Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-06-05

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Fierce bombing by Serb artillery in Has district

[02] Press Review

[03] Foreign currency exchange rate in Tirane

[04] Higher number of the evacuated than the new arrivals from Kosove

[05] Ibrahim Rugova annuls his visit in Tirane

[06] Serb artillery pounds Letaj village, Has district

[07] Albanian Army in full alert to respond to each eventual Serb attack

[08] TNT damages the house of Shkoder Prefect

[09] "Humanitarian Aid" Fair is opened

[10] Shuli:" Operations at ferries terminal to be accelerated"

[11] "DEKA" covers 70% of market detergents

[12] Meidani tours camp of Mjekes and Labino-Fushe in Elbasan

[13] Albanian government denounces the terrorist act against Shkoder Prefect

[14] Serb military campaign in Kosova continues -News conference of Minister of Information-

[15] Thirty Serb artillery shells land in Kishaj village

[01] Fierce bombing by Serb artillery in Has district

HAS, June 5 (ata) - By R Hoxha: Serb artillery pondered intensively overnight in the direction of Albanian border villages in Has district. The bombing is considered to be the fiercest along Albania-Kosove border in the past two months, for the fact that also villages deep in the border have been hit. Target of the Serbs have been all border villages of that district especially Letaj, Dobruna, Kishaj, Pogaj, etc.

According to sources of district police commissariat, shelling of Serb heavy artillery started at 7 p.m. on Friday and has continued for a long time. Shells of Serb artillery hit on Friday the villages that are along the border such as Golaj, 4 km, Perollaj, 5 km, Helshan 7 km that are near Lake Fierza.

As a result of the mortar fire in village Perollaj, nationals Halil and Nazmi Ukteraj and Ramadan Lushi in village Golaj were injured whereas the the 19 year old girl Lavdie Lushi, died from the wounds despite efforts of the doctors of Krume hospital to bring her again to life.

Serb parliament accepted two days ago the peace plan of G8 but no pullout of the Serb army from Albania-Kosova border has yet started, sources of the second division of Kukes said. The shelling of Friday shows that Serbia is insisting to keep under tension the situation on the border. /led/xh/

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[02] Press Review

KOHA JONE, independent daily.

- "Rugova to arrive in Rinas today." Moderate leader of the Kosova Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, has confirmed his arrival in Tirane at 10 a.m. - "Kosova must be placed under European control." Interview with renowned writer Ismail Kadare. - "We have no strong voice. If we fail, we will renounce politics definitely." Former DP leader Tritan Shehu shows of the danger threatening moderates within DP. - "We don't believe in Milosevic, he has violated 35 accords in Bosnia - Kosovars." Kosova refugees are sceptic regarding the acceptance of peace plan by Milosevic.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE, independent daily.

- "Marshall Plan, 'new government.'" Albanians are expected to have another "government" consisting of experts of biggest donor countries who are now arriving Albania capital. - "Kukes, Serbs kill an Albanian girl." Yesterday shelling by Serbs in the Albanian territory has killed one Albanian girls and wounded three others in the nearby zones. - "Today Rugova in Tirane." Albanian official sources report that Mr Rugova will be for the first time in Tirana after his departure from Prishtine some weeks ago.

SHEKULLI, independent daily

- "Majko: Peace? You are wrong." Albanian Government adopted a rather reserved official approach towards the peace plan drafted by Ahtisaari- Chernomyrdin and signed by Milosevic. - "Let bombing continue to topple Milosevic." Interview with the director of Defence Planning in Albanian Defence Ministry, Bektash Kolasi. - "Berisha is keeping hostage DP - OSCE." This is what Hella Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has stated yesterday.

RILINDJA, independent information daily.

- "Attacks by Serb forces continue also today." - "NATO - the sole guarantor of peace in Kosova." - "Peace is still far..."

ALBANIA, independent daily.

- "Serbs shell Albania, 42 wounded." - "Here is how you will return to Kosova - UNHCR" - "We do not believe in Milosevic-Kosovars."

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

- "Cheapest cigarettes? Customs tariffs for them will fall 10 per cent." - "Artificial consolidation of Lek must be refrained - specialists." - "Telecommunications to liberalize within current year."

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

- "Buildings set up with radioactive iron." A group of various firms in Albania have for a long time been using radioactive iron found in a cheap market in East of Europe. - "We recognize only five NATO terms- Majko" - "OSCE- Berisha is keeping hostage DP."

