Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-20

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN PM MEETS AMBASSADOR OF PALESTINE IN ALBANIA

[02] VERY WANTED PERSONS DETAINED BY POLICE IN DURRES

[03] CONSIDERABLE QUANTITIES OF WEAPONS COLLECTED IN DEPOTS - police controls in Librazhd and Korce -

[04] TIRANA COURT ACCEPTS TO RE-EXAMINE DOCUMENTATION OF "POPULLI" FOUNDATION

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] CRIMINAL ARRESTED IN KUKES

[07] FORMER ALBANIAN SPEAKER STAGES HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST AGAINST RTSH

[08] POLICE WILL NOT BE LED BY POLITICAL COMMISSARS

[09] SPECIAL FORCES IN VLORE DETAIN THREE PERSONS

[10] FIRE EXTINGUISHED IN TARABOSH

[11] SOME 500 000 DM FOR THE KAMZA UNIVERSITY

[12] ALBANIA-UKRAINE SOCCER MATCH IN KIEV TODAY

[13] DEMACI ON CONFRONTATIONS IN PPK: "EITHER YOU OR ME"

[14] LOOTERS IN BERAT KNOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN BANK BY CITIZENS

[15] RESPONSE OF PRESIDENT MEIDANI TO WORRY OF ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS IN ITALY FOR A POSSIBLE REPATRIATION

[16] ALBANIAN PARTIES ON KOSOVA INTELLECTUALS' INITIATIVE TO MAKE KOSOVA THIRD REPUBLIC IN YUGOSLAV FEDERATION

[17] SOCCER: UKRAINE BEAT ALBANIA 1-0 (0-0)

[01] ALBANIAN PM MEETS AMBASSADOR OF PALESTINE IN ALBANIA

The Palestinian diplomat expressed in the meeting the wish to boost the relations of friendship and cooperation between both people.

Premier Nano expressed the readiness of Albania to strengthen the relations of cooperation between both countries. /s.sh/kled/mt/sh/

[02] VERY WANTED PERSONS DETAINED BY POLICE IN DURRES

Lulezim Berisha, as sources from the police commissariat report, was wanted by the German Interpol for drug trafficking. He has been arrested by the Albanian police and during the unrest he escaped from the isolating cells.

The police commissariat of the district has arrested recently 8 persons who were wanted by the police for different penal acts like murders, sexual violations, robbery, and others. /jz/mt/sh/

[03] CONSIDERABLE QUANTITIES OF WEAPONS COLLECTED IN DEPOTS - police controls in Librazhd and Korce -

He also said that even during the controls in the communes of Lozhan in Korce were blocked 23 heavy machine guns and 17 light machine guns, 9 anti-aircraft machine guns, 26 defensive grenades and 7 antitank shells and a considerable quantity of cartridges of different calibres. /s.sh/pas/mt/z/.

[04] TIRANA COURT ACCEPTS TO RE-EXAMINE DOCUMENTATION OF "POPULLI" FOUNDATION

The defendant B. Driza, N. Driza, A. Cepele, are accused of stealing through fraudulence and stealing in collaboration.

Their judgement is carried out in absentia, because they are not in Albania since the jails were stormed in March.

"Populli" foundation collapsed at the beginning of the year. /jz/mt/

[05] PRESS REVIEW

Foreign Minister Paskal Milo reports on the one-month work before the Parliamentary Foreign Commission," reports the paper under the title "The diplomacy to the service of crime." "Thousands of diplomatic and service passports to the people of street and hundreds upon thousands of dollars in vain," underlines the paper.

On the economic page, the paper carries an interview with the representative of the World Bank in Albania, under the title "The World Bank and the Government are preparing new projects."

"The stand of the Albanian government regarding the deportation of the Albanian emigrants from Italy will fit to the naivety of Foreign Minister Paskal Milo," says the editorial of Rilindja Demokratike. Under the title "Secret accord of Nano to the detriment of emigrants," the paper carries a statement of the "Union for Democracy."

"The socialist deputies turn the parliament into a meeting of the Assembly of cooperatives," reports the paper on the third page under the title "Some 200 000 files of the State Sigurimi opened."

The paper publishes a pronouncement of the DP Secretary General, Genc Pollo, regarding the disarmament of the population under the title "The myth of DP disarmament is false."

"The spies cause quarrel in the parliament" is the editorial of Republika. "It is two days that the parliament is dealing with spies and genocide," says the editorial. "Alarm on the winners. Lottery of emigration to US interrupted," reports the paper on the third page. "Populli foundation in dilemma as pyramid scheme," is another article published by the paper.

