Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-07-31

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CONTENTS

[01] One killed and two injured in police helicopter crash

[02] U.S. President Clinton to visit Tirane

[03] North Atlantic Council decides continuation of NATO presence in Albania

[04] EBRD ready to open new bank in Albania

[05] Office of U.S. Military Coordination Team reopens

[06] Assembly's first legislative session closes

[07] PM Blair in Prishtine

[08] Greek Defence Minister meets with Albanian authorities

[09] Press Review

[10] Some 750 patients hospitalized in Italian military hospital in Durres

[11] Milo says Albanian immigrants should not be maltreated and violated

[12] NATO presence in Balkan should be long-termed; Defence Minister

[13] Albanian delegation persisted on inclusion of Kosove in Stability Pact Communique

[14] Majko says Albanian-Greek military cooperation - in a stable phase

[15] There can be no safe Europe without a stable and safe Balkans - Meidani

[16] Italy again privileged in commercial exchanges with Albania

[17] Projects of Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Albania

[18] Albanian emigrants have not been violated - Tsohatzopoulos

[19] EU must start with concrete projects - Tsohatzopoulos

[20] New policies of emigration of Greek government will put an end to problems with refugees - Greek Minister

[01] One killed and two injured in police helicopter crash

"The police have been in pursuit of a gang of looters, but as they had entered a terrain impossible for the police vehicles to have access to, an helicopter was called for aid which crashed for yet unknown reasons," Minister of Public order Spartak Poci, told the press. /led/lm/

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[02] U.S. President Clinton to visit Tirane

At his meeting with Clinton, Majko expressed the readiness of the Albanian government to meet its commitments in the context of the Stability Pact, for the country's full integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, and expressed the profound gratitude of the Albanian government and people for the U.S.role and efforts in resolving the Kosova conflict.

Clinton, after expressing the U.S. profound gratitude for what he considered a special role of Albania in coping with the crisis and its contribution to the crisis resolution, underlined the utmost support the U.S. is providing for Albania not only as regards bilateral relations but also in the context of the Stability Pact. /led/lm/

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[03] North Atlantic Council decides continuation of NATO presence in Albania

Musa Ulqioni, Albanian Minister for Information, said that "this decision, which came as a response to the Albanian government's persistent demand, is a great guarantee for Albania's security and a step forward towards integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures".

NATO's constant presence in the region, as a fundamental element of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe and regional security, has also been one of the demands set forward in Sarajevo by the Albanian delegation. /led/lm/

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[04] EBRD ready to open new bank in Albania

They spoke of a close cooperation between Albania and EBRD and the contribution the latter can provide for the financial system in Albania, in the framework of the Pact of Stability.

Frank expressed EBRD's readiness to open a new bank in Albania and help implement the energy projects in the regional system. /led/lm/

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[05] Office of U.S. Military Coordination Team reopens

Speaking on behalf of General Clark, Wax said that "the U.S. team is here to help the Albanian army".

Referring to Albania's role during the conflict in Kosova, he said that "you have worked as if you were a NATO member".

Handing over the emblem with the signs of four kinds of U.S. army forces was the symbol of the return of the U.S. Military Coordination Office team.

At the end, General Wax also introduced the team of this office, headed by the newly-promoted chief, Colonel Christopher Ellis.

The office of the U.S. Military Coordination Office in Tirane was closed in August 1998. /led/lm/

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[06] Assembly's first legislative session closes

The postponement for the next legislative session of this important draft-law was requested by the group of democrat deputies, who presented reservations regarding the investigation position of the deputy while lifting his immunity, mandate.

The deputies, by a majority of votes, considering the remarks made by the commissions, approved the draft-laws "On irrigation and drainage" and "On ratifying the agreement between the Government of Albania and the U.N. World Food Programme".

The assembly will resume proceedings on September 6. /led/lm/

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[07] PM Blair in Prishtine

At the U.N mission Blair held talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and later with LDK chairman Ibrahim Rugova. Blair is also expected to speak before the citizens, who have gathered in front of the KFOR press conference since earlier in the morning.

