Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-12-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] SPECIAL POLICE SERVICE TO BLOCK LOOTED VEHICLES

[02] SPEEDBOAT CLANDESTINI - TYPICAL PHENOMENON OF VLORE

[03] AGREEMENT ON ALBANIAN-ITALIAN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SIGNED

[04] SHKODRA UNIVERSITY RECEIVES "GREAT MAN OF WORK" AWARD

[05] ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT AND PM MEET LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS OF SHKODER

[06] PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTION CONVENES

[07] ALBANIAN SPEAKER ASKS SCRUTINY OF FIGURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN

[08] PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IN LEZHE STARTS

[09] US DOLLAR STILL UPHOLDS HIGH QUOTAS

[10] HEAD OF CONSTITUTION COURT REJECTS SPEAKER'S STATEMENTS

[11] PRISON POLICE TO HAVE NEW COAT OF ARMS

[12] ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE COOPERATION INITIATIVE

[01] SPECIAL POLICE SERVICE TO BLOCK LOOTED VEHICLES

Police sources explain that they have information for some people who steal vehicles, and in many cases using riot police uniforms. Their names are not declared until investigation is over.

Tirane police are working to identify the bases where the stolen vehicles are accumulated and sold. In the centre of attention also are those who change the color of the looted vehicles, the same sources say. pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] SPEEDBOAT CLANDESTINI - TYPICAL PHENOMENON OF VLORE

VLORE, DEC.8 (ATA)- Smuggling of illegal emigrants to Italian shores has been a typical phenomenon of Vlore in the '90s. In a five-year period this phenomenon has assumed proportions which make it more complex. It involves a wide spectrum of social subjects and categories; real and anonymous names and characters, maybe also political segments.

It is true that the Vlore coast becames the epicenter of this traffic, but its threads largely stretch out of a single district.

What is the origin of illegal speedboat emigrants traffic?

Illegal speedboat emigrants trafficking dates back to the mass departures in the spring and summer of 1991. The thousands of Albanians who "occupied" the neighboring shores through most different and strange means, some of which also reminiscences of the primitiveness of navigation (such as rafts), dominated the world television screens.

This exodus later developed in secrecy and by somewhat more convenient means, such as fishing boats which exported fish to Italy. People were "exported" in the empty reservoirs as against a payment of up to 180 000 leks.

Curtain of speedboats era raised

The first boat entered the bay of the Vlore coast in December 1992. The boat, built for 15 people, was bought in Corfu by a boy from Vlore, J.... With an initial price of 150 000 leks for each clandestini, it became "detonator" of a phenomenon which began to expand at rapid rates. The big profit tempted many youths from Vlore to bring in speedboats, which they "utilized" immediately.

The spread of this phenomenon was accompanied by numerous sea tragedies, which claimed dozens of innocent lives dreaming of a better life.

October 1992 - November 1997; chronology of tragedies

The first sea tragedy took place in the Vlore bay in November 1992. A fishing boat, carrying 24 people, sank for reasons which are still an enigma. Only the captain survived the sinking and later fled the country. Investigations by the prosecutor's office did not throw light on the painful truth of this event which signaled the "start" of the sea tragedies.

On September 22, 1994, 11 Kurds and Albanians lost their lives when two speedboats collided with each other near the Italian waters.

Thirteen other people, Albanians from Albania and Kosova, died when a boat capsized in the neutral waters on September 13,1995.

Another tragedy occured on November 28, 1995. Eleven people on a speedboat were drowned in the neutral waters.

A rubber dinghy with 16 people disappeared on November 29, 1995. There is yet no news on them (Albanians from Albania and Kosova)

On November 30,1995, two captains of a dinghy which had set sail from Vlore were handed over dead in the Durres port by an American patrol boat.

The series of tragedies continued with that of January 12,1996. A speedboat sank in the Vlore bay in which two people were injured and a child died of cold.

Another big tragedy as regards the number of the drowned was recorded on March 14, 1996. A speedboat carrying 34 people, of whom 31 from Maqellare of Diber went missing.

On October 29,1996, two helmsmen of a speedboat drowned in the Vlore bay and on January 27,1997, eight people died and two others went missing in the sea.

March 28, 1997 recorded one of the biggest tragedy in the history of Albania. Some 84 people died, mainly women and children, following a collision of the Albanian vessel "Kater I Rades" with the Italian navy corvette Sibilla in the Otranto Channel.

November 21 of this year recorded the last sea catastrophe. Five people died and 17 others went missing from two dinghies which had set sail from the Golem beach.

Meanwhile, other tragic cases have been reported in which for various reasons speedboat helmsmen have thrown into the sea various people. In this way the figure of 229 victims keeps rising.

Crack-downs on illegal traffic

Initially the speedboat movements towards Italy appeared free. They set sail at night and often, when the sea was calm, they carried out more than one passage, dependent on the demand.

The only factor which became an "obstacle" during '93 was international community's embargo on former-Yugoslavia.

Leaving the Sazan on the left hand side and having an oil drilling platform as a point of reference, the captains aimed the ferry line, which was also the saving itinerary for them. Later this itinerary changed and they set sail from the coast between the Karaburun peninsula and the Sazan Island, until the secret spots of Karaburun became the only shelter and starting point for the boats crammed with clandestini.

The first reaction of the state to the illegal emigrants smuggling to Italy through speedboats was felt in the summer of 1994. But the then chief of the district police commissariat, T.R. failed in his effort to confiscate the two boats intercepted by the police. The law did not envisage confiscation.

On December 8, 1994 police forces of Vlore blocked eight speedboats.

The extension of the traffic of illegals in the spring of 1995 became a concern for the oversee neighbour. Italian authorities wanted an agreement with the Albanian party to guard the sea line. In the mean time, upon a decision of the Italian Parliament, numerous naval means were put at the disposal of this objective and about 5 000 military troops were stationed on shores of Puglia. For the first time in the postwar history, Italy adopts such measures to guard its eastern seashore.

Albanian authorities responded with measures of a lower level, but still evident. Within a 2-3 month period, the chief of the police commissariat has been replaced thrice. At the beginning of June 1995, the chief of police in Vlore was named S Mulosmani, described as "the iron hand" of Berisha at that time. He was in that post for two years during which about 130 speedboats were blocked, and sometimes he was confronted with some structures of judiciary which considered as groundless the blocking of the speedboats.

The beginning of the revolts this year also marked the end of this process. The speedboats which had been blocked were retaken by the owners and those few which were not ruined were put to work by their owners.

Italian mafia in illegals' trafficking - a concrete reality

Involvement of Italian mafia in the traffic of illegal emigrants gave rise to the latter. The illegal emigrants felt more guaranteed in attaining their objective. In the mean time, the number of those caught and returned home by Italian police reduced. The interest of the Italian mafia in this traffic and its involvement in it, might have their origin at the beginning of the second half of 1994. It was the time when two very well-known personages among speedboats owners, the Italian Mimo and another person of Yugoslav origin, who was known as "serbi,"(The Serb,) appeared. Mimo brought speed boats mostly from Italy and less from Corfu, with half of their price pre-paid. Rumors of that time said that all the speedboats were stolen. This was apparently the role of the Italian man! Whereas the real role of the "Serb" was never made known. There was talk about his involvement in some assassinations committed in various states and for which some of them had declared him "persona non grata." For reasons which are still unclear, he left Vlore in 1995 and stopped in Switzerland where he surrendered to Interpol himself.

Besides, also the way of illegal emigrants' transportation changed. In the vicinity of neutral waters, Albanian "bosses" unloaded the living "commodity" from their speedboats to be taken then by their Italian partners.

The extension of the threads of Italian mafia in Vlore is also confirmed by another fact. By the end of June and in July 1995, authorities of Italian secret police, SISDE, visited Vlore more than once. They established regular contacts with the police commissariat chief, and the topics of the talks they had remained secret.

Some paradoxes

In summer of 1995 when coercive measures on both sides of the sea were reaching the climax, a friend of mine, a speedboat owner in Triport where the blocked speedboats were stored told me: "I am installing a new engine to my speedboat. With these three engines, even the speediest Italian naval means is not able to catch it." Later, I learned that my friend worked in police structures.

Various people have been discharged from their posts in police structures suspected to be involved in illegals' trafficking.

Also other names of officers had been mentioned but they were not discharged from their posts. Although many speedboats were being caught by police, still the traffic of illegal emigrants continued. The silent Italian shores waited for the night to come when people from the sea darkness directed surely to the cities - their dreams, as was planned.

"Oligarchy" of speedboats

The speedboat owners in Vlore were the most successful "businessmen" with a norm of profit extensively surpassing the boldest theoretical forecasts of an economist. The speedboat men are categorized as a social group with all attributions.

Why was Vlore chosen?!

First of all, due to its favourable geographic position. The Vlore seashore was about 60 miles from Brindisi differently from other parts of the Albanian coastal line.

Secondly, the Vlore seashore is almost in the periphery of the zone controlled by the central government.

Thirdly, the social factor. The 90s found Vlore with a relatively ruined economy and a high level of unemployment. Real sources of incomes were lacking. Consequently, a great part of the youth were orientated towards a "business" with greater incomes.

Besides, Vlore also had the necessary contingent needed to put into operation illegal navigation means. Fishing boat helmsmen made the majority of this contingent. ake/pas/lm/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] AGREEMENT ON ALBANIAN-ITALIAN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SIGNED

The Act of Understanding on the development of joint Albanian-Italian cultural activities marked the completion of the artistic cultural activity sponsored by the European Union.

This act, according to Brojka, "is important because it further strengthens mutual Albanian-Italian cooperation and makes evident the historic, ethnic, cultural and artistic ties between our people and the Arberesh living in Italy for centuries". kled/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] SHKODRA UNIVERSITY RECEIVES "GREAT MAN OF WORK" AWARD

The award saying "For a significant contribution in the education and scientific research field" was handed over to the University Rector Xhovalin Gruda by the Minister of Education and Science Et'hem Ruka. pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT AND PM MEET LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS OF SHKODER

The chairman of the district council, Lorenc Mosi, and the mayor of Shkoder, Bahri Borici, pointed out during the meeting the problem of unemployment, criminality, and others. They asked from the senior officials of the state and the government to mediate close to Yugoslav authorities for opening the border crossing point of Han i Hotit, which remains closed since eight months.

Premier Nano said that the government is preparing special programs of development for Shkoder. He asked from local authorities to prepare complete and accurate projects in fields with interest for the development of the district to present them to foreign investors.

The Prime Minister asked from the local government a greater engagement in the collection of taxes and tariffs as an income source for the local government itself. He said that the government is preparing the law on a wider autonomy for the local government, which will create new scopes of development.

With regard to the opening of the border point of Han i Hotit, Nano said that the government is making maximal efforts, and voiced the conviction that "it will be soon opened."

President Meidani asked Premier Nano and his cabinet to help Shkoder through concrete projects in infrastructure, whose realization will help employing people. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTION CONVENES

Though the meeting was adjourned, remarks were presented on a draft regulation of the commission and information administration center on coordinating assistance and public participation.

"The constitution should be drafted next year," Fehmi Abdiu, a Socialist member of the parliamentary commission and head of law commission said after the meeting.

"If the Democratic party is interested in preventing the process of constitution, other forces should not interrupt it but approve the constitution," Abdiu said. ssh/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] ALBANIAN SPEAKER ASKS SCRUTINY OF FIGURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN

Gjinushi reported this in a news conference on Monday.

"As the members of some courts are appointed by Parliament, I have asked the scrutiny of figures of their members in the State Commission of Scrutiny, whether they fulfill the conditions to hold their posts, according to the law approved by the democratic government of former President Sali Berisha," said Gjinushi.

"The rotation can naturally come even from the response of the Commission," added Gjinushi, alleging for former collaborators of State Sigurimi in the Constitutional Court, allegation that had to do mainly with chairman Gjata.

On the course of attacks against "many members of the Constitutional Court, who "were replaced with the members of the Supreme Court on the brink of elections," Gjinushi said that "There are set lobbies outside the country who are interested in having a weak Albania, because in this way it cannot defend the issue of Albanians in Kosova and Macedonia."

"I call once again on the Constitutional Court to make the rotation until December 20," said Gjinushi, if it does not want to lead the country to a constitutional impasse: these people are not implementing the laws, their decision was a juridical putsch."

