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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-24Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] ELISABETH REHN MEETS STUDENTS' LEADERS OF PRISHTINA UNIVERSITYPRISHTINE, OCT. 24 (ATA) - The special emissary of UNO, Elisabeth Rehn, met Thursday in Prishtine with representatives of the Students' Independent Union (SIU) of the Prishtina University, and showed interest on the protests of Albanian students to set free the school buildings and university grounds."Rehn considered the protests "admirable," stressing that "you have the right to hold peaceful protests." "I was shocked by the brutality of the police against you," she said, hoping that demonstrations in the future will be as peaceful as the first ones, and the education question will be solved. "We are strongly interested in the solution of this question. I am invited in Vienna by the OSCE ambassadors and the European Union, and I feel happy to confess my evidence in front of the EU Council of Ministers," said Rehn. The chairman of the Students' Independent Union, Bujar Dugolli, said that the students' organisation tries to protect the autonomy of the university through being depoliticized. Dugolli said that SIU has decided to further demand the students' rights in a peaceful way, without provocations on the part of protesters. "All the efforts have been made not to allow provocateurs among the protesters," said Dugolli. The meeting considered not fair the comparison often made between the Albanian students of Kosova and the Serbian students of Belgrade, because, as the SIU representatives said, the circumstances in Kosova are quite different. In the talks held with Albanian students, Rehn said that she was afraid of the large quantities of weapons in Prishtine, even in private houses, and perhaps any protester may be shot. "We are conscious of this, said Dugolli, because even in the peaceful walks, sharp-shooters were seen in the windows of the houses, which were directed towards the students." As it is reported, Elisabeth Rehn will also hold talks with representatives of state power and Serbian police in Kosova. /b.j/ag/pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] COOPERATION AGAINST CRIME IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH GREECE AND ALBANIA- Exclusive interview of Greek Minister of Public Order Jorgos Romeos with ATA -ATHENS, 24 Oct (ATA) - By R Goro: An extensive meeting will be held in Athens today with the participation of the chiefs of police of the border zones of Albania and Greece. The meeting is held in the course of the negotiations held in Tirane last week between the two respective Interior ministers of Albania and Greece, Neritan Ceka and Jorgo Romeos. With regard to the meeting they stressed that its aim is to materialize the measures for bilateral cooperation and the technical assistance for the reorganization of Albanian police. Mr Romeos attracted the attention in his interview that during the last months an increase of the number of crime in Greece committed by Albanian nationals is noticed, but, he explains, that the culprits for these crimes are not the Albanian emigrants who are settled in Greece after 1990. "We realise that these criminal acts have involved a number of people who broke Albanian jails during the unrest. In that period there was a considerable growth of crime in Albania in general as well and in the South in particular, and the ill-doers had their links also in Greece. Hence, I would say that the increase of crime is attributed precisely to those who came here after last spring, because that was the time when serious acts of crime emerged, such as drug-trafficking and the use of weapons," said Mr Romeos. For the Greek Minister of Order, the thousands of Albanian emigrants in Greece should not be identified with a minority of their compatriots who commit penal acts. "We, as Ministry of Public Order, have many a time stressed that we must not loose control and punish for the criminal acts committed by a minority of Albanian nationals all the Albanian emigrants who are in Greece, because most of them are honest people who want only a job to keep their families and we will assist them." Mr Romeo accepts that during "Sweep" operations, also many innocent people have been expelled or arrested. In this context, he thinks that with the implementation soon of the presidential decrees for the legalization of the emigrants, their situation will improve and the ill-doers will be isolated. "It is in the interests of our two countries to give the deserved punishment to the ill-doers because the opposite would create a bad climate which would affect all Albanians. Also our friends in Albania should understand that if daily criminal acts are carried out in Greece, it is natural that a very negative situation will be created for all the Albanians, something which is not in the interest of either Greece or Albania. After two visits to Tirane on August 