Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) [1], 97-03-30

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES OF VICTIMS DROWNED ON MARCH 28,1997

[02] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT GREETS CATHOLIC BELIEVERS ON EASTER

[03] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM GREECE AND U.S."DOCTORS WITHOUT FRONTIERS" ASSOCIATION ARRIVE IN ALBANIA

[04] SOME 79 ALBANIANS DROWNED IN ADRIATIC SEA -Witnesses

[05] DRAFT LAW "ON ACCEPTANCE IN ALBANIA OF A MULTINATIONAL MILITARY FORCE TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS" APPROVED

[06] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT KEEPS A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR VICTIMS DROWNED IN OTRANTO CHANNEL

[07] SOME 79 ALBANIANS DROWNED IN ADRIATIC SEA -Witnesses

[08] STATEMENT OF SOCIALIST PARTY

[09] A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLED IN ELBASAN

[10] MASS ON OCCASION OF CATHOLIC EASTER IN SHKODER

[11] ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

[12] ORDER ON A CHANGE OF CURFEW DEADLINE

[13] ALBANIA HAS DEMANDED TO BE A PARTY IN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASUES THAT LED TO THE TRAGEDY ON THE OTRANTO CHANNEL

[01] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES OF VICTIMS DROWNED ON MARCH 28,1997

"I convey my most sincere condolences and of the whole Albanian people to all parents, sisters, brothers, husbands and relatives of all the Albanian citizens who lost their lives in yesterday's tragedy in the Adriatic Sea international waters," president Berisha says in his message.

"This fatal event has brought about deep sorrow and mourning throughout Albania and in every Albanian heart and hearth, sharing in your great pain and praying for the innocent souls of your beloved relatives resting in peace and calm."

"This tragedy, the fight and efforts to escape death in the depths of the sea by your beloved relatives, your pain and tears for those you no longer have, are a sharp call in the consciousness of each of us to end the conflict of the losers, because on March 28 and each day we all are only losing."

Let's restore trust in one another and in Albania in order not to live through things we do not deserve."

I call on the Italian authorities to independently investigate the causes, environments and responsibilities of this avoidable tragedy in the international waters and take all measures that these events be not repeated any more," Albanian President said. l.gj/kled/lm/sh/

[02] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT GREETS CATHOLIC BELIEVERS ON EASTER

"On this occasion I address all the Albanian families, wherever they are, the message of tolerance, love for each other, reconciliation and calm, for which the Albanian people are so badly in need of," the message of the president says.

"In these difficult days for the Albanian people, the indispensable need for understanding and national reconciliation, in the name of loftiest patriotic and human ideals, becomes greater than ever."

"The Easter message is the message of harmony and understanding, unshakable trust in God and His path, in our future and Albania," the message of the Albanian president concludes. kled/lm/sh/

[03] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM GREECE AND U.S."DOCTORS WITHOUT FRONTIERS" ASSOCIATION ARRIVE IN ALBANIA

The aid consists of some 11 tonnes of medicine and food for the Tirana Army Hospital.

Another six tons of medicine, aid from the U.S. "Doctors without frontiers" association were brought in by the same plane.l.gj/kled/lm/sh/

[04] SOME 79 ALBANIANS DROWNED IN ADRIATIC SEA -Witnesses

The capsize and sinking of the Albanian ship 700-800 deep on March 28 was result of a collision with the Italian navy ship.

Sources confirm that 34 people have been rescued and the bodies of four others, three women and one man, found. kled/lm/sh/

[05] DRAFT LAW "ON ACCEPTANCE IN ALBANIA OF A MULTINATIONAL MILITARY FORCE TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS" APPROVED

The law was approved with some amendments proposed by the commission of Law and Defence and that of Public Order and SHIK. The law, which enters in force on March 30, 1997, opens the way to the operation of multinational forces. ssh/xh/

[06] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT KEEPS A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR VICTIMS DROWNED IN OTRANTO CHANNEL

Speaker of Parliament Pjeter Arbnori, on behalf of all deputies, expressed condolences to the families who lost their beloved relatives in this tragedy.

This tragedy, among the worst experienced by the Albanian people of late, according to the testimony provided by those who could survive, claimed the lives of more than 79 Albanian citizens, especially women and children. lm

[07] SOME 79 ALBANIANS DROWNED IN ADRIATIC SEA -Witnesses

The capsize and sinking of the Albanian ship 700-800 deep on March 28 was result of a collision with the Italian navy ship.

