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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) [1], 97-03-31Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERSTIRANA, MARCH 31 (ATA)- The Council of Ministers met on Sunday and held a minute of silence in honour of the victims of Friday's tragedy in the Otranto Channel, according to the government's Press and Information office.Afterwards it approved a draft-decision to put off the deadline of usual passport's validity. The Council of Ministers also discussed measures to be taken for the implementation of the law on "Admission to Albania of a multinational military force in support of humanitarian operations," a law passed by parliament yesterday. s.sh/kled/lm/sh/ [02] ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO ALBANIAN COUNTERPARTTIRANA, MARCH 31 (ATA)- Defence Minister of the Italian Republic Beniamino Andreatta has sent a message of condolences to his Albanian counterpart, Shaqir Vukaj, according to the Defence Ministry Press and Information office."I was shocked to learn the news of the tragic sea accident which claimed the lives of your fellow citizens. Please, accept, at this very sad moment, the deep feelings of condolences of the Italian Armed Forces. I also express my personal grief and share in the sorrow of the families of the victims and all the Albanian people. I condole with the victims families and wish the wounded a quick recovery," the message says among other things.s.sh/kled/lm/ [03] MARCH 31, NATIONAL MOURNING DAY FOR ALBANIANSTIRANA, MARCH 31 (ATA)-Today, March 31,1997 has been declared a day of national mourning for Albanians. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, decreed yesterday the national mourning day to pay homage to the Albanian nationals who lost their lives in the Adriatic.On March 28, an Albanian vessel sank some 30 miles off the Brindisi coast. The number of the Albanians who drowned is 79, according to the testimony provided by the survivors. Thirty-four people survived the sinking and only four bodies were recovered. kled/lm/sh/ [04] VEFA COMPANY STORE IN BERAT LOOTEDBERAT, MARCH 31 (ATA)-By I. Manka, A mob of people looted a VEFA company store in the "Clirimi" quarter of the Berat town on Friday night.Within few minutes the whole store was emptied and according to an economist its damage reaches some thousands of dollars. The guards employed by this company were unable to overcome the mob. Meanwhile, in this town, where the police presence is not yet felt, the situation is turbulent. Shooting does not stop for the whole night. The inhabitants continue to guard quarters and apartment buildings in self-defence. Yesterday, a 57 year-year old man was found murdered, but the environments of this event are not yet clear. Hospital sources say that two children of the Romanice village were killed by a bomb explosion./s.sh/kled/lm/sh/ [05] GUNMEN RANSACK PRIVATE PREMISES IN KUKESKUKES, MARCH 31 (ATA)- By R.Hoxha, Gunmen looted a considerable number of private premises and public institutions in Kukes, Northern Albania, last night.Shootings as well as bomb explosions created a feeling of terror among the town's inhabitants. A 22-year-old youth was killed by gunfire. Meanwhile nights continue to be fearful due to the gunshots in this city since March 11. Hospital sources say that the number of the injured in this district has reached 70, while according to other sources nine people have lost their lives since the beginning of unrest. kled/lm/sh/ [06] LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SHKODER WORK TO STABILISE SITUATIONSHKODER, MARCH 31 (ATA)- By M.Malaj, The local government structures in Shkoder are working to normalise the situation.The 12 political parties active in this district express, through a public statement, their support for the government of National Reconciliation and legitimate local government structures and at the same time ask from the police commissariat to work intensively to restore order in the city. Last night there was sporadic shooting and hospital sources of the city say that two people wounded by uncontrolled fire were hospitalised.p.sh/kled/lm/sh [07] TIRANA COMMEMORATES THE ADRIATIC VICTIMSTIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - By Agim Baci: The machine horns sounding, prays and a minute of silence accompanied the inhabitants of Tirana at noon today, in commemoration of about 80 people who lost their lives in the Adriatic, Otranto channel, on March 28.By a presidential decree, this Monday was proclaimed a day of mourning. For one minute, all the inhabitants of Tirana who were on streets stopped , while drivers kept their machine horns sounding. Besides, all state institutions had the national flag hung half mast and work was interrupted for a minute to honour the victims. According to testimonies by those who could survive from the disaster, 79 Albanian people lost their lives, mainly women and children, as a result of the collision of an Albanian ship with an Italian frigate. According to a declaration by Albanian Ambassador in Rome Pandeli Pasko, based on testimonies of the people who were saved, the frigate first blocked the way of the Albanian ship, at a time when the sea was rough and then it approached it from behind and hit it in the middle, then again at the back part of the ship. These hits brought about the filling of the Albanian ship with water and its immediate capsizing. The people who could, threw themselves in the water. The pronunciation of the Albanian government says that the tragedy could be avoided. kei/xh/k [08] GREECE SUPPORTS ALBANIA TO OVERCOME THE PRESENT SITUATIONTIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: Mutual understanding and support that Greece has given to Albania in these difficult moments were considered as powerful bridges linking the two countries, said Pavli Zeri, state secretary in the Albanian Foreign Ministry in a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Aleksander Filo who leads a Greek delegation visiting Albania.Stressing the total predisposition "in favour of the consolidation of the cooperation between the two countries," Zeri said that "this visit of the Greek delegation is an expression of the friendship of the Greek government towards the Albanian people." Attending the meeting held today in the Foreign Ministry was also the Albanian deputy foreign minister, Albert Rakipi. The signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was underlined in the meeting as a fact showing that the relations between the two countries are going ahead. The Treaty is expected