Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-09-17

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] LAST CUSTOMS POINT FOR SMUGGLERS CLOSED

[02] ALBANIA-U.S. FUND TO EXPAND PROJECTS IN INDUSTRY

[03] That's how the transparency process should be done -Arapi

[04] "SUDE" - FIRM WITHOUT BANK ACCOUNT

[05] DESTROYER OF GRAMSH DISTRICT COUNCIL ARRESTED

[06] SOME 185 MILLION LEKS COLLECTED IN TIRANA IN AUGUST FROM VAT APPLICATION

[07] ITALY RETURNS 96 ALBANIANS

[08] Import-Export based on IS figures

[09] PRESS REVIEW

[10] DURRES CUSTOMS REALISES 153 PERCENT OF INCOME IN ONE DAY

[11] ELEVEN PEOPLE WOUNDED BY A GRENADE IN TROPOJE

[12] ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

[13] WE MAY DISCUSS IN A ROUND TABLE ALSO THE ASSEMBLY FOR CONSTITUTION - DP Organizational Secretary

[14] EBRD WILL START FUNDING EXISTING PROJECTS FOR ALBANIAN ENERGY SECTOR AND TOURISM

[15] ALBANIA, ITALY TO SIGN PROTOCOL OF UNDERSTANDING

[16] HEAD OF GOSTIVAR COMMUNE SENTENCED TO OVER 13 YEARS IN PRISON

[17] OTHER FACILITIES FOR ENTRY VISAS TO ITALY FOR ALBANIAN TEACHERS

[18] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES BY CONSENSUS ARBNORI AMENDMENT

[19] POLICE BLOCK AN ALBANIAN SHIP SUSPECTED FOR PROSTITUTION

[20] GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INTERVENE TO REFRAIN PRICE RISE AFFECTED BY INCREASE OF VALUE-ADDED TAX - Malaj

[21] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECREES THE RELEASE AND APPOINTMENT OF SOME AMBASSADORS OF ALBANIA

[22] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECREES THE RELEASE AND APPOINTMENT OF SOME AMBASSADORS OF ALBANIA

[01] LAST CUSTOMS POINT FOR SMUGGLERS CLOSED

The Customs' vice-director general, Fotaq Cali, told ATA yesterday that until last Tuesday the customs' officials had realised some 80 per cent of the plan for September. While several days ago the customs' income were realised by some 153 per cent and only in the last two days the percentage of daily income reached 169.

With this rate and the operation of the Sarande port customs the monthly plan is expected to be realised by over 140 over cent, as opposed to some 96 per cent it closed in August. jz/lm/Z

[02] ALBANIA-U.S. FUND TO EXPAND PROJECTS IN INDUSTRY

This was confirmed at yesterday's meeting of Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano with the directors' board of the Albanian-U.S. Fund of enterprises, headed by President Domenique Scalione.

The board considered very promising the programme of the government, the privatisation goals and fiscal measures approved by parliament yesterday.

Nano expressed the political will of the coalition Government to further encourage business and contemporary business practices.

Nano regretted "the opposition's worst left-communist tendencies" expressed in parliament yesterday even in the case of discussing the measures, which have also been taken by consent of IMF, World Bank and other organisations. jz/lm

[03] That's how the transparency process should be done -Arapi

Angry creditors demonastrate in front of VEFA company. The govenment is late with the process of transparency. The chairman of the state supervising committee, Farudin Arapi, on the transparency process, gives these evaluations on this process.

ATA: How do you consider the situation and which are the means to pull out of it, after the first public protests ?

F.A.: The situation is evolving rapidly with a tenacity on the part of creditors to get back the money. Certain forces are taking advantage on this problem, for example, after the refusal of state-appointed administrators examine their financial records, the president of VEFA company, Vehbi Alimucaj, is conducting a series of irregular actions, delaying the transparency process.

The only way out is the state appointed administrators to start their work sooner the better, in this topic we are late. The administrators should be return soon to implement the law and take in their hands the financial activity of these companies, in order for the citizens to feel that the state has appointed persons, who will deal with their capital liquidation.

