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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-21Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] 35 Kosovars arrive in Durres from battling zonesDURRES, March 20 (ata) - By Gezim kabashi: Over the past three weeks, 35 other Kosova Albanians have arrived in the district of Durres from the battling zones of Kosove. Most of them are women and children, who have managed to escape the war through Montenegro.The specialist of the UNHCR in Durres, Adrian Shehu, told ATA that in the first 20 days of March, 7 Kosova families with about 35 members have appeared again in this office. The Kosovars said it was impossible for them to cross the Albania-Kosove border. The Kosovars have been accommodated in their relatives or have hired houses in the city and in nearby villages. About 6 000 Albanian Kosovars have reached Durres in their efforts to escape the Serb repression, while 28 other families came there in February. /s.sh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Albanian Foreign Minister meets reporters from Balkan countriesTIRANE, March 20 (ata) - The Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paskal Milo, had Saturday a meeting with a group of reporters of various medias of the Balkan countries.The press department of the FM reports that their talk focused on the efforts of the international community, and of the Contact Group in particular, for the establishment of peace in Kosove through the negotiations in Paris, on the present grave situation in Kosove and the current developments in Albania, along with its efforts to face any attempt from Belgrade to violate Albania's integrity and sovereignty. In response to the interest of the reporters, Mr. Milo confirmed once more the appeal of the Albanian Government to NATO, the Contact Group countries and the USA in particular to enact all the measures to halt any other massacre and war policy of ethnic cleansing by the Serbs in Kosove. The Albanian Government has attracted the attention that Belgrade is not implementing this policy, by exploiting the chance that the OSCE Verification Mission is leaving. At the same time, the Albanian Foreign Minister told the reporters present that the Albanian Government has adopted all the measures to face with any possible threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Albania coming from any adventurous, conflictual politics from Belgrade. In reply to the interest of the reporters about the political climate in Albania in this situation, Mr Milo stressed that every effort now in Albania to destabilize the situation is a very good service for Milosevic. In the name of the Albanian Government Milo hailed once more that declaration adopted in the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Balkan countries in Bucharest, asking Belgrade to reflect on the options presented to it from the international community to implement the provisional status of an extended autonomy in Kosove. /s.sh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] A better cooperation for consolidation of public order in Sarande demandedSARANDE, March 20 (ata) - By Sh Hajno: The consolidation of the cooperation between police, town-hall, construction police and the judiciary in the consolidation of public order in Sarande was the subject of the meeting of the prefect of Vlore, Tare Hamo in Sarande recently.The chief of the police commissariat of Sarande, Edmond Kule, made a panorama of the work of police to improve its activity in the fight against crime. The activity of police was considered positive compared to that in the districts of Vlore and Delvine of this prefecture, and on national level as well, the chairman of the district council, Thoma Papagjika told ATA. The need to further consolidate the public order and the fight against illegal trafficking especailly now that the tourist season is approaching, were considered of vital importance in the meeting. The meeting, which was attended by chiefs of the local government structures and the director of the police prefecture, Sokol Kociu, was requested by the political forces of the State Alliance in the district of Sarande. /xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] MAPE mission will train Fier police membersTIRANE, March 21 (ata) - by Urim Bajrami: MAPE Mission will soon train forces of the Fier district police.The chief of this Mission in Albania, General Allaine Labrot, told ATA that in the context of the continuous cooperation between the Albanian forces of order and the Multinational Advisory Preparatory Elements Mission, forces of Fier police too will be trained after those of Tepelena. According to General Labrot, so far about 50 per cent of the structures of Albanian police have been trained and cooperation with them will continue also in the future. /s.sh./xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Fighting going on in Drenice and in north of PrishtinePRISHTINE, March 21 (ata) - ATA correspondent in Prishtine, Behlul Jashari reports: The fighting in Kosove continues today too, while Serb forces bombed with artillery pieces Drenice, causing scores of people killed and wounded, whereas about 40 000 Albanian Kosovars have fled their homes, Albanian sources say. The same sources added that fightings are going on also in northern regions, near Prishtine, in the outskirts of Podujeve, Vushtrri, Skenderaj, Gllogoc, Mitrovice, Obiliq, Suhareke, Kacanik,etc.Serb sources reported last night of the killing of seven Albanians in the vicinity of Skenderaj and of the Serb policeman killed and two others wounded. But Albanian sources report of a greater number of killed and wounded. According to Kosova e Lire Radio, at least 10 Serbian soldiers have been killed yesterday, while other sources have reported of tens of Serb soldiers and policemen wounded and taken to hospitals. Sources on the ground report that the fiercest fighting were those round the strategic mount of Qyqavice, which along with some villages of Drenice and Rrafsh of Kosove have been for a long time sealed off by a number of Serb troops. /pa.ta/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Only through united efforts we may ensure economic revival of Shkoder - PremierTIRANE, March 20 (ata) - Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, accompanied by a group of members of his cabinet and representatives of embassies and international organizations in Tirane, visited the city of Shkoder on Saturday.The spokesman of the Premier, Lorenc Vangjeli reported that in the meeting held with representatives of the local government of Shkoder, PM Majko expressed the wish that "this working meeting be an evident signal that only through united efforts may we assure the economic revival of Shkoder." "War is going on near our borders and everybody can understand the consequences stemming from this situation. We are a nation prepared to defend ourselves and in this way we are also prepared for peace which we do aspire. But we do not say 'No' to the war if someone inflicts our sovereignty," said Majko. Wanting to attract the attention of the ambassadors to the city of Shkoder, Majko said that the assistance of the countries they represent for Shkoder is not an investment for the cabinet of the government coalition. "The projects you have in front of you and which need investments are prepared in cooperation with the local government and show where this