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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-09-30Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] PROTESTS IN KOSOVE START ON OCTOBER 1 - Organizational CouncilPRISHTINE, SEPT.30 (ATA) - By Behlul Jashari: The Organizational Council of the University of Prishtine decided yesterday that the peaceful protests of the students to have the school and university building released will start on October 1, one of the leaders of the Independent Students' Union, Albin Kurti, said."After the meetings that representatives of the students in the Organizational Council had with regard to peaceful students protests with the President of the Republic of Kosova Dr Ibrahim Rugova, and with the delegation of the European and American diplomats, in Kosove yesterday, confirm once more that the protests will start on October 1, 1997," says a decision of the Organizational Council. The Independent Students' Union of the Prishtine University will give a news conference today. my/kled/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] AMERICANS IN SUPPORT OF ALBANIAN COMPANY VEFA - VEFA President declares two contracts, but without details -TIRANE, SEPT.30 (ATA) - by Mimoza Allushi: A U.S. group represented by Dr Dwight Williams, guarantor of U.S. investments in Albania and Dr Lee Roderick, representative of Senator Hec, today declared in the Palace of Congresses in Tirane the signing of two major contracts (as they said) between Vefa Company and two big American investors. One of the companies would be the RED-Engineering Co which deals with mining industry whereas the name of the other company could be remembered neither by the Vefa president Alimucaj nor by his U.S. supporters.The U.S. RED-Engineering Co will cooperate mainly in the production and processing of bitumen and another company will set up farms to rear poultry. The two companies will invest in Vefa through joint ventures. Alimucaj said that one of the companies will process 4200 hens per hour, but he could not remember the name of the company, although he had signed a contract with it. Asked by reporters whether the specialists had any knowledge of a 300 million dollar debt of Vefa, Dr Williams said: "It is true that Vefa has a great debt, but this is not everything. I don't know the laws of your country for the bankruptcy, but I would say that it is better to assist a company in debts to make it progress than plunge it to the abyss. In my opinion, making the existing objects of the company efficient and opening of new activities are the best reasonable ways as compared with an immediate payment of the creditors." The reporters present in the conference asked the U.S. specialists if they knew anything about the judicial processes between Vefa company and the Albanian state. "In our activity as mediators," said attorney Williams, "we were based on the decision of the Appeal Court which distinguishes Vefa as a comany not based pyramid schemes. We respect the decisions of the courts and will inform our investors of every decision the courts will adopt in this regard." pas/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN KOSOVE WILL START ON OCTOBER 1 BEFORE NOONPRISHTINE, SEPT.30 (ATA) - Peaceful protests of the students in Kosova for the release of the occupied school buildings will start on October 1, at 10.30 a.m., the Organizational Council of the Prishtine University told ATA.The protests of the students who were not allowed by Serbian authorities to attend classes in their school and university buildings 7 years ago, will start marching towards the Prishtine city centre, passing through the main boulevard and then to city quarters. The students will carry badges and they are asked to wear white blouses or shirts. During the protests the students will not chant any slogan because all the messages and demands of the students will be written in placards. The people to keep order during the protests will be students wearing a red ribbon while the students who will observe the protests will have green ribbons. The same procedure will be followed in other cities of the Republic of Kosova where there are affiliates of the University of Prishtine. The Organizational Council appealed to citizens to side with the peaceful protests of the students by joining them on the streets and strictly respecting the strategy of the students. The citizens must be calm and silent, says the Council. Today, one day before the beginning of the protests, the Independent Students' Union will hold a news conference. bj/ag/kled/xh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] PRESS REVIEWTIRANE, SEPT.30 (ATA) - Newspaper Zeri i Popullit reports of the meetings of Prime Minister Fatos Nano in the U.S. State Department. The article "'Zani' of Albanian policy," compares former President Sali Berisha, DP leader, with the chief of the band caught by police last Saturday, saying that "Sali Berisha resembles so much Zani of Vlore, because during his domination, he incriminated all Albanian policy, by introducing a spirit of enmity and confrontation everywhere. He is actually pouring fuel to an unprincipled political strife to topple at any cost the legal government which came from the free vote of the people." Under the headline "Auditors take control of the loan-taking companies," writes the newspaper. "Everything under control: Accounts, money, assets." The paper carries an interview with the defence Minister Sabit Brokaj on his visit to Greece during which two new agreements were signed between the two countries. The paper writes that the Supreme Court has ordered the release of 32 ex-high officials of the defunct communist regime, under charges of genocide and crimes against humanity and has decided by majority of votes that the above acts have not been carried out.Under the headline: "Nano sells chief bandit of Vlore. Myrteza Caushi was caught or he surrendered?" newspaper Rilindja Demokratike writes: "End of game with Zani." The paper raises the question: "How is explained the fact that the man who has committed hundreds of crimes with a cool-head did not open fire at least once with his machine gun?" referring to the fact that Zani did not make any resistance before he was caught by police. The newspaper carries another editorial: "With Nano, Albania towards the abyss" and writes: "Tirane rekindles the protest," regarding the DP protests held after DP deputy Azem Hajdari was wounded by SP deputy Gafurr Mazreku. On the same topic the newspaper writes that Hajdari has revealed new facts on the attempt on his life saying that the bodyguard of the Minister of the Institutional Reform Arben Imami had ordered Mazreku to shoot. The paper also writes that "Malaj (Finance Minister,) the countenance of SP triple fraud." Newspaper Republika writes: "Vefa hands in its keys to Americans." This paper carries an editorial: Policy in a vicious circle" which says that DP will continue the protests of solidarity of the political forces of the Union for Democracy, allied parties of the Democratic Party. The newspaper writes on the decision of the prosecutors office on the case of the arch bandit, Zani: "Capital punishment for Zani, his gang and the 16 year old bodyguard." The newspaper carries the report on the arrest of Zani along with a rich background on his criminal activity, related with the unrest in Vlore following the collapse of the pyramid investment schemes. The newspaper writes in other report "Elbasan, an amphitheater of tragedies, massacre at the bar." Koha Jone writes "The state grabs the keys of usuries," regarding the appointment of administrators from the government to check the activity of loan taking companies. The paper quotes the president of Vefa Holding company, Vehbi Alimucaj, as saying: "I have deposited 180 million USD in banks. The paper carries the editorial: "Zani, the government's challenge," putting forward the questions: "How can the escape of Zani Caushi be so short-lived? Was he surrendered himself, was he betrayed, was he scarified or was he self-scarified"? Anyhow for Koha Jone it is not strange the fact that Zani did not offered resistance. The newspaper makes an analogy with the detention of the absolute head of gangsters of the Italian Mafia, Toto Rina, in a more banal way than Zani. The paper carries the chronicle of the detention of Zani, the first accuses against him: murder, robbery, etc, and publishes an interview with the Police chief of Vlore on the action. Under the headline "The protest of DP continue. The victim leads," the paper reports "Berisha-Hajdari, from bed to square," regarding the protests of DP, led by Azem Hajdari, right after coming out of the hospital. The paper writes "DP-SP, consensus at the presence of Meidani (Albania's President.)" In the heading of chronicle the paper reports "The masks revived again in South." Rilindja paper covers the meeting of the Kosova President, Ibrahim Rugova, with a delegation of diplomats from USA and Europe, under the title "International initiatives for Kosova are very important." The paper writes "Were the students' protests backed up?," regarding the decision of the Independent Union of Students of the Prishtina University to start protests until the educational buildings are set free. The paper covers the speech of Albania Prime Minister, Fatos Nano, in the UN General Assembly, entitled "The solution for Kosova should be fair and complete." Under the headline "The head of political gangs of the Socialist Party is arrested in a mysterious way," Albania newspaper writes "Who betrayed Zani?" This paper also makes a series of questions regarding the detention of Zani. It writes "Why was Zani arrested, why in Vlore, why now, why not two days ago when he moved in a police vehicle, why not when he was in Tirana 8 days ago when he asked the state to set free his brothers, with what did Zani threatened the senior officials - The enigmas throw light on the destruction of Albania." The paper considers