Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-11

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CONTENTS

[01] Advisory boards for citizens in municipal councils

[02] Structures against crime seek modern equipment - Minister

[03] Parliament reviews first chapter of RTSH status

[04] UNICEF brings back to school 300 Albanian minors

[05] Customs house aims at fulfilling plan

[06] World Bank invests on forest protection

[07] Minister Meksi discusses with IMF Mission relations of cooperation

[08] Privatisation of national commercial bank to end soon

[09] 21st division uncovers ties of customs house of kakvije with traffickers

[10] Tax revenues amount to 96.6 percent

[11] Albania president hails initiative on pluralism, democracy

[12] Bank of Albania presents risks threatening stability of financial system

[13] Schools in greenery

[14] Russian Foreign Minister holding talks with Albanian counterpart

[15] 520 firms registered at local tax office

[16] Work to hollow terminal of freighters in port of Durres starts

[17] Dollar value increases slightly

[18] Rakipi says final statement for Caushi not logical fruit of investigations

[19] LDK official killed in Vushtrri

[20] Albanian Minister calls for acceleration of operations of eight corridor

[21] Meksi:" Election in Trade and Industry Chamber in Tirana illegal"

[22] "Monster" of Berat, mentally deficient and vampire

[23] Smuggling tracked in Custom Police web

[24] Other forces enter Kosove from Serbia

[25] Serbian forces built-up in Prizren

[26] World Bank: 22 million dollars on public administration reform

[27] Danger for demolition Tirana artificial lake dyke increased

[28] Nearly 2 000 Albanians' return from Italy will profit 150-300 000 lirets

[29] Russia to back political solution of Kosova crisis, Ivanov

[30] Albanian minister discussed with IMF APC situation

[31] 5.1 billion lek of budget to be used on transport for 1999

[32] Albania is engaged that the Balkans stay away from conflictual policies, inter-ethnic hatred, President

[33] Parliament adopts several draft-laws

[34] New investigating group starts work on Hajdari case

[35] Political accord must be guaranteed by NATO troops, Milo

[01] Advisory boards for citizens in municipal councils

The initiator of the idea Dhimiter Furxhi, also coordinator of the NGO Forum for Vlore, said that this is a contemporary practice in western countries and helps increase the consensus between the municipal councils and the citizens of the same community. The idea was backed by those present, with the heads of local government suggesting that this idea must be made a reality as soon as possible.

The seminar dwelt on general principles of public participation and the relations of local government with NGOs, the dynamic of decision-making in group, etc.

Attending the seminar were representatives from 12 non-governmental associations, heads of local government, deputies, and others. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Structures against crime seek modern equipment - Minister

Mr Candel took interest in the functions of the anti-crime structures, the international assistance through professional training and logistic means. Minister Koci said to him that the fight against crime demands a joint contribution. Albania continues to have sharp problems regarding crime, and it needs logistic assistance so that to respond to the structural changes underway.

Minister Koci voiced his will and readiness and that of his ministry for the apëplication a broad database program to record all information about crime.

Mr Cendal said their assistance will be complex and all-sided, but added that it was necessary for the level of the functional structures to be elevated to the degree of the modern equipment.

The talks focused on concrete problems related to the Interpol Office established in Tirane. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Parliament reviews first chapter of RTSH status

The reason why the parliament was considering only a small part of the status "is to help the only state television channel to overcome the crisis," Kastriot Çaushi head of the RTSH leading council said.

Çaushi said that "the nomination of director general and vice director general are requested by law, which stipulates that the leading council should appoint the director general within 30 days."

The first chapter of the RTSH status defines the criteria for the nomination of director general, vice director general as well as Radio and Television directors. It also defines the procedures of voting within the council for candidatures to those posts.

In a separate parliamentary session, the minister of public economy Ylli Bufi and the deputy of Lezha Agustin Marko answered the questions of deputies on the energy situation in Lezha. /ypa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] UNICEF brings back to school 300 Albanian minors

To this end, she mentioned joint projects which have been undertaken with local government authorities to prevent abandonment of school by minors and their early self-employment.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education over this academic year, the number of children who have abandoned school is 2.7 as compared with the number of those who attend the compulsory 8th form school. UNICEF in cooperation with NGOs and the Swiss association "Terre des hommes" is applying since 1997 the project "School for street children" in the cities of Korce, Elbasan and Berat, enabling 300 minors to return to their education in school. This process has distanced them from crime, abuses and other street risks. These children have also been assisted with food articles, medicaments and school instruments with the aim of integrating them in social levels equal with their age-companions. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Customs house aims at fulfilling plan

A considerable failure was seen in excises and it should be repaired by a plan worked out by the customs directorate, Alqi Macolli, head of the Elbasan customs office said to ATA on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, a slight increase was seen in comparison to the same period last year. The tax revenues are estimated at 160 million leks for the first two-month period of 1999 in comparison to 32 million leks for the same period in 1998.

