Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-08-04

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Border line with Albania and Drenica transformed into "scorched land," six Albanians have been killed

[02] None of senior officials in Albania has been involved in trafficking - Klosi

[03] USAID projects for Albanian health sector

[04] Perla, first private radio in Durres

[05] 800 000 lek to fight grasshopper in Librazhd

[06] Seventeen Albanians killed in Malisheve

[07] Thousands of inhabitants from Drenice have settled in villages of Vushtrri

[08] National Clinic of Orthopedics in reconstruction

[09] Registration of people coming from Kosove continues

[10] Fierce fighting in Kosove - seven killed Albanians identified

[11] Scores of villages engulfed in flames in Skenderaj

[12] Military-police reinforcement in Gjilan

[13] Draft constitution to be submitted to parliament by September

[14] Constitution commission reaches consensus on parliamentary council

[15] US engaged in a diplomatic solution to Kosova issue

[16] World Bank approves investments on Ionian Sea area

[01] Border line with Albania and Drenica transformed into "scorched land," six Albanians have been killed

Serb forces have launched a frontal attack against villages of Lugu i Baranit, Has, Dushkaje and outskirts of Gjakove, Decan, Peje, Kline and Dukagjin. Serb heavy artillery pieces have bombed villages round Lipjan, Shtimje and Suhareke. The villages and civil population are being attacked also by tanks, cannons and land-land missiles. Helicopters of the Yugoslav army have been seen flying on the warring areas.

According to reports so far, six Albanians have been killed and scores of others have been wounded in Kosove, but the number of the casualties is presumed to be greater.

Scores of thousands of civilians, children and women have moved today too from the villages, taking to the mountains. The number of the Albanians who have fled Kosove is reported to be more than 350 000. Among them are many injured, sick and women. There is shortage of food items, medicine and the living necessities. The attacks by Yugoslav military forces, Serb police and paramilitaries and fierce fighting are continuing in the late evening hours.

There is a tense and grave situation prevailing everywhere in Kosove. Serb motor forces are patrolling roads of Prishtine. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] None of senior officials in Albania has been involved in trafficking - Klosi

In reply to a question by the socialist deputy Dritero Agolli if any senior official was involved in smuggling, SHIK chief said that deputies, ministers or chiefs of departments in ministries are not involved in smuggling, with the exception of some police chiefs in local structures.

The session of questions for the SHIK chairman was demanded by the SP parliamentary group in the name of which spoke Ndrec Pema, deputy chairman of the Commission of Public Order and SHIK. He asked information about trafficking, its network and the work SHIK is doing to fight this phenomenon. Klosi said that it was not their task to make public the names but only to send information to the institutions the involved people are working.

Socialist deputy Pema asked on behalf of his parliamentary group a greater perfection of the work SHIK is duing to fight smuggling. /s.sh/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] USAID projects for Albanian health sector

"This program includes a number of projects which have to do with the most deficient aspects in our medical sector," spokesman of the Ministry of Health Artur Rada told ATA on Tuesday.

According to him, the program consists of questions related with the improvement of the work in the reproductive health and those of the woman as questions linked with the education and management in medical sector.

In this context, joint meetings will be organized between hospitals of Bronx in the U.S. and the University Hospital Centre, Orthopedic hospital, Maternity hospital in Tirane and the civil hospital in Shkoder. Another meeting has been also planned with the representatives of the New York University and the Tirane University.

In the context of the USAID program, a centre for the exchange of information will be set up along with another centre of training for emergency cases. /a.ke/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Perla, first private radio in Durres

After the tv stations of Shijak and Adria-2, now Durres has its first private radio named "Perla" the programs of which are aired in the greatest part of the western plain of Albania.

The director of the radio, Admir Gjordeni told ATA that Perla radio will transmit nonstop. It actually has a 6-member staff and attaches priority to the cultural programs. Musical programs with direct talking, according to the demands and opinions of the listeners take the main place in this ratio, addressing all ages and tastes, from folk to classical music.

Gjordeni said that the news will be mainly from Durres, with some from other districts and the world. /s.sh./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] 800 000 lek to fight grasshopper in Librazhd

Qerim Kaca, agriculture director for the district told ATA that since the fund was insufficient and delivered in two stages not the full effect was reached in fighting grasshoppers in all infected pastures. /s.sh.pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Seventeen Albanians killed in Malisheve

The number of the killed, wounded and of those missing is presumed to be much higher, reports the Information Centre of Kosove pointing out that many houses in the villages Kijeve, Bubavec, Mlecan, Balince, Vermice, Llazice, Lubizhde and Malisheve have been set on fire. They have not spared such acts also in the fields sown to wheat and in schools and religious objects. Serbs have set ablaze also many shops in Malisheve.

In the mean time, Albanian population is reportedly moving from their homes and living in very bad conditions. Many families have been divided and have lost their relations and communication. /p.ta/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Thousands of inhabitants from Drenice have settled in villages of Vushtrri

Many Albanian inhabitants from the commune of Skenderaj (northwest of Prishtine) have found shelter in villages Beciq, Dubofc, Galice, Bukosh and other villages of this commune, some have been accommodated in primary school buildings of these villages. Only in the school building of Dubofc about 700 people have been accommodated. /p.ta/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] National Clinic of Orthopedics in reconstruction

Rada said that the construction firm Labeati, which has won the tender held under the auspices of the ECHO (Program of European Community for Aid,) will make electric and hydro repairing, furnishing of the clinic with air-conditioners and other reconstructions.