"In the meeting held Tuesday with the representatives of local government, Premier Nano availed himself of the occasion to express with concrete act his will to engage the opposition in the spaces of co-governing," says the editorial of Koha Jone entitled "The conciliation of Nano without Berisha." "The refugees, victims of Nano 3"? is another article published by the paper under the headline "The crisis of refugees, the political arena. The origin, Conference of Rome." "The constitution continues to remain the 'apple of discord' between the position and opposition," reports the paper under the title "Constitution: Berisha changes colour."

"America supports the leading policy of Rugova," reports the Rilindja paper, regarding the meetings of President Rugova in USA.

The paper publishes a statement of Albania's Premier, Fatos Nano, after the meeting with the mayors of districts.

"The refugees, victims of Nano's chaffering," is the editorial of Albania. "The Albanian government members showed themselves before the cameras yesterday for the first time to blame the Italian government for the deportation of the Albanian emigrants," says the editorial. "The opposition asks seasonal employment," reports the paper under the title "Berisha to Italy: Don't bring the Albanians back." "The Albanian drugs attack Greece," is another article published by the paper.

"IMF topples the transparency," reports the paper on the third page.

"The conference of EU ministers at the end of September conditions offering of western aid for the restoration of the Albanian economy with the restitution of order and national reconciliation," reports Dita paper in the editorial entitled "The Byzantine games." Under the title "The state is approaching - that's why we are optimist," the paper covers the visit of Albanian Speaker, Gjinushi, in Southern Albania.

Under the title "Return of Albanian refugees: Rome should be careful, Gazeta Shqiptare carries a pronouncement of the chief of the Albanian diplomacy. "The constitution, SP deputies with the eyes towards the jurists," is another article published by the paper. "The democratic leader accuses the Prime Minister," reports the paper under the title "Berisha: Nano plays with the fate of emigrants in Rome." /kled/mt/Z/

[06] CRIMINAL ARRESTED IN KUKES

Ferian Daci, 24, from the district of Mat, has been detained in the center of the town in Kukes during the police operation.

Sources from the police commissariat report that Daci was declared wanted by police as author of many murders, robberies, etc.

Together with Daci was another wanted person, Eduard Hasani, 22, from Kukes, who managed to escape, profiting from the presence of many citizens on the place, who made difficult the work of police. /pas/mt/Z/

[07] FORMER ALBANIAN SPEAKER STAGES HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST AGAINST RTSH

"I have staged this strike to protest against the Albanian Radio Television (RTSH), which has censured the yesterday's plenary session, by not broadcasting the proceedings completely. The presidency and the chairmen of the parliamentary groups had agreed to broadcast the full sitting in the Television, but the cameramen were not allowed to shoot."

Arbnori criticized severely the stand of the only state-run television in Albania, which according to him does not respect the rights of the deputy and the opposition. "Moreover, in the report for the staging of this strike, the Albanian Radio Television slandered when saying that I staged the hunger strike against the law on genocide, which passed through parliament on Tuesday," said former Speaker Arbnori.

The deputy of the Albanian Democratic Party since 1991, told the press today that his protest does not have a spectacular character, but it will be staged according to all the rules of a hunger strike.

"This is the first time I stage a hunger strike," said Arbnori, who has served 28 years in jails of the communist dictatorship. "I have carried out this form of protest some three other times, and I have managed to win."

Arbnori did not gave any deadlines for the duration of the strike, and invited the Democratic Party and the opposition not to follow his example. He invited the press not to disturb him everyday during the strike, but to come and see him after ten days. "I resist at least 20 days," said the DP leader.

As point of compromise for the interruption of the strike, Arbnori declared the moment when the speeches, statements and opinions of him and of his colleagues in opposition will be broadcasted in the Television full and not censured. /kled/mt/Z/

[08] POLICE WILL NOT BE LED BY POLITICAL COMMISSARS

"The aim of our work is to really depoliticize the police," said the State Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Ndre Legisi, during the meetings he held with the effective of the police commissariats in the districts of Kruje and Mirdite, the spokesman of this ministry reports.

According to the spokesman, Legisi guaranteed the effective of these commissariats that none of the policemen will be discharged from work because of the political preferences, but added that he will not allow to manifest these preferences while being on duty.

Legisi presented in Kruje and Mirdite the new chiefs of commissariats: Lieutenant colonel Preng Laska and major Asllan Baku. /jz/mt/Z/

[09] SPECIAL FORCES IN VLORE DETAIN THREE PERSONS

Two youths from Fier who travelled in a car with foreign number plates were caught after a blitz operation of the special forces at a town's quarter. They also carried automatic rifles and pistols.

