Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-11-11

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] SUPREME COUNCIL OF JUSTICE APPOINTS NEW MEMBERS

[02] TRADE UNIONS REFUSE TO SIGN SOCIAL PACT WITH GOVERNMENT

[03] DISTRICT COURT URGES PRESENCE OF DP DEPUTIES IN MAZREKU'S CASE

[04] TEAM OF NATO EXPERTS ARRIVES IN TIRANA

[05] STATE FORESEES 2.7 BILLION LEKS FOR UNEMPLOYED ENGAGED IN PUBLIC WORKS

[06] NANO WINS A BET OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS

[07] GOVERNMENT, IMF ORDER EXTERMINATION OF MONEYLENDER COMPANIES

[08] MINISTERS OF BLACK SEA TO DISCUSS ENERGY IN BUCHAREST

[09] GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE TRANSPORT TICKETS FOR PUPILS AND TEACHERS

[10] NANO WINS A BET OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS

[11] RESS REVIEW

[12] POLICE STAFF OF BORDER AREAS CONVENED

[13] INSTITUTE OF POLITICALLY PERSECUTED PROVIDED WITH BUDGET

[14] EXPENSES OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LABOUR TO BE PAID BY STATE BUDGET

[15] PEDOPHILE CAUGHT BY POLICE

[16] PARLIAMENTARY LAW COMMISSION EXAMINES PRESIDENT'S DECISION FOR INVESTIGATION INTO JANUARY-JUNE PERIOD

[17] GDP IN ALBANIA INCREASES IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1997

[18] EUROPEAN UNION FUNDS 6 MILLION ECU FOR ALBANIAN AGRICULTURE

[19] DRINKING WATER SYSTEM IN TIRANE TOWARDS PRIVATIZATION

[20] PRIVATISATION IS STRATEGY OF RESTRUCTURING BKT - director

[21] GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, BASIC STRATEGY FOR 1998

[22] GRADUAL INCREASE OF THE LEVEL OF LEK

[23] FOUR 11-YEAR-OLDS KIDNAPPED

[24] ALBANIAN DIPLOMATS DISCUSS FOREIGN POLICY

[01] SUPREME COUNCIL OF JUSTICE APPOINTS NEW MEMBERS

In the regular meeting of this council, based on the proposal of the Justice Ministry, four new judges were named in the vacancies of the Tirana Court. Judges were also appointed in districts of Librazhd, Lushnje, Sarande, President's press and information office reports.

While, based on the proposal of the General Attorney, two appointments were made in the General Prosecutor's Office. /kei/mt/k

[02] TRADE UNIONS REFUSE TO SIGN SOCIAL PACT WITH GOVERNMENT

According to the spokesman of the Ministry, the trade unions representatives did not explain the reasons for not signing this pact.

The pact to be signed by the employers, employees and the government would enable to start an aid index for the unprotected strata who receive economic aid, beginning from November 1997.

The Pact says that within the first three months of 1998, negotiation should start with social partners to index salaries of the budget sector and pensionists; to start the study for the vital minimum, to limit black labour to the maximum, the government should encourage the increase of domestic product, etc. /kei/mt/k

[03] DISTRICT COURT URGES PRESENCE OF DP DEPUTIES IN MAZREKU'S CASE

Mazreku shot and wounded the deputy Hajdari inside the parliament on September 18.

Gjovalin Bezheta and Ferdinant Xhaferri were two out of five Democrat deputies summoned to testify at today's trial. kei/ak/k

[04] TEAM OF NATO EXPERTS ARRIVES IN TIRANA

This team, together with experts and senior officials of the Defence Ministry, will treat issues of reorganisation and functioning of the Defence Ministry, General Headquarters of the Army and commands of the armed forces' structures, the spokesman of this ministry reports.

The NATO team, after signing the individual program of partnership NATO - Albania 1997, will help restructure the Albanian army, and during their stay, the team will meet with senior officials of the Defence ministry and other state institutions. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

[05] STATE FORESEES 2.7 BILLION LEKS FOR UNEMPLOYED ENGAGED IN PUBLIC WORKS

The Labour Ministry has worked out a draft law, which envisages that for the next year the social assistance will be given to those persons, who will be engaged in social work instead of a permanent job.

The funds of the social assistance have been limited to the maximum for the workers of those enterprises, which are at the disposal of the Agency of Enterprise Restructuring. kei/ak/

[06] NANO WINS A BET OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS

Nano said that the last three months were the first and real confrontation of the new Albanian institutions with the international community, financial institutions and Euro Atlantic partners.

