Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-03-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Turkish Premier considers ties with Albania significant

[02] Albania, Macedonia to increase cooperation in public order

[03] European commissioner to visit Tirane on Thursday

[04] Geremek to visit Tirane on Thursday

[05] Investigation commission on January-March '97 events hindered

[06] Nano, Bukoshi discuss on situation in Kosova

[07] President Meidani meets director general of French firm, Cossanex

[08] There are 482 candidates for 100 seats of Kosova parliament

[09] Drafting of Albanian constitution starts

[10] Discharge of Constitutional Court Chairman made in conformity with constitutional provisions

[11] Rugova meets Gelbard in Prishtina

[01] Turkish Premier considers ties with Albania significant

"The traditional relations between two countries are currently at the best level," said Yilmaz at a meeting on Tuesday with the visiting Albanian parliamentary delegation, headed by parliamentary Speaker Skender Gjinushi.

Yilmaz, on this occasion, highly evaluated the visit of Albanian President Rexhep Meidani to Turkey several weeks ago.

He expressed the readiness of the Turkish state and government to help Albania overcome the current difficulties.

Referring to the Kosova issue, Yilmaz said that the status of autonomy should immediately be restored to Kosova and that the problems in this region should be resolved through dialogue.

"All the Albanian political parliamentary forces share the view that the Albanian-Turkish relations be promoted further at all levels," Albania's parliamentary speaker said.

Gjinushi familiarised the Turkish Prime Minister with the developments in Kosova, stressing that the conflict there has created trouble not only for Albania and the Albanian nation but for the whole international community.

In this context, Albania and the Albanians as a whole are in need of good friends to resolve the Kosova problem. One of these good friends is Turkey, said Gjinushi.

The Albanian delegation on Tuesday also met with speaker of Turkish Parliament Hikmet Cetin.

The Gjinushi - Cetin talks focused on the political developments in Albania, situation in Kosova and the Balkan region.

Cetin, referring to the Kosova issue said :"We support the solution of this issue through dialogue between Prishtine and Belgrade with the mediation of a third side".

Later the Albanian parliamentary delegation conducted meetings with the Turkish parliamentary foreign policy commission and the parliamentary subcommission of Turkey - Albania friendship.

Gjinushi plans to meet Turkish President Sulejman Demirel on Wednesday. /s.s/a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Albania, Macedonia to increase cooperation in public order

Interior Ministry spokesman said the two ministers agreed to expand cooperation in exchanging information in cases of crimes, of concern for both sides; in preventing drugs trafficking, cigarette, arms and all kinds of contraband.

They agreed to exchange experience in road inspection as well as experience and training in fields of mutual interest.

The ministers agreed that a group of Albanian experts visit Skopje in two weeks, which will also be the first step of future cooperation.

Ceka accepted the invitation of the Macedonian minister to visit Skopje at an appropriate time for both sides and also sign a protocol of cooperation, which will materialise bilateral cooperation. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] European commissioner to visit Tirane on Thursday

He will take part in the inauguration of the Durres-Rrogozhine motorway, sources of Albanian Foreign Ministry say.

Afterwards, he will meet Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, DP chairman Sali Berisha and other parliamentary parties at the EU headquarters in Tirane, where he will also hold a news conference. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Geremek to visit Tirane on Thursday

Geremek will hold meetings with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo, Prime Minister Fatos Nano and President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani which will concentrate on the developments in Albania and the situation in Kosova.

At the end of his visit Geremek will hold a joint a news conference with Minister Milo. /s.s/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Investigation commission on January-March '97 events hindered

"According to preliminary inquiries, during January-March 1997, the state or better set individuals of it have been involved in these events and later was also involved the then opposition," said Ngjela.

Ngjela held a report in Parliament on February 11, 1998 and said that the then tragedy could have been avoided by former president Sali Berisha and the parliament of that time. The Albanian deputies expressed reserves regarding the report, considering it incomplete and vague, as well as for the fact that former President Berisha was not included in the list of persons summoned by the commission to testify on these events. /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Nano, Bukoshi discuss on situation in Kosova

During the meeting Nano and Bukoshi exchanged information and thoughts regarding the recent events in Kosova, the grave situation there, as well as on the international activity towards Kosova, Serbia and broader, press and information department close to the Council of Ministers reports.

Both Premiers underlined the deep democratic and peaceful climate of the pan-national protest in Kosova, which is expressing in democratic and European way its options for the solution of the crisis there. /a.ke/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] President Meidani meets director general of French firm, Cossanex

During the meeting they exchanged thoughts regarding the encouragement of French companies in the Albanian market and economy.

Anisan familiarised President Meidani with the goals of the French company and his current contacts with the Albanian administration, asking strengthening of economic relations between the two countries.