The customs staff due to a tight control and coordination of their activities with the customs police and that of anti contraband have prevented the negative phenomena seen in the Kapshtica customs house as regard the VAT payment and any other tax.

The customs house has also applied legal sanctions in order to find out any possibility for abuse on the part of irresponsible elements. /ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] World Bank invests on forest protection

The district has some 39 thousand hectares of forests and every forest police staff covers 1.100 to 1.200 hectares. The fund of the World Bank has made possible the planting of different kinds of trees and increasingly improved the pastures and irrigation channels.

Changing of state forests into communal forests has saved them from total damage recorded during 1996-1998. Some 9.700 hectares of forests and 2.500 hectares of pastures have been changed into communal forests.

Forcing wrongdoers to pay administrative fines is a problem for the directorate of forestry, Ded Prenga, director of local forestry said to ATA.

Only 13 out of 269 cases when people were fined have been executed during 1998. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Minister Meksi discusses with IMF Mission relations of cooperation

They discussed relations of cooperation with IMF and the support that this international institution has given to the Albanian Government. They spoke on the trade and fiscal policies, the foreign debt, disbursement of foreign finances etc.

The meeting made evident the steps underway for Albania to become a World Trade Organization member. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Privatisation of national commercial bank to end soon

Some ten foreign banks have voiced their interests in buying the commercial bank but in the mid of February the commission on offers presided over by the minister of Finance Anastas Angjeli held the first session to consider the offers.

They selected five foreign banks, that is, one Italian bank, Banca di Roma, two Greek banks, Alpha Credit Bank and Pireaus Bank and two Turkish banks, Kent Bank and Bankkapital.

Sources from the Finance Ministry said that there were only two competitors from Turkey, the Kent Bank and Bankkapital, which would compete in the final round. This will mark the start of privatisation for the first bank in Albania.

Albanian parliament has approved a special law, which defines the rules to be followed until a bank changes from state owned to private. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] 21st division uncovers ties of customs house of kakvije with traffickers

According to sources of police of Gjirokaster, the division reached this conclusion after verifications in the Greek customs of the zone. Hence, the firm Koca has brought to Albania melamine and MDF (timber) not passing through customs clearance. Police sources explained to ATA that the customs fee for the melamine is as much as the 55th per cent of the total value of the melamine brought into the country, while that of MDF is 25 per cent. From this game in which at least all customs staff of one shift has been involved, the state has lost about 70 million drachmas. There are suspicions that this form of deceit has also been used by other traders of melamine. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Tax revenues amount to 96.6 percent

The directorate general tax said that the monthly plan was fulfilled 96.6 percent.

Some 985.4 thousand leks or 52 percent have been deposited to the state budget by the Tirana-based tax office. Even other local tax offices have fulfilled the monthly plan.

During the first two-month period of 1999, the tax offices have deposited some 3.261 billion leks or 98.9 percent of the plan to the state budget.

The annual plan on tax revenues is some 29 billion leks. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Albania president hails initiative on pluralism, democracy

This foundation aims at spreading a European political culture among the political class through a series of scientific activities all over Albania in which the work with the new generation of young politicians will be of special importance.

Meidani backed the concept presented by the leaders of the foundation to extend the specter of the activity in upgrading the level of professionalism in journalism in Albanian media, press office at the presidency said.

He praised the presence of the Dutch foundation as part of efforts undertaken by the international community in encouraging positive political climate in Albania. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Bank of Albania presents risks threatening stability of financial system

According to sources in the Bank of Albania, there is lack of transparence and information of the public by respective state and private institutions on the activities of the banks and financial companies. This starts with the non-observation of the legal obligation for the publication on the activities of banks and other financial companies.

The Albanian economic reality continues to be characterized by "peaceful cohabitation" of formal and informal markets of the economy. The law "On banks in Republic of Albania" among the latest adopted in the financial field, tries to limit in maximum the creation of possibilities for the former pyramid schemes to be repeated.

Over the second half of 1998 and in the first months of this year, the Bank of Albania has reviewed almost all the observation regulations. In January this year, the Bank of Albania and the Bank of Greece signed the Agreement of Cooperation with the aim of exchanging information and monitoring the affiliates of the Greek banks operating in Albania.

The Bank of Albania wants to attract the attention also for the amount of the minimal capital needed for a bank to start its activity. To establish a bank, the Bank of Albania demands an initial minimum capital of USD5 million.

In its statement, the Bank of Albania says it will soon increase this amount to USD7 million, reaching the same standard with CE. Also the minimal capital for other financial companies which receive savings from the people will be increased. The Bank of Albania considers as indispensable the integral review of the procedures for the creation and the functioning of the structures which give licences and monitor operations. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Schools in greenery

In order to encourage environmental education among youths, the UNICEF for Tirane has trained specialists from the Albanian Ministry of Education, Methodology Studies Institute, coordinators of the project "For the Albanian Educational Development AEDP)" of the Soros foundation.

According to Vangjeli a four year project of "Green Schools" has already begun on the initiative of the International Global Education Institute in Ontario of Canada.

Among the main objectives of the project is to introduce the components of environmental education from the elementary to the eight year school.

This project is planned to be carried out in two eight years schools of Tirane and at a rural area of Elbasan, to be extended to other districts later.

Meanwhile, the teachers to be included in the project will be professionally trained in one of the country's universities, assuming full knowledge on environment and its values. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Russian Foreign Minister holding talks with Albanian counterpart

Milo considered Ivanov's visit to Albania of "historic significance", as it will "turn over a new leaf in the bilateral relations".

"Both countries have common interests in the development of bilateral relations, especially in establishing peace and stability in the region," said Milo.

Ivanov stressed that this visit, the first by a senior Russian official to Albania, will improve the relations between Albania and Russia.

"We are here also to discuss problems disturbing the security in Europe, considered from the point of view of the broad European interests," said Ivanov.

The meeting, which is going on, is expected to devote special attention to the crisis in Kosova and its solution.

Today Ivanov will also meet with Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani. He will also hold a news conference prior to his departure. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] 520 firms registered at local tax office

This number is increased by 200 as compared to the same period last year, Hajrulla Haderri, chief of tax office, said to ATA.

Firms, which have failed to be registered after the deadline, by end of February, would be fined, he said, adding that they would ask for the help of order bodies. They will force them to be registered.

Most firms are trying to renew their licences particularly after an agreement signed between the Ministry of Finance and Union of the Organisation for Albanian Business (BOBSH). /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Work to hollow terminal of freighters in port of Durres starts

The Italian firm Cosmar, winner of the tender for the terminal, has adopted all measures to hollow the existing quay and for a new one of 176 linear meters long, said to ATA the director of the port, Leonidha Gjermeni.

The sea port is cooperating with the customs house to accelerate procedures for the equipment to be brought from Italy. According to Gjermeni, so far the containers with the equipment for the work have arrived, and soon, the pilots are expected to arrive for the terminal of the ferryboats.

The project is financed by the CE through the PHARE Program, with 9.7 million dollars. After the project will be completed, the capacity of the terminal in Durres will double. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Dollar value increases slightly

The following is the exchange rate of the foreign currencies against the Albanian one:

CURRENCY	RATE
USD		142.10
DM		 79.80
LIT(1000)	 80.30
GRD(100)	 48.20
EURO		154.00

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Rakipi says final statement for Caushi not logical fruit of investigations

Prosecutor Xhevat Hanaj on Monday in his summing up before the panel of judges, attorneys and defendants asked that Myrteza Caushi and several of the other defendants be sentenced with the detention period, dropping the main charges of the investigation and accepting as proved only that of illegal possession of arms.

According to spokesman Ardian Visha the Prosecutor General Rakipi stated that the request of Prosecutor Hanaj on the sentence against Caushi and other accused "is unexpected and not a logical fruit of the investigation carried out for this case."

Meanwhile, the spokesman told ATA that the Prosecutor's Office is a centralised body and the common opinion has been different from that of Hanaj's summing up.

