Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-02-10

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Economic and social crisis, but not political - Coalition

[02] Berisha has closed formal and informal relations - Imami

[03] Secretary of State for Euroatlantic Integration visits Spain

[04] Majko, Mock debate changes in law on genocide

[05] Press review (1)

[06] Press review (2)

[07] (Press...3)

[08] President of Alliance of Balkan News Agencies visits ATA

[09] Albanian assassin detained in Italy

[10] Albanian sportsmen to take part in Balkan Shooting Championship

[11] Cerrik records no penal act in three months

[12] Democratic Party hesitates to join parliament

[13] Albanian drug traffickers detained

[14] Seven victims and 14 rescued in Otranto Strait

[15] 500 workers to be employed seasonally in Italy

[16] OSCE urges Austrian parliamentarians to help stabilise Albania

[17] People commemorate February protest, killing of Artur Rustemi

[18] Parliament, constitutional dispute be resolved through consensus

[19] Albanian people to give final say on constitution

[20] Albania, Austria to promote relations, Austrian speaker says

[21] Visit of Albania's president to US - successful

[22] Albania's president meets with Russian ambassador

[23] Albania's president meets with head of Balkan news association

[01] Economic and social crisis, but not political - Coalition

"Albania perhaps is facing economic and institutional crises, but not political crisis," said Majko in the meeting on Monday. The representatives of the government coalition reconfirmed that rallies and strikes do not show lack of political stability.

"The solution of the institutional crisis will end when the constitution is drafted, while the economic crisis will be solved with the realization of reforms," said Majko. He and the Social Democratic Secretary, Kule, assured for the resolution in the economic reforms, although this can bring about temporary dissatisfaction. "The economic reforms will have a social price, but we will accept it, even if it has electoral consequences, " said Majko. /mt/

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[02] Berisha has closed formal and informal relations - Imami

"Berisha has closed all the formal and informal relations," said Imami in the meeting with the Austrian parliamentary delegation. The co- chairman, elected by the Democratic Alliance Party, explained the procedure of the parliamentary commission and showed all the efforts for the integration of the Union for Democracy.

The other co-chairman of the commission, Sabri Godo, did not participate in the meeting. The representatives of the Republican Party did not take part even in the meeting that the United Right had with the Austrian delegation. /mt/

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[03] Secretary of State for Euroatlantic Integration visits Spain

After the conference Lakrori held a working meeting at the Foreign Ministry of Spain with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and United Europe, Ramon de Miguel.

He thanked Spain for its assistance to overcome the 1997 crisis in Albania, and the support it offers for Albania's integration in the Euro- Atlantic structures.

Miguel expressed the commitment of his government to support the reforms in Albania and the process of its integration with the European family. a.ke/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Majko, Mock debate changes in law on genocide

The leader of the European Democratic Union hinted that he considered change in the law on genocide as a change which either neglets or re- estimates communism.

"I would receive any of this idea with a smile," said Majko. "I engaged in politics as a student of December, in the anticommunist movement, and I would never accept a law or political action which re-estimates communism," said Majko.

The Secretary General of the coalition's main party said that this grouping during and after the June 29 elections has had very good relations with the Formerly Politically Persecuted Association. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Press review (1)

x

TIRANA, Feb. 10 (ATA) - The dailies on Tuesday pay attention to the new tragedy of Otranto.

"Tragedy in Otranto, 8 persons drowned," under this title Koha Jone newspaper writes that "At least 8 people were drowned while a dinghy, which started from Vlore, broke down in the open sea, in vicinity of Brindizi." According to this paper, there have been 22 persons and only 4 of them saved.

"The speed boat, which started from Vlore in bad weather, was capsized," reports Gazeta Shqiptare, and the Italians found only four bodies and are looking for the others. It also writes that the alarm was given in the port of Brindizi from a cellular telephone in the board of the dinghy, which was split.

"They started from Vlore, the Italian navy and helicopters saved 14 persons," writes Shekulli regarding this tragedy. The dinghy, according to it, left from Vlore port at 20:00 on Sunday with more than 20 Albanians.

Four bodies were found, while two have lost in the sea, reports Dita Information, while Zeri i Popullit, mentioning the reaction of the Italian Foreign Minister, Napolitano, "We should make all the efforts to fight the illegal emigration," stresses that there have been massive landings of refugees from Albania today. Also other papers, like Rilindja Demokratike and Albania, report regarding this tragedy. /s.sh/mt/

(more)

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[06] Press review (2)

Under the headline "The Austrian deputies bring Jozefina Topalli in the offices of the Assembly," Koha Jone writes that "The deputy Speaker took part in the meeting with the president of the Austrian parliament, Heinz Fischer, which was held Monday in the office of Gjinushi."

"Fischer: Blockage of parliament's work should end," is the title of the article published by Zeri i Popullit regarding this visit. According to it, Fischer has said that "We would be very pleased if the blockage of parliament's work due to the absence of some deputies finishes." It also quotes Speaker Gjinushi as saying "... if parliament is considered legal, all the political forces should join it."

With regard to this visit, stressing that "Topalli 'returns' the deputies in parliament," Shekulli newspaper also writes. Dita Informacion stresses that "Topalli puts an end to the DP boycott in Parliament." Albania has also carried the article "The Austrians listen the Albanian policy." /s.sh/mt/

(more)

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[07] (Press...3)

"Meidani mediator for the hunger strike" is a title of Gazeta Shqiptare. It says Meidani ends fasting of the formerly politically persecuted. "Compromise consisted in Meidani's pledging a round table of the political forces to draft a complex law on the scrutiny of figures".

"The hunger strikers end their strike" says Zeri i Popullit, which says that a meeting was held at the presidency seat yesterday with representatives of the hunger strikers. Also attending the meeting was the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts.

The secretary of this association, Lili Ndoci, who took part in the meeting, thanked the president of the Republic and the OSCE ambassador "for their commitment to resolving the problem, and declared the end of the hunger strike of the formerly politically persecuted all over the country," the paper says.

Shekulli says that the coordinator of this strike, Agim Bakalli, has stated that "We are grateful for President Meidani".

This topic is also covered by Dita Informacion, which says that "The anticommunists' hunger strike ends", Rilindja Demokratike, which says since in the title that "The formerly persecuted win over security". s.sh/lm/

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[08] President of Alliance of Balkan News Agencies visits ATA

"The invitation is part of the cooperation between the Balkan news agencies, serving professionalism and exchange of experience," said Çupi at the reception extended to the Greek representatives at the ATA offices.

Kouzinopoulos, on behalf of the ABNA Assembly, presented the project on the Diavlos programme, which will provide ATA with a new technical assistance to distribute news to the Balkan countries and the world.

The participants at the meeting referred to real possibilities to create a Balkan Data Base, which will enable closer links between ATA and the Balkan agencies and provide chances to gather information from them at any time.

Serving this project, the European Union has earmarked special funds to be released shortly after the specific projects are presented.

"ATA is working on the project of DATA Base programme and the installation of the Provider", director Çupi said.

During his stay in Albania, the ABNA president will meet senior state authorities, reporters and specialists in information./lm/

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[09] Albanian assassin detained in Italy

According to sources from the Interior Ministry, Tara is accused of killing the citizen G.D. in the town of Fushe-Kruje on January 1, 1998. After committing the crime he fled to Italy and his detention was enabled due to the cooperation between the gendarmery of Trevisos and Interpol of Tirana. /s.s/cela/mt/

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[10] Albanian sportsmen to take part in Balkan Shooting Championship

"The Albanian team will be composed of 11 shooters, women and men, three of whom are youths," sources of the Albanian Shooting Federation told ATA.

The best Albanian shooters to contest in this championship with pistols also include Diana Mata and Enkeleida Shehu. /s.sh/cela/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Cerrik records no penal act in three months

Cerrik town has recorded no penal act over the last three months.

Regarded as one of the flashpoints of anti-governmental and anti- usury revolts in the spring of last year, Cerrik is currently one of the most stabilised towns as regards law and order in the Elbasan zone.

Over the last 85 days no penal act has been committed in this town, the chief of the district police commissariat 2, Gani Zeneli, told ATA.

In the restoration of order the police have also been backed by the local government, but the main factor in normalising the situation have been the inhabitants, themselves, who have respected the law./cela/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Democratic Party hesitates to join parliament

"The dismissal of the chairman of the Korce district council is a grave provocation to the opposition. His dismissal is in violation of the laws, according to which the prime minister is entitled the right to propose this act, a thing which has not been done," DP chairman Sali Berisha told a news briefing on Tuesday. /cela/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albanian drug traffickers detained

had just landed in Italian coasts carrying 238 kg. of marijuana.

The Lecce police told ATA that an Italian national, helping four Albanian illegal emigrants to distribute the drug had been detained as well.

According to the same sources, the Albanian drug traffickers must have illegally crossed into Italy from the Albanian coasts on the same day. /s.sh/cela/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Seven victims and 14 rescued in Otranto Strait

ROME, Feb. 10 (ATA) - By Ilenja Mehilli: An Italian tugboat brought in the port of Brindisi the bodies of two Albanians, a man and a 20-year- old young woman, who were drowned yesterday near the Brindisi port. Five other bodies are not found.

Meanwhile, the Italian authorities of the Brindizi port, early on Tuesday, sent to the Albanian Interior Ministry the list with the names of 14 persons who survived the tragedy that occurred on February 9, 1998, 10 miles far from the coasts of Brindizi, Italy.

According to the Italian coastguards, some 21 people were aboard the dinghy. While, according to the survivors, there were some 25 persons. 14 of them have survived the sinking: 8 men, 3 women and 3 kids.

The prosecutor's office of Brindizi has opened file regarding this new tragedy occurring in the same channel and the investigations are being carried out by the deputy attorney Lino Giorgio Bruno, sources from this prosecutor's office reported.

They added that the persons had set sail from the Vlore port on a dinghy, 9 meters long, which sank seven miles from the southern Italian coast.

The cause of the sinking was a defect with the dinghy.

Rigers Velaj, 29, identified as one of the organizers of this trip, has been arrested by the police of Brindizi. Sources from the same police has reported that: "I have received 600 000 lire from each person on the dinghy."

Among the people surviving is also Isa Isai, 30, with his wife and two children, respectively 10 and 11 years old. "We have neither house nor work," he said.

"We have lost everything in pyramid investment schemes, that's why we left for Italy."

Monsignor Cosmo Francesco Rupi, the archbishop of Lecce, said that "the problem should be seriously considered in order to stop the arrival of dinghies from Albania and to control the coasts from where the illegal emigrants set sail."

"These crossings, according to the Italian Interior Minister, Napolitano, are not trips of hope, but of distress and adventure."

He wished the new law on emigration is approved by the Senate this month.

Also, Napolitano said that "This law aims at strengthening the fight against criminal exploitation and influx of illegal immigration." /s.sh/cela/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] 500 workers to be employed seasonally in Italy

He added that the office has started registration for those who want to be employed temporarily in Italy by an accord for seasonal employment reached by the two governments.

The job application requests that the person interested in temporarily employment from six to twelve months should be between 20 to 35 years old and registered as unemployed in the respective labour office.

After the contract is over the Italian owner has the right to renew the contract with the employed.

"200 persons returned from Italy on December 3 last year will have a priority in this selection as well as those, who have worked as welder, fitter and others," Jako said. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] OSCE urges Austrian parliamentarians to help stabilise Albania

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] People commemorate February protest, killing of Artur Rustemi

In the square in front of the city's mosque a memorial to this day and the Vlora martyr was built.

Head of the district council Nedin Xhelili, addressed the rally and the Secretary General of the Presidence Daut Gumeni and Socialist Coordinating Secretary Gramoz Ruçi unveiled a memorial and plaque, which gives the name of Artur Rustemi to the square, in the presence of thousands of people.

A commemorative meeting was organised in the theatre hall with Gumeni conveying the greetings of the president of the Republic Rexhep Meidani. "The best opposition is the people," Gumeni said, adding that "real possibilities are created now to establish the state, which as an obligation and security for all the citizens, needs all of us."

"I wish that Vlora is the first state of the Albanian state," Frrok Çupi, publicist and intellectual, addressed the audience after he was asked by his numerous sympathizers to speak.

He added: "This is because Vlora has such an intuition, which cannot allow anyone to hurt the state. This is a good beginning, because we have devoted the best sons, fraternity and unity to the state, and above all, because we share the same word, we need state."

Çupi evoked memories of his friend Artur Rustemi since the events of 1991 who "did not manage to feel the real democracy in our society."

"The lecture, which yesterday's authorities learned from Vlora, though they have not understood it yet, has its values for us in power, for my colleagues in Tirana, parliament, Presidency and government, because none can make jokes about the people," Gramoz Ruçi, the SP coordinator said.

The meeting was also addressed by Syrja Sherifi, the head of the "Unity, Fraternity February 10" Association and representatives from the city of Permet.

Representatives of political parties, local government and others attended the commemoration. ake/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Parliament, constitutional dispute be resolved through consensus

"We had believed that this problem will be resolved between us but the court urged the help of international organisations. Nevertheless, I think we will resolve it," Abdiu said to ATA on Tuesday.

He added that this is not a conflict between the two institutions, but between the constitutional court and law.

"I do not believe that there will be any change to the law," he said.

The OSCE ambassador Everts said that the conflict is a legal issue and as such it urges a legal solution but also a political one.

"Members of the court are reflecting on this problem and we will have a solution soon," Everts said to ATA.

Sotiraq Hroni, adviser for Public Relations to the President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, told a Tuesday's news conference that "any legal interpretation will urge a round table debate to find a solution to this problem." das/ak/

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[19] Albanian people to give final say on constitution

"If the people do not accept this draft constitution the government should resign. But this will not happen," Abdiu said.

He added requests for a constitutional assembly are futile pretexts.

"The idea of a constitutional assembly is not legal. Its acceptance means that parliament is not able to make Albania with a constitution," Abdiu said.

"The DP will make a mistake if it continues to refuse participation in the constitutional process. This means to fight against its own interests," he said. das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Albania, Austria to promote relations, Austrian speaker says

Press Information office at the presidency said that Fischer thanked president Meidani for the reception and urged him to express his opinion on problems concerning the Albanian present policy and society.

Meidani acquainted the Austrian delegation, including representatives of all parties, with Albania's efforts to establish an independent judicial system, draw up a constitution and create a political climate of cooperation and integration between the parties and different political, social organisations.

He spoke of his role and efforts in this direction, free of political prejudices, efforts, which have not always found a necessary understanding.

Meidani laid the stress on acute economic, social problems whose partial solution needs a wider cooperation and foreign investments.

Fischer expressed his conviction that the impartial information from the president will serve for a better recognition of Albania in Austria and that the Albanian-Austrian relations will be increasingly promoted fully respecting their tradition. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Visit of Albania's president to US - successful

"During a meeting with Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Meidani urged a larger presence of this organisation in Kosova. He said that the situation is grave and explosive and asked for an increase of pressure on Belgrade to force it implement the education accord, " Hroni said.

Meidani asked Annan for a larger integration of the Albanian experts in the U.N. bodies.

Referring to Meidani's contacts with the Albanian community in the U.S., Hroni said that he conveyed the idea that the Albanian issue should be seen free of party influence.

"So far, no Albanian president has dealt with the Albanian issue out of political affiliation," said Hroni. /ak/

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[22] Albania's president meets with Russian ambassador

The Russian ambassador handed over to Meidani the message of the Russian president Boris Yeltsin, who reiterated his invitation for an official visit of the Albanian president to Russia.

Both officials discussed the situation in Albania and region and promotion of Albanian-Russian relations in all aspects. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Albania's president meets with head of Balkan news association

The talks focused on the importance of exchanging news between foreign agencies, establishing a climate of understanding between the regional states, rendering concrete help for ATA to have an independent and quick access to Internet. ake/das/ak/

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

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