Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-04-23

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albania, FYROM favour promotion of bilateral relations

[02] President, political parties discuss modalities of elections

[03] First group of those fleeing Kosova arrive in Has

[04] Institutional minister accepts call to face unrest commission

[05] Prime Minister Fatos Nano meets with FYROM parliamentarians

[06] Constitution commission approves chapter on political freedoms and rights

[07] Serb operations continue in Babaloc, Gramacel villages

[08] Training strategy to promote civil-military relations

[09] Explosions, volleys of gunfire in Drenica during the night

[10] New food lab to be set up in Durres in '98

[11] Water pipeline of Radoniq risks to be ruin by Serbian heavy artillery

[12] Police intercept Kurd refugees in Kakavija

[13] Meidani condoles with Stephanopoulos on death of Karamanlis

[14] Albania's President meets Macedonian parliamentary delegation

[15] UNDP accords Albania $15 mln for 1998-2001 period

[16] Albania's President sends message to Parliament

[17] Parliament put off session for discussion of President decrees

[18] USD quoted at lek 158,60

[19] Majko says critics of Meidani for government are normal

[20] DP supports President's ideas in message for Parliament

[01] Albania, FYROM favour promotion of bilateral relations

"Common interest is to put into practice these accords," Milo said. "We are ready to contribute in setting up a common economic cooperation commission to promote the bilateral relations."

Mitreva said that the signed accords between the two countries are a clear expression of an intensity of cooperation.

"They should be followed by other bilateral accords of special importance," she said.

"Our present cooperation has firm basis," Albanian foreign minister said adding "that other efforts are needed to overcome the mentalities that hinder establishment and functioning of real civil societies."

Milo said that Albanians in the Macedonian state and Macedonians in Albania should feel themselves at home. They should serve as friendship bridge between the two countries, he said.

As regards the situation in Kosova, Mitreva said that any delay to a solution to the Kosova issue would be a great problem.

"This solution should be based on peaceful means. It is absurd to think that the fundamental liberties and human rights are not respected at the turn of the 20th century," she said.

The fact that the Contact Group was still discussing and urged pressure on Belgrade could be a good omen to pave the way to a solution to the Kosova issue, Mitreva said. s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] President, political parties discuss modalities of elections

Press and Information office at the presidency said that Meidani presented some faults in existing laws and urged cooperation from all the political forces to complete and improve the election legislation by parliament.

The participants agreed with what Meidani said.

Political forces asked that structures of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organisations concerned monitor the local elections. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] First group of those fleeing Kosova arrive in Has

Rustem Mazreku, officer in duty of the police commissariat said to ATA that the group who crossed the border and settled in Kruma city included old people and children who fled terror prevailing in Kosova and in their village.

They fled the village out of fear of repression by the Serb army and police while men remained there to defend the houses.

Mazreku said that they were lodged late on Wednesday in the only private hotel in the city.

Municipality Secretary Ballmi asked the Kukes prefecture to coordinate work in order to tackle the situation after the first influx from Kosova. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Institutional minister accepts call to face unrest commission

"I do not know what they want to question me for, but I shall go there," Imami said to ATA.

He added that he had not been a witness of any violent act undertaken by the National Information Service (SHIK) against the populace.

The Investigation commission has summoned some 24 person from the ruling coalition and the opposition who are going to be questioned or give evidence. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Prime Minister Fatos Nano meets with FYROM parliamentarians

Nano said that Albania supports extension of the UNPREDEP mandate in Macedonia and will ask a greater regional engagement and cooperation with international organisations and initiatives of Euro-Atlantic security.

Nano also said that the interregional initiatives such as the 8th corridor and foreign investments in energy, telecommunication and other fields should be backed by both governments as this also helps strengthen the relations between the ethnic populations.

Nano said that the Albanian government has taken all measures to control its borders, in contrast with the efforts that a part of the opposition, increasingly marginal, is making in the international public opinion to present Albania as supporter of arms trafficking and terrorists in Kosova.

"The Albanian government has created all conditions that its borders be monitored by international specialised organisations and has not allowed that weapons or other means fomenting conflict be smuggled from its borders, " said Nano.

"The mistakes in Bosnia should not be allowed to be repeated in Kosova as an ethnic conflict would directly effect both of our countries." the FYROM parliamentarians said. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Constitution commission approves chapter on political freedoms and rights

Article 30 of this chapter assesses the right of the citizens to elect and be elected.