the arrest of Zani a great mystery "which continues to be rolled up in fog." In the editorial entitled "U.S. support for Albania,' the paper reports that USA have exploited the meeting of U.S. State Secretary with Albania PM Nano to express the strong stands against the measures taken by the former communists returned to power. The paper also reports that the president of Vefa company, Vehbi Alimucaj has requested the Finance Minister, Arben Malaj, to resign. Dita reports that Alimucaj has attacked the state and the banks saying that they are pyramids. The paper carries an interview with the SP deputy and the Albanian well-known writer, Dritero Agolli, asking him about the latest political development in Albania, the Mazreku question, the relations between the party in power and the opposition, etc. The paper covers the news conference of Hajdari, quoting him as saying that the bodyguard of Imami had told Marzeku "shoot". The paper writes that after the marathon and the prepared action of police, Zani together with his 16 brave men was detained. The paper reports in the subtitle that "The Vlore Police has spread the idea that Zani Caushi was not in Vlore." Gazeta Shqiptare reports "Zani in cell risks capital punishment." Under the title "Here it is who is Zani Caushi," the paper make his "biography", writing on his origin and life before being known as Zani, his departure to Greece, escape from the Greek jail, his transformation into a famous persons, mainly by the Italian media, during the turmoil of this year. The paper reports "Vlora enjoys the detention of Zani." The newspaper cites the president of Vefa company "Banks, the real pyramids.' The paper writes that President Meidani has returned another law in Parliament, while the presidency has responded to the attacks of Speaker Skender Gjinushi: The tensions are not created by the presidency, but by the Parliament." /kei/xh/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] SERBIAN FINANCE POLICE CLOSE DOWN FLOUR WAREHOUSES IN PRIZRENKUKES, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: The Serbian Finance police have closed down flour warehouses in the city of Prizren, Kosova, some 20 km from the Albanian border.The closing down of warehouses, which were owned by Albanians, have cause difficulties in trading the goods to Kukes, Northeastern Albania. Five of the warehouses located near the border were closed down early on Tuesday because, as police said, "the flour sold to Albanian dealers from Kukes contained large quantity of bran." This is the first time that the warehouses were closed since 1993 when Kukes and Prizren freely developed flour trade. During these years, the supply of flour from Prizren has kept the price of flour 30 percent lower. A quantity of seven tons flour enters daily in Kukes from Prizren. kled/ak/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] POLICE DETAIN A PERSON FALSIFYING ITALIAN LIRETIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By. Th. Thanasi: The police forces of the commissariat 2 detained on Monday evening a person who sold false Italian lire.The cheat, Kujtim Habibi, 56, born in Vlora and inhabitant of Tirana, was sentenced before to 17 years in prison for an assassination attempt. He has sold 800 000 false Italian lire to a citizen. Police seized the falsified lire and all the materials Habibi used and handed them over to the Tirana Prosecutor's office. kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] POLICE DETAIN A PERSON SELLING FALSIFIED ITALIAN LIRETIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By. Th. Thanasi: The police forces of the commissariat 2 detained on Monday evening a person who sold false Italian lire.The cheat, Kujtim Habibi, 56, born in Vlora and inhabitant of Tirana, was sentenced before to 17 years in prison for an assassination attempt. He has sold 800 000 false Italian lire to a citizen. Police seized the falsified lire and other materials and handed them over to the Tirana Prosecutor's office. kei/ak/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] STATE MINISTER REJECTS ACCUSATIONS OF DEMOCRAT DEPUTYTIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: The minister of State for the legislative reform and relations with parliament Arben Imami reacted on Tuesday against accusations the Democratic party (DP) deputy Azem Hajdari brought in yesterday's press conference considering them untrue and groundless.The deputy Hajdari recalling the moment when the former Socialist deputy Gafur Mazreku shot and wounded him inside the parliament said on Monday that "the witness who testified on the event in the Albanian television was Armand Hasanaj, a specialist in the Directorate for Relations with parliament. Hajdari said that he was a collaborator of Mazreku and had ordered him "to shoot." Answering a series of accusations, Minister Imami reacted saying that "Hasanaj has never been a secret service officer or of state Sigurimi and a bodyguard of a politician." He believed that "human gratitude would characterize the deputy Hajdari towards the witness who gave him the first aid." jz/ak/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] "EPSILON" OFFERS TRAINING FOR ALBANIAN JOURNALISTS AND SPECIALISTSTIRANE, SEPT. 30 (ATA)-By S. Sharrexhi, The Athens based "EPSILON" Professional Education Centre offers training for 30 Albanian mass media journalists and 87 specialists of several Albanian institutions."Our aim is to help Albanian state institutions on the way to their further consolidation and democratisation," said the Centre's Director General, Jorgos Pikgos. Besides tranining for several periodics, independent newspapers and institutions the "EPSILON" Foundation has accorded four specialisations for the ATA General Department. EPSILON is a non-governmental and non-productive organisation which deals exclusively with tourism, press, sport, culture and environment issues. s.sh/jz/lm Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] RELATIVES OF OTRANTO VICTIMS URGE BODIES' RECOVERINGTIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - The relatives of the Otranto victims urged the President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Tuesday to use his authority and ask the Italian authorities to recover the bodies soon.The tragedy of Otranto happened in March this year claiming the life of 108 people including men, women and children. They also asked that a group of Albanians help identify the bodies and participate in investigation. President Meidani acquainted the relatives with the ongoing efforts and demands the Albanian institutions and he as a president have presented to the Italian authorities to resolve this case as soon as possible. I believe, he said, that the Italian authorities will keep the promise despite delays of technical character. "I will reiterate the demand in a meeting scheduled with the Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, soon," President Meidani said. ake/jz/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] SOCIALISTS DEBATE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENTTIRANE, SEPT. 30 (ATA)-By A. Hasani, The socialists' group, the biggest in parliament, engaged in a two hour debate on Tuesday to discuss major issues parliament will deal with over this week.The meeting, presided over by Pandeli Majko, chairman of the group, was held without the presence of reporters. According to several SP deputies, the participants in the meeting concentrated on the strategy the socialists should follow in the next parliament proceedings, especially after "the Mazreku incident", which has brought about many consequences for the continuation of the parliament's proceedings. The socialist parliamentary group is expected to request an interpellation with Finance Minister Arben Malaj on the usury issue. a.ke/jz/lm/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] VEFA HOLDING TO FACE SUPREME COURTTIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By Manjola Hodo: VEFA Holding, the biggest company in Albania, will face trial next month in the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of state administrators at the company.The Council of Ministers presented a recourse in the court rejecting a ruling of the Appeal's Court, which annulled the decision of the Council of Ministers regarding the appointment of administrators at the company. VEFA rejected the decision that its activity be audited by state administrators what was contrary to a government decision on transparency related to money-lending firms and won the case in the Appeal's court. The government and the chief auditor Farudin Arapi said that the only wayout from this situation is that the group of administrators starts auditing as soon as possible. "At this point we are delayed," Arapi said. jz/ak/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO GUARANTEEING FOREIGN INVESTMENT - deputy premierTIRANE, SEPT 30 (ATA)- The new Albanian democratic government will strengthen cooperation with international organisations to overcome the emergency phase and develop the country economically and socially. It is committed to ensuring order and guaranteeing investment.Deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Fino confirmed this at a meeting on Tuesday with the Director for Telecommunication Projects in EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), David Cooper, and the Executive director of the Dutch Corporation of Telecommunication, NEPOSTEL, Mr. Eklenkamp. Cooper appreciated the new open and contemporary spirit of the new government. "Of importance to us is that your government has a very interesting programme and that cooperation with you assures us of attaining our goals," he said. Mr. Eklenkamp evaluated the fact that the activity of the Dutch Corporation which was interrupted in March resumed in a relatively short time. "Now all our projects are near completion," he said. a.ke/jz/lm /Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] DP REFUSES TO