ATA: How much time the checks on transparence process will take ?

F.A. Starting tomorrow and the coming week. The administrators will re-start their checks on companies financial activity. The delay has come mainly as a result of VEFA's company, which has filed a lawsuit and pushes the creditors against the state to buy time. A cluster of foreign companies will assist in the process of transparency and these companies will be picked up through a tender, within September under the supervision of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The idea is that the process will be wrapped up not later than the end of the year.

ATA: What would be the future of companies after the control ?

F.A. Important is to find out the real amount of the deposited capitals in these companies. So can be verified their deposits in the National Commercial Bank and abroad. On this we hope to have the collaboration of foreign governments.

There are ways to pay off the money. So whenever is production activity, it can be promoted. My personal opinion is that the creditors should receive the possible maximum amount of money.

All this process will be conducted after the start of the examination of their financial records.

This doesn't mean that companies' activities will be shut down. Even the law doesn't say so. Our aim is that where the business activity is profitable, it should continue in order for creditors to receive as much money as they can and "Silva" and "VEFA" companies have good chances in these directions. If any of these have real financial capabilities, has production activity and pay off the creditors we will totally support it. On the contrary they will be treated like bankrupted companies, and send to court and then sell by auction.

Anyway, the rapid conclusion of the companies check out is the first concrete result in the way to sold out the problem

[04] "SUDE" - FIRM WITHOUT BANK ACCOUNT

Experts of the prosecutor's office said there are no documents to prove the economic activity of the firm, no cash orders, no cash books and that the acts have been carried out through coupons, which are not recognised by the sate.

According to the experts, the "Sude" firm is a pyramid scheme as it has no bank account.

The activity of the "Sude" firm , among the first loan-taking fims) contuinued until November 23,1996.

Later, the firm's windows closed under the pretext of inventory.

On January 16 the chief manager of "Sude" was arrested and leagl proceeding started against her, on charges of embezzlement through fraud. jz/lm/Z

[05] DESTROYER OF GRAMSH DISTRICT COUNCIL ARRESTED

Klement Sula, 17, was detained by police on Monday \ afternoon, while he was carrying a grenade on the streets of the town, the chief of the distrcit commissariat, Luan Mema, told ATA.

Sula confessed he had been an accomplice in looting and ruining the district council.

Five persons, accused of murder, theft and other crimes have been arrested since one month ago, with the creation of the district police commissariat. s.sh/jz/lm /Z

[06] SOME 185 MILLION LEKS COLLECTED IN TIRANA IN AUGUST FROM VAT APPLICATION

The responsible for the office for TVA application, Kristaq Ndini, said that the income realised during August this year are 30 per cent higher than in the same period last year.

Over 70 per cent of the income on a republic scale were realised in Tirana only during August, Ndini said.

Yesterday, Parliament approved by a majority of votes a raise of the VAT from 12.5 to 20 percent. The new VAT will begin application in October. jz/lm/Z

[07] ITALY RETURNS 96 ALBANIANS

During the first half of September, the number of Albanians returned from Italy was over 1,600.

There was no ferry coming from Italy on Monday therefore no refugee was sent back to the port of Durres. s.sh/jz/ak/Z/

[08] Import-Export based on IS figures

The import's sector figure has reached 34323,7 million leks for a seven month period. Aid in commodities from abroad for the same period, for Albanian is figured out to be 1212,5 million leks.

Mechanic and electric equipment come first in the import sector for July period with 1814743 million leks or 25,7 percent of the total imports, followed by textile products with 897532 million leks or 12,4 percent of the total. According to IS these data are base on customs' declarations. In March-August period custom house services where in-existence, while the export-import activity was uninterrupted. That's why the figures published by IS for the seven moth period are far from the real ones.

[09] PRESS REVIEW

"The package of hope, the sole way", Zeri i Popullit says in the first page. It says that 20 million dollars have been planned to increase assistance benefits.

"Special programme for the poverty stricken people" the paper says.

"VAT 20% - anti-crisis tax like in the whole Europe". Other titles on this topic are: "Tariffs of excises do not change". "The absurd minimum price will be lifted-elements of fiscal policy will be reexamined", "Inflation our challenge", "Berisha owes money to Albanians".

The paper reports on the quarrel among deputies in yesterday's parliamentary session.

Rilindja Demokratike says that "The power of contraband approves Albanians' extreme poverty". The paper carries the articles: "From October 1, Albanians will pay the enrichment of power-holders", "The opposition against raise of taxes".

"Democrats regard economic development from the point of view of individual's enrichment, while the socialists from State's enrichment through high taxes on the population," the paper says.

As regards yesterday's parliamentary sitting, Republika says:"Berisha conductor of fists".

"Parliament - deputies resume quarrel. DP pulled out the microphone, Hajdari beats the deputy Mazreku. Law on VAT passed with lights off," the newspaper Koha Jone reports in the first page. The paper devotes its today's editorial to the law on VAT increase under the title "Transition starts now." "Democrats return to parliament with an idea of opposing" the paper says in the third page quoting the head of the DP parliamentary group saying "We have our alternative."

"Parliament passed a rise of Albanians' troubles" the newspaper Albania says referring to yesterday's decision of parliament. "Hasty approval of bills from the majority was another action which did not observe the opposition's view", the paper says. Regarding yesterday's parliamentary session, the paper says "Hajdari beats the third communist."

Rilindja covers this topic under the title "Parliament passed law on VAT," under the headline "DP deputies interrupt Finance minister."

"Hajdari, wrestling champion," the newspaper Dita reports in the first page under the title "Nano and Berisha enjoy the spectacle." "VAT should be decreased and spending cut," the paper quotes head of the DP parliamentary group Genc Pollo.

"VAT, 'Nano's poker'", is the title of today's editorial of the newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare. The paper carries other article in the second page related to the above topic "VAT passes exam, but deputies quarrel in parliament" and "Malaj reveals cigarette's smuggling." In the second page the paper quotes the dealers as saying "We cannot cope with this VAT."

Other topics covered by today's press are the meetings of President of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova with the Albanian senior state and government officials, and the transparency of pyramid investment schemes and protests of persons which have deposited their money to these firms.

"There are no political borders and divisions in minds and hearts of Albanians," Zeri i Popullit says referring to the meeting of Meidani and Rugova. The paper devotes a page to celebrations on the 55th anniversary of the Conference of Peza.

"Need to extend contacts is understandable" Rilindja says in the first page. The paper carries three articles covering the meetings of Rugova in Tirana.

"Parliament surrounded by VEFA creditors," Rilindja Demokratike reports quoting protesters as saying "Nano, returned the money you promised."

"Those who lost their money arrived in parliament," and "VEFA creditors to be sued," Republika says.

"Ruling party, money-lending sword hangs over the head" is the title of the article carried by Koha Jone under the headline "Majority proposed dialogue on lost money." In the eighth page the paper carries the article quoting VEFA's president as saying to protesters that there are persons who are not creditors to VEFA but take to the street to cause turmoil.

"VEFA's money for Gjallica," Albania says accusing the government of using the money of VEFA's creditors to quench the protests of Gjallica' creditors.

Dita and Gazeta Shqiptare quote Alimuca as saying "Protesters have not deposited any money in Vefa," and "Not all of them are creditors." pas/lm/ak/k

[10] DURRES CUSTOMS REALISES 153 PERCENT OF INCOME IN ONE DAY

Over the last two months this customs provided the state budget with nearly 955 million leks, a figure 10 times higher than in the first months of this year.

The result is linked with the coordination of work between the customs and border police. jz/lm/k

[11] ELEVEN PEOPLE WOUNDED BY A GRENADE IN TROPOJE

The explosion happened on Tuesday midday when Shkelzen Luma, 25, who was drunk, entered the bingo hall and threw an assault grenade.

Order chief of the local Police Commissariat Agim Lugu said that the event has not a definite motive.

Luma, wounded, left the place immediately. jz/ak/Z

[12] ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO ALBANIA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Italian Ambassador in Tirane Marcelo Spatafora, present in the meeting said that "My presence here confirms the importance that the Italian Government is attaching to Albania's economic recovery now when it has entered a new stage."

"Albania's development brings about its stability. This is our vision," said Spatafora, calling them "two important elements also for the development and stability of Italy."

The chairman of the advisory council of Italian entrepreneurs operating in Albania, Luiggi Fabri asked the aid of the Albanian state for order and tranquillity and for security of their investments.

President Meidani underlined the need of activation of the Albanian stock exchange, of the shares market, of obligations, the financial market in general to give a new impulse to the development of the country. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

[13] WE MAY DISCUSS IN A ROUND TABLE ALSO THE ASSEMBLY FOR CONSTITUTION - DP Organizational Secretary

DP favours a Constitutional Assembly, but the round rtable cannot discuss the modalities, said Vejsiu adding that the Democratic Party may not insist for the Constitutional Assembly if this is needed as a procedure for the approval of the constitution.

The compromise for the solution of the questions opens another period in the position-oppossition relations.

"I hail every act of DP which has to do with consensus," Pandeli Majko, SP secretary General told reporters. /s.sh/kled/xh/sh/

[14] EBRD WILL START FUNDING EXISTING PROJECTS FOR ALBANIAN ENERGY SECTOR AND TOURISM

Mr De Champ assured the Albanian PM that his Bank is influencing in the donors to increase their finances for Albania in the Brussels Conference.

PM Nano said that the government is progressing in the restoration of the public order and the macroeconomics and that the Albanian Government will have ready for the donors' meeting in Brussels all the projects which need funding./kled/xh/sh/

[15] ALBANIA, ITALY TO SIGN PROTOCOL OF UNDERSTANDING

An Albanian senior delegation headed by Neritan Ceka, the Interior Minister, left for Italy on Wednesday.

The protocol will be signed by Ceka and his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano./jz/ak/sh/

[16] HEAD OF GOSTIVAR COMMUNE SENTENCED TO OVER 13 YEARS IN PRISON

"This is a scandalous and frame-up action and revealed that there is no space for the Albanian views in Macedonia. This action shows that the power in Macedonia functions on the basis of the Macedonian ideas, which defines it as the state of Macedonians even in constitution," leader of the Democratic party of Albanians in Macedonia Arben Xhaferri said to ATA.

Rufi Osmani, head of the commune of Gostivar, was held into custody from July 9 and his sentence was lengthened for other 60 days on August 8.

Osmani was accused of three penal offences i.e. inciting national, racial and religious hatred for organising resistance and violation of courts' ruling.

The court said that he has committed these penal offences before and after the events of July 9 in Gostivar after the Albanian flag was taken down forcibly by the special police from the building of the Gostivar commune.

He was put under custody after the revolts, which claimed the life of three people among Albanian demonstrators in July. Turmoil broke out when the police intervened to remove the Albanian flags from the communes.

Albanians, particularly in Gostivar, have hoisted the flags in communes after they won the elections in November 1996.

A law passed by the Macedonian parliament allows the national minorities to use their flags only in official holidays and sports and culture events.

Osmani has rejected the indictment.

Another official from Gostivar Refik Dauti was sentenced to three years in prison for "violating" the law.

The Western part of Macedonia is a bordering region to Albania with Albanians making up the majority. Albanians have won in a large number of communes during the last municipal elections, including Tetova and Gostivar. /pas/ak/sh/

[17] OTHER FACILITIES FOR ENTRY VISAS TO ITALY FOR ALBANIAN TEACHERS

They discussed more facilities in the granting of visas for Italy to Albanian teachers, for pupils and students who have to go there for studies or specialization.

Ruka and Spatafora spoke of the bilateral cooperation and highlighted Italy's donation worth 3 billion liras in the field of education. They also talked of establishing sister relations between schools and universities in Albania and Italy. kled/xh/sh

[18] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES BY CONSENSUS ARBNORI AMENDMENT

The chairman of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Pandeli Majko, after opposition by some left wing deputies to the agreement, threatened he would resign from the post of the chairman of his parliamentary group if socialists did not vote the DP-SP compromise.

