Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-01-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] COMMEMORATION OF 15TH MURDER ANNIVERSARY OF THREE KOSOVA HEROES

[02] PREPARATIONS FOR FIRST INTERNATIONAL FAIR ON SEEDS AND SAPLINGS

[03] POLICE FORCES OF TIRANA AND FIER CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS

[04] MEETING IN GERMANY ON WAYS OF SOLVING KOSOVA ISSUE

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] PRESIDENT RUGOVA HOLDS TALKS WITH U.S DIPLOMATS ON SITUATION IN KOSOVA

[07] EXPANDED MEETING OF DP NATIONAL COUNCIL HELD

[08] INTERIOR MINISTRY WARNS AGAINST ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL CALLS

[09] BERISHA SPEAKS OF "REAL DECENTRALISATION" OF POWER IN ALBANIA

[10] DP WILL CONTINUE POLICY OF LOW TAXES - Berisha

[11] WE HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED USURIES A FINANCIAL MECHANISM OF DEVELOPMENT - Berisha

[01] COMMEMORATION OF 15TH MURDER ANNIVERSARY OF THREE KOSOVA HEROES

Attending were also guests from Kosova, members of Gervalla family, representatives of Kosova Office in Tirana, artists, writers, and others.

The referrers pointed out the big measures of these figures - martyrs of freedom, heroes of Kosova and the entire Albanian people.

Jusuf Gervalla has been not only a great warrior for the issue of Kosova independence, but also an outstanding figure. He was killed perfidiously by the UDB agents on January 17, 1982, near Stutgard in Germany.

His brother, Bardhosh, a tireless activist for the Kosova independence, was a polyglot - expert of 6 foreign languages.

Kadri Zeka took active part in the illegal movement of Kosova for freedom and independence and was also distinguished journalist, publishing "Liria" newspaper.

These inexorable warriors were killed on the same day with Jusuf by UDB. /jz/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] PREPARATIONS FOR FIRST INTERNATIONAL FAIR ON SEEDS AND SAPLINGS

This is the first activity of this kind to be held in Albania.

Companies from Greece, Italy, Poland, USA, Kosova, Macedonia, etc have informed so far for their participation in the fair.

The International Association of Seeds and Saplings was established 6 months ago. It has some 70 members (mainly businessmen and specialized experts in the field of agricultural marketing). /jz/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] POLICE FORCES OF TIRANA AND FIER CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS

After the murder of Biba on January 14, 1997, according to the Interior Ministry spokesman, they were declared wanted persons.

The Police Commissariat of Fieri district, due to a series of successful operations, managed to hit severely drugs trafficking.

The forces of this commissariat have arrested Ardian Brahimi and Altin Binjaku, who in collaboration, have transported 54 kg Cannabis Sattiva in their vehicle towards the Durresi Port.

Arrested are also Sotir Kola, Vilson Kola and Agim Kola, because they in collaboration with one another and with other persons as well have pressed the quantity of this narcotic plant, and its dealing.

During the house research exercised in their houses, police found and blocked a machine used for pressing and packing of narcotic plants, as well as a quantity of 7 kg Cannabis Sattiva.

This Commissariat arrested recently Lavdie Moco, accused of organizing and creating conditions to exercise prostitution for profit aims in collaboration with other persons (also arrested several days ago). /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] MEETING IN GERMANY ON WAYS OF SOLVING KOSOVA ISSUE

This dialogue started last autumn in Rhodes of Greece, where was discussed on different options of solving the Kosova issue according to the Arab-Palestinian model, until the peaceful and by agreement separation of Kosova.

The discussions in Munich will be held in three groups. The first group will discuss on the model based on the existing situation, without any definitive accord by both sides. It has to do with the cooperation of Serbs and Albanians in all fields of life - in school system, health care, in public infrastructure, in the executive bodies etc.

The second model resolves the wide autonomy, which is larger than that defined in the constitution of year 1974, but holds the integrity of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In a word, for a model considered by Kosova as a federal unit.

The third model resolves the problem of the independent Kosova and protection of the Serbian minority. /p.ta/kei/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

"Eight months ago, exactly before May 26 elections, the Service of State Control raised an indictment against "Xhaferri", reports Zeri i Popullit, under the title "Xhaferri illegal?..." The paper also carries the article: "Tirana, policemen and the lost money". "Tirana cried yesterday for the second successive day on the lost money", reports the paper among others. According to the today's meeting of the National Council of Democratic Party, the paper writes: "DP buys new government worth of $1.5 billion".

