Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-06-17

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albania president meets with Norwegian state secretary

[02] President Meidani meets with representatives of LDK

[03] Failure to punish crime creates room for its repeat - Milo

[04] Norway denounces Serb violence, ethnic cleansing in Kosova

[05] Milosevic's commitments do not guarantee an end to conflict

[06] Works for Rreshen cathedral begin

[07] Police arrest a gang operating in Vora area

[08] TNT explosion in Kukes

[09] Albania asks for membership in Civil Aviation European Conference

[10] New TV station in Pogradec

[11] Albania govt. approves creation of tourism development committee

[12] German FEFAD to become a bank soon

[13] Teuta Cata, deputy minister of Economic and Trade Cooperation

[14] PM Nano holds telephone conversation with Ambassador Gelbard

[15] Use of violence against Serbia is the only option to stop fight in Kosova, Mehdiu

[16] Deputy Parliament Speaker demands penal prosecution for a reporter and the editor-in-chief of Rilindja Demokratike

[17] Serbs intensify attacks and massacres in Kosova

[01] Albania president meets with Norwegian state secretary

President Meidani thanked Norway for its help and expressed the common wish to promote relations in the political, humanitarian and economic field, according to press and information office close to the presidency.

Responding to the interest of Martlary in the situation in the region and today's talks between Yeltsin and Milosevic, president Meidani said that the Moscow meeting was only a step but not a complete one to end bloodshed, ethnic cleansing and pave way for a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue.

President Meidani had his reservations for this meeting but said that Milosevic could not condition the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organisations in Kosova.

Immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Serbian army from the territory which is inhabited by 90 percent of Albanians is very important to prevent further radicalization of the situation and find a democratic language and not demagogy to resolve the issue, Meidani said.

The meeting discussed important issues of bilateral cooperation through an intensive timetable of cooperation between authorities of both states. ake/ak/

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[02] President Meidani meets with representatives of LDK

They discussed the situation of the Albanians in Kosova who have recently left their soil to escape Serbian crime.

Kelmendi expressed her gratitude for the fraternal hospitality the Tropoje inhabitants have extended to the Kosova refugees. /a.ke/lm/

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[03] Failure to punish crime creates room for its repeat - Milo

"The Albanian people of Kosova are becoming a victim of a policy of ethnic cleansing," said Milo. "The self-defence resistance of the Albanian population against this policy can never be identified with so-called terrorism."

He thanked the Italian government for organising the conference and stressed that the International Criminal Court should condemn crimes against humankind.

Milo later held talks with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on problems of regional stability and security.

Annan concerned himself with the situation in Kosova, the internal developments in Albania and the influx of refugees from Kosova.

He said that the Kosova issue constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region and for this reason he totally endorses the decisions of the Contact Group, the NATO actions and favours the extension of the UNPREDEP forces mandate.

Asked by Milo whether there would be another resolution of the Security Council on Kosova, Annan said that this would be considered only after the Moscow meeting between Milosevic and Yeltsin. /a.ke/lm/

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[04] Norway denounces Serb violence, ethnic cleansing in Kosova

Martlary assured Islami that the Norwegian government would continue to help Albania both bilaterally and in the framework of the United Nations.

So far the Norwegian government has granted 3 million crowns to the International Red Cross to help the Albanian population in Kosova.

As regards the situation in Kosova, Martlary said that her government will use all the possibilities to find a solution to that as soon as possible and expressed belief that the international community was decided not to allow a second Bosnia in Kosova.

On his part, Islami briefed her on efforts of the Albanian government to ease the life conditions of women and children, which had fled their houses in Kosova.

"But our possibilities to that are limited, therefore we need the help of the international community," Islami said.

Martlary also held separate talks with Ilir Meta the State Secretary for European integration.

"There will be no solution to Kosova if Milosevic holds talks only to play for time on the issue and does not withdraw army and special forces or if he fails to stop violence and ethnic cleansing there," Meta said.

The meeting discussed the bilateral cooperation and possibilities for Norwegian investments in Albania. ake/pas/ak/

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[05] Milosevic's commitments do not guarantee an end to conflict

Milosevic's commitments in the statement do not fulfil all requests of the international community and especially those of the Contact Group. Therefore, they are not a full guarantee to end the conflict in Kosova and resume dialogue, a press release of Albania's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Immediate withdrawal of Serb military and police forces from Kosova, end of expulsion of Albanians from their land, participation in unconditional negotiations at the presence of the international factor to resolve the problems with the Albanian leadership in Kosova, would have been concrete commitments by official Belgrade in which the international community and the Albanian government would have been interested.