On September 8, 1997, the chairmen of the SP and DP parliamentary groups, Majko and Pollo, signed an agreement on the Arbnori agreement for the division of the airing in the Albanian Radio and Television between the ruling parties and those of the opposition.

President Rexhep Meidani asked the Parliament through a law he proposed, legal airing both for the ruling and the opposition parties. ssh/kled/xh/sh/

[19] POLICE BLOCK AN ALBANIAN SHIP SUSPECTED FOR PROSTITUTION

This act is related with the fact that two residents of Durres attempted last night to pass illegally to Italy a Kruja resident woman, Police Department sources report. kled/xh/sh/

[20] GOVERNMENT WILL NOT INTERVENE TO REFRAIN PRICE RISE AFFECTED BY INCREASE OF VALUE-ADDED TAX - Malaj

The main aim of the new fiscal package are its effects in the control on inflation, said Malaj, adding that with the beginning of the application of the new fiscal package on October 1, the state budget is envisaged to ensure supplementary incomes worth 1.2. billion lek until December 31, 1997. For the next year, the effect of the package in the increase of the budgetary incomes is forecast to be about 9 billion lek.

In order to ease the effect of the price rising for the poor strata of the population, the minister declared that the Government has programmed a part of the supplementary incomes to increase the funds of the social assistance and unemployment. The rest is planned to be used to lower the foreign debt, for the consolidation of public order and for public investments.

In reply to questions of reporters regarding the measures to be taken to facilitate the consequences of the value-added tax increase, Malaj explained that they have prepared the project for social assistance to support the unemployed.

According to Malaj, the price rise will be a result of two various factors, the rising of the value-added tax and the restoration of measures to ensure control in the customs houses. kled/xh/sh/

[21] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECREES THE RELEASE AND APPOINTMENT OF SOME AMBASSADORS OF ALBANIA

The causes for the changing of the ambassadors are related with the resignation of some ambassadors, nonconformity between the activity of some ambassadors with the status of the diplomat and with the termination of their mandate in the diplomatic representation. Most of them have more than 4 or 5 years in the post of the ambassador./ssh/kled/xh/sh/

[22] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT DECREES THE RELEASE AND APPOINTMENT OF SOME AMBASSADORS OF ALBANIA

Follow the names of the newly-appointed ambassadors:

1. Ambassador of Albania in the U.S.          Petrit Bushati
2. Ambassador of Albania in the U.N.          Agim Nesho
3. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of France
                                              Luan S Rama
4. Ambassador of Albania in the FR of Germany Bashkim Zeneli
5. Ambassador of Albania in the United Kingdom Agim Fagu
6. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Greece
                                              Kastriot Robo
7. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Austria
                                              Alfred Sejdiaj
8. Ambassador of Albania in the Swiss Confederation
                                              Vladimir Thanati
9. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Turkey
                                              Saimir Bala
10. Ambassador of Albania in the People's Republic of China
                                              Hajdar Muneka
11. Ambassador of Albania in the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia                                     Fatmir Kumbaro
12. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Poland
                                              Osman Kraja
13. Ambassador of Albania in OSCE             Roland Bimo
14. Ambassador of Albania in UNESCO - Paris   Jusuf Vrioni
15. Ambassador of Albania in the Strasbourg Mission
                                              Fotaq Andrea
16. Ambassador of Albania in Romania          Marko Bello
17. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Bulgaria
                                              Avni Xhelili
18. Ambassador of Albania in the Arab Republic of Egypt
                                              Haki Shtabli
19. Ambassador of Albania in the Vatican      Jul Loro Bushati
20. Ambassador of Albania in the Republic of Argentine
                                              Edmond Trako

21. Mr Bashkim Trenova, ambassador in the Kingdom of Belgium is
    released from this post.
22. Mr Artur Kuko, ambassador of Albania in the EU is released
    from this post and appointed ambassador in the NATO Mission
    of the Republic of Albania in Brussels.
23. Mr Idriz Basha is named ambassador in the EU and ambassador
   in the Kingdom of Belgium.

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