The forces also detained yesterday late at night a very wanted person. After the first investigation procedures he was sent to Tirana together with the other two.

The number of the detained by the special forces, in cooperation with the local police, over the last days exceeds 50. a.ke/kei/lm/k

[10] FIRE EXTINGUISHED IN TARABOSH

The fire was extinguished in 11 places but it was again lighted by various people, director of the district forest service, Kujtim Dani, told ATA.

Over the last three years there has been no case of fire in the town's woods of 90 000 hectares. a.ke/jz/lm/k

[11] SOME 500 000 DM FOR THE KAMZA UNIVERSITY

This was confirmed during a recent meeting of the Albanian Minister of Education and Science, Ethem Ruka, with the ambassador of the FR of Germany in Tirana, Mr Hanspeter Disdorn, who once again offered the readiness of his country to provide assistance in education, especially university and professional one.

The 500 000 DM will be used for the Agricultural University of Kamza, mostly destroyed among the higher schools in the country. This fund will not be used for restoring buildings but only for the material basis, labs and their equipment with up to date appliances coming from Germany.

The damages caused over the last four-five months and which are estimated at 70-80 million dollars, include the whole network of the educational system, from the North to the South of Albania. pas/lm/k

[12] ALBANIA-UKRAINE SOCCER MATCH IN KIEV TODAY

Albanian coach Astrit Hafizi has decided the following players to play today: Strakosha, Daiu, Shulku, Tole, Xhumba, Vata, Haxhi, Paco, Bushi, Tare and Rraklli.

The Albanian national soccer team has played the following matches:

Albania        -  Portugal  0-3
Albania        -  Armenia   1-1
North Ireland  -  Albania   2-0
Albania        -  Ukraine   0-1
Albania        -  Germany   2-3
Portugal       -  Albania   2-0

In addition to today's match with Ukraine, the Albanian team has to play the following matches:

September 6   Armenia   -  Albania
September 10  Albania   -  North Ireland
October 11    Germany   -  Albania

ake/jz/xh/k

[13] DEMACI ON CONFRONTATIONS IN PPK: "EITHER YOU OR ME"

The crisis in the PPK and the resignation of four of its members was triggered off by disagreements on a greeting to the new Albanian leadership on behalf of the PPK and the visit to Tirana by several functionaries of this party.

Demaci says that "there are many indications and arguments making him think that the new leadership in Albania has not assumed power democratically and it is unable to accomplish what the enslaved Albanians expect from it".

He made remarks on the relations with Greece and warning of a normalisation of relations with Serbia, saying that "There can be no normalisation with Serbia and concern in Kosova at the same time".

He expressed doubt that "Since the beginning, the new Albanian leadership has pronounced itself on leaving Kosova a colony of Serbia".

However, he did not exclude the possibility of contacts between his party and the new officials of Tirana.

Demaci considered the U.S. stand on resolving the Kosova issue in the framework of Serbia and Yugoslavia a "result of Rugova's policy".

Demaci regarded Washington's request for dissociation from and condemnation of "terrorism manifested on the part of Albanians", as a request which equals the victim with the violator.

"There can be no terrorism on the part of those who act in self-defence," he said reminding that "it is the Serb state terrorism which has been exercised on Albanians since 1912 and today."

"As a party we are for peaceful and democratic war. We are against extremist actions, but we will neither condemn nor regard them as terrorism," Demaci said.

Demaci, chairman of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Kosova, has served 28 years imprisonment in Serb jails.

Several years ago the European parliament awarded Demaci the Sakharov prize. b.j/ag/pas/kled/lm

[14] LOOTERS IN BERAT KNOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN BANK BY CITIZENS

Looting of money in Berat is a ritual the police have been unable to curb.

"The money. We know you have money in the bank. You have this amount of money in the savings book," the looters said showing the exact figure deposited.

This fact and the robbing of the bank twice has made the Berati depositors to think that looters cooperate with people inside the bank.

The latest case has been the stealing a week ago of the money of pensionists of the Terpan commune, with 10-12 people ambushing at the Qafe e Kumbullave the vehicle carrying 4,1 million leks of the bank. a.ke/kei/lm/k

[15] RESPONSE OF PRESIDENT MEIDANI TO WORRY OF ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS IN ITALY FOR A POSSIBLE REPATRIATION

This response is also broadcast through Radio-Tirane, at 3.30 p.m. and at 7.30 p.m., news hours today.

Mentioning the fact that they have lost their savings and homes in the collapsed pyramid investment schemes, the emigrants consider absurd the agreement reached between the Albanian Government and the Italian one for the return home of the emigrants, "at a time when Albania has signed an agreement with the Greek government for the legalization of the emigrants."