5 and October 10, 1997, Jorgos Romeos will meet today for the third time his Albanian counterpart, Ceka. The two previous meetings have formed a sound basis and the Greek Minister says that he trusts the positive predisposition of the Albanian party to control the situation, despite the numerous difficulties. The main commitment of the two parties is the continuous cooperation to fight first against the arms and drug-traffickings which are two main elements that feed crime. It has been realised that the questions of the internal security of Greece are linked with the questions of the internal security of Albania especially on the border regions," ends his interview with ATA the Greek Minister of Order, Jorgo Romeos. With the donation some days ago of a quantity of bullet proof jackets, the technical assistance of Greece for the reorganization of Albanian police amounts to 100 million drachmas and it will increase in the future. Minister Ceka is expected to hand over to Mr Romeos in Athens a list with the names of people who have fled prisons in March 1997, and who are supposed to have left towards Greece, something the Greek party has insistently demanded. lgj/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] FOOD AID OF RED CROSS LOOTED IN SARANDESARANDE, OCT. 24 (ATA) - By Sh Hajno: The storehouse, rented by the Red Cross of Saranda, was attacked on Thursday night. There was a large quantity of packages with food articles, planned for the inhabitants of Saranda town and villages.The Red Cross head for Saranda, the doctor Sofo Gjoni, said to ATA that the robbers have stormed the door of the store-house and have destroyed the wall behind it, making possible looting of 1 800 packages with food articles." Some 1500 packages, worth 3000 leks each, were distributed a day ago. But sources from this district report that the abuses have started a day ago, when most of the packages were distributed by force, and under the shots of kallashnikovs of several policemen, who fired in the air to frighten the wave of crowds trying to take packages. The robbery and the misuse of the humanitarian aid in Sarande have been the leitmotif over the past moths. /a.ke/pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, OCT. 24 (ATA) - "Albanians back to work now," reports Zeri i Popullit on the first page, under the headline "Brussels, $ 600 mln new financing for the new government." The paper carries the conclusion of the Donors and the co-chairmen of the Conference of Brussels on Albania. On the second and ninth page the paper covers the visit of President Meidani in Italy. "Never more such a tragedy!", Meidani is quoted as saying in the meeting with the relatives of the victims of the Otranto Strait. "The construction company of Vefa closed in Tirana," is another article of the paper. The paper published the article "The applause of failures," regarding the fourth Assembly of DP> With regard to election in Monte Negro, the paper writes "The supporters of Bulatovic provoke the Albanians."Rilindja Demokratike entitles the editorial "Brussels like Rome." "Again conditions and money just to earn the living. Anyhow, the conference of Brussels proved that Europe is prepared to help Albania as much as they can, but the Albanians should have another government," reports the paper. The paper writes that four deputies of DP have staged a hunger strike since yesterday in front of the Albanian Radio Television, complaining of not covering the activities of this party. On the fourth page, under the headline "The Premier continues to treat the Albanians with cynicism," the paper cites Nano regarding the tragedy of Otranto "They should draw a lesson from what they suffered." "Kosova ready for new protests," reports the paper on the fifth page. Republika publishes the article "the politicians finally find the way, " regarding the round table of parties, expected to be held today, upon the initiative of the Republican chairman Godo. The paper reports that the opponents of Berisha have remained out of the list of the new National Council of DP. "Former president gets rid of former premier," reports the paper. Under the headline "Echo of the Brussels paradoxes," the paper publishes the article "Governing for the people against the people." "For the current PM, the economic crisis of the country is not an institutional crisis, production of bad governing, 'but a people's gross product'," reports the paper. Koha Jone entitles its editorial "The blue book of West." "Now the Albanian government has nothing to be worried about where to find the money after six months," reports the paper quoting the deputy president of the World Bank Linn. "Albania, the last spring-board of drugs," reports the paper on the second page. Koha Jone reports that after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi, the Albanian communists have demanded their legalization be made on October 8 (date when the Albanian Communist Party was founded in 1944.) "Four DP deputies