The Prosecutor's office, regarding Hanaj's final statement, will follow all steps allowed and the Prosecutor General, according to the law, can even ask a crackdown on him, Visha told ATA.

Caushi and the others have been charged with creating armed gangs and committing crimes during the unrest of 1997. The trial against them started on October 12 last year, while the defendants were arrested on September 27, 1997. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] LDK official killed in Vushtrri

Enver Feka, chairman of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) for this village, was shot dead by persons who then fled in a Golf car, according to the LDK branch in Vushtrri.

Albanian subjects in Kosova have accused Serbian nationalist organisation "Black hand" of a series of such murders in Kosova. /p.ta/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Albanian Minister calls for acceleration of operations of eight corridor

According to the sources of this ministry the company is asked to accelerate the construction process by benefiting from the good weather.

Minister Shuli emphasizes the importance of realization of the graphs as they were predicted, if not it will pass to another contractor that acts in Albania.

The General Director of Road Maintance Gezim Bimbli declared that the project of eight corridor, which includes the road segment of Durres- Rrogozhine, will finish in the end of 2000./pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Meksi:" Election in Trade and Industry Chamber in Tirana illegal"

The respective Ministry announced these elections to be officially illegal and emphasized that " this is not the first time that the heads of this chamber Yllbardh Bodinaku and Arben Shehi disobey the law".

Since 1995 the supervisor power of the Trade and Industry Chamber, which is to say the Ministry of Economy and Trade Corporation, does not recognize as legal the election of the leading organs of this chamber, the emblem, its board and its head.

Based on the law Minister Meksi declared the date May 17,1999, the day to be hold the election on the leading organs of the Trade and Industry Chamber in Tirana./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] "Monster" of Berat, mentally deficient and vampire

The diary of Polovina, one of the members of the gang which in Berat massacred seven persons, of whom three policemen, testifies to his obsessions of a killer with grave mental disorders.

"Polovina, 31, was a man with deliriums and had been treated for depression since 1982," the head of Berat Police department, Hasan Ahmetaj, says in an interview with newspaper Republika on Thursday.

"In 1994, Polovina stole a she-goat and in the eyes of his friend he cut off its leg and drank its blood," says Ahmetaj.

He says Polovina repeated this act also the day of the massacre in Berat, when he scratched one of the hostage with the muzzle of the pistol and later drank the blood that began to shed.

Polovina, according to earlier press articles, appears as a character who had as a hobby the horror films, especially scenes with people executed, carried out sadist interventions in his body, and was racist towards gypsies.

The three authors of the Berati massacre, Polovina and the twins Ago, 17 years old, were executed by the police on the same day. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Smuggling tracked in Custom Police web

Custom Police of Tirana in a control done in the lorry of Alban Tirana resulted that beside the declared load, he hided ten motors undeclared. In this case the subject is punished by a fee of 188,284 lek and the motors were sequestrated, as well.

Another case is that of Durresi where the Custom Police find that there was a great difference between the quantity declared and that undeclared.

Meanwhile the road segment of Tirana- Qafe-Thane a lorry having a Turkish plate, possessed by Orali does not have the full and proper documents./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Other forces enter Kosove from Serbia

Over the past week, Serb heavy artillery has shelled villages Pantine, Oshlan, Okrashtice, Liqej, Balince, etc., said LDK sources in Vushtrri. The same sources reported that a Serb convoy left today towards village Mihalic, while another went towards village Prilluzhe. /p.ta/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] Serbian forces built-up in Prizren

The sources say that 30 tanks and armoured vehicles as well as other war means have been sent to the Hoca village.

Numerous forces have blocked the Verrini region and the Tasus quarter, on the road to Kukes, while the inhabitants of the quarter are not allowed to leave.

Some 300 Serbian troops entered the Leskovec village at around 9.00 a.m. but because of the siege there is no full information on the events taking place there, said Masar Shala, chairman of the KMDLNJ in Prizren.

Other Albanian sources report that forces have been built up also in southern Prizren, in the southern region of Kosova-Opoje with 18 Albanian villages.

The road from Prizren to these villages, also for Dragash, has been blocked, a source from Opoje told ATA on telephone. The Opoje region is near Albania's border with FYROM. /p.ta/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] World Bank: 22 million dollars on public administration reform

The project of World Bank, which is the negotiation's phase and ending the most important and necessary direction, will operate in public administration and it is composed by two components.

