Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-03-24

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Victory of Rugova and LDK in elections in Kosova

[02] LDK candidates score overwhelming victory in elections

[03] Dole says U.S. and West should promptly react towards solution to Kosova issue

[04] Serb helicopters bombard Golloxhan village of Decan

[05] Consultative group of President Rugova defined for talks with Belgrade

[06] OSCE expresses concern at failure of agreement of VEFA creditors with government

[07] Montenegro Speaker opposes use of army in Kosova

[08] FYROM defence minister to visit Albania

[09] Scalfaro says Italy is closely following situation in Kosova

[10] Serb forces use heavy weapons against Decan commune

[11] Rugova says Kosova parliament, government to be convened soon

[12] Normality to bring DP to commission on constitution, SP official

[13] Rugova reelected president of Kosova

[14] Albania's Speaker visits Croatia

[01] Victory of Rugova and LDK in elections in Kosova

PRISHTINE, 23 March /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports: Republican Commission, at a news conference this evening in Prishtine, released the preliminary results of the parliamentary and presidential elections held in Kosova yesterday.

Although no concrete returns have been issued on presidential elections, preliminary results show that Dr.Ibrahim Rugova is sure to be reelected president of the Republic of Kosova.

Furthermore as chairman of the Republican Commission Tadej Rodiqi said, "The votes' percentage in favor of the president of Republic is more than 90 percent in the voting districts".

This same evening the Commission declared that the preliminary results speak of a sweeping victory of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) candidates for the parliament of the Kosova's Republic.

The Commission stated it will provide other figures on the vote turnout tomorrow by midday./lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] LDK candidates score overwhelming victory in elections

The five LDK candidates, Dr.Sabri Hamiti, Dr. Rrexhep Gjergji, Fatmir Sejdiu, Naip Zeka and Aim Veliu have won in Podujeve. In this commune, 90 % of the citizens with the right to vote took part in the elections, and 98% of the electors voted for the president of the Republic of Kosova.

In Gjilan, the ballots of 78 polling stations, out of a total of 87, have been counted. The communal electoral commission reports that the electors' participation was 78,84 % of the citizens eligible for vote.

The deputy-chairman of the LDK branch in Gjilan, Lufti Haziri, said that 99% of the electors voted for the president of the republic of Kosova.

The LDK candidates winning in Gjilan are Ibrahim Kadriu, Abdyl Hoxha, Xhavit Hajdari, Dr. Fehmi Rexhepi and Abdyl Hoxha.

The communal electoral commission in Peje reports that over 82 % of the electors have voted. Also in this commune, the LDK candidates have scored victory.

Preliminary results from the Dragash commune show that more than 95 % of the electors took part in Sunday's elections. Some 99.6% of the electors voted for Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, while LDK candidate Ruzhdi Berisha won in the elections for deputies. /p.ta/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Dole says U.S. and West should promptly react towards solution to Kosova issue

"An ultra-nationalist, brutal and racist regime is committing war crimes against non-Serbs, not because they are guilty but only because of their ethnic affiliation. Women and children are being killed. Houses utterly destroyed," says Dole.

He says further on that violence risks not only to escalate but also to extend beyond Kosova.

"The conflict may also involve Greece and Turkey, two of our allies in NATO," says Dole.

"Today Kosova is ruled by a police state. Pursuits, arbitrary arrests, and even killings of Albanians are a daily occurrence," he says.

The United States and the major European forces should act swiftly to put an end to violence. Only a determined demonstration by the West can resolve this problem which is being dragged out, determine a correct and viable solution," says Dole.

Further on, after pointing to a warning of the administration of President (George) Bush in December of 1992 against Belgrade that in the event of a violence explosion in Kosova the U.S. would toughly react, also using the military force, Dole continues:"President Clinton reaffirmed this warning at the beginning of the mandate of his administration."

"Now, however, the West seems to be withdrawing from this determination. The 'Christmas warning' has not yet been repeated since the beginning of the current crisis. Surely, this has also been observed by Milosevic," he says. /p.ta/mima/lm/

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[04] Serb helicopters bombard Golloxhan village of Decan

The Golloxhan village of Decan today was attacked by heavy Serbian forces, and at 13.00 two helicopters began bombarding it causing the population to rapidly flee this zone, according to Osman Cacaj, chairman of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) Information commisison in Decan.

According to witnesses, shootings from heavy machineguns are being heard from all sides and many houses are seen engulfed by flames.

