Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-10-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] WORKERS OF SHIP-YARD "DURRES-GDANSK" ON STRIKE

[02] PRESS REVIEW

[03] Savings Bank boosts interest rates

[04] VIOLENCE IN FAMILY, MAIN CAUSE OF DIVORCES IN ALBANIA

[05] CEKA ASKS REPRESENTATIVE OF YUGOSLAVIA TO OPEN BORDER POINT

[06] TOWN-HALLS DEMAND MORE INDEPENDENCE FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

[07] TWO AGREEMENTS WITH ITALY GUARANTEE INVESTMENTS FOR LAC DISTRICT

[08] MAYORS OFFER COOPERATION, OPPOSITION TO LEFT COALITION GOVERNMENT

[09] PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF STUDENTS OF KOSOVA TO CONTINUE AFTER OCTOBER 15, 1997

[10] SPIRIT OF LOVE BY MOTHER TERESA IS ALSO PRESENT IN OUR OBJECTIVES - Nano

[11] GERMAN GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING ALBANIA

[12] WORKING GROUP ON TRANSPARENCY CONVENES

[13] POLICE DETAIN A GANG OF THIEVES IN SARANDE

[14] WE HAVE NOT READ THE MEMORANDUM OF IMF - DP

[15] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS A MISSION OF MOTHER TERESA

[16] Lek retains its stability

[17] GOVERNMENT TO INVEST 28 MILLION LEKS FOR MEMALIAJ MINE

[18] Albanians pay high interests' rate for credits -DP

[19] Broader welfare for crisis victims

[20] ORPHANAGE INAUGURATED IN ELBASAN

[21] MEETING WITH EMPLOYERS OF VLORE

[22] PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON KAKAVIJE-TIRANE BUS LINE LOOTED

[01] WORKERS OF SHIP-YARD "DURRES-GDANSK" ON STRIKE

The workers have demanded the increase of salary, which according to them is discriminating, compared with that of the Polish workers, who receive 10 times more.

Through this strike, the workers also protest against the request of the Polish party, which according to them, pretends to take 60 per cent of the packet of shares, at a time when on basis of the agreement signed since the establishment of the joint-venture, the ratio is 49 to 51 per cent in favour of the Polish party.

"The change of this rate to the favour of the Polish party risks the reduction of many of us," the workers say.

The polish party connects its request with the fact that a year and a half ago it offered a credit worth 1,5 million dollars, which is not turned back yet.

According to the leaders of the trade union, the shipyard has not had too much work during this period, which has caused financial difficulties, also considering the problems created in March-June of this year, when work was interrupted due to the unrest.

"If these two problems are not solved, we will further our move," said the strikers. /kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] PRESS REVIEW

Prime Minister Fatos Nano is cited as saying after signing the agreement that:"The economic reform will be tough and intensive".

Covering a visit of a NATO delegation to Albania, the paper says that :"The army will be set up after modern concepts". The paper says that the EU current president, Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jacques Poos, has confirmed that the Donors' Conference in Albania will be held on October 22.

Under the headline: "Berisha continues to fail in Tirane. One can hardly find 1000 people against government", the paper carries the article:"Tirane: Berisha, thief!" The paper also carries an interview with the deputy chairman of the Albanian-American Council, Ekrem Bardha, under the title:"Tolerance and cooperation for the sake of the future of the Homeland".

Under the headline:"Scandal! Secret orders and decisions empty deposits of the Alimucaj company in the second level banks", Rilindja Demokratike says: "Malaj (Finance Minister) is robbing VEFA".

The paper carries the editorial:"Albanians' displeased with NANO" and cites the Memaliaj miners who have gone on a strike as saying:"Nano shoukd render accounts". The paper says that the protests organised by the DP have entered their 18th day and that "Tirane will topple the government of fraud".

It says that only few minutes have avoided the explosion of an antitank mine in the Sarande-Corfu line ferry.

Republika says:"Last night - secret agreement with VEFA", regarding a meeting between the President of the VEFA company, Vehbi Alimucaj, with the chief-administrator of usuries Farudin Arapi.

The paper carries the editorial:"Government - defensive angel of creditors or the devil...?". The paper cites the chairman of the Republican Party and co-chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission, Sabri Godo, who has said that the Danish ambassador in Rome Henrik Iversen that the Constitution should be approved within next year (1998)".

Regarding the agreement of the Albanian Government with the IMF the paper says: "Prime minister like his forerunners: Towards the year 2000".

