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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-06-14

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

  • [01] Meidani meets with Foreign Minister of Swiss Confederation
  • [02] Kosovars begin returning to their lands
  • [03] Return of Kosovars to be organised
  • [04] Germany providing Albania with DM 230 million over last two years
  • [05] Kosovar refugees granted identity cards
  • [06] Most required video films in the past week in Tirane
  • [07] Stability and Association Agreement with EU to be signed in Spring 2000
  • [08] AFOR has not planned the ways of refugee return
  • [09] Trial for Sept.14 event put off, witnesses do not appear
  • [10] Desperate shooting in direction of Albanian border
  • [11] IMF to approve on Monday afternoon continuation of agreement ESAF- 2
  • [12] Balkan reconstruction replaces humanitarian emergency
  • [13] Expired food items to be blocked
  • [14] U.S. marines continue to leave Rinas for Macedonian territory
  • [15] Vlora:10 projects ready on infrastructure improvement
  • [16] Number of Kosovars wanting to go to Italy falls considerably
  • [17] AFOR commander General Reith will visit refugee camp in Hamallaj
  • [18] Albanian contribution to solution of conflict in Kosove
  • [19] Milosevic aims to cover up traces of crime in Kosova - Meidani
  • [20] About 500 000 Kosovars expected to return home in coming 3-4 months

  • [01] Meidani meets with Foreign Minister of Swiss Confederation

    TIRANE, June 14 (ATA)-President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Sunday met at a premise of Basel airport, Switzerland, with Foreign Minister of Swiss Confederation, Jozeff Deiss, at the latter's request, according to the President's Press and Information office.

    During the meeting, which was also attended by other members of the delegation accompanying Meidani in his visit to Germany, issues were treated which dealt with the deployment NATO troops in Kosova, Albanian- Swiss relations and other issues.

    Meidani stressed that any other force present in Kosova should be under NATO's unique command, respecting the five sectors defined by it for the five responsible states. Any other solution would discourage the return of the deportees which is the objective of the entire international community, said Meidani, whose opinions were shared by his interlocutor.

    Meidani appreciated the great aid provided by Switzerland so far and asked that the Swiss presence in the privatisation context in Albania increases.

    Deiss familiarised Meidani with Switzerland's latest decision to increase financing in Albania from 50 million Swiss francs to 100 million, with the intention to increase it further.

    The two also pointed to the need of unifying the Kosovar factor in general and Meidani stressed that this unity is very significant.

    On Sunday afternoon Meidani arrived in Bonn and today is meeting senior German authorities. /led/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [02] Kosovars begin returning to their lands

    KUKES, June 14 (ATA)- By R. Hoxha, Tens of Kosovars, settled in Kukes, on Sunday, crossed the border to the mountains to go home, not taking into account the risks.

    "The impatients" were mainly inhabitants of the villages of Prizren and Opoje communes.

    One of them, Kapllan Fetahu said: "I want to see whether my house does still exist to take my family there as soon as possible".

    On Sunday thousands of Kukes inhabitants and Kosova refugees waited for hours to welcome the NATO forces' German contingent. At around 15.00, the 1 200-strong German contingent and 260 vehicles crossed the Morine border point and moved towards Prizren.

    A KLA source stresses that a chaotic movement of the people will be prevented in the future while their movement in mountains is impossible to be checked although it is very risky. /led/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [03] Return of Kosovars to be organised

    KUKES, June 14 (ATA)-By R. Hoxha, All efforts will be made to prevent Kosovars' unorganised return to their land as it is very risky.

    Confirming this fact, the spokesman of the prefecture, Emri Peca, said that all Kosovars have been called upon not to leave Kukes town or the homes they have been accomodated in, as their departure will be carried out in an organised way and in close cooperation with the UNHCR and NATO.

    Their movement will be contingent upon the signals and guarantees to be offered by NATO's peacekeepers, deployed in Kosova," said Peca.

    On Sunday many Kosovars, settled in Kukes, crossed the border point of Morine and others through mountains to see their houses. /led/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [04] Germany providing Albania with DM 230 million over last two years

    TIRANE, June 14 (ATA)-By U. Bajrami, The aid that Germany has provided to Albania over the last two years amounts to DM 230 million, the German embassy in Tirane told ATA.

    Some DM 70 million have been donated by the German Red Cross, DM 54 million by the humanitarian association "Cap Anamur", DM 40 million by the German Caritas, DM 10 million by the "Diakonie" association and DM 15 million by UNICEF.

    The German government, the embassy says, considers as urgent measures the setting up of temporary shelters and medical care for the Kosovars who have come to Albania and Macedonia.

