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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-06-08Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Albanians all over the world to hold protest on Kosova on June 10PRISHTINE, June 7 (ATA) - By B. Jashari: The Republican Council of protests in Kosova has informed that Albanians all over the world will hold protests on June 10 to urge an NATO intervention in Kosova.The council called Sunday on all Albanian political parties and social organisations in Kosova, Albania, Macedonia and diaspora to coordinate a nationwide protest, which will be held next Wednesday in the squares of Prishtina, Tirana, Skopje and in the capitals of Europe, the United States, and there where Albanians are living. The protest starts at 12.00. p.m. under the motto "NATO not in the borders with Kosova, but in Kosova." bca/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] 600 Kosova refugees accommodated in Durres cityDURRES, June 8 (ATA) - By G. Kabashi: Around 600 people coming from Kosova fleeing Serb military violence in their territories have been accommodated in Durres city.Gezim Bega, head of the team close to the city prefecture, said to ATA that 250 people have arrived in Shkallnuer village until Monday morning. Some 170 people have been placed in a formerly wet area, while other 100 in Arapaj. Many others have been settled in Rrashbull, Qeret, Katund i Ri and others. A team of doctors from the city hospital have gone to the villages where a large number of refugees from Kosova have been settled. The "Sulejman Vokshi" Foundation and other associations as "Durresi", "Kosova", "�ameria" and the regional Red Cross committee had coordinated the work to collect material assistance such as furniture, clothes, foods and opened a bank account number to collect financial aid. The refugees from Kosova have been settled mostly in families of their relatives. Even the Durres citizens are in solidarity with the Kosova refugees. Businessmen are collecting foodstuff and material assistance while others have opened their houses to accommodate mostly elderly men, women and children. ake/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Seven prizes for children signing in Euro-festival '98TIRANA, June 8 (ATA)-By F. Nikolla, An international jury, on Sunday, awarded the Great Prize "Feim Ibrahimi" (People's artist), to Albanian singer Era Rusi, 13, in the European children song competition, which was held at the Palace of Congresses between June 4 and 7.Era Rusi studies in the Fan S. Noli eight-year school in Tirana. She has taken part in several children festivals organised in Albania and is distinguished for her special voice. The jury composed of representatives of 16 participating countries without voting rights for their own countries awarded the first prize, for the 6-9 age group, to the singer from Malta, Byon Xho Zammit, 9, the second to Russian singer Darina Sherbakova, 9, and the third to Bulgarian singer Ana Rashkova Staikova, 8. For the 10-14 age group, the jury awarded the first prize to the singer from Azerbaijan, Mamedov Amil Gassian, 12, the second to the singer from Malta, Rebeka Bonici, 10, and the third to the singer from Italy Viviana Fiordalive, 12. The festival, to which was invited to compete the singer, not the composer, was organised by well known people of the Albanian Pentagram, who are members of the Artistic Association "Pentaton", the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and by the Tirana city-hall. The activity had been scheduled to be held last year but it was not realised because of the death of the head of the "Pentaton" Association, Feim Ibrahimi. The same association organised a year and a half ago the Balkan Children Festival. "Pentaton" is now run by Ibrahimi's widow Vera Ibrahimi and the renowned composer, Tish Daija, who is also president of this festival, which is thought to be annual. /s.s/pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Albania's export volume marks a slight increaseTirana, June 8 (ATA) - Albanian export volume marked a slight increase during the first quarter of 1998 compared with last quarter of 1997, Institute of Statistics reported Monday.While in last quarter of 1997 export volumes totaled 5,9 billion leks, in first quarter of 1998 they mounted 6,1 billion lek or 2,5 percent more than the previous period. "Textile and shoes" group takes the specific weight in export volume. Out of 49,6 percent in the last quarter of 1998, it held 62 percent of the Albanian total export volume in the first quarter of 1998. But according to IS figures there is a drop in export volume of group "food, beverage and tobacco". Thus out of 16 percent of exports volume taken by the group in last quarter of 1997, they hold only 8,5 percent of export volume in first quarter of 1998. While regarding other commodities, export figures are unchanged or slightly changed. Also the export figures with Albania's main foreign partners, like Italy and Greece are unchanged 62 percent and 19 percent respectively. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] USD quoted at lek 153,00Tirana, June 8 (ATA) - Monday's average exchange rate in the informal market of Albanian currency "lek" against foreign currencies like USD, DM, SFR, ITL was in favour of these last.So $1 = 153,00 lek, lossing 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 153, 20 lek. The DM was traded for 86,10 lek, lossing 0,10 points compared to yesterday's 86,20 lek. The ITL (1000) was traded for 87,10 lek lossing 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 87,30 lek. GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,30 lek, lossing 0,10 points compared with yesterday's 50,40 The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 1,00 points compared with yesterday's 105,30 lek and so on. Monday exchange rates Currency Average exchange rates USD 153,00 lek DM 86,10 lek ITL (1000) 87,10 lek GRD (100) 50,30 lek SFR 103,20 lek FRF 23,50 lek GBP 220,20 lek JPY (100) 111,30 lek NLG 75,10 lek /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Police intercept vanload of cigarettes stolen from State ReservesTIRANA, June 8 (ATA)-By Th. Thanasi, The police mobile forces of the Tirana police station 4, on Sunday, intercepted a vanload of cigarettes, near the Farke village, south of Tirana, stolen an hour ago from the State Reserves storehouses in Lunder of Tirana.The spokesman of the Police department of the Tirana prefecture told ATA on Monday that according to the guards' testimony, at around 03.00 on Sunday, several masked gunmen entered the territory of the State Reserves stores in Lunder and disarmed and bound hand and foot the guards and the two policemen who arrived later, during their routine service to check the guards. Later, the masked men stole a van with 270 boxes of "LM" cigarettes, worth some seven million leks. The swift action of the mobile police forces and the closure of all the roadways helped block the vehicle, but the police failed to cath the thieves, who were on the run, says the spokesman. This is the second time that unknown persons have looted vanloads of cigarettes from the Lunder warehouses. /s.s/pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Three corpses in Gjakove hospital mortuaryPRISHTINE, June 8 (ATA)-The corpses of three Albanians, killed in battle ground by Serbian forces are found in the Gjakove hospital's mortuary.The Kosova Information Centre (KIC) reports that that the dead bodies of two youngsters from Prelep of Decan and the corpse of a man in his 60es, the three unidentified, were brought in this morgue on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, by order of the Gjakova police, a 25 year old, brought by the police in the mortuary, was buried in the city's cemeteries. His identity is unknown. Meanwhile, several inhabitants of Komoran, who returned home to take the food remaining there, were beaten by the Serbian police, the KIC reports. According to the same source there is yet no report on the destiny of nine Albanians who have gone missing since May 31, in a Serbian forces crackdown on Pokleku i Ri of Gllogoc. /p.ta/pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Albanian athletes won gold, silver medals in Burno Zauli CupTIRANA, June 8 (ATA) - By E. Jonuzi: Albanian athletes won a gold and silver medal in the "Bruno Zauli" Cup which ended in Belgrade on Sunday.Secretary of the Albanian Athletic Federation Flobenc Dilaveri said to ATA on Monday that Vera Bregu won the gold medal in long jump reaching 13.47 m while Dorian �ollaku ranked second in hammer throw winning a silver medal. Most of the team was not in good performance therefore they will return to Albania on Tuesday while others who reached good results will participate in the Balkan Athletic Championship scheduled between June 13 and 14 in Belgrade. s.s/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Guardia di Finanza intercepts a dinghy with 27 refugees, 27 kg marihuanaDURRES, June 8 (ATA) - By G. Kabashi: A dinghy with 27 people and 70 kg of marihuana aboard was intercepted on sea near the Vlora shores and was take to the port of Durres by the Italian-Albanian forces of the Guardia di Finanza.A spokesman of the mission deployed in Durres said to ATA that a dinghy with refugees aboard intercepted at 01.00 a.m. on Sunday some 12 miles west of Sazan island tried to head for Italian shores at full speed. The patrol motorboat managed to block the dinghy with 27 persons aboard and took it to the Durres port. The spokesman said that a quantity of 70 kg of marihuana was found in a routine control on the sea. Three persons suspected of being the organisers of the clandestine traffic were arrested. There were also three women and five children on board. Guardia di Finanza forces have increased their controls recently in the Vlora shores and have coordinated their work with the regional police directorate. s.s/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Dinghy intercepted near KavajeKAVAJE, June 8 (ATA)-By G. Kabashi, A dinghy, which was returning from Italy, was intercepted early on Sunday by the Kavaje district police commissariat forces, near the Qerret village shore.The spokesman of the Guardia di Financia, deployed in Durres port, said that this dinghy was spotted by the patrol motorboats, six miles away from the Kepi i Lagjit, farther south of the Durres Bay. The dinghy was on its way back home after smuggling illegal emigrants into Italy, with the aim to make another journey with illegal emigrants, who pay large amounts for a passage to Italy. The owner of the dinghy who managed to flee is Vullnet Uxhi, 26, inhabitant of the Stan i Ri village of Qerret. Three cans of gasoline were found in the dinghy which would be used for the second passage. In the last 10 days the Kavaje police forces have blocked another dinghy in the moment it was starting for Italy from the Mali i Robit shore. Also near the Vlore shore, on Sunday, the Italian-Albanian forces of the Guardia di Finanza blocked a dinghy with 27 people and 70 kg of marijuana on its board. /s.s/pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] NATO backs peaceful solution not excluding other optionsTIRANA, June 8 (ATA) - By Ilir Pa�o: NATO is doing its utmost for a peaceful solution to the Kosova crisis but it does not exclude other options, an NATO official