Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-08-24

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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] GREATER HOPES FOR REVIVAL OF CULTURAL VALUES IN ALBANIA

[03] ALBANIA DEMANDS AVOIDANCE OF VARIOUS INCIDENTS ON ALBANIAN-MACEDONIAN BORDER

[04] ALBANIA'S SOCCER CUP RESULTS

[05] ALBANIANS CONTINUE TO SURRENDER ARMS VOLUNTARYLY

[01] PRESS REVIEW

Rilindja Demokratike writes: "Arbnori (former Parliament Speaker) isolated by Gjinushi" (who has replaced him to this post) regarding the hunger strike of Arbnori. The newspaper writes on the same topic under the title "Silence of TV for the hunger strike." The newspaper writes that "the gangs' power is facing the democratic resistance."

Republika carries an article entitled "Purging starts in DP." It also has an editorial under the headline "Transparency towards political scandal." Among social topics is the article "Disappearance of children again on stage."

Koha Jone carries an interview with Albanian former deputy Prime Minister Gramoz Pashko, who is in Washington, citing him saying that "The present government will have, at least, 8 years in office." With regard to the hunger strike of Arbnori, the newspaper carries the editorial" Why is the card 'Arbnori' being played?" The newspaper publishes an interview with Sotiraq Hroni. spokesman of the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, under the title "Meidani, a different president."

Newspaper Albania writes: "Gjinushi jails Pjeter Arbnori," and carries an editorial entitled "Three crimes against state." The newspaper writes that over the first month in office of the new government, the toll was 192 killed and 202 wounded. In one of the topics on economy, the newspaper writes: "Now, the prices 70 per cent higher."

Rilindja writes that the Political Director of Foreign Relations of Germany, Volfgang Ischinger, has declared in Belgrade that "Albanians want independence." The newspaper covers the meeting of the Chairman of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, with the U.S. diplomat, Nicholas Hill, in which they discussed the situation in Kosova.

Newspaper Dita writes: "SP's South in rebellion," and that "Albania without long-term economic policy." This paper writes that over the past 24 hours, 6 people are killed and 2 others wounded in Albania.

Gazeta Shqiptare writes: "Bullets and blood shed on border," regarding the two Albanian workers who were killed by some Macedonian soldiers in Rrajce. The paper writes of the demands of some DP members to separate from the party: "Criticizers want to keep their posts." kei/xh/

[02] GREATER HOPES FOR REVIVAL OF CULTURAL VALUES IN ALBANIA

To this recovery will also contribute Albania's participation in two international symposiums in the field of culture due in September this year in Scoplje and Athens. Participating in it will be foundations which finance in the field of cultural inheritance, such as the World Fund of Monuments, the Cultural Asset Board, along with organizations which have already made their contribution like UNESCO, said the director of the Institute of Monuments of Culture, Valter Shtylla, who will represent Albania in the two symposiums.

The symposium of Scoplje will focus on the damages in the cultural and natural heritage during crisis and war, whereas that of Athens will treat specifically the harms to the cultural heritage by the political-economic crisis and the war in Southeastern Europe.

The meeting will discuss in particular the damages caused in Bosnia, Albania and Bulgaria.

"We have prepared a detailed discussion on the problems of the natural and human damage caused in our cultural inheritance over the transition period and as a consequence of the latest political-economic crisis," said to ATA Shtylla.

Shtylla said that recently as a result of torching the bazaars of Gjirokaster, Shkoder, Korce, as well as facades, surrounding walls, paved roads, etc,. in Gjirokaster, have been damaged.

The aforesaid cities are also some of the most ancient centres of the Albanian culture.

Asked about the damages to monuments of culture in the South of Albania, the directors of the Institute of the Monuments of Culture Valter Shtylla and of the Institute of Archaeology, Namik Bodinaku told ATA that the greatest damages was that caused to the material base and in infrastructure.

Telemak Llanaj, chief of the Monuments of Culture in Butrint, 20 km from Saranda, had previously told ATA that the damages over March were caused to a considerable number of museum objects and findings from the latest excavations of archeological expeditions.

According to Llanaj, the cultural value of the destructions was incalculable.

Plundering of cultural values has also been noticed in the archaeological museum of Durres, whereas some other objects of cultural heritage, which have been guarded by police and the locals themselves, have not been harmed. xh/k

[03] ALBANIA DEMANDS AVOIDANCE OF VARIOUS INCIDENTS ON ALBANIAN-MACEDONIAN BORDER

The chief of the Regional Department in the Albanian Foreign Ministry, Kastriot Robo, summoned the FYROM Ambassador in Tirane, Nikola Todoercevski to protest to the killing of two Albanian nationals on August 21, 1997 on the Albanian-Macedonian border.

The press and information office of the Foreign ministry reports that Mr Robo stressed in the meeting that such events run counter to the efforts the Albanian party is making to improve the relations between the two countries.

"We shall work together to prevent such acts," said Mr Robo, adding that "it is necessary that the joint border commissions convene as soon as possible to analyze the latest incidents."

Mr Todorcevski pointed out that bilateral efforts should be made to prevent border violations. ake/kei/xh/k

[04] ALBANIA'S SOCCER CUP RESULTS

Rrogozhina - Flamurtari   3-3
Kruja      - Tirana       0-3
Burreli    - Vllaznia     2-3
Albpetrol  - Apolonia     0-3
Albanet    - Partizani    0-3
Memaliaj   - Shkumbini    0-0
Durresi    - Lazi         1-2
Permeti    - Lushnja      2-1
Cerriku    - Besa         2-2
Shijaku    - Teuta        0-0
Skenderbeu - Sopoti       1-0
Kuzova     - Tomorri      0-0
Pogradeci  - Elbasani     (not played)
Tepelena   - Bylis        3-1
Saranda    - Shqiponja     -
Lezha      - Olimpik      0-2

[05] ALBANIANS CONTINUE TO SURRENDER ARMS VOLUNTARYLY

Locals of Tirane villages too have handed in arms they looted from army depots which were stormed in March this year. ake/kei/xh/k

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