to be ratified as soon as possible by the Albanian and Greek parliaments. During its two-day visit to Albania, the Greek delegation will have meetings with the Prime Minister Bashkim Fino at his cabinet and will also meet with the President of Albania, Sali Berisha. kei/xh/k [09] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH EUROPEAN UNION AMBASSADORTIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino reiterated the readiness of the National Reconciliation Government to consolidate the relations with the European Union in these difficult moments Albania is passing, Albanian Premier's press and information office reports.During the meeting held last Sunday with the EU Ambassador in Tirana, Elio Germano, Mr Fino discussed the present situation in Albania and the aid that European Union countries may offer to the Albanian people in these difficult moments. Fino stressed that the National Reconciliation Government considers the restoration of public order as the key to the resumption of the normal life in Albania, the arrival of humanitarian aid, but also to the creation of possibilities for the people to be able to work normally. Mr Germano conveyed to Mr Fino the readiness of the European Union to assist Albania to overcome the crisis and restart normal life. He declared that at present there are 3 million ECU at the disposal of Albania, as a part of the emergency program and that this assistance will increase depending on the positive evolution of the situation in Albania. Mr Germano also underlined that other funds will be accorded to Albania in the context of the PHARE Program, along with the existing programs. kei/xh/k [10] GREECE SUPPORTS ALBANIA TO OVERCOME THE PRESENT SITUATIONTIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: Mutual understanding and support that Greece has given to Albania in these difficult moments were considered as powerful bridges linking the two countries, said Pavli Zeri, state secretary in the Albanian Foreign Ministry in a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Aleksander Filo who leads a Greek delegation visiting Albania.Stressing the total predisposition "in favour of the consolidation of the cooperation between the two countries," Zeri said that "this visit of the Greek delegation is an expression of the friendship of the Greek government towards the Albanian people." Attending the meeting held today in the Foreign Ministry was also the Albanian deputy foreign minister, Albert Rakipi. The signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was underlined in the meeting as a fact showing that the relations between the two countries are going ahead. The Treaty is expected to be ratified as soon as possible by the Albanian and Greek parliaments. During its two-day visit to Albania, the Greek delegation will have meetings with the Prime Minister Bashkim Fino and his cabinet and will also meet with the President of Albania, Sali Berisha. kei/xh/ [11] ISMAIL KADARE ON THE PRESENT SITUATION IN ALBANIATIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - In a statement made in the Italian press on the present situation in Albania, the renowned Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare, said that "this drama does not affect at all my gratitude for the Italian Government and people that are manifesting a great human solidarity towards the victims of an unbearable situation," the Albanian Foreign Ministry department of press and information reports."First of all, that mixture of forces, political adventurers of every kind, businessmen, bandits, local mafia, that terrorize the country and have made it kneel down, must be isolated and not allowed to act. The President and the present government should have their authorities restored," says the declaration. ake/kei/xh/ [12] VLORA IN MOURNING FOR ITS PEOPLE DROWNED IN THE ADRIATICVLORE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - The city of Vlore, southern Albania, was in mourning on Monday. At noon, to commemorate the terrible event when an Albanian ship capsized in the Straits of Otranto as a result of which scores of citizens, mainly women and children, lost their lives, sirens and horns of cars kept sounding.For whole minutes, arms of various kinds were fired in all sides of the city. In commemoration of this tragedy, a peaceful rally was held on Monday morn ing in the Flag Square. Various speakers expressed their grief over the event. They also asked the Italian and Albanian authorities to throw light on the causes of the disaster and to find out the responsible people who caused the tragedy. After the rally, the people went to the main street Vlore-Skele, and chanted various slogans such as "From the North to the South Albania is in mourning." etc. According to testimonies by those who could survive from the grave disaster, 79 Albanian people lost their lives, mainly women and children, as a result of the collision of an Albanian ship with an Italian frigate. According to a declaration by Albanian Ambassador in Rome Pandeli Pasko, based on testimonies of the survivors, the frigate first blocked the way of the Albanian ship, at a time when the sea was rough and then it approached the Albanian ship from behind and hit it in the middle, then again at the back part of the ship. These hits brought about the filling of the Albanian ship with water and its immediate capsizing. The people who could, threw themselves in the water. The pronunciation of the Albanian government says that the tragedy could have been avoided. The situation in the city of Vlore has been generally tense due to the uncontrolled fire of arms, which in some parts of the city has continued during all the night and this morning. Unconfirmed sources report that some people have been wounded. ake/kei/xh/k [13] AGRICULTURAL BANK AFFILIATE IN VLORE RANSACKEDTIRANE, MARCH 31 (ATA) - By Agim Baci: The affiliate of the Agricultural Bank in Vlore was totally ruined as a result of a riot by an armed group, Vlore police commissariat reports.The armed group managed to enter the building and ruin everything there after a fire exchange with the policemen guarding the institution. Affiliates of other banks in that city have been destroyed previously, as a result of armed attacks. The Vlore Police Commissariat also reports that during the riot against the Bank, armsfire was opened for half an hour against the Police Commissariat building. The exchange of fire caused no victims. After the rioting, the armed group left quickly. kei/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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