Despite the persistence of journalists, Skender Gjinushi did not say what will happen with the Constitutional Court if it does not make the rotation until December 20.

"With the debate for the constitution, the problem of the existence of such a court in Albania will be also examined. I personally think that it will be better if Albania has a constitutional council not with these competencies of the Constitutional Court," ended Albania's Parliament Speaker. /s.sh/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IN LEZHE STARTS

The director of this project, Luciano Chiari, confessed that the project is supported with 650 000 dollars of the UNO funds, with which this agency is operating, and aims at creating the psychology of progress.

He said that the equipment of nine communes and the town hall of Lezhe with computers, Photocopy machines, furniture, etc., as well as the investments in the fields of education and health sector are the priorities of the project which will cost 300 000 dollars. Chiari reported that 200 000 dollars have been accorded in the field of public services for the towns of Lezhe and Shengjin, while 150 000 dollars will be used for the encouragement of small businesses in the town.

A similar project has started its implementation on the same day in the town of Fier, Southwestern Albania. /s.sh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] US DOLLAR STILL UPHOLDS HIGH QUOTAS

In the informal market the average exchange rate was $1 = 153,45 lek. While the German currency DM was traded for 86,38 lek, ITL (1000) traded for 87,34 lek, and so on.

Monday average exchange rates

Currency	Average exchange rates
USD		153,45 lek
DM		 86,38 lek
ITL (1000)	 87,34 lek
GRD (100)	 54,88 lek
SFR		105,57 lek

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] HEAD OF CONSTITUTION COURT REJECTS SPEAKER'S STATEMENTS

"Gjinushi's statements on the Constitutional Court are illegal: according to constitutional provisions and parliament's regulation he cannot speak on behalf of the parliament without considering this issue in parliament," Gjata said on Monday.

Gjinushi has called a "juridical putsch" the decision of the Constitution Court to annul a constitutional amendment on a rotating system in court and is expressed on a "dissolution of the court" if the law on parliament is not observed.

"Our decision is indisputable," Gjata said adding "we cannot consider it any more. We reached it because we thought it should have been so, despite any pressure we were facing."

"It would have been easier for us to satisfy the wishes of state officials, but the court deals with the implementation of laws," Gjata said.

Later, he attacked Gjinushi saying "His statements resemble the previous style when the leader said whatever he wanted on behalf of the others."

Gjata, head of the Constitutional Court, said to ATA that this is what he thinks.

"We will discuss Gjinushi's statements on the court and me and then we will issue a statement; I cannot speak on behalf of the court," Gjata said. ssh/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] PRISON POLICE TO HAVE NEW COAT OF ARMS

Zhabolli said that the hat will have a castle configuration and two olive branches, while the figure of a key will be put in a jacket's sleeve.

This aims at distinguishing the prison police from the other police forces.

The Italian Penitentiary police have provided some two thousands uniforms for the Albanian prison police.

They have also granted 400 TV sets, which will be installed to prison rooms.

The Tirana prison 325 has provided 24-hour hot and cold running water for the inmates besides telephones. pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ALBANIA'S PRESIDENT MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE COOPERATION INITIATIVE

Meidani pointed out that the foreign policy of Albania is completely on the line of establishing an understanding, coordination and economic cooperation in the region, President's press and information office reports. The President of the Republic stressed the will of the Albanian authorities to normalize all the aspects of the democratic process, including that of an independent judiciary system.

The aim of the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Initiative, said Mr. Shifter and Buseck, is to create conditions and scopes so that the politicians, businessmen and peoples of this region go side by side. We, they said, aim at not leaving Albania aside, and will do the utmost so that it keeps pace with all the other regional countries and to profit from any project and economic assistance.

Shifter and Buseck urged the Albanian government and private sector to find out the main problems related to the creation of an easier and guaranteed legislation for foreign investments.

President Meidani, Shifter and Buseck discussed international support on Corridor 8th and project on Albania's gaz supply, projects which are of special importance within this initiative.

The meeting presented a series of difficulties, which should be overcome especially in the fight against corruption and alignment of economic legislation with international standards. pas/mt/ak/

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

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