To continue putting Belgrade's state repressive violence in equal footing with the imposed resistance in Kosova and to use this only to justify non withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosova would mean that you are continuing the demagogy and be away from right request of the international community.

The Albanian government is much interested in ending the Kosova crisis as soon as possible through a prompt end to fighting, bloodshed and forced expulsion of Albanians.

This can be achieved through open, concrete actions in cooperation with the international community. Any undesirable failure of diplomatic solutions is conditioned by tight political, economic and military measures, the press release said. ake/pas/ak/

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[06] Works for Rreshen cathedral begin

The cathedral, 1 200 square metres, is being built on the initiative of the Holy See and financed by Italian donors, Dom Kristofor told ATA.

The winner of the bid, "Rinder" company, affiliate of Elbasan, engaged in building the cathedral, will carry out the works in three stages, based on a project drafted by Dr.Pietro Cocoliniu, from Bologna, specialised in building works of Cult.

According to engineer Farmir Copja, the two storied cathedral will have the hall of catechism, that of liturgical performances, premises for teaching foreign languages, offices as well as the hall of religious service with 500 seats for worshipers. The cathedral will also have a campanile 25 metres tall.

The building will be surrounded by a park 1 800 square metres. All the works, which will cost some 280 million leks, will be completed by June 2000, the engineer said. /a.sh/pas/lm/

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[07] Police arrest a gang operating in Vora area

A spokesman of the Public Order Ministry said to ATA on Wednesday that those arrested were Blerim Mershahu, Dashamir Alhasa, Alban Karamuça as well as Eduard and Altin Kamberi all resident of Vora, 20 km from Tirana, between 20 and 25 years old.

The gang, for which the police had obtained evidence, was caught driving a Benz with false number plate. In a routine check, police found two TT pistols and an automatic rifle.

A day before, the five detainees tried to grab a merchant at gunpoint.

In the house of Kamberi brothers, the police found three young women, two from Shkozet and one from Vora, cheated by the arrested would be sent to Italy to prostitute. s.sh/pas/ak/

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[08] TNT explosion in Kukes

The event occurred on Wednesday at 02.00 a.m. when a powerful blast of TNT completely wrecked the apartment of the family of notary Hatixhe Gojani and those of two neighbours, the spokesman of the district police commissariat told ATA.

The explosion has also damaged the apartments on the other floors.

The police mobile unit was immediately rushed to scene, while inquiries into this terrorist act have already begun. /s.sh/lm/

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[09] Albania asks for membership in Civil Aviation European Conference

The officials said that Albania's membership was an important step to integrate the Albanian transport in the European structures paving the way for greater possibilities both in assistance, to help modernise the Albanian civil aviation, and in stimulating bilateral agreements with the European Conference of Civil Aviation member states. /ak/

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[10] New TV station in Pogradec

Jorgaq Çyfteku, owner of this local TV station, told ATA that eight hours of programmes are daily broadcasted by this station and that coverage of the local press occupies a special place.

The apparatuses and equipment of the station are brought from France, most part from the friends of Cyftek. The waves of this station are also transmitted beyond the lake, in FYROM, Struge and Ohrid.

Two studios are currently active, in Pogradec and Korce, where local intellectuals such as painter Anastas Kostandini, poet Dhimiter Pojanaku and others are committed to working there.

In the future, through an amplifier on the Mali i Thate, the waves of this station are thought to reach also the Korce lowland area. /s.sh/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Albania govt. approves creation of tourism development committee

The draftlaw, approved by the government, will be submitted to parliament, which is going to name the head of the committee.

Two months ago, tourism and trade were under a ministry but after the restructuring, the former was not included in the new ministry of Economic and Trade Cooperation.

However, its state structures have been maintained and the creation of a new committee, according to specialists, would create more space to carry out strategy of development of tourism and stimulation of investments. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] German FEFAD to become a bank soon

Dr Schueler, visiting Albania, had separate meetings with president Rexhep Meidani, prime minister Fatos Nano, Finance Minister Arben Malaj and others, to discuss the future development of FEFAD. The main topic in talks was the application for a licence for FEFAD BANK.

