Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-08-16

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Another Yugoslav artillery shell falls in Albanian territory

[02] Preparations to repair Kruja Castle underway

[03] Some 5 000 Orthodox believers celebrate in Permet

[04] Serbian forces attack Peja and Decan suburbs

[05] Serb forces attack village of Sllapuzhan of Suhareke

[06] Prime Minister Fatos Nano returns home

[07] Greek migration law allows free movement of Albanians from Greece to Albania and vice-versa

[08] Some 5 000 Orthodox believers commemorate "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" in Permet

[09] Peja under Serbian attacks

[10] Police carry out arms collection operation

[01] Another Yugoslav artillery shell falls in Albanian territory

After checks by Albanian border experts on Friday it turned out that in the Badesh area, 20 metres inside the border, in Albanian territory, Has district, a shell had fallen as result of Yugoslav army artillery shooting in Kosova, the spokesman of the Public Order Ministry told ATA on Saturday.

According to the spokesman, based on the information provided by the Albanian border guards, the shell fell as result of the Yugoslav artillery shooting beyond the border with Albania.

A clarification letter will be addressed to the Yugoslav party on this incident, the spokesman says.

He adds that it has been the second case this week and the seventh since fighting started in Kosova that Yugoslav artillery shells land in Albanian territory. The previous shell, on Tuesday evening, landed about 1000 m inside Albanian territory, in the direction of the C 2/7 border post in Tropoje district.

Referring to repeated incidents and Belgrade border provocations, the Albanian Foreign Ministry, through a statement issued two days ago, called on the Yugoslav government "not to speculate with the moderated stand of Albania towards these incidents, which are becoming an ordinary practice." /y.pa/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Preparations to repair Kruja Castle underway

Ylli Lamaj, head of the Tirana municipality, told ATA that the works which will go on for around three months, will concentrate on repairing the part of the fortress which was demolished in November '95".

Besides the fund provided by the Albanian state, UNESCO too, has provided US$ three million, a sum which will be used for the castle's general restoration.

According to Lamaj, the ongoing works include the walls of the fortress in a territory of five hectares, six observation points, two churches of the 12th century. /s.sh/pas/lm/

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[03] Some 5 000 Orthodox believers celebrate in Permet

The Monastery, built in the 12th century, named after Saint Mary, each year hosts thousands of Orthodox believers not only from the town of Permet but also from the surrounding villages. The believers pass the whole night in the Monastery's spaces and leave on the next day. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Serbian forces attack Peja and Decan suburbs

Powerful explosions and volleys of gunfire were heard in the villages of Logj, Raushiq and Graboc, which later were engulfed by smoke and fire, sources from Peja (Western Kosova) say while fierce fighting between Albanian and Serbian forces continued also in the suburbs of Junik, on the border belt with Albania. /p.ta/lm/

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[05] Serb forces attack village of Sllapuzhan of Suhareke

This morning the Serb forces positioned at Biraqe pounded for more than one hour the Sllapuzhan village of Suhareke and sources from the Human Rights Council ion Kosova said that the explosions were strong and heard also in the city of Suhareke.

According to earlier reports from the Sllapuzhan village there have been neither killed nor wounded, but only damages in materials.

In the meantime, there are no reports from Albanian sources in Prishtine about the events taking place in Junik, while according to several Serb forces, Junik has been taken over by the Serbs. /p.ta/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Prime Minister Fatos Nano returns home

The chief of the Albanian government, today by midday, arrived at Rinas airport by the Greek flight "Olympic".

At the airport Nano was extended a formal reception.

The parliament's deputy speaker, Namik Dokle, and members of the government coalition wished him welcome home.

Meanwhile, tight security measures were taken by the Guard of the Republic and the capital's police forces at the airport and along road linking Rinas with Tirana.

Nano went on vacations, which he spent with his family, by the beginning of August and during this period the government has been presided by deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Governmental Coordination Kastriot Islami.

Right after his return Nano went straight to his office to proceed with his work. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Greek migration law allows free movement of Albanians from Greece to Albania and vice-versa

According to Kakavije police sources one cannot speak of an exact number of them, as most of emigrants are equipped with legal papers by the police of the neighboring state and are not enrolled in police registers.

"One can speak of a figure of 2.000-2.500 visiting emigrants," says the commander of this point, Abedin Hitaj, adding that few of them also possess visas".

In order to avoid unpleasant incidents, the Gjirokaster police commissariat has recently organised frequent patrols on the Kakavije- Gjirokaster road and has tightened control at the Kakavije crossing point.

A good part of the visiting emigrants are Orthodox, who have come to celebrate the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" with their families. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Some 5 000 Orthodox believers commemorate "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" in Permet

The Monastery, built in the 12th century, named after Saint Mary, each year hosts thousands of Orthodox believers not only from the town of Permet but also from the surrounding villages. The believers pass the whole night in the Monastery's spaces and leave on the next day. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Peja under Serbian attacks

The Peja city (western Kosova) today has been covered by black clouds of smoke. Houses near the leather-shoe compound, along the Peje-Prishtine road and in the direction of the Loxhe village have been engulfed by fire.

Sources from Peja say that more than 40 powerful blasts have been heard from morning till noon. The Serbian forces' heavy artillery shells come from the military positions in Zagerme and the Dardania 1 and Dardania 2 quarters of Peja. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Police carry out arms collection operation

Some 150 various kinds of automatic weapons, seven machineguns, 50 guns, 200 000 shells, 15 cases of grenades and other weapons were collected in the end of the operation.

"Guri i Bardhe", suburb of Ure Vajgurore, has always been a problem for arms possession and use. Many citizens handed over the weapons themselves and asked the police to gather all weapons, which have claimed many lives. /a.ke/pas/lm/

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

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