    Other important aims remain the creation of conditions for the return of the Kosovars and humanitarian aid for those who have remained in Kosova. /led/ms/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [05] Kosovar refugees granted identity cards

    TIRANE, June 14 (ATA)-By A. Gjakova, The implementation of the pilot project for enrolling and providing the Kosovar refugees, currently in Albania, with identity cards started on Monday.

    The Parliamentary Refugee Commission reports that the process of providing the Kosovars with identity cards, which will also serve as passports, began at the "Don Bosko" refugee centre on Monday.

    Later this process will be extended to all the districts where Kosova refugees have been accommodated.

    This project, financed by UNHCR, worth US$ five million, will last for around two months. When the whole process is over and conditions are created, the refugees will return home in a organised way.

    The identity cards are recognised by all the international organisations such and the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other organisations.

    Some of the Kosovar refugees have refused to receive again the Yugoslav citizenship, the head of the refugee office in Tirane, Enton Lite, told ATA. /led/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [06] Most required video films in the past week in Tirane

    TIRANE, 7 June (ata) - By Ornela Kadaifçiu: The videos of the most wanted films in the video shops of Tirane during the past week have been as follows:

    1- Obsession

    2- Armagedon

    3- La vita e bella

    4- Ronin

    5- The Patriot

    1. In the centre of the film "Obsession" is the social topic. The family relations in a house where there is only one woman make the main line of the film.

    Famous actors of world cinematography Jessica Lange, Gwyneth Paltrow and Johatan Scach are characters in the film "Obsession," a production of the cinematographic company "Columbia Tristar."

    2. "Armagedon" production of the TouchStone Pictures is one of the newest films with actors Bruce Willis, Lize Tyler, Billy Ben, etc.

    It is an action film, which in its 151 minutes tells of the life of a city 18 days before its complete destruction.

    3. "La vita e bella" a production of the "Checci Gori" continues to be in th third place of the classification.

    4. "Ronin" as a thriller directed by John Frankenheiner. The film, produced by Paramount Pictures, is interpreted by the Hollywood actors like Roberto De Niro, Jonathan Ryce, Natasha MC Elkone.

    5. The film "The Patriots" with the famous actor Steven Seagel dwells on the patriotism of a U.S. doctor who puts his life at stake to fight a mortal epidemic. /led/na/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [07] Stability and Association Agreement with EU to be signed in Spring 2000

    TIRANE, June 14 (ATA)-By A. Gjakova, The first talks on signing a Stability and Association Deal with the European Union (EU) will be conducted in Albania in Autumn while the Stability and Association Agreement with the EU may be signed in the Spring of 2000, Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told ATA.

    The beginning of talks, stressed Milo, makes up a step forward in the membership with the EU, but it will take a long time before Albania becomes member of this organisation.

    "The EU, giving the green light for signing the Stability and Association Agreement, in the case of Albania, has considered the political aspect, the contribution it has rendered and is rendering in resolving the conflict, in the stability and security in the region. This step is taken in the general context of the European politics for the region's integration into the EU", said Milo. /led/lm/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [08] AFOR has not planned the ways of refugee return

    TIRANE, June 14 (ATA( - By Enkelejda Koraqi: AFOR, which is a humanitarian organization operating since two months ago in Albania, has not drafted yet a plan on the return of refugees.

    We are working for drafting of a work project on their return, but no official projects is issued so far, Colonel François Chauvancy, authorized by the press department close to AFOR structures, told ATA on Monday.

    Chauvancy said that there are many possibilities to make NATO support UNCHR plan on return of Kosove refugees, but he explained that in the meantime AFOR continues to set up the camps it begun to build, because their construction will help quiet a lot the refugees for as long as they stay stay in Albania.

    Asked about the cooperation of AFOR with the peace-keeping force of KFOR, Chauvancy said that this cooperation exists, but not in the military aspect.

    Participating in the contingent of 7000 forces of NATO humanitarian mission, are 19 NATO member countries, and eight countries from the Peace Partnership. /pas/A.A/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [09] Trial for Sept.14 event put off, witnesses do not appear

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - By Karolina Risto: The trial session for 13 nationals under the charge of participating in the armed uprising on Sept.14, 1998, was postponed on Monday for June 18, 1998, because the witnesses did not appear in the courtroom.

    Ekerem Spahia, Antoneta Malja, Frrok Gjini, Shemsi Premçi, Alfons Zeneli, Ilir Zhilla, Sali Shehu, Edmond Ymeraj, Syl Lusha, Agron Kosumi, Luan Kamberi, Dritan Zhgjeçi and Elvis Kamberi are the defendants in the case accused of being active participants in the violence used against state institutions in Tirane on September 14, 1998.

    In the list with the names of 500 witnesses was also the former Public Order Minister, Perikli Teta, who did not appear in the court as well.