Blair arrived in Kosova last night from Sarajevo, where he attended the Balkan Summit. He met and held talks with KFOR Lieutenant-General Mike Jackson of Britain and with the United Nations top administrator Bernard Kouchner of France and later left for Skopje. Today he arrived in Prishtine for talks. /led/lm/

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[08] Greek Defence Minister meets with Albanian authorities

Greek Minister of Defence Akis Xohaxopullos arrived in Tirane today and is holding separate meetings with Albanian senior officials.

First he met with his Albanian counterpart Luan Hajdaraga and later with Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

He also met with Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and now is at a meeting with Albanian President Rexhep Meidani at the presidency seat.

The meetings were held behind closed doors and no details have so far been available on the content of the talks.

After a break, Xohaxopoulos will meet with Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church Ianoulatos and will visit the Greek contingent in Yzberisht.

Xohaxopoulos will leave Albania on Sunday. /dast/lm/

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[09] Press Review

"GAZETA SHQIPTARE", independent daily, -"Bari, next Balkan station". The Summit of Sarajevo wound up proceedings. -"Helicopter's technical failure kills policeman". The helicopter with 6 policemen on board crashed yesterday while tracking down a gang of looters.

"SHEKULLI", independent daily. -"NATO decides to stay". The decision came into force at 18.00 p.m, while the number of soldiers has not been defined yet. -"Alliance guarantees security in the Balkans". Albanian delegation continued yesterday, during Sarajevo Summit, meetings to present priorities on different fields. -"Burrel's operation. Second stage of arrests under way". Tirana mobile forces keep public order in Mat under control.

"ALBANIA", independent daily. -"Poci:We will free Tropoja". -"Police helicopter crashes". -"Sarajevo summit over: Change yourself".

"EKONOMIA", daily of Albanian Agency of Economic Development. -"World signs Balkans' future". -"Copper: The first agreement with Americans signed". -"EU- New trade regime with Albania adopted".

"ZERI I POPULLIT", daily of Albanian Socialist Party. -"USA: Total support to Albania". -"Helicopter crashes, looters escape". -"Five other killers arrested". Operation in Burrel under way.

"RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE", daily of Albanian Democratic Party. -"Poci: North under gangs' control". -"Well-understanding Pact instead of exclusion".

"REPUBLIKA", daily of Albanian Republic Party. -"Topalli: We will review Constitution". -"Ndroq battle - a failure or Police bad luck? ". /so/lm/A.A/

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[10] Some 750 patients hospitalized in Italian military hospital in Durres

The director of this hospital, Pitro Maria Todaro, told ATA that this hospital delivered its assistance even to Durres patents who inhabit in the suborn of the city and this contingent is 15% of the total people being treated by the medical staff of this hospital.

According to Todaro, the number of different health services carried out so far is estimated at 10 700.

After the repatriation of Kosovars to their soils, the number of visits has reduced a lot. /dast/A.A/

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[11] Milo says Albanian immigrants should not be maltreated and violated

The press release of press and information directory close to the Albanian Foreign Ministry quoted Minister Milo as saying that each created situation which can affect the bilateral relations should be passed with a special treatment.

Referring to immigration to Greece, Greek Minister of Defence told Milo that "the activity of foreign immigration in Greece will be decided on the bases of a new law which will be issued in accordance with the agreement of Schengen regime, and with the regional policies of cooperation".

Milo and Tsohatzopoulos held talks about the regional cooperation seen in the framework of Stability Pact and the strengthening of bilateral relations.

Greek Defence Minister expressed the readiness of his government in support of common regional projects in order to walk in rapid rhythms towards the integration road of other regional countries in the Euro- Atlantic structures. /dast/A.A/

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[12] NATO presence in Balkan should be long-termed; Defence Minister

We, said Hajdaraga, are now in the reconstruction phase of armed forces, and that is why a close cooperation with NATO and Greece is a necessity.

