ATA News from Albania, 96-07-20

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] TRITAN SHEHU MEETS ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER

[02] "PEACEFUL EAGLE 96" EXERCISE ENTERS ITS FIFTH DAY

[03] SCHOOL SET ON FIRE IN HAS

[04] GREEK AMBASSADOR IN PARLIAMENT'S PRESIDENCY

[05] VATICAN BACKS ROAD CHOSEN BY ALBANIANS

[06] PRESS REVIEW

[07] US CONGRESSMAN ELLIOT ENGEL ARRIVES IN PRISTINE-Voice of America

[08] SERBIAN POLICE TORTURE ALBANIANS

[09] PEACEFUL EAGLE '96 EXERCISES ENDED

[10] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ENDS ITALY VISIT

[01] TRITAN SHEHU MEETS ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER

During the cordial talks, Shehu voiced the Albanian sincere desire to be integrated into Europe and Western Security institutions. He also spoke of the estimate the Albanian President of the Republic and government have for the intensive relations and cooperation between Italy and Albania, wishing a further development, mainly stressing those in the field of defence, as a special aspect of them.

Andreata in this context congratulating the Albanian efforts, formulated the best wishes for the activity of the new government and confirmed the Italian interest for a further development of relations in the field of defence defining the initiatives in the bilateral and multilateral plan.

Andreata also stressed, that he will soon have the chance to increase the bilateral relations during a future meeting with Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali, to whom he sent cordial greeting through Minister Shehu. jz/fh/sh/

[02] "PEACEFUL EAGLE 96" EXERCISE ENTERS ITS FIFTH DAY

The "Peaceful Eagle 96" exercise entered its fifth day with training on terrain.

The Bulgarian company cleared a field (imaginary) of mines. The Turkish company also controlled the interception of the contraband weapons that might have been smuggled into their area while the Albanian company looked after the wounded by mines and the clearing of mines.

The exercise aims at integrating the forces of NATO's southern region into a combined multinational forces to improve the coordination of these forces into a multinational force after U.S. standards and doctrines, as well as to carry out the collective tasks in the exercise of peace-keeping objectives.

The exercise includes Albania, the United States, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Turkey, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and Slovenia as an observer.

The exercise forces are grouped into a multinational brigade, which is made up of two battalions, one Albanian-American and the other Italian and each has four companies. The platoons in the company are composed of soldiers of the same country.

This is the biggest exercise conducted in Albania as part of the Partnership for Peace agreement. For the Albanian army this is the fourth multilateral exercise. jz/lm/z/

[03] SCHOOL SET ON FIRE IN HAS

A classroom, didactic equipment and several chairs were burned, said for ATA the director of the school Tahir Xhebexhia.

The prosecutor's office continues investigations to identify the authors of this act.

This is the first case, after nearly four years, that schools turned to be prey of wrongdoers.ake/kled/fh/Z/

[04] GREEK AMBASSADOR IN PARLIAMENT'S PRESIDENCY

Qirko mainly voiced the important steps the Greek government has taken in seasonal employment of Albanian emigrants in Greece. She said Tsaliqis to ask the Greek government to enable easier regular movement of Albanians to Greece.

Tsaliqis expressed his opinion that the cooperation between the two countries will be further developed in the future. jz/fh/Z/

[05] VATICAN BACKS ROAD CHOSEN BY ALBANIANS

The deputy Premier and Foreign Minister of Albania, Tritan Shehu, who is on a visit to Italy, informed Vatican's senior official of Albania's efforts over the last four years to reconstruct the institution of belief.

Monseigneur Tauran considered very positive Albania's ongoing achievements in creating democratic, market economy institutions, especially that of belief. He highly appreciated Albanians' tolerance and progress over the last years.

He expressed the belief that the Albania-Vatican relations are a guarantee for the continuation of the reforms launched in Albania.

Afterwards, Dr.T.Shehu met with senators and deputies of Italian political forces including Euro-deputy Caputo of "Forza Italia", Mr. Casini of CCD, secretary of the Italian People's Party, Bianco, and others.

At the end of his two day visit to Italy Shehu, on behalf of the Albanian Democratic Party, sent a greeting to the Congress of the Christian Democratic Union Party, headed by Rocco Butiglione. jz/lm/Z/

[06] PRESS REVIEW

Under the title:"'Soros' threatens the freedom of speech in Albania", the paper carries a statement of the Journalists' League of Albania regarding the immediate intervention of the 'Soros' Foundation in Tirana to rescue newspaper Koha Jone from bankruptcy. In this regard the paper also carries the article:"Artificial breathing for the losers".

The paper says that the DP Council convenes in Tirana on Sunday and carries a commentary of the organisational secretary, Ylli Vejsiu, under the title:"Maximum engagement in qualitative elections".

Rilindja Demokratike also reports on disagreements between the Socialist Party and the Centre Pole, which is expressed against the dialogue initiated by President Berisha and which was also attended by the SP together with the other political forces discussing the next local elections.

Zeri i Popullit carries the press release of the Italian Foreign Ministry about the meeting of Italian Foreign Minister Dini and his Albanian counterpart Shehu under the title:"Fresh elections within a reasonable and short-term limit".

The paper carries an interview with the deputy chairman of the SPA on international elections, Ilir Meta, under the title:"The crisis cannot be resolved unless general elections are called" and the subtitle:"Dialogue is inevitable". The paper also carries a statement of the SP spokesman entitled:"Any cooperation in favour of democracy is fruitful".

