Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-05-04

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Over two thousand Kosovars arrived in Kukes on Monday night (Adds accounts on 400 youths taken by Serbs)

[02] Albanian killed by Serbian artillery rounds in Has

[03] Cadaver of a girl found in waters of Fierze lake

[04] Tirana currency rate

[05] Some 5 290 displaced Kosovars evacuated within Monday

[06] State control employee killed, his wife wounded

[07] Austrian chancellor to visit Tirana on Wednesday

[08] Germany earmarks 687.16 million marks for Kosova crisis

[09] NATO guarantees Albania against any violation of its sovereignty

[10] Islami says aid to address the most needy

[11] Macedonia Albanian parties call for unification of Albanian political factor in Kosova

[12] Rinas: Loses in April marked 300 000 dollars

[13] Personnel of "Allied Harbour" reaches 7000

[14] Albanian membership in World Trade Organization to complete in early June

[15] Assistance for Kosova People reached to 63 million dollars

[16] Italy committed to creating indispensable conditions for Kosovars

[17] Durres: Sea port to restart to with full capacity

[18] Italian trade union members working to set up camp for Kosovars in Shijak

[19] Ranieri says Italy to help Albania overcome difficult situation

[20] No changes in prices of Tirana market

[21] Countries of European Union engaged to support Albania financially

[22] 10% of Greek credit to be used in 1999

[23] Italy would like a political solution and halt of repression in Kosove - Ranieri

[01] Over two thousand Kosovars arrived in Kukes on Monday night (Adds accounts on 400 youths taken by Serbs)

Kosovars gave accounts of police violence. Women, elderly people and children said that they had been stopped by Serbian police forces on their way near the village of Vraniq and Bukosh of Suhareka. They (police) grabbed jewellery and money and separated the youths forcing the column to continue the journey.

A young girl, 18, from the village of Likoc of Suhareka said that they had taken their brother away together with over 400 young boys. She said that they would be forced to dig fortifications in the south border region of Kosova with Albania as other youths were forced to do.

Another woman said that the Serbian police would use the Albanian youths as human shields against NATO attacks or force them to provide blood for the Serbian army.

They said that the Serb forces were pounding Vraniq and Bukosh. /led/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Albanian killed by Serbian artillery rounds in Has

Sources of the police commissariat in Has district said to ATA that Lulzim Hasan Muhameti, 26, resident of Zogaj village, Tropoja district, was killed in Letaj village by Serbian artillery rounds.

Muhameti was visiting his relatives in Letaj but was killed on his way home.

Given the increasingly tense situation in the area the Muhameti relatives managed to take his dead body hours later.

The Letaj village has been under Serbian artillery attack in the recent days. The shelling has also destroyed the customs house in Qafe Prush and the second floor of the border post building in the village. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Cadaver of a girl found in waters of Fierze lake

The group of experts in the district police commissariat is working to identify the victim and to clear out the circumstances of her death.

Preliminary information shows that the victim has come through Drini river from the other side of the border. The testimonies of the new comers from Kosove say that Serb paramilitary forces have forcefully halted several young girls, who are thrown in the the waters of Fierze lake, after being violated. /led/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Tirana currency rate

US$1.00 143 German mark 77.5 Italian lire 79.1 Greek Drachmas 46.4 EURO 153.3

/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Some 5 290 displaced Kosovars evacuated within Monday

The new comers say that other Kosovars from Prizereni are expected to arrive in Kukes in the coming days. More than 107 803 Kosovars are sheltered in the city of Kukes bearing a population of 22 000 inhabitants.

Qemal Parllaku, chief of the commission for evacuation of displaced Kosovars said that the evacuation rhythms are expected to be higher on Tuesday. The total number of evacuated Kosovars from Kukes prefecture amounts to 258 116 people. /led/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] State control employee killed, his wife wounded

The spokesman of Police directory in Durres prefecture, said that unidentified persons hidden in a car shot with automatic riffle towards Gjanca couple.

Gjanca, aged 45, died immediately, while his wife, Vera, aged 40, was wounded on one arm and was immediately carried to the hospital. Her life is out of danger.

