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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-04-06Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Number of displaced Kosovars settled in Albania amounts to 250.000TIRANE, April 6 (ATA) - By E.Metaj: The Albanian Information Ministry told ATA during the first minutes of Tuesday that the total number of Kosovars arriving in Albania from March 26- April 5 is estimated at 250 000 people.The number of refugees entering the Albanian border on Monday amounted to 30.000. 19.000 out of them entered Albania through the Morine border point, while some 11.000 people entered Albania through Qafa e Prushit. As much as 14.000 Kosovars were evacuated from Kukes Prefecture towards other parts of Albania on Monday by means of 600 private, state and public vehicles. Some 140.000 people are counted in Kukes Prefecture on late Monday. /y.pa/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Meeting of Albanian governmentTIRANE, April 6 (ATA) - By E.Metaj: The Albanian government gathered in a meeting in the first hours of Tuesday.The main issues to be discussed by the Albanian government are the latest situation at home, and the very grave situation created in the border between Kosova and ex-Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, where are settled many Kosova refugees living actually in rather terrible conditions. The Council of Ministers agreed on principle to allow the evacuation of Kosova refugees in the Albanian territory on a meeting hold on Monday. /y.pa/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Albanian government adopts the order on organization of transport company for delivery of humanitarian aidsTIRANE, April 6 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj: The Albanian government adopted an order on organization of the military transport company which will deliver the aids for the people coming from Kosove, the Albanian Information Ministry told ATA on early Tuesday.The Albanian government chaired by the Premier Majko, discussed the latest situation created, when the influx of Kosovars forced to flee their houses and coming towards Albania because of the Serb violence and repression, is estimated to be 250.000. The government treated in a more specific way the security and public order situation in the northern Prefecture of Kukes, where the number of Kosovars has amounted to 140.000. Premier Majko hailed the extraordinary work carried out by the Staff of Kukes Prefecture in collaboration with the military forces, and pointed out that "we should take the preliminary measures for assurance of order, and peace in all the refugees' camps being set up all over the country". The Council of Ministers adopted as well the order on organization of military transport company for delivering the humanitarian aid for Kosovars. In implementation of this order, the ministries and the central institutions are obliged to place in the disposition of the Defence Ministry all the drivers who can drive vehicles of high tonnage, until the normality of situation. /y.pa/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Vollebaek to visit Albania on TuesdayTIRANE, April 6 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj: The Current Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and at the same time the Foreign Minister of Norway, Knut Vollebaek, will pay an official visit in Tirane on Tuesday.The Albanian Foreign Ministry reports that Volebeak is expected to meet the Albanian Premier, Pandeli Majko, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ilir Meta and the chairman of Crisis Coordination, Kastriot Islami. By 11.00 a.m he will leave for Kukes, where he is expected to visit even the Morine border point. During the afternoon hours, Vollebaek will hold meetings with Albanian senior officials. He will meet the President, Rexhep Meidani, and the Premier, Majko. He is expected to hold a press conference at "Rogner" hotel at the end of the day. At the end of his visit Vollebeak has scheduled a meeting with the group "Friends of Albania", and he will leave for Skopje on Wednesday. /y.pa/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Twenty one planes with aid for Kosovars have been landing in Rinas airport within a dayTIRANE, April 6 (ata) - By Elton Metaj: During the last Monday, 21 planes carrying aid for the deported Kosovars have landed in the Rinas airport, said to ATA early on Tuesday the Information Ministry of Albania.In the total of 21 aircraft, 10 were French, 4 were American, 2 were Norwegian, 2 were Greek, one was Danish, one from Saudi Arabia and one from Bulgaria. The staff in the airport of Rinas, the only civil air gate to Albania, have processed and delivered to the destination 115 tons of commodities, mainly tents, blankets and food articles. In the mean time, the Port of Durres has processed 168 tons of tents, blankets and mattresses and 128 tons of food. Also over Monday, 12 helicopters airlifted food and medical aid to the prefecture of Kukes. Five out of the 12 helicopters were Italian, 2 Albanian and five were French. /y.pa/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Number of Kosovars estimated at 256 550 personsKUKES, April 6 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: The number of displaced Kosovars is estimated at 256 550 persons.According to the statistics of the emergency staff close to the prefecture of Kukes, some 32 778 Kosovars entered the prefecture of Kukes from 10:00 on Monday until 08:00 on Tuesday, thus carrying to 256 550 the number of people coming from Kosova over the last days. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Number of coming Kosovars bigger than those accommodated, officialTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: The number of the Kosovars, forcibly expelled by the regime of Belgrade is estimated at 256 000 persons and the Albanian government appeals on international bodies and donors for more humanitarian aid and construction of efficacious infrastructure for their distribution.The influx of newcomers from Kosova over the last days in Albania is several times bigger than the families accommodated in districts or in special camps, the coordinator of the Albanian party for the international humanitarian aid, Kastriot Islami, reported on Tuesday. Concretely, the care of the government has been concentrated in Kukes, Krume and Bajram Curri, where actually are some 120 000 - 130 000 persons. Taking into consideration that their accommodation is very difficult, the distribution of daily food items has been accelerated, stressed Islami. With regard to their accommodation in camps, Islami said that the international community has been urged to accelerate their building in different parts of Albania, by calculating the accommodation of some 200 000 persons. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Kosovars from Krusha e Madhe tell stories on Serb massacresGJIROKASTER, April 6 (ata) - By H Cani: "My house is in the upper part of Krusha e Madhe (village with about 5 000 thousand inhabitants in the region of Rahovec.) From there I could see whatever Serb militia were doing against the unprotected population. They torched and ruined everything, killed over 200 people, and burnt 16 others in their homes. I couldn't believe my eyes."The eye witness is from Krusha e Madhe. His name is Afrim Duraku. He is 32, father of three. After his village, the history of Durak continued with Nagavcin, bombed on April 1 by two Serb aircraft. "At least 25 people were killed by 4 shells from these aircraft," said Duraku. After this, we took to the Albanian border by tractors and other means, and after three days we arrived in Kukes, said Duraku. From my co-travellers, he added, "I have heard that Serb paramilitaries have stabbed 35 people in the villages Brostovs, near Krushe. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Artists of "Skampa" theater financially assist KosovarsELBASAN, April 6 (ATA) - By O. Kadaifciu: The artists of Elbasan have given performances over the last four days in the hall of "Skampa" theater and all the incomes from these performances will be used to financially assist the Kosova refugees, the director of this theater, Demosten Papa, told ATA on Tuesday.This is the first initiative that this institution has undertaken to help the displaced Kosovars, meanwhile that Papa said that "in the coming days, the artists of this theater will give performances in the camps built in the prefecture of Elbasan." /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Tirana city hall committed to accommodation of deported KosovarsTIRANE, April 6 (ata) - By G Dilaveri: The city hall of Tirane and the enterprises it directs is focusing mostly on the accommodation of the people from Kosove in two reception centres.According to the spokesman of the municipality, a fund of 2.9 million lek donated by the Catholic Church is being used to buy mattresses, cushions and blankets. The one million lek fund from the Municipal Council is not yet used. In the two reception centres there are 4 000 Kosovars, sleeping in tents and gymnasiums, the same sources said, adding that in one of them caravans are being installed everyday with the aim of removing all the tents a little later. The municipality has also investigated the places which can serve as new reception spots in every administrative unit, with the idea that each of these units have a reception centre to look after. Until Monday evening, 21 108 Kosovars have arrived in Tirane alone, while in the whole prefecture the number of Kosovars has amounted to nearly 28 000 people. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Albanian Savings Bank hands over to Local Government 20 million lek donated for KosovarsTIRANE, April 6 (ata) - By M Pupa: Until Tuesday about 24.2 million lek have been deposited in the Savings Bank of Albania in the form of contributions for the deported Kosovars, the director of the Savings Bank, Artan Santo told ATA on Tuesday.The total has been donated by 506 clients. From June 1, 1998 when the running account was opened "to assist the fleeing Kosovars" the amount deposited in the Savings Bank was 9 million lek until March 29, 1999. The rest has been deposited in the period from March 29 to April 6, 1999. Out of the total amount of money, 20 million lek was transferred today to the Local Government, which, by a decision of the Council of Ministers of April 2, will distribute it immediately to the district councils, town-halls and prefectures to meet the emergent needs of the Kosovars settled in Albania. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Greece offers medical aid for ward of hypotonia in TiranaTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By R. Xhuvani: A contingent of medical aid from Greece was distributed Tuesday for the ward of hypotonia in the University Hospital Center "Mother Tereza" in Tirana.According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, the aid is made up of considerable quantities of medicaments for treating the hypotonic diseases, different medical equipment, furniture for rooms and others. The aid is gift of Verrias Hospital (Greece) for the Tirana University Center, in the framework of the agreement signed in spring of last year between the Albania and Greece Ministry of Health. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Majority of deported Kosovars do not want to leave AlbaniaBERAT, April 6 (ata) - By Ilir Manka: Most of the Kosovars who have fled to Albania in the recent days as a result of the Serb violence, have expressed their desire to stay here and not to go to other countries."Although the conditions in Albania are not so good, because the Albanian state is in difficulty, we would like to stay here in order to return as soon as possible to our territories, Selime Mazreku, a Kosova woman in one of the refugee camps in the district of Berat told ATA. Our desire is to return to our homes as soon as possible, many other Kosovars said. The Albanian Government has expressed the opinion that the Kosovars deported from their territories be settled in Albania in order that they resettle in their homes as soon as possible and not fall prey to the plans of Milosevic to make Kosova ethnically cleanse. About 5 thousand Kosovars have been transported to Berat district in the past few days. 3 5000 of them are installed in refugee camps and the others in families of Berat and Ura Vajgurore. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] 18 thousand Kosovars to settle in a refugee camp in SpitalleTIRANE, April 6 (ata) - By E Xhajanka: 18 thousand displaced Kosovars will be accommodated on Thursday in a refugee camp set up in the zone of Spitalle, Durres district. The biggest refugee camp ever established in Albania, with a fund of 5.5 million DM from the German Government, is near completion.The work for this camp started on April 1, and sources from the German association GTZ said today to ATA that work is going on in the camp for the creation of sanitary conditions, sewage, showers, WC-s, kitchens, clinic and canteens. The Albanian Government is has been committed this week to settle about 80 % Kosovars in the refugee camps installed in some zones by UNHCR, the Italian Government, the Swiss Government, etc. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Current Serb regime wants only a Kosova without Kosovars, SpeakerTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - Albania Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi held Tuesday a meeting with the current OSCE chairman, Knut Vollebaek, in which he pointed out that the dramatic developments in Kosova showed the base of this crisis."The current Serb regime does not like the cohabitation with the Albanian population of Kosova, but wants only a Kosova without Kosovars," stressed Gjinushi. According to Parliament press office, Speaker Gjinushi stressed further on that the ethnic cleansing has been the base of the policy followed by Belgrade, which is now being implemented its fiercest way. Focusing on the problems of the Kosova refugees, the Albanian Speaker said that the wish of the Albanian population of Kosova is to return save to their homes, adding that the Macedonian state should be more generous to help them. Vollebaek on his side assured Speaker Gjinushi for the continuity of cooperation and support to cope with this difficult situation. "One of the aims of Milosevic is to destabilize the entire region, that's why we will continue to assist with different ways for the solution of crisis," stressed the current OSCE chairman. Expressing the gratitude of the international community in treating the refugees, he said "I agree in principle that they must remain in the region. We will continue to influence on the Macedonian government to build several transitory reception camps. Vollebaek was accompanied in this meeting by the OSCE ambassador to Tirana, Daan Everts. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Nearly 100 Kosovars sheltered by British mission in ErsekeERSEKE, April 6 (ATA) - By B. Fejzullaj: The English humanitarian mission "Petro Nini Luarasi," based in Erseke, has sheltered some of the Kosovars, who came recently in the district of Kolonje.Johan Loing, president of the mission, told ATA that 100 Kosovars have been accommodated in the grounds of this mission. There are normal living conditions in the grounds of the mission, sleeping rooms, a kitchen and the canteen. All the expenses are covered by the British mission, which has started its activity in the district of Kolonje since 1993, by distributing first humanitarian aid and then by helping the institutions, mainly schools and health centers. There is also a computer center in these grounds, which has been put now at the disposal of displaced Kosovars. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Czech deputy premier to visit Albania on WednesdayTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By U. Bajrami: Deputy prime minister of the Czech Republic Egon Lanski will start a visit on Wednesday in Tirana, according to the press office of the Albanian Foreign Ministry.Lanski was expected to meet his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta on Wednesday. His agenda includes other separate meeting on Thursday with prime minister, president, parliamentary speaker and other government members. The crisis in Kosova and the situation in Albania resulting from a huge stream of over 250 thousand people from Kosova who have been forcibly driven from their lands by the regime of Milosevic and ways how to cope with this are expected to be at the focus of these talks. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Tirana currency rateTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By D. Koça: Following are the buying and selling rates of foreign currencies against the lek in the free market.US$1.00 146.5 German mark 80.8 Italian lire (1000) 81 Greek Drachma (100) 48 /ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] What is happening in Kosova is the biggest humanitarian catastrophe since after World War II - AznarTIRANE, April 6(ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on Tuesday expressed the determination of the Spanish government in support of the operations by NATO and allies on the Kosova issue."All that is being done is not against the people of Serbia, but only against Milosevic and his war machine," Aznar stressed in a statement. "Aznar considered what is happening in Kosova the biggest humanitarian catastrophe since after the World War Two. On this occasion he confirmed that the Spanish government has contributed 8 billion pesetas ($53.3 million) to alleviate this crisis. This sum will be used for humanitarian aid for the displaced in the region, Albania, Macedonia and elsewhere as well as for their accommodation in Spain. Meanwhile the number of the refugees to be settled in Spain has not yet been made known. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Saving Bank: 20 million lek to be given to Local PowerTirana, April 6 (ATA) - By M.Pupa - The total sum of the collected by the contributions given for the Kosovars, which is deposited in the Saving Bank is 24.2 million, inform ATA the Director of the Saving Bank Artan Santo.This sum is provided by 506 clients. Since June 1, 1998 when this account is opened the total sum deposited in the Saving Bank till March 29 are cashing nearly 9 million lek. While the rest of the sum is deposited from March 29 till April 6, which are collected mainly to support new comers from Kosova. Meanwhile 20 million lek from the total collected sum is given to the Local Power, which according to a decision of the Ministers Councils dated April 2, will distributed it immediately to the districts' boards, town municipalities and prefectures to meet the emergence needs of the comers from Kosova./dast/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Meksi: "Foreign assistance does not affect economic development projects"Tirana, April 6 (ATA) - By D.Koça - A experts' group of the European Union is coming in Wednesday in Tirana to see the actual situation created in Albania after the coming of a great number of the Kosovars in Albania.Experts from the European Union will discuss with senior representatives of the Albanian Government not only about the possibilities of enlarging the humanitarian aids, but also about the support of the state budget. One of the aims of this mission of EU is to support the Albanian Government to keep the macroeconomics index. After being recognized with the situation in Albania the experts of European Union will decide about the value of the financial aid, which is predicted to be given in support of the Albanian Government. During this week it is expecting the coming of the experts of World Bank and International Monetary Fond concerning the financial support of the Albanian budget. According to the Albanian Minister of Economy and Trade Corporation Ermelinda Meksi the support of these institutions and other international organizations will not affect the foreign projects, which have already started their operations or are promised to start in the future aiming at Albanian economic development./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[22] Vollebaek evaluates Albania's performance in coping with crisisTIRANE, April 6 (ATA)-By E. Nepravishta, Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and Knut Vollebaek chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Norwegian Foreign Minister.Vollebaek said that he was impressed with the way the Albanian government is handling the crisis which is the biggest after the World War Two, considering the scarce means at disposal. Vollebaek said that he also had meetings with other authorities of the Albanian politics and visited the Kukes district to closely see the situation of the Kosova refugees. The meeting continues. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[23] Spitalle: 18 000 kosovars to be accommodated on ThursdayTirana, April 6 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - 18 000 displaced kosovars will be accommodated in a camp constructed in Spitall commune of Durresi district. The greatest camp to be established in Albania financed by the German Government by 5.5 million deutch marks is in the end.Its construction process started in April 1 and actually it is in the end of this process, including the roads, showers, bathrooms, kitchens, community health center, etc. The Albanian Government's will is to accommodate nearly 80% of the kosovars in the camps, which continue to be constructed in particular areas financed by international organizations. UNHCR will construct a camp in Kukes, Italian Government will construct four ones, one in Kuksi, two in Durres and one in Kavaja, etc./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[24] 20 airplanes in Rinas airportTirana, April 6 (ATA) - By Dorian Koça - " 20 is the number of the planes with humanitarian aids to land in Rinas airport till Tuesday, 15:00", said the Albanian Minister of Information Musa Ulqini.Six of them were American one, two Belgian, two Turkish, one Norwegians, one German, one Egyptian, one Swiss, one Greek and one Arab. Meanwhile French, Italian and Albanian helicopters, which transport food, clothes and medicaments, made their way toward Kuksi. According to the Albanian Minister of Information Musa Ulqini "204 tons' food, 429 tons' umbrellas, blankets and other related staff are brought in Albania on Monday"./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[25] 109 Kosovars hospitalised in Durres and KrujaDURRES, April 6 (ATA) - By S. Gjordeni: Medical staff in Durres and Kruja hospitals has been on duty around the clock since the day when the first Kosova people arrived in Albania.About 82 Kosovars were hospitalised in Durres hospital, two of whom died, 18 others dismissed while the rest are under intensive treatment. 