Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-03-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Gjinushi evaluates Turkey's stand on developments in Kosova

[02] U.S. and Europe not to allow deepening of crisis and destabilisation of region

[03] Bildt urges coordination of military and political strategies for Kosova

[04] Rotation carried out in Constitutional Court

[05] Gelbard says the U.S. favours wide autonomous status for Kosova

[06] Beginning of works on Durres-Rrogozhine motorway inaugurated

[07] Gelbart says respect of Albanians' rights within Yugoslavia

[08] SP rejects DP's requests for constitutional commission

[09] Van den Broek assures Albania president of support

[10] Turkey hails Albanian government' attitude on events in Kosova

[11] Van den Broek urges negotiations for contractual accord with Albania

[12] US favours a new status for Kosova

[13] Albania PM says US role is decisive in resolving Kosova issue

[01] Gjinushi evaluates Turkey's stand on developments in Kosova

"In the inter-Balkan relations we highlight the relations with Albania," said Gurel.

"The statement of the Turkish Council of Ministers on the developments in Kosova clearly testifies to the level of our interstate relations," said Gurel.

He said that one among the main demands of this statement is the beginning of talks between the legitimate authorities of Prishtine and Belgrade to restore the Kosova status.

Gjinushi especially evaluated Turkey's position about the developments in Kosova. He said that Albania has hailed all initiatives and processes aiming to create a climate of sincere cooperation among the Balkan countries, as the only way for Albania's integration into Europe. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] U.S. and Europe not to allow deepening of crisis and destabilisation of region

TIRANE, March 19 (ATA)-President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Wednesday had a working meeting in Tirane with the Prime Minister of the Kosova government, Bujar Bukoshi, and exchanged views on the situation in Kosova and the joint efforts with the international community for a headway towards a long-term solution.

Meidani evaluated the international diplomacy activity to force Belgrade to respect the legitimate rights of the Albanian people of Kosova conform the international conventions through democratic solutions.

"Albanians' peaceful demonstrations in face of the Serb massacre in Drenica testified to the Albanian civilised stand and our belief that the U.S. and Europe will not allow the deepening of crisis and destabilisation of the region," said Meidani. /a.ke/mima/lm/

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[03] Bildt urges coordination of military and political strategies for Kosova

"Bosnia turned into some kind of Vietnam and Europe found itself unprepared to prevent the conflict breaking out there," said Bildt at an international symposium held in Brussels on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the West European Union (WEU), yesterday.

"If in the past we had to do with a conflict between Serbs and Croats, today we have to do with an essential conflict, between Albanians and Serbs, which is more complicated and more difficult than the Croat-Serb conflict," the Kosova Centre of Information quotes Bildt as saying.

"We have long since warned of the probability of a conflict in Kosova and Europe cannot allow Milosevic to act freely and his army to occupy Kosova."

"We should be ready to coordinate the military and political strategies and Europe should now undertake in this region what it was not able to undertake in Bosnia. Otherwise, the European Union will be faced with challenges to checking and administering the crisis in this region," Swedish diplomat said among other things. /p.ta/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Rotation carried out in Constitutional Court

Out of the six members, who took part in the draw, three, one appointed by the Presidency and two by the parliament, will quit.

The rotation procedure is based on the law on the procedures of performing the rotation in the Constitutional Court and that on the major constitutional provisions.

Three out of the nine members of the Constitutional Court did not take part in the draw, as they had replaced the other members in 1994.

The results of the draw were released by an ad-hoc commission, composed of representatives from the Law Commissions, the Regulation, Mandate and Immunity Commission, the Presidency, the chairman of the judges' Association, or a representative assigned by his, and a representative from the National lawyers' chamber. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Gelbard says the U.S. favours wide autonomous status for Kosova

Gelbard, who arrived in Tirane on Thursday for a working visit told Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo at the Rinas airport that the United States favours a wide autonomous status of Kosova within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and not as part of the Serbian Republic, as pretended by the Belgrade authorities.

Gelbard informed Albanian Foreign Minister of the latest stand of the U.S. administration for swift and efficient actions to resolve the Kosova issue. He considered Belgrade's ongoing actions not serious.

Gelbard hailed the policy pursued by official Tirane and its mature and realistic approaches towards the Kosova issue.

He familiarised minister Milo with the serious measures and progress made by Monseigneur Vincenzo Paglia as regards a quick realisation of the education agreement, signed by Milosevic and Rugova in 1996.

The two also treated today's visit to Belgrade by the foreign ministers of Germany and France, Klaus Kinkel and Hubert Vedrine. They called this visit positive in hopes that the meeting with Milosevic will bring about progresses.

Then they concentrated on tomorrow's meeting of the political directors of the Contact Group in Brussels as well as that of the Foreign Ministers of these countries due in Bonn on March 26, 1998.

The Bonn meeting will be chaired by the U.S. secretary Madeleine Albright.

This meeting will be followed by another meeting of the Contact Group with the countries of the region, based on the statement of the London meeting, the Milo-Gelbard meeting confirmed.