"Usuries by the end", is the title of Republika's editorial. "Surprises on loan-taking companies are so expective, that prognosis on them are very difficult", the paper writes. "Will Hajdari demand the dimissions of Meksi, during the today's DP National Council?", the paper writes.

"After the 'earthquake'of usuries, quiet situation in Tirana", Lajmi i Dites reports. The paper reports on the meeting of Prime Minister Meksi with his Kosova counterpart, Bukoshi under the title "The Kosova issue - the most delicate moment for the Balkans".

Rilindja highlights the News Conference of Kosova President under the title "Old Serb definitions on causing fear and insecurity". Albanian diplomats visited the rectorat of Pristina, writes the paper.

"The government should resign", writes Koha Jone. "DP, main sponsor of usuries", writes the paper and stresses that loan-taking phenomenon is supported by DP.

Albania writes "DP: Today, the usuries' autopsy", regarding the National Council of DP, to be held today. The paper carries the news on the imprisonment, decided yesterday for scheme manager Sude, which has frauded about ten thousands citizens.

Dita Informacion carries an interview of economics analyst, Zef Preci, under the title: "One million Albanians, (have deposited) money in loan- taking". The paper also informs on the imprisonment of Sude and reports on the opposition calls for a peacefull protest on the loan-taking problem, "even without permission".

Under the title "This way the fraudolent pyramid of Sude, was born", Gazeta Shqiptare carries an interview with Maksude Kademi, Sude, according to her "four-year-adventure"./kled/kei/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] PRESIDENT RUGOVA HOLDS TALKS WITH U.S DIPLOMATS ON SITUATION IN KOSOVA

During the meeting they discussed about the situation in Kosova and the latest developments in the region.

The U.S. diplomats familiarized President Rugova with the work and activity of the U.S Office in Pristina and stressed the powerful support of USA for the peaceful resistance of the Kosova people, under the leadership of President Rugova.

Rugova expressed his gratitude for the continuous and systematic support of USA on Kosova and appreciated the friendly ties between USA and Kosova. /p.ta/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] EXPANDED MEETING OF DP NATIONAL COUNCIL HELD

Attending were President Berisha, senior officials of the Democratic Party and state, guests from several political parties, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Albania, representatives of the DP Youth Forum, the Women Democratic League and others.

In his address President Sali Berisha focussed on the issue of power decentralisation in Albania, privatisation of medium and big enterprises, drug and prostitution.

Berisha especially dwelt on the problem of usuries and promised a state aid for the citizens to alleviate the damages they are suffering due to the collapse of these companies.

DP chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Tritan Shehu, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi and others spoke at the meeting as well.lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] INTERIOR MINISTRY WARNS AGAINST ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL CALLS

The authors of these anti-constitutional articles and calls such as: "Opposition to fight for the 'Skenderbej' square", "A test of might with police" as well as those of the type:"To make the police use violence to destroy the image of Albania in the West", will bear responsibility conform the law," the announcement says.

The spokesman also clarifies that no political force, leader or editor has the legal right to launch such anti-constitutional calls and prejudge and provoke the public order forces.

The police are determined to guarantee law and order of the citizens and all their rights conform the laws in force, not at all being affected by the calls of these extreme elements, the announcement says. jz/lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] BERISHA SPEAKS OF "REAL DECENTRALISATION" OF POWER IN ALBANIA

Albanian President Sali Berisha addressed the expanded meeting of the Democratic Party National Council today and said that 1997 should be for the Albanians a year of "real decentralisation of power".

Berisha considered the decentralisation of power one of the most important conditions for the consolidation of the rule of law and market economy in Albania.

Berisha said that four new laws have been prepared for the decentralisation of income and expenditure and municipal police.

"In the October 20 elections held all over Albania the individuals elected as commune chairmen and councillors, mayors and district chairmen were distinguished, capable and devoted people.

We should provide them, in accordance with the trust bestowed on them by the people, all the powers on income and expenditure for projects and on the law implementation," Berisha said. lm/z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] DP WILL CONTINUE POLICY OF LOW TAXES - Berisha

Albanian President said at the meeting of the DP National Council in Tirana today that the DP will continue the policy of low taxes also in the future.

"The Democratic Party, quite different from all the other political forces, has been declared as a party of low taxes and I hold that the success of its programme is result of this principle," Berisha said.