Sources confirm that 34 people have been rescued and the bodies of four others, three women and one man, found. kled/lm/sh/

[08] STATEMENT OF SOCIALIST PARTY

The PS statement accuses the ex-chief of the SHIK of "a rhetoric based on the old mentality of the communist period", of "unfriendly stands towards the southern neighbour and Greek minority" and of "anti-American spirit recently shown by the whole state pyramid (Albanian)".

In the interpellation held before parliament, former chief of SHIK accused several Greek non-governmental circles and associations in Greece and in the United States of conducting anti-Albanian activity.

The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Arbnori, the Democratic Party (PD) chairman, Tritan Shehu, and other deputies have constantly stressed that the stand of the Greek government should not be mistaken for that of certain chauvinist circles.

"The Greek government has supported the democracy in Albania," Shehu has said, while the other PD deputies have appreciated the "admirable stand of the Greek minority" and thanked the Greek government and people for their support for Albania over the recent years.

The PS statement also accuses "certain segments inside the PD" and the Albanian Parliament "of lack of readiness to realise national reconciliation, to support the National Reconciliation Government and to realise the March 9,1997 accord".

"The PS expresses once again its commitment to accomplish the signed accord and support the activity of the National Reconciliation Government, both on internal and international plane, especially appreciating the relations with the U.S., the EU, and the active and positive engagement of our West-European neighbours, Italy and Greece," the statement says in conclusion.

The PD yesterday issued a statement denouncing the participation of senior PS representatives in the meeting of the rebel committees of several southern districts which have attempted to found the so-called southern federation.

In its statement the PD accuses the PS of violating, with this act, the agreement of the National Reconciliation, reached in the meeting between the political forces and the president, agreement signed by the PS itself./s.sh/lm/sh/

[09] A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLED IN ELBASAN

The motives of the killing are unknown.

Sources of the city hospital report that the death has been as a result of three bullets fired against Abdiu at a relatively short distance.

During yesterday, forces of the police commissariat have sequestered 20 firearms of various types, found in a car without number plate after a blitz control by police./kled/xh/sh/

[10] MASS ON OCCASION OF CATHOLIC EASTER IN SHKODER

The Arch-Bishop of Shkoder, Monsignor Frao Ilia, celebrating the Mass, said among others that "this is the day of the incarnation of the Christ. We call on you to honour him on this great day. He who learns of peace and fraternity is the best believer in these bad days we are experiencing."

"This day," said Monsignor Ilia, "calls on all of us: to love one another and go always forward, because this is the greatest service we make to Christianity." Hundreds of believers went today to pay visits to Christian believers on occasion of Easter.

This cultural city, today manifested the sacred idea of every inhabitant that "Albanian's oath is Albanian's religion." ssh/xh/sh/

[11] ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

"I would like to reaffirm the resolute stand of the Italian government to support the efforts for peace and democratic development in Albania through the Italian led coordination of the European partners, OSCE and U.N.," says a letter Lamberto Dini has sent to Albanian Foreign Minister Arjan Starova.

The initiatives the Italian government has undertaken and continues to undertake to include the international community aim at resolving the situation created in Albania, supporting national reconciliation, restoration and functioning of the administration and institutions. They aim to create the conditions for bringing in Albania emergency humanitarian and medical aid, which Italy has began to send, and to help in the country's reconstruction," the letter says. a.ke/lm

[12] ORDER ON A CHANGE OF CURFEW DEADLINE

"Beginning from March 30,1997 until a second order, the curfew will begin at 20:00 until 07:00". s.sh/lm

[13] ALBANIA HAS DEMANDED TO BE A PARTY IN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASUES THAT LED TO THE TRAGEDY ON THE OTRANTO CHANNEL

In reply to a question by deputy Azem Hajdari on the event and whether the Albanian prosecutor's office will participate in the inquiry, Foreign Minister Starova said that "we have asked and have made diplomatic efforts to be a party in the investigation. We have also asked through our people that an international expertise on the event could be made possible to start."

Mr Starova also explained the violations of the Understanding reached between him and the Italian Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini, regarding the patrolling of Italian forces in the sea. According to him, the Italian forces had to cooperate with the Albanian forces to adjust the flux of emigrants and this with the humanitarian aim of assisting in case of calamities and not to prevent the refugees. But this understanding has not taken its concrete form," Starova continued, because this would be reached after experts of the respective defence ministries would define all the technical procedures which were then to be fixed in a joint protocol in written, a thing which is not yet finalized."

"As far as this thing was not made yet," said Starova," "I can say that the Italian forces have acted of their own free will, because the protocol would determine the technical procedures, the way of communication, etc." xh

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