Schueler said that the FEFAD Supervising Council convened on Tuesday to discuss the results of the activity for 1997 and approve the business plan for 1998. The council discussed the last topic on the FEFAD BANK.

This bank will secure banking services, time deposit, savings account as well as national and international money transfer.

Trede said that the supervising council of the new bank will comprise five members. /ak/

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[13] Teuta Cata, deputy minister of Economic and Trade Cooperation

Caka, born in 1968, has graduated from the Tirana university, in the Economic Faculty.

Besides working in economic enterprises, Cata, has worked as supervisor of the projects at the Ministry of Health financed by the PHARE programme and World Bank. Cata has also published various articles in scientific-economic reviews. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] PM Nano holds telephone conversation with Ambassador Gelbard

The Cabinet of the Council of Ministers reported that Ambassador Gelbard stressed that the United States is studying all the possible options for the fair and durable solution of the problem without excluding that of the military intervention. He also underlined that the USA supports the policy followed by the Albanian government and has urged the European partners of USA to do the same thing without reserves.

PM Nano, after describing the current situation in Kosova and Albania, urged Gelbard to be further engaged for the solution of the Kosova issue, reconfirming the determination of the Albanian government to support the initiatives and concrete actions of the international community for this purpose.

Talking about the situation created in Northern Albania and the measures taken by the Albanian Government to faciliate the accommodation of the Kosova refugees, Nano asked Gelbard support and greater logistic aid for this problem which were immediately promised to him. /s.sh/das/mt/

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[15] Use of violence against Serbia is the only option to stop fight in Kosova, Mehdiu

"We greet the initiative of NATO for the demonstration of force against Serbia through the air exercises over the Albanian territory and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," the chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mehdiu, told a news conference on Wednesday.

The AUR leaders reiterated the request for the deployment of NATO troops in the territory of Kosova to put an end to the criminal acts of the Serbian authorities against the Albanian population.

The representatives of the United Right protested against the time put at the disposal of this formation for the electoral campaign on the Albanian Television, stressing that the time of three minutes is not enough, meanwhile that the other two groupings, the Alliance for State and the Union for Democracy, have much more time, they stressed. /a.ke/das/mt/

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[16] Deputy Parliament Speaker demands penal prosecution for a reporter and the editor-in-chief of Rilindja Demokratike

Dokle has sent his indictment to the Tirane District Court for the two reporters following the publication by this paper of an article entitled "Socialists plundered the money of Albanians," while covering the electoral activity of the Union for Democracy in the commune Greshice in the district of Mallakaster (southwestern Albania.)

The article accuses Dokle of receiving from a VEFA manager 120 000 dollars, allegedly for his brother.

In the mean time, Socialist Party Secretary General, Pandeli Majko, told ATA Wednesday that he will do the same as Dolke, a point he had previously expressed. Majko was accused in the article that he had taken 240 000 dollars from former pyramid investment schemes.

After the article was published, Dokle and Majko had demanded from the chief auditor of the former pyramid investment schemes, Farudin Arapi, to make public the names of the politicians involved in the issue of investments schemes, but Arapi stated on TV that those names could not be declared until the law on former investment schemes was adopted. /das/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Serbs intensify attacks and massacres in Kosova

TIRANA, June 17 (ATA) - Some 16 Albanians have been killed over the last 24 hours in Kosova, meanwhile that the Serbian attacks continue from the Kosova-Albania border up to Drenice, the Kosova Information Center (KIC) reported.

Referring to the Serbian and foreign sources, the KIC reports that five Albanians were killed in the border line between Albania and Kosova, four were sent to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital and seven others were killed in Decan.

The KIC informs that the villages of Belinc, Caraleve and Zborc in the commune of Shtimje (some 30 km South of Prishtina), have been bombed, as well as the villages of Kerrnice, Jashanice e Eperme and Ozdrim of Kline (some 20 km East of Peje.) Due to the opposition of the UCK forces (Kosova Liberation Army,) after a powerful exchange of fire, the Serbian forces were forced to withdraw. There are no reports on casualties.

The recent Serbian attacks against the Albanian population in Kosova are carried out a day after the statement that the Yugoslav President Milosevic signed Tuesday in Moskow with his Russian counterpart, Boris Yeltsin. The statement said that "Yugoslavia was engaged not to carry out repressive actions against civilians." /sara/das/mt/

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

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