Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-03-13

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Situation in Drenice still very grave, says Rugova

[02] Some 90 Albanians killed in Drenice, unknown fate of 30 other arrested

[03] We will continue to assist Albania, says Van der Linden

[04] Former head of SHIK suspected of connection with terrorism

[05] Students condemn Serbian terror in Kosova

[06] Milo points to Albanian government's maximum efforts about situation in Kosova

[07] Over 150 000 Albanians stage protest in Prishtine

[08] Engel rejects Serb offer for talks with Albanians

[09] Some 50 Kosova refugees in Kukes

[10] High Council of Justice makes new appointments

[11] Kosova issue should be resolved through peaceful means

[01] Situation in Drenice still very grave, says Rugova

The situation in Drenice continues to be very grave and filled with new dangers, Kosova President Ibrahim Rugova warned today in Prishtina.

Talking in a brief new conference in front of more than 100 domestic and foreign reporters, Rugova said that along with the massacred villages, the Serbian forces have also surrounded Llaushe, Broje and many other Albanian territories in Drenice, where the ethnic cleansing has started. He greeted the efforts of the international community regarding the situation in Kosova and demanded a greater and urgent engagement from it, mainly from the United States of America and the European Union to help the people of Kosova and to support his legal aspirations for freedom, independence and democracy.

The independence is the best solution for Kosova, but also for Serbia, Albania, Macedonia and the whole region, that's why we have demanded and demand the help of the international community for this solution, which is the definition and the will of the people, stressed Rugova. /p.ta/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Some 90 Albanians killed in Drenice, unknown fate of 30 other arrested

The number of Albanians, killed over the last two weeks by the Serbian police in Drenice, have reached more than 90, meanwhile that it is unknown the fate of 30 other Albanians, who, according to previous reports, have been arrested by the Serbian police, the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Kosova (CDHRFL) reported on Thursday.

According to the same sources, it is also reported that the situation in Drenice continues to be very grave and some 20 000 inhabitants, mainly children, women and old people have been forced to leave their houses. There is lack of food articles and medicaments in all areas which are under the control of the Serbian forces; there are also reported on many ill and wounded people.

Sources from the CDHRFK also inform on new movements of the Serbian forces towards Skenderaj, Mitrovice and Gllogovci.

The Serbian forces have been deployed in the Lower Prekaz, where more than 50 persons have been killed, and the inhabitants have emptied it.

It is reported that the Serbian forces have detained and beaten in Morine dr. Zekeria Cana, activist of the human rights, as well as the doctor Bjaram Meziu and have confiscated the films with testimonies for the massacre in Prekaz. Such testimonies were also confiscated to the humanitarian activist Sali Cacaj. /p.ta/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] We will continue to assist Albania, says Van der Linden

The representatives of the CoE were interested to know the damages caused in this city during the riots of February 22-23, the work done to avoid them, the economic situation of this region, as well as the cooperation of the political forces between them.

Governor Ali Alickaj and mayor Bahri Borici familiarized Van der Linden with the measures taken to restore order and tranquility in this prefecture and to avoid the consequences of the damages caused in February.

With regard to the cooperation between the political parties, the mayor said that "... when it is a matter of important issues, they know how to come to terms."

The European co-rapporter said that "we are preparing a report on Albania, and your region will have a special place, aiming to help you overcome the difficult economic situation."

"The only way the build the state is the observation of law, and the international community will help Albania by supporting the police with trainings of its effective," added Van der Linden.

The co-rapporter also stated that "we will also assist in reconciliating the political forces in Albania," stressing that "it is important not to have clashes, but cooperation between them." /s.sh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Former head of SHIK suspected of connection with terrorism

This is what Gazeta Shqiptare says on Friday in its editorial, which refers to sources close to the government.

"'The Gazidede file', widely disputed of connections with the Islamics must have already been completed with data which 'Mossad' has gathered over the last years," the paper says raising the questions:"What where the secret connections of the Albanian services with those of the Islamic countries?", "How did these links affect the situation created in Albania, what is the role of the politics' main protagonists, what were Gazidede's and others' contacts?".

The former head of the National Information Service (SHIK), Bashkim Gazidede, before his appointment to this office by ex-president Sali Berisha, had been chairman of the Islamic Intellectuals' Association.

Recently, there have been open discussions about Gazidede's connections with the Kosova Liberation Army (U�K), discussions sometimes contested sometimes passed over in silence.

U�K has been used as a pretext by Yugoslav President Milosevic to exert terror on the civilian population in Kosova and as an argument about "Albanian terrorism".

Belgrade has justified the violence causing more than 80 victims, women, children and old, among the ethnic Albanians, as "police action against terrorist organisation U�K".

The Albanian government as well as the Kosova authorities have openly distanced themselves from the U�K and any kind of terrorism. The fact that Nano's visit to the Middle East also had Gazidede on the agenda, provides Albania with another card in its efforts to positively and peacefully resolve the Kosova issue.

Albania showed to the International Community, which is seriously engaged in resolving the Kosova issue, that it not only condemns terrorism in principle but combats it through all means.

The attitude of the Albanian government and the Kosova authorities has deprived Milosevic of all cards to use "fear of terrorism" to kill the Albanians.