The motives of the crime are not known. The investigation police forces are making the necessary investigations to identify and to catch the authors of the crime. /led/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Austrian chancellor to visit Tirana on Wednesday

After visiting the already completed Austrian Camp at Shkoder where 5 thousand Kosova refugees have been accommodate, Federal Chancellor Klima was expected to hold separate talks with president of Albania Rexhep Meidani and prime minister Pandeli Majko.

The crisis in Kosova and the situation in Albania resulting from the arrival of thousands of war refugees as well as Austria' aid to cope with the situation was expected to be at the focus of talks. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Germany earmarks 687.16 million marks for Kosova crisis

This fund includes the cost of about 10 thousand displaced Kosovars accommodated in Germany since May 17, 60 flights including transport and medical treatment as well as the cost of their staying there.

Bilateral and humanitarian assistance for refugees is estimated 83.56 million marks out of the total, a fund spent for Albania, Kosova and Macedonia. The cost of German military commitment is estimated at 588.50 million marks.

The commission of the European Union and its member states have contributed to assisting refugees driven from Kosova with a fund worth 556.83 million Euro or 1.089 billion marks. German contribution for 1998 was estimated at 14.06 million Euro while for this year is estimated at 28.74 million Euro. /s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] NATO guarantees Albania against any violation of its sovereignty

Clark arrived at the airport at around 13.00 and under a tight supervision of NATO forces installed at this airport he held a news conference.

Clark said that the aim of his visit was to inspect the NATO troops deployed at Rinas and follow the proceeding of the training process of the Apache helicopters.

"The frequent violation of the Albanian border by the Serb forces are being considered with seriousness by NATO, which will closely cooperate with the Albanian government," he said.

Asked whether the ongoing air strikes have been efficient and able to an extend to halt the military machine of Milosevic, General Clark responded that "the campaign of the air strikes has been very successful.

"The strikes have brought panic among the Serb army and I believe that with their intensification, we will reach the final goal. Milosevic is realising he is losing the war," said Clark.

Asked about the use of the Apache helicopters, Clark said that he could not speculate with military secrets, but said they are on high alert.

As to speculations that NATO is supplying the KLA with weapons, Clark said that "there has been no direct contact between NATO and the KLA leaders". /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Islami says aid to address the most needy

The head of the Government Emergency Commission, Kastriot Islami, on Tuesday praised the performance of the local government structures of Kukes prefecture in coping with the situation created due to the large influx of deported Kosovars.

At a meeting in Kukes on Tuesday Islami laid the stress on the need to tighten control on aid distribution so that it goes to the most needy people.

Islami also showed interest in the latest influx of refugees, their evacuation to other districts, their reception and living conditions in camps and other issues.

After the meeting in the prefecture, Islami visited the camps erected by the UNHCR and the United Arab Emirates and familiarised himself with the living conditions and the current problems of the refugees housed in these camps. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Macedonia Albanian parties call for unification of Albanian political factor in Kosova

The statement, signed by the party chairmen, invites the Albanian political subject to consolidate its ranks and make efforts to constitute the interim Government of Kosova conform the Rambouillet Agreement, signed by Hashim Thaci, Ibrahim Rugova and Rexhep Qosja.

The statement also invites the LDK leadership and members to assume the responsibility to continue the state-constituent policy.

Through this statement, the PPD and PDP, taking into account the conditions under which president Rugova is found, consider invalid any agreement signed by Rugova and the Serb regime representatives, and will support the just war of the KLA for Kosova's freedom and independence. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Rinas: Loses in April marked 300 000 dollars

This loses are due to the result of non functing the normal airlines of civil transport in this airport and due to the free services of the planes with humanitarian aid during the current situation.

According to Vesho the Albtransport Directory asked the reimbursement of these lose to be done by the humanitarian organizations, especially UNHCR.

There is great daily influx of the humanitarian planes and their elaboration, as well, in Rinas airport. These planes do not bring currency incomes, because they are excluded by any kind of custom tax./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Personnel of "Allied Harbour" reaches 7000

According to this office, the arrival and deployment rate of the NATO forces is being accelerated to complete the set contingent of 8000 forces.

In the first days of May, various structures of Albania's Armed Forces have intensified cooperation with the NATO forces.

