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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-04-28

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

  • [01] USD quoted at lek 159,50
  • [02] State Secretary for Euro-Atlantic Integration meets ambassadors of USA, OSCE, France
  • [03] Massacres in Kosova exposed in photo-exposition in Tirana
  • [04] New management staff of Memaliaj coal mine appointed
  • [05] Potable water to rally donors again
  • [06] Soros earmarks $180,000 for education sector
  • [07] Number of families living on welfare lowered
  • [08] "Orientation visit" to promote investments in Vlora
  • [09] Pero replaces Mazreku in Parliament
  • [10] Soon a new Agency to treat loans
  • [11] There is no violation of Albania's territorial integrity
  • [12] Debtors owe AEC lek 15 million
  • [13] Businessmen demand lifting of ceiling prices on imported articles
  • [14] Around lek 25 million for road rehabilitation
  • [15] KDL Presidency urges intensification of political activity
  • [16] We are not much optimistic of Contact Group's meeting on Wednesday - Milo
  • [17] Serbian army-police operations continue in Kosova
  • [18] National anti-personnel landmine march projected
  • [19] Media center, spokesman of Serb military, police administration
  • [20] Albania, Greece sign protocol agreement on military education
  • [21] Albanian Minister of Education on a visit to Italy
  • [22] President says coming of constitution into force on Nov 28, a historic act
  • [23] Crisis in Kosova must be peacefully solved through dialogue - Message of Albanian Foreign Minister to Contact Group -
  • [24] US state secretary urges unity in resolving Kosova issue
  • [25] Albania state secretary meets EU ambassador to Tirana

  • [01] USD quoted at lek 159,50

    Tirana, April 28 (ATA) - Tuesday's average exchange rate in the informal market of Albanian currency "lek" against foreign currencies like USD, DM, SFR, ITL was in favour of these last.

    So $1 = 159,50 lek, gaining 1,00 points compared with yesterday's 158, 50 lek.

    The DM was traded for 88,70 lek, gaining 0,40 points compared to yesterday's 88,30 lek.

    The ITL (1000) was traded for 88,70 lek gaining 0.10 points compared with yesterday's 88,60 lek.

    GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,00 lek, lossing 0,10 points compared with yesterday's 50,10

    The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 2,00 points compared with yesterday's 106,30 lek and so on.

    Tuesday exchange rates

    Currency Average exchange rates

    USD 159,50 lek DM 88,70 lek ITL (1000) 88,70 lek GRD (100) 50,00 lek SFR 103,30 lek FRF 24,40 lek GBP 230,20 lek JPY (100) 111,20 lek NLG 73,60 lek

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [02] State Secretary for Euro-Atlantic Integration meets ambassadors of USA, OSCE, France

    TIRANA, April 27 (ATA) - The State Secretary for the Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ilir Meta, held Monday a meeting in the Albanian Foreign Ministry with the U.S. Ambassador in Tirana, Mariza Lino, press and information department in the Foreign Ministry reported.

    Meta stressed in the meeting the special importance that Albania pays to the relations with the United States, as well as the determination of the Albanian party to further strengthen these relations. He underlined that the Euro-Atlantic Integration is an irreplaceable priority for the Albanian Government and pointed out the very important role of the USA for Albania's integration in these structures. Meta expressed the estimation of the Albanian government for the intensive efforts of USA to stop violence in Kosova.

    The U.S. ambassador, Mariza Lino, considered as very important the serious engagement of the Albanian government for keeping the stability in the region and the efforts made for the improvement of the situation.

    She assured once again for the engagement of the United States also in the framework of the Contact Group in finding a viable solution in Kosova.

    * * *

    The State Secretary for the Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ilir Meta, met on the same day also with the Head of the OSCE Mission in Albania, Daan Everts.

    Ambassador Everts stressed that "depended on the situation and developments in Kosova, we are taking even more seriously the monitoring of the border line in Northeastern Albania."

    The OSCE plans to establish soon its third mission in the zone of Kukes from where the situation can be closely followed, he added.

    Meta expressed the resolution of the Albanian institutions to help OSCE complete this very important role.

    * * *

    The State Secretary for the Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ilir Meta, also met on the same day with the French Ambassador in Tirana, Patrick Christmant.

    Meta hailed strengthening and boosting of cooperation between Albania and France. He also underlined that the level reached in the political and cultural cooperation between the two countries should also aim at the economy and encouragement of French investments in Albania. Meta stressed further on that Albania is closely following the stand of France in the Contact Group.