    In today's session, the jury directed by Sokol Pasha accepted the request of the prosecutors of the case, namely Ylli Bedalli and Nasip Naco, "to bring the witnesses to court through force."

    The first judicial session for the 13 nationals started on May 16, 1999. Eight of the defendants are being judged under arrest while the rest are being tried while being free.

    The prosecutors are defending the version that "the penal act carried out by the defendants presents a high social danger." /led/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [10] Desperate shooting in direction of Albanian border

    HAS, June 14 (ata) - By Riza Hoxha: After nearly three months, now the situation on the border in northeastern Albania may be considered calm. However, sporadic shooting has also been heard towards the border.

    Shooting of automatic rifles was heard overnight for several minutes in the direction of the Albanian border in the zone of Letaj and Vlatan, Has district, police sources of the district reports.

    No casualties are reported while residents of those villages are returning to their homes.

    At 10 a.m. the village Borje was hit by fire weapons while last Saturday afternoon, there was heard shooting in the direction of a group of children who were looking after the sheep in a zone near the border in village Orgjos, Kukes district.

    According to police sources, smoke was seen in villages off the Albanian border and people said that the smoke was coming out of the homes set ablaze by the retreating Serb army. /dast/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [11] IMF to approve on Monday afternoon continuation of agreement ESAF- 2

    Tirana, June 14, (ATA) - By D.Koça - Executive Board of International Monetary Fund is going to approve today afternoon, in Washington, the program for the second half of 1999.

    According to the sources of Ministry of Finances, this program has to do with the continuation of the agreement ESAF-2, assigned between the Albanian Government and International Monetary Fund, through the "Letter of Intent", for the second half of the 1999 till March 2000.

    The agreement, which is assigned on principles on March 22,1999 by the both part, will be approved finally today through an international financial organization.

    The assigning of this agreement was due to the achievements of the Albanian Government. Thus, the economic increase in 1998, after the crisis of 1987, marked the value of 8%. Inflation value in December has been under the limit of 10% and continued to fall during the first months of 1999.

    Meanwhile, the Albanian Government is trying to fulfill the main macroeconomics targets for 1999, which are assigned in the agreement ESAF-2 with IMF, such as the increase of GDP by 8% and keeping of the inflation under 7%./lh/linda/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [12] Balkan reconstruction replaces humanitarian emergency

    Tirana, June 14 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj- The end of the Kosova war is expected to "transfer" the attention of the international finances institutions from the facing of the humanitarian emergency to the reconstruction and economic development of Balkan countries.

    The first calculation on the values to be spent on Kosova reconstruction and in other countries of the region, affected by the conflict, has started already.

    In this group the most effect country from the war, which needs great finance is Albania. According to the first calculations the cost of the Kosova reconstruction will be at least 3 billion dollars, while IMF reckoned that the other Balkan countries will need only in 1999 some 1,2-2, 2 billion dollars finances.

    Meanwhile, according to the European officials the total sum on Balkan reconstruction might reach to 20 billion dollars./dast/linda/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [13] Expired food items to be blocked

    Tirana, June 14 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka- The inspectors of food control in many Albanian districts performed a number of controls and blocked expired food items.

    According to the sources of Control Directorate nearly 1,8 ton milk powder, 163 kg food for children, 295 kg beans, 135 kg meat cans are blocked.

    In some cases NGO-s, which manage the camps where the Kosova Albanians are accommodated, are supplied by domestic producers, who were not licensed and as a result the products lack their security, such as the sicurity of bread, soft drinks, etc. For this thing the Municipalities are asked to cancel the production contracts.

    Among others the inspectors find out that the bread in some cases lack the normal weight and in Kavaja, Kurbin, Lushnja towns are blocked respectively 8 ton, 2,6 ton, 10 ton wheat flour./linda/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [14] U.S. marines continue to leave Rinas for Macedonian territory

    - The force that will remain in Albania will be efficient - spokesman

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - By Besnik Meta: The U.S. troops of the Task Force Hawk contingent, installed in the military airfield of Rinas, have continued also today to move towards the Macedonian territory, said on Monday the spokesman of Task Force Hawk-Public Affair spokesman, Captain Worges.

    He stressed that the number of the soldiers that left today for Macedonia was smaller than that of some days ago.

    Referring to the number of the US Contingent force, the Task Force Hawk which will stay in Albania, Captain Worges did not rule out an eventual arrival of new forces to Albania. The force that will remain in Albania will be considerable in number and efficient, he added.

    As has been reported, the Task Force Hawk has started the partial moving to Macedonia, from where they have left for the Kosova territory.

    According to Captain Worges, the location in Kosova of the U.S. peacekeeping contingent force, codnamed Hawk, is not yet determined. /lh/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [15] Vlora:10 projects ready on infrastructure improvement

    Vlora, June 14 (ata) - By Harilla Koci - Already 10 projects are ready, aiming at improving the infrastructure of Vlora town.