With the aim to heighten the efficiency of this humanitarian mission, NATO teams and experts are defining and taking concrete measures to build and repair roads towards Kukes, erect camps and evacuate Kosovars deep inside the country.

A great weight of work has been borne by the army's transport vehicles. Some 2000 Kosova refugees were transported yesterday on the Kukes- Peshkopi-Elbasan line. Likewise, dozens of vehicles continue to supply camps in the regions of Kukes and Korce. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian membership in World Trade Organization to complete in early June

The documents presented by the Albanian delegation to become member of World Trade Organization are estimated positively by the country's member of the European Union in the last bilateral and multilateral discussions in Geneva concerning the Albanian membership in WTO.

The representatives of European Union, USA, Canada, Austria, Japon, Turkey, India, Swiss, Bulgaria, etc, expressed their positive consideration about the duty perform by Albania. This meeting followed the one organized in the end of June, this year.

After the discussion about the technical issues the final session opened the way for another discussions session.There is a progress in the bilateral relations between Albania and the special member countries of World Trade Organization, which are interested in economic and commercial relations with Albania.

Albania made its request for WTO membership in 1992 and in the period of 1996-1997 the discussions were interrupted due to the economic crisis.

To encourage these negotiations' a Permanent Secretariat concerning the relations with the World Trade Organization at the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade is established./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Assistance for Kosova People reached to 63 million dollars

According to the statistics of the Governmental Commission the assistance to enter in Albania is mainly food, blankets, tents, medicaments and medical equipment.

The humanitarian aid is addressed to the Albanian Government, NGO-s that perform their activity in Albania, and other international organization that assist Kosova Albanians.

The great part of the humanitarian aid is covered by Albanian Red Cross, International Red Cross, the Office of United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Program and Caritas.

Taking in consideration the value of the aid brought in Albania, Germany is the first country to bring the greater assistance.

The value of the German assistance is 7 million dollars, the English marks 6,6 million dollars, Holland and USA by 5,5 million dollars each. Swiss and Italian aid are brought in Albania, as well./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Italy committed to creating indispensable conditions for Kosovars

They discussed at length the situation in Kosova, the increasing influx of deported Kosovars as a result of the ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Milosevic as well as the aftermaths of this influx in the countries of the region, concretely in Albania, according to the Foreign Ministry Press and Information department.

Xhufi thanked the representative of the Italian government for the contribution it has been providing in coping with the humanitarian crisis of Kosovars and finding ways to force Milosevic to halt his massacres in Kosova and allow the return of Albanians to their lands.

Ranieri said that the Italian government is committed to make utmost efforts to create the most indispensable conditions for the Kosova refugees settled in Albania.

They also mentioned an Italian pilot-plan, which stipulates the creation of the necessary infrastructure in Albania to accommodate some 100 000 displaced Kosovars, which will also benefit local inhabitants. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Durres: Sea port to restart to with full capacity

To facing the emergent situation in disposal are put three ferries for shipping the humanitarian aid on Tuesday.

In the sealines of the passengers and merchandises transport continue to be using the schemes, and on Tuesday two ferries are accosted in Durresi Sea Port "San Sovino" and "Laurana".

According to Stepes 5 other ships are waiting to ship the goods, while it is informed that in the coming days 17 other ships will come, a part of which will be loaded with humanitarian aid for Kosova displaced./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Italian trade union members working to set up camp for Kosovars in Shijak

According to him, working in it will be a team of 36 Italian specialists and members of the non-governmental Italian association Arka.

Members of the Italian team are also some doctors and nurses who will provide medical service to Kosova refugees of war, said to ATA today the director of the foreign relations in the local government ministry, Silva Dracini. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Ranieri says Italy to help Albania overcome difficult situation

Italy will help Albania rehabilitate all state buildings in which deported Kosovars have been housed as well as will help erect new temporary camps.

The assistance Italy will provide for Albania was the topic of the conversation between Albanian deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Umberto Ranieri, on Tuesday by midday.

Ranieri said that his country will stay close to Albania to help overcome the current situation as well as will contribute to bring it closer to the European Union structures.

Ranieri, in his one day formal visit, met with deputy Foreign Minister Xhufi and deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] No changes in prices of Tirana market

"Nevertheless the great influx of Kosova comers, the increase of the humanitarian aid influx, the increase of the import,and the provision of Tirana market, especially with wheat flour, the prices remained in their normal level", said ATA the food inspector Gjergj Kiri.

The following are the prices marked on Monday: ----------------------- ------------------------------- Product I wholesale price I Selling price ------------------------------------------------------ Flour I 60 lekë/kg I 70 lekë/kg --------------------------------------------- --------- Rise I 80 lekë/kg I 85 lekë/kg ------------------- ----------------------------------- Sugar I 60 '' I 70 " ------------------------------------------------------ Oil I 175 '' I 180 " --------------------------------------------------- --/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Countries of European Union engaged to support Albania financially

According to the data announced on Monday by the Italian Prime Ministry the value of the collected lirets by the humanitarian mission "Rainbow" reached to 88 bilion lirets. The value marked at the end of April was 86 billion lirets.

According to the Italian Embassy in Tirana the value of the humanitarian aid sent already to Albania by the Italian Government is 50-60 bilion lirets. Only "Rainbow" mission financed 65 billion lirets till the end of April and this figure is going to reach to 134 billion lirets at the end of June.

According to the prediction of the Italian Government the humanitarian mission in Balkan will cost 250 billion lirets till December 31, 1999.

The German financial contribution as an assistance for the civil population affected by Kosova conflict reached to 687,16 million German marks, informed the German Embassy in Tirana.

The Commission of European Union and its member countries contributed in supporting the Kosova expelled with a value of 556,83 million Euro. The German contribution for this year is predicted to be 28,74 million Euro.

"The assistance for the reconstruction of the countries affected by the war, promised by European Union and USA, will reach to 10-20 billion dollars,"stated on Monday the Greek Minister of Economy Janos Papantoniu.

The Greek Minister said that his Government is drafting the list of the economic damages caused to Greek due to the war and is asking the reimbursement by the European Union.

The Greek Minister appealed to all businessmen to be present and ready for the reconstruction of the region after the war. "Greek has a great political and moral obligation: It must support Balkan's countries for the reconstruction of their damaged economies", stressed Papantoniu.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] 10% of Greek credit to be used in 1999

According to the chief of the Shelter Sector at the Ministry of Public Affairs and Transport Xhavit Dajçi, the Greek credit will be used in two parts.During 1999 only 10% of it is going to be used mainly for the emergent needs for shelter through buying buildings in the areas where the buying prices are lower than the construction costs.

The other part of teh credit, which covers the greater and the main part, will be used in buildings constructions in Tirana, Durres, Vlora, Saranda and Gjirokastra.

The realization of the Greek credit of 5 billion Greek Drachmas will make possible the shelter of 1540 homeless. This credit is going to support only those homeless who lost their homes in the pyramidal schemes. According to the Shelter Sector there are nearly 6000 families to lose their homes in the pyramidal schemes.

According to the agreement on economic cooperation between the two governments, this credit has to be return within 25 years, having 7 years guaranteed period and the annual interest of 5%.

This credit is according to the requirements of International Monetary Fund and ESAF-2 agreement and it is soft credit, because the grant element covers more 35%. The use of the credit and the project's fulfilment will continue for three years.

"This credit will be managed by the Housing Adjustment Enterprises and not with cashes"- said Dajçi./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Italy would like a political solution and halt of repression in Kosove - Ranieri

Umberto Ranieri, Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs told ATA on Tuesday at the end of a visit to Tirane, that "his government is committed to and is hoping for a political solution of the question, and it would like the NATO bombing stop as soon as possible along with the repression on civilians in Kosove."

"Italy does not think that the bombing and their intensification by the Alliance would bring a solution to the problem," said Ranieri. He added that he hoped "in a change of the stance of the Belgrade authorities, in their positive response to the demands and the initiative of the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, as well as in the efforts of the Russian envoy Chernomyrdin and the President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton."

Ranieri said that "the Italian Government is committed to finding a political solution through a change in the approach of Belgrade towards the crisis in the region."

"We would prefer that the strikes be stopped as soon as possible and in this regard there are concrete proposals also from Mr Annan, for the presence of a force with the U.N. Security Council mandate in which Russia, too, will take part," said Mr Ranieri without identifying what kind of force was implied. /y.pa/xh/

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

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