15/08/1995
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Gazeta Shqiptare

15 August 1995

Refugees in Kosovo: a new war?

Tension after the arrival of Serbs from Krajina The crowded trains arrive in Kosovo’s cities. The Serbs themselves object TIRANA - “Conflict right next to Albania?” This is the question that millions of Albanians are now asking themselves. Serb refugees, frightened by the Croats’ advance, continue to pour into Kosovo, which was already extremely tense even without them. What is happening in martyred Kosovo? Will the new developments lead to a wider conflict in the Balkans, or will the International Community be able to find a way to stop the bloodshed before it takes on catastrophic proportions? No one has given a clear answer so far. The machinery of international humanitarian organizations has immediately been set in motion—above all, the Red Cross On page 3 An influx of refugees heading for Kosovo

Ceka: “We should help the Serb refugees”

A striking statement by the AD leader TIRANA - “The war in Bosnia is an absurdity. We should offer help to the Serbs too, just as we have offered it to the Bosnians.” Just days after the turbulent events in Kosovo, Neritan Ceka, leader of the Democratic Alliance, is calling on the Albanian Government to also shelter Serb refugees. This is a call that has not been heard before in Albanian political circles and is bound to spark controversy. “Let us also offer the Serb refugees Albanian hospitality.” Neritan Ceka, leader of the Democratic Alliance Party, is urging the Albanian Government to shelter Serb refugees in Albania. Ceka’s statement comes immediately after around 700 Serb residents from Zhepa and Krajina settled in Kosovo. The PAD leader rejects the risk of a conflict in the southern Balkans and comments that “these refugees bring with them a message of peace, not war.” On page 3

Cup: Only Division I remains

FOOTBALL Cup: Only Division I remains The smaller teams are eliminated On page 5

The USA and the smaller countries win

Gothenburg ’95 On page 7

Today Bajko’s boys leave for Malta

National team On page 5

“Radioactive tobacco poses a risk to drinking water”

Sarandë, Health Department begins water testing SARANDË - “Tobacco contaminated with radioactivity, buried near Sarandë, is damaging the water that the city’s residents will drink tomorrow.” The city’s public health authorities in the south have expressed concern and

Hysen Selfo: “We view unification with Danushi optimistically”

Yesterday, talks between the Right-Wing League and the “Property with Justice” Association TIRANA - Strong signs of rapprochement between the Right-Wing League and “Property with Justice.” Talks began yesterday at Hysen Selfo’s office. The League’s chairman thus received Ridvan Shehu, his associate, after the latter met with the emissary of “Property with Justice.” “I have come to you on behalf of the Association’s Executive Board.” This is how the conversation between Danushi’s envoy and the League’s leader began, a conversation ...

A beach day in Velipojë

REPORTAGE On page 5

about drinking water

SARANDË—“Radioactive tobacco, buried near Sarandë, is contaminating the water that the city’s residents may drink.” The public hygiene authorities in the southern city have voiced concern and issued an appeal to the competent authorities regarding a story involving hundreds of tons of radioactive tobacco, possibly from Chernobyl, buried in the late 1980s, whose effects could still be causing damage 15 years later—this time once again above ground. Specialists from the Sarandë Public Health Directorate are carrying out bacteriological analyses to determine the level of contamination in the Vrion area, about 5 kilometres from Sarandë. On page 3 Saranda

We view Danushi’s unification with optimism

TIRANË — Strong signs of rapprochement between the Right-wing League and “Pronësime Drejtësi”. Talks began yesterday at the office of Hysen Selfo, the League’s chairman, who received Ridvan Shehu, a close associate of Rrapo Danushi. Only a short time after the League’s programme point seven was changed—until a week ago, “Pronësime Drejtësi” had opposed this point—Danushi sent his spokesperson to enter into talks. Discussions, an exchange of delegations and smiles: this was the atmosphere yesterday at the start of negotiations between the right-wing groups. “We view unification with Danushi with optimism.” This is what the League’s leader said immediately after meeting the emissary of “Pronësime Drejtësi”. Presidium.” League’s leader began, a conversation that Selfo regards as a sign of a swift rapprochement with the “Pronësime Drejtësi” Association. According to the LDSH chairman, the exchange of delegations between them was the only proposal to come from Danushi’s offices. “This will be decided at the Plenary meeting at the beginning of September,” says Selfo, who welcomed the start of talks between them, talks that both sides regard as “the only path to unification”. Arian Çani

35 thousand hectares for the owners

Korçë, compensation KORÇË — The Government’s decision has also resonated in Korçë. This time it was the city’s Territorial Regulation Council that decided: “Now former owners will also have the opportunity to be compensated for their lost properties.” There are 35 thousand and 35 hectares of land in the Korçë district which, according to a decision by the TRC, will be used to compensate their former owners. The main problem concerning around 900 open files appears likely to be resolved. Of the area mentioned, 141 hectares of land will be allocated to former owners within the city’s yellow line. A further 9447 hectares of land, left untouched by the Land Distribution Law, have also been considered in relation to this issue. The district’s Pastures and Meadows Fund has not been overlooked either. A special commission has also recently been established by the Government to compensate property owners. Parts of the Prespa tourist area have also been included in the compensation scheme, with around 243 hectares available and ready to be given to former owners. At the council meeting, alongside the compensation measures, an area of around 3 hectares was assigned to the Housing Enterprise as a site for building new residential blocks within the city’s yellow line. ELKO.

The Justice Council: “The eight members of MAVI have no connection with Peshkëpi”

But they will be tried by the Greek justice system for carrying firearms without a permit On page 3

Criminal judgments of Greek courts will also be enforced in Albania

Yesterday the Government approved the draft decree for the convention between the two states On page 3

Incident inside the stadium

VLORË — An incident involving law-enforcement officers took place inside the “Flamurtari” stadium. The police team’s veteran player Leka and goalkeeper A. Arapikani ended up in the Vlorë hospital. It all happened immediately after the Flamurtari-Durrësi match ended in a draw, and the cause of the incident was not the sporting situation but the course of the game itself, during which law-enforcement officers had locked the players’ room door. Finding the door closed to the athletes, who had been withdrawn, they protested vehemently against the law-enforcement officers, who then used force against the players and coaches.

RTSH: Pollo dismisses and reinstates the department heads

For a few minutes, former directors—and Sakajeva TIRANA — They were dismissed and resumed their duties just a few minutes later. Yesterday morning, all the department heads of the institution gathered in the office of the newly elected director of the Albanian Radio and Television, Bardhyl Pollo. There, a formal dismissal and immediate reappointment marked the formal (official) act of the new management staff taking the reins of RTV. Following the meeting of the Governing Council held a few days ago, at which Pollos’s closest assistants were appointed—Malja as his deputy and Karapici as the deputy in charge of his Radio leadership post—it was these new leaders who yesterday held an expanded meeting with the department heads of both Albanian electronic media institutions. After an opening address by Bardhyl Pollo, presented as an introduction, the formal procedure was carried out in accordance with the internal regulations: the new director’s arrival and the dismissal of all the heads, including the Director of Television. And that is what happened, but only for a few minutes. As he had previously confirmed, Pollo again emphasized his good relations with the current heads of Television and its departments, since he had been in closer contact with those at Radio as their superior. Therefore, Pollo kept the same heads who had been in place before. As for the case of Sakajeva, of Televiza, and one or two others, it was somewhat conditional; for the rest, the reshuffling of these departments did not take place, at least for the time being, as was also evident from the tension in the institution’s corridors. So.Bal.

Tirana Halili: “Here are the priorities in agriculture” On page 3 Delvinë Anti-drug police: 4 people detained On page 3

For ... in Velipojë On page 5