meidani considered this "as the last challenge that the missionaries of destabilization of Europe in the head of Serbia are making to the international community and the democratic and freedom-loving consciousness of peoples."

In this message, which was also an appeal of the head of the state, addressed to the entire world, Meidani said "Today, on the eve of the hour, which commemorates the Resurrection of Christ, I reiterate my call to all countries, citizens of the world:

"Do the best to save an old people, who has served humankind. This is the people of Mother Tereza. The Albanian people are paying dearly the freedom, peace, democracy and justice."

After addressing the appeal, the President of the Republic held a new conference, mainly for foreign reporters, in which he responded answers about the human catastrophe that the Kosova Albanians risk, as well as the security situation in Albania.

Meidani said that "it also exists a danger for the Albanian border from Serbia, but the Albanian army is on high alert to defend the country."

The head of the state also declared that he waited NATO troops to arrive soon in Albania to help overcoming the emergency due to the influx of displaced Kosovars. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] NATO in Albania to deal with emergency situation

"The operation will guarantee security for the international institutions which are actually working to deal with the emergency, distribute aid for refugees, will provide assistance in logistics, transport, infrastructure and coordination, based on the demands of the Albanian government," said Majko.

The operation will be carried out in close cooperation with the Albanian authorities and other international bodies, particularly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Union.

According to PM Majko, general Clark is authorized by NATO to lead the operation. He is also charged to set up a Staff which will fulfill the above objectives. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Collected money in disposal of Local Power

It is the responsibility of the Local Power to distribute as soon as possible the sum of the money collected by the contributions to the Districts Boards, Town Municipalities and Prefectures.

The total value collected by the contributions in support of the Kosovars is more than 200 000 dollars.

The sums cashed in the Saving Bank will be used to meet the needs of the new comers from Kosova./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] NATO in Albania, President

Meidani told reporters during a press conference in Tirana that the NATO troops will help in overcoming with the difficult situation after the arrival of thousands of Kosovars, fleeing their home due to the Serb violence and terror.

Premier Majko also declared on Saturday that the NATO Council, which convened upon an Italian proposal, had decided to launch a NATO-led operation to cope with the emergency after the influx of displaced Kosovars. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Albpetrol: Granted fuels for Kosovars transport

According to the sources from the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization "all the drivers that move toward Kuksi equipped with the right documents by the emergence' groups of the Prefectures may be supply with grant fuels in 21 fuels' centers of Alpetrol".

Alpetrol Corporation has 5000 tons gasoline,4000 tons oil, and 2000 tons solar in its reserves.

But these figures change every day, because the Corporation is working to increase and provide the needed reserves."Every day in each fuel provision center in Northern Albania is sent sufficient oil quantities", inform sources from the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization./linda/

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[25] We are resolute for solution of Kosova issue, U.S. official

During the meeting, Meidani stressed once again the readiness of Albania to put everything at NATO disposal to facilitate the humanitarian catastrophe that the Albanians are experiencing not only in Albania, President press office reported.

President Meidani thanked President Clinton and the entire American people for the support given to the solution of the Kosova crisis and considered this as testimony of the very good relations based on the ideals of freedom, democracy and social justice.

Talbot on his side, expressed the esteem consideration for the friendship between the two peoples and appreciated the role of Albania during the crisis in the region, as a base for a closer partnership in the future.

"We are resolute for the solution of the Kosova crisis as soon as possible and the return of all Kosova refugees to their homes," said Talbot. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] Kosova people give accounts of concentration camps

Hajrush Morina, 50, who arrived early on Saturday in the customs house of Morina told ATA that "a concentration camp is near the city of Malisheva where over 15 thousand men, women and young women are being kept for about 5 days and treated barbarously like in Nazi camps of World War Two."

Hasan Brojku from Peja told of unprecedented massacres.

"On our way to customs house of Morina from Peja, we have seen dozens of bodies littering around, which have become decomposed," he said.

While Rexhep Berisha from Suhareka said that he had seen how Serb soldiers had raped three Kosova young women in front of their family members, surrounded by police, in a village near Suhareka. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] AEPC in alert: Duties avoiding hinder investments

According to Paloka " nevertheless the warnings or the measures taken by "Task Force" group, the abuse and the level of duties payments still are problems for AEPC."

In this meeting the General Director of AEPC decided to ask all the debtor clients (public,private or familiar) to pay the duties as soon as possible.

"In the contrary they are going to cut off the energy provision", said the General Director of AEPC, Alfred Paloka./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] UNICEF to provide vaccines for Kosova people

He said that the demand for such a contingent of vaccines was done by the Health Minister Leonard Solis, director of the Public Health Eduart Hashorva and emergency commission.

Given the situation in camps set up in Tirana and other districts, there is an urgent need for vaccination mainly for children because hepatitis B is not included in the group of specified vaccines.

UNICEF said that they were considering it and they would soon send a contingent of this kind of vaccine. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[29] United Nations approved NATO's request on managing humanitarian crises in Albania

NATO will contribute with transport planes C 130,and navigation's means to transport the aids in support of the Kosovars, who came in Albanian and Macedonia. Here is included the cooperation of the experts in aircraft, the opening of a coordination office about the emergence problems, such as Kosova's, explains Redhi.

In the meeting hold on Saturday NATO Council agree to send arm force in Albania to guarantee and provide the humanitarian aids of the refugees from Kosova.

The operative plan of this force is expected to be prepared within two days. The mission of this force to act under the NATO supervision will be the logistics support for the humanitarian aids.

The Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko after the meeting with the American Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbot stated that this operation will have as a main goal the guarantee of the international institutions that work to stand the emergence and the logistics assistance in aids distribution./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[30] Two helicopters airlift bread to Kukes

An inspector for agriculture and food in the prefecture of Kukes Bukurosh Onuzi said that this was necessary because "the city bakeries produce 7 thousand pieces of bread a day and a quantity of some 8 thousand expected from Tirana will be sufficient to cope with the huge influx of people from Kosova," he said.

The number of Kosova people, who entered Albania on Saturday, is estimated at 40 thousand people. This is the reason two helicopters were expected to arrive shortly in Kukes. /s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[31] Xhuveli:Government must not allow prices oscillation

In the difficult economic situation Albania is passing by, where the number of the kosovars increases passing the days " we appeal all the businessman and merchants to speculate not with the prices of the food", said the minister.

Three are the main points where the Ministry of Food and Agriculture pay attention to keep the price stability.

Firstly, it observes the emergence situation of food provision. and distribute them to the comers from Kosova.

Secondly, observe the situation in the markets concerning the prices' oscillations. The Ministry took the measures not to interrupt the food provision.

Based on the control in three above points, to be fulfilled by a specialists group of the Ministry of Agriculture headed by the Vice Minister Selim Dedei 12 Albanian districts, "it seems that there is no any reason for price increase mainly of the food", said Xhuveli./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[32] 170 Kosovars enter Albania via Hani Hotit

A spokesman of the police commissariat of Malesia e Madhe district said to ATA that 170 people from Kosova entered Albania at 13.00. p.m. on Saturday with their vehicles via the Hani i Hotit border crossing.

The new arrivals were accompanied by police forces to the city of Shkodra.

They were immediately accommodated at the collection center in the sports palace, Bardhyl Shaqiri, secretary of the Shkodra town hall said to ATA.

About 1.600 Kosova people have come to Albania via Hani i Hotit in the last three days. Most of them have been directed to other cities inland Albania. /lh/ak/

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