He said that the strategy of development followed by his government is different from the victory-like behiavor, which is not unusual in the psychology of the previous governments.

The prime minister Nano stressed the achievements of the previous governments saying that the positive aspects should be considered.

Nano, in his report on the government work, stressed as priorities the restoration of order, clearing out of economic and financial situation, setting up of independent institutions and policy of opening and Euro Atlantic integration.

Nano also focused on the Crete summit, which, according to him, was the first step of establishing dialogue between neighbours and broader. ssh/kei/ak/k

[07] GOVERNMENT, IMF ORDER EXTERMINATION OF MONEYLENDER COMPANIES

This was declared by the prime minister Fatos Nano in parliament on Monday in a question and answer session for the first one hundred days of his governing.

The fundamental point of the agreement of November 7, Nano said, is the "creation of a functional market of the agricultural land."

The agreement with IMF obliged that two out of three existing Albanian banks be privatised and urged normal work for a flexible administration.

Nano quoted a note of the IMF Executive Board saying that it is enthusiastic "for a categorical refusal on the part of the Albanian government to compensate the money to creditors from public funds."

The agreement said that "the Board is concerned about the increase of cooperation between the IMF staff with the Albanian government."

Nano said that such a concern is related to the non repetition of pyramid schemes, which were created as a result of lack of coordination between the IMF and the Albanian previous government.

The last document, which was not discussed in parliament, urged a categorical closure of a series of Albanian firms, which have been engaged especially in money lending. ssh/kei/ak/k

[08] MINISTERS OF BLACK SEA TO DISCUSS ENERGY IN BUCHAREST

Albania will be represented by the Minister of Economy and Privatization, Ylli Bufi.

The meeting is initiated by the Center of Regional Energy of the Black Sea.

The meeting will focus on the encouragement of common operations in the region for the development of projects in the field of energy, such as the use of transit, the harmonization of the market policy, the distribution and transfer of technologies in the energetic field, measures for the protection of environment from pollution, etc.

Boosting of relations between countries of Black Sea and the European Union will be discussed in Bucharest, aiming at the economic and commercial cooperation, and the development of inter-conjunctions. /kei/mt/sh/

[09] GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE TRANSPORT TICKETS FOR PUPILS AND TEACHERS

With a VAT increase from 12.5 percent to 20 percent on October 1, the price of fuel rose by an average of 25 percent and that of tickets by 20 percent. kei/ak/

[10] NANO WINS A BET OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS

Nano said that the last three months were the first and real confrontation of the new Albanian institutions with the international community, financial institutions and Euro Atlantic partners.

He said that the strategy of development followed by his government is different from the victory-like behavior, which is not unusual in the psychology of the previous governments.

The prime minister Nano stressed the achievements of the previous governments saying that the positive aspects should be considered.

Nano, in his report on the government work, stressed as priorities the restoration of order, clearing out of economic and financial situation, setting up of independent institutions and policy of opening and Euro Atlantic integration.

Nano also focused on the Crete summit, which, according to him, was the first step of establishing dialogue between neighbours and broader.

Nano focused especially on the depolitisation of SHIK (National Information Service) and increase of professionalism among the armed forces.

"The emergency of the chaos has been overcome. Dangerous gangs have been eliminated," Nano said.

He focused on the process of drafting a constitution saying that Albania will have a constitution within 1998. He said that no irresponsible political force should not be allowed to block this process.

"We also have the approval of the international community for this," the prime minister Nano said.

He spoke of the work of his cabinet "to establish an independent judiciary, declaring war against corruption."

Referring to the economic and financial reform, Nano said that a macro economic stabilisation has been achieved and positive tendencies aiming at avoiding economic crisis and curbing inflation have been noticed.

"The government foresees a curb of budget deficit to 10 percent and inflation to 15 percent until the end of 1998," Nano said adding that his cabinet is working to curb inflation to 20 percent at the end of this year.

He also said that the government is trying "to set up private banks and privatise the state owned ones."

Nano said that the work "on dismantling" of pyramid schemes is underway and stressed that this operation will enable transparency. He added that privatisation of big enterprises, including oil, energetic and mineral ones, will start.

"I do not want to say that the situation is all roses, but present the reality," Nano said referring to the national reconciliation and attacks against the government's foreign policy.

