Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-07-15

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRESS REVIEW

[02] DECLARATION OF HELSINKI ORGANIZATION "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" ON PUNISHMENTS PASSED ON 15 ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA

[03] EXPLOSIONS AT SEA RISKING FAUNA IN SARANDA

[04] ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA WILL NOT TAKE PART IN SERBIAN ELECTIONS

[05] MULTINATIONAL PROTECTION FORCES START LEAVING SHKODER

[06] RELATIVELY CALM SITUATION IN GOSTIVAR AND TETOVE

[07] ARMED GROUPS ROB TRAVELLERS IN AXE OF ROAD MILOT-BURREL

[08] OPERATIONS OF TIRANA POLICE COMMISSARIATS

[09] INTERVENTION IN GOSTIVAR AND TETOVE AIMED AT PUNISHING AND WEAKENING FAIR REQUESTS OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA - from meeting of DPA Presidency

[10] MULTINATIONAL COEXISTENCE SHOULD DOMINATE IN MACEDONIA - NANO

[11] AMBASSADORS OF BRITAIN AND RUSSIA GREET SP VICTORY IN ELECTIONS

[12] ITALIAN MILITARY DELEGATION HOLDS MEETINGS IN DEFENCE MINISTRY

[13] MEETING OF DP PRESIDENCY HELD

[14] DP ANALYSES LOSS AND TAKES MEASURES TO CORRECT MISTAKES

[15] TRAINS REDUCED DUE TO LACK OF FUEL

[16] ALBANIAN NATIONAL FLAG ALSO REMOVED FROM COMMUNE OF DIBER

[17] ALBANIAN DELEGATION OF DPYF IN 17TH CONGRESS OF DEMYC IN CYPRUS

[18] PRESS RELEASE OF DPA

[19] SPECIAL FORCES GO TO BERAT, WHERE SITUATION IS VERY TENSE

[01] PRESS REVIEW

"Republic wins," writes Zeri i Popullit concerning the final result of the CEC on the Referendum on the form of the regime in Albania. "Listening to declarations like that of last Sunday's in the last hours of his failed career by the head of state, Berisha does nothing else but increases the hatred and alergy of the people who are tired of listening to such declarations for six years now," writes this paper under the title "Berisha in search of a strategy of destabilization." "Challenges in the end of century and a government led by socialists" is another article that the newspaper publishes in its fifth page. "SHIK (National Information Service) had the countenance of Berisha," writes the paper under the headline "How should the National Information Service of the Republic of Albania be recontructed?"

"Berisha will leave DP but not the Presidence," is the title of an editorial in Republika. "Last movements in the blue headquarters, complaints from grass-root DP branches, a top-secret meeting of the democrats in the Presidence have all confirmed the negative news on Berisha's lack of will to step down, but only his withdrawal from the presidency and the list of the DP members," writes the paper in its editorial. "The Government parades in SP. The names only in the new Parliament," is the title of another article published in the fourth page of the newspaper. It carries an interview with the Right Democratic Party leader, Petrit Kalakula under the title "Nano must not be a Prime Minister."

"Normalization of the situation under police supervision," writes Rilindja about the situation in Tetove and Gostivar.

"Ms Elisabet Rehn voices her concern on tragic events in Gostivar," writes Rilindja in its second page. Under the headline "Reactions of political and non-political subjects from all-albanian space towards the vilence of Macedonian regime against Albanians in Tetove and Gostivar" the paper carries an article "Macedonian state has chosen the alternative of violence and confrontation."

"The leader of the Albanian Socialist Party, Fatos Nano dismissed on Sunday doubts that existed in the Albanian policy regarding the new orientation of the Albanian policy," writes newspaper Albania in its editorial entitled "'Diplomatic' accounts of Fatos Nano."

"President to step down within August 25," writes this paper referring to Agency Enter which cites a spokeswoman of the President.

"Socialists start second operation to ruin companies" writes the paper under the title "Nano: Now it's Vefa's turn." "The disillusioned impact of Nano's first steps" is another article the paper carries in its second page.

"Macedonian police make threatening parades," writes the paper under the title "Tense situation in Albanian cities, Diber, Struge."

"Fino keeps Berisha in the Presidence," writes Koha Jone.

"Tirane's hand in Scoplje?" is the title of an editorial of this paper.

"Berisha died - the Christ in life again" is another article this paper carries. "Albanians have the chance to see the strange metamo rphosis of chameleons who change from red to blue and now lately to rose, at a surprising speed," writes the pper.

