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MAPE officer found dead in his room
TIRANA, May 7 (ATA) - By Th. Thanasi: An officer of the
Multinational Advisory Police Element (MAPE) was found dead on
Thursday noon in a room of the Chateau Linza in Tirana.
A spokesman of the police directorate of the prefecture of
Tirana said to ATA on Friday that the MAPE officer Helbert
Seltier of German nationality was found dead at 13.00 p.m. on
Thursday in a room he had booked in the Chateau Linza in Tirana.
He was found lying in his bed and now his body is in the
hospital morgue.
Preliminary forensic reports said that the death was caused
by difficulties in respiratory system. /s.s/ak/
Press review
TIRANA, May 7 (ATA) - By U. Bajrami: Today's press
highlights a five-point statement approved on Thursday in Bon by
foreign ministers of the most industrialised countries in the
world including Russia.
The daily Koha Jone in an article entitled "An important
step", says that NATO member states reached an agreement on
Thursday in Bon on a 'collection of principles' which reflects
all the proposals drafted so far by their political chiefs. G-8
countries reached an accord in principle which envisaged the
deployment of an international efficacious, civil and security
force under the United Nations in Kosova."
The daily Gazeta Shqiptare under the title "Russia agrees
with West" says that "Russia is backing Western countries on a
political solution to the Kosova crisis 'being blessed' by the
U.N. Security Council." This is the most important step
undertaken yesterday by G-8 foreign ministers since the start of
bombardment.
The text approved yesterday by G-8 did not mention the word NATO or even "
military forces". These are concessions that Russia managed to secure from the s
even most industrialised states to go on a train directed by Washington and Euro
peans. But in the
background, according to diplomatic sources, Moscow has already
accepted an armed contingent be deployed in Kosova.
The daily Shekulli reports on the Bonn accord in an article entitled "G-8:
U.N. peacekeepers in Kosova". It says "German
Foreign minister Joschka Fischer, who presided the meeting, said
that the alliance would not stop bombardments, which are trying
to persuade Milosevic to withdraw military forces accused of
ethnic cleansing in Kosova. A political solution, Fischer said,
would meet the five points of NATO wanted to be observed by
Yugoslavia. The G-8 is trying to reach a U.N. resolution which
would bring about peace in the region."
Zeri i Popullit carries the article entitled "The eight
big powers wait for Slobo". It says that U.S. president Bill Clinton
considered the accord "an important step forward" stressing the
need to continue NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia." /ak/
Press review (2)
Friday's press highlights the news conference of Ibrahim
Rugova in Rome and that of the spokesman of the Kosova Liberation Army
(KLA) Jakup Krasniqi in Tirana.
Koha Jone says that the moderated leader of Albanians of
Kosova Ibrahim Rugova said on Thursday in Rome that
"international forces, NATO forces and from other countries
should be deployed in Kosova and Serb forces be withdrawn from
there."
Under the title "Rugova: I back Rambouillet", the daily
says "Rugova explained that "he left Kosova to meet his
collaborators to establish future in Kosova. During the stay in
Kosova, I have had contacts with Belgrade authorities, discussed
a political solution and built up confidence. I represent the
person elected by Kosovars, I represent my people, but there are
differences in a pluralist society."
Under the title "We consider Ibrahim Rugova a traitor," the
daily says that a spokesman of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA)
Jakup Krasniqi told a news conference that Rugova was not
recognised as the Kosova president, but only as the leader of the
Democratic League of Kosova (LDK).
The spokesman of the interim government of Kosova urged
Rugova to publicly explained all the events and circumstances
related to his staying in Belgrade and Prishtine. "We do not
change and inch from calling him "a traitor", Krasniqi said.
Under the title "Rugova, how I met Milosevic," the daily
Gazeta Shqiptare says that Rugova implied that he had met
Milosevic under his free will. "The statement he had made in Rome
yesterday has made Rugova ambiguous than before when he was in
Prishtina under Serbian police control." In his first public
appearance in Europe, Rugova had not explained whether he had met
Milosevic under his free will or under pressure. In an article
entitled "KLA imposes conditions on Ibrahim Rugova," highlighting
yesterday's news conference of the KLA spokesman, the daily says
"Interim government of Kosova urges Rugova to adopt a stand
clearly and without equivocal on the following: to back NATO
actions against Serbian targets; fulfil obligations undertaken
after the signing of Rambouillet agreement which specified
modalities for the creation of the Kosova government; to support
war intentions; withdraw Serb forces from the Kosova territory
and deploy NATO troops."
