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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-08-24

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] Youths from Europe and America together with Albanians appeal for peace
  • [02] WTO: Albania prepares its negotiators
  • [03] TV-1 "Amantia" in Internet
  • [04] Serb forces are setting to fire homes of Albanians
  • [05] Traditional Bektashian celebration held in Tomori Mountain
  • [06] Protest manifestation in Melbourne in support of Kosova
  • [07] E-Mail in Albania since 1995
  • [08] Serbian offensive continues in central Kosova
  • [09] 360,000 dollars for school for hotelmen in Tirana and Saranda
  • [10] 13 dinghies with 350 illegals uncovered and turned back on Albanian coast
  • [11] Judicial session for six Albanian former senior officials detained last Saturday
  • [12] Kosova pupils to attend classes in Tropoje
  • [13] Thirteen Albanians killed in Kosova
  • [14] Outstanding Kosova intellectuals banned access to FYROM
  • [15] Shkoder archbishop invites believers to place candles and flowers at Orthodox Church
  • [16] Thirteen Albanian villages of Rugove of Peja, target of Serbia
  • [17] Next session of parliament due on August 31
  • [18] DP against arrest of its former officials

  • [01] Youths from Europe and America together with Albanians appeal for peace

    TIRANE, August 22 (ata) - By Ardi Pulaj: Five thousand youths from Europe, America and Albania will take part in a concert to be held in mid September along the coast of Durres with a common message against genocide in Kosove.

    The Albanian Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the President Rexhep Meidani will enable the realisation of this activity entitled "Webstock Albania '98."

    From September 18-10, for 39 hours nonstop artists from various countries of the world will convey through music messages against genocide being exerted by Serbs on the Kosova population.

    The French party, participating in the concert has confirmed to the organizers that "the concert will be also broadcast on the E-mail." /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [02] WTO: Albania prepares its negotiators

    TIRANE, August 24 /ATA - By E. Metaj/ - Preparations for the third round of a meeting between Albania and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have started. This round will be held at the end of October in Geneva (Switzerland).

    According to information by Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade, it is set up a team of 20 specialists by different fields of activity. In this group are represented many ministries like that of Economic Cooperation and Trade, Finance, Public Economy and Privatisation, Public Works and Transport, Agriculture and that of Health.

    Albanian negotiating team will talk with General Secretariat of WTO and will deliver there final report prepared by Albania. The team will also give answers to about 120 questions made by members of WTO in address to our country.

    October meeting in Geneva is the third, from the time Albania asked to be a member of this Organisation. The second round was held in 1996, and was considered "a failure", because of lack of serious preparations, so Albania lost the chance of becoming a member of WTO.

    While October negotiations will be decisive for the realisation of Albania's government aim to become e member of WTO./fh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [03] TV-1 "Amantia" in Internet

    VLORE, 23 August /ATA - By H.Koçi/ - Local private television station TV-1 "Amantia", based in Vlore, entered Sunday in the E-mail system.

    Director of this station, Genci Demiraj, told ATA that this is the first step this television staff is doing toward modern communication. This will be followed by other forms of its direct connection to Internet, like HOT-line and Direct access.

    TV-1 "Amantia" becomes one of the first private stations in Albania which enters the international electronic mail of Internet. Its connection, which was first realised on Sunday, will be perfected in the future days./fh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [04] Serb forces are setting to fire homes of Albanians

    PRISHTINE, August 24 (ata) - Following the attacks of yesterday afternoon on villages Recak and Belince of Shtime, LDK sources cited by the Kosove Information Centre report that these two villages are in flames.

    Also in some villages of the commune of Malisheve, after yesterday's attacks, Serb forces continued to set to fire homes of the Albanians. Some houses have been torched in villages Bubavec and Dranoc and in the town of Malisheve. There are reports that houses have been set ablaze also in some villages in the commune of Kline yesterday. In the mean time, the quarter Bajraktari of Suhareke, which Serb forces blocked early yesterday, has been greatly ruined and the people cannot resettle to their homes because of the great presence of police forces. A resident of that quarter told KIC that Serb police forces have destroyed everything before them.

    The Kosove Information Centre also reports that the delivery of aid from humanitarian organizations "Mercy Corps International" and other associations started in the commune of Malisheve yesterday, at a time when the medical state of the Albanian population in that commune continues to be grave. /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [05] Traditional Bektashian celebration held in Tomori Mountain

    TIRANE, August 22 (ata) - By Klodi Shehu: Tomor Mountain, "natural temple" of Bektashian believers was turned last Saturday into a place of peace in the autocthonous traditional celebration called "Tomorri Days" for thousands of people not only of that region but also from South and North Albania, Macedonia, Kosove and the diaspora.