Rilindja paper reports that the U.S. special envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbart, who visited Belgrade, has supported the protests of Albanian students in Kosova. The paper covers the meeting of Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano with Premier of Kosova Bujar Bukoshi, under the title "Coordination of policies, help for Kosova."

With regard to the agreement signed between the Government and IMF, Koha Jone paper reports "Nano government under the 'dictate' of IMF." The paper quotes Nano as saying "I won the first challenge." The paper also writes that the crisis between the government coalition is deepened. The paper informs that VEFA has blocked its activity since Tuesday and cites its president Alimucaj to have said that his bank accounts have been robbed. Covering the interpellation of Albania's Minister of Labour and Social Assistance Elmaz Sherifi, the paper quotes him as saying "The emigrants in Italy will be legalized." In the heading of actuality, the paper reports that 45 000 people are fasted due to the blood-feud of Kanun (cannon).

Under the headline "The company closes from today all kinds of activities," Albania paper reports "The money of Vefa is stolen." The paper carries the editorial "Tirana, far from Rome," which says that Nano 3 is far from fulfilling eight conditions, set in the preparatory conference of July 31 in Rome. The paper reports that the policemen sell false passports, as well as "The Center Right" has considered the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi, as unbearable.

Dita reports "Berisha threatens for insurrection in North." The paper reports that the striker miners of Memaliaj have asked PM Nano to go and meet them. With regard to signing the Accord Government-IMF, the paper reports "The severe reform starts."

With regard to an operation of the Italian police in Astia, the paper writes "Albanian mafia men detained." The paper also reports that the Albanian workers of the shipyard Durres-Gdansk have staged a strike with economic requests. /kei/lm/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Savings Bank boosts interest rates

Senior officials of the Bank say the decision was indispensable for banks' fate. The high rate of deposit interests is linked with high level inflation. It is forecasted that until the end of the year, inflation should reach to 50-54 percent. For credits given by the Savings Bank from Small and Medium Enterprise fund will have a two percent lower interest.

Banking interest for credits in foreign currency, annually.

Currency Interest rates

USD 10 % DM 9 % ITL 14 %

Banking interest for credits in lek, annually.

Short term credit 43 %

Mid term credit 41 %

-Consumption credit 41 % -Credit for construction and reconstruction of production activities. 41 % -Credit for buying technological lines -Credit for buying transport means, which serve technological purposes 41 %

Long term credits

-For construction, renovation, house expansion for sums up to 3 million lek with a 25 year reimbursement period.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] VIOLENCE IN FAMILY, MAIN CAUSE OF DIVORCES IN ALBANIA

"The causes of violence are of different kinds, like jealousy, abuse of alcohol, disagreement of opinions because of differences in education, living in enlarged families, characteristic of Albanian families, as well as the mentality of men in treating their wives as their property," Lajla Pernaska, president of the association: "Woman, Family and Society".

Violence against woman, either physical, sexual or psychological, includes beating and sexual abuse, women's traffic and forced prostitution.

In 90 per cent of the cases denounced, the object of violence has been woman.

"Because of the peculiarities of the historical development characterized by a deep economic, cultural and social backwardness, violence has been exercised in the Albanian society, a thing which is especially linked with the patriarchal morale dominating mostly in small towns and villages," Pernaska said. kei/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] CEKA ASKS REPRESENTATIVE OF YUGOSLAVIA TO OPEN BORDER POINT

Ceka, at a separate working meeting on Wednesday, familiarised the Belgrade diplomat, Stanimir Vukicevic, with the tough measures undertaken by the Albanian police to control and strengthen border regime and establish order.

Vukicevic said he would present Ceka's request to the respective bodies and expressed the belief that the Hani i Hotit border crossing point would be opened very soon.

They also discussed the possibility of opening other border crossing points.

Hani i Hotit, the only border crossing point between Albania and Montenegro closed after the March unrest and it is not opened yet. s.sh/pas/lm/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] TOWN-HALLS DEMAND MORE INDEPENDENCE FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

In order to help solve this question, the Mayor of Tirane and chairman of the National Association of the country's Mayors, Albert Brojka proposed that a percentage of the incomes ensured from the value-added tax be transferred to the local government."

Taking part in the meeting, which is the Annual Assembly of the Association, were 64 mayors of all the cities of Albania. kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] TWO AGREEMENTS WITH ITALY GUARANTEE INVESTMENTS FOR LAC DISTRICT

"On the basis of the agreements with the Commune of Carsoli (Italy) a tourist village will be set up in the beach of Patok, estimated at 240 million dollars. According to the project by Italian specialists, the village will consist of hotels, a tourist port, a school and kinderkarten, swimming pools and parks," Pjeter Zefi, mayor of Lac told ATA.