Under the titles "Rugova: Yes, I have met Milosevic by
myself" and "KLA: Rugova should recognise Thazi government", the
daily Shekulli said "Ibrahim Rugova has surprised the Italian
prime minister Massimo D'Alema and foreign minister Lamberto Dini
in a news conference yesterday. His forward step, considering his
previous statements, is related to the fact that "I am waiting
for an international force deployed in Kosova, with NATO having
the important role," when he before had declared that
bombardments should be stopped and negotiations started.
Showing reservations towards the interest of the press,
Rugova spoke in French while he was allowed to respond to one
question of journalists.
As regards the news conference of the KLA spokesman,
Shekulli says "if Rome burnt Nerone, it would be Rome that could
burn Rugova. Former president of Kosova, returned to political
scenarios with an unexpected surprise, was faced with some
conditions by people who fight for the liberty of Albanians."
/ak/
The Council of Europe at 50: Towards a Europe of Shared Values
By Janos Martonyi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Hungary and Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe
TIRANA, May 6 (ATA) - The commemoration of the 50th
anniversary of the birth of the Council of Europe is indeed a
unique occasion. It is a rare opportunity for a Foreign Minister
to hold the position of the Chairman-in-Office of an
international organization, which always kept high the torch of
human rights, at the very moment when it celebrates the 50th
anniversary of its creation and the 10th anniversary of the start
of its enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe.
Besides recalling the significance of these anniversaries, the
Council of Europe takes this opportunity to look into its future,
too. This is a moment to evaluate the experiences of the past in
order to make the Council of Europe more effective in the future
in furthering progress toward the rule of law and unity in the
member states and across our entire continent. This has been the
unique strength of the Council of Europe, and will remain its
continued mission in the decades to come.
Therefore, the Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Europe
adopted a program designed to build a bridge from its history,
rich in the experiences of creating democratic institutions, into
a future where strengthening the increasing prevalence of
European values on our continent demands the profound renewal of
the organization.
The 10th anniversary of the beginning of the Council of Europe's
enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe is undoubtedly a
significant event to commemorate. The admission of new members
from this region was not merely a selfish objective for the
Council of Europe. It reflected the clear recognition of the fact that,
after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the countries east of
the River Elbe, led by the unanimously declared will of their
peoples, had finally returned to the principles of the rule of
law. Thus the two anniversaries that we now celebrate are
integrally linked because the Council of Europe, which has always
rendered support to establishing democratic institutions, has -
with its enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe - received a
new mission.
Similarly to the contribution that the OECD made to preparations
for enhanced economic cooperation, the Council of Europe made a
significant impact on the evolution of European integration by
promoting the values and the process of legal harmonization on
the basis of which the European Union later emerged. As the
process of European integration progressed, the Council of Europe
voluntarily withdrew from the forefront of European affairs and
gave the floor to the economically stronger European integration
organizations. However, the Council received a new task in
Central and Eastern Europe: the task to offer manifold assistance
to the fledgling democracies in elaborating and adopting new
constitutions and in codifying domestic laws and regulations
which satisfied European and international standards. Thus, the
Council of Europe rejuvenated itself and became a direct
participant in the historic processes unfolding on our continent.
The Council of Europe is not merely one among the several
regional organizations. It constitutes a symbol of the rule of
law and of the protection of human rights. Regional organizations on
other continents have also profited from its experiences. The
Organization of American States and the Organization of African
Unity based their human rights protection mechanisms on the
provisions of the European Charter of Human Rights.
The concept of the rule of law means a lot to those who live in
countries where it has been the determining feature in the
relationship between the authorities and courts and individual
citizens for decades or for centuries. But the rule of law means
far more to those who were born and raised in countries where its
benefits were denied to the citizens. This explains why the
citizens of the Central and Eastern European countries hold in
such high esteem the Council of Europe which offers an example to
follow and teaches everyone to respect human dignity.
Why do the Central and Eastern European countries adopt the
standards and norms of the Council of Europe? Because the rule of
law serves their own interests. These countries do not adhere to,
and implement in practice, the values of the rule of law in order
simply to meet certain international requirements. They are well
aware of the fact that their efforts aimed at creating the
conditions for the rule of law constitute a most profitable
investment both in political and economic terms. It will
accelerate economic development as the confidence in a
transparent and fair legal system will attract more and more
foreign investment, and countries with strong democratic
institutions will also become trusted economic and financial
partners for the developed world. But they also know from
experience that countries that fail to make honest progress to
the rule of law, countries that keep making promises in words and
then fail to implement them, will pay by lagging behind in
economic cooperation and progress. And this is indeed the
greatest price to pay today.
The renewal of the Council of Europe is also reflected by its
enhanced activity in the field of protecting national minorities.
This role is not limited to promoting the adoption of new
covenants and resolutions. The European Charter on Minority and
Regional Languages and the European Framework Agreement on the
Protection of National Minorities, together with a number of
significant recommendations by the Committee of Ministers and the
Parliamentary Assembly, constitute a network of legal instruments
for the European continent which can compensate for deficiencies
in the codification of international law experienced in the
decades that followed the Second World War.
In the 20th century, certain forms of the nation-state,
particularly those that had been artificially imported, and
often transplanted by force, into Central and Eastern Europe without
taking into account the unique conditions of the region,
generated deep-rooted tensions. The openly professed quest for
the exclusiveness of the nation-state led to endeavors for
cultural and linguistic homogeneity. This can exercise a negative
influence on those communities which do not speak the language of the
majority, on those citizens who wish to maintain their
distinct cultural heritage and who profess a different religion.
These influences had an even greater effect in those countries
where the creation of the nation-state became a tool of
historical revenge and where communities that became minorities
as a result of the newly drawn international borders were also
forced toward assimilation either by open or by hidden means.
The realization that it is possible to establish a network of
minority protection in Europe is a historic merit of, and a great
achievement by, the Council of Europe. Besides the
above-mentioned documents, various agreements and recommendations on
cross-border cooperation, subsidiarity, and forms of local and regional
autonomy also facilitate the daily existence of the
minorities. Practical experience clearly proves that citizens
belonging to minorities whose culture and language are respected
will contribute to the improvement of the education system, will
enrich cultural versatility, and will form a bridge that connects the
states, communities and individual citizens on both sides of
the borders. Minority citizens are valuable members of society
and promote its development.
Thus, for the minorities the concept of Europe means tolerance,
dignity, effective - and not merely formal - equality and
immediate integration into the community of nations.
The term international cooperation is increasingly used to mean
cooperation between the nations and not merely between the
states. The Council of Europe makes a specific contribution to
diminishing the role of international borders as lines of
division separating peoples.
The Council of Europe intends to facilitate that by supporting
the various types of Euro-regional cooperation too. Combined
regional efforts in nature conservation, joint protection of the
cultural heritage and direct economic cooperation are significant new
features in this area. Peoples and communities gradually
recognize that cooperation is more attractive than conflict, and
therefore they will have a vision of cooperation for the future.
It has been an honor to hold the position of the
Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers of the Council
of Europe for these six months. I have attached a particular
importance to my relationship with the Parliamentary Assembly and
with the Monitoring Committee responsible for reviewing the
implementation of commitments assumed by the member-states. Our
joint efforts have been focused on accelerating the internal
reforms of the Council of Europe, on enhancing its effectiveness
in every area, on strengthening the strictly professional
functioning of the human and minority rights control mechanisms,
and also on providing the necessary institutional, financial and
personnel support for these priorities.
A key element of the program of the Hungarian chairmanship has
been to review the Council of Europe's past experiences and to
reaffirm the continued validity of its recommendations, and also
to bring the organization closer to the individual citizen. We
have constantly striven to make the voice of the Council of
Europe heard in all the issues that have a profound impact on the
future of our continent, particularly in questions where the
unique expertise of the Council of Europe can really make a
difference. We conducted negotiations both with the Organization
of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and with the
European Union as an equal partner. As we reviewed the issues of
common concern, we managed to identify the framework of our
institutional cooperation. I am confident that Hungary as
Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Europe has made a successful
and consistent effort to realize the overall objectives of the
organization. I hope the member states will also give a positive
assessment of our activities and the achievements of the Council
of Europe during this period.
When I accepted the key that belongs to the Chairman-in-Office, I did not envisa
ge that, by the end of the six-month period, there
would be another armed conflict in the much suffering region of
the Balkans. Those who attend the 104th Session of the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 6-7, 1999, in
Budapest will be undoubtedly saddened by that development. The
conflict in Kosovo is the result of a policy that denies the
loftiest values of humanity and that unleashed the havoc of
ethnic cleansing and genocide onto the Kosovar Albanian
population. The conditions for the negotiated settlement to this
conflict are shared and supported by NATO, the European Union and the Secretary
General of the UN. This demonstrates that the
international community is strongly resolved and determined to
halt the mass deportation of an ethnic group at the threshold of
the 21st century. Gross violations of human rights against any
national minority are not acceptable. This is also of crucial
significance from the point of view of those values that
constitute the very foundation of the Council of Europe.
The expulsion or the elimination of a minority will not be
tolerated by the Euro-Atlantic community, the UN, or the Council
of Europe. The international community cannot stand idly by when
the dignity of a group of people is inhumanely attacked because
of their ethnic, linguistic or religious heritage. History has
taught us that there are clear dangers in tolerating horrendous
crimes against humanity in order to appease an opponent at all
costs, and that the consequences of not acting promptly when
preparations for such actions unfold before our eyes, or limiting our
efforts to putting out the flames as they appear, are dire
indeed.
Once the negotiated settlement of the conflict is achieved, legal experts
will again play a key role in making the solution a
lasting one. With the assistance of our institutions we have to
facilitate the return of the refugees, the restoration of the
civilian administration and the creation of the various forms of
self-government. These shall be based on firm international
guarantees. The Council of Europe is ready and willing to take an active
part in these endeavors with all its institutions,
expertise and experience. The Council of Europe is committed to
promoting the values of Europe and to basing the work of all
institutions on these values.
The Council of Europe is a community of nations led by the rule
of law, an exclusive club of democracies. But this club has a
very transparent membership policy. States that adhere to the
values and implement them in practice can and will be admitted.
The viability of the existence of the Council of Europe lies in
its capacity for renewal based on its gradual enlargement and its
institutional adaptation to the changing realities on our
continent. Peoples and citizens living in states that aspire to
membership have the clear perspective of joining this community
of nations. When their state complies with the criteria for
membership, such as democracy and the rule of law, they will be
able to enjoy the benefits of membership in the Council of
Europe, too.
The Council of Europe has acquired broad international prestige
and respect. It has never compromised on the values it is based
on. It has also been able to convince the states of our continent about
the strength and the merits of these values. The mightiest
asset of the Council of Europe is its unshakable conviction in,
and renewed mission of, spreading the experiences of the rule of
law, the protection of human rights and of the rights of
minorities.
We must promote our shared European values. It is only through
our joint efforts to this end that we can reach our goal: a
democratic, free, prosperous and united Europe.
World Bank approves US$30 million for Albania
TIRANA, May 7 (ATA) - By D. Koza: The Board of Directors
of the World Bank has approved a credit worth US$30 million to fund
the Albanian state budget. This credit should be ratified by the
Albanian parliament.
Besides the credit, the bank would give Albania an extra
US$45 million under the Structural Adjustment Credit (SAC). The
amount of the credit is foreseen US$20 million but considering
Albania's emergency in the present situation, the World Bank
decided to increase it to US$ 45 million.
The amount would be released in two installments. The first
one some US$ 20 million will be released within June, while the
second worth US$25 million within 1999. According to accounts
carried out by the International Monetary Fund in cooperation
with the Ministry of Finance it resulted that Albania needed some
US$167 million to fund state budget until the end of 1999.
The World Bank has confirmed a credit worth US$75 million
to the Albanian government. It also had confirmations from the
European Union on a credit worth US$65 million, from Finnish
government worth US$2.7 million and some US$3.2 million from the
Norwegian government.
The United States are going to put into the disposal of
countries affected by the war in Yugoslavia a fund worth US$ 50
million. Officials of the Ministry of Finance said that they
hoped Albania had the lion's share because it was coping with a
huge number of Kosovars.
On Thursday Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi said to
Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko that the Japanese
government would accord a fund worth US$10 million to fund
financial need of the Albanian government. /led/ak/
Tirana currency rate
TIRANA, May 7 (ATA) - By D. Koza: Following are the buying
and selling rates of foreign currencies against the lek in the
Bank of Tirana.
US$1.00 141.2
German mark 77.6
Italian lire (1000) 78.4
Greek Drachmas (100) 46.4
Euro 151.5
/ak/
UNHCR: Evacuation difficult but necessary, Kosovars wait for
relatives
KUKES, May 6 (ATA) - By H. Cani: Kosova people settled in
Kukes should leave to other parts inland Albania because of the
risk and difficult situation in the Albanian northern border.
This idea has been reiterated by NATO officials and those of the
UNHCR.
The UNHCR field officer in Kukes, Jette Gottlieb, expressed
concern over the reluctance of Kosova people to leave Kukes.
Some of Kosovars do not want to leave because they do not
know where to put their tractors, the only property they have
because Serbian armed police and civilians burnt their houses.
Local government officials have not thought about a parking
lot to park the vehicles of Kosovars and justify it with the lack
of security, Gottlieb said.
But the main reason, which forced the Kosovars to stay in
Kukes was the hope that they might meet their relatives who are
missing in Kosova. A 60 year-old lady in the refugee camp of
Zabel is waiting for her two sons from Malisheva. Zehera Musliu
(Bajraktari) is waiting for her family from Dumnica e Eperme. She is
afraid of news on massacres in the village of Studime, near
the village where her relatives are.
"Nothing can separate us from Kukes," she said.
Given the situation, the UNHCR and NATO officials cannot do
anything. We could not use force to evacuate the Kosovars,
Gottlieb said. But she hoped that if there was a fall in influx,
their evacuation to other areas in Albania, though slowly, would
be realised. /led/ak/
World Food Program to help Kosova people
TIRANA, May 7 (ATA) - By E. Xhajanka: An agreement signed
by the Albanian government and the World Food Program (WFP) will
help alleviate the Kosova crisis, sources of the ministry said.
The agreement was signed by the Albanian minister Lufter
Xhuveli and by WFP deputy director general Jean Jacques Graisse.
He said that the cooperation with Albania has started since
1997 but now this cooperation would be boosted and the program
was delivering some 1100 tons of foodstuff to Kukes.
The WFP has a food reserve of six weeks for 350 thousand
people while the fund is worth US$64 million for a three-month
period for Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, which are bearing
the brunt of the Kosova arrivals.
The fund, according to Graisse, could reach some US$100
million with major donors of the emergency program being the
United States, England, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Japan
and others.
During his mission to Albania, the WFP deputy director will
monitor the operation for the distribution of foodstuffs to the
Kosova people. /led/ak/
Prof Ylli Popa reelected head of Academy of Science
TIRANA, May 6 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: Professor Ylli Popa
was reelected on Thursday chief of the Academy of Science of the
Republic of Albania by 20 votes out of 34 members present instead of
39 members of the Assembly in a secret voting.
Popa was born on January 12, 1930 in Elbasan where he
finished the secondary school. He graduated the Medicine Faculty
in the Bucharest University in 1954 and for four years he had
been the chief of the biochemical department at the Medicine
faculty of the Tirana University.
He carried out post graduation studies in '58-62 in
cardiology in Pirogov Medical Institution in Moscow wining the
title "Candidate in Science". In 1971 he was awarded the title of
the Reader. In 1977-1994 he was chief of cardiology chair and
chief of the hospital clinic no 1.
He was elected deputy of the Albanian parliament during
1982-1990. He is member of the Albanian Helsinki Committee from
1991.
In 1983, he was elected correspondent member of the
Academy and three years later was elected academician gaining the
title of professor. In 1997, he was elected temporary chief of
the Academy of Science. Today's elections were launched after the
approval of the status of the Academy by the president of
Albania.
Professor Popa is married, with a daughter and masters
English, French, Italian, Rumanian and Russia languages.
President of Albania Rexhep Meidani will decree the
professor Ylli Popa at the post of the head of the Academy of
Science. /pas/ak/
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