    In the Masjid of Kulmak, the main centre of pilgrims to that temple, the rite of Kurban and the religious bektashian ceremony were held.

    The Days of Tomor" is in essence a very ancient popular celebration. In fact it has continued in all times but during the past totalitarian regime the celebration retained mostly the pagan character and not its specific character related with bektashism.

    Mount Tomor has played a decisive role in the mythological mentality of the Albanians, it has been called a sacred Mountain, while our national poet Naim Frasheri has called it the residence and the throne of the gods of Albania. This mountain is also mentioned in the eposes of Homer with the old name Tomal. Mount Tomor is sacred for the Albanians as Mount Olympus is for the Greeks or other mountains are for different peoples. /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [06] Protest manifestation in Melbourne in support of Kosova

    PRISHTINE, 24 August /ATA/ - Albanian community in Victoria, Australia, organised on Saturday its third protest in Melbourne in six months, informs Center for Information in Kosova.

    About 1,000 Albanians, holding up their national flag and that of Australia, with placards and in traditional dressing, were gathered in front of Australian parliament to express their support for their brothers in Kosova.

    In his address, the recently elected chief of Albanian community in Australia, Shaip Lloga, after denouncing the indifference, with which, all civilised world is following events in Kosova, where children, old people and women are being killed, asked for an international military intervention to stop Serbian attacks in Kosova and made an appeal to the Australian government to take urgent mesures to find humanitarian aid for Kosova.

    Representative of the Laburist Victorian Party, Carlo Carli, also addressed the meeting and accused the Belgrade regime for its ethnic cleansening, killings, burning and the aggression against civil unprotected Albanian people in Kosova.

    He directed a call to international factors and Australian government to take immediate steps to securing and send humanitarian aid to Kosova./das/fh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [07] E-Mail in Albania since 1995

    TIRANE, August 22 (ata) - By Ardi Pulaj: Nearly 249 220 is the number of reports on the most powerful information network, E-mail. The Albanian Telegraphic Agency with its news bulletins in two languages, Albanian and English, Albanian Home Page, with information on the history of Albania, its cities, culture, tourism etc., the news Agency "Enter," Radio Deutsche Velle in Albanian, newspaper Albania and various Kosova agencies convey on E-mail every day the latest information from Albania. Hence, along with the institutions which tried for the first time to ensure access to the most powerful network of information, such as UNDP, Soros Foundation, INIMA, PHARE Program, etc., all E-mail subscribers throughout the world can learn of the events in Albania.

    In 1995, UNDP, in cooperation with some non-governmental organizations, managed to create the first connection of E-mail in Albania. It ensured electronic mail for hundreds of organizations and a limited connection with WEB (archives of political, economic and other organizations,) and other services.

    In 1996, after the adoption of a law on telecommunication, the E-mail was linked with the Albanian academic system through PHARE Program. In 1997, the Soros foundation managed to create its E-mail connection and to offer such connection to other academic, scientific institutions, non-governmental organizations and important state institutions.

    Hence, Albania may be found on the great international information system, E-mail, with "http://www albania.com." As for daily information, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency offers to E-mail subscribers its news service in two languages: Albanian and English with the address: http://www telpress.it/ata/ata htm.

    /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [08] Serbian offensive continues in central Kosova

    PRISHTINE, 24 August - ATA correspondent, Behlul Jashari, reports: The Serbian offensive in central Kosova, which started yesterday morning with shelling and torching of about 30 Albanian villages, is continuing even today.

    Heavy bombardment of Lipjan and Gllogoc, are heard even in Prishtine, while destruction and torching of Albanian houses are seen even in villages of Shtimje, Ferizaj, Lipjan, Gllogoc, Suhareka, Malisheva and Klina.

    Above these areas, covered by smoke and flame, are seen flying Serbian military helicopters. A source from the scene said that even in Koretice e Eperme of Gllogoc an Albanian was killed and another one was wounded, at a time when tens of thousands of Albanian people, displaced from their villages because of shelling, are staying in mountains, always threatened by Serbian shelling and in dire humanitarian conditions.

    According the most recent information, because of a shortage in medicine, two Albanians died, a baby of Gremniku of Kline and a woman from Drenica./das/fh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [09] 360,000 dollars for school for hotelmen in Tirana and Saranda

    - Agreement signed with Austrian government

    TIRANE, 24 August /ATA - By P. Shuteriqi/ - In the context of a deepening bilateral cooperation, on Monday was signed an agreement between Republic of Albania and Federal Republic of Austria, on the preparation of students in the branch of hotelmen in Tirana and Saranda.

    Artan Canaj, director of Foreign Relations in Ministry of Education and Science, told to ATA, that the project of this agreement will be realised with a fund of 3,162,000 schilling, (or 360,000 dollars) accorded by Federal Republic of Austria.