    "We favour the implementation of the policy of sanctions against Belgrade so that it understands that the deterioration of the situation in Kosova and the region also means deterioration of the international position of Belgrade," he said.

    The French Ambassador stressed in the meeting the concern and special preoccupation of France regarding the latest developments in Kosova. The French President, as well as the French Premier and Foreign Minister, have criticized recently the organization of the referendum in the Yugoslav Federation as a way which does not serve the solution of the Kosova problem. He also underlined the French stand which is against any kind of violence and the efforts to be made by France to prevent the further aggravation of the situation in Kosova.

    The French Ambassador expressed the engagement of his country to further boost the bilateral cooperation with Albania.

    The meeting also stressed that the participation of Albania in the group of franco-phone countries would create the possibility of cooperation and encouragement of aid from these countries. /s.s/das/mt/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [03] Massacres in Kosova exposed in photo-exposition in Tirana

    TIRANA, April 27 (ATA)-By A. Kosova, Some 150 terrifying photos with views from the Drenica massacre, killed children, massacred pregnant women, horrified refugees and others, filmed by the photographer of newspapers Rilindja and Gazeta Shqiptare, Iliaz Bylykbashi, were exposed in the Museum of National History in Tirana.

    "My aim is to show that they are not terrorist people but people massacred at the own home doorsteps".

    The photos belong to the January 22- March 20 period, when more than 100 Albanians were massacred. The photographer has travelled whole kilometres to film evidence of the massacre. The photos are only part of those brought by Bylykbashi from Kosova.

    The exhibition opened two days before the Contact Group's meeting, which will discuss Kosova and the emergency situation there.

    Also attending the ceremony was the newly appointed minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Edi Rama. /s.sh/pas/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [04] New management staff of Memaliaj coal mine appointed

    Tepelene, April 28 (ATA) - A working group from the Privatization Ministry held e meeting Monday with the engineers and miners of Memaliaj coal mine, where the new management staff and the mine's rehabilitation program were announced.

    The working headed by deputy minister of Public Economy and Privatization, Pajtim Bello, defined the two phases of mine's rehabilitation program.

    The first phase or the so-called emergency one predicts the resumption of work in all mine's levels and the reduction of workers number from 515 to 400.

    The ministry's representatives said "we can't pretend of mine's recovery without working or demanding wages like the old times, otherwise the mine's closure is inevitable."

    The construction of a thermo power in Memaliaj town is envisaged during the second phase, which would secure the existence of the mine.

    "The processing coal plant of Ballshi, the construction of which is 75 per cent over is another possibility which forecasts the future of the mine," deputy minister said.

    The steering council of mine is composed of four people.

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [05] Potable water to rally donors again

    Tirana, April 28 (ATA) - On May 5 will be staged in Tirana a round table with the participation of donors group, where the potable water problem will be the goal, sources from the Ministry of Development, Economic Cooperation and Trade reported Tuesday.

    Summer time approaching and the lack of drinking water in many big cities have influenced in gathering the foreign donors and the Albanian side to see proceedings of granted funds and the possibility of expanding the projects of drinkable water.

    Besides projects financing by foreign donors, special attention is paid on the potable water problem during the drafting of state budget.

    So only during the 1998 period the government has planed to subsidize with around lek 70 million this sector. Still the main problem remains the supply with water of the capital during this summer as it was planed.

    While the ministry insists that the date line be respected, town hall officials have expressed their concern regarding some problems with the dislocaliton of people. /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [06] Soros earmarks $180,000 for education sector

    Shkoder, April 28 (ATA) - Approximately $180,000 are allocated by Soros Foundation to carry out some projects in Shkodra district education sector.

    The project's coordinator, Mateo Kraja, said that through the granted funds is aimed the fostering of teaching methods by applying contemporary ones.

    Also, will be rehabilitated the labs of secondary schools with new equipment.

    A special attention in projects will be paid in setting up libraries in the schools and a $6,000 is allocated for this purpose.

    According to Kraja some of these projects regard the further training of Luigj Gurakuqi" university professors, especially in drafting new text books. /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [07] Number of families living on welfare lowered

    Durres, April 28 (ATA) - The number of families receiving social assistance from Durres prefecture is reduced. Out of 5410 families receiving welfare in November last year, in February the number dropped to 5014 families.