They voice the will that the Albanian Government should ask from the Italian Government to grant emigrants regular documents for their stay in Italy.

The letter mentions as a positive fact the legalization of the Albanian emigrants who went to Italy in 1991.

The emigrants express the desire that their government must remind the Italian Government of the victims in the Otranto Channel as a result of the crush of an Albanian illegal boat with an Italian patrolling vessel on March 28 this year, during which about 80 Albanian illegals got drowned in an effort to reach Italy.

The bodies of the victims are not yet recovered.

The emigrants consider a charity the amount of 300 thousand liras the Italian state offers every Albanian who agrees to return home voluntarily.

They ask Mr Meidani to really value their problem, by mediating in the Italian authorities, ends the letter of the group of Albanian emigrants.

President Mejdani says at the beginning of his letter that he shares in their troubles created both by the loss of money in the pyramid schemes and their efforts to survive or build a dignified life in Italy, but also in A lbania, in the future which he hopes is not far.

He considers the Otranto tragedy the biggest wound in Albanians' sacrifices to enjoy a better life.

"It would be decent for us to thank the Italian government for what it has done so far in helping Albania and the Albanians. We trust in the engagement of Italy and Prime Minister Romano Prodi, personally, in recovering the vessel which has sunk in the Otranto, as a condolence to the family members who lost their beloved," Mejdani says further on.

He shares in their worries for their possible return to Albania by the Italian authorities.

Mejdani says that in the efforts of the new institutions to put an end to chaos, to restore order and perspectives of life, Albania has and continues to have the support of the international community and Italy, in particular.

He says that the creation of supplementary problems regarding repatriation of emigrants from Italy would make the performance of the Albanian government at this period even more difficult.

The president considered the latest agreements with Greece one of the steps towards contacts with all the states having Albanian emigrants, so that they be treated in a dignified way.

President Mejdani assures the emigrants that the Albanian government, through the Foreign Ministry and that of Labour and Social Affairs, is carrying out mediation in the Italian government for a new dimension of the Italian stand towards the Albanian emigrants arriving in Italy over the latest months. a.ke/pas/kei/xh/lm/k

[16] ALBANIAN PARTIES ON KOSOVA INTELLECTUALS' INITIATIVE TO MAKE KOSOVA THIRD REPUBLIC IN YUGOSLAV FEDERATION

"We shall clarify this question in our coming negotiations with Fehmi Agani (deputy chairman of the LDK) and other Kosova leaders who will come to Albania soon," said Wednesday Secretary General of the Socialist Party of Albania, Pandeli Majko.

Majko said that "it is the Kosovars (Albanians of Kosova) who have to decide on this problem."

"Kosova politicians should make clear their political positions," he said.

Whereas the DP Secretary General, Genc Pollo, did not speak about the proposal for "a third republic," but attacked the policy of Albania's present government regarding this issue.

"DP maintains that the way Kosova is presented in the Government program is unacceptable. There is not a clear concept on the question of Kosova, moreover, there is silence for some questions on which consensus has been previously reached, like that of the negotiated dialogue between Prishtine and Belgrade," said Pollo.

Right wing opposition representatives were against the idea of a third republic for Kosova. The chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo and the Balli Kombetar Party leader, Hysen Selfo, voiced their opinion for a full independence of the Republic of Kosova.

The two other republics in the context of Yugoslav Federation are Serbia and Montenegro.

Kosova consists of 90 per cent Albanians, it was separated from ethnic territories of Albania in 1913 through a decision adopted by the London Conference. kei/xh/k

[17] SOCCER: UKRAINE BEAT ALBANIA 1-0 (0-0)

Albanian players: 1-Fotaq Strakosha; 2-Afrim Tole, 3-Ilir Shulku, 4-Arjan Xhumba (14-Alpin Gallo 45), 5-Rudi Vata, 6-Artan Daiu, 7-Viktor Paco, 8-Alban Bushi, 9-Igli Tare, 10-Altin Rraklli, 11-Altin Haxhi.

Attendance: 35,000

The Albanian national soccer team has played the following matches: Albania - Portugal 0-3 Albania - Armenia 1-1 North Ireland - Albania 2-0 Albania - Ukraine 0-1 Albania - Germany 2-3 Portugal - Albania 2-0 Ukraine - Albania 1-2

Albanian team has to play the following matches:

September 6   Armenia   -  Albania
September 10  Albania   -  North Ireland
October 11    Germany   -  Albania

ake/kei/xh/k

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