city plans to go to. We do not want to share with you the difficulties in governing, we do not invite you to govern together, but to give the message of the special importance that the economic development of this zone has bearing in mind that it is linked with the future of the entire region. I want to explain the problems existing in Shkoder, but also to admit here before you that an undertaking has been started to rehabilitate the economy in Tirane, Durres and Elbasan zone. This initiative will, very soon, be extended to Vlore, Diber, Kukes and Korce plus Gjirokaster," said PM Majko. The premier underlined as a special important moment the opening of the border points with Montenegro and promised that Tirane will make all necessary political steps in this direction. "The Premier of the Montenegro is invited to visit Tirane and Shkoder to outline the best possible regional cooperation," said Majko. The ambassadors and other representatives of the international organizations accredited to Tirane said that they welcome and consider useful the initiative of PM Majko to have that meeting so that to make the problems of Shkoder known to all. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Army is the main guarantor of Albania's sovereignty - PremierTIRANE, March 21 (ata) - Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga sounded at 4.00 a.m. on Sunday an alarm to see the preparedness of the Defence Ministry and the Army General Staff, the spokesman of the ministry Albert Muallai reports.After the alarm was sounded, the operations according to the regulation for special situations, started immediately. To follow the operations closely, the Prime Minister Pandeli Majko himself went to the headquarters of the Army General Staff at 8.00 a.m. and took special interest in the time needed for the militaries to be on full alert and in the efficiency of the Staff. Congratulating the militaries for the high results in the exercise, PM Majko stressed to them: "You must be constantly prepared to realise the tasks that the constitutional mission sets before you. The army is the main guarantor of the sovereignty of our country," said PM Majko. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Albania asks urgent meeting of NATO CouncilTIRANE, March 21 (ATA)-By I. Paco, Albania on Sunday asked an urgent meeting of the NATO Council to assess the tense situation in the region, after the escalation of fighting in Kosova.Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told reporters, following a meeting with ambassadors of the Atlantic Alliance countries in Tirane today by midday, that he had asked an urgent meeting of the NATO Council and Albania, similar to that of last March. He said that the international institutions acting in Albania should increase the number of their observers on the northern and northeastern borders of the country so that they witness the provocations of the Serbian military and police on Albania's borders. Milo said that "under the existing environments not only the responsible institutions but also all Albanians should mobilise themselves with all that serves national defence and guarantees Albania's sovereignty." He added that he had informed all the ambassadors about the deterioration of the situation in Kosova and the clear manifestation of Belgrade's aims to launch a fresh campaign of ethnic cleansing. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Albania needs military and humanitarian support - MiloTIRANE, March 21(ATA)-By I. Luto, Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo on Sunday asked from the ambassadors in Tirane of the NATO member countries to help with the military and humanitarian infrastructure of Albania so as to cope with a possible aggression from Serbia.Milo, who called the NATO countries ambassadors to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked them to convey to their governments Albania's urgent need for support to improve its military and humanitarian infrastructure to cope with a possible aggression from Serbia. Milo has also asked that the planned aid for Albania to cope with the difficult situations in the coming days be provided as soon as possible. The meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the NATO ambassadors accredited at Tirane aimed to inform them about the deterioration of the situation in Kosova and the clear manifestation of Belgrade's aims to launch a fresh campaign of ethnic cleansing and the conflicst's spillover to the Balkan region. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Speaker of Parliament leaves for U.S.TIRANE, March 21 (ATA)-Speaker of Albanian Parliament Skender Gjinushi on Sunday left for new York, at the head of a parliamentary delegation.Gjinushi and deputies Arben Imami and Kastriot Islami invited by the "Forum for Democracy" to the U.N., will head the panel "Developments of democracy in Albania". According to the Parliament's spokesman, Gjinushi will address the forum under the topic "Albania of the '90s or a difficult transition from totalitarianism to democracy". Gjinushi is expected to meet with the Speaker of the U.N General Assembly, the deputy Secretary General on Political Affairs, the deputy Secretary General on Disarmament, the President of the Security Council and others. Gjinushi will also meet with U.S.ambassadors to the U.N. and the Security Council. After meetings in New York, Gjinushi will leave for Washington DC, where he will have important meetings at the State Department, U.S. Congress, Pentagon, World Bank and other institutions. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Albania shares in neighbours' worry over danger posed by situation in Kosova-Milo sends a letter to his Balkan countries' counterparts, participants in Bucharest meeting-TIRANE, March 21 (ATA)-Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo on Sunday addressed a letter to the Balkan countries' Foreign Ministers, participating in the Bucharest meeting and hailed the organisation of this meeting. "Albania shares in the worry of the neighbouring and friendly countries gathered in Bucharest about the danger posed by the situation in Kosova and the need to adopt urgent actions to avoid the conflict's spillover, by quickly and rigorously respecting the Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-rule in Kosova," says the letter, according to the Foreign Ministry's Press department. "The Albanian government is fully confident that the complete implementation of the Interim Agreement, through the international military presence led by NATO, constitutes the last chance to call a halt to the conflict and begin the process of democratic construction in Kosova." Further on Milo expresses deep concern at the latest situations in Kosova, following the departure from the ground of the observers of the Verifying Mission and intensification of ethnic cleansing by the Belgrade authorities. "I want to believe that we all are already clear who is to blame for the deterioration of the situation, for the massive displacement of refugees and the innocent victims among the Albanian civil population," Milo says further on. In conclusion Milo thanks his colleagues for their engagement in resolving the crisis in Kosova. He shows optimism in strengthening cooperation in the region in the future, for the good of peace, stability and prosperity of all our countries. /s.sh/lm/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |