NEWS: Albanian Telegraphic Agency, 98-09-20
Sokol Rama
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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-09-20
Taken without permission, for fair use only,
from: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at
<http://www.telpress.it/ata>
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
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CONTENTS
•[01] International community to continue to support Albania - Papandreou
•[02] Five youths die in white sand tunnel trap in Bicaj •[03] Red Cross
distributes aid for Kosova refugees •[04] LDK backs only temporary solution
leading to Kosova independence •[05] Houses burnt in Dobrat of Podujeve
•[06] Grave situation of refugees in Malisheve •[07] Some 23 people killed,
20 injured and 11 villages burnt in Shtime •[08] Drug-trafficker and his
two collaborators arrested in Rinas •[09] Peoples decide on their fates
themselves - Gjinushi •[10] 56th anniversary of Peza Conference
commemorated •[11] Work for rehabilitation of the "Transbalkan" road
segment inaugurated •[12] Dramatic situation in border region of Has
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[01] International community to continue to support Albania - Papandreou
TIRANA, Sept 19 (ATA)-By I. Luto, The International Community will continue
to support Albania and its efforts to restore stability and rebuild the
democratic institutions, was the message of the joint delegation of the
Council of Europe and OSCE at a news conference on Saturday.
The International Community will continue to support and concretely help
the Albanian Government on points in which there are problems and
shortcomings, such as the draft of a Constitution and fight against
contraband and corruption, which Polish Foreign Minister and chairman of
the OSCE, Geremek, called "slow steps on the part of the government in
implementing its programme of fighting crime and contraband. Radical
changes should be carried out..."
"The Albanian Democratic institutions should make joint efforts with all
political forces and undertake careful steps not to allow polarisation of
the situation," said George Papandreou, Greek Alternate Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and chairman of the CE Council of Ministers.
"We are not here to impose sanctions or political stands," he said.
Referring to the changes that the delegation considered indispensable for
stability in Albania and the consolidation of the democratic state,
Papandreou said that "they are up to the government and the Albanian
parliament, which are elected in a democratic manner and which have so far
respected the democratic norms."
Papandreou mentioned the Donors' Conference, due in Tirana after several
weeks, as a chance the international community is giving Albania to rebuild
the democratic institutions and recover the Albanian government. /y.pa/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[02] Five youths die in white sand tunnel trap in Bicaj
TIRANA, Sept 19 (ATA)-Five youths from the Bicaj village, Kukes district,
northeastern Albania, died while digging a tunnel to unearth white sand.
The Public Order spokesman told ATA that the event took place at around
11:30 on Saturday, at the site called Kodra e Varrezave, where the youths
Sokol Avdi Tafai, 20, Gjelberim Avdi Tafai, 17, Ylli Avdi Tafai, 14, Saimir
Izet Tafai, 16, and Eduard Fatmir Gjana, 18, were digging to unearth white
sand.
They had opened a tunnel, 200 m deep, for this purpose, but the tunnel
caught them underneath, the spokesman explains, adding that the great
amount of sand made impossible the immediate uncovering of the bodies of
the five youths. /s.sh/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[03] Red Cross distributes aid for Kosova refugees
ELBASAN, Sept 20 (ATA)-By P. Zekthi, The Kosova refugees in Elbasan
(Central Albania), as a result of the Serb violence and terror, received
aid from the Local Red Cross on Saturday.
Levin Bordi, head of the Red Cross Association for the district, told ATA,
that this is the third aid dispatched to the 130 Kosova refugees in our
city.
Each of the Kosovars on Friday also received money, gathered from members
of the "Cameria" Association for Cerrik. /mima/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[04] LDK backs only temporary solution leading to Kosova independence
PRISHTINE, Sept 19 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
The Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) declared today that only a temporary
solution, which, through international guarantees, would lead to
independence.
Otherwise, the "temporary solution" might become "permanent occupation of
Kosova by rump Yugoslavia," said academician Rexhep Qosja, LDK chairman,
and Hydajet Hyseni, deputy chairman, at a meeting with the ambassador of
Great Britain in Belgrade, Brian Donelly.
They said that the current humanitarian catastrophe can be halted only by a
correct political solution to the Kosova issue. /pas/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[05] Houses burnt in Dobrat of Podujeve
PRISHTINE, Sept 20 (ATA)-Some 25 houses as well as hospitals and schools
have been burnt during the latest operations of Serb forces in the Dobrat
village of Podujeve, the Kosova Information Centre (KIC) reports.
It also reports that nine houses have also been burnt in Reke of Mitrovice,
and in the mountains of Selac there are some 500 Albanian civilians from
the villages of Shale e Bajgores, where there are 19 000 Albanians, most of
them homeless. /mima/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[06] Grave situation of refugees in Malisheve
PRISHTINE, Sept 20 (ATA)-Grave situation prevails in the commune of
Malisheve, due to Serbian military, police and paramilitary built-up, the
Kosova Information Centre (KIC) reports, referring to sources from the
Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) in Malisheve.
According to the above source, a very grave situation prevails in this
commune for the displaced Albanian civilians and other Albanian inhabitants
of this commune, a part of whom need urgent medical aid. /mima/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[07] Some 23 people killed, 20 injured and 11 villages burnt in Shtime
PRISHTINE, Sept 20 (ATA)-Some 23 Albanians have been killed and 20 others
injured during the Serb offensive in the Shtime villages since June 14
until today, the Kosova Information centre (KIC) reports, also making
public the names of the killed Albanians.
During this period 11 villages of this commune have been burnt and six
others bombarded, razing 799 houses and heavily damaging 379 others, while
14.200 inhabitants of this commune have left the attacked villages.
/mima/lm/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[08] Drug-trafficker and his two collaborators arrested in Rinas
- police seized 1.5 kg of cocaine -
TIRANE, Sept.20 (ata) - By Th Thanasi: A drug-trafficker and his two
collaborators were caught by police commissariat of Rinas airport (near
Tirane) on Saturday evening, while returning from the U.S.
The spokesman of the Albanian Public Order told ATA that at last Saturday
at about 10.00 p.m. Albanian citizen Arben Rustem Xhabrahimi, 33, born in
Tirane and resident in New York, was arrested for the possession of 1.5 kg
of cocaine on his way back from the U.S., said the spokesman.
Along with him, also Luan Haxhi Bulku, 39 and Hysen Osman Fjolla, 32,
working in the police commissariat of Rinas, were also arrested for
receiving and assisting the trafficker to carry the amount of drug through
the border point of Rinas.
Investigation police are working to uncover the possible organization of
the drug-distribution network in the capital of Albania and in other
districts through Rinas airport.
It is the third time this year that drug-traffickers coming from the U.S.
have been caught by police in the Rinas airport. /s.sh/xh/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[09] Peoples decide on their fates themselves - Gjinushi
VLORE, sept.20 (ata) - By H Koci: The 55th anniversary of the War of
Drashovice in the district of Vlore was commemorated Sunday.
On this occasion, near the monument erected to mark this event in village
Drashovice, the chairman of the district council, Medin Xhelili and the
representative of the National Committee of the Veterans, Arif Hasko spoke.
They highlighted the values of the war of Drashovice, as the first frontal
battle with Nazi occupiers who had just come to Albania.
In his address, the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi brought to the
fore the historic values of the Antifascist National Liberation War and in
this context, of the War of Drashovice too. He said that "the participation
of the Albanian people and the victory in the Antifascist National
Liberation War ranked us in the coalition of the victorious antifascist
forces of the Second World Two."
After speaking of the contribution of the Albanian people to the creation
of other states, Mr Gjinushi opposed the opinion that, allegedly "we don't
know to govern." In this context he stressed that "the people should decide
on their fates themselves and that the political parties are only a partial
expression of their will."
Attending the commemorative activity also were the Minister of Public Works
and Transport, Gaqo Apostoli, deputies and local authorities of the
district, veterans. etc. /mima/xh/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[10] 56th anniversary of Peza Conference commemorated
TIRANE, Sept. 20 (ata) - "Albanians have always based their efforts for
unity, freedom and social progress in the concepts, ideals and historic
experience of the Peza Conference," said deputy Parliament Speaker, Namik
Dokle in a rally held in Peze on Sunday.
This activity marked the 56th anniversary of the Peza Conference, the great
event of the Antifascist National Liberation War (LANC) held by the
National Committee of LANC in cooperation with the Myslym Peza Patriotic
Cultural Association and the Defence Ministry, reports the department of
public relations of the Ministry of Defence.
During the ceremony homage were paid and bouquets of flowers were placed in
the memorial of the Peza Conference and in the monument of the People's
Hero, Myslym Peza. /xh/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[11] Work for rehabilitation of the "Transbalkan" road segment inaugurated
VLORE, Sept.20 (ata) - By H Koci: The beginning of the rehabilitation of
the Transbalkan road segment, an important part of the ring of the Vlore
city, was inaugurated on Sunday.
Present in the ceremony were also the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi,
Minister of Transports Gaqo Apostoli and local government authorities of
Vlore.
The Transbalkan road segment, 2.6 km long, links the port of Vlore with the
entrance of the city. For lack of investments during the past eight years,
this segment was made completely unusable. A total of 50 million lek is
earmarked for its rehabilitation. /xh/
Albanian Telegraphic Agency
[12] Dramatic situation in border region of Has
PRISHTINE, Sept.20 (ata) - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports: The
border line of Kosova with Albania is placed under an iron ring by great
Yugoslav forces who have kidnaped thousands of people, while men and
youngsters have been sealed off in schools and other premises.
Sources of the Council for Defence of Human Rights in Gjakove and in
Prizren report that the situation in the region is very dangerous and
dramatic.
Sources from Gjakova report that in two school buildings there are more
than 60 young boys and men from three villages, Damjan, Gerqine and
Lipovec. While sources from Prizren report of the kindnapped people and
those gathered from other villages of Has, such as Kushnin, Lubizhde,
Kabash, Dedaj and Romaje. Eye witnesses tell that houses of Albanians in
the regions under siege are being set on fire. Smoke and flames are seen on
villages Lipovec, Kushnin and other villages.
Reports from Gjakove say that Serb forces have brought two Albanians killed
on the border line in the morgue of the hospital of Gjakove, along with two
other wounded Albanians. Nobody knows of the fate of thousands of Albanian
people kidnaped and sealed off in the border region of Has by Yugoslav
military forces. An appeal has arrived from the region addressed to the Red
Cross and other international organizations to go urgently to Has and make
everything possible to help unprotected Albanian civil population escape
Serb terror. /xh/
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From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at
http://www.telpress.it/ata
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