    The Council of Town Municipality approved, with accelerated procedure, these projects and on Monday they are sent to the central ministries, where they are going to take the final approval.

    According to the spokesman of the municipality the way to 1 million dollars is opened, already. This sum is accorded last week by the Council of Ministers for Vlora Municipality, beside the other Albanian towns.

    The projects aim mainly at the reconstruction of some of main streets of the town. /dast/linda/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [16] Number of Kosovars wanting to go to Italy falls considerably

    VLORE, June 14 (ata) - By H Koci: The number of Kosova deportees wanting to cross to Italian coast through speedboats or ferry boats has fallen considerably lately due to the strict measures that local police have adopted to prevent men-smuggling to that country.

    According to the spokesman of the Police Department of the Prefecture of Vlore, the port in that city has been blocked for several days by special police forces, implementing special orders by the Police Director, while in cooperation with Guardia di Finanza forces the entire coastal zones is being patrolled.

    The trafficking of Kosovars towards Italy intensified considerably in the past few weeks. Hundreds of Kosova deported people left every day for the other side of the sea through speedboats and ferryboats. This men- smuggling has been operating through a special network of people a good part of which has been caught by police. /dast/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [17] AFOR commander General Reith will visit refugee camp in Hamallaj

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - By U Bajrami: AFOR commander General John Reith will visit Wednesday the Kosova refugee camp in Hamallaj, Durres district.

    The press and information centre of NATO forces, AFOR, told ATA that General Reith will be accompanied over this visit by the Albanian Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga, Public Order and Transportation Minister Ingrid Shuli and the President's adviser on Defence affairs, Sabit Brokaj.

    The aim of the visit of General Reith is to meet with refugees and discuss with them NATO plans for their repatriation in Kosove.

    Over the visit to the camp, they will also go to see the field hospital and the school of the camp and will meet with local authorities. /dast/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [18] Albanian contribution to solution of conflict in Kosove

    - activities of President Meidani in Friedrich Ebert German foundation headquarters -

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - Following the meeting with the Defence Minister of FRG, Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, who is on an official visit to Germany, had some activities in the headquarters of the German foundation, Friedrich Ebert.

    According to the President's press and information office, after a meeting with some of the foundation leaders, President Meidani read a paper on the topic "Conflict in Kosova and perspective; Albanian contribution."

    Both in the paper and in the meeting later with reporters, President Meidani focused on the role of various countries in the epoch of globalism, the Albanian contribution to coping with the influx of Kosova deportees, the mature stance of Albania in front of the Yugoslav provocations during the conflict in Kosova, the KLA role in favour of peace in Kosova and its transformation into a political force and local police, etc. /lh/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [19] Milosevic aims to cover up traces of crime in Kosova - Meidani

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - The perspective of the return of Kosova deportees to their homes, the political, economic and institutional recovery of Kosova and its perspective were in the focus of a meeting that Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, accompanied by deputy Parliament Speaker Namik Dokle, the State Secretary, Maqo Lakrori and the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, Sabri Godo had in the headquarters of the German Bundestag, with its Chairman, Eolfgang Thierse.

    President Meidani expressed his condolences for the German reporters killed in Kosova recently and considered the incidents as the last act of the game of Milosevic, who aims not only to cover up the traces of crime in Kosova but also to delay the repatriation of the deportees.

    The Chairman of the German Bundestag, Mr Thierse, said that all German political forces, except one, agree with the considerations on Milosevic. "We highlight the solidarity and maturity of the Albanians during the crisis," he said.

    Referring to the KLA, President Meidani said he was convinced that it will observe the international agreements.

    Further on, President Meidani explained the perspective of Kosova and the region in the light of the European integrations, far from the old Balkan federal schemes, which have longsince been proved abortive.

    The Albanian deputy Parliament Speaker, Namik Dokle, thanked the Bundestag Chairman on the important decisions it has adopted in favour of the resolution of the Kosova crisis. /lh/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [20] About 500 000 Kosovars expected to return home in coming 3-4 months

    TIRANE, June 14 (ata) - By G Dilaveri: Nearly 500 000 Kosova refugees of war are expected to return to their homes within the coming 3-4 months, says a report published last Sunday by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tirane.

    UNHCR plans that in the coming three weeks, if a secure environment is guaranteed, a great number of people will start to return to their homes.

    UNHCR will attach a special attention also to other ethnic groups living in Kosova, including the remaining Serbs, the report points out. UNHCR holds that the rights of the Serb civilians in Kosova to stay in the regions of their homes must be guaranteed, and the return of Kosovars must continue. /dast/xh/

    D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:


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


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