He added that the government is doing the utmost to integrate the opposition in the process of establishing institutions and state, but Nano said that it faces "hooligans, provocateurs and those of the Albanian politics, who are not ashamed."

As regards the international politics, the prime minister said that "Albania's biggest partner is the United States but even the other European states."

He recalled as successful his Euro Atlantic tour in a number of European countries such as Hong Kong and U.S., which preceded the Crete summit.

"We are being integrated in a civilised world, away from folklorism and communist mentality of the last 55 years," he said.

In relation to the rumour on Crete, Nano said that "a dialogue does not mean national betrayal," recalling Dayton and meetings between Israelis and Palestinians. ssh/pas/ak/

[11] RESS REVIEW

"Our great aim: reduce of poverty and unemployment," the paper quotes Nano as saying.

"IMF encourages further steps of the Albanian government," reports the paper under the title "Wipe out pyramid schemes." Under this title, the paper publishes five points, the last measures of IMF, made known by Nano in Parliament yesterday.

"Auditors control situation in all companies," reports the paper on the sixth page. "Court's jury of the process against Gafurr Mazreku 'advances'", reports the paper under the title "Testimonies of deputies start."

"Speaking only on Television, Nano recalled the Albanians that he has avoided the Albanian press at any price, which could disclose everything, as it is doing everyday in the pages of papers," says the editorial of Rilindja Demokratike, under the title "The government which has damaged the Albanians." "Toulouse: Full support for DP. Berisha and Pollo meet with leaders of the European right," reports the paper under the title "Europe warns Nano."

"Aid for Albania conditioned with the respect of the opposition' freedoms," reports the paper, underlining that in Toulouse, the people's parties have turned down the strategy set up in Crete on the Kosova question. "Splits expected in the state-party," reports the paper regarding the meeting of the SP Leading Committee. "Nano sends to parliament the hundreds days with one million Albanian poor people," writes the paper regarding the interpellation of Nano in Parliament, under the title "Albania remains sunken in crisis." "Godo: Crete weakened the positions of Albania," is another article of the paper. "The liquidation of VEFA on the verge," reports the paper on the economic page.

"Kosova burst in Bonn," is the editorial of Republika. "Milo in report before the European diplomacy," underlines the editorial. "Usuries in hard currency appear again. Auditors have made ready the balance- sheets," reports the paper under the title "Terror in bank." "Servet Pellumbi remains far from the party," underlines the paper on the political page. "The pain of Otranto arrives tomorrow in coffins," reports the paper on the seventh page. "Meidani returns "Ngjela Commission," reports the paper on the fourth page, regarding the events in spring of this year.

"The only punishment for the DP head is to set him free. Nano already knows that he should not behave with him the way Berisha behaved with Nano," says Koha Jone.

"The non participation would blame us for the tragedy of Otranto," the paper cites the democrats under the title "DP: We will go to Vlore." "Nano declared last night in Parliament the agreement with IMF," writes the paper on the third page under the title "Loan-taking companies to wipe out." "No concession to those companies which have loaned money from masses of people," reports the paper. On the third page, the paper writes "The opposition criticises the government for the meeting with Milosevic." "Former DP head Shehu rejects Berisha for the statements towards him," reports the paper under the title "Shehu, open fight to Berisha." "Masks rob the money of water," reports the paper on the seventh page.

Albania entitles its editorial "The state prepares the trial against Berisha." "The people's commission set up in Permet in 1997 to condemn the enemy Sali Berisha, is similar with the people's commissions that the Democratic Front organised right after the war," says the editorial. On the first page, the paper reports that former Republican chairman Godo will be soon appointed ambassador in Italy, replacing current ambassador Pandeli Pasko. "Europe devaluates Crete," reports the paper referring to the Congress of European people's parties. "Yesterday 'Albania' three hours in prosecutor's office," writes the paper under the headline "Ceka insists in penalisation of independent press." The paper highlights the interpellation of Premier Nano under the title "Nano: I am not a traitor." With regard to the events in Permet in spring of this year, the paper reports "'People's' accuses hide the crime." The paper also publishes the article "Nano falls down in the Corridor 8." On the fourth page, the paper carries the analysis "Why was the agreement on education in Kosova not implemented."?

