Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-06-01

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press Review

[02] Italy to assist education of Kosova pupils in Albania

[03] Influx of Kosova deportees to Albania continues

[04] The Balkans is part of Europe's plans - Milo

[05] Albanian national injured by Serb shells

[06] Serb shells ruin eights houses in Bogaj

[07] Electric system in Morine damaged by Serb artillery

[08] Danish Minister of Defence to visit Albania on Wednesday

[09] $US value reduces again

[10] Emergency assistance centre by UNESCO for Kosova pupils

[11] Preparations on German investments in Southern districts of Albania

[12] Meidani highlights UNICEF aid on education of Kosova children

[13] Majko says we hail every initiative undertaken by UNICEF to help children

[14] Albanian President meets a children delegation on June 1

[15] Tense situation in Albania-Kosova border continues

[16] Minister Ruka leaves for Strasbourg to seek donations on summer schools

[17] Albanian-American diaspora side by side the Kosova deportees

[18] Umberto Ranieri to visit Tirane on Wednesday

[19] Serb provocations on Albanian-Yugoslav border

[20] Guardia Civile completes Spanish troops contingent in Albania

[21] U.S. envoy Wiesel visits Albania on Wednesday

[22] Bombs dropped in Morine

[23] Former prisoners tell of maltreatment in Smerkonice prison

[01] Press Review

KOHA JONE, independent daily. - "Government out of parliamentary control." The parliamentary commission members that monitor the ministers accept they are not at the right level. - Police cordons off Greek border." Out of fear of terrorist acts, Albania and Greece step up measures of control throughout the border. - "Customs officials revenge for the New Code ." The customs officials have blocked commodities asking money under the table by their owners, in the mean time a group of prosecutors is going to Kakavije.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE, independent daily.

- "Tirana: Moscow blocks Marshall Plan for the Balkans." After the meeting in Bonn, the Russians put off the approval of the Pact. - "Cartridges, mystery of killed hostage." Albanian emigrant, Pisli, has hit the Greek but the cause of the death is not confirmed. - "NATO bomb falls in Durres." A graphite bomb launched by a NATO aircraft has fallen in a bar in Durres but it has not exploded.

SHEKULLI, independent daily

- "Soft threats to Athens." Albanian policy is showing restraint towards the beginning of expulsion operation for Albanian emigrants in Greece. - "Factions? Are they class struggle!" Interview with DP presidency member, Albert Brojka.

RILINDJA, independent information daily.

- "Fighting in Plain of Dukagjin continues." - "All Serb military, police and paramilitary troops must withdraw from Kosove." Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Kosove, Hashim Thaci, met in London yesterday with the British Foreign Minister, Robin Cook. - "Russia trick for division of Kosove."

ALBANIA, independent daily.

- "Serb tanks towards Albania." - "Thousands of Kosova children having consequences of war atrocities." - Berisha: Greek sweeping, Serb investment?!"

EKONOMIA, daily paper of the Albanian Agency for Economic Development.

- "Construction materials, only 25 per cent of them is locally produced." - Government, traffic red light for new Road Code." - "INSIG, shareholding company. It is waiting court decision."

ZERI I POPULLIT, daily of the Socialist Party of Albania -

- Bandit fled, police beat villagers." The event took place in village Spolat, Lushnja district. The peasants tell that a good part of the riot police have beaten them because the bandit had escaped. - "Continuous expulsion, a political problem." - "Berisha, strategy of terror for DP faction members."

RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE, daily paper of the Democratic Party of Albania.

- "This is how aid mafia emerged." - "We are against KLA- Milo"

REPUBLIKA, daily of the Republican Party of Albania

- "Rugova, will he arrive in Tirane today?" - "NATO bomb falls in Durres." /y.pa/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Italy to assist education of Kosova pupils in Albania

In the meeting he had at noon with professors and students of the two universities of Tirane, the Albanian Minister of Education and Science, Ethem Ruka, and the Italian Minister of Public Education, Luigi Berlinguer, in the presence of the two delegations, discussed the completed joint projects or those underway, for which Italy expressed its readiness to help. Among most emergent projects is the opening of summer schools for Kosova children, sister relations between schools of the two countries which Minister Berlinguer qualified as "integration of some hundreds of Albanian schools in Italian analogous qualitative institutions," and the restructuring of some professional schools, training of teachers, etc.

