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Albanian Times, April 10, 1996
CONTENTS
[1] EU Welcomes Normalisation between FRY and Its Former Republic
[2] Albanian Food Exports Target EU Countries
[3] Serreqi:Kosova is Top Priority of Albanian Politics
[1] EU Welcomes Normalisation between FRY and Its Former Republic
ROME, April 9 - The European Union welcomed Monday's mutual recognition
between Yugoslavia and its former republic of Macedonia, viewing it as a
step towards their recognition by the EU Member States. A statement by
Italy, the EU president, said ``This development...opens the way to
recognition by the member states...of the federal republic of Yugoslavia as
one of the successor states to the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia,'' ``The European Union will welcome further steps by the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia leading the country to the full normalisation of its
relations with the international community,'' the statement added. The
Presidency statement went on to list the conditions FRY must meet for full
normalization including the end of all conflicts and resolution all disputes
remaining among the former Yugoslav republics and their mutual recognition
and the establishment of diplomatic relations. The steps included granting
of a large degree of autonomy for Kosova within the former republic of
Yugoslavia. In a report from Prishtina, Albanian state radio commented that
the mutual recognition "damages the interests of the Albanians in the former
Yugoslavia and aims at hindering the process towards the independence of
Kosova." (Albanian Times)
[2] Albanian Food Exports Target EU Countries
TIRANA, April 9 - More than 80 percent of Albania's food exports go to EU
countries, mostly to Italy, according to a report by ATA. Agricultural
exports mainly consist of fish, cheese, tomatoes, water melons, onions, tea
and mushrooms. About 60 percent of food industry is in private hands and an
estimated 20 percent is under privatisation. Demand to improve packaging,
bottling and other processing technologies to comply with EU standards is
increasing. Officials say privatisation is opening new ways of cooperation
with foreign investors which is also being facilitated by a favorable
legislation. Private farmers who establish some kind of cooperation with
foreign investors are exempted from taxes during the first few years of
their joint activity. (Albanian Times)
[3] Serreqi:Kosova is Top Priority of Albanian Politics
TIRANA, April 9 - Albanian foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi said integration
of rump Yugoslavia in the international community without solving the Kosova
issue would be a big mistake. In talks with Leni Fischer, President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council, Serreqi said Kosova issue
remains a top priority of Albanian politics. Serreqi insisted in
establishing a third party mediated dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade,
as a precondition for a long-term peace in the region. (Albanian Times)
The material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & Consulting
International. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, please
Copyright (c) ATCI, 1996
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