Hajdaraga hailed the work done by Greek troops in Albania and pointed out as important the strengthening of cooperation in the field of aviation, naval fleet, and especially the cooperation in the framework of the Multinational Peace-keeping brigade of Southeastern Europe.

As regard to the bilateral cooperation, Greek minister of Defence, Tsohatzopoulos, said that the Greek government will accord an aid worth 1.2 billion Drachmas. This aid is given for the reconstruction and modernization of Durres port. He promised as well an aid of six armoured vehicles for Albanian army and other programs according to the agreements signed by experts of both parts. /dast/A.A/

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[13] Albanian delegation persisted on inclusion of Kosove in Stability Pact Communique

Milo said that the draft of declaration discussed some months ago in Brussels by political leaders had undergone changes in its fourth paragraph. Monte Negro and Kosove were mentioned in the initial draft as countries to profit from the Stability Pact.

According to Milo, it was the intervention of Russian delegation a day before the summit which excluded Kosove from this paragraph.

"We insisted to include Kosove again in this paragraph", said Milo, who added that Albanian delegation held numerous meetings during the two days of the summit with different participating delegation in the Summit, including even a meeting with the Russian delegation.

The conjunction of Kosove in the fourth paragraph was adopted in principle on early Friday during a meeting where participating were chairmen of all delegations taking part in the Summit, except the Russian one. /dast/A.A/

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[14] Majko says Albanian-Greek military cooperation - in a stable phase

Majko confirmed his full commitment as regards the bilateral cooperation between the two defence ministries.

Referring to the immigrants' problem, Majko said that "It is hightime to put an end to the problems existing between us in this field. The tearing out of refugees' documents in the border does not serve to the cooperation climate asked to be orientated by the policies of both countries, and to the new space being created in the Balkans."

Greek Defence Minister shared the same opinion with Majko regarding the immigrants' concern and the way how they are treated in the borber.

"The climate which leaves space for thinking that we can not comunicate, such as the iligitimacy and wrong-understandings created created due to expulsions and illegal entrances, should not be demolished. The Greek governemnt is orienting a law on emigration, which in principle is a law for their legalization", said Greek Minister of Defence. /dast/A.A/

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[15] There can be no safe Europe without a stable and safe Balkans - Meidani

"There can be no safe Europe without a stable and safe Balkans," said President Meidani.

The Albanian Head of State and the Greek Defence Minister, the President's press and information office reports, highlighted the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and in that of the troops and assistance of NATO in Albania.

Meidani appreciated yesterday's meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Simitis in Sarajevo and his coming visit to Tirane as a possibility for a greater bilateral cooperation and to discuss cooperation in a broader regional context. In this positive spirit, he said, must also be treated the problem of emigrants, especially their legalization.

The Greek Minister of Defence shared the same opinions with Mr Meidani for a regional cooperation and the intensification of the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence. /dast/xh/

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[16] Italy again privileged in commercial exchanges with Albania

The total value of the goods' import from this country to Albania is some 5,8 billion lek, that is to say an increase of 25% compared with the value marked previous year.

Meanwhile, the Albanian exports toward Albania increase by 22,6%. The total value of the Albanian goods to be exported to Italy is 2,8 billion lek.

Greece is coming after Italy in the list of the commercial exchanges with Albania. The total value of the import of the Greek goods marked some 4 billion lek and they are almost constant compared with the ones of the previous month. The exports' value to Greece is some 729 million lek.

The characteristic of Albanian commercial exchange is that more than 55% of them are performed with countries of European Union. /linda/

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[17] Projects of Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Albania

As the President's press and Information office told ATA, during the meeting Mr Meidani also spoke of the aid that Kosova needs for the reconstruction of education and culture in which experienced specialists from Albania may be engaged.

In response to the interest of Mr Still, President Meidani demanded a greater commitment of the German Foundation in the extension of the communication between Albania and Kosova.

"There are specialists in different fields, especially in education and culture, who may be engaged in making their contribution to the rehabilitation of education in Kosova," said Meidani.