According to the new constitution every citizen who is 18 years old is eligible for voting, except the mentally deficient persons.

The third point of this article says that "the right to election above 18 years old is conditioned only by cases specifically envisaged by the Constitution," was left to be reformulated by the staff because of objections by Commission members.

According to the project, the vote is personal, equal, free and secret.

Article 31 says that no one can be deprived of the right to be organised collectively for whatever legal purpose, but assesses that the organisations or associations pursuing anti-constitutional aims are banned.

According to article 32, peaceful rallies and without weapons cannot be restricted.

The representative of the Legality Movement Party, Spartak Ngjela, aired the view of removing article 2, which says that "rallies at squares and public places should be held by preliminary permission in cases and according to procedures envisaged by law", as, according to him, this article may restrict any kind of rally.

After eliminating the expression "by preliminary permission", the article was left for reformulation.

Article 33, the last of this chapter, assesses that "anyone, alone or together with others, can address requests, complaints or remarks to public bodies, which are duty-bound to respond in the deadlines and conditions defined by law". /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Serb operations continue in Babaloc, Gramacel villages

Some 30 houses had been attacked in both villages and part of the population was forced to flee due to the grave situation there, division of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) said.

Osman Cacaj, an LDK spokesman, said some 80 percent of the population, majority Albanians, in the Decan commune (with over 50 000 inhabitants in the city and 40 villages) had fled it.

A large number of them headed for Peja and Gjakova, the spokesman said. pta/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Training strategy to promote civil-military relations

Also present in the three day meetings at the Army Cultural Centre in Tirana were representatives of various non governmental organisations and associations in Tirana.

Sources of the Defence Ministry public relations department say that the meetings aimed at defining the kind of training and aid the U.S. army will provide for the Albanian army in the near future in the field of civil- military relations.

The participants in the meetings underlined the idea of building a training strategy to promote civil-military relations according to democratic standards, through cooperation based on the U.S. programme IMET.

The U.S. team also held talks with the parliamentary Defence Commission. /s.s/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Explosions, volleys of gunfire in Drenica during the night

The shootings were intensive especially in the direction of Kopiliq, Turicef, Buroje, Llaushe, Vojnik, Acareve villages.

No report was available due to curfew and lack of communication.

Albanian sources from Skenderaj said that Serb reinforcements were seen in Drenica and its surrounding areas. pta/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] New food lab to be set up in Durres in '98

The head of this department Fatmir Dashi, told ATA that "the World Bank has earmarked 200 000 dollars to equip the future lab with up-to-date apparatuses.

Dashi also said that this lab is indispensable as 70% of the imported foodstuff has access to the Durres port. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Water pipeline of Radoniq risks to be ruin by Serbian heavy artillery

The strong bursts have caused trembling in the filtration system which, according to the specialists of this hydro-system, are likely to bring about serious breakdown.

Reports from the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) branch in Gjakova say that the Serbian forces continue to attack with artillery fire also from the Hereq village in the direction of Baballoq, Gramacel and the surrounding villages. /P.Ta/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Police intercept Kurd refugees in Kakavija

Lieutenant colonel Ilirian Dida, chief of the police station in Gjirokastra, South of Albania, said that the refugees coming from Greece and their companion, a youth from the city of Fier, were caught by the border guards near the village of Vrisera.

The Kurd refugees, travelling by bus from Patra, had crossed the border some hundred meters from the Kakavija crossing to avoid the Albanian police.

Lieutenant colonel Dida said to ATA that they were handed over to the Greek side while the Albanian companion was put under custody by the city police and charged of refugees' smuggling.

Police sources said that Kurd refugees aimed at reaching Italy via Albanian coast paying an amount worth $2 thousand.

The same sources said that Greek and Albanian citizens had been dealing with refugees' smuggling.

Over three hundred Kurd refugees have been intercepted along the Southern border of Albania with Greece during the last two years. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Meidani condoles with Stephanopoulos on death of Karamanlis

President's press and information department reports that President Meidani, on his behalf and the whole Albanian people, expressed in this telegram the condolences for the Greek people and pointed out the great role of Karamanlis in the construction of the modern Greece, as well as his contribution for strengthening the friendship between the two neighbouring people and countries." /s.sh/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albania's President meets Macedonian parliamentary delegation

Meidani appreciated the very good level of interparliamentary relations between the two countries, President's press and information office reported.

Referring to the Kosova issue, Meidani said that the concept of a civil state in Yugoslavia would allow the solution of the Kosova issue within the international standards between the right of self-ruling and territorial integrity.

