ALBANIA: WEAPONS BELIEVED TO BE HEADING FOR ALBANIAN REBELS SEIZED BY POLICE IN DURRES.

Record ID: 334029

  • Title: ALBANIA: WEAPONS BELIEVED TO BE HEADING FOR ALBANIAN REBELS SEIZED BY POLICE IN DURRES.
  • Date: 16th May 2001
  • Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (MAY 15, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: BACK OF TRUCK WITH WEAPONS ON GROUND AND ALBANIAN POLICE 0.06 2. GV/CU: VARIOUS OF WEAPONS LAID OUT ON GROUND (5 SHOTS0 0.31 3. GV/LV: VARIOUS OF GREEK FERRY "IONIS" THAT CARRIED THE VAN FROM BARI, ITALY TO ALBANIA (2 SHOTS) 0.44 4. GV/MV/CU: MORE OF WEAPONS ON GROUND/ MAN HOLDS UP FLAK JACKET/ VARIOUS OF VAN/ GERMAN LICENCE PLATE (4 SHOTS) 1.13 5. CU/GV: DRIVER OF THE VAN, ALBANIAN MACEDONIAN, SHABAN ELEZI, INSIDE POLICE VEHICLE NEAR THE SEIZED VAN/ EXTERIOR POLICE VAN (2 SHOTS) 1.32 6. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ALBANIAN GENERAL DIRECTOR OF POLICE, BILBIL MEMA, SAYING: "Albania does not train paramilitaries in its territory to help ethnic Albanians in Macedonia who fight (to reach) their aims. There is no such basis in Albania and Albania does not traffic guns." 1.55 7. CU/PAN/GV: MORE OF SEIZED WEAPONS (2 SHOTS) 2.08 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DURRES, ALBANIA
  • Country: Albania
  • Reuters ID: LVA5M1V7YPIT98NJ4GYGVMTXNE7L
  • Story Text: Albanian police have seized a truckload of weapons in
    the port of Durres which they believe were destined for ethnic
    Albanian guerrillas in Macedonia.



    According to Albanian police the van arrived on a
    ferry from Bari, Italy, on Tuesday (May 15) and was packed
    with automatic weapons, bullets and flak jackets.

    The driver of the vehicle, a Macedonian Albanian man, was
    taken into police custody for questioning.

    Albanian police chief, Bilbil Mema, said that they had
    received information that through the ferry line Bari-Durres,
    a vehicle would arrive transporting guns to be trafficked
    through Albania. Mema explained, that the police police took
    measures through the night to organise an action to seize the
    weapons.

    Macedonia has accused Albania of letting guerrillas enter
    its territory from Albania -- charges the Tirana government
    denies.

    "Albania does not train paramilitaries in its territory to
    help ethnic Albanians in Macedonia who fight (to reach) their
    aims. There is no such basis in Albania and Albania does not
    traffic guns," said Director of Police Bilbil Mema.

    Albania has criticised guerrilla violence in Macedonia.

    The rebels say they are fighting for equal rights for the
    ethnic Albanian minority, who make up around one third of
    Macedonia's population of two million people, but their
    actions have been strongly condemned by Western powers.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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