"Public debate on status of Greek minority in Albania has in fact only one value: that the minority become a political issue precisely when Greece does not want this," writes the Independent in its editorian entitled "Minority in the middle?"

"CEC: Monarchy is definitely lost" writes the paper in its fourth page. "Diplomacy, what would be raised after the fall" is an article in the political page of this paper, while in its page on economy, the paper writes "Pyramid investment schemes, the great challenge of socialists."

"Berisha should be brought to trial" writes Dita under the headline "Committees continue to give signs of life: Open fight to their main opponent, President Berisha."

"New headquarters of powers, new relations" is the title of an editorial of this paper. In its page of politics, the paper carries an analysis on the programatic interview of the SP leader Fatos Nano und er the title "Will he see behind?"

"Berisha-Fino-last embrace" writes Gazeta Shqiptare. "Macedonians concentrate army on border," writes this paper under the headline "Tension after bloodshed of Gostivar."

"Battle for the throne: Republic defeats Monarchy," writes the newspaper on its second page/kled/xh/sh/

[02] DECLARATION OF HELSINKI ORGANIZATION "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" ON PUNISHMENTS PASSED ON 15 ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA

All these, says the declaration, show that the trial of 15 Albanians has been politically motivated. According to the radio the "Voice of America," the Prishtine district court found 15 Albanians guilty on July 11 under the charges they have cooperated with the secret organization "Liberation Army of Kosova" which has taken upon itself the responsiblity for the killing of a number of Serbian officials and policemen since February last year and the killing of two Albanians it has accused as collaborators with the Serbian Government. Only three of the defendants Besim Rama, Idriz Asllani and Avni Nura were present in the courtroom, while 12 other defendants were tried in absentia. All defendants were sentened with imprisonments ranging from 4 to 20 years.

According to the Helsinki Organization Human Rights Watch, three of the defendants who were present in the courtroom accepted their guiltiness during investigation, but later they retreived their declaration saying that they were forced to accept their alleged guiltiness after physical and psychological tortures during investigation process. The court did not take into account the declarations of the accused and did not order the beginning of any investigation on the use of tortures by police.

Activists of the human rights observed the judicial process and they noticed other irregularities such as the arbitrary decisions of the head of the jury not to allow the presentation of facts by the defence attorneys. The 15 Albanian defendants are among 100 people arrested by the end of January this year, after a number of terrorist attacks in Kosova, says the dclaration further on.

During a visit in Kosova in February, the defence attorneys said to representatives of Helsinki Organization "Human Rights Watch" that they were not allowed to contact their clients for eights days and that many of their clients were beaten hard while in custody. Some of them accepted guiltiness after matlreatment.

The declaration writes that the organization recognizes the right of the Serb authorities to investigate into and to penally prosecute the suspects for terrorist acts, but such inqueries must be made in full conformity with the guarantees of the country and human rights international ones. In this case there are ample facts proving that both Serbian and international laws have been violated, mainly through the use of tortures. The declaration says that the political laws in Kosova are a continuation of the oppressive policy of the Serbian Government against Albanians of Kosove.

Such acts, the violation of the human rights on the part of police forces and discrimination in the field of education and health care have been part of a state policy since 1989 to oppress the Albanians and urge them to emigrate. The organization appeals to Serbian authorities to make unbiased investigation on the use of torture and other violations in the judicial process and to assure the defendants of judicial processes according to the Serbian laws and the international law. sk/xh/sh/

[03] EXPLOSIONS AT SEA RISKING FAUNA IN SARANDA

The ecologia of Butrint has had the same forture. Butrint, with a water area of 1 600 hectares, has been very rich in fish, eels and oysters. ssh/kled/xh

[04] ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA WILL NOT TAKE PART IN SERBIAN ELECTIONS

"The reason for Albanians' non-participation in the Serbian elections is of a principal character and of a fundamental importance," declared Agani to newspaper Koha Ditore of Prishtine. He stressed that "the Albanians will not take part in those elections because their participation in them would legalize the annexation of Kosova by Serbia, of 1990."

Also other political parties of Kosova have denied the possibility of Albanians' participation in Serbian polls, which are alien for Kosova.

Kosova has proclaimed its independence and is resolute to realise it peacefully and on this basis it has conducted its polls and boycotted all Serbian elections.