The villages Gramecel and Bubulloq have also been sieged and there is mass displacement of the population. There is no kind of communication with the aforesaid areas, but, according to witnesses heavy Serbian forces have been spotted moving near Peja and Gjakova.

Serbian military planes today have also flown very low over Prishtine. /p.ta/mima/lm/

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[05] Consultative group of President Rugova defined for talks with Belgrade

The President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, today declared the composition of his consultative group, which will prepare a platform for talks with representatives of president Milosevic.

The group is composed of Fehmi Agani, Mahmut Bakalli, Bujar Bukoshi, Adem Demaci, Hydajet Hyseni, Rexhep Ismajli, Bajram Kelmendi, Mark Krasniqi, Shkelzen Maliqi, Pajazit Nushi, Blerim Shala, Esat Stavileci, Veton Surroi, Edita Tahiri and the representative of the Students' Independent Union of the Prishtine University (UPSUP), (Dugolli, Kurti or a representative elected by UPSUP, itself). /p.ta/mima/lm/

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[06] OSCE expresses concern at failure of agreement of VEFA creditors with government

TIRANE, March 24 (ATA)-OSCE on Tuesday, through a press release, expresses its disappointment about the failure of an agreement to establish a dialogue between the VEFA creditors and the Albanian government and blames the creditors' delegation for this.

"On Friday night, March 20, at the urgent request of two persons speaking on behalf of the VEFA hunger strikers, OSCE Ambassador Daan Everts agreed to help to establish a dialogue between the government and the VEFA creditors.

After hours of serious discussions on Saturday, an agreement was drafted which would have enabled such a dialogue. The document would have provided the VEFA creditors full opportunity to present their views and comments to Parliament as well as to the international experts hired to deal with the VEFA Holding Company.

The full text of the agreement was accepted by the creditors' delegation.

In subsequent separate talks (in which also the IMF was present) involving the Government, through the authority of the Prime Minister, agreed to the text. When the agreement was to be jointly signed on Sunday, however, the creditors' delegation presented new demands and attempted to change the text that they had previously accepted. Although the government extended the signature deadline to noon on Monday, the creditors' delegation decided not to sign, effectively rejecting the possibility of a professional dialogue.

The OSCE Presence in Tirana had offered its assistance, at the urgent request of the creditors, with the purpose of ending the human suffering of the hunger strike and ensuring the creditors' concerns to be heard.

OSCE wishes to express that the government has acted in good faith and shown great patience. Since the responsibility for the last-minute failure of the agreement - and the fate of the persons on hunger strike- rests solely with the creditors' delegation, the OSCE presence calls on the latter to reconsider and endorse the original agreement." /s.s/lm/

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[07] Montenegro Speaker opposes use of army in Kosova

"There is no reason why Montenegro causes other victims. There is no reason why the army should be involved in events in Kosova. I oppose every kind of army involvement in the crisis. I am sure that Djukanovic will not give his consent to allow army's deployment in Kosova. This issue can be resolved only through dialogue," Markovic told a rally in Budva, adding that "peace should be safeguarded in Kosova while Albanians should be members of the society."

He said: "We are fighting to maintain Kosova within the borders of this state. We do not defend terrorism in Kosova. But the Kosova issue cannot be resolved through police violence. It should not be defended by use of arms but through dialogue and assistance of the international community," he said. pta/mima/ak/

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[08] FYROM defence minister to visit Albania

Kitanovski is expected to meet his Albanian counterpart, Sabit Brokaj and Interior Minister Neritan Ceka. s.s/mima/

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[09] Scalfaro says Italy is closely following situation in Kosova

Press and Information office at the presidency said that President Meidani had received a letter from his Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.

"I would like to confirm that the Italian government and people share the same concern for the situation in Kosova while closely following the developments there," Scalfaro said in response to Meidani's letter on March 8.

The Italian president said that "we are fully convinced that the violence should not be tolerated and problems should be resolved through dialogue, which is inspire from values of peace, democracy and respect of fundamental rights of all parts concerned."

He said that "the Italian side is using its influence in all decision making and consultative centers, Contact Group, European Union, Organisation for Security and Cooperation aiming at using every possible instruments to stop the violence, which can have dangerous consequences. Decisions taken on March 9 in London by the Contact Group and the detailed operative plan are inspired by this point of view and aimed at restoring peace and stability in the whole region."

"Italy praises the wise and moderate policy of good neighbourline followed by Albania and wishes Tirana government to continue the same direction in the future," Scalfaro said. ake/das/ak/

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[10] Serb forces use heavy weapons against Decan commune

The reports were obtained from eye witnesses, the Council for Human Rights and other Albanian sources in Prishtina.