The first component or "Structural Adjustment Credit" marks the value of 20 million dollars, which is an assistance given to the Albanian Government concerning the structure reform.

The second component marks the value of 8 million dollars as an assistance in the public administration and of the court one. This sum will be used mainly on technical assistance, training and preparing of sectoral policies.

This project of WB will support the Albanian Government in fulfilment of the reforms in sectors such as institutional and governmental reforms, juridical reforms, the privatization of the enterprises and the reduction of the fiscal deficit, by completing the privatization process of the small and medium enterprises.

Anyway the project of 28 million lek financed by the international finance institution will support also the reforms in other sectors, such as the financial support on banks' privatization and the reform in agriculture.

According to the official sources of the Ministry of Economic and Trade Corporation the negotiations about this project will go on aiming at the finance coordination between the ministries themselves./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Danger for demolition Tirana artificial lake dyke increased

"The slide which has started since 1996, continues and risks to destroy the dyke and cause a series of problems," stresses a document addressed on Wednesday to the Prime Minister, the town-hall and the prefecture by the National Committee of Big Dykes and the Permanent Technical Council of Dykes.

The situation of the dyke is considered graver and dangerous for the population due to the rains of spring.

According to the chairmen of the two main institutions of dykes in the country, among the most urgent measures to be taken are the decrease of the water level of the lake, the organization of the qualified and constant observation of the slide, as well as the funds to be found for the beginning of works for the repair of the dyke as soon as possible.

The artificial lake of Tirana is constructed in 1950 from the youth of the capital. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] Nearly 2 000 Albanians' return from Italy will profit 150-300 000 lirets

By this assistance will benefit nearly 2000 Albanian Immigrants, who are going to take the value of 150-300 000 lirets.

It is known the fact that thousand and a thousand Albanians left their country and moved toward Italy after the difficult situation created in the country in 1997 dues to the pyramidal schemes. This assistance program will be accomplished in several phases.

Actually the Work Ministry announced the first list of the persons to benefit from this assistance. They are going to take the assistance at Italo-Albanian Bank in Tirana.

After some months through a governmental decree it is defined the annual number of 3 000 people to be employed legally in Italy , who will have the work contracts given by the Italian employers.

Priority is given to the person return volunteers after March 1997, by marking the number of 1 500 persons./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[29] Russia to back political solution of Kosova crisis, Ivanov

Premier spokesman reported to ATA that the exchange of viewpoints on the possibilities for the solution of the Kosova crisis and the bilateral relations between Albania and Russia were the two main topics of talks.

PM Majko considered the situation in Kosova as very grave and added that the extension of crisis is a premise for the destabilization of the entire Balkan region. What is happening in Kosova was considered by Majko as a conflict between the Serb army and the defenceless Albanian civilians, meanwhile it is obvious that the Albanians are a strong factor of stability in Macedonia and Montenegro.

Premier Majko underlined the stand of the Albanian government not to change the borders through violence and stressed the necessity of "NATO presence in Kosova, as a guarantee for the implementation of the political accord to be reached." He said that he expects the success of the second reunion in Paris to agree on a political accord for the crisis.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Ivanov, considered the situation in Kosova "as very complicated" and shared the opinion with the Albanian concern regarding the national issue.

Ivanov said that Russia will support a political solution of the crisis in Kosova and said he was against an escalation of the conflict.

Premier Majko and Minister Ivanov accepted that there is no problem in the relations between Albania and Russia. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[30] Albanian minister discussed with IMF APC situation

According to the official sources of this ministry Minister Bufi informs the IMF mission about the very difficult situation in which is APC and about the measures to be taken in order to improve the financial situation of this corporation.

The Albanian Minister of Public Economy and Privatization stressed the need of continuation of the rehabilitation of the cascade of Drini hydropower station. These projects mark the value of 180 million dollars and it is financed by international donators, like World Bank and fonds provided by different governments.

In the meeting between the Albanian Minister Bufi and the mission of IMF it is stressing the need of improving of financial management of APC.

World Bank asked APC to minimize the financial expenditures in the web and to increase the percentage of the cashes./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[31] 5.1 billion lek of budget to be used on transport for 1999

This law came in this Ministry in January 1999. The budget's plan presented to the ministry is given in details for the districts, municipalities, particular objects by the operative directories for the donators'projects.

The budget for 1999 will cover the expenditures of the East-Western corridor and North-Southern one after the 10th kilometer, and the rehabilitation of the rural streets, etc.