The Italian Minister visited the Albanian-Italian lyceum which is functioning close to the foreign languages secondary school in Tirane for one year now, the camp of Kosova refugees of war in Shijak. Before leaving Albania, Italian Minister went to Shkodra and visited the professional Arben Broci, rehabilitated with the aid of the Italian Government. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Influx of Kosova deportees to Albania continues

Also today, until 4.30 about 250 Kosovars have crossed the border post of Morini, most of them come from the prison of Smerkonica. "Now this jail has no more than 400-5000 prisoners," said Muharrem Krasniqi, newcomer in Kukes town.

"All were detained without telling what they are accused of. They only threatened us. "Are you with KLA? We shall tell you what NATO is," said Myslym Muhatri from Vushtri.

The prisoners had passed nights lying on the cold floor. Myslym tells that they were offended and beaten with pieces of wood and iron bars. Muharrem Krasniqi from village Bevornice whose back has signs of iron bars, was present in the convoy in which Serb paramilitary forces carried out a massacre with at least 150-200 Kosovars of all ages.

Krasniqi adds that during these massacres the Serbs have taken young girls whose fate is unknown. He said that they had taken his daughter, Lumnije, 19, as well and he still had no news where she is. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] The Balkans is part of Europe's plans - Milo

Expressing his thanks to the Japanese parliamentarians for their interest in assisting Albania in the present situation, minister Milo considered the relations with Japan as rather important.

Milo highlighted also the role of Japan in the context of G8 to find a political solution to the crisis of Kosove. He stressed that the relations between the two countries take more importance following the latest events.

"The Balkans," said Milo, "is now part of the plans of integration with Europe and Japan may play a great role through investments in the infrastructure and other important projects for Albania and the region."

Hisoda stressed that the aim of the visit of the Japanese delegation is to see closely the situation and to coordinate the concrete Japanese aid on the ground. "Japan is one of the main contributors in the efforts to cope with Kosove crisis, through financing international organizations and non-governmental organizations," said Hisoda.

"Japan will continue to make its contribution to Albania and to the region also in the future," said Hisoda. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Albanian national injured by Serb shells

The event took place at about 7.35 on Monday when six high caliber shells hit the city of Krume, said to ATA the spokesman of the district police commissariat. Two of the shells injured national Avni Nenati, 23, said the spokesman.

The same source added that one of the mortars had exploded near the town hospital while another hit the yard of the house of Jah Teka, but fortunately it did not explode. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Serb shells ruin eights houses in Bogaj

The bombing has been intensive in that village also due to the fact that fierce fighting have been continuing there between KLA and forces of the Serb army. /led/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Electric system in Morine damaged by Serb artillery

Serb artillery have targeted Morine and Bardhoc at 3.30 a.m. on Monday as well. No damages were caused by the six shells last Monday, border police sources said. /led/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Danish Minister of Defence to visit Albania on Wednesday

The Danish Minister and his delegation is scheduled to meet with senior officials of Albania, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and the President Rexhep Meidani. In the Defence Ministry in Albania, Mr Hekkerup will be received by his Albanian counterpart, Luan Hajdaraga, and after the meeting they will hold a news conference.

On Thursday, the Danish Minister will go to Elbasan city, and he will meet there with the Prefect and the Mayor of the city of Elbasan. Later, he is expected to visit DANCON (camp of Elbasan) according to the program prepared by Danish military authorities. /led/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] $US value reduces again

Follow the buying and selling rates of foreign currencies against the Lek on the Tirane currency market on Tuesday:

Foreign currency buying selling

$US1 139,5 139,8 DM 73,8 74 ITL(1000) 75 75,2 GRD(100) 44,7 45 /A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Emergency assistance centre by UNESCO for Kosova pupils

According to a report to the cabinet of the Minister of Education Ethem Ruka, UNESCO voices its readiness to implement a project to create an emergency assistance centre for the education of pupils who have been evicted from Kosove and housed in Albania, said prof.dr. Vincani.

The director of assistance and emergencies in education in UNESCO, Kacem Bensalah, said that the program consists in the rwork to reprint and distribute school and pedagogical manuals, indispensable to support the efforts for the education of Kosova children. /led/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Preparations on German investments in Southern districts of Albania

The meeting organized in this prefecture between the group of the German investing companies and the Prefect of Gjirokaster, Sotiraq Mantho, treated problems of common interest such as the natural resources, and problems regarding the traditions of work, culture and human sources in this region as well as problems regarding the near future.

