Albania - DHA: 17-23.Nov.97
Albania - DHA: 17-23.Nov.97
Situation Report from the UN Resident Coordinator
in ALBANIA
Period Covered: 17-23 November 1997
GENERAL SITUATION
The general situation is settling with unimpaired movement around the
main roads in the country. However, it is advised by the police not to
travel after dark. Smuggling of tobacco, coffee, gas, is still a
problem even though the government has clamped down with tight controls
at border crossing points and increased cooperation between Albanian and
Greek custom officers. The police forces are hampered in carrying out
more patrols due to the lack of sufficient vehicles and equipment. The
police are on a three-phase programme which will continue throughout
1998, including: Control of roads and cities (phase one), reorganisation
of police forces by strengthening law enforcement, technical equipment
and training (phase two), organisation of criminal investigation
elements of the police and the judiciary system to combat crime (phase
three).
Police special forces are still being used to combat crime. It has been
reported in the newspapers that youth crime is on the increase in
Tirana, including robberies and theft. Also there has been an increase
in car theft, (33 in last two weeks).
Weapons gathering are still on going with police searching homes and
communes to retrieve weapons and ammunition as voluntary handing in of
weapons seems to have slowed down in some areas.
Newspapers have been on strike for the last four days. The strike is
over the lack of state subsidies, increases in VAT, limited circulation
and distribution facilities.
It is reported that the NATO intelligence service responded positively
to the Albanian military request to contribute to the defense of
Albanian territory.
Three Albanian diplomats have asked for political asylum in London. Two
of them are the former ambassador to Britain, Mr. Pavli Qesku and his
deputy Mr. Rudolf Marku. This request, which would have been made six
weeks ago, has not been confirmed yet officially by Britain.
Unemployment is rising due to the closure of some of the state
industries.
Kosove
An ethnic Albanian politician loyal to Belgrade, Mr. Qamil Gashi was
shot and seriously wounded in the neck and legs by "unknown terrorists"
outside his home on Tuesday night.
Rome and Yugoslavia signed an agreement on the return of illegal
immigrants to Yugoslavia. This agreement is likely to be applied mainly
to illegal immigrants from Kosovo of which 50.000 have gone to Italy in
the last three years.
A Serbian presidential candidate, Mr. Millan Multinovic, has ruled out
any special rights for Kosovo Albanians.
The UN Security Phase in Albania has changed and at present is as
follows:
Tirana - Durres - Kruja - Kavaja - level one,
The remainder of Albania - level two.
NORTHERN REGION
Shkodra
The town is quiet through the day although there is still gunfire in the
suburbs during the night time.
Ten people were arrested for carrying out armed robberies in villages
close to Shkodra and also in Koplik. Weapons and masks were retrieved by
the police after a gun fight.
Kukes
Weapon collection reported to be going well.
Tropoje
Very tense, as armed gangs are entering Kosovo looting and terrorising
people.
CENTRAL REGION
Kruja
A police raid last Friday resulted in the arrest of nineteen people,
five of whom were escaped prisoners. The others were accused of various
crimes including robbery.
SOUTHERN REGION
Berat
One of the most wanted gang leaders in Berat, Jaupi was arrested after a
chase and firefight in which he was wounded. One NGO vehicle with other
vehicles had to stop on the road just outside Berat very close to the
firefight. Fortunately no one was injured. He is now in jail in
Tirana. Weapons gathered by police in Berat to date are 200 machine
guns, 800 light machine guns (LMG), 4.000 rifles, 19-(60mm) mortars, 5.7
million rounds of ammunition, 5.126 hand grenades, 90.515 detonators.
Police force is now under control of the prefecture. Also, a special
police unit has been created for the prefecture.
Permet
Weapons retrieved were A 47-354, submachine gun model 56-350, sub
machine gun model 63-620, light machine gun 130, heavy machine gun 30,
hand grenade projector 17, flared pistol six, light ammunition 677, 200
rounds. Return of weapons has slowed down this last couple of weeks.
Sarande
There is still a profusion of weapons firing, some explosions and anti
tank rocket fire, as well as some reports of fatalities. This is due to
clashes between special police and contraband gangs, but also to
contraband gangs fighting each others. However, it is still possible to
visit the town under directions of local police chief.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
UNICEF
Has provided shoes for the orphanage in Shkodra and preparing calendars
with messages for children. They will be distributed in schools, health
centres etc.
WHO
The 20-th Health Coordination Meeting was held on November 21.
UNFPA
18-19 November, a meeting on the Reproductive Health (RH)manual, which
UNFPA is willing to fund under the frame work of the National Country
Program, took place in Conference Meeting (UNICEF/ UNFPA) building, with
the participation of Albanian and Swiss counterparts.
The first shipment of neonatal care instruments, (part of second UNFPA
emergency project), was delivered from Rinas Airport on 17 November
1997. Upon the arrival of the rest, they are ready to begin the
distribution.
A comprehensive, multidisiplinary Country Programme on RH will be very
soon designed. For this purpose, a mission is going to Albania on
December 3.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
United Nations Office in Tirana, Albania
Mr. Jan Wahlberg
UNDP Resident Representative and
Resident Coordinator
Tel.: (0035542) 275 00 or 322 63
Fax: (0035542) 300 28
E-Mail: Wahlberg@unicef.tirana.al
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Sylvia Ferazzi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr. David McLachlan-Karr
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0226
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: mclachlan-karr@un.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
E-Mail: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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