ALBANIAN EMBASSY IN ZAGREB REJECTS TABLOID ARTICLE

ZAGREB, Aug 4 (Hina) - The Albanian Embassy in Zagreb today dismissed as a "figment of someone's imagination" an article in the July 8 issue of the Zagreb-based weekly tabloid Globus. The article claimed that the Albanian president was involved in illegally trading petroleum for Serbia. The following is the full text of the Albanian embassy's statement: "Antun Masla's article in Globus, sensationally headlined 'Albanian President Sali Berisha Implicated in Oil Traffic' with Serbia" is a figment of the reporter's imagination from the first to the last word. "The article was written in collaboration with certain Albanian opposition reporters who found a partner for their immoral and irresponsible fabrications in Globus. "These reporters provided Globus with material for this article which was later carried by the Albanian newspaper 'Koha e jone.' "A spokesman for the Albanian President said of the incident: "Albania is committed to carrying out the embargo. There is no agreement on oil shipments between Montenegro and Albania. Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic has never before or during his visit to Albania encouraged Albania to violate the oil embargo against Yugoslavia. The Globus article, later carried by 'Koha i Jone,' is an immoral and irresponsible creation of the said reporters and newspapers. "Chairman of the Sam Albania mission Franko Letrari denied that trucks carrying contraband had ever crossed the Albanian border, by day or by night, according to the July 23 issue of the Skadar-based daily 'Lajmi i dites'." (hina) as sd 041902 MET aug 94