    Vice minister of Education and Science, Andrea Marto, said "Our Agreement will be completed in a 25 month period, beginning from September of this year until year 2000".

    The agreement was signed by Mr. Marto and Mr. Ubrich Stracher, director in Chancellory of Federal Republic of Austria./das/fh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [10] 13 dinghies with 350 illegals uncovered and turned back on Albanian coast

    DURRES, August 24 (ata) - By S Gjordeni: Forces of Guardia di Finanza uncovered 13 dinghies and speedboats with illegal people on board which had set sail from Albanian coast aiming to reach Italy.

    The spokesman of Guardia di Finanza told ATA that the boats with Italian and Albanian crews undertook a broad operation from 11 p.m. of Saturday to 3 a.m. of Sunday between the Island Sazan and the Bay of Vlore (Southern coast of Albania.) During the four hours operation, they uncovered 13 dinghies and speedboats with 350 illegal people on board who aimed to go to the Italian coast.

    The Guardi di Finanza stopped the dinghies and speedboats without any objection from their crew leaders, the spokesman explains. /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [11] Judicial session for six Albanian former senior officials detained last Saturday

    TIRANE, August 24 (ata) - By Th Thanasi: Tirane Court started Monday a judicial session on the form of custody of six former senior officials of the Meksi Government: Safet Zhulali, former Defense Minister, Halit Shamata, former Interior Minister, Blerim Cela, former chairman of the State Control Service, Sokol Mulosmani, colonel, Bujar Rama, former deputy chairman of SHIK and Kreshnik Lusha, lieutenant colonel, who were detained last Sunday under the charge of "crimes to humanity."

    The closed-door session started at 13.30 on Monday.

    A report of the Military Prosecutor's Office on Sunday said that the above ex-officials were detained because "in collaboration with other people have realised through their actions the destruction of the Albanian state with incalculable economic consequences, causing thousands of victims, casualties, injured and missing people."

    These people are accused of "taking and giving orders for the use of war chemical substances for mass extermination during February 1997 in the city of Vlore (Southwestern Albania;) taking and giving orders running counter to the main constitutional provisions, to the decisions of the People's Assembly, they have realised the participation of the Armed Forces in the fighting operations against civilians, have made a selective arming of a group of people according to political preferences in order to place them against their compatriots."

    On this basis, the six detained have realised the penal act of "crimes to humanity," in cooperation, envisaged by articles 74 and 25 of the Penal Code. /das/xh/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [12] Kosova pupils to attend classes in Tropoje

    BAJRAM CURRI, August 24 (ATA)-By R. Hoxha, Some 1 700 Kosova children, who have come to Tropoje (Northern Albania) due to the Serb violence and terror against the civilian population, will attend classes in the shcools of this distrcit, for the new academic year, 1998-1999.

    Luan Resaj, specialist at the district education department, told ATA that in cooperation with the Soros Foundation a working programme has been prepared for this purpose and the lists of the pupils to be integrated in the schools of Tropoje district have been compiled.

    He said that the Ministry of Education has been asked to increase the number of teachers, also including Kosova teachers who have fled the war zones and whose number reaches 40. /das/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [13] Thirteen Albanians killed in Kosova

    PRISHTINE, August 24 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:

    At least 13 Albanians have been killed and many others wounded during the latest Serbian forces attacks in Kosova.

    Tens of the killed Albanians were sent to the Gjakova hospital morgue last night and the massacre is thought to have occurred in the vicinity of the zone where the triangle Kosova-Albania-Montenegro is formed.

    Shooting has been heard overnight and today also in the city of Gjakova, which is surrounded by Serbian military and police forces.

    Yesterday's shelling in the city of Suhareka has killed two Albanians and injured two children, while several other Albanians have been injured in the near village of Pecan.

    This morning the Serb forces continued to bombard the village of Reshtan of Suhareke. The village of Lubizhde of Malisheve was also bombarded last night while massive attacks and bombardments continue today in the suburbs of Lipjan, villages Vershec, Leletig, Krojmire, Zllakucan, Mirene, Fushtice and other villages.

    At least one Albanian has been killed and another wounded in today's shelling in Korretince e Eperme of the Gllogoc commune.

    Serbian motorized forces are also reported today to have gone to Peja in the direction of the villages of Rugova, but there are no reports on the developments there, except that the road through the Gryke e Gjakoves has been blocked by Serbian forces. /das/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [14] Outstanding Kosova intellectuals banned access to FYROM

    TIRANA, August 24 (ATA)-By I. Luto, The Presidency of the Academy of Sciences of Albania denounces the order that banned outstanding Kosova intellectuals from entering the territory of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), while Albania's Prime Minister was holding talks with the Macedonian counterpart to intensify bilateral relations, according to a statement the presidency gave to ATA on Monday.

    Rexhep Qosja, Pajazit Nushi, Esat Stavileci, Engjell Sedaj and others, who were invited to take part in a pan-Albanian scientific meeting in Gostivar (Macedonia) on the Albanian national cause, were subjected to a very minute control on the Macedonian border and were their written materials and personal notes were sequestrated.

    The meeting was held without the participation of the above intellectuals.

    The statement says that this act runs counter to the friendly spirit that should characterise the Albanian-Macedonian relations.

    The head of the Albanian academy of Sciences, Ylli Popa, and other members of the presidency, on their way Home on Sunday, at the end of the Gostivar meeting, were checked by the Macedonian border authorities and all their written materials and personal notes were photocopied and then handed over to them. /mima/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [15] Shkoder archbishop invites believers to place candles and flowers at Orthodox Church

    SHKODER, August 24 (ATA)-By M.Malja, The Archbishop of the Metropolis of the Catholic Archbishopric of Shkoder, Angelo Massafra, on Monday called on all believers and good willing people to place candles and flowers at the orthodox church damaged one week ago, in token of peace and sorrow for the Orthodox brothers.

    Four days ago still unidentified persons placed an amount of explosive at the Orthodox Church, at the Shkoder city centre (northwestern Albania), whose explosion damaged the altar and smashed the windows of the building.

    The Orthodox Church of Shkoder started religions services recently. /mima/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [16] Thirteen Albanian villages of Rugove of Peja, target of Serbia

    PRISHTINE, August 24 (ATA)-ATA correspondent in Prishtine Behlul Jashari reports: Thirteen Albanian villages in Rugove mountains (suburbs of Peja) were attacked on Monday morning by Serbian military and police forces, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in Kosova (90% of the population is Albanian).

    The attack started with the shelling of the Shtypeq i Madh village, where, according to initial reports an Albanian has been injured.

    Many refugees from Peja, Decan and other regions, engulfed by war, have also been settled in Rugove. The civilian population in Rugove are heading for Montenegro in an effort to escape war.

    Last Sunday an Albanian youth was killed in Acareve of Drenice and another in Bellobrad of the Dragash suburb died in Prishtine hospital as result of fierce tortures by Serbian forces.

    At least 15 Albanians have been killed over the past 24 hours in various regions of Kosova. The Serbian forces continue to bombard and burn down Albanian villages in Lipjan, Shtimje, Gllogoc and other suburbs. /mima/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [17] Next session of parliament due on August 31

    TIRANA, August 24 (ATA)-By Y.Pata, Speaker of Albania's Parliament Skender Gjinushi on Monday decided at a meeting with heads of parliamentary groups and permanent commissions to open the new session of the Albanian parliament on August 31, the press office of the People's Assembly told ATA.

    The participants at this meeting, also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Governmental Coordination, Kastriot Islami, also discussed the programme of the next session.

    "They especially discussed the procedure of examining and approving the draft-constitution, envisaged to be submitted to parliament by the Constitutional Commission between September 15 and 20," according to the above source. /mima/lm/

    Albanian Telegraphic Agency

    [18] DP against arrest of its former officials

    TIRANA, August 24 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, The deputy chairman of the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), on Monday, stated that the arrest of members of this party, senior officials during the DP governing, is an expression of an open war the government has declared to the Albanian opposition.

    "The charges brought against our party are baseless and run counter to the Albanian laws," the DP deputy chairman, Genc Pollo, told a news conference on behalf of this party's parliamentary group.

    Pollo said that the law violations consisted in the way of arresting these persons.

    "The arrests have been carried out by midnight, a practice followed only for persons declared wanted," said Pollo.

    The democrat leader said that the charges brought against them for "crimes against humanity" are absurd and unacceptable , more over, they cannot be brought by the military prosecutor's office, as the "arrested persons are currently civilians".

    Citizens Safet Zhulali, (former Defence Minister), Halit Shamata (former Interior Minister), Blerim Cela (Former chairman of the State Control Commission), Bujar Rama (former Senior official), Sokol Mulosmani (former chief of Vlore Police) and Kreshnik Lusha (former deputy head of the National Investigation Service, SHIK,) were arrested on August 22, late at night.

    All the above officials have worked in the government of democrat Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi.

    "These persons, in cooperation with others, have realized the destruction of the Albanian state of uncountable economic consequences and thousands of victims, killed, injured and missing, during the unrest of 1997 in Albania," says the accusation brought by the military prosecutor's office.

    On this basis, the body of the accusation jumped at the conclusion that the aforesaid persons have committed the penal act "Crimes against Humanity" /mima/lm/


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


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