in hunger strike," reports the paper under the headline "Sudden decision of democrats against 'the information darkness'." The paper carries a statement of Finance Minister Arben Malaj "The assets of pyramids will be given to the people." On the fifth page, under the title "DP does not have the face of a man," the paper publishes the statements of "two DP members, expelled from DP," Tritan Shehu, former DP head and former Interior Minister Musaraj. The paper writes that the presidency of the Democratic Alliance Party has decided yesterday to postpone the first congress of this party. "25 tonnes of pesticide risk Lushnje," reports the paper, regarding an attack on the warehouse "Agro-pesticid." "Endless horror in the British quay of Brindisi, " reports the paper on the thirteenth page. The paper cites President Meidani as saying "This great tragedy will never be repeated." "Deputies in hunger strike, Tirana to go to the square," writes Albania. Under the headline "Demonstration of capital inhabitants on the 33d day" the newspaper writes "Protesters blocked by police vans." "Victims' relatives accuse Meidani," writes the newspaper regarding the Otranto tragedy. "We know who has organized the trip of death," cites the newspaper the relatives of the victims. "Communist Party: refounding on November 8," writes this paper in its third page. Concerning the round table of parties on the initiative of the republicans, the newspaper writes "Parties accept Godo's 'feast.'" The newspaper reports that the trial between Vefa and the Government will be held the coming Tuesday. "Premier threatens judges from Brussels," writes the paper. In its 6th page, the newspaper carries two articles: "Albanians of Kosova, sceptical for the dialogue with Serbs" and Serbia instigates crisis in Montenegro." "Supporters of lost president Momir Bullatovic stir up ethnic tensions in Albanian city of Tuz," writes the newspaper. Rilindja covers the visit in Kosova of the UN special emissary, Elisabeth Rehn, under the title "The accuses for terrorism, pretext for uncontrolled violence against the Albanians." On the third page, the paper cites President Meidani "Albanian-Italian ties can not be divided even by the Adriatic sea." The paper writes that the extremist groups of Bulatovic have provoked two times the Albanians of Malesi e Madhe in Monte Negro. The paper quotes the police which have recommended the drivers not to pass in several roads vehicles with number plates of Ulqin and other cities of Kosova, because the anti-Albanian forces blame the Albanians who voted for Gjukanovic. Dita paper reports that the Albanian communists demand founding of their party. "We are against all parties," the paper cites the independent deputy of Berati, who is declared 'communist'. The paper publishes an article regarding the meeting of President Meidani with relatives of the Otranto victims under the title "Compassionate end for the successful visit of Meidani." "Brokaj in Skopje, border question between both countries discussed," reports the paper regarding the visit of Albania's Defence Minister in FYROM. On the economic page, the paper publishes the article "The administrators, soon in the doors of VEFA." "Nano government between the challenge of populism and the reality," is the editorial of Shekulli. The paper reports that in the airport of Rinas, the customs police have detained 11 persons with 600 000 USD and other foreign currencies they have hidden. "The customs officials are suspected of being corrupted," reports the paper. On the third page the paper writes that Tirana is getting ready for the summit of the Balkans. "The meeting Rugova-Milosevic expected," reports the paper. Regarding the meeting of President Meidani with Pope, the paper reports "Meidani asks the help of Pope for Kosova." The paper quotes the Minister of Finances Malaj: "The conference did not have political condition." Gazeta Shqiptare writes on the first "DP investigated for Gjallica." "Some 30 corpses have been disappeared from the sunken vessel," reports the paper regarding the recovery of the victims of the Otranto tragedy. "Zhulali, the first who is accused," reports the paper regarding the destruction of the Albanian army in March of this year. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] MONSIGNOR FRANO ILIA DECLARED CITIZEN OF HONOUR OF SHKODERSHKODER, OCT 24 (ATA) - By M Malja: Monsignor Frano Ilia was declared on Friday Citizen of Honour of Shkoder.This title was conferred to the Metropolitan Arch Bishop, Monsignor Frano Ilia by the Municipal Council of Shkoder in its meeting held today, with the motivation "For his contribution in the service of religion, Homeland and to the revival of the religious belief in Albania following the democratic processes. His sufferings for 20 years in jails of the communist dictatorship and his contribution to the understanding and peace in Shkoder district are appreciated." Monsignor Frano Ilia passed away on Tuesday evening. He was ordained