The elections in Kosove will be held within this year and preparations for them have already started, report political and state subjects of Kosova. bj/ag/xh

[05] MULTINATIONAL PROTECTION FORCES START LEAVING SHKODER

Sources of the Shkoder Prefecture say that the withdrawal of the forces from that city is going on gradually. According to these sources, the troops deployed in that prefecture since two months ago upon the request of local authorities, have patrolled roads Shkoder-Lezhe, Shkoder-Velipje, Shkoder-Koplik and Shkoder Puke. They have escorted the humanitation aid of the International Red Cross, from which have profited about 4 500 families in that city. xh/sh/

[06] RELATIVELY CALM SITUATION IN GOSTIVAR AND TETOVE

Reports say that a considerable part of the special police has withdrawn but numerous police patrols are still in sight on the streets of that city.

The streets of Gostivar and Tetove are almost empty and the shops, with small exceptions, are closed. Police continue to arrest people and the number of the people summoned by police so far is presumed to be over 500.

According to reports from medical center in Gostivar, so far, over 200 people have asked medical treatment and 20 of them have been kept under doctor's supervision.

This number is presupposed to be greater because there are some out-patient clinics in the suburbs of Gostivar where the wounded have been treated as well. A great number of people continue to be kept in custody and maltreated by police. pta/xh

[07] ARMED GROUPS ROB TRAVELLERS IN AXE OF ROAD MILOT-BURREL

It is reported that the most dangerous axe of these attacks is that of Shkopet-Ulez, where despite the police efforts, the situation is still under the control of the armed groups.

The repeated attacks in this axe of the road, along with the others, have influenced on the merchants who are afraid to buy goods in Tirana, Durres or other districts of the country. /kled/mt/

[08] OPERATIONS OF TIRANA POLICE COMMISSARIATS

As it is reported in an announcement of the Tirana Police Department, a wide operation, with the participation of the forces and vehicles of all the commissariats of Tirana, was carried out today in the morning in the zone of Kombinat, quarter in the outskirts of Tirana. The cause of this operation were the gun shots on Monday after midnight. Some of these shots were also directed to the police station, and a small quantity of TNT was planted in its grounds.

From the controls exercised in residences of citizens the police forces have detained 4 machine guns, 4 rifles, a heavy machine gun, 2 grenades and a quantity of ammunition. Five persons who had these weapons were escorted to the police commissariat no 2. Two of them were wanted by the police.

From the controls of the police commissariat no 1 in the houses of the citizens who have fired into the air, the polcie forces have found 4 machine guns, 11 rifles, 400 cartridges and 6 grenades have been uncovered.

From the organized operations of the criminal police and order forces of this commissariat, Rustem Kadri Hasani, 47, have been arrested, accused of murder.

The forces of police commissariat no 3 have arrested a person who robbed vehicles, as well as other persons, accused of looting the houses. /mt/k

[09] INTERVENTION IN GOSTIVAR AND TETOVE AIMED AT PUNISHING AND WEAKENING FAIR REQUESTS OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA - from meeting of DPA Presidency

DPA presidency reached the conclusion that the intervention in Gostivar aimed at punishing and weakening the requests of Albanians in Macedonia. It aimed among others at exploiting the moment when the mother land - the Republic of Albania - became weak. The implementation of this strategy coincides with the visit of the Macedonian Premier Cervenkovski in Belgrade and his meeting with the Serbian President Milosevic. This police intervention also aimed at preventing the integrating processes in the Albanian political plane - concluded the DPA presidency.

The presidency decided to work for setting free all the political prisoners, including also the chairman of the commune of Gostivar and to ask the responsibilities from the government.

The DPA was established on July 5 this year, as a result of joining of the Party for Democratic Prosperity of the Albanians and the Democratic People's Party, two of the parties of the Albanians in FYROM. /p.ta/mp/kled/mt/k

[10] MULTINATIONAL COEXISTENCE SHOULD DOMINATE IN MACEDONIA - NANO

"Efforts for a stable democracy should be made, both in Albania and Macedonia. Without deepening this process, there is no solution for the Albanian question," said Nano in a meeting held on Tuesday with the Chairman of the Party for Democratic Prosperity in Macedonia, Abdurraman Halili.

Nano estimated the efforts of the Party for Democratic Prosperity to come out of the situation created in Macedonia through constructive ways and stressed that the further deepening of the cooperation between both parties would serve to the Albanian issue, SP spokesman reports.

Referring to the last tragic events experienced by the Albanians in Gostivar and Tetove, Nano said that "a multinational cohabitation should dominate in Macedonia, but for this a good will should exist and efforts should be made to deepen the democracy."