He said that the consolidation of the macro-economic stability through a reduction of the budgetary deficit and a full control of inflation make up a constant major objective of the reform in Albania. He also said that the DP has pledged in its programme to enter the year 200 with a budgetary deficit equal to the average deficit of the developed countries.

"The success of hundreds upon thousands of Albanian businessmen, the sure progressive uplift of the living standard, the country's rapid economic growth and the influx of foreign investment in Albania are linked to the realisation of this objective, more than to anything else," Berisha said.

Motivating the indispensability of low taxes Berisha said:" To impose high taxes as a social component or in the name of this component, is a great social hypocrisy. It means to make the citizens poor."

He stressed that in Albania, the Value Added Tax is and will be the lowest in Europe and added that he would encourage the Government and parliament to reduce the income-tax to 20 per cent from the current 30 per cent.

"In Albania we will impose only one high tax and this only for the uncultivated ground because we do not have property to leave uncultivated. The ground that is not cultivated for more than three years in succession, should, under our conditions, be re-privatised as a fund of the commune and this is conform the principles on which we implemented the land reform," Berisha said.

President Berisha also pointed to the fiscal evasion noticed over the last year. "Unfortunately, especially during 1996, we were faced with a tax non payment, an unacceptable fiscal evasion against which we are determined to apply all the prerogatives provided by our laws," he said, adding that this had been due to serious shortcomings and in some cases also due to corruption among groups or segments of the responsible institutions.

"During the last year this brought about an increase of the budgetary deficit. We have not and will not increase expenditure," Berisha said, asking a permanent tight control on all the administrative expenses.

He called on the Albanian citizens, businessmen and responsible institutions to carry out a complete change in the correct collection of taxes in order to avoid fiscal evasion and strictly implement the laws sanctioning duty obligations. lm/Z/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] WE HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED USURIES A FINANCIAL MECHANISM OF DEVELOPMENT - Berisha

"I would like to stress that we have never considered usuries a financial mechanism of development. Despite the very grave conditions we have been in, we in no occasion have allowed ourselves to address to the citizens to borrow money from them or emit obligations to borrow their money, a practice advantageously applied by many countries ," Berisha said.

Berisha referred to the recent collapse of the loan-taking companies in Albania.

"We, respecting the inalienable right of the citizens to borrow and lend money and administer their honestly gained money and profits according to their free will, we are determined to attack any pyramid scheme, any fraudulence against them, we are resolute to determine all the necessary rules and laws to prevent them.

To this end the transparence commission has been set up which in the future should cover the whole country in order to control all the activities of this kind and inform the citizens and the respective institutions of these activities."

Berisha stressed that the Albanian government has considered usuries a completely private activity and has in no circumstances stimulated it.

"On the contrary, it, either through public calls, or through bank interest rates higher than in all the other countries, has invited and invites the citizens to deposit their money in the savings banks, which guarantee every cent," Berisha said.

He added that considering usuries a basic civic right of the citizens, none of the state institutions in Albania has in any case been involved in this activity, as it has been the case with some other former-communist states.

Referring to politicisation of this issue by the left forces, Berisha said:

"We have in no case politicised the loan, even when the others have used it for political aims against us, for destabilising aims against the country, or when they have blindly counted the honest Albanian creditors as their idols. Others have been those who have encouraged and issued astronomical interest rates of the loan-taking companies."

Berisha said that the left extremists became sad because of the government's decision to freeze the funds of several loan-taking companies to the good of the citizens, because they wished massive misfortune for hundreds upon thousands of Albanian families and intended Albania's destabilisation.

"Their morale remains red", Berisha said.

Referring to the families affected by the speculations of several loan- taking companies, Berisha stressed: "If we have considered and consider usuries and debt a completely private activity, we do not consider as such the pain created by the loss in the fraudulent schemes. I have encouraged and will encourage the Government to study and take all possible measures to lessen this pain."

Berisha considered the decision adopted by the Government to freeze all the deposits of the loan-taking foundations in favour of the citizens and to block the transactions and transferences of the other firms, as a preventive and rescue decision in favour of hundreds upon thousands of Albanian families.

He added that the government should examine, with a special commission, the damage proportions in every social group and family and define the possible ways to lessen the problems created.

Berisha said that the affected families should be helped through employment in the public or private sectors and be provided with facilitating conditions for private activity, also including the crediting of their private activity by the state bank and local authorities.

"It is indispensable to assist the local initiatives to open Albanian private banks or create investment foundations," Berisha stressed. lm/Z/

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