Rilindja covers the meeting of the Kosova Premier Bukoshi with Albania's President Rexhep Meidani, PM Nano and former president Berisha. The paper also publishes a comment entitled "Kosova as a catalyzer of the Albanian crisis (?). "The official policy of Albania for the second time within this year is trying to use the Kosova issue as catalyzer for its interior crisis in the fight for power," writes the paper.

Dita paper, citing "inner sources from the Legality League Party," reports that Leka Zogu will come again in Albania. With regard to the interpellation of PM Nano in Parliament, the paper writes that Crete has caused "split in the Assembly." On the fifth page, the paper reports that Minister Ceka has criticized the work of the Tirana police.

Shekulli covers the interpellation of Premier Nano under the title "Crete was the first step." "Shackles asked for Berisha," writes the paper on the third page. Regarding the killers who were pardoned, the paper carries a statement of former Premier Meksi "The government has not demanded pardon for criminals." The paper reports that the democratic deputy Hajdari will be sent to the court's room by force, as the main witness against the former socialist deputy, Mazreku.

Gazeta Shqiptare reports that the government has invited bosses of usuries come back to Albania. "Milo-Bukoshi: Kosova with political solution," reports the paper with the subtitle "We do not want to become third party." "Albania of 1 million poor people," the paper quotes Nano as saying. "Explosive matter against the vehicle of the Jewish sisters," reports the paper on the fifth page. The paper writes that the secret investigations have reached from Vlore, but the disappearance of the Zani tape still remains a mystery. "A commission will examine them," reports the paper./kled/pas/mt/sh/

[12] POLICE STAFF OF BORDER AREAS CONVENED

The Albanian side is headed by the chief of the police commissariat in Gjirokastra lieutenant colonel Sinan Meta, while the Greek side by the Director General of Epirus police Mr. Kroqidhis.

The Greek officials assured that they will provide necessary technical equipment for an efficacious border service and they agreed that the actions, which cannot be carried out by the Albanian border police will be realised with the Greek mediation through a concrete connection on the Greek soil.

They (the Greeks) praised the readiness of the Albanian side to prevent weapon traffic, illegal emigrants and traffic of prostitutes reiterating the aid and total support for the Albanian police. ake/kled/ak/sh/

[13] INSTITUTE OF POLITICALLY PERSECUTED PROVIDED WITH BUDGET

The budget of Social Assistance of 1997 included a fund of 320.000 leks envisaged for the politically prosecuted.

The fund will be transferred from the Ministry of Labour to the Politically Prosecuted, sources report. kei/lm/k

[14] EXPENSES OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LABOUR TO BE PAID BY STATE BUDGET

The expenses will consist of the payments for the commission, for the National Council and investments for the offices of the Secretariat of the National Council.

Members of the National Council of Labour are also the senior officials of the trade unions of Albania. kei/xh/k

[15] PEDOPHILE CAUGHT BY POLICE

Sources of this commissariat told ATA that Lulash Rama, 41, has accepted most of the penal acts he is charged with.

Rama, single, exerted his activity with three minors, who had been stealing and looting for him for a long time. Rama is also accused of raping an eleven year girl from Skrapar in March this year. ssh/kei/xh/k

[16] PARLIAMENTARY LAW COMMISSION EXAMINES PRESIDENT'S DECISION FOR INVESTIGATION INTO JANUARY-JUNE PERIOD

After an extensive discussion, the initiators of the law and the representative of the Presidency reached the conclusion that the approved law has no constitutional violations and it did not affect the principle for the division of powers, namely of the judiciary. ssh/kei/xh/

[17] GDP IN ALBANIA INCREASES IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1997

The increase comes following a fall of 8 per cent of the GDP in the first half of the current year.

According to sources of the Finance Ministry, the increase of 1.5 per cent of the GDP was realised half from the sector of agriculture and the other half by the reactivation of the private industrial productive sector, which was paralyzed almost completely over March-June.

Specialists of the Finance Ministry envisage a 2 per cent growth of the GDP during the fourth quarter of this year.

For 1998 the Government forecast an increase of 12 per cent of the GDP keeing inflation at the level of 15-20 per cent from the present level at 50 per cent.

During 1960, the GDP growth was 14.3 per cent, and 50 per cent of it was atained by the agricultural sector. xh/k

[18] EUROPEAN UNION FUNDS 6 MILLION ECU FOR ALBANIAN AGRICULTURE

According to the director of the PHARE Program for Agriculture, Grigor Gjeci, 1.8 million ECU will be used for the registration of the immovable assets in all the country's territory. For this project which has started since 1994 have been given 5 million ECU. With the new financing, the project is envisaged to be completed in 2001.