Republika carries: "Battle on the parties' round table" , saying that from "the Centre Pole emerges the idea of another party round table".

"Shehu fails in Rome-Italy urges fresh elections", says newspaper Poli i Qendres which also carries the resolution of the Italian Parliament Foreign Commission (addressed by the ex-chairman of Italian Communist Party, Ochetto) about the elections in Albania.

"The establishment of the round table between the parties is the sole way to normalise the political life in Albania and restore confidence in democracy", the paper says under the tittle:"The Pole:Institutionalisation of political dialogue".

Lajmi i Dites reports on speculations at the detriment of the persons wanting to emigrate to Canada. The paper continues to carry documents previously unpublished by the Foreign Office about 69 Albanian politicians of the years '30-'40.

Rilindja carries the chronicle of the news conference of the President of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova. "A special economic programme for Albania", the paper says regarding Shehu's visit to Italy.

Tribuna says that Poli i Qendres openly attacks the socialist presidency. It carries the article: "'Soros' Foundation violates agreements with the government". The newspaper also carries an interview with the DP leader, deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Shehu, to the Italian agency ADNKronos under the title :"Italy increases support for Albania".

"Who misused the money of newspaper Koha Jone?", says Albania. "Italy and Albania now closer", the paper says regarding the end of Shehu's visit to Italy. The paper carries an article saying that the DAP and SDP dream the socialists' split. The paper also carries an article about the coming visit of Senator Eliot Engel to Kosova.

Albanian-U.S. relations aggravate-meeting with the assistant Secretary of State refused, says newspaper Koha Jone. After the SP's participation in the presidential round table, the DAP denounces the SP chiefs, the paper says. To the stormy debate between the left parties, the paper devotes the articles:"Also the Democratic Party of the Right against the SP". "Rome's condition for Tirana: Fresh elections, first and foremost", says Koha Jone about the resolution of the Italian parliament's Commission on the election in Albania.

On the same topic Dita Informacion says that the initiative for this resolution is linked with the parliament's Foreign Relations Commission, led by "an old acquaintance of Albanians, ex-chairman of the Communist Party, Akile Ochetto".

Newspaper Bashkimi, in the feature "Tribune of intellectuals", carries the article:"The deep loss came from Bence".

Gazeta Shqiptare, under the headline "SP allies refuse dialogue with the DP and Berisha", carries the article : "Poli i Qendres against socialists". kled/lm/sh/

[07] US CONGRESSMAN ELLIOT ENGEL ARRIVES IN PRISTINE-Voice of America

Engel said that the US Congress will issue a resolution, where it will ask that the wall of sanctions against Yugoslavia should not be lifted unless the Kosova issue be resolved.

Before arriving in Kosova, Engel stopped in Belgrade where he met the Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and held talks with him on Kosova issue. The Serbian media gave no detailed information on these talks.

Engel and the other members of the delegation will meet other US non governmental organisations in Kosova and continue their visit to Macedonia. lt/l/pas/fh/sh/

[08] SERBIAN POLICE TORTURE ALBANIANS

The last case was that of Thursday when a three-man patrol of Serbian security coming from Pristina arrested Adem Mehmeti, 36, near the Orthodox Church in Mitrovica and tortured him using electro-shock.

Mehmeti, an Albanian from Bajgore village who had worked as a guard in Mitrovica prison, was held for three hours in police station where he experienced the electro-shock until he lost consciousness. pta/kei/ak/k

[09] PEACEFUL EAGLE '96 EXERCISES ENDED

Present at the ceremony were the Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali, senior officers from Albania and other participating countries.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sheme Kosova addressing the participants said, "In this exercise we partners feel ourselves equal to you (NATO members) and this is due to the Partnership for Peace initiative."

"You . . . introduced another symbol of peace in the region," General Kosova said.

The participating countries were Albania, the United States, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Former Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia, which had the status of observer.

General Kosova thanked the U.S. General Jacki Nix and co-commanders of the exercise for its success.

General Nix said in his address that during a five-day exercise "our ability to work together and understand each other was further extended."

He said that the model of Bosnia was applied in this exercise "because facing a troubled world, multinational operations seemed likely to be undertaken."

"We clearly demonstrated the effective cooperation and inter- operation of a modern and well-trained multinational force," General Nix said.

Some 2 000 troops took part in this exercise which is the largest one in the Balkans so far.

Troops were grouped in a multinational brigade which includes two battalions, one Albanian-American and the other Italian. Each battalion has four companies. The platoons included troops of one country. During five days, the troops launched joint operations of peacekeeping character.

This is the largest exercise organised in the framework of Partnership for Peace in Albania and the fourth multinational one for the Albanian army.

A memorial devoted to "Peaceful Eagle '96" with flags of participating countries was inaugurated in Bize. ake/kei/ak/k

[10] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ENDS ITALY VISIT

Shehu in an interview with the Albanian Television at the Rinas airport said that the visit was successful. He said that he had talks with the Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, Defence Minister Beniamino Andreata, Foreign Minister of Vatican Jean Louis Tauran, and leaders of the main Italian political forces, journalists and businessmen.

Shehu attended and addressed the Congress of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU).

He said that the meetings expressed the desire to further bilateral cooperation between the two political forces and boost concrete cooperation between Italy and Albania.

Shehu said to the Albanian television that the Italian side stressed the necessity to accelerate the programs of economic cooperation in all fields and the necessity for organising a meeting shortly between the delegations of the two countries for bilateral talks to promote projects which are underway or to define other projects of mutual cooperation. kei/ak/k

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article