This was also confirmed by the Contact Group which openly declared that "fight against terrorism" is not a pretext for Milosevic to kill the Albanians. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Students condemn Serbian terror in Kosova

The participants called a minute's silence in respect for the killed in Drenice. After executing the National Anthem, the speakers at the students' rally strongly condemned the crimes and terror exercised in Drenice and throughout Kosova by the beginning of March.

Azem Hajdari, Democratic party leader, condemned Serbian violence in Kosova, calling on all Albanian politicians to organise powerful protests and demonstrations for a correct solution to the Kosova issue, during the 10 days defined by the Contact Group as the final deadline for the Milosevic regime.

The protestors powerfully expressed their solidarity with Drenice and the whole Kosova and urged immediate intervention by the U.S., NATO and other international organisations in defence of the Kosova people. /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Milo points to Albanian government's maximum efforts about situation in Kosova

"I regret the insinuations of the statement by the head of the Democratic party parliamentary group, Genc Pollo, that the Albanian foreign policy has been unclear regarding the situation in Kosova, Milo told the parliament where he was called to respond to questions by the Socialist parliamentary group.

During Thursday's parliamentary session, which marked the end of DP deputies' boycott of parliament, Pollo, on behalf of his parliamentary group, accused the Nano government of not making all diplomatic efforts about the situation in Kosova.

"It is regrettable that, although the DP has recently shown examples of engagement and cooperation in the political life and national cause, such accusations are hurled, said Milo, who reported on all the latest efforts of the international politics to resolve the situation in Kosova.

He also spoke of the role of the Albanian government as regards the measures taken by the international community to calm down the situation, pointing to the contacts with NATO on this issue.

The head of the SP parliamentary group, Pandeli Majko, encouraged the Albanian foreign policy to continue to intensify steps towards a "Dayton" formula on the situation in Kosova, avoiding in this way "the spectacular proposals of Milosevic for dialogue".

Milo said that at least until mid Friday, the chairman of the Kosova Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, had not accepted Milosevic's invitation to a meeting.

Majko renewed readiness to cooperate with NATO and establish its bases in Albania if necessary.

Pollo replied to Milo saying that the Union for Democracy had been the first to ask the establishment of the NATO bases in Albania and asked from the minister to comment the Nano-Milosevic meeting in Crete.

Minister Milo declined to comment, saying he had been called to respond to questions by the socialist parliamentary group. /das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Over 150 000 Albanians stage protest in Prishtine

"Over 150 000 Albanians protested in Prishtine today against Serbian violence, war and terror in Kosova. Despite Serb forces' blocking roads leading to the set spot for protests, the number of the protestors at 15.30 has exceeded 150 000 and keeps increasing.

Among the slogans launched are: "Serb Police out of Kosova", "We are not terrorists", "Stop to Serb violence", "Stop to ethnic cleansing", "USA- USA", "Europe, where are you?", "Drenica, we are with you", "Kosova Drenica", "Kosova-Rugova" and other slogans.

The demonstration opened with a minute of silence in respect for over 100 Albanians killed by the end of February and the beginning of March in Serbian police operations against the Albanians in Drenice.

Bujar Dugolli, chairman of the Independent Students' Union of the Prishtine University, speaking at the rally of protest, addressed messages to the U.S.. EU, OSCE and all other international organisations to take urgent measures to stop bloodshed in Kosova before it is too late. /fh/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Engel rejects Serb offer for talks with Albanians

According to Albanian Foreign Ministry sources, Engel stated that "Belgrade's suggestions that Kosovars should open a dialogue based on the Serb constitution, which Milosevic has purposely and illegally abrogated to rob Kosova's autonomy, are not a good beginning."

"Some 100 people have been killed, including dozens of women and children. The time has come to tighten our sanctions against Belgrade and enact the measure of the no-flight zone, to prevent Belgrade's helicopter attacks against innocent civilians," said Engel. /a.ke/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Some 50 Kosova refugees in Kukes

"So far there are 50 refugees, who have immediately been sent deep in the country," chief of the district police station, Ylber Duraku, told ATA.

Border regime along the district's 45 km border line with Yugoslavia has been strengthened, regardless of the calm situation.

The normal situation in this district has also been admitted by the secretary of the prefecture, Milaim Cengu, who said that measures have however been taken to cope with a possible refugee influx.

Hence, camps, which can serve as a transit place in Kukes, Has and Bajram Curri have been set up and supplied with drinking water and electricity. /a.ke/das/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] High Council of Justice makes new appointments

According to the Press and Information office close to the President of the Republic, based on the proposals submitted, the heads of the new Appeals Courts as well as those of the Appeals Prosecutor's office in Tirane were elected.

The council also elected the judge inspectors. Urim Bejleri was elected Chief of the Inspectorate of the High Council of Justice and Kudret Kopo deptuty chief. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Kosova issue should be resolved through peaceful means

TIRANE, March 13 (ATA)-Albania's Orthodox Autocephalous Church condemns the violation of human rights in Kosova and calls for their immediate respect.

The Arch-bishop of Tirane and all over Albania, Anastassios Iannulatos, stresses through a statement that Albania's Orthodox Autocephalous Church "prays that the creation of a just and free society in Kosova be realised though peaceful means." /a.ke/das/lm/

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

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