While the agreement signed with the Italian company "Volani International" in Milan enables the construction of a line for the production of innert materials on the River Mat. ssh/kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] MAYORS OFFER COOPERATION, OPPOSITION TO LEFT COALITION GOVERNMENT

"We have no municipality police though we have reiterated our demand to parliament and Nano cabinet," Albert Brojka, head of the association and the Tirana Mayor said.

The lack of a special armed force at the disposal of the town hall prevents us to stop illegal construction, he said.

Local leaders strongly condemned the dismissal of Mark Nikolli, a colleague from Fushe Arresi, from a working meeting between Fatos Nano and mayors on the results of the premier's visits in Hong Kong and U.S.

Brojka energetically protested on behalf of the association against this "vandal act and bandit attacks against mayors of Saranda and Lushnja at the presence of the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania. He added that so far he has received an encouraging response only from the President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani.

They opposed some decisions of the government on suspension of service passports, mobile telephones, appointment of directors directly from prefects, powers which are dependent on municipality council, and others. kei/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF STUDENTS OF KOSOVA TO CONTINUE AFTER OCTOBER 15, 1997

"All students and teacher's staff of the university are ready to continue their protests," said Driton Lajqi, Albin Kurti and Muhamet Mavraj, leaders of the Union told the conference.

According to them, every partial solution that may be reached in the talks for the agreement on education between Kosove and Serbia, which will continue in Prishtine tomorrow, are unacceptable for the University."

They also underlined that the agreement for education does not cover the university and they wound continue to protest for their return to the school buildings and not for the realisation of that agreement which mentions neither the students, nor teachers or the university faculties.

On October 1, over 30 000 Albanian students, teachers and intellectuals of Kosove held a peaceful protest asking their return to the occupied school buildings.

The Serbian police forces injured many of the protesters in an effort to disperse them. The protest was planned to continue but it was interrupted following suggestions by western diplomats to held it later. bj/pta/kei/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] SPIRIT OF LOVE BY MOTHER TERESA IS ALSO PRESENT IN OUR OBJECTIVES - Nano

"Our desire is that the charity mission created by Mother Teresa not only continue to exist," said PM Nano, "but we want it to develop new ideas as well. The spirit of love among people that Mother Teresa nurtured is also present in our objectives to build a society of harmony and love, far from hatred."

Mother Nirmala underlined that Mother Teresa loved her Homeland, Albania, so much. We will take care that her love for this country continue further in the activity of our mission."

Attending the meeting also was Monsignor Rrok Mirdita. ake/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] GERMAN GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING ALBANIA

"The German Federal Government is interested in supporting Albania in police field in the framework of Western European Union (WEU)," Showel said adding that the German police have outlined a qualification program for the Albanian police, particularly in training.

The training center now includes some 200 Albanian policemen, but, according to sources of the Interior Ministry, hundreds of policemen will be trained there.

Ceka said that training will specifically serve to train the Albanian police staff in fight against crime.

The meeting focused on a possibility to open training centers for police staff not only in Tirana but also in other cities. kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] WORKING GROUP ON TRANSPARENCY CONVENES

Present at the meeting were Finance Minister Arben Malaj, Justice Minister Thimio Kondi, Interior minister Neritan Ceka and representatives of the supervising group. ake/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] POLICE DETAIN A GANG OF THIEVES IN SARANDE

According to the chief of criminal police in the district police commissariat, Belul Sinani, they are under charges of stealing and grabbing in cooperation but they are also suspected of being involved in trafficking as well.

Within a 7 day period of time, the police commissariat of Sarande have undertaken several operations against gangs and has caught at least three groups from Saranda, which during the March-June period of unrest, have carried out a number of thefts. ake/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] WE HAVE NOT READ THE MEMORANDUM OF IMF - DP

"I have not read the Memorandum," said Wednesday one of the leaders of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha during a news conference. Then he focused on the opposition to the fiscal policy of the Government. The democrats opposed the application of the Arbnori amendment on the part of the Albanian Radio-Television.

DP accused the government for a policy of violence and bugging for the leaders of the opposition parties. DP declared that two former Sigurimi officers had insisted in the telephone central system of Tirane to allow the bugging.

Sali Berisha, accused by his opponents as suffocating the democracy in DP, said Wednesday, although not openly, that he is against legalization of factions in the party. "The European parties of our spectrum have no factions. Nonetheless, this will be decided through free vote in the National Assembly."