The project envisages the construction of three separate rooms for the patients needing specialized orthopedic treatment. /s.sh./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Registration of people coming from Kosove continues

Now registration of the Kosovars accommodated in Bajram Curri is completed and this process is underway in the communes of Tropoje and Margegaj, which, as Kuliqi said, is forecast to be over this week.

Three registrations have been made since the time when Kosovars started to move to this district as a result of the repression exerted by Serb police and military forces and their number has now amounted to 12 700. /s.sh./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Fierce fighting in Kosove - seven killed Albanians identified

A source from Drenice said to ATA that fighting is extended from Polaci to Lluzhe. Polaci, Krusheci, Marina, a part of Polluzhe, Llaushe, etc., are covered by flames, while Serb tank units and infantry forces are setting on fire homes of the Albanians who have not been so far bombed.

Sources from Drenice report that the bodies of seven Albanians, who so far were declared as missing by sources of the Human Rights Council, have been recovered and identified. /p.ta/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Scores of villages engulfed in flames in Skenderaj

following bombardments of Serb forces, Center for Information in Kosova (QIK).

Serb forces tightened control around the Izbice village, Skenderaj, which has some 800 residents, including residents from other villages.

There are no reports on deployment of Serb forces in the village but QIK said that the danger of such an intervention exists and that the residents of the village could face a possible action by the Serb forces. pta/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Military-police reinforcement in Gjilan

Center for Information in Kosova said referring to sources of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) division in Gjilan.

It said that police check points positioned at the city's access roads and in some localities and strategical points of the commune, continue to function with the same intensity as the Serb police control in the city's roads especially the main ones.

These measures have rendered more difficult the movement of the Albanian citizens especially in villages of Cernice, Verbice and Zhegovci, Pograje, Myçybabe and Shurdhan.

Albanian citizens are facing difficulties in buying foodstuff in Presheve because their goods are confiscated by the Serb police which are positioned at access road to the city and along the Presheva-Myçybabe- Gjilan highway. pta/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Draft constitution to be submitted to parliament by September

Parliamentarians approved all the articles of the draft constitution after ten months of intensive work in the special parliamentary commission and in consultation tables with international organisations and non- government organisations (NGO).

The new draft constitution of the Republic of Albania contains 18 chapters and 183 articles. The fundamental law envisages a parliamentary republic with a president and a powerful executive.

The public will present its remarks on the draft before it is submitted to the parliament.

The co-chairman of the constitution commission Sabri Godo said that the Democratic party (DP) and its allies in the "Unity for Democracy" political grouping will have time to consider the draft and present their remarks on it.

Another meeting of the commission with the participation of the "Unity for Democracy" representatives who have boycotted the process of constitution will follow the round table proposed by the DP. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Constitution commission reaches consensus on parliamentary council

In today's close door meeting, the members of the commission reached a consensus to submit to parliament only a draft constitution which included this institution.

Head of the parliamentary group of the Socialist party Pandeli Majko, who is the one who opposed it, said to ATA on Tuesday that "our demands to deprive the council of its law-making powers as well as others attributed to it such as on nomination of diplomats and lawyers, were approved."

The council, according to the draft, has the right to consider important laws before they are submitted to parliament.

The first draft says that members of "the second house" of parliament can execute in special cases the right of law-making. But this was strongly rejected by the SP representatives in the commission who blocked the work in the commission for a few days.

This problem was resolved today after a consensus was reached by the commission members. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] US engaged in a diplomatic solution to Kosova issue

Rossin highly praised Albania's position as regards the Kosova issue, according to a spokesman of Defence Ministry.

"The United States are engaged in a diplomatic solution to the Kosova issue," Rossin said to Luan Hajdaraga, Albanian Defence Minister on Tuesday.

Referring to the tense situation in Kosova, the minister of Defence Hajdaraga focused on the measures adopted by the government and Ministry of Defence on protection of army depots, prevention of illegal traffic of weapons and avoiding any kind of provocation in the border.

He praised the U.S. support in opening the U.S. Assistance office in the Defence Ministry and the NATO Coordination Office as the only one of that kind in the Southeastern Europe.

Present at the meeting were U.S. ambassador in Tirana, Marisa Lino, U.S. military attache Colonel Applegate as well as senior officials of the Defence Ministry. ypa/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] World Bank approves investments on Ionian Sea area

The project approved by the World Bank ad hoc board on development of the Ionian coastal area includes the area of the archaeological site of Butrint, Ksamil, Saranda and all the coastal villages until the park of Llogara.

Investments for this project will be used to rehabilitate the road network from Butrint to Llogara, all centers of culture monuments, improve the running water pipeline, construct a system of garbage decomposing and discharging in order to keep the environmental tidy in most frequented tourist areas, reconstruct tourist coastal villages and others. /das/ak/

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

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