Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-04-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanian Army to intensively continue to back NATO operations - Hajdaraga

[02] Norwegian government committed to alleviating humanitarian crisis

[03] Norwegian government to provide funds to erect and manage camps

[04]

[05] Public Health Institution copes with vaccination of Kosovars

[06] Albanian Atlantic Association, initiator of a petition for Milosevic's trial by the Hague Tribunal

[07] 400 Italian soldiers of the "Allied Shelter" Mission arrived in Durres

[08] We are ready to cope with more precipitated situations - Premier

[09] I admire the determination of the Albanian Government to receive refugees reaching Albania - Blair

[10] Albanian Foreign Minister to meet ambassadors of EU member countries on Monday

[11] 152 Kosovars with first symptoms of TB

[12] Yugoslav Government decides to cut diplomatic relations with Albania

[13] Truck with aid for Kosovars which deviated destination blocked

[14] Intensification and diversified NATO operations demanded - Meidani- Ashdown

[01] Albanian Army to intensively continue to back NATO operations - Hajdaraga

"We fully support what NATO has done and will do for the future," said Hajdaraga.

He dwelt on the activity of the Albanian armed forces, which are now engaged both in backing aid for the Kosova refugees as well as in strengthening military readiness.

The support of the Albanian army for the NATO operations, a support which will continue with the same intensity also in the future, occupied an important place at the meeting.

Hajdaraga said that the situation on Albania's Northern borders is tense due to constant provocations by the Serb forces.

"Our forces have so far been ordered not to fall prey of the Serb provocations. However they are on the alert to preserve the integrity of our country," said Hajdaraga.

"It is a special pleasure for me to come to Albania. We are very much pleased with the hospitability and highly appreciate the support the Albanian government has given us as well as the very fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff."

"Two are the objectives we are here for: First to handle the Kosova humanitarian crisis and tragedy for which you will have the support of the United Nations and all the international organisations, certainly also of NATO, and second to support the NATO operation."

Further on, Clark stated that the Milosevic regime poses a real danger for peace and stability in the region and the whole of Europe.

"NATO will increase the number of the aircraft in these operations and we as militaries are duty-bound to make the decisions of the politics ever more effective. We will built up presence on your northern borders and will continue to work together with your armed forces."

In conclusion Hajdaraga said that the Ministry of Defence is completely at the disposal of this cooperation and expressed the belief that the NATO operation will end with success.

Clark also visited the NATO office opened at the Ministry of Defence in Tirane. /s.sh/lm/

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[02] Norwegian government committed to alleviating humanitarian crisis

"We have assessed the grave situation in your country due to an extremely large influx of displaced Kosovars," said Dorum.

He explained that the composition of the delegation, itself, shows how much the Norwegian Government and public opinion are committed to alleviating this humanitarian crisis.

Meidani appreciated the commitment of the Norwegian delegation and considered it an expression of solidarity with the people of Kosova who are experiencing today the aftermath of an ethnic cleansing and genocide, unprecedented in this century-end, the President's office reports.

Meidani pointed to the efficiency of setting up camps that would be backed up by a certain country and added that this would also help a better coordination of the humanitarian aid.

Meidani also made known the political stand of keeping the displaced as close to the region as possible as an emergency presence which required their quick return to their lands in Kosova and expressed his conviction that social justice will be established.

The head of the Albanian state said that an economic plan of Marshall type is now being endorsed also by states and important international organisations. /s.sh/lm/

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[03] Norwegian government to provide funds to erect and manage camps

Demeti familiarised the Norwegian ministers with the situation created due to the large influx of the forcibly displaced Kosovars.

Dorum stressed that he was really amazed by the aid provided for these people by a poor country as Albania. He said that the Norwegian government will provide funds for the erection and management of camps.

Other members of the Norwegian delegation, representatives of Non- Governmental Organisations, expressed their readiness to help the displaced and asked to find quicker ways to channel aid for them.

It is very rare the fact that Norwegian government officials present themselves together with representatives of non-governmental organisations at such a meeting and this testifies to the seriousness they are considering the situation created, said Dorum. /dast/lm/

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[04]

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[05] Public Health Institution copes with vaccination of Kosovars

He said the general vaccination will be carried out only by the Health Ministry structures based on a graphic in order to eliminate possible over-vaccinations.

The data provided by the World Health Organisation show that vaccination in Kosova has been regular, often because of the parents' lack of trust to address health centres with Serb personnel.

Hashorva said that the non-governmental organisations will be only an aid to this campaign.

The vaccination against poliomyelitis and measles will be carried out very soon. It will be carried out free of charge by specialised structures at refugee centres or near the health centres. /pas/lm/

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[06] Albanian Atlantic Association, initiator of a petition for Milosevic's trial by the Hague Tribunal

AAA has taken the initiative for a petition to condemn and send to the Hague International Court Slobodan Milosevic under the charge of "a war criminal."

The association bases its indictment on hundreds of thousands of facts gathered on the executions and other inhuman forms of the repression used on the Albanian population in Kosove mainly after NATO started bombing on the Serb bases in the former Yugoslavia.

In this context, the AAA is now gathering signatures for the petition in various institutions of the country, in universities, schools and in all the districts of Albania.

AAA has always supported the NATO military action in the former Yugoslavia as the only means to force Milosevic to halt the aggression and genocide in Kosove. /pas/xh/

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[07] 400 Italian soldiers of the "Allied Shelter" Mission arrived in Durres

In addition to the soldiers, 130 military vehicles arrived as well will all necessary logistic facilities.