27 people are hospitalised in Kruja hospital, none of them in serious conditions. Director of the Durres hospital Gjergj Koja said that they had extra beds and necessary quantity of blood for any emergencies but they needed aid in food and medicaments due to an increasing number of patients. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[26] Kuksi:40 transports means to be used for kosovars evacuationTirana, April 6 (ATA) - By M.Pupa - 40 busses moved toward Kuksi on Tuesday to transport the kosovars in other Albanian districts, inform sources from the Ministry of Public Affairs and Transport.Nineteen busses are sent from Tirana, seven from Durresi, ten from Fieri, etc. While from Mallakastra are sent four busses to transport the kosovars from train station of Ballshi to Gjirokastra./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[27] Egyptian Justice offers training for Albanian specialistsTIRANE, April 6 (ATA)-By E. Koraqi, The Egyptian Foreign Ministry Technical Fund of Development, in cooperation with the Albanian Justice Ministry, has offered short-term technical assistance for Albanian Justice specialists.In the course of this cooperation, senior officials of the Egyptian Embassy in Tirane have enabled training of the Albanian specialists by Egyptian justice counterparts, soon, according to Justice Ministry spokesman Agim Neza. The training consists in commercial law, jurisdiction relations with foreign authorities, the law on minors, Egyptian experience in executing civil decisions, and other fields. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[28] German Government's aids mark 55 million deutch marksTirana, April 6 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - On Tuesday started to operate a center, whose purpose is collecting all the humanitarian aids to enter in Albania provided by the German Government in support of Kosova displaced.The warehouse is constructed by the contribution of German association such as Technical Help Enterprise THW and the association of technical cooperation GTZ, etc, which actually operate in Albania. They will assist in the distribution of the planned aids, mainly in the areas where the number of the comers from Kosova is greater, inform ATA sources from GTZ. To stand the situation created in Albania after the coming of the kosovars the German Government put in disposal 25 million deutch marks, by increasing its total financial contribution in 55 million deutch marks./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[29] World Bank to invest on port reconstructionDURRES, April 6 (ATA) - By G. Kabashi: The controlling office of the Durres port will be soon reconstructed and equipped with the help of the World Bank.Sources from the port said that an investment worth US$23 million would help reconstruct the largest port of Albania and rehabilitate its controlling office. Specialists of the World Bank said that they were familiar with the needs of the port office, which command the entrance, docking and leaving of all navigating means from the Durres port. Though the investment value was not defined yet the port controlling offices would be placed in a large and modern building with the state-of- the-art equipment. It will also have a team of hydro meteorologists, who will use equipment and apparatus to forecast the weather in the Adriatic region. This center will provide meteorologic data nationwide which are lacking for the last two years. /ypa/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[30] Austria earmarks US$40 million in aid of KosovarsTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: Austria is going to help the displaced people from Kosova in Albania with a package of measures estimated at US$40 million, Austrian embassy said in a press communique obtained by ATA on Tuesday.An Austrian camp will be set up in Albania to provide lodging and medical treatment for five thousand people. A field hospital, with a children and mother care unit, is going to be built and put into operation with the assistance of army forces in cooperation with Austrian non- government humanitarian organisations. The project on the camp follows a series of humanitarian activities by Austria, which has provided aid for many refugees from Kosova. The Austrian government will accord an amount US$one million for the humanitarian organisations, a fund expected to be increased by US$8 million. /ypa/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[31] Increase food quantity sent in KuksiTirana, April 6 (ata) - By E.Xhajanka - 500 tons floor, 84 000 tons bread, 2000 tons wheat and considerable quantities of sugar, spaghetti, etc, are sent from the public reserves of the Albanian State toward Kuksi in support of the comers from Kosova, inform ATA sources from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.Their quantities increase passing the time. During this time it is important the cooperation of other humanitarian associations for a better coordination of the aid. The Albanian Ministry of Food and Agriculture sent its representatives in twelve districts, who in cooperation with the prefectures defined the emergence needs in support of the new comers from Kosova./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[32] Albania asks foreign donors to erect camps for KosovarsTIRANE, April 6 (ATA)-By E. Nepravishta, Albanian Ministry of Information Tuesday afternoon reported on the latest situation