The representative of the German investing group, Verner Vintermajer, confirmed in the meeting that the preparation phase is over. The investment consists in the construction of a new cement factory in the village of Brokaj, Delvine district, and in constructing of the factory on industrialization of natural water in Libohove, Gjirokaster.

According to him these investments are expected to begin within 1999 aiming to advance the phases of its reconstruction.

The German part expressed its interest on the coal-mine in Memaliaj, the production of which can be used for the cement factory to be built in Brojkaj. German part was also interested on the brick factory in Tepelene and Permet as well as on milk processing in Gjirokaster region. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Meidani highlights UNICEF aid on education of Kosova children

TIRANE, June 1 (ATA) - By A.Haxhiu: Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, met Tuesday the UNICEF Regional Director, John Donohue. Main issues discussed in the meeting were the projects of this organization in assistance of further development and emancipation of the new generation in conditions of an open society.

Meidani highlighted the aid given by UNICEF on the education of children coming from Kosove, taking special measures for the growth of the capacity of our schools.

The president encouraged this world organization to become an active part of the attempts of the Albanian society for the development of children's abilities and estimated the importance the acquaintance of the human rights as well as the responsibility of the children in nowadays society.

Donohue expressed his willingness for the widening of UNICEF activity and assessed positively the encouraging environment and the close cooperation of this organization with the Albanian authorities. /led/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Majko says we hail every initiative undertaken by UNICEF to help children

Premier Majko, after hailing UNICEF activity, said the influx of Kosova refugees in Albania makes the assistance delivered by this organization more fruitful, the spokesman of the Premier told ATA on Tuesday.

"The majority part of Kosova refugees is made up of children and our main concern is their special treating, without leaving apart the programs for the Albanian children" said Majko.

UNICEF Regional Director, John Donohue, said that he was astonished by the way the Albanian government and people responded to such a tense situation.

"Your reaction was incredible and you have won our great respect. In the difficult challenge and the heavy burden of the situation you are continuing to face you will have our full support, taking into consideration even our close cooperation", said Donohue. /s.sh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian President meets a children delegation on June 1

Present in the meeting were also the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Skender Gjinushi and the Premier Majko.

After the meeting with the senior state personalities, the children joined the other invetees and the diplomatic representatives accredited to Albania as well as the chairmen of parliamentary groups. /f.n/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Tense situation in Albania-Kosova border continues

Sources from Kukes police prefecture told ATA that Serb forces pounded Pogaj area, Has district, from 11-12 a.m. Inhabitants of the village are drawn further in the district and no casualties are reported.

The situation was tense in the early hours of the day even in other regions of Kukes district such as Cahan, Vlahan and Dobrun.

Krume mayor, Zenel Kastrati, said that shells struck today even Qafa e Ahmanit, situated between the villages of Nikoliq and Vlahan, 3 kilometers away from the border.

A citizen was wounded, and 30 heads of cattle were damaged due to the shells slammed in the border village of Cahan.

Bombardments are continuing even in these moments in some regions because Kosova Liberation Army forces and Serbs are combating. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Minister Ruka leaves for Strasbourg to seek donations on summer schools

The aim of this visit will be the sensitization of the foreign donors to finance the projects drafted on the education of Kosova children during the summer time, Minister Ruka told ATA on Tuesday.

Ruka will present to the European Council in Strasbourg the projects drafted with the respective costs for the managing of the emergency situation created by the influx of Kosova deportees, and 40% of this influx belongs to the school ages.

According to a preliminary study, some $ 40 million are needed for the opening of these schools, the accomplishing of pupils with textbooks and other didactic means, the wages of teachers and others.

World Bank and the U.N High Commission for Refugees have allocated so far $ 1 million to be used on the textbooks of Kosova children. The Syndicalist Federation of International Education with its headquarter in Brussels has recently another fund worth $ 1 million to pay the teachers in the summer schools. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Albanian-American diaspora side by side the Kosova deportees

According to the press and information office close to the President of the Republic, Meidani and the diaspora representatives exchanged views about the situation in Albania and the solution of the Kosova issue and the role Albanians can play wherever they are.

Meidani suggested an increase of the Albanian-American community efforts in aid of the Kosova deportees in Albania and Macedonia, its activation in favor of the cohesion of the Albanian factors of Kosova and sensitisation of the U.S. public opinion on various issues related to the solution of the Kosova issue. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Umberto Ranieri to visit Tirane on Wednesday

Italian Foreing Undersecretary Umberto Ranieri will pay a formal one- day visit to Tirane on Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry Press Department reports that Ranieri will meet with President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minster Pandeli Majko and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

Ranieri will also visit the "Italfor Albania" command in Durres.