For their finance the state budget predicted to finance 3,4 billion lek, from which 382 million belong to the local cost, 1235 to dispossession and 1.846 billion to VAT and other taxes.

All these details are sent within this month to the local power aimed at preparing it for projects' fulfilment, inform sources of Press Office near the Ministry of Transport./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[32] Albania is engaged that the Balkans stay away from conflictual policies, inter-ethnic hatred, President

According to President press office, Meidani informed the senior Russian delegation that the international community has lost much time as a result of not reacting in time, thus the current situation in Kosova has become a serious threat for the Kosova people and the destabilisation of the entire region. He insisted that the Rambouillet accord should be signed as soon as possible and its implementation should be guaranteed by the international military forces, headed by NATO.

"Any hesitation in this direction will incite bloodshed with grave consequences for the entire region," he said.

President Meidani urged the chief of the Russian diplomacy to use his entire influence in this direction.

"All parties must be more realistic in order not to lie oneself with the delays for the solution of the Kosova problem, which would require more energies in the future, he declared."

"Albania is engaged that the Balkans stay away from the conflictual policies and inter-ethnic hatred, by encouraging a cooperation process for the economic restoration and the regional integration," said Meidani.

The Russian Foreign Minister pointed out that both countries must gain the lost time in the bilateral cooperation and expressed the stand of his country regarding the Kosova crisis. /a.ke/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[33] Parliament adopts several draft-laws

The draft-law "On standardization" was adopted article by article, as well as the draft-law "On the mediation for the solution of disagreements," initiative of the Council of Ministers.

In regard to the draft-law "On an amendment to the law no. 7851, for the approval of the loan agreement between the Albanian government and the fund of OPEC for the international development regarding the project of the general hospital in Durres," the chairman of the Economy Commission, Arben Malaj, was against its ratification in this moment by Parliament, because, according to him, this is not competence of Parliament, but of Government. This draft-law was not accepted with a majority of votes.

In the end, the deputy of Berat, Maksim Hasani, issued a statement where he strongly condemned the recent event which caused 10 victims in this town.

Parliament will convene on Wednesday, 17 March, to examine several draft-laws like that "On the National Security and the competencies of the President of the Republic as Commander of the Armed Forces," "On anti- dumping," as well as the draft-law "On political parties." /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[34] New investigating group starts work on Hajdari case

The spokesman of the General Prosecutor's Office told ATA that Hajdari case passed Wednesday to the General Prosecutor's Office upon the request of the Attorney General, Arben Rakipi.

The investigation group is made up of three prosecutors of the General Prosecutor's Office, a prosecutor of the Tirana Prosecutor's Office (who has followed the case), a Norwegian prosecutor, Wolter Wanberg and two officers of the juridical police.

"Wanberg will be in this case as assistant and adviser," said the spokesman.

Asked by ATA about the other names of the investigation group, the spokesman did not accept to identify them, without providing arguments. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[35] Political accord must be guaranteed by NATO troops, Milo

The chief of the Russian diplomacy declared that "We favour a political solution of the Kosova crisis through negotiations and within the federation borders, we favour the respect of human rights of all ethnic groupings there."

Ivanov stressed that both the Yugoslav and the Albanian party must sit in the table of talks on 15 March and sign the political part of the accord, which started in Rambouillet, to be later backed by a military force. The situation in Kosova is in a critical point, said Ivanov. Thus, it is urgent to stop fighting and violence there. "We are exercising our influence on Belgrade, but also the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) bears responsibilities. We all know that it is supplied from abroad, which should not happen. The talks and not the war, are the only solution of the conflict," The Russian Foreign Minister pointed out.

With regard to the Rambouillet accord, Milo stressed "We think that the implementation of this Accord should be guaranteed by NATO troops, because we have lost the confidence on Milosevic."

Further on, the Albanian Foreign Minister urged the Contact Group, and Russia in particular, to exercise more pressure on Milosevic to sign the Rambouillet accord. Albania does not favour an escalation of the conflict there. It will play a constructive role till the end for the solution of the crisis, already offered by the Contact Group, in order to halt any adventure of the official Belgrade for the extension of the conflict in the region.

The official talks between the Albanian Foreign Minister and his Russian counterpart also focused on the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The increase of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and others, was also discussed. /lh/mt/

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