Mitreva, on her side, appreciated the necessity for further exchanges between the two parliaments as an expression of the very good level of bilateral cooperation.

Estimating the utility of constant human contacts, President Meidani stressed the need of non official exchanges between the politicians of both countries asa necessity for the establishment of a favourable climate to strengthen the bilateral relations.

Attending the meeting was also the chairman of the Albanian Foreign Parliamentary Commission, Sabri Godo and the Macedonian Ambassador in Albania, Risto Nikovski. /a.ke/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] UNDP accords Albania $15 mln for 1998-2001 period

The document submitted to the Executive Board was approved in advance by the Albanian Government. Our country will receive in the framework of the UNDP $15 millions for 1998-2001 period from the Program and other sources.

The amount is predicted to grow depending on the projects' proceedings.

UNDP present in Albania for some years has been active in various projects in sectors like, education and economy.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Albania's President sends message to Parliament

Albania's President Rexhep Meidani, in his first message addressed to Parliament on Thursday, criticized the tendency to put the political arbitrary above the law, stressed the necessity of respecting the rule of law and promissed that he will work hard to guarantee the implementation of law.

"From the general point of view, the pressure of the political state on the juridical state is undoubtedly a reflection of our political tradition of party-state, of the clan-state or individual-state. Democracy is a more difficult system than the so-called ruling with an iron hand or with accumulation of power," says the message of the President.

The Albanian President presented as one of the defects of the Albanian society "the lack of communication in all levels or the bad communication between all strata, institutions, that is even between those who rule and those who are ruled.

Meidani appreciated the state authority by distinguishing it from the autoritarism, adding that "Authority means fair rules for those who govern and those who are govered."

In his message, the President of the Republic expressed the necessity of drafting a constitution through maximal consensus and stressed the need of strengthening the judiciary.

Meidani considered as fundamental for the democratization and progress of the country giving of wider competencies to the local government, by considering the fact that the central and local governments are in the hands of two different parties as a guarantee to keep the Albanian fragile political-social equilibrum. /mima/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Parliament put off session for discussion of President decrees

The decision was taken on Thursday in the meeting of the Parliament's presidency.

The President of the Republic has not decreed yet the appointment of three ministers: the Minister of Defence (Luan Hajdaraga instead of Sabit Brokaj,) the Minister Labour and Social Affairs (Anastas Angjeli instead of Elmaz Sherifi) and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (Edi Rama instead of Arta Dade,) all proposed by the Socialist Party (SP) which has the parliamentary majority. /a.ke/das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] USD quoted at lek 158,60

So $1 = 158,60 lek, gaining 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 158, 40 lek.

The DM was traded for 88,30 lek, lossing 0,30 points compared to yesterday's 88,60 lek.

The ITL (1000) was traded for 88,60 lek lossing 0.40 points compared with yeasterday's 89,00 lek.

GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,10 lek, lossing 0,30 points compared with yesterday's 50,40

The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 2,00 points compared with yesterday's 106,30 lek and so on.

Thursday exchange rates

Currency Average exchange rates

USD 158,60 lek DM 88,30 lek ITL (1000) 88,60 lek GRD (100) 50,10 lek SFR 104,30 lek FRF 24,80 lek GBP 230,10 lek JPY (100) 111,20 lek NLG 73,10 lek /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Majko says critics of Meidani for government are normal

"Meidani is making important steps for the establishment of an institution of an independent president, whom not all the people are used to see," said Majko.

"We, his friends, follow with attention and understanding and will stay closer in every moment in these difficult and polarizing times, because in Albania "the evolution of the concept 'President of everyone' risks to be turned into 'President of no one," said the SP Secretary General.

"But Meidani offered the example that he is not the President of the politicians, but of the people who seek the good," ended Majko. /das/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] DP supports President's ideas in message for Parliament

"I was impressed by the part of the message which had to do with the increase of the state authority through a new culture of governing. Thus, the President of the Republic has noticed that the current governing of the left coalition has remained hostage of the past and is not able to offer anything for the Albanians," Xhaferri told ATA.

He added that in this conception he considers the message of the President "as a real warning before the Assembly for the very important decisions and steps his institutions may take in the future."

The Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, in his first message addressed to Parliament on Thursday, criticized the tendency to put the political arbitrary above the law, stressed the necessity to respect the rule of law and promised to work hard to guarantee the implementation of law. /a.ke/das/mt/

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

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