Metropolitan Arch Bishop of Shkoder by Pope John Paul II on April 25, 1993, during his visit to Albania. Since this year, Monsignor Ilia also held the post of the Chairman of the Bishops Conference of Albania. The coffin of the honoured clerical was placed today in the centre of the Cathedral Church of Shkoder for believers by three religious communities to pay homages to. The funeral ceremony for Monsignor Frano Ilia will be held on October 25 in the Cathedral Church in which the first Albanian Cardinal, Mikel Koliqi, who passed away in January this year, has also been buried. ssh/pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] FLUOR IN WATER TO PROTECT TEETH - TiranaTIRANA, OCT. 24 (ATA) - The fluor will be given to Tirana citizens through water, a symposium, organised for the problems of stomatology, said Friday in Tirana.The program, which will be financed by the evangelist association "Albanian Health Foundation" (AHF), and exercises its activity in America and Canada, includes a project to prevent diseases of caries in the ages 0- 18 years old, and to provide an equipment to inject flour in the water of Tirana. /k.sh/pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT GREETS UNITED NATIONS ON 52ND ANNIVERSARYTIRANA, OCT 24 (ATA) - President of the Republic of Albania Rexhep Meidani greets on Friday the United Nations on its 52nd anniversary.President Meidani considered the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the U.N. "a world-wide event now that it is trying to be reformed, a reformation, which is expected to increase the dynamic and effectiveness of the organisation's work." Meidani thanked the United Nations for the great help rendered to the Albanian people and government in all moments of its history. He thanked the U.N. representatives, who are working in Albania and contributing to the increase of assistance for the development and progress of Albanian institutions, economy and society. "Especially, I would like to stress the immediate reaction of the Security Council through the 1001 Resolution, which enabled the arrival of forces of the Alba mission, facilitating the solution to the Albanian crisis this year, and other resolutions for a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kosova issue," president Meidani said. He expressed Albania's support to U.N. reformation in accordance with dynamic of development and changes taking place after the end of the Cold War. "We believe that the expansion of the Security Council in conformity with these changes and other seats for small countries, especially from the Eastern Europe, will give a complete view to this very important structure of the United Nations, a structure, which will reflect positive changes, which now have become a reality of the world politics," president Meidani said. ss/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] FIVE STORED FLAT FALLS AS A RESULT OF LANDSLIDINGPRRENJAS, OCT 24 (ATA) - By P. Zekthi: A five-stored flat under construction fell recently in the city of Prrenjas because of a landslide caused by heavy rains.Sources of the regional town hall said that the construction has begun on 1990 but the technicians failed to observe the terms of technical security, which brought about the incident. ake/kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] HEADS OF BALKAN STATES TO DIALOGUE IN CRETE SUMMITBy Eva AllushiTIRANE, OCT.24 (ATA)-A summit with the participation of the heads of the Balkan states will be held in Crete of Greece between November 3 and 4, at the invitation of Greece. Establishment of peace and stability in the region as well as solution of old interstate conflicts through dialogue will be on the agenda. Will this conference lead to new developments in a Balkans of a specific historical reality? The heads of many of the Balkan states have already understood that the sole way leading to cooperation and halt of the warmongering spirit in the region remains the implementation of the known international standards in treating nationalities within states and national minorities. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis asked his counterparts in Southeastern Europe several days ago to exploit the summit to discuss the creation of good-neighbourliness relations, stability in the region, inter- border cooperation, investment initiatives and other issues. -Climate in the Balkans. There is a leaning of states towards regional initiatives. A new European spirit, borders losing their dividing character, Balkans without walls, regional integration: are phrases which are increasingly being used by the chiefs of Balkan diplomacy. The Balkans experienced two crisis of late: the Yugoslav war, which cost Yugoslavia the dissolution and the Balkans tension in the extreme borders as well as the disintegration in a day of the Albanian state created in 1912. The threat of a Balkan war culminated in climax. The west realised that the parameters of total destabilisation of the Balkan