    The director of welfare regional office, Luam Gazhenji, said for ATA that in Durres and Kruja districts even during 1997 when the economic conditions of families worsen, the requests for welfare have remained on the same level.

    He also added that the fund accorded by the government for this problem is increased. Out of lek 13,529 million the funds amount was in January, the next month were spent lek 18,365 million.

    In Durres prefecture, some 3,480 families receive full welfare, while 1,534 families get welfare partially.

    Compare to the total family number in both districts which reaches 69, 976 families, only 7,3 per cent of them receive social assistance.

    Gazhenji said that through this office also some 1,160 people under 21-year-old handicapped receive welfare.

    They earn a monthly amount of 3,080 lek and for March, April period a fund worth 12,959 million lek is put at their disposal. /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [08] "Orientation visit" to promote investments in Vlora

    Tirana, April 28 (ATA) - Promoting investments in Vlora district will be the theme of an "orientation visit" to be organised Tuesday by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

    The visit's goal on which the participation of some government's members is confirmed is: "foreign community should be familiarized with the economic problems of Vlora district."

    During the visit the Diplomatic Missions of OSCE and senior representatives of international bodies will hold meetings with local power representatives, non governmental organizations, and Vlora's town businessmen.

    At present, OSCE branch the only foreign organization in Vlora district, south west Albania undertakes this act for the fact though the situation is stabilized, the area is still "not attractive" for foreign investors in spite of wealthy natural resources . /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [09] Pero replaces Mazreku in Parliament

    TIRANA, April 27 (ATA) - By A. Simoni: Gafur Mazreku will not be a deputy, Dalip Pero replaced him from the multi-nominal list of the Socialist Party during the parliamentary session on Monday.

    The representative of the parliamentary commission for the verification of mandates told the sitting that based on the law which defines the end of the mandate of a deputy when he is declared guilty by a clear-cut decision of the court, Mazreku does not have the mandate because the Appeal Court has declared him guilty.

    Mazreku shot on the democrat deputy Azem Hajdari on September 18 of last year and for this reason the Court of the Appeals declared him guilty and sentenced him with 11 years in prison. /s.sh/das/mt/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [10] Soon a new Agency to treat loans

    Tirana, April 28 (ATA) - In response to state banking system reconstruction and privatization, Albanian Parliament is expected to approve soon the draft law "On setting up the Loan Treatment Agency".

    Through the project is aimed to sort out the unpaid loan's problem in order the banks be as competitive as possible in the market and pave the way for banks to enter the privatization process.

    The project's goal is the setting up of Loan treating Agency, which will has the right to absorb all not collected creditors' claims from the Rural Commercial Bank and to act as an agent for Savings Bank and National Commercial Bank loans.

    It was the uneffective credit policy of RCB which led to its liquidation and put into doubts the NCB existence.

    The Agency is predicted to act during a three year period, an adequate term and grants this institutions all legal rights to work on banks' loans reimbursement.

    In drafting the project, Albanian government is being advised by the World Bank experts, who regard the foundation of the Agency as an important institution in the process of privatization and reconstruction of second level banks, totally with state owned capital.

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [11] There is no violation of Albania's territorial integrity

    KUKES, April 28 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: There has been no violation of territorial integrity in the Republic of Albania and no incident has occurred along the border line of 120 km in Northeastern Albania, which includes the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje.

    "No Serbian commando has entered the Albanian territory," the spokesman of the Division II of Infantry in Kukes, Azem Perllaku, told ATA on Tuesday.

    He said that the groups which monitor the situation without interruption in the whole length of the border are closely following the movement of the Serbian forces on the other side of the border, which have come some 150 km near the border, but there is no violation of Albania's territory until now.

    The situation throughout the zone continues to be normal, meanwhile that different military units of this division continue to launch military exercises to face any situation in the future. /s.s/pas/mt/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [12] Debtors owe AEC lek 15 million

    Cerrik, April 28 (ATA) - Around 1,100 families in Cerrik town, central Albania haven't pay their electricity bills, owing Albanian Energy Corporation (AEC) some lek 15 million.

    While from the World Bank credit worth $6,7 million for Elbasani district electric grid, some $50,000 are earmarked for Cerriku, the non payment of the debt can lead to non granting of the fund, AEC branch director Muharrem Xhaferri said.