JOIN ROUND TABLE WITH SOCIALISTS AND PRESIDENTTIRANA, SEPT. 30 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: The Democratic party (DP) refused to join a round table with the Socialists party at the presence of the President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani, DP secretary for Public Relations Vili Minarolli said.Nevertheless, he did not reject a possible round table with Socialists and all other parties. "The problems can be resolved in round tables not only with the SP but also with all the parties," Minarolli said. "We do not need a tutor in these round tables," he added referring to the presence of Meidani in negotiations. ake/jz/ak/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT BY DP IS NOT THE WAY TO BE FOLLOWED -DiniTIRANE, SEPT.30 (ATA)-Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini has expressed worry over the boycott of parliament's proceedings by the Democratic Party's parliamentary group.At a meeting today with the Albanian parliamentary delegation, headed by Skender Gjinushi, Dini, referring to the latest event in parliament, with socialist deputy Mazreku shooting democrat deputy Hajdari, said that:"the incident in Parliament was a serious thing, but the boycott of parliament by the DP is not the way to be followed". "There are other means to protest. It is justice that which will have the final say," he said. Dini has called on the DP to reconsider its position. "I hope the DP will reconsider its position and return to parliament for the good of the country." s.s/jz/lm/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] INTERNATIONAL COMPANY TO CHECK TRANSPARENCY OF ALBANIAN LOAN-TAKING FIRMSTIRANE, SEPT 30 (ATA)- By L. Thanasi, Four out of six major international auditing companies will take part in the tender to be submitted for the control of the Albanian loan-taking firms, senior official of Finance Minister told ATA.Two of the companies which have already confirmed their readiness are American: "Arthur Anderson" and "Coopers", while the two others, English "Deloitte and Touche" and KPMG". The companies undertake to audit the companies which have borrowed money in large proportions from the population. As a first step they will bring forward the financial position of the companies they control. The tender will be submitted in three weeks' time. The VEFA company, which owes the largest debt to the population, said yesterday it is ready to open it doors to foreign experts. Placing loan-taking firms under the control of an international company is one of the conditions put forward by the IMF and the World Bank for further financial aid to Albania. The World Bank, in cooperation with the IMF has offered some $ 7.000.000 to cover the expenses for carrying out the transparency. jz/lm/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] ITALY PLEASED WITH ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT'S STEPS TOWARDS NORMALITYTIRANE, SEPT. 30 (ATA)-Italian Foreign minister Lamberto Dini has said Italy is pleased with the steps the Albanian government has taken for stabilising order and returning to normality.At a meeting today with the Albanian parliamentary delegation, headed by Skender Gjinushi, Dini pointed to the importance of the relations of the Albanian government with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as the steps it has made for the macro-economic stabilisation and attraction of foreign investment. Speaking of the importance of the preparation of the donors' Conference and Italy's efforts to stimulate all partners to this end, Dini told the Albanian parliamentary delegation that the aid to be provided by the international institutions and that on the bilateral plane will be comprehensive. According to the ANSA news agency, both sides at the meeting pointed to the importance of the International Ministerial Conference on Albania to be held in Rome on October 17. jz/lm/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] TANKS ROAM STREETS OF PRIZRENPRISHTINE, SEPT. 30 (ATA)- Three tanks of the military police and one of the public order police roamed the streets of Prizren, today at around 12.00.The Kosova Centre of Information says that the situation in the city is very tense and in a moment the telephone communication with the Democratic League of Kosova (DLK) in this city was cut off.p.ta/l/JZ/lm/Z Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] GOVERNMENT BLOCKS INVESTMENTS PLANNED FOR THIS YEARTIRANE, SEPT. 30 (ATA)-By L. Thanasi, The Albanian government has decided to block the public investments planned to begin this year, according to the Council of Ministers.A recent decision of the Council of Ministers orders all central institutions to block planned investments. According to finance specialists this decision comes as a result of this year's great difficulties in collecting budget income. These investments are expected to begin in the new fiscal year 1998. jz/lm/Z From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |