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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 96-12-24Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] DIFFICULTIES IN CIRCULATION IN THE CUSTOMS HOUSE OF KAKAVIJAGJIROKASTRA, DEC 23 (ATA) - By Hysni Cani: The great number of long vehicles passing through the Kakavija customs house, border of Albania with Greece in Gjirokastra district, recently, after the roads of communication with Greece were unblocked, is causing difficulties for the traffic.According to the director of this customs house, Sali Hiri, "this difficult situation started after the Kakavija-Athens road was unblocked on December 16 and continued when the 25 day-strike of Greek farmers was over." Another factor for the difficulties in the traffic is the flux of Albanian emigrants returning home from Greece. According to border police officials, their number ranges from 2 500-3 000 a day. "As a result of this fact, the number of cars carrying emigrants has increased, thus the long vehicles handling takes more time," said Hidri. In the mean time, the road traffic inspectorate has adopted all the measures for the improvement of the situation. ake/kei/xh/e Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] PARLIAMENT ADOPTS MEASURES FOR FLOUR AND WHEATTIRANA, DEC 23 (ATA) - By R Floqi: Monday the Albanian Parliament adopted some amendments to the law "On customs tariffs," regarding the a seasonal tax, to the amount of 10 per cent, for the imported wheat and flour beginning from January 1, 1997.The representative of the commission of agriculture and food, Minister Bamir Topi, said that the tax not only helps protect the local production of wheat and flour but it also contributes to Albania's admission in the World Trade Organization. According to specialists, the tax will lead to an increase by 3-4 per cent of the cost of bread and consequently a bread price rise. Since the price for the local flour is lower and this flour is used more than the imported one, the customs tariff and the rise of the bread price would be inconsiderable. eva/xh/z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] GERMANY PROMISES AID IN EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ALBANIATIRANA, DEC 23 (ATA)-By A. Allushi, A delegation of Albanian Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry, headed by Minister Besnik Gjongecaj, visited Germany recently to familiarise German institutions with the situation and transformations in higher education and scientific research and ask support for these transformations.Gjongecaj said that one of the most important results of the visit was that the Albanian Ministry and the German Foundation on Science agreed to sign an agreement. The German Institute of Academic Exchanges expressed during a meeting the commitment to grant scholarships to Albanian University Students and those of the Prishtine University. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation showed readiness to set up and support a department at the Tirana University which will deal with the education of the new politicians. Albanian is also thought to be included, during 1997, in the Transform Programme, which has been prepared to back up the transformation of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Eastern European countries. a.ke/kei/lm/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] KOSOVA: STUDENTS SHAKE POLITICSPRISTINA, 24 (ATA)- The students of Pristina University distributed to the information means in Kosova a material of forty pages titled: "Independent Initiative of the Students of Pristina University", addressed to the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.Nine demands are forwarded in this initiative, which is signed by more than 550 students. The students request Dr. Rugova to insist on the return of the schools and university premises, constituency of Kosova Parliament supporting in this way the request of 31 deputies. Mr. Rugova is also requested to admit Adem Demaci a deputy to the Kosova parliament, and deputies publicly apologise for not constituting the parliament. Likewise, the students of Pristina University request to put an end to the censorship of Bujku paper, Kosova Information Centre and news from Kosova broadcasted on the satellite programme of the Albanian Radio- Telvision. Political prisoners are invited to wake up and shake their lethargy. Dr. Ibrahim Rugova is requested to stabilise relationships between the presidency and government, reactivate the Coordinating Council for Former Yugoslavia. Concluding, the students request to put an end to the policy of clans in Kosova. In the meantime, any reaction to the students demands is not reported. Dr. Fehmi Agani, Deputy Chairman of LDK, said to the VOA that Dr. Rugova was back in Pristina and of course he would take into consideration the demands and pronounce about them./KLED/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] PARLIAMENT EXAMINES PACKAGE OF LAWS AGAINST CRIMETIRANA, DEC 23 (ATA) - By A Baci, A Frasheri: After adopting in principle a package of laws for the fight against crime and corruption with 101 votes for, with no votes against or abstentions, the Albanian Parliament discussed it article by article.Much discussed by the deputies was the article 34 of the package, which defines the sentence term for those who grow narcotic plants. The draft law envisages a 10 year imprisonment term for these category of people, whereas some deputies asked that this sentence be reduced to 5 years. The deputies who were for the presented variant, protected it on the basis of the jeopardy that this crime presents for the people, this crime "risks the name of Albania in the world," they said. The Laws Commission had remarks for the first paragraph of Article 30, in which the category of arms "kept, bought, purchased, transported and imported without permission" was added with "the trophies, fighting and hunting arms, with mechanic or half automatic charger," a crime whose author is punished with 3 years in jail. The law creates once more the possibility for the citizens to hand over voluntarily the arms they keep illegally within a period of two months after the law will be published in the "Official Gazette." Besides the above amendments, another one was that made to Article 42, according to which police have at their disposal 48 hours from the moment when they detain the authors of penal acts until the moment when the Prosecutor's office is asked to issue the warrant for the detained. Right after the demand is made the author is arrested or released. After numerous debates, the Parliament adopted the law in general. The sanctions envisaged in the package of laws for crimes such as killing, sexual abuse, prostitution (exploitation and mediation,) kidnaping and taking hostage of people, are rather severe. The same sanctions are also issued for acts as smuggling by customs house employees, non- declaration of incomes, non-observation of provisions for employment and social insurances, failure to pay taxes and levies, to carry out the duties on the part of the taxes structures which lead to an increase of the fiscal evasion. kei/xh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] OVER 20 PRIVATE EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ACTIVE IN ALBANIATIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA)- By P. Shuteriqi, Over 20 private education institutions are active in Albania. The private schools have extended their activities to 11 districts of the country.The new eight year school near the village "SOS-Children of Albania" started its activity in Tirana this year, alongside other preschool institutions in Dajz of Shkodra, in Elbasan and Tirana. The current law on "The education pre-university System in the Republic of Albania" stipulates as private schools two categories of education institutions-those which conduct teaching in foreign language, or schools which also teach religion. The first steps of the private education in Albania were made immediately after the victory of democracy and Albania's opening to the world. eva/lm/e Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA)- Today's parliament approved a package of anti- corruption laws", the paper says under the title: "Corruption and crime under the fetters of law". The paper says that President Berisha called on the socialists yesterday to return to parliament, at a ceremony with the deputies on the occasion of the closing of the year 1996.The paper also carries an interview with writer Ismail Kadare under the title: "Kosova should gain all rights it deserves". The paper says that yesterday the "Parliamentary Commission on Usuries' Control" was as well approved. Under the headline "In the greeting addressed to the deputies emerging from the stolen vote of May 26", the newspaper "Zeri i Popullit" says that "Berisha asks for the socialists". Under the title "Anti-crime clamour" the paper reports on the approval of the anti-crime laws by parliament yesterday. The paper also carries the article: "Bank privatisation: delayed indispensability". Republika carries the speech of Republican leader Godo regarding the draft-law: "On several changes to the Penal Code for the Republic of Albania". Under the title "The criminal should feel the weight of the law". "The SP does not admit it has withdrawn", the paper says. Lajmi i Dites carries the article:"Democracy and crime - two irreconcilable elements". The paper also carries the chronicle of the government meeting yesterday. Rilindja reports on the meetings of Parliament's speaker Arbnori and Prime Minister Meksi with Adem Demaci, under the title:"Indispensability of institutional functioning". The paper also carries the article: "Albanian book -integral part of our national culture". "The state tightens its ranks: Now war against crime and corruption", says Dita Informacion. "In Albania, the laws are unclear and contradictory", is another article carried by the newspaper. Albania entitles its editorial: "Historic responsibilities for Kosova", is the title of the editorial of the newspaper Albania. Under the headline: "Changes demanded to clear up the situation in Kosova", the paper carries the article:"Prishtine : Students shake politics". "Kosova is a chess game", is the title of the editorial of the newspaper "Koha Jone". The paper carries an interview with the President of the VEFA company, Vehbi Alimucaj. "Berisha's opponents in the DP become apparent", the paper says. "Albanian crime in the grip of the law", the paper Gazeta Shqiptare says. "Killing, drug, kidnaping are severely punished", the paper says. "Gjallica stops, three days without returns", the paper says. It also carries an interview with Albanian deputy Prime Minister Shehu under the title: "New fetters for the Albanian crime". kled/lm/z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] LIFE DEMOCRATISATION IN SERBIA DIRECTLY LINKED WITH ALBANIANS' FATE IN NEW YUGOSLAVIA - Ismail KadareTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - "Democratisation of the life in Serbia is directly linked with the fate of the Albanians in new Yugoslavia," writer Ismail Kadare yesterday declared in an interview with the Albanian television.Kadare said he has always been for peaceful resistance of the Albanians in Kosova. With regard to the youths, politicians and other political figures who are leaving Kosova, Kadare said that Kosova is being abandoned for years now and and this fact is not mentioned at a time when the Serbs have declared day and night of an alleged abandonment of Kosova by the Serbs. "Thus, the international opinion has been misled by this Serb slander and the impression that the Serbs are abandoning Kosova due to the Albanians' terror has been created, while it is quite the contrary," Kadare says. The whole world has been expecting the Albanians to ask for their own rights, to ask what they want and it is strange the absolute silence kept in Kosova, precisely at a time when the Dayton talks continued, when Serbia, new Yugoslavia, was under the international surveillance. Milosevic himself has declared that there are no problems with the Albanians, Ismail Kadare says in his interview with the Albanian television. eva/kled/xh/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC SALI BERSHA ON THE CLOSING OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY NEW LEGISLATURETIRANA, DEC 23 (ATA)- I greet you today and express my profound gratitude and thank you for the precious contribution you have rendered over the last months to the consolidation of the rule of law and market economy in Albania. This contribution is of priority and irreplaceable for the reforms, rule of law and the country's integration into Europe.In a brief period you have approved laws of very great importance, have amplified historic agreements of Albania with Eur.-Atlantic institutions, very significant agreements of Albania with its neighbours, have powerfully intensified the country's organic ties with the neighbours, with Europe and Eur.-Atlantic Institutions. You closed the session today with a package of laws, whose approval expresses first of all one of the main directions of your work, the further perfection of the Albanian legislation approved by the previous Parliament. I have my profound conviction that in this package of anti-crime, anti- corruption laws you have fulfilled the will, the great spiritual and legal demand of the Albanians and the country as a whole, because if we do not fight these phenomena they will become increasingly worrying. The package of law you just approved will give them the deserved response. For this I would like to thank you. I consider this a very significant event, a very great achievement of the Abanian legispiritual and cultural inheritance, with all our ethic as a nation, as a people who want to look towards the future. PRESIDENT BERISHA INVITES OPPOSITION TO TAKE UP SEATS IN PARLIAMENTWe are gathered today to celebrate together the results of the good job you have done. But today, we lack the presence of several of the opposition deputies. I and all of you feel their absence; Therefore, I once again call on them to feel responsible towards the electorate, towards those who voted for them, to come and take up their seats in Parliament. They should not think that the number (of seats) is determinant. Not at all. I ensure them that this parliament, just as it worked recently with the package of laws to fight crime and corruption, will have the spirit, the will, the democratic culture to work for all the laws to follow. This will be in their interest, in the interest of the political force they represent, in the interest of their electorate, in the interest of the country, for which every citizen, every political force is responsible. Let them join the parliament, take up their seats and come with dignity. Their seats are vacant. We welcome their coming, as we are resolute to use all the political mandate to draft and approve more democratic laws, to realise European standards in Albania which are the most powerful catalyser of development, integration and building of the future. In conclusion, you, your electorate, all the Albanian parliamentarians and those who are not here, I congratulate once again from the heart for the very precious work you have done, and I wish: "Happy holidays! "A Merry Christmas! "A Happy New Year! Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS DIRECTORS AND EDITORS IN CHIEF OF PAPERSTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - Albanian President Sali Berisha held Tuesday morning a meeting with the directors and editors in chief of the main newspapers in Albania.They agreed in this meeting to facilitate press from taxes and levies, in order to exclude newspapers from the profitable levy, exclude pages of announcements from the levy, to reduce the tariff of ATA service, the imported paper used to print newspapers to have a 5 per cent customs tariff and to see the possibility of facilitating the telephonic tariff for newspapers. President Berisha expressed his concern because the cost and the high price of newspapers has been a barrier in distributing and buying press. The wider distribution of the press of any wing in the Albanian society is essential for further development of the freedom of expression and diversity of thoughts. The participants thanked the appreciation and continuous support of President Berisha for journalists and press. /a.ke/kei/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] NEW SOLDIERS OF TIRANA GARRISON SWEARSTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) By Atlant Frasheri: The new soldiers of all the arms of Tirana garrison swore Tuesday during a military ceremony.The commander of the division, Brigade-General, Gjergj Vladi, presented the arms to the General Commander of the Albanian Armed Forces, Sali Berisha. Chief of the Army General Staff, General Mayor, Sheme Kosova, after greeting the participants in the ceremony, gave the floor to the President of the Republic and the General Commander, Sali Berisha. Greeting the soldiers Berisha said that "there is nothing more noble, more honourable, more respectable for the citizen of a country than being a soldier. In this way, he serves to himself, to his family, to his future and to the dignity of the country as a whole." Talking about the goals of the Government for the army and its modernization, Berisha said that "the year 1997 will be the year in which the government will focus intensively on the improvement of your conditions, on the intensification of your military exercise, on the enlarging of the cooperation with the armies of ally and partner countries. /kei/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] PROTAGONISTS OF ARKOND COMPANY SCANDAL SENTENCEDTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) By Keida Kostreci: Tirana Court declared guilty and sentenced Tuesday the protagonists of the scandal with 2.6 million dollars misused through deceit and usury in the Arkond company.The president of the Bushi firm, Mehmet Bushi, was sentenced with 3 years in jail for the penal act of fraud in cooperation, Irfan Canaj with 2 years and 6 months, while Ferit Kastrati with 2 years and 8 months in jail with the same charge as Bushi. During the judicial sitting, Bushi, Canaj, Kastrati and their advocates asked innocence. The prosecutor's office had demanded 4 years in jail for Bushi, 3.6 years for Kastrati and 3 years for Canaj. According to the prosecutor's office, the defendants have deceived in cooperation with one another a great number of citizens of Tirana, Vlora and Fier, by accumulating millions of money and misusing them in forms of bribing and honoraria for enigmatic Nigerian people. The prosecutor's office accused the above mentioned defendants of the loss of 460 million leks. /mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] ACQUAINTANCE WITH SPANISH EXPERIENCE ON ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOOLTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) By P. Shuteriqi: A team of the Albanian Ministry of Sports and Education payed recently a visit to Spain in order to know the educational system at public and private levels, the competencies of the Education Ministry and the departments of education in self-governing regions.The financial support of this visit was afforded by a grant of UNESCO. Another aim of the official visit was the way teachers were trained. The team also focused on some specific problems with which the Albanian school is faced in the conditions of opening towards the world, like drugs, AIDS, alcohol and smoking, the problem of protecting the environment, etc. /pas/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT GREETS CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS ON CHRISTMAS DAYTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - Albanian President Sali Berisha sent a message of greetings to all the Albanian Christian believers."On the occasion of Christmas Holiday, I send through this message,, my cordially greetings to the Albanian believers, here and abroad to celebrate joyfully this day", said Berisha He joined this greeting with that of all the Albanian compatriots, "who would like to send their joy for this traditional holiday, with the wish for peace, welfare and prosperity for the nation." "Our nation, although being faced very often with difficult circumstances during his history, knew how to protect and enrich his cultural and religious inheritance. He celebrates today Christmas Holiday with pride, more secure and resolute on his road, on the road of God, more than ever before in his history", continues the message. Berisha expressed his security that by the help of God, the Albanians' efforts for progress will have new dimensions. /a.ke/kei/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ACCORDS ORDER "HONOR OF NATION" TO CARDINAL MIKEL KOLIQITIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - Albanian President Sali Berisha accorded to His Eminence, Cardinal Mikel Koliqi, the Order "Honor of the Nation", with the following motivation: "Albania's first Cardinal, the Prince of the Albanian Catholic Church, alive martyr of the Albanian nation and Christianity as a whole, who became with His sufferings and His half century sacrifice in the communist prisons embodiment of the resistance and the faith of the human in the divine and national values, honoring before God and mankind himself, his family, the clergy, the nation and Albania, our land". /a.ke/kei/mt/kAlbanian Telegraphic AgencyFrom the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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