The ferry boat Major brought to Albania 40 containers with food items while SCHILLA brought in ten vans with medicaments, ten buses for the transportation of the Kosovars who are now in Kukes. SCHILLA brought also 47 volunteers of the Italian Civil Defence and Red Cross.

This is the second contingent of the Italian troops coming in Durres in the context of the NATO mission "Allied Shelter."

The first contingent of 400 Italian soldiers reached the port of Durres four days ago. /pas/xh/

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[08] We are ready to cope with more precipitated situations - Premier

"Premier Tony Blair asked me to come to Tirane to hand you a letter of his and to convey to you the guarantee for the profound sympathy and sincerity that the British Government and people express towards your determination to cope with this rather difficult situation. I would like to repeat that we are with you today and in the future and resolutely hoping that the relations between Albania and Europe and NATO will be a very important factor in the process of security in Europe," said Mr Ashdown.

PM Majko said that the Albanian Government shares the same vision with the Great Britain regarding the settlement of the conflict in Kosove and for this he expressed his profound gratitude to the entire Albanian people.

PM Majko said that the situation in the region is precipitating dangerously and that another tide of Kosova war refugees, some 100-150 thousand people are expected to add to the present number of 320 thousand people actually present in Albania. "They are mostly women and children, and according to reports we have, they are in a grave situation and need immediate aid," said PM Majko.

He voiced the determination of the Albanian Government that Albania must continue to be a factor for stability in the region. "We are convinced that the continuous stability and restraint in coping with the situation on our part have a decisive importance in these difficult moments. We are prepared to face even worse situations," said Majko.

Chairman Ashdown voiced the opinion of the British Government and its determination and efforts to solve the conflict in Kosove and make possible the return of all war refugees to Kosove, to ensure the stability in the region and later to guarantee the right of the Kosova people to self- determination. "We highlight in particular the assistance you have offered to NATO and hope that this will keep going," said the chairman of the British Liberal Party, Ashdown. /pas/xh/

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[09] I admire the determination of the Albanian Government to receive refugees reaching Albania - Blair

"I admire the determination of your government in receiving the refugees in Albania. I can assure you that the United Kingdom remains resolute to assist the regional countries to face with the consequences of the repression of Milosevic," writes PM Blair in his letter. /dast/xh/

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[10] Albanian Foreign Minister to meet ambassadors of EU member countries on Monday

The press department of the Foreign Ministry reports that they will discuss the dramatic situation in Kosove, its consequences to Albania and will exchange opinions on the political dialogue between Albania and the EU, to be held on April 27, in Luxembourg.

The Monday's meeting will be held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania at 10 a.m. and all press and media representatives invited to take part. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] 152 Kosovars with first symptoms of TB

So far, two of the TB infected people are in a grave situation.

The doctors say that causes for the disease are their staying in the open, under the rain and the lack of hospital conditions to treat the disease.

The sick who have TB symptoms are put under medication which is ensured by a French association. The medicaments have also been sent to the hospital of Kucove, besides those sent to the Berat hospital.

All the new arrivals from Kosove will be checked for the TB.

So far there are 7000 Kosovars settled in the prefecture of Berat which consists of the district of Berat, Skrapar and Kucove. /pas/xh/

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[12] Yugoslav Government decides to cut diplomatic relations with Albania

A statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, says that "The motive of the Yugoslav Government for this act is the direct commitment of the Republic of Albania tu support the U.S. and NATO against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia."

"This new act of the Belgrade regime," the statement continues," is not a surprise for the Albanian Government and people. If the regime of Milosevic has been hoping that the Republic of Albania would agree with its policy of extermination of the Albanians and would not join the democratic world in its efforts to halt the genocide and the ethnic cleansing, it shows that besides being a criminal regime, it is short-sighted as well."

The cutting of the diplomatic relations of Belgrade with Tirane comes after the regime of Milosevic broke the same relations with big powers of the world democracy such as the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany.

The Albanian Government," stresses the statement, "is convinced that the diversified Kosova crisis at the end of this century, and caused by the dictatorship of Milosevic can be solved only on the basis of the conditions set by NATO. The Albanian Government, led by the universal principles of the Human Rights Charter, will continue to support all the efforts by the U.S., EU and NATO for a final solution of the crisis in Kosove and its consequences in the entire region."

Ranking on the side of the democratic world, the Albanian Government is committed to strictly apply the universal principles of the U.N. Charter, the OSCE Charter and all the documents it adheres to. It will always be on their side to the benefit of peace and stability in the region.

The situation in Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) is an expression of the anti-democratic policy pursued by Milosevic, which is directed not only against Albanians but against the Serb people as well.

"The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Albania stresses on this occasion that the responsibility for the consequences stemming from the cutting of the diplomatic relations with Albania rests completely with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), ends the statement of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Albania. /dast/xh/

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[13] Truck with aid for Kosovars which deviated destination blocked

Last Saturday, police authorities stopped two other trucks which deviated from the convoy with trucks with aid towards Kukes, and made for Kruje instead.

In Kukes, about 300 km from Tirane, there are over 130 thousand Kosova refugees, who are being assisted by the international community with food and medicaments. /pas/xh/

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[14] Intensification and diversified NATO operations demanded - Meidani- Ashdown

The President's press and information office reported that President Meidani and the British parliamentarian had the same opinion on the constant Serb policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Albanians of Kosove, while the conflict of the last month changed only the high rates of the displaced and the intensity of the Serb crimes.

The interlocutors stressed the need for the intensification and the diversity of the NATO operations in Kosove to prevent the deportation of the entire Albanian population.

Ashdown was the special envoy of the British Prime Minister Blair over his mission to Albania. /dast/xh/

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

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