region had been reached and intervened. Now it seems all have set sights to the longwanted peace and stability. "Balkan mentalities and romantic ideas for pure ethnic Balkan states should be given up," Shkopje Defence Minister Kitanoski said at a Balkan meeting of Defence Ministers, reminding in this way of "Achilles' heel" in this region, the issue of the national minorities. On their way to create a tradition of dialogue, as the only means to resolve problems, in the conference of the parliament speakers of Southeastern Europe, held several days ago, the parliamentarians committed themselves to intensify interstate relations, respect sovereignty and human rights. In the meantime, the two prime ministers of the neighbouring countries, Albania and Greece, Nano and Simitis, at a meeting in Tirana confirmed the will of their governments to search for peaceful solutions to the problems worrying the Balkans. "The Balkans should not remain a region of historical conflict", Nano said, also confirming that Albania will support any initiative that would unblock dialogue in a hot Balkans. Turkish Prime Minister Jilmaz considered "very significant" the Crete Summit, which will also discuss Greek-Turkish relations. The FYROM president, Kiro Gligorov, has said that the differences in the Balkans should be resolved through compromise. The Serb head of state, Slobodan Milosevic, too, has said at a meeting with ex-Prime Minister, Mitsotakis, that he hopes that the Summit succeeds in "strengthening the Balkan integration process". Will there be an Albanian-Yugoslav meeting in Crete? "Any head of state can discuss bilateral issues with his counterpart," Simitis said in Tirana. This might be a proposal of the latter to the Albanian counterpart regarding a possible high-ranking Albanian-Yugoslav meeting. Albania and Serbia are two historical inevitable neighbours with Kosova in between. The relations between the two states have been characterised by many conflicts, little peace and lack of dialogue. The situation marked a turning point on September 23, 1997 when chiefs of diplomacy of both states, Milo and Milutinovic, shook hands for the first time after 40 years. Both sides agreed to have other high-ranking meetings and sign bilateral agreements. The Serbian police used force on October 1 this year to disperse 20 thousand Albanian protesters in Prishtina. Serbia did not respect the agreement on education signed by Milosevic and Rugova on September, 1996. The steps towards dialogue have remained half way. After this, the Albanian Foreign minister reacted saying "I exclude any Albanian-Serbian meeting in Crete, unless Belgrade fulfils three conditions imposed by Tirana to improve relations." But, will Serbia fulfil the conditions imposed by Tirana and go to Crete? At a time when the Serbian side is stirring up tension, the Albanian government considers that the Kosova issue should be part of the bilateral and multilateral initiatives to calm relations between the Balkan neighbours. Papandreu, the Greek minister for European affairs has said that he wants Athens to mediate for Kosova, because, according to him, the ties of Greece with Albania and Serbia are "excellent". * * * In the background of a region with frightening mentalities, wars, but also with crystallized initiatives for new and integrating relations, it seemed that the Balkans is aiming at finding real peace. The Crete summit is an important step to build bridges of dialogue and understanding. kei/lm/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] DP DEPUTIES CONTINUE HUNGER STRIKETIRANA, OCT 24 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: The hunger strike of the four deputies of the Democratic party (DP) Vili Minarolli, Ylli Vejsiu, Azem Hajdari and Shaban Memia entered its first day on Friday."We are optimistic, but the situation around us is dramatic. We are surrounded by seven police cordons and our wives are not allowed to bring us medicaments or contact with us," Ylli Vejsiu, the DP Organisation Secretary said later on Friday. Police, which guards the Radio Television, a building of special importance, do not allow any person and even the journalists but only deputies to meet with the strikers. Sali Berisha, the Democratic leader met with the hunger strikers early on Friday. The strikers, who are fasting in front of Radio Tirana and Italian Embassy, passed from a grey Mercedez to another one given by former president Berisha. The four said that they have begun fasting as "the Arbnori amendment was not implemented", and they urged guarantee for it. They went on strike after the Radio Television director refused to send camera crews to shoot the DP rallies. Azem Hajdari, the DP deputy, has threatened the RTV director Albert Minga in a Thursday rally. The Democratic leader has urged on Friday the DP regional division to organise protest rallies. ake/kei/ak/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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