Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 96-12-03

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN GOVERNNMENT INVALIDATES DECISIONS OF SPORT SECRETARIAT

[02] YUGOSLAV SELF-EMBARGO IN ALBANIA-MONTENEGRO RAILWAY CONTINUES

[03] NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BAD WEATHER IN ALBANIA

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS OSCE THIRD SUMMIT IN LISBON

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[01] ALBANIAN GOVERNNMENT INVALIDATES DECISIONS OF SPORT SECRETARIAT

"I do not consider this a victory of mine but the one who wins is the Albanian football, the Albanian sport," said the rehabilitated chairman of the AFF, Eduart Dervishi.

Dervishi was suspended from his post upon an order by the Sport Secretariat.

Albanian Government asked "government experts and those of the federations to discuss the preparation of legislation on sport and the statutes of the respective federations on sound legal basis."

"Important is that the government attached importance to the sport and the laws on it in order to create an harmonization between our legislation and the foreign legislation," said Marjeta Pronjari, State Secretary for sport.

The differences with the Albanian football presidency due to the suspensions and a decision of FIFA had put the coming World Cup qualifying match of Albania versus North Ireland, planned for December 14 in Belfast in jeopardy. kei/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] YUGOSLAV SELF-EMBARGO IN ALBANIA-MONTENEGRO RAILWAY CONTINUES

The Albania-Montenegro railway is still at a standstill despite the end of the embargo on former Yugoslavia.

"Bajza, the remotest station in the northern area, which four years ago served as a junction of Albania with the other countries, based on talks between the Albanian and Yugoslav representatives, should have been made active since last November," says the director of this station, Vlash Linadi.

The Albanians have met the conditions set in talks while the Yugoslavs have not yet done anything in this direction.

"We have carried out a series of works for the maintenance of the border railway track and station of Bajza and are ready to start moving," Linadi said.

The non functioning of the railway has especially harmed the private firms from the districts of Shkoder, Malesi e Madhe and Lezha, which have suspended their trade activity because of this. s.sh/kei/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BAD WEATHER IN ALBANIA

The flooding of River Drino has covered with water some wheat planted fields, and prevented the sowing in 120 hectares.

On November 29, the lighting during the storm set on fire a three- storied home. But the damage was small thanks to a rapid action of the fire engines. jz/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS OSCE THIRD SUMMIT IN LISBON

The plenary sitting of the summit began Monday before noon. President Berisha shook hands with U.S. vice-president Al Gore and German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel.

The first meeting of the Albanian President was that with Greek Prime Minister Simitis. They discussed bilateral relations, cooperation in various economic fields, especially infrastructure.

The Greek Premier pledged all round backing in all fields and in the solution of the problems of the Albanians in Greece.

Berisha, who met with the Greek Premier for the first time, expressed delight at the very good Albanian-Greek relations. He thanked the Greek friend for the Greek aid in various fields and expressed himself in favour of the further intensification of the Greek-Albanian ties.

Berisha met on Monday afternoon with the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov. They discussed new steps to be taken in the development of the friendly relations between the two countries. Berisha insisted on the indispensability of legalising the Tetova University which will directly serve the relations between the Albanians and Macedonians.

Berisha met with Czech Prime Minister Klaus, Romanian President Constantinescu and German chancellor Kohl.

In the afternoon Berisha greeted the Lisbon summit. Addressing the participants he said that: "Many things have occurred since our first meeting in Budapest, many of which are fruit of the good performance of the OSCE".

Two weeks ago Albania marked the fifth anniversary of its admission as a full member of the OSCE, which is linked with the time of its engagement in the road of democracy.

"After a very painful past, whose inheritance is not easy to eliminate as soon as we would wish, the Albanians and Albania finally chose their own road".

"With a large scale consensus in '92 which was repeated in May '96 and which was reconfirmed in October '96, the Albanians decided that the country marched resolutely on the road of democracy and market economy," Berisha said further on.

Berisha familiarised the world leaders present in the summit with the four booming years in Albania. Radical changes have taken place in the Albanian legislation at present. The application of the laws after the European model do not allow constitutional vacuum.

Actually in Albania the economic indices are with two figures, welfare is being promoted, the political pluralism, the right of speech and press, market economy, privatisation, and European integration are priorities of the new Albanian policy," Berisha said.

"Albania has unshakable respect for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Berisha said.

He confirmed to those present that due to the fruitful cooperation of Albania with OSCE, concretely with commissioner Van Der Stoel the conclusion that Albania has accomplished the OSCE criteria on the minorities has been reached and since that time, said President Berisha, other very important steps have been made on the law on private education.

Then, Albanian president focused on one of the most important documents, that on a pattern of security for the 21th century, presented for adoption in the Summit.

"Albania, said Berisha, holds that the pattern of security cannot be successful if it creates, even unintentionally, artificial barriers for the process of integration into Europe and does not respond to the worries of every participating state and of all our states together."

"We think that the common security of our countries increases and is accelerated after the EU and NATO extension is accelerated."

On this basis, Albania's progress is considered the priority direction of the Albanian policy. For Berisha, the pattern of security of the 21th century should solve with priority the challenges caused by unstable zones. Here Berisha described the situation in the Balkans as one of the most troubled. The Dayton Accord, said Berisha, was a great contribution although it did not include the solution to the Balkan crisis in general. The accord put an end to the domination of the war and the idea of a Great Serbia, said Berisha.

"Nevertheless," said Albanian President, "peace in Bosnia and throughout the Balkan region is in a big crossroad because first of all, the people cannot return to the houses from which they have been barbarously expelled and secondly, because peace in the Balkans is jeopardized and is in a crossroad not only for the question of Bosnia.

At the end of his speech, Berisha focused on the Kosova question. "It is indispensable that Kosova be given a great attention and an important place in all the developments and initiatives," he said.

The 2 million Albanians are the last inhabitants of this continent that are experiencing violence, oppression and police regime.

"With their peaceful approach, they have made an undeniable contribution to the elimination of the conflict in the southern Balkans and broader. Berisha said that "their situation is a powerful appeal, a sharp alarm for the international community, the big countries, the neighbouring countries and for various international institutions, for a serious commitment and in time to the prevention of the conflict and the correct solution to the Kosova issue."

The question of Kosova was also treated by many speakers in the Summit of Lisbon.

President Berisha continued bilateral meetings with CE President, with the prime ministers of Belgium and Croatia, as well as with the Austrian chancellor, yesterday afternoon.

Today, besides the plenary session of the summit, the president will have other bilateral meetings.kled/lm/xh/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit today carries an editorial "Scandals of the government or government officials in scandals." The paper writes about a meeting of the SP Leading Committee of Tirana under the title "SP task is to create credibility in the people." ZP also writes that "Socialists in face of Berisha's tricks."

Republika today has an editorial "Albanian Right League could not survive." On economic questions, the paper carries an article Populli (people) Foundation gives guarantee of the usury until 2001.

Lajmi i Dites writes about the Summit on the European security.

Rilindja also writes about the meeting of the chairman of President Rugova with deputy foreign minister of Norway, entitled "Kosova has the right for self-determination." The newspaper carries an article "The return home of the refugees (Kosova) is not a loss."

Albania covers President Berisha's activities in the Lisbon summit entitled:"There is no certainty in a divided Europe". The paper also carries an exclusive interview with Sude, president of the usuries' firm under the title: "All will receive their money but without returns.

Koha Jone says in its editorial that the mystery of usuries increases. The paper carries the article entitled: "Albanian president continues fight with ODIHR in the Lisbon summit". The paper carries the article:"Capital punishment will continue to exist until 2000".

Dita Informacion carries an interview with P. Majko, member of the SP presidency entitled: "Cooling with the U.S. endangers the future of the foreign policy".

Gazeta Shqiptare carries the editorial entitled: "Property of politicians under investigation".

"Sindikalisti carries the editorial :"The Hajdari issue, long and boring". jz/xh/lm/sh/

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

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