Haliti appreciated the victory of SP in the June 29 polls and informed on the current situation of the Albanian population in Gostivar and Tetove.

The Macedonian police has arrested recently hundreds of Albanians, who protested in defence of the national flag and other Albanian symbols, which have secured the resistance of Albanians in the territories they live, detached from the mother land.

The senior Albanian authorities have expressed the regret for the three people killed and scores of others hurt during the protests.

The Albanian officials have also called on the Macedonian authorities to show self-control. /kei/mt/k

[11] AMBASSADORS OF BRITAIN AND RUSSIA GREET SP VICTORY IN ELECTIONS

The SP chairman informed the British and the Russian Ambassador that the winners would know how to administrate the wide power that the people trusted through the vote on June 29, reported Jonuz Bega, in the Foreign Sector of the Socialist Party.

"Co-governing of the European type," considered Nano the next government, established on the basis of a coalition of the center and the left center, made up of five parties, reports the above source.

Both ambassadors greeted the victory of the SP in the early parliamentary elections held in Albania. The British Ambassador, Andrew Tessoriere, appreciated the way SP is administrating the victory, by not abusing with the majority it won from the votes of the electorate.

Both ambassadors greeted the constructive efforts of SP for the establishment of a broad-based government, which serves to the interests of the country and deepens the democracy in Albania.

According to the results of Central Electoral Commission, in the early parliamentary elections of June 29, SP won two thirds of the votes. /kei/mt/k

[12] ITALIAN MILITARY DELEGATION HOLDS MEETINGS IN DEFENCE MINISTRY

The delegation met with the Albanian Chief of the Army General Staff, general major Adem Copani.

During the meeting they talked about the contribution of the Alba mission in Albania, for the need of cooperation and further development of relations in the military field.

Di Faolo underlined the great possibilities for the education of the Albanian military men in the Italian military schools and academies, where scores of Albanian officers, lieutenant officers and students attend the studies there..

On the same day, both military delegations, headed by general major Adem Copani and Admiral Di Faolo, held bilateral talks on the emergent needs of the Albanian army in the field of logistics, infrastructure, in the reestablishment of the Naval Defence, of the aviation, in the establishment of the Coastal Guard, in the consolidation of the military police, etc.

Copani stressed that it is prepared a special program for international assistance to create the conditions for a possible restructuring of the Albanian army, aiming to integrate Albania into the euro-atlantic structures, ends the report of press and information office of the Defence Ministry. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[13] MEETING OF DP PRESIDENCY HELD

The presidency concluded that DP should be reorganized and become stronger to play the role of the loyal and constructive opposition it has undertaken.

Analysing the communist revenge, manifested right after the SP victory, the presidency decided that all the measures should be taken to prevent this revenge and the application of the theory of Fatos Nano's dismantling.

To analyse this situation further more and to decide on the other political steps, the presidency decided that the National Council of the Democratic Party should convene on Sunday, ends the report of DP spokesman. /kei/mt/k

[14] DP ANALYSES LOSS AND TAKES MEASURES TO CORRECT MISTAKES

"Due to the situation in the South, these elections were not elections but solutions," said after the meeting the member of the presidency, Ferdinand Xhaferri, in the majority part of which were discussed the main factors which led DP in the plebiscitary loss.

Xhaferri said that the presidency, as causes for the DP loss considered: the inefficiency of the fight against corruption, the non application of an official's ethics, the lack of an acceptable government within these two years and naturally the non evidence of the faults and problems of DP.

"The DP loss in Tirana and in the Middle and Northern Albania showed that the electorate has been bored by the DP ruling. After this responsibility is found, measures should be taken to attract again this electorate which did not support us," said Xhaferri.

All the people who spoke in the meeting said that the values of DP during these five years can be not dishonoured, but stressed on the other hand that in a near meeting of the DP National Council, the Democratic Party will carry out a complete analysis of the factors of the loss, and it is also expected the full restructuring of DP.

After the resignation of the chairman, Tritan Pollo, according to the statute of the party, until the congress is held, his duties will be carried out by the Secretary General, Genc Pollo.

According to Xhaferri, DP to face the "SP revenge", is considering the possibility of boycotting the parliament as a political mean. /kei/mt/k

[15] TRAINS REDUCED DUE TO LACK OF FUEL

This for the fact that the factory of the deep oil processing in Ballsh is not providing the railway with oil recently according to the contracts signed before, because the factory and the cistern vans are not fully protected by the order forces.