The BE has given an importnat place to the sector of fishing for which 3.2 million ECU will be furnished.

A total of 450 thousand ECU will be used for the sector of veterinary, 100 thousand ECU for the food control and the rest to manage the projects for the institutional consolidation and counseling for agricultural policies towards integration in the European community. kei/xh/k

[19] DRINKING WATER SYSTEM IN TIRANE TOWARDS PRIVATIZATION

According to specialists of the World Bank, 10-15 million USD will be credited from this bank for this purpose, while the total financial needs for the privatization of the drinking water system in Tirane amount to 40 million USD. The rest of the needs for investments is planned to be realised by foreign donors.

"So far, the project is in the stage of preparation and soon the final report is expected to be sent to the Government which will decide on the form how this privatization will be made," experts of the World Bank say.

According to proposals by advisers of the World Bank, a contract of management is expected to be signed with the water distribution system of Tirane to be followed by another contract for a credit to be paid back at soft, long terms.

The project is forecast to start in the coming year thus marking the beginning of the privatization of this network, starting with the systems of Tirane and Durres. kei/xh/k

[20] PRIVATISATION IS STRATEGY OF RESTRUCTURING BKT - director

The statement of the BKT director seems to be a reaction to yesterday's speech of Prime Minister Nano in Parliament when saying that the two commercial banks with state capital are very much likely to be liquidated.

"We demand a managing contract of the government with the financial institutions to settle the issue of creating a national agency to tackle old debts and unpaid credits," Brumbulli says.

According to the BKT specialists, before this bank becomes ready for sale it is necessary that a foreign administrator runs the bank in cooperation, that an accountancy plan is implemented in accordance with the international standards and the auditing process is realised.

Brumbulli said that a major programme of information of the whole banking network by the U.S firm ORACLE is expected to being implementation.

However, the strategy of the bank's restructuring as defined by the government will finally determine concretely form privatisation or liquidation, at a time when the whole process of its restructuring is thought to be completed by the end of the next year. kei/lm/k

[21] GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, BASIC STRATEGY FOR 1998

Minister of Agriculture and Food Lufter Xhuveli made public these objectiv es in the general debate of the 29th session of the Conference of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), which is holding proceedings in Rome.

The minister thanked FAO for its assistance in support of the Albanian agriculture reforms and restructure towards market economy through projects and technical and advisory assistance.

At a separate meeting, FAO's director general Jacques Diouf assured the Albanian minister that FAO will back the development of the Albanian agriculture through technical assistance, resumption of interrupted projects, and implementation of new projects and programmes.

"FAO is interested in strengthening ties with Albania," Minister Xhuveli said./kei/lm/k

[22] GRADUAL INCREASE OF THE LEVEL OF LEK

Average exchange rate in the free market

Kind of currency          yesterday               today
USD                         143.10                142.90
DM                           83.03                 83.46
LIT(1000)                    84.23                 84.62
GRD(100)                     52.44                 52.93
SFR                         100.70                101.12

[23] FOUR 11-YEAR-OLDS KIDNAPPED

Parents of the kidnapped children told ATA that they had immediately informed the district police commissariat.

Sources of the commissariat say that police forces immediately went in search of the kidnappers. Police commissariats of other districts have also been made aware of this event.

"It was a 16-year-old boy who cheated the children and rode them on the Greece-bound-buses to use them as beggars or other vile aims," one of the parents of the abducted children said. a.sh/kei/lm

[24] ALBANIAN DIPLOMATS DISCUSS FOREIGN POLICY

The message of the meeting was "party divisions should not split the foreign policy of the Albanian state and the policy followed for the national question."

Attending the meeting were personalities of Albanian diplomacy, Reiz Malile, Alfred Serreqi, Tritan Shehu, Arjan Starova, Ilir Bocka, Selim Belortaja and Pavli Zeri.

"This meeting," said Mr Milo, "is a clear message for a spirit of cooperation and continuity that must exist in the Albanian administration and especially in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, to make this policy as much contemporary and efficient as possible."

The participants said that the policy of dismissal should not be applied because "the experience of the work in years and its documentation make the history of the Albanian nation."

The diplomats said that such a consultative table for the foreign policy should be part of the Commission of the Foreign Policy of the Albanian Parliament. ssh/kei/xh/k

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