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

- "Factors of Kosova must unite - Berisha." - "Tirana has still a lot to do." /xh/

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[03] Foreign currency exchange rate in Tirane

Foreign currency buying selling $US1 137,5 138 DM 72 72,5 ITL(1000) 72,8 73,2 GRD(100) 43,2 43,6 /led/A.A/

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[04] Higher number of the evacuated than the new arrivals from Kosove

Only during the first two hours on Saturday morning, 374 Kosovars were evacuated from Kukes to other districts, said to ATA the chief of the commission for evacuation, Qemal Parllaku. Their transportation is made mainly with NATO vehicles and those of the Albanian army.

In the mean time, the influx of the people coming through the customs point of Morine has continued. During Friday, 181 persons, mostly former prisoners from the Smerkovnice jail have crossed the border point of Morini. /led/xh/

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[05] Ibrahim Rugova annuls his visit in Tirane

A senior official of the Albanian Foreign Minister, told ATA that "Ibrahim Rugova will not come today in Tirane", but he did not deliver further details for the annulment of the visit, saying that "it was postponed for technical issues". /A.A/ (MORE)

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[06] Serb artillery pounds Letaj village, Has district

"At 07.30 on Saturday the Serb artillery pounded in the direction of Letaj village, Has district" the spokesman of district police commissariat told ATA on Saturday.

The shots with artillery have continued for nearly an hour, but no casualties are reported because the inhabitants of this village are evacuated for more than a month ago further in the region.

All the border line situated in Has district is pounded on late Friday and as a result 3 persons are injured and a woman is killed.

The displaced Kosovars settled in Has district prefer to be evacuated further in the country due to high tensions in Has district. The bombardments overnight are spread deeper in the district, even in the village of Helshan, near Fierze lake.

Kosove Liberation Army confidential sources report that the heavy bombardments are made by Serb paramilitary troops, which are not under the control of Serb army leaders, and forcefully reject the approval of the Peace Plan by the Serb government. /dast/A.A/

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[07] Albanian Army in full alert to respond to each eventual Serb attack

The tense situation in the border has continued during the last 24 hours, added Mullai. This has derived due to the continuous attacks of the Serb artillery which slammed several pounds in the direction of the Albanian government.

About 09.20-09.50 p.m on Friday some 15 shells struck Tropoje, while a considerable number of shells are slammed in Gegaj, Lushaj, Golaj and Perollaj region. As a result of these attacks are injured three civil inhabitants and is killed another woman. The bombardments have continued on Friday even in Dobuj and Tropoje.

Our armed forces have been during the whole time on alert to respond to each possible ground attack, said Mullai. Without taking into consideration the lowering of tension and the round of talks commenced, the Serb forces continue to pound towards our territory without having any reason, finishes the spokesman of Defence Ministry. /dast/A.A/

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[08] TNT damages the house of Shkoder Prefect

The event happened at 01.00 a.m on Saturday, when the TNT put in the third floor of the flat blasted and damaged the windows and the doors of two apartments in this flat, the spokesman of police commissariat told ATA on Saturday.

The investigation group went immediately to the spot, and it is carrying all the necessary investigations to find the authors of this crime. Members of this group are even experts of the Ministry of Public Order.

The Perfect Shpuza, has called this event a terrorist act and asked the police forces to find out the authors of the crime.

This is the 7th case from the beginning of the year that unidentified persons put explosives in the houses of leaders of different state institutions in this district. /dast/A.A/

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[09] "Humanitarian Aid" Fair is opened

Tirana, June 5 (ATA) - By E.Metaj - "Humanitarian Aid" fair is opened in Tirana on Saturday. In the opening of this activity, organized by the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade, UHCR and OSBE, Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, OSBE Ambassador in Tirana Daan Everts and representatives of International Organizations that perform their activities in Albania took part in it.

Nearly 76 commercial companies aiming at creating the producers to show their products to the international organization and NGO-s, which fulfill the emergent needs of Kosova comers, were present in this fair.

About 80% of the companies participants in the fair complete the full framework of humanitarian aid.

According to the Minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade Ermelinda Meksi "the fair is on the interest of native businessmen, who make possibly to present the real offers in disposal of International Organizations".

"This fair will foster the further development of economic assistance programs and will support Albanian economy with technical assistance".

At the moment great quantities of humanitarian aid are coming in Albania. According to Minister Meksi many products of them can be produced in Albania.

This activity will be held at the National Center of Fairs and is open for three days in succession./a.gj/linda/

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[10] Shuli:" Operations at ferries terminal to be accelerated"

Minister Shuli observed from near the development of the operations at the new ferries terminal. The operations of this very important project of the infrastructure are performing by Italian company "Cosmar", financed by World Bank and European Bank for Investments.

Representatives of Italian company "Cosmar" said that the reason for the delay in the operations the lack of the project in detail, delays of the circulation of the work means and other technical problems./a.gj/linda/

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[11] "DEKA" covers 70% of market detergents

According to the Technical Director Xhafa, the strategy of DEKA Company, established as a commercial company to import and sell detergents, it changed into a productive company in 1995 by producing more than 20 kinds of detergents.