Serbian forces have used heavy armaments, tanks, armoured carriers, guns, mortars and helicopters, which have started air bombing at 13.00. p.m.

Some Albanian ethnic villages found themselves under the fire of Serb police-military forces. There are no reports on the consequences and situation in the villages because they are under curfew.

The Albanian population in these regions, facing military and terrorist operation of the Serbian forces, are fleeing its territories.

The latest reports said that terrorist operations of the Serb forces continued in the attacked regions of the Decan commune and the situation was grave and dangerous. There is no report on casualties. shdha/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Rugova says Kosova parliament, government to be convened soon

"We express our great satisfaction that the presidential and parliamentary elections have been successful and hail a massive turnout of Kosova citizens in elections, whose characteristic is the participation of over 300 000 youths out of 1 150 000 eligible voters," Rugova told a news conference on Tuesday in Prishtina.

Rugova said that immediately after the outcome was made known the parliament and government would be constituted in Kosova.

President Rugova drew the attention on the ongoing grave and dangerous situation in Kosova and urged the Contact Group to use pressure on Belgrade to carry out decisions taken on Kosova on March 9 in London.

He informed the nomination of president's consultative group for talks with Belgrade and said that this group would prepare the platform of negotiations in consultation with the president.

Speaking of a protocol signed on Monday in Prishtina regarding an Albanian education accord in Kosova, Rugova said that it was important that a timetable was defined but pressure should be used on Belgrade to implement it.

"I hope this accord is implemented," Rugova said. pta/mima/ak/

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[12] Normality to bring DP to commission on constitution, SP official

"Normality in the commission will persuade the DP to return to parliament," Majko said.

However, he called the requests of the parliamentary group of the DP and center right for changes in the constitutional commission as part of a blocking policy in the process of constitution.

Majko, who is a member of the commission, said that the DP requests would not bring about any change, even now when its drafting was underway.

The DP asked on Monday's round table, when no party of the coalition government was present, that the composition of the commission be reconsidered and its co-chairmen be changed.

One of the co-chairmen, the Republican Sabri Godo, had said that he would have accepted to discuss every request of the DP on the constitutional process but only in the constitutional commission because he did not see any need for parallel round tables in the commission. das/ak/

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[13] Rugova reelected president of Kosova

The results of three communes were not calculated and it seemed that this would not influence the election of the president, Rodiqi said.

He said that the number and percentage of the electorate of Peja commune had not arrived yet but the names of the deputies were made known.

In Fushe-Kosova the elections were annulled. Technical faults were noticed in Dragashi commune, South of Prizren, and the election commission would decide.

The Republican commission told today's news conference on the overwhelming victory of the Democratic League of Kosova.

Rodiqi said that 89 deputies, 84 of whose are of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), were elected through a direct vote.

The Albanian Christian Democrat party won a seat in parliament and another in the coalition with the LDK.

The Association of the Kosova citizens won a seat, Party of the Democratic Action in coalition with LDK a seat and the Liberal party of Kosova in coalition with the LDK a seat. The turnout was 88, 73 percent. rxh/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albania's Speaker visits Croatia

Gjinushi held the first meeting with the Croatian parliamentary Speaker, the Academician Vlatko Pavletic, who said that Croatia was devoting a special attention to the interparliamentary relations adding that both states had friendly relations, a spokesman of parliament said.

Expressing the concern of the Croatian parliament on the latest developments in Kosova, Pavletic said that the best way was a dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade strongly based on a third side.

Albanian Speaker Gjinushi said that "parliament and the government are following a constant policy of good neighbourliness free of conflictual policies.

Stressing that the Yugoslav crisis started in Kosova, Gjinushi said that "we believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina paid for Kosova and a second element should not be allowed."

President of Croatia Franjo Tudjman said to Gjinushi that due to historical links and geographical position there existed all conditions for comprehensive cooperation.

"We are following with interest the developments in Kosova and the Croatian government favours dialogue with the mediation of a third side," he said.

Gjinushi, speaking of developments in Kosova and the attitude of the Albanian state, said that the Kosova issue needed a long-term solution and not a partial one, which could have consequences for all the region and abroad.

He also met with deputy prime minister and Foreign minister Mate Granic and representatives of the Albanian community in Croatia.

The meetings were attended by Albania's ambassador to Croatia Mirjam Bisha. ake/das/ak/

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