ATA News from Albania, 96-09-09

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS DIRECTOR OF WORLD BANK

[02] RIGHT WING FORCES ON POSSIBILITY OF COOPERATION

[03] TIRANE-DURRES AREA BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY

[04] FIRST SNOW "ARRIVES" IN NORTH ALBANIA

[05] UNFPA DELEGATION IN TIRANA

[06] QUALIFICATION OF SARANDA AND DELVINA MINORITY TEACHERS

[07] PRESIDENT BERISHA CONGRATULATES PEACEKEEPING TROOPS LEAVING FOR CROATIA

[08] GOVERNMENT APPROVES DECISIONS IN FAVOUR OF ECONOMIC REFORM

[09] MINISTER XHAJA RECEIVES WORLD BANK EXPERTS

[10] ALBANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER RECEIVES UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

[11] MINISTER TOPI RECEIVES WORLD BANK DIRECTOR FOR E. EUROPE

[01] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS DIRECTOR OF WORLD BANK

Berisha expressed his gratitude for the support the World Bank has offered to Albania right from the beginning of the democratic reforms and continues still today, being such the main supporter of financial and technical assistance for Albania.

"Albania-World Bank cooperation is one of the most successful" said Berisha. "Dozens of new projects are today in process in the most important fields for country's development like road constructions, projects in water and power supply, education, health, irrigation, privatisation, accommodation, forestry and banks. We are determined to widen this cooperation and would like that these projects of the World Bank include in the future even other districts not present till now, like Korca and others. We are very much interested to start programs in viticulture, specially for Belshi and other areas with tradition in this field. The project of urban fund for Elbasani and Berati should be widened and include other districts. It is of special importance for Albania the creation of urban funds for some large towns of the country.

Movement of population is necessary but simultaneous construction of infrastructure by constructing roads, schools, health centers and water supply in these new living areas is a necessity as well."

Berisha assured Severino that Albania is continuing to have high economic rates of development which guarantee among others its macroeconomics stability. He estimated an important decision that of removal of state control on prices.

Director of World Bank Severino expressed his pleasure in coming to Albania. "You have marvelous results, which we admire and congratulate you for. That's why the World Bank calls Albania its beloved child."

He also stressed that the World Bank is decided to support continuation of reforms and to consolidate the present results and is engaged to widen its cooperation in other prior sectors and fields. "We will support Albania to become a success in policy and economy in the future years."ake/kled/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] RIGHT WING FORCES ON POSSIBILITY OF COOPERATION

Republican chairman Sabri Godo and BK Secretary General Aleko Gjergo has voiced the possibility of a cooperation among parties, which are members of the right wing league.

I think, says the republican leader that the right wing forces in Albania should be crystallized. While BK senior official Gjergo says that BK will hold talks with Right Wing forces during this week. "The possibility of having the same candidate in local election exists," Gjergo said.

Regarding his party's stand towards the Former Political Persecutees, he says that these two associations are BK supporters.

Godo says that with the Former Political Persecutees Association, RP had and will continue to have very good relations, but "contacts were cut off after elections period (May 26) because of changes and various opinions, that surfaced."

"I think it is hard to find any member of the Association, that will vote for other subjects, not members of Right Wing League. And Tirana Former Political Persecutees affiliation has sent to Tirana RP branch some days ago, five proposals for their candidates to be included on the lists. We will include them happily and with priority, if they will meet the necessary criteria," says RP chairman. kled/pas/gen/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] TIRANE-DURRES AREA BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY

The zone, where construction is underway in Tirana, compared to 1990, is expanded with 800 hectares and population increased to seven per cent, two percent due to natural growth and five percent due to the migration of people.

Serving this purpose in Tirana-Durres corridor is foreseen the implementation of a project to build 4000 new apartments, in an area of 70 hectares.

Realising the advantages of this area because Rinas airport, Durresi harbour and the highway are there, on both sides of the road is planned the construction of apartments with the respective infrastructure. Foreign investors, mainly Italian and German have shown interest in investing in the area.

Private sector business remains dominant in the area. Almost all food stuffs industry is privatized in these cities and during the last five years nearly 100 factories are being established, starting with processing factories for dairy and agriculture products, timber, clothing and car services stations. Already established in this zone are powerful companies as Coca Cola, Siemens or Albania firms, which have Opel, Peugeot, Volvo car dealerships.

Up to now investments have been in the context of joint ventures. The bulk of the Albanian immigrants are from these two cities, and upon their return they have started to invest in the area. The first five kilometres of Tirana-Durres highway are finished and work is under way to expand it towards Durresi city. The rehabilitation of Tirana-Durres railway, with the financial support of Italian Government, is nearly over. kled/gen/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] FIRST SNOW "ARRIVES" IN NORTH ALBANIA

All surroundings heights of Kukesi were whitened in Friday's midnight by a thick snow which continued for two hours.

The temperature has notably fallen and citizens began to use their warm clothes. It is the first snow for this year and according to its inhabitants it is rare for this month of the year and what is more after the rains.

Stockbreeders were mostly affected by this unexpectedness who were with their cattle in summer pastures around the town. The pastures were covered by snow and they were forced to move cattle downward in their villages. They are preparing for this "forced" move imposed by this unexpected snow. jz/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] UNFPA DELEGATION IN TIRANA

They will meet representatives of the Albanian government and will stage a seminar regarding program reconsideration and structure development on population issues.

The UNFPA representative is expected to launch a new program in Albania, in the continuity of the projects realized during these five last years in field of health, family planning, demographic developments, education and others.

Since 1991, Albania and UNFPA have set up relations, which are concretized in the realization of valuable projects in the above mentioned fields.

UNFPA has its own office in Tirana which coordinates the activities with Albanian bodies and non governmental organizations. /kled/mt/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] QUALIFICATION OF SARANDA AND DELVINA MINORITY TEACHERS

They were organized by education department of these districts in cooperation with Institute of Pedagogical Studies in Tirana, Ioannina University and Aid Institute.

The plenary session held Sunday in "Butrinti" cinema, was opened by an address of the director of the education department Perparim Musai. The session was also greeted by representative of the Ministry of Education and Sports Dashnor Nikollari, as well as by representatives of pedagogic- scientific Greek Institutions, Ana Ioti, Maria Boga, Jerios Paskalis and others.

The Albanian government, on August 5, 1996, took a decision "On an amendment on the decision on eight-year education in minorities in their mother tongue" which realises opening of some classes in public schools of South Albanian towns for the Greek minority. ake/kled/mt/fh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] PRESIDENT BERISHA CONGRATULATES PEACEKEEPING TROOPS LEAVING FOR CROATIA

Albanian President Sali Berisha who greeted the platoon in a ceremony organised on this occasion today morning in the Army Cultural Centre in Tirana, said to the peacekeepers that the mission they are undertaking is a symbol of Albanian great efforts for stability and peace and for its integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

"This mission is a great and strong symbol of the friendly relations which join today Albania and Germany, its Army and Bundeswehr" said Berisha by expressing the gratitude for the German government for the great help it offered in preparation of these troops.

Berisha expressed his belief that Albanian platoon will successfully fulfill the duties and show the best virtues and heritage of the Albanian Army.

He said that the mission of Albanian peacekeeping platoon is also "a symbol of friendship which joins Albania with Croatia, and both nations."

"You are being displaced in Croatia, in a friendly country and nation, " he told the soldiers.

Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali, Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, Interior Minister Halit Shamata, Minister of Finance Ritvan Bode and Albanian Chief of General Staff Sheme Kosova were present at the ceremony. Family members of the peacekeeping platoon were present as well.

Albania was among the first communist countries that signed the Partnership for Peace Program (PFP). Albanian Army until now has participated in more than 20 joint military exercises in the context of PFP.

President Berisha conducted a discussion with parents, soldiers and officers of the peace keeping platoon. Albanian peacekeeping unit, 33 soldiers and officers, which will be part of the German peacekeeping troops, in the framework of 60 thousand multi national force (IFOR) headed by NATO, will take part in "Joint effort" operation.