DEKA Company performs its activities mostly all over the country, by opening distributors and shops in 12 main towns.DEKA predicts to extend its activity even in textile and food industry within a short period of time.

At the moment a construction of a factory to produce sunflower oil and food for animals has started.They compile the plan-business of the company till 2002./a.gj/linda/

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[12] Meidani tours camp of Mjekes and Labino-Fushe in Elbasan

President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, accompanied by Kosovar academician Rexhep Qosja, Turkish and British ambassadors in Tirane, the chairman of the Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ylli Popa and writer Dritero Agolli, toured the camp set up by the Turkish state in Mjekes and that set up by the British state in Labinot-Fushe in Elbasan on Saturday.

Meidani first visited the camp of Mjekes, where the 4 800 Kosovars housed in this camp welcomed him chanting: "KLA, KLA".

Later he visited the unit where 160 Turkish soldiers have been accommodated, the hospital, summer kitchens as well as the tents which have been adapted to classrooms for the summer schools, to open on Monday. On the impressions book Meidani thanked Turkish President Demirel and the Turkish government for the contribution they have rendered.

Later, Meidani visited the British camp of Labinot-Fushe which houses 2 300 Kosova refugees.

After familiarising himself with the performance of the British government to create suitable conditions for the Kosovars in this camp, Meidani stressed that "We should carefully look to the realisation of the five points established by NATO. Although something has begun moving, nothing should be believed until action is suited to the word. We will continue to support NATO until Milosevic fully surrenders and withdraws his forces from Kosova, accepts access of the NATO troops there and ensures the return of the Kosovars through the NATO forces."

"The great downfall of Milosevic began when the first bombardments started in Kosova. I believe hope comes from the Kosova people, their children, who are the future of the country". /dast/lm/

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[13] Albanian government denounces the terrorist act against Shkoder Prefect

TIRANE, June 5 (ATA) - By Ylli Pata: Albanian government denounced severely on Saturday the terrorist act against the Perfect of Shkoder, Puke and Malesi e Madhe, Jetmir Shpuza, in whose dwelling place some unidentified persons put a considerable amount of TNT.

Albanian Information Minister, Musa Ulqini, told ATA in the name of the government that:

"Albanian government denounces this act which tries to torn the image Albania is trying to unfold to the world, and I hope that the authors of this terrorist crime, which wants to demotivate the attempts of all people who are contributing to create the new image for Albanian, will be put before justice".

A considerable amount of TNT was put in the apartment of Jetmir Shpuza at 1 o'clock at midnight. No casualties were caused as a result of this incident, but the house of Shpuza and his neighbor was completely ruined. /lh/A.A/

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[14] Serb military campaign in Kosova continues -News conference of Minister of Information-

"The Serb army and the paramilitary forces are launching an unprecedented military campaign in Kosova", Minister of Information Musa Ulqini told a news conference on Saturday.

Further on, he presented the latest situation, based on official data of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Public Order and other official sources.

"Beginning from 09.00 yesterday and on, the whole territory of Kosova has been pounded with heavy artillery and surface-to-surface missiles. These bombardments are very heavy, especially in the operative areas where the KLA units are acting," said Ulqini.

He said that the Serb military forces are also using artillery bombs with poison-gas (LHL) never used in this fighting before.

"LHL is immediately affecting the civilian population and the KLA military formations in the front. Its main effects are eye blackening, loss of sight, mental disorders, loss of equilibrium," added Ulqini.

Ulqini said that the main points from which come the Serb heavy artillery shells and poison-gas are the concentrations paints in the villages of Zborec, Kameron as well as other spots where the Serb artillery has been deployed in the Kosova territory. Rafshi i Dukagjinit is the largest area where bombardment with heavy artillery, missiles and LHL is being used.

Ulqini stated the stand of the Albanian government which condemns the massacre that Milosevic's army is continuing in Kosova and asks that NATO continues bombardments on the former Yugoslavia until NATO's five terms are met. /lh/lm/

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[15] Thirty Serb artillery shells land in Kishaj village

Situation along the state border in the region of Has continues to be tense.

Police sources report that 30 Serb artillery shells have fallen some hundreds of metres deep in Albanian territory near the Kishaj village.

The same sources stress that there have been no casualties or material damage as for more than one month the inhabitants of this village have left deep in the district.

The Serb artillery began shelling at around 10.00 today and continued for around 30 minutes and although halted, the situation remains tense.

The Golaj commune, Has district, has also been shelled, killing one and injuring three last night. /lh/lm/

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