    According to Xhaferri the only solution is the application of an equal minimal fee for all clients, which would clearly recuperate the financial losses. /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [13] Businessmen demand lifting of ceiling prices on imported articles

    Tirana, April 28 (ATA) - Durres businessmen have voiced their concern to the Chamber of Commerce regarding the investments' promotion and ceiling prices on imported goods.

    Chamber chairman said for ATA that businessmen demand changes of Customs Code in accordance with the adhering criteria to the World Trade Organization, like the remove of ceiling price on imported goods.

    According to him the price of 1 tonnes of corn in the Italian market is $127, while the ceiling price in Albania is $160 per ton which unjustly increases the fiscal burden on imported articles.

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [14] Around lek 25 million for road rehabilitation

    Shkoder, April 28 (ATA) - Some lek 25 million are accorded by the state budget for the rehabilitation of Shkodra district roads, north east Albania.

    Road maintenance department director, Zenepe Dibra, said for ATA that during 1998 will be rehabilitated Shkoder - Murriqa road segment 13 km long, Koplik - Razem and part of the road Hajmel - Vig.

    According to her tenders will be staged soon to determine the wining companies to carry on the work. /gen/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [15] KDL Presidency urges intensification of political activity

    PRISHTINA, April 28 (ATA) - The presidency of the Kosova Democratic League (KDL), in the extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, condemned the Serbian military-police attack and the massacre of the innocent and defenceless Albanian population in Kosova. A statement published at the end of the meeting and reported by the Kosova Information Center, says that the KDL urges the intensification of the political activity in all the organization levels of the party. The KDL Presidency also urged the local leaders that in cooperation with the other Albanian political subjects to act in the framework of the peaceful policy and respect the will of the people to reach the independence through political means.

    The KDL Presidency said that after the military attacks in several communes of Kosova, the Serbian propaganda is trying to find individuals who will distribute false news to sow fear and panic among people aiming at deporting them and ethnic cleansing of Kosova. /p.ta/pas/mt/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [16] We are not much optimistic of Contact Group's meeting on Wednesday - Milo

    TIRANA, April 28 (ATA)-By I. Paco, The Albanian government is not optimistic that the Contact Group's meeting in Rome tomorrow will enable the beginning of the Belgrade-Prishtine dialogue.

    After the first two meetings in London and Bonn which did not bring about any improvement of the situation in this region, it called on the Group "to respect itself by carrying the decisions through."

    "We are not much optimistic of tomorrow's meeting because of the stands of some of the Contact Group's nations and we fear they will come out with a final statement which will not encourage the beginning of a dialogue," said Albania's Foreign Minister Paksal Milo told a joint news conference with his Norwegian counterpart Kunt Volleback on Tuesday before noon.

    However the chief of the Albanian diplomacy said he wished it did not happen so.

    Milo called on several of the Contact Groups nations "to reconsider their stands as tomorrow it will be too late and the conflict might assume unpredictable proportions also for those which currently appear not to be affected by it."

    Volleback also expressed his great concern about the situation in the Kosova region and blamed the Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, for it.

    "We do not see any change in the attitude of Milosevic, who, through the referendum held in Serbia, further aggravated the situation instead of paving the way for the conflict's solution," said Volleback.

    "The good will to open dialogue is the main thing, while the withdrawal of the Serbian security forces from Kosova does not constitute any big problem," said Volleback when asked that how could dialogue begin with a presence of so many police forces in Kosova.

    Volleback said that both sides should realise the peril of the situation, and, he, as well as Milo, considered the beginning of bilateral dialogue without preconditions and in the presence of a third side as the only solution.

    "Norway will take part in compiling a EU report and if there is no change of the situation in the region, it will then demand sanctions against Yugoslavia," said Volleback.

    He said that he would meet today with Yugoslav President Milosevic in Belgrade and tomorrow with the leader of the Kosovar Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, in Prishtine. /s.s/pas/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [17] Serbian army-police operations continue in Kosova

    PRISHTINE, April 28 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports that volleys of shots have been heard overnight and this morning in the suburbs of Decan, Gjakova (west of Kosova near the border with Albania), in Drenica and a number of villages of the Kline commune.

    Albanian sources report on continuous movements of army-police motorcades from the direction of Nish through Podujeve and from the direction of Kraleve, the Iber river valley, through Mitrovice and from there in the direction of Dukagjin and areas bordering Albania.