Albanian troops with German ones stationed in Zadar will carry out logistic support to the mission.

Albanian peacekeeping platoon will act mainly in Zadar and will have representatives in Troger, Croatia. Albania's peacekeeping task will be protection of various objects in Zadar region as the airport during the landings of humanitarian assistance as well as evacuation accomplished by the German units.

Albanian troops will be stationed in Zadar until December 20, when Dayton Accord ends. rf/pas/fh/gen/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] GOVERNMENT APPROVES DECISIONS IN FAVOUR OF ECONOMIC REFORM

Also the Council of Ministers approved a grant of 2.5

million ECU based on a financial memorandum for the Tempus program. The assistance of 33 million ECU, given to Albania, is another indicator of the EU continual support for developing the market reforms in Albania. It intends mid term restructuration, modernization of the economy and further deepening of the reciprocal relations.

Another decision approved today by the Government was the decision for ratifying the credit of development between Albania and the International Development Agency (IDA) for the project of the national roads. The project foresees rehabilitation of 90 kilometres of road esteemated at USD 66 million. The IDA financing is USD 25 million.

The government approved a change concerning the realization of the loan agreement between Albania and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the project of rural development in the North eastern areas of Albania. Some 150 projects have been foreseen for districts of Dibra, Has Kukes, Tropoja equivalent to USD 5.55 million in which IFAD is the main donator.

The Government also approved today a change in the agreement of the Swiss grant between Albania and IDA for the project of decreasing the rural poverty and a project for the rural development. The Swiss government has made available to the World Bank the second part a grant of USD 0.8 million. The figure of the Swiss grant is now USD 2.721 million.

The Albanian government approved in principle also the agreement between the Albanian government, the Italian government and the Mediterranean Institute of Agronomy for the implementation of the phytosanitar project in Albania estimated at 2.5 billion lire.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] MINISTER XHAJA RECEIVES WORLD BANK EXPERTS

During the talks held in this occasion, minister Xhaja presented the need for strengthening the World Bank finacial support. Appreciating the use and the administration of funds given by the Bank, for the needs of branches and sectors of this ministry, especially in the energitic field, Severino stressed on the deepening of the work that has began in relation to the reduction of losses in the grid and collecting levies for the consumed energy.

Severino assured minister Xhaja that this Bank will support the privatization process, the finding and selection of strategical investors, guaranteeing also the loans and credits that the private investors would be able to receive for big and long term investments.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] ALBANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER RECEIVES UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

Minister Peci informed the UN representative of the activity of the Justice Ministry in the field of compilation of the democratic legislation and the drafting of the democratic reform in the judicial system.

During their, the interlocutors discussed issues of coopeartion in the law field. The UN representative showed interest in the assistance that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) could give the Albanian Justice Ministry.

Minister Peci, thanking for the UN support proposed that the UNDP may provide the Ministry with assistence and equipments for the courts, the Magistrature School, the Penitentiary Academy, technical assistence in drafting the legislation, as well as studying visits and short term training courses for specialists of the execution office, civil status and statistics. Schuman expressed his readiness to concretize this assistance for the Ministry of Justice and the judicial system as a whole.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] MINISTER TOPI RECEIVES WORLD BANK DIRECTOR FOR E. EUROPE

The so far cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food as a basis for further relations, was the essence of the talks between the two parties.

Minister Topi appreciated the assistance that the World Bank has given and gives the Albanian agriculture, beginning with the reform on the drafting of the strategy in the agriculture, deepening it more with emergency projects such as that of the "critical imports". The project of rehabilitation of the irrigation system in 7 districts, a project on forests, agro processing and rural developments are under way. Minister Topi stressed the tendency for investments in the agro processing field such as food control in scientific basis.

Severino said that for him it is clear that the development of the agriculture in Albania is a key for the development of all the country's economy. "This is the reason for which we have invested a lot in this sector and intend to invest in the future." Further, mentioning specific sectors, the members of the World Bank delegation and experts from the MAF exchanged information on the situation and the problems that exist in these fields. From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article