Milo said at the meeting that the Albanian government is determined that the Kosova issue is resolved through dialogue.

"We have showed this in the meetings of Crete and during all this time with calls on the Belgrade authorities for dialogue and compromise," he said.

Milo praised the policy followed by Rugova, Kosova Albanian leader, as the main mediator in the dialogue for the solution of the Kosova issue.

He thanked Gelbard for praising the current policy of the Albanian government and initiatives of the Albanian Prime Minister to defuse tension in the region. /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Beginning of works on Durres-Rrogozhine motorway inaugurated

Also attending was EU External Affairs commissioner Hans van den Broek.

Minister of Public and Transports Affairs Gaqo Apostoli said that the realisation of this motorway will help the movement of 20 000 vehicles in 24 hours.

Apostoli said that 600 workers will be employed in the construction of the motorway.

"This is the beginning of a transportation network which will link the Adriatic with the Black Sea. The Durres-Rrogozhine segment is the biggest project applied in Albania since 1992," said Broek.

The country needs stability, so that things go smoothly," he said.

"Our objective is to contribute ECU 320 million and the current project is only the beginning. The U.S. and the European Union will support the development of Albania and I am positive that we will succeed in integrating Albania into Europe," Broek said.

Also attending the ceremony was Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, Finance Minister Arben Malaj, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Ermelinda Meksi, State Secretaries Maqo Lakrori and Lush Perpali as well as the ambassador of the Council of Europe in Tirane, Elio Germano. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Gelbart says respect of Albanians' rights within Yugoslavia

Meidani said that the option for a republic of Kosova within the Yugoslav Federation would have been a realistic solution.

He added that there is not time to lose thus we should act to gradually build up confidence between the sides what can pave the way for a realistic, global and perspective attitude to help respect the legitimate rights of the Kosova people in conformity with the international conventions.

"Stopping the ethnic cleansing or any kind of genocide against Albanians of Kosova is a necessity for the stability of the region," Meidani said.

Meidani and Gelbart praised Rugova's statement as a positive step for the creation of a group of negotiators, which will help start a dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina.

President Meidani urged a greater international and diplomatic presence in Prishtina and ongoing contacts between them and Rugova, for which both expressed their support.

The head of the U.S. delegation reiterated the support of the U.S. government for Albania's democratic and economic development and assured that the U.S. commitment will yield positive results for the region's stability.

The meeting, attended by the U.S. ambassador to Tirana Marisa Lino, expressed the will for the development and promotion of contacts to the interest of bilateral cooperation and Albania's and regional stability. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] SP rejects DP's requests for constitutional commission

Pandeli Majko, the head of the majority parliamentary group, said to ATA that through these requests "the DP aims at becoming a ruling minority."

The letter sent to the parliamentary leadership and parties urged "a discussion on the composition of the constitutional commission and the election of the co-chairman, who represents the opposition, by the opposition parties."

"I am concerned on the concept of the Democratic party for an anti- state opposition, which is shown by the absence in the institutional life," Majko said.

Referring to the request on a co-chairman of the constitutional commission which would mean the dismissal of Sabri Godo, Majko said "this is an absurdity."

"Godo is now a mediator between the efforts for an Albanian constitution and the international factor to this end," Majko said.

Germany's East Institute Director, constitutionalist Georg Bruner, who visited Albania last month, said that the DP was given the last chances to be included in the constitutional process, because its representation in this commission was wider that in parliament. s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Van den Broek assures Albania president of support

President Meidani highly regarded the presence of the European commissioner in the inauguration of the motorway, which showed not only the European Union's assistance but also a signal of hope for all the people, who need to be confident in domestic and foreign investments, which can help revive the economic life, press and information office at the presidency reported.

"We are making efforts to face present challenges in economic revival, establishment of order, improvement of the judiciary, drawing up legislation based on European standards because all the aspects of the social life are closely linked. The drawing up of a constitution will serve this end," Meidani said.

Speaking of the situation in Kosova and a possible instability of the region, Meidani said "the international community should make clear to Belgrade that the democracy and integration in conformity with the international standards are the future of the region and the part of the eighth corridor you inaugurated today is the road of cooperation, communication and economic, political and human integration."

"Albania should play a greater role in the region, thus we are closely following the development in your country and the whole region," Van den Broek said.

He stressed the E.U. support in financing many projects especially in domestic and inter border infrastructure.

The meeting, which was held in a spirit of good understanding, widely exchanged views for a further cooperation between Albania and the European Union. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Turkey hails Albanian government' attitude on events in Kosova

"We consider your state a friendly state and the Albanian people friendly people," Demirel said adding that "Kosova occupies a special place at Turkey's heart and the Kosova people are our brothers. We are much concerned on the event there and urge an end to the bloodshed and a peaceful solution through dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, guaranteed by a third side."

"We hail the political action of your government, parliament and president about the developments in Kosova," president Demirel said.

He added: "The Albanian politicians, our Albanian brothers will show once more the national unity and that Turkey will always be beside Albania."