said on Monday to Luan Hajdaraga, Albanian Minister of Defence.But the official refused to elaborate on other options to be offered by NATO for a solution to the crisis in the region. George Katsirdakis, who is headed an eight-member group of NATO experts, said to Albanian minister that he and his group "are in Tirana to improve the relations by considering what has been done so far and second to see what they can do together to tackled the crisis in Kosova." "NATO is planning some kinds of activities such as visits in Albanian aeroportual bases of the NATO forces, joint exercises and others," Katsirdakis said. "These will not only help promote bilateral cooperation but also ease the tense situation in Kosova." The Albanian Defence minister said to NATO team that the full reconnaissance mission in the premises and grounds where the NATO troops would be deployed was over. He told them that "we are closely following the situation in the north." Hajdaraga said that "Milosevic's aim is to create a vacant area in the border between Albania and Kosova and that the wave of ethnic cleansing is reaching the border with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) what means a further spill-over of the conflict." This is the sixteenth NATO delegation visiting Albania and is expected to draw up a report on the ongoing Albania-NATO relations. Two NATO teams, one British and one American, were airlifted from Brindisi to northeastern Albanian on Sunday, where refugees from Kosova had been settled, to see the situation on the ground. s.s/pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] International Day of ECAT-s in TiraneTIRANE, June 8 (ata) - By R Xhuvani: The regular meeting of the five Environmental Centers for Administration and Technology for Eastern Europe was held on Monday on Monday in Tirana International Hotel.ECAT-Kalinigrad, ECAT-Lituania, ECAT-St.Petersburg, ECAT/ECMC-Riga and ECAT Tirana presented the methods they have applied for the problems of environment during a year," said to ATA Brunilda Jegeni, manager of ECAT Tirana founded in 1995. Representatives of ECAT spoke in the meeting of their activities and projects for the future. Establishment of contacts with international institutions which support projects for environment were considered as the point which needs more work on the part of ECAT. The aim of ECAT-s is the administration and handling of the technology of environment, the finding of financial sources and the drafting of programs for the question of environment in the countries of Eastern Europe. /s.s./das/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Solidarity with refugees from Kosova in Southern Albania- Radio "Dea" collects aid for the newcomers from Kosova -GJIROKASTER, June 8 (ATA) - By H. Cani: The private radio "Dea" in Gjirokaster (Southern Albania) has undertaken on Monday a wide initiative in the Southern region to collect aid in cash and food articles for the Albanians who have come from their ethnic territories in Kosova as a result of the Serbian violence and terror. The member of the Dea staff, Rajmonda Ceka, told ATA that the initiative of this radio has been widely supported by many government and non government organizations and the political forces in the district and beyond. Only several hours after the announcement, the number of the telephone calls was very large and the aid of the citizens has increased, said Ceka. A 70-year old woman from Gjirokaster said that as she was not able to give aid in cash she offered her big house for 15 persons. For this, she gave the exact address and phone number, added Ceka. The branch of the Red Cross in Gjirokaster is playing a great role for the collection of the aid. Close to the affiliate of the national commercial bank of the district, an account number has been opened and the same thing will be made even in the other districts of the Gjirokaster prefecture, in Permet and Tepelene. The collected aid will be soon sent to the areas where the Kosova Albanians have been accommodated. Since Saturday, leaders of several associations in Gjirokaster appealed in a meeting for support of thousands of Kosova Albanians who are actually accomodated in the country's northern zones. This appeal was also joined by the association of the independent intellectuals, the association "Friends of Kadare," the association "Laberia," "The League of Southern Journalists," and others. These associations addressed to the mayor of the town and the leaders of the prefecture to organize the work for the collection of the humanitarian aid for the Kosova brothers. Even in Vlore, southwestern Albania, the National Committee for the Defence of the People's Interests (former committee for public salvation,) was pronounced Saturday through a press release in defence of the Kosova issue. "The fight in Kosova has positioned in barricade the national issue, where in one side it is the most harsh and secular reaction and the regressive forces which support it, while on the other side it is a martyred people, but brave and freedom-loving, who fights to survive and win over the occupier," says a statement, supporting without reserves U�K," and calls on President Rugova and the Kosova government "to support this activity and these brave men." Further on the statement calls on all Kosova Albanians not to abandon their territories, because this is one of the aims of the enemy. "The international organizations and UNO must support without reserves the fair issue of the Kosova people, to drive out the aggressors of this region, because otherwise the winds and the black clouds of the war can bring about unforseen dimensions for the peace in the region," says the statement which has been addressed to the Kosova people, U�K, President Rugova and the government of the Kosova Republic. /a.ke/pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] New program of individual cooperation between Albania and NATOTIRANE, June 8 (ata) - The balance and analysis of Albania-NATO cooperation on the basis of the individual program of Albania-NATO Partnership for 1998 is the aim of the three-day visit of a NATO delegation to Albania, led by George Katsirdakis.Ilir Bocka, Albanian deputy defence minister, highlighted today in the meeting between the two respective teams the present cooperation with NATO, the department of public relations in the Albanian Defence ministry reports. Concentrating on the dramatic situation in Kosove, Bocka hailed the establishment of the NATO office in the Ministry of Defence and said that its presence in the zones near the crisis and where savage Serb violence is being used, will influence in a solution to the crisis through peaceful means. Mr Katsirdakis focused on the future cooperation between Albania and the Alliance. He said that the further cooperation will be reflected in the new individual program and will aim at establishing stability in the zones in crisis and in the whole region. The two teams also discussed the support the Alliance will give for the question of the Albanians who have come from Kosova, a point which will be reflected in the new individual Program. The new Albania-NATO individual Program, according to the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Army, Colonel Mehmet Musaj, and the discussion of the experts will include a number of priority questions for a quick rehabilitation of the Albanian Army and the consolidation of the control of the borders in tense zones, the creation and the technical and logistic equipping of the structures, the administration of the crisis, security of the army depots, etc. /s.sh/das/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Stabilized situation in hospital of Bajram CurriTROPOJE, June 8 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: The situation has been stabilized over the last two days in the hospital of Bajram Curri.Yllka Cela, the director of this institution, told ATA that actually some 22 persons coming from Kosova have been hospitalized, who suffer chronic diseases, while only one of them is wounded and his condition is not life threatening. According to her, the situation in the hospital has turned to normal due to the aid in medicaments and surgical equipment coming from the Ministry of Health and humanitarian associations. /s.sh/das/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Ngjela blames constitution which "gave" absolute power to BerishaTIRANA, June 8 (ATA) - By K. Kostreci: The chairman of the investigation commission on last year's turmoil, Spartak Njela, declared on Monday that it is the fault of the constitution that former President Berisha had absolute powers which he used during the riots.According to Ngjela, Berisha has not violated the constitutional provisions, but "the lack of institutions and perfection of the constitution" caused the destruction of the state. Ngjela has said in the preliminary report of the commission, held in February, that Berisha should resign before, which he also stressed on Monday for ATA, but he insisted in the idea that the name of the former president would not be in the final report of the commission. The other part of the commission has said that Berisha bears the responsibility for the last year's unrest and this responsibility will be also presented in the report. The fact is that the name of Berisha is in the top of the list of the report deposited close of Parliament's Presidency, but Ngjela hopes to agree with the other members of the commission regarding the disputable points during a meeting fixed to be held on Tuesday. Former president Berisha, in a televised programme last Sunday, did not bear any responsibility regarding last year's riots, while the Democratic Party has not recognised Ngjela Commission. The preliminary report of Ngjela, held in Parliament on February, was criticized by the deputies of not showing the concrete responsibilities regarding the unrest, while the final report has passed all the limits of presentation in Parliament, taken hostage by the name of Berisha. /s.sh/das/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Mid June law package to be submitted at Council of MinistersTirana, June 8 (ATA) - In order that new laws not to be approved one by one regarding the transparence process, a package of law is decided to be drafted, which will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval within 15 June, the Chief of Supervising Group Farudin Arapi told ATA Monday.Thus the work becomes easier and the time needed for the approval of draft laws shorter. This package of law will include draft laws in relation with freezing of fiscal obligations and returning of financial assets deposited abroad from the loan taking companies. Until now is approved the law "On the ways of delivering the properties of judicial non banking persons, who have borrowed money from broad public" and also the law "On the procedures and ways of selling the properties of judicial non banking persons, who have borrowed money from the broad public."/gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Agricultural legislation continues to be enhancedTirana, June 8 (ATA) - After the approval by Parliament of the first package on the development of agricultural sector in the framework of green strategy, procedures are over for the second package, sources from the ministry of Agriculture and Food said Monday.These package includes draft laws on animal husbandry fodder, breeding of race-paster, leasing value of arable land, forests and pasture. The ministry of Agriculture and Food in collaboration with specialists in districts is working to better complement the package of laws in the agricultural sector./gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Foreign donors examine projects of transport sectorBy Artan GjataTirana, June 8 (ATA) - Projects' pace financed by international financial bodies and the possibility of allocating new funds to transport sector were discussed in on oval table Monday, in Tirana. This is the third foreign donors' meeting. Currently the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Bank for Investments and other donors are committed in implementing projects in sectors like infrastructure, rehabilitation of Durres and Vlora ports, mending rural roads, continuation of Durres - Vlore highway, etc. Around $330 million are injected by foreign donors and Albanian government has pledged over $75 million for this purpose. Meanwhile, the construction of highway segment Durres- Rrogozhine worth Ecus 19,8 million has started, alongside is drafted the project for continuing the road segment Rrogozhine- Elbasan, which is part of Corridor 8, where some Ecus 24 million are pumped up. In the meeting representatives of WB, EBRD, EBI stressed out the need to enlarge the finances for other segments, especially for North - South ones and to coordinate the work in other segments like Kakavije-Gjirokaster, Rrogozhine-Fier-Vlore etc. Meanwhile, for the rural roads network are injected $32,6 million, where the specific weight is hold by WB. On road infrastructure are spent million of USD during the four last years, but the effectiveness of these investments was scarce, except the finished five km in Tirana - Durres highway segment. It seems that foreign donors in collaboration with the respective organs aims at boosting the effectiveness of the capitals they inject for Albanian ports and roads./gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] U.S. Ambassador Hill in Decan and GjakovePRISHTINA, June 8 - ATA correspondent in Prishtina, Belul Jashari, reports: The villages of the border line Kosova-Albania have been bombed again today by the Serbian forces since five o'clock in the morning, sources from the Kosova Democratic League in Gjakove reported. According to these sources, powerful explosions from bombing were also heard in the villages of Decan commune.The U.S. ambassador in Skopje, Christopher Hill, engaged in the Kosova crisis, started Monday for Decan and Gjakove to be closely familiarized with the situation. Fehmi Agani, coordinator of the negotiating group of President Rugova and Blerim Shala, member and spokesman of this group have traveled together with the U.S. diplomat. /b.ca/das/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Image of Bosnia...is the image of the present Kosova- Albania's Foreign MinisterTIRANE, June 8 (ata) - Consideration and further promotion of cooperation and multilateral and bilateral initiatives in the political, economic, military and cultural fields was the objective of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of South Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, ex-Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Croatia) which opened in Istanbul on Monday. The press and information Department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry reports that in his address to the meeting, Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo stressed the value of the process of Balkan cooperation for the security, stability and progress of the region and voiced the support of the Albanian Government for the drives and projects envisaged in the infrastructure, energy, telecommunication, etc. Further on Milo focused on the crisis in Kosove, considering it the tragedy of a whole people who are denied of their elementary rights and are now facing a systematic fierce violence. "I assure you," said Milo, "that the image of Bosnia with its bombed villages, massacred civilians and biblical exodus, is the image of Kosova today." Referring to Balkan countries, Milo said that it is impossible that, for the sake of an exaggerated understanding, to keep silence for this conflict which is threatening the stability of this problematic region. "We think that the governments of the regional countries have an obligation, but also a special interest that, being close witnesses, to denounce the massacre, to mediate for its immediate ending and to ask the starting of a mere political dialogue," stressed Milo. The ministers of the participating countries accepted, somewhat in different tones, that the situation in Kosove is serious, and the need of a peaceful solution to the conflict there to be discussed. Only the Yugoslav foreign minister, Jovanovic insisted again the Serbian view that the crisis of Kosova is an internal question of Serbia. During the plenary sessions of Monday and Tuesday a joint declaration is expected to be approved only through complete consensus. While Albanian foreign minister Milo demanded that the problem of Kosove be included in the declaration and has presented his version, the Yugoslav delegation has stuck to its position. The Albanian party considers unacceptable that the tragedy of Kosove be not mentioned in the documents of the meeting. Precisely this was one of the disputed fundamental questions in the special meetings that Mr Milo has conducted and will have with his counterparts in Istanbul. /s.sh/das/xh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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