Ranieri last visited Tirane at the beginning of May this year and declared he still believed the intensification of the diplomatic efforts was the fairest way to resolve the crisis in Kosova. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Serb provocations on Albanian-Yugoslav border

On Monday morning, from 05.30 to 06.30, the Serb army artillery shelled the village of Vlahen, Has district. The place where 30 shells have fallen is mined and includes almost the half of the village, according to the Ministry of Public Order.

On the same day, the Serbs shelled in the direction of Pogaj, where the Moriq quarter was burnt down. There were no reports of casualties.

Also on Monday, the zone of Cahan, Dobrun village, was bombarded and four shells landed on this area which seriously injured citizen Ymer Cahani, aged 35, who is in hospital and now his condition is not life threatening.

While several shells fell at 19.35, west of the Krume town, near the hospital, injuring the 23-year-old Avni Nevada and damaging several houses.

On Tuesday the Serbs granaded the villages of Lushaj, Gegaj, Lugu i Zi, Ujeze, Tropoje district, and in the direction of pyramid C 10/14. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Guardia Civile completes Spanish troops contingent in Albania

According to Manuel Rodriguez, the spokesman of the Spanish troops, deployed in the Hamallajt camp, the Guardia Civile forces arrived at Rinas airport on Monday.

With their deployment at the Hamallajt camp, security will be guaranteed at the camp, after it is taken over by the NGO and the Red Cross.

The Guardia Civile unit is composed of 33 members, three of whom are women and act under the command of captain Fernando Santas. Their mission, said Rodriguez, will be to control entrance in the camp and ensure calm inside and outside it.

This performance will be in close cooperation with the Albanian local police. After six weeks, this contingent will leave the place to the next contingent which will carry out the same operation, said Rodriguez. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] U.S. envoy Wiesel visits Albania on Wednesday

White House envoy Elie Wiesel will visit Albania on Wednesday.

At the request of U.S. President Bill Clinton, Wiesel will tour the camps of the Kosova refugees to discuss about ethnic cleansing, Serb repression and violence and other problems concerning them.

The U.S. embassy in Tirane told ATA that in this visit to Albania, the envoy of the White House has also planned meetings with representatives of humanitarian organisations, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Kosova and the situation in the neighbouring countries with Yugoslavia such as Albania and Macedonia, which have hosted a considerable number of Kosova refugees.

Elie Wiesel is one of the world renowned philosophers, Holocaust survivor, who has devoted his whole life to events, which contain genocide against people in their essence, and to the aid that can be provided for them.

In 1985, Elie Wiesel was awarded the prize "Medal of Freedom" by the U.S. Congress. A year later, the renowned philosopher was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He also has the title Andrew Mellon, Prof. on Humanism at Boston University.

When he goes back to the U.S., Wiesel will present to President Clinton the results of his visit. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Bombs dropped in Morine

Police sources report that there were five strong explosions which have caused considerable damage. Hence, areas sown yo wheat have been burnt, five holes over 10 meters deep have been opened, ten machine-gun nests around the territory where the explosions took place have been destroyed and the electric line Morine-Mornine border point has been damaged.

The bombs, which have also fallen near a position of Albanian soldiers, have caused damage to their weapons such as automatic rifles, cartridge clips and other ammunition, and lightly injured two soldiers, one of whom, Xhevdet Shaqiri. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Former prisoners tell of maltreatment in Smerkonice prison

TIRANE, June 1 (ATA)-The Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, based in New York, has recently distributed a report on the violence against the Albanians in Kosova.

The report bears evidence provided by deported Kosovars, who tell of parts of Serb state violence.

The ethnic Albanians who were isolated several weeks ago in the prison of Smerkonice, some 5 km, south of Kosova Mitrovice, described to Human Rights Watch how they had been maltreated.

The former prisoners who were released last Saturday said that the isolation chambers were crammed and the food for the inmates was insufficient and almost all were cruelly beaten during investigation, considering them members or supporters of the National Liberation Army.

The total number of the detained until May 26, when the first large group was released, is reported to have been 3000. All the former detainees, whose age varied between 27 and 56, said that there were so many inmates in the isolation chambers, that it was impossible to sit down.

A 52 year old from Reznik said that his isolation chamber, 4x8, had 76 people, while 43-old man from Podujeve said that in his room, 4x5 there were 36 people. /lh/lm/

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