DP declared that it was preparing the infrastructure of the protests throughout the country with the aim of "reducing the days of the government." ake/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEETS A MISSION OF MOTHER TERESA

Monsigneur Rrok Mirdita was present at the meeting.

Mother Nirmala, who visits Albania for the first time, expressed President Meidani the gratitude for the Albanian people, who gave humanity Mother Teresa and her spirit of love, pardon and benevolence.

She also expressed Meidani the gratitude for participating in the funeral of Mother Teresa, a participation, which strongly linked her name with that of Albania.

Mother Teresa, she said, being already in heaven, is nearer peoples and her compatriots.

They exchanged thought for an all-round contribution in enriching a special pavilion devoted to Mother Teresa at the National Museum of History in Tirana. ake/kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Lek retains its stability

In the informal market the average exchange rate of $1 against lek was equal to 149,75, meanwhile yesterday $1 was trade for 149,3 lek. Even the exchange rate of other main foreign currencies versus lek witnessed slight variation.

Currency Average exchange rate

USD 149,75 DM 84,87 ITL 86,11 GRD 53,32 SFR 102,18

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] GOVERNMENT TO INVEST 28 MILLION LEKS FOR MEMALIAJ MINE

"All the technical-organisation possibilities enabling the continuation of the production exist," Trade Union Council and Ministry of Economy said.

The Memaliaj mine is some 180 km from Tirana. Coal ore has been extracted from it since '30. The city of Memaliaj is included in the electoral area, which elected as deputy the present prime minister Fatos Nano. The miners went on strike on Monday demanding whether this mine will be closed down and wages of the last three months.

The finance assistance worth 28 million leks offered by the Ministry of Economy and Privatisation will be used to revive some underground works, surface equipment and technical and financing administration. kled/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Albanians pay high interests' rate for credits -DP

SB increased the interest rate for short and mid term credits to 43 percent and for long term credits to 41 percent, starting October 1.

"On my opinion the high interest rate has its positive and negativ sides," Blerim Cela, ex-chairman of State Control Service, now DP senior representative said for Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). "According to him "credits' interests being that high hinder banking credits and make investments too expensive."

While the interest rate for credits given by SB were clearly increased, banking interest for deposits dropped. So from 34 to 37 percent of interest rate annually for deposits, it went down to 30 percent starting October 1. Cela, an economist working for the biggest opposition party, consider as a positive thing in general, the reform on interest rate launched by SB steering board. "I think it will boost bank deposits," he told ATA Cela proposes the urgent privatization of banks as a way to reduce the costs of bank credits. "Banks should be privatized and the way should be paved for private banks with foreign or local capital. People shouldn't hang around in state banks with an administration, which gets bribes, when in private banks the problem is very simple," Blerim Cela concluded.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Broader welfare for crisis victims

According to analysis conducted by the government, excluding price index from December 1995, the average monthly full assistance has fallen sharply in real terms and is now only 2,500 lek (US$16) per family.

In Albanian government projects the first step in this direction is considered the absorption of grants and credits from foreign financial bodies starting November 1. According to government's program "these transfers can be accommodated with defined budget limits, because lack of security has prevented the fully delivery of the program during the crisis.

A further increase of 20 percent is envisaged in the program, where a credit from IDA will be sought to support this increase.

In addition, from January 1998, the government will undertake a fundamental reform of social assistance, which will reduce to 9 percent the number of families on social assistance support.

The program has been successfully tested on a pilot basis and its implementation will aim at raising work incentives, and encouraging unemployed people by including them in public works and community services.

In the area of employment generation, the government with external financial and technical assistance, will formulate programs to improve labour market conditions, provide training and increase employment opportunities.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] ORPHANAGE INAUGURATED IN ELBASAN

The orphanage will accommodate 25 local orphans from 7-14 years of age.

Attending the ceremony on the occasion was the prefect of Elbasan, Durim Hushi, the mayor Engjell Dakli and the French Ambassador in Tirane, Patrick Crismant.

The French Ambassador visited the district hospital and the A Xhuvani university of Elbasan. ake/kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] MEETING WITH EMPLOYERS OF VLORE

Minister Sherifi stressed that the present policy of the government, differently from before, aims at encouraging the development of a real modern market of labour.

Presently, Vlore has 10 000 unemployed and 5 494 families living on social assistance. ake.kled/xh/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON KAKAVIJE-TIRANE BUS LINE LOOTED

After it was informed of the incident, police started hunting the thieves who left for Tepelene.

This is the first case when masked people appear on the road since reorganization of the police commissariat of Gjirokaster two months ago. ake/kled/xh/sh/

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