ATA News from Albania, 96-08-23

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] A U.S. WARSHIP VISITS DURRES PORT

[02] COOPERATION PROGRAM FOR 1996-1999 AND OPERATIVE PROGRAM FOR 1996 APPROVED

[03] SERBS REPLACE DISMISSED ALBANIANS IN FERRONICKEL OF GLLOGOVC

[04] LOCAL ELECTIONS LAW IS GOOD - Schwarz

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN A CONFERENCE ON THE BALKAN ROLE IN EUROPE

[07] ALBANIAN-GREEK RELATIONS ON RIGHT TRACK

[08] "COOPERATIVE OSPREY '96" ENDS INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PHASE

[09] EUROPEAN-BALKAN MEETING ON FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

[10] PRESIDENT OF KOSOVA MEETS AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR

[11] TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY START IN TIRANA

[01] A U.S. WARSHIP VISITS DURRES PORT

During their several day stay in Albania, the commander and the crew had meetings at different levels.

In the meeting with the ship commander, James Clark, in the Albanian Defence Ministry, the commander of the Naval Defence Forces, rear admiral Edmond Zhupani, appreciated the cooperation in the field of naval defence between Albania and the U.S.

Guston Holl ended its visit and left Albania today. kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] COOPERATION PROGRAM FOR 1996-1999 AND OPERATIVE PROGRAM FOR 1996 APPROVED

The first program consists of a free financing worth 140 million ECU (175 million USD) for Albania in support of the economic program of the Albanian Government and in the context of the country's position in the European community.

The operative program of 1996, which contains details of the first program, is estimated at 33 million ECU.

The adoption of the Cooperation Program of the European Union for Albania is a support for the ralisation of the program of reforms of the Democratic Government and at the same time a strong impetus to the process of Albania's integration into Europe. ssh/kled/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] SERBS REPLACE DISMISSED ALBANIANS IN FERRONICKEL OF GLLOGOVC

This is in fact a dismissal from jobs because the places of Albanian workers are taken by Serbian unqualified workers, Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosova said in a news conference.

Gllogovci is almost completely ethnically Albanian commune, therefore the Serbian workers are brought to Ferronickel from other areas, a part of whom are refugees-colonists from Bosnia and Croatia. pta/kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] LOCAL ELECTIONS LAW IS GOOD - Schwarz

"The law on local elections is a good law which, in fact, has been in favour of the opposition in 1992," said Schwarz.

Among many demands related to the local government elections, the Albanian opposition has asked amendments to the law on local government elections, threatening that it would not take part in elections. But many specialists and international specialized institutions have considered the law as very good and contemporary.

Shehu and Schwarz spoke on some seminars to be organized in various districts of Albania.

The topics of the seminar will cover issues concerning the local government such as communal media and policy, local finance, communal policy and economic demands, communal policy at European level, etc. kei/xh/sh/

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit entitles "An abortive diversion" an interview of the SP deputy chairman Servet Pellumbi, in reply to the news conference on August 21 by Albanian President Sali Berisha. "96 Albanian citizens sentenced for drug-trafficking," and "70 kg of Canabis Sattiva" caught by Greek police during 1995-1996, reports ZP in another article.

Koha Jone writes that EU refuses to pay Albania the sum it needs for the balance of payments under the title "Europe: We shall no longer pay your salaries." The paper also carries a sensational article which says that a vampire child bites an infant.

Albania carries an article entitled "EU approves program of cooperation with Albania." It also reports that the Coca Cola affiliate in Tirana has taken the right of authorship from Albanian Consumer Association by publishing a study of the latter without permission. "Who committed the crimes of February 1991: is the title of an article which says that the prosecutor's office is investigating into the military putsch in 1991, and extradition of the former Defence Minister Kico Mustaqi is expected.

Poli i Qendres writes that "SP is ready for the final start," saying that SP is making the final preparation for its second congress.

Under the title "We are not a people for export" Rilindja carries excerpts from the address of Adem Demaci, head of the Human Rights Defence Committee, centered in Prishtine with the representative of the Evangelistic Church of Austria, Harl Helmreich, who visited the headquarters of the Committee on August 20, this year.

Dita Informaciion carries an interview entitled "Who deceived Gramoz Ruci" with the SP chief Fatos Nano. This paper also publishes an article "An unexpected purging for Albanian emigrants in Greece" which says that an operation against Albanian emigrants started yesterday. eva/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN A CONFERENCE ON THE BALKAN ROLE IN EUROPE

Invited also are high officials and diplomats from Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania.

They will discuss issues related to the Balkans after the Dayton Accord, the perspective of conflict and cooperation, the Balkans in the European and Euro-Atlantic Institutions; national perspectives in the issues of conflict and cooperation; problems of economic cooperation of the Balkans, said sources from the Foreign Ministry.

Discussions will also be held in a round table, along with other reports in the conference. /kled/mt.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] ALBANIAN-GREEK RELATIONS ON RIGHT TRACK

Q: As already announced, the Greek Foreign Minister will pay a visit to Albania on August 31. Can you enlarge on the forthcoming visit of the Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos to our country?

A: The visit of the Greek Foreign Minister, Pangalos, to Albania, which was an idea of the Greek side, will also be utilised for meetings with the Albanian high ranking officials. Foreign Minister Pangalos will take part in the inauguration of the new premises of the Greek Consulate in Gjirokastra and will meet with the Albanian Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister, Tritan Shehu as well as with President Sali Berisha in Vlora.

Q: What do you expect from this visit, and which are the immediate problems to be solved?

A: As I have already stressed, both sides are taking advantage of the activity in Gjirokastra to meet and, of course, to exchange opinions on bilateral relations, the opportunities that have been created to further them and other issues relating to the Balkan region and beyond.

Relations between Albania and Greece are on the right track and the two governments seem to have set their further enhancement their goal and, as already declared, to turn them into a model of good neighbourliness, by solving or embarking on the road to solution of the existing problems between the two countries.

If we consider recent developments, especially after the advent to office of the government of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the visit of the Greek President to Tirana and the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries this year on this occasion, I can well say that in the spirit of the Treaty, the Albanian side has taken concrete steps, which are the embodiment of its desire and good will for ever better relations with the Greek state. But, on the Greek side there is indication of the presence of desire and will. The agreement on seasonal employment, signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries in May 1996, is expected to be signed, of course after it has been signed by the Greek Minister of Public Order and endorsed by Greece's parliament. We hope that the Greek side will be through with these procedures as soon as possible.

Within the framework of the materialisation of the good will expressed by the Greek side, a solution to the status of the Albanian immigrants is also expected. As Greek officials have declared, this issue will be solved thanks to a law of the Greek parliament on foreign immigration. At present, the two countries will also start to implement the conclusions of the meeting of the joint subcommission on Defence and Border, held in Athens, in June, this year. We are expecting the confirmation of the Greek side on the date of the meetings of the expert groups and heads of the two sides' delegations, so that work on the ground starts as soon as possible.

Q: What is your prediction of Albanian-Greek relations in the not-too- distant future?

A: Foreign minister Pangalo's visit is one of the activities in near future terms. Starting work to repair border markers and build new ones, implementation of the seasonal employment agreement and the solution of the status of the Albanian immigrants in Greece about which I referred above, are activities of the future, of not-too-distant future, we hope. Work is also going on to open new border crossing and built the necessary infrastructure for them.

All these activities, that have been and will be carried out, will naturally help boost bilateral relations, which we cannot divorce from the regional context, for good relations between our countries are also a significant contribution that the two, Albanian and Greek governments render to peace and stability in southeastern Europe. fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] "COOPERATIVE OSPREY '96" ENDS INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PHASE

First company made up by an Albanian, a Romanian and two US platoons were transported by helicopters and the US warship PENSACOLA, where the company passed the night over and familiarised itself with the warship.

The company returned to the shore in the morning of August 21. After a scheduled training in the morning on a "mined field" the company with Albanian troops like all other peacekeeping companies will return from their campsite named "Blue Bird" to their barracks and August 22, will be a day off.

Another training phase of the "Cooperative Osprey '96" after August 22, will realise actions in a wider scale.

The US way of leading and training has been used until now. But the US officials, sometimes, liked the methods the armies of the present military troops use in handling some tactical actions" said for ATA major Shkelqim Kalemi, commander of the Albanian platoon.

Mr. Kalemi who has been operation chief of the multinational brigade in the training "Peaceful Eagle", held in July '96 in Bize, said that the training applied the US way of leading which puts on the first plan the figure of the direct superior.

This training aims a single one body action for the peacekeeping troops although they belong to different nations.

The military organisation was of one nation platoons and multinational companies.

The instruction was helped by the materials prepared and translated beforehand in all the languages of the troops in the exercises.

The US method has been used during this training, by realising a demonstration before the concrete exercise on the terrain. The US way of security has also been applied where life of man and his health are put on the first plan.

Two imaginary "towns" have been built for these exercises, the first was used for the training of the peacekeeping troops when snipers were present and individual exercises in a platoon, and the second was constructed to stimulate a civil revolt and the defence and evacuation of the Embassies personnel. ssh/kei/fh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] EUROPEAN-BALKAN MEETING ON FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Representatives of the European Community, of the World Veterinary Organisation, experts of FAO, representatives of the Veterinary Service from Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania attended this meeting.

Albanian Minister of Agriculture and Food Prof. Dr. Bamir Topi said foot-and-mouth disease is a complex problem, that is why it has been supported by the CE, FAO and the World Organisation of Veterinary. He thanked experts of these organisations and the foreign institutions which helped its present diagnosing in Albania.

Then, Topi voiced the need for a European strategy to fight this disease which should concider Balkan as a European filter for this disease.

Representatives of the Albanian Veterinary Service and those of the other countries discussed about the situation of the disease in their countries and the measures they have taken to fight it. kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] PRESIDENT OF KOSOVA MEETS AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR

Rugova acquainted the Austrian Ambassador with the situation in Kosova which continues to be grave due to the systematic repression exercised against Albanians there.

"The best solution for Kosova, is Kosova, an independent and neutral state, opened to Albania and Serbia" said Rugova, adding that this is the "will of Kosova people, who is determined to achieve its independence through a peaceful way."

The meeting also concentrated on the solution of the Kosova question through peaceful and political means. Weninger stressed that Austria closely follows the development of events in Kosova. The Austrian Ambassador visited the same day the University of Pristine where he was received by its Rector Prof. Dr. Ejup Statovci.

During the talk, Weninger heard about the work of this institution and its cooperation with Universities and international institutions, said the same source.

Rector Statovci thanked the Austrian government and universities for the assistance they had offered to the Pristine University. pta/bj/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY START IN TIRANA

The meeting concluded that the creation of a National Threeparty Council was a necessity.

"This Council, made up by five government officials, ten representatives of the trade unions and ten of the employment organisations will institutionalise the social pact between the trade unions, employers and the government" said spokesman of this ministry.

According to him, this council will increase in a higher level the correct application of the articles of the Code of Work, although two problems are still evident and make difficult the work of the council. They have to do with the representation of the trade unions and the employers in this council.

The new process hopes to treat problems of incitement of employment, policy of salary, problems of professional formation and that of insurance at work. eva/fh/sh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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