It was this the cause that several days ago unknown persons stole 7 cisterns of oil, whose destination was for the railway.

The railway which is now in difficulties, has reduced from work two trains which connect Tirana with Durres, a train which connects Tirana with Shkoder, and another train which connects Pogradec with Tirana.

The Director General of Railways in Durres, Arben Keci, told ATA that "we have actually oil to work only a few days, which can influence on the paralyzation of the railway, causing so great damages to our economy, as well as the movement of travellers."

"We are fighting intensively to find the complete solutions of this problem, asking the best help from the special forces of police, which will secure the continuity of work, both in the oil factory, and in the railway," said Koci. /kei/mt/k

[16] ALBANIAN NATIONAL FLAG ALSO REMOVED FROM COMMUNE OF DIBER

According to the prefect of the town, Qemal Xhafa, with the irritation present on the people, the situation is calm for the time being. Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office brought an indictment against the prefect and the chairman of the communal council of Tetova.

"The removal of the national flag rouse indignation on all the citizens of Diber, - stressed Xhafa for the Voice of America, but fortunately they have showed self-control, aiming to avoid the confrontation with the Macedonian police, whose number has increased recently."

"The Albanian national flag was removed on Monday by midnight even from the commune of Likove in Kumanove.

While the prefect Vahid Saiti has been called in police to give information. /l.t/kei/mt/k

[17] ALBANIAN DELEGATION OF DPYF IN 17TH CONGRESS OF DEMYC IN CYPRUS

After the main debate in the days of the congress regarding the role of DEMYC towards a more fruitful cooperation with the Eastern countries, the Albanian delegation presented in the meeting of the executive committee of that organization the present situation in Albania. It also spoke of various aspects of the electoral campaign for June 29, 1997 polls.

The Albanian delegation stressed the DP determination to recognize the elections for the sake of the stability in the country and decision to consider as unaaceptable the results of the elections in all the zones of rebellion.

The highest-ranking officials of DEMYC and leaders of the member delegations voiced their great concern about the way how the electoral process was held in Albania and especially about the violent victory of the former communists. They guaranteed continuous support for the DPYF and the democratic forces in the country with that aim that they, as a powerful opposition, be able to stop any step behind that the former communist may make.

The last sitting of the congress discussed the proposal of the DPYF on a critical stand of DEMYC towards the violence of Macedonian authorities against Albanians in Gostivar and Tetove. The congress decided unanimously that DEMYC, together with DPYF organize a study visit in Tetove and Prishtine so that the situation be closely attended and the Albanian youth subjects there start a close cooperation with DEMYC.

During the days of the congress, the Albanian delegation had meetings at all levels with all participating delegations and with chairmen of EYC and EDS. xh

[18] PRESS RELEASE OF DPA

Mr Haliti presented to Mr Pollo a wide panorama of the situation in Macedonia. He spoke of the inter-party efforts to prevent the approval of the law on the limitation of the use of national symbols by the Albanian community living in Macedonia, the rather opposite pronunciations by the Albanian intellectual circles in the debates proceding the approval of that law in the written and electronic medums, the violence exerted perfidiously by the Macedonian Government and the suspension of the participation of the representatives of the party he directs in the Macedonian government and Parliament until the National Council of that party takes the respective decisions.

Mr Pollo expressed once more consistently the DPA opinion for an absolute denunciation of the violence, the indispensable need of lifting any limitation regarding the national rights and symbols of the nation for the cummunity of the Albanians living in Macedonia.

"While in opposition, the DPA will try that the present parliamentary majority and its government be aware of the national question and adopt policies to protect it," said Mr Pollo to Mr Haliti.

Also present in the meeting was the DPA secretary for public relations, Vili Minarolli, who told Mr Haliti of the work to sensitize the Albanian opinion on the massacre and brutality of the Macedonian chauvinist circles on the Albanian community living in Macedonia. ssh/xh

[19] SPECIAL FORCES GO TO BERAT, WHERE SITUATION IS VERY TENSE

"The situation continues to be tense and the results of the work of the special forces are not confirmed yet, meanwhile that the deputy Interior Minister, Sokol Baraj, has gone to Berat," said that Director of the Order Police in the Interior Ministry, Arben Perrenjasi.

Unconfirmed sources report for several people who have been killed, meanwhile that Perrenjasi confirms the killing of a person. /mt/k

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