Albania's Speaker Gjinushi said that the basis of the brilliant relations between Albania and Turkey shows the affinity and friendship between our peoples, who share a century-old history and the goodwill policy and of good neighbourliness followed by both parliaments and governments.

Speaking of the deep economic, political and institutional crisis Albania experienced last year and the assistance of the Turkish people and government in that difficult moments, Gjinushi said that "after the emergency period, our major aim is the development of economy through the platform adopted by Brussels donors."

He focused on the tragic developments in Kosova saying that the Albanian parliament and government have immediately reacted and urged the Contact Group, U.N. Security Council, NATO and friendly states to energetically intervene to promptly end violent actions, withdraw the army used against the population and to start a dialogue with an international mediation for a right and lasting solution to the Albanian issue in conformity with the international documents based on the self-rule of the peoples both for their present and future.

Gjinushi said "Albania has found understanding in its efforts" and thanked Turkey's support for the legitimate rights of the Albanian population in Kosova. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Van den Broek urges negotiations for contractual accord with Albania

The Albanian government has met all the macro economic obligations and those of the national reconciliation recommended by the Donors' conference of Rome and Brussels last year, Nano said.

After the emergency phase in the Albanian economy was over, we are ready to sign a three-year agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nano said, adding that the public administration will soon have a package of laws, which will define precise rules and criteria on employment and dismissal of civil employees.

The Albanian prime minister said "the government has clear ideas, which will be applied very soon and will enable it to attract many Albanian experts and specialists, who due to difficulties in the past, have left for West as emigrants."

He called on European organisations and specialised institutions to offer technical assistance and training.

Nano said that the Albanian government was considering the reform in the judiciary a priority and was trying legally to avoid evident cases of corruption and inability.

"We hail the return of the opposition to parliament and will encourage division of responsibilities hoping that the Democratic party will engage itself in the process of constitutional and economic reforms," Nano said.

Speaking of the critical situation in Kosova, Nano said "Albania will continue to back peacefully the democratic requests of Albanians. We are for an intensive cooperation with the international community and urge it to increase pressure on Belgrade forcing the latter to renounce violence against Albanians and join serious negotiations with the legitimate representatives of the Kosova people."

Van den Broek said: "The European Union has supported and continues to support efforts of the Albanian government in restoring order, restructuring of public administration and development of certain sectors such as agriculture, transport and infrastructure.

"We should coordinate assistance and cooperation to start negotiations as soon as possible for a specific contractual agreement with Albania," European commissioner said.

Van den Broek said that the E.U. had aimed at reaching an agreement with Albania since 1996 but this initiative was interrupted because of political and economic deformations during the last year.

In this integration process Albania's reconciliation role in the Balkans is very meaningful and important, he said.

The E.U. praised the Albanian efforts for the normalisation of the region and especially for the stability and a right and lasting solution to the crisis in Kosova. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] US favours a new status for Kosova

"The United States are for a wider status, which will create all the conditions to respect the human rights, international conventions and self- rule in Kosova but within Yugoslavia," Robert Gelbard, the president's special representative to the Balkans said on Thursday.

Gelbard has started his Balkan visit on Wednesday with a meeting with the Albanian leader in Kosova Ibrahim Rugova and the Montenegro president Djukanovic.

"I hail Rugova's proposal to create a consultative commission, which will help start negotiations," Gelbard said.

He said that the U.S. will be present in negotiations between the Yugoslav representatives and those of the Albanians.

"The U.S. will find the possibility to participate as a side in the negotiations," Gelbard said.

The U.S. special ambassador said that the U.S. did not favour a full independence for Kosova though it hailed the attitude of the Albanian government for a solution to the conflict.

"The attitudes of the Albanian and U.S. governments are the same," Gelbard said a few days after this was said by the U.S. State deputy secretary Talbot.

He said that a meeting of the Contact Group will consider how Milosevic had carried out the requests of the five member states. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albania PM says US role is decisive in resolving Kosova issue

"Albania will continue to adopt moderate attitudes, which spare human lives but it will urge the international community to increase pressure on Milosevic," Nano said, adding "Belgrade should understand that the future of former Yugoslavia depends on a democratic and peaceful solution to the issue of the Albanians in Kosova."

He said that the ten-day deadline set by the Contact Group for Milosevic expired today and apart of a ridiculous negotiation commission, nothing had been done.

"We urge the Contact Group to reconsider the measures against Belgrade, which finally should feel the burden of sanctions," Nano said.

He said that "Albania backs the moderating and wise policy of Ibrahim Rugova and wish that the forthcoming elections confirm the leading role he has as a representative of the Albanians of Kosova."

"Albania will continue to cooperate with international organisations such as NATO, OSCE and others urging a greater presence and promotion of bilateral exchanges between the structures as well as Albanian institutions, " Nano said.

Praising the role the Albanian government in resolving and reducing the crisis in Kosova, the U.S. ambassador Gelbard said that the United States would increase pressure even on other European members of the Contact Group not to tolerate Milosevic anymore but instead tighten political and economic sanctions. s.sh/ak/

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

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