Mr Still expressed the commitment of the leading staff of the Foundation to intensify their activity in Albania and in Kosova and in particular to help increase communication and aid for Kosova in the field of civil society and education. /a.ke/xh/

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[18] Albanian emigrants have not been violated - Tsohatzopoulos

The Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo said to Mr Tsohatzopoulos that care must be made towards Albanian emigrants so that they be not maltreated, violated or have their papers torn.

The Greek Minister told reporters that Albanian Premier Pandeli Majko himself had conveyed to him the concern existing in the public opinion in Albania that prosecution of the Albanian emigrants in Greece was another purging operation.

"PM Majko," said Tsohatzopoulos, "told me he would fear to send his family to Greece taking into account what is happening there."

"My reply was that there is no racism, now differences between the two peoples," said the Greek Minister.

He told the reporters that the relations between Albania and Greece are those of good neighbourliness, peaceful existence and are supported by the majority of the peoples of the two countries.

"We must not make generalizations, which are then exaggerated by the media for sensational reasons."

The Greek Minister met on Saturday also with his Albanian counterpart Luan Hajdaraga.

After the end of the crisis in Kosova, it seemed that the 'very good' relations between Greece and Albania froze after the repatriation within a short time of thousands of Albanian emigrants living and working in Greece, who were found without the proper documents.

The Albanian Government protested to those flagrant cases of the violation of human rights, when among the returnees were also people maltreated or emigrants with regular papers but having them torn by Greek authorities.

Actually there are nearly half a million Albanians living and working in Greece. /pas/xh/

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[19] EU must start with concrete projects - Tsohatzopoulos

The Greek Defence Minister stated from Tirana that "EU must understand now that only through deeds it can prevent the risks for destabilization which have been noticed in many Balkan countries, risks which indirectly threaten the security and peace also in Europe."

Mr Tsohatzopoulos told the reporters during the break between his meetings in Tirane, that "now it is clear the objective for joint efforts by the European countries, as well as the U.S. to press ahead, on the basis of the decisions of Sarajevo, with plans and especially with concrete projects."

The Greek Defence Minister is on an official one-day visit in Tirana for talks with Albanian authorities in an effort to further consolidate the bilateral relations in the field of defence and in other fields.

Greece was one of the EU countries which adopted a restrained and critical approach towards the military intervention of the international community for the solution of the crisis in Kosova, and had been continuously demanding a political solution.

Asked whether Albania had voiced any concern that Thessaloniki would be the centre of coordination of the efforts of the international community for the reconstruction of Kosova and the Balkans, Mr Tsohatzopoulos replied "No", explaining that in a second phase, Prishtina too will be a centre of the efforts for the reconstruction and development of Kosova. /pas/xh/

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[20] New policies of emigration of Greek government will put an end to problems with refugees - Greek Minister

"A final solution must be found for this question and massive expulsion and maltreatment of Albanians by Greek police must be halted," Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo asked from the Greek Minister of Defence, Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Saturday.

The Greek Minister stated before reporters in Hotel Rogner that he had explained to Albanian authorities the new legal framework of the politics of emigration of the Greek Government which will pass to Parliament soon.

Mr Tsohatzopoulos, who is paying an official visit to Tirana, stated that "it is indispensable to create the legal conditions for a free movement of the citizens from the two countries, and to overcome the problems aroused recently with Albanian emigrants."

Mr Tsohatzopoulos said that the policy of emigration, which the government cabinet also discussed lately and which will appear with a number of new reforms and proposals, including here also the principles of laws on the Greek diaspora, will create clear conditions for the visits, stay, work permission or long stay for every foreigner in Greece."

"In the context of the new politics of emigration which the Greek Government is examining, a new registration is envisaged to start for foreign emigrants, parallel to the legalization of those who have long ago started this procedure," a Greek diplomatic source told ATA.

The Greek Minister met in the afternoon with the Arch Bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church Anastas Janullatos and with Greek soldiers deployed in Yzberisht, in Tirana suburbs. /pas/xh/

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