[ALBSA-Info] Today's Articles on Albanian Issues, August 21, 2001

[National Albanian American Council - NAAC]

National Albanian American Council
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For Your Information
August 21, 2001

ALBANIAN DAILY NEWS
SP Reconfirms Meta as New Premier
TIRANA - The ruling Socialist Party leadership reconfirmed on Monday, with a plebiscitary vote, Ilir Meta as the premier of the new government. Meta gathered 84 votes from the 117-member Steering Committee, leaving far behind the two other candidates Arben Malaj, and Spartak Poci. The Committee also elected Namik Dokle as the next Speaker of the Albanian Parliament.

RADIO 21
No problem during the fifth round of parliamentary elections in Korça
The elections went on without problems in Korça. The fifth round of parliamentary elections commenced at 08.00 on Sunday in four polling stations of constituency 82 in Korce district. Polling stations No. 17 in Orman-Pojan village and 34,35, 36 in Podgorie village were opened on due official time and will close at 18.00 in the evening. Some 2798 electors have been enrolled in these polling stations, where the largest part, nearly 2795 electors, are inhabitants from Podgorie village. The conduct of elections in four polling stations of constituency 82 marked the beginning of the fifth round of parliamentary elections and the third round among this constituency contesting candidates: Rahmi Mehmetllari, SP, and Alfred Olli, DP+UV. International and local observers as well as representatives of the candidates running for deputy monitored this round of elections, because of the several objections made by both sides in constituency 82.
UNMIK: Kosova-Macedonia border closure will continue
The border between Kosova and Macedonia was closed for the third consecutive day Monday. The closure by Macedonian authorities has caused problems for UNMIK, and if it continues, it will affect the general population as well, according to UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel at Monday's news conference. "The border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia remains closed and according to our security assessment may stay closed for a few days," Manuel said. She added that the closure had impeded UNMIK Police rotations. KFOR spokesman Howard Rhoades expressed concern that the closure did nothing to further the political process in Macedonia. "However, negotiations are ongoing and FYROM authorities have promised to do what they can to re-open the route as soon as possible," he said. Medical supplies are currently not affected, as shipments had come in just before the border closed. "[But] if it continues for several more days, it could be a problem, as the next shipments are due at the end of the week," said Manuel. Macedonian authorities shut down the Hani i Elezit crossing on Saturday. Macedonian villagers blockaded the main road to the border on the second day, preventing KFOR and UNMIK personnel and members of other organizations from entering Macedonia. The blockade also caused a number of refugees trying to leave Kosova to be turned back.

REUTERS
NATO Military Heads Tentatively OK Macedonia Force
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO military officials have provisionally backed a plan to send thousands of troops to Macedonia, and alliance ambassadors are expected to give their final endorsement by Wednesday, sources said Tuesday.
``NATO's military committee met this morning and said it was okay to go ahead with the deployment,'' a NATO source said.
``The decision (to send the troops) will be taken by the ambassadors no later than tomorrow,'' the source said.
The military committee comprises representatives of the chiefs of staff of the 19 NATO member countries.
Their backing of the plan increases the likelihood of it winning the approval of the NATO ambassadors, who alone can trigger the launch of the so-called Operation Essential Harvest.
The NATO ambassadors were due to meet in Brussels at 3:p.m. (1300 GMT) to hear a report on the situation in Macedonia from U.S. General Joseph Ralston, the alliance's commander in chief, who paid a one-day visit to the ex-Yugoslav state Monday.
He is widely expected to advise that conditions have been met for the launch of Operation Essential Harvest, whereby NATO troops will collect weapons from ethnic Albanian guerrillas as part of a peace plan for the tiny republic.
The NATO source said the envoys might not be able to decide immediately whether to launch the operation, the alliance's third Balkan mission which is expected to involve 3,500 troops being deployed in Macedonia for a limited period of 30 days.
``Some countries may find it necessary to consult their capitals first,'' said the source.
Another NATO diplomat also said he expected the final decision to come Wednesday.
``Things could change at this afternoon's meeting, but the decision is most likely to be taken tomorrow to give some time to the capitals to reflect on (Ralston's) report,'' he said.
Under the recent peace plan, Macedonia's parliament will approve a series of reforms designed to improve the status of the country's large ethnic Albanian minority while the rebels voluntarily surrender their arms to the NATO force.
``If this parliamentary process is to get started we need to launch Operation Essential Harvest,'' the diplomat said.
Western diplomats fear that any big delay in sending the NATO force would create a vacuum which extremists from the two camps would be able to exploit, raising the specter of a wider Balkan conflict.

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