    The death toll during yesterday's developments in the zone of Vokshi of Decan is not yet known. Serbian sources have reported on three Albanians killed and four injured, while Albanian sources have not yet provided official confirmation.

    Newspaper "Bujku" says that the number of the Albanians killed and wounded must be larger than that reported by the Yugoslav military sources.

    Koha Ditore of Prishtine reports that seven injured Serbian soldiers or policemen were taken to the Gjakova hospital from the firefights in the region of Vokshi yesterday. While a Montenegrin doctor has confirmed that an helicopter transported the corpses of four Yugoslav soldiers from this hospital last night.

    Newspaper Telegraf of Belgrade, referring to military sources, reports that two Yugoslav soldiers have been killed. /p.ta/pas/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [18] National anti-personnel landmine march projected

    DURRES, April 28 (ATA)-By S. Gjordeni, A project of an anti-personnel landmine march, organised by Anti-mine Fight Supporters' Committee (KMAM), has been drafted.

    The head of the committee, Besnik Alibali, told ATA that the aim of the march across Albania is to sensitize the society and state on the elimination of the anti-personnel landmines, which last year killed and injured hundreds of people.

    The march is planned to begin from the Durres city and continue for several days in succession in several cities of Albania.

    Posters, cards, and petitions will aim at sensitizing the Albanian government to accelerate the procedures of signing the Ottawa Convention to ban anti-personnel landmines, says Alibali.

    The convention has so far been signed by 124 states over the world. The signing of this convention, as confirmed by Joody Williams, ambassador of the anti-mine fight and Nobel prize winner for peace, will benefit Albania several million dollars to be used both for eliminating mines and for helping hundreds of people, victims of mine blasts. /s.s/das/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [19] Media center, spokesman of Serb military, police administration

    PRISHTINE, April 28 (ATA) - The so-called Media Center, which operated recently in Prishtina, is a media formed by the Serbian government, Enver Maloku, chief of the Center for Information in Kosova (QIK) said, replying the questions of some foreign radios and media in Kosova on the creation and activity of the Media Center.

    Maloku said that the center quoted exclusively Serb military and police sources, being in this way a spokesman of the Serb military-police administration, which was responsible for massacres, killings, tortures and ethnic cleansing in Kosova.

    Formal leaders of the center are Serbian journalists under the formal umbrella of the Association of the Serb Journalists, which had a bad reputation in Kosova and the world because together with the Association of the Writers of Serbia had served the Serbian war against Kosova and Albanians since Milosevic came to power, Maloku said.

    He added that some Serbian journalists, members and leaders of the association had always said lies and had played a very negative role in stirring up war and directly taking part in it against other peoples in years of the Serbian aggression against Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. pta/das/ak/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [20] Albania, Greece sign protocol agreement on military education

    TIRANA, April 28 (ATA) - Albania and Greece signed on Tuesday in Tirana a protocol agreement in the military education, a press release of the Directorate for Public Relations at the Defence Ministry said.

    The protocol agreement on the military education between the armies is signed in the framework of the program of Partnership for Peace between Albania and NATO.

    The Greek military team headed by colonel Helina Nikolao, chief of the education sector at the National Defence General Staff and the Albanian team, headed by the chief of the education and staff at the Defence Ministry Colonel Ismail Shulku, signed the protocol agreement, which foresaw aid for the education of students, military personnel of the Albanian army in the well-known academies and schools of Greece. s.s/mima/ak/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [21] Albanian Minister of Education on a visit to Italy

    - a 4 billion lira assistance and sister relations between 100 schools of both countries -

    TIRANE, April 28 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi: Et'hem Ruka, Minister of Education and Science of Albania left on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Rome at the invitation of his Italian counterpart.

    "I am going to Rome to sign an agreement of cooperation in the field of education between our two countries, which envisages among others an Italian 4 billion lira assistance for Albanian education," Minister Ruka said before leaving for Italy.

    A member of the Albanian delegation is also the head of higher education department in the Ministry of Education, Edmond Haderi. All fields of bilateral cooperation especially in the field of higher education have been determined, said Haderi.

    According to Ruka, "a considerable part of the Italian assistance is earmarked for an increase of the managing capacity of the departments of education and the ministry and a another part of it will be used on training the staff of vocational schools through two pilot schools and the inauguration of a linguistic-scientific lyceum in the Albanian and Italian schools."

    The joint agreement also forecasts assistance for the establishment of sister relations between nearly 100 Albanian schools and respective Italian schools. /a.ke/mima/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [22] President says coming of constitution into force on Nov 28, a historic act

    TIRANA, April 28 (ATA) - President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani told on Tuesday the co-chairmen of the constitution commission and deputy Speaker that "the process of constitution should be open, safe and fair", press and information office at the presidency said.

    The co-chairmen Sabri Godo and Arben Imami briefed president on the work done so far for a draft on constitution and the strategy the commission had followed to carry out this major task in time.

    Meidani underlined important suggestions presented especially by the French constitutionalist Guy Carcasson.

    They reiterated the need for the participation of all the political forces in drawing up the new constitution.

    "I would think that this solemn act of coming into force will coincide with the national holiday of November 28 after being approved by a referendum what would represent an important historic act in spiritual and institutional renewal of Albania," Meidani said. s.sh/mima/ak/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [23] Crisis in Kosova must be peacefully solved through dialogue - Message of Albanian Foreign Minister to Contact Group -

    TIRANE, April 28 (ata) - In a message to his counterparts of the Contact Group countries on the eve of the Rome meeting, the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, stressed on April 29 that the Albanian government continues to be loyal to its platform for a peaceful settlement and through dialogue of the crisis in Kosove, the press and information department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry reports.

    "Deterioration of the situation in Kosova and the open tendency to displace the conflict closer and closer to the border with Albania has caused a growing all-Albanian concern and favors the intensification of nationalistic sentiments. This tendency also rises the tension throughout the region and creates a climate of general concern," writes the message.

    "Not any fundamental change has been noticed in the stand of the Serbian or Yugoslav federal authorities folowing the meeting of the Contact Group in Bonn," the message continues.

    "The referendum of April 23 in Serbia deepened more the gap and the fierce present conflict in Kosove," writes Milo.

    Further on, Milo expresses the conviction that the governments of the Contact Group countries will step up their efforts in order that the meeting of Rome adopts positions and decisions which would help encourage the beginning of a real, useful dialogue, mediated by reliable factors and which would lead to a stable settlement of the conflict in Kosova. /s.sh./mima/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [24] US state secretary urges unity in resolving Kosova issue

    TIRANA, April 28 (ATA) - By A. Simoni: Our continuous unity in the Kosova issue will be fundamental to secure that in the future we cannot have a repetition of tragic events of 1991, the U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright said in a letter to the Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano handed over by the U.S. Ambassador to Tirana Marisa Lino on Tuesday.

    "It was a pleasure for me to meet you on March 25 in Bonn in the meeting of the Contact Group attended by the representatives of the Balkan countries and the European Union troika on the Kosova issue," Albright said in her message to Nano, according to the press and information office at the Council of Ministers.

    "It was very important that we all met to demonstrate the seriousness with which our countries were following the situation in Kosova and our common determination to exert the necessary pressure for a peaceful solution to the issue," Albright said.

    "I greeted your support for the statements of the Contact Group on March 9 and 25 and other measures approved in these meetings," she said.

    "We will be in touch with you, now that we are undertaking other measures. I wish to meet you in a near future," Albright said to Nano.

    On Wednesday, the political leaders of the Contact Group will meet in Rome to discuss Kosova, a meeting for which the Albanian Foreign minister Paskal Milo expressed his reservations on Tuesday's news conference. /ak/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [25] Albania state secretary meets EU ambassador to Tirana

    TIRANA, April 28 (ATA) - Albania's State Secretary for European Integration Ilir Meta talked on Tuesday with the European Ambassador to Tirana, Elio Germano.

    Meta and Germano shared the view that the international community should intensify efforts to take necessary decisions to prevent further escalation of the conflict in Kosova and create conditions for sides to start unconditional dialogue immediately with the mediation of a third side, press and information office at the Foreign Ministry said.

    Meta said that the Albanian government was determined to play its constructive role to this end but added that the gap between the sides as regards the dialogue continued to widen.

    "The international community is completely aware that Albania, being in favour of a peaceful political solution, is an important factor for stability in the region and is showing wisdom in tackling the situation," Ilir Meta, Secretary of State for Euro Atlantic integration said.

    They discussed the conclusions of the European Union Council of Foreign Ministers on Kosova and the next meeting of the Contact Group in Rome on Wednesday.

    The meeting also focused on promoting contractual relations between Albania and the EU and further steps in that direction. s.s/mima/ak/


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


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