He also stressed that the participation of Albania in the Francophone league is being considered as another reason to increase different exchanges in all the countries included in this league. /s.s/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] There are 482 candidates for 100 seats of Kosova parliament

In the elections of March 22 in Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova is the only candidate for President fielded by the Democratic League, while for 100 seats in Parliament, some 482 candidates from different parties, associations, as well as independent candidates will contest.

Tadej Rodiqi, chairman of the republican commission of elections, told a news conference that the chairman of Social Democratic Party, Luljeta Pula-Beqiri has withdrawn her candidature from the post of president and her party will not participate in the elections of March 22. The Parliamentary Party, the largest opposition party, has not presented candidates, while several other small parties, which have declared they will not take part in March 22 polls, have asked their postponement due to the situation in Drenice and Kosova. /p.ta/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Drafting of Albanian constitution starts

The constitutional commission has approved the form of regime of the Albanian state, which will be included in the project of the new constitution. According to it, Albania will be a parliamentary republic and will have a unitary state.

According to the draft approved on Wednesday in the constitutional commission, "ruling in Albania will be based on a system of free, fair and periodical elections."

In the fundamental principles, it is also defined that the sovereignty in the Republic of Albania belongs to the people, which is exercised directly or through his representatives.

According to the draft-constitution, independence and the territorial integrity, the dignity of the human, his rights and freedoms, social justice, constitutional order, pluralism, religious coexistence, national identity and inheritance are on the basis of the Albanian.

A point of article 4, which has to do with the possibility of Albania to participate in a collective security system, was left to be discussed later, after the debates made in the meeting.

Pandeli Majko of the Socialist Party expressed the opinion that this participation should be decided on basis of a law approved by two-thirds of parliament, meanwhile that the prepared draft envisaged that the law must be approved by the majority of the members.

The parties of the political grouping "Union for Democracy" did not participate in the meeting of the commission, which marks the beginning of work for the content of a new Albanian constitution. /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Discharge of Constitutional Court Chairman made in conformity with constitutional provisions

This report was issued after the claims of Gjata that the decision of parliament for his discharge from duty is not based on constitutional provisions.

The decision of the Albanian parliament was taken based on the law "On the security of figure of officials and other persons related with the protection of the democratic state," which has been considered in accordance with the constitutional provisions by the Constitutional Court on January 31, 1996.

"The problem of Gjata has nothing to do with his functions or immunity, but with the legal incompatibility regarding that function. Along with this, Gjata has not been proceeded, detained, arrested or punished, but has only been discharged from job," explains the Presidency of the People's Assembly.

The deputy Speaker, Namik Dokle, told ATA on Wednesday that the People's Assembly could not take an authorization from the Constitutional Court to act in the case of Gjata, because the Constitutional Law on this Court says that "The Constitutional Judge does not have responsibility on the decisions and opinions given while exercising his functions."

Dokle said that after this public explanation, Parliament will not return to Gjata issue anymore.

The Albanian parliament decided Saturday to discharge from duty the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, accused of being voluntary collaborator of the former State Sigurimi.

The request for his dismissal had been issued by the Official Figure Scrutiny Commission in January of this year. /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Rugova meets Gelbard in Prishtina

An American high ranking official delegation, headed by the U.S. special envoy in the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, arrived in Prishtina on Wednesday afternoon, for the third time within a short time, due to the dramatic developments in Kosova. Attending this delegation is also the chief of the U.S. mission in Belgrade, Richard Miles.

The U.S. delegation met with the Kosova President Ibrahim Rugova and was greeted by a group of Albanians youths. The talks between Rugova and Gelbard were held behind closed doors and lasted more than an hour and half. Attending these talks was also Monsignor Vinceco Paglia of the San Egidio Community. After the meeting, Rugova and Gelbard issued statements for domestic and foreign journalists.

President Rugova, by highly appreciating the visit of the U.S. delegation, declared that during the talks with the U.S. emissary, Gelbard and the other U.S. representatives, confirmed the powerful engagement for dialogue as the only way for the solution of urgent problems in Kosova.

Rugova said that in order to have a successful dialogue, it should be held on basis of an open and unconditional exchange of thoughts between the elected representatives of the Kosova leadership and representatives of the Serbian President Milosevic.

"We would like such an exchange as soon as possible, but if it is serious and well-prepared," added Rugova.

The offer of the Serbian authorities for opening the dialogue with the representatives of the so-called "Albanian minority" is not serious, stressed Rugova, adding that the engagement of Belgrade in dialogue, according to the proposed line, would only deteriorate the situation, instead of improving it. Rugova said further on that the successful solution of the Kosova problem would also demand the international aid.

The international community should help opening of dialogue and offer guarantees for the negotiated accord. He said that he had asked from ambassador Gelbard the help of the USA in the negotiations.

The President of Kosova thanked ambassador Gelbard for this arrival in Prishtina again, the Uinted States of America and in particular, President Clinton and Mrs. Albright. /mp/mt/

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

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