in Kosova.According to minister Musa Ulqini, the number of Albanians expelled from Kosova until 15.00 was 10 000. Hence, the number of the refugees has totalled 260 000. Some 10 000 refugees were evacuated from Kukes until 15.00. Meanwhile there are nearly 150 000 Albanians from Kosova in the Kukes prefecture in these moments. Follows the situation of refugee distribution: in Tirane 26 000 refugees, Durres 13 000, Fier 11 700 and Elbasan 10 200. Ulqini told a news conference today that the Albanian government insists that all the refugees be accommodated in camps purposely erected for the deported Albanians from Kosova and that various states undertake not only to erect camps but also the to further train the refugees settled there. /y.pa/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[33] Vollebaek says Milosevic aims at destabilising Balkan regionTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By I.Luto, I Paço: President of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Knut Vollebaek, visiting Tirana on Tuesday, said that the ethnic cleansing of Kosova aimed at Albania's and Macedonia economic destabilisation, which, added the unstable political situation in both countries, creates the precedent of a dangerous situation.Vollebaek said that he had urged the Macedonian government to keep its borders open in order to offer the first aid to Kosova refugees and that Albania and FYROM should help cope with the present situation. Vollebaek, who is also foreign minister of Norway, told journalists that "whoever sees the situation now can say that Milosevic has done a terribly good work as regards the ethnic cleansing of Kosova. This was a premeditated plan carried out by Milosevic and the alliance could not be blamed for this." He said that the OSCE had 70 observers in the borders between Albania and Kosova to monitor the refugee situation. He also said that the accounts of Kosova people, whom he met in Kukes, created the conviction that genocide was exercised in many areas of war-torn Kosova. Asked to comment on Belgrade's proposal for a ceasefire during the Easter week, Vollebaek said: "Several times I have said to Milosevic that the presence of an international military force in Kosova is necessary and if this is his serious offer, he should accept it without any conditions." /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[34] Albania's Orthodox church helps Kosova new-comersTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By E. Riza: The Orthodox church of Albania under the archbishop of Tirana and the whole Albania, Anastas, has undertaken a wide ranging aid program for the Kosova people.This program, who is backed by the Action by Churches Together (ACT), an office at the World Council of Churches, is being carried out by the "Love Service" office personnel in cooperation with the international personnel. Church sources said to ATA that the ACT had collected US$1.7 million with the Church World Service from the United States offering US$800 thousand. Three airplanes transporting 51 tons of foodstuffs, two trucks and two fuori strada, all from Denmark, arrived in Rinas airport between April 2 and 4, 21 tons of which were distributed to Kukes city. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[35] Vollebaek blames Belgrade for humanitarian tragedy of Kosova AlbaniansTIRANE, April 6 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Tuesday met with Knut Vollebaek, Norwegian Foreign Minister and chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who was also accompanied by Ambassador Everts and charge d'affaires of Norway to Albania.Vollebaek stressed the need of strengthening OSCE presence and expressed the readiness of his country to strengthen bilateral relations. He blamed Belgrade for the humanitarian tragedy the Kosova Albanians are living through and considered it an "organised evil". Vollebaek committed himself to ask the Macedonian authorities to enable a temporary stay of the Kosovars. Meidani reiterated that "the Kosova Albanians should stay as close to their lands as possible and is still early to apply other solutions. "No chance should be given to Milosevic and his military and propaganda machine with their plans, but the Alliance's operations in Kosova should be intensified to save thousands of human lives, who are lacking all means of life, in forests and mountains," said Meidani. He expressed gratitude to all the states for their solidarity manifested in alleviating this humanitarian catastrophe. Referring to the situation at home Meidani said that the central and local governments are making all efforts for a more effective coordination to cope with the situations and raised the idea of setting up Local Emergency Offices with a broader representation, also including the international organisations. "There is no more room for accusations and speculative ploys, but only political and national responsibility to face the situation," said Meidani. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[36] Albania premier meets NATO deputy Secretary GeneralTIRANA, April 6 (ATA) - By E. Nepravishta: Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko is holding a closed-door meeting with the NATO deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino, who is on an official visit to Albania.Majko hailed the NATO stance on ongoing attacks against Yugoslavia even after a temporary "ceasefire" offered by Milosevic. The NATO senior official was expected to visit the NATO forces in Albania who are engaged in helping Albanians driven from Kosova. /ypa/ak/ 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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