Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-07

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Dossier of the pretender to the throne in Albania sent to court

[02] Commission for the Draft of Constitution to work in Lezhe

[03] Chief of Italian Finance Guard in Durres replaced

[04] Passengers prefer the train; incomes for railway increase

[05] Around lek 28,5 billion worth of goods during Q1

[06] Territory Adjustment Council approves site for Milot-Lezhe highway

[07] Enhanced strategy of Albanian electro energy system

[08] Agri business sector seeking finances

[09] USD quoted at lek 156,90

[10] Italian experts to help agri processing industry

[11] Italian experts to help agri processing industry

[12] MAPE to continue training of Albanian policemen

[13] MAPE to continue training of Albanian police officers

[14] Albanian speaker meets with a delegation of world Albanian league

[15] SP Secretary urges coalition to hold round table soon

[16] Report on last year's turmoil in Parliament next week, Speaker

[17] Former DP president illegally ordered movement of forces, armaments

[18] Albania premier leaves for Greece

[19] Coalition cooperation to include local govt senior staff

[20] Joint strategy should be drafted to protect Kosova, says DP head

[21] Albania, Greece to boost police cooperation

[22] Albania minister meets local, regional govt. congress president

[23] Speaker meets president of local, regional govt. congress

[01] Dossier of the pretender to the throne in Albania sent to court

"Five dossiers and two video cassettes are the factual material studied by the investigation team in the prosecutor's office of Tirane district, which were handed over to the district court on Wednesday," said the chief prosecutor of Tirane district, Bujar Sheshi, on Wednesday.

On July 3, 1997, Leka Zogu, in military uniform and accompanied by a group of monarchists, gathered in front of the Palace of Congresses, after an illegal rally in the Scanderbeg square. A civilian was killed as a result of the use of weapons.

Leka came to Tirane in March 1997, claiming to take the vacant throne when his father, King Zogu I, fled Albania in 1939, before it was occupied by Mussolini troops, when he (Leka) was only two days old. Leka was not allowed to come to Albania during the period the communists were in power until 1990. /a.ke/mima/

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[02] Commission for the Draft of Constitution to work in Lezhe

The co-chairman of the Commission, Sabri Godo, told ATA on Wednesday that "this movement is made so that the commission members leave their other commitments (some of them are party leaders or cabinet members) which have prevented them from working intensively."

"Soon the People's Assembly will approve a calendar on the work of the Commission, thus making possible that the Commission examine the draft of the constitution within June and have it ready by the end of the year," said Godo, voicing his conviction that the deadline will be observed by the commission.

He explained that Lezha was selected for the commission to work, as a town with great traditions.

Lezha (Northwest of Albania) is one of the oldest Albanian cities and the place where the bases of the first concentrated Albanian state were placed by Gjergj Kastriot Scanderbeg with the creation of the League of Princes, in the 15th century.

Godo did not rule out the possibility that the commission may go to work in other cities as well.

The commission will examine the fourth chapter of the draft, that related with the "Economic, social and cultural freedoms and rights," but Godo said that other articles of the draft will also be passed. /a.ke/mima/xh/

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[03] Chief of Italian Finance Guard in Durres replaced

Lieutenant Colonel has been directing the group of the Guard of Finance since this group started its mission in Albania in November 1997.

The group of the Finance Guard, consisting of 50 militaries, with 4 motorboats at their disposal, in the contest of the Interforce Mission, along with training of Albanian border police, has also carried out important operations to prevent men smuggling and the trafficking in general. The group cooperates with the commissariats of the coastal districts of Albania, the 28th Italian Naval Group deployed in the port of Durres and with the security force on the Italian coast. /a.ke/pas/xh/

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[04] Passengers prefer the train; incomes for railway increase

The general director of railways, Leonard Bunaci, told ATA that in April they had ensured 11.7 million lek from 7.7. million lek in January.

According to Bunaci, besides competitive prices in the railway transportation as compared with the road transport, this increase of incomes has been also a result of the control over the abuses with tickets.

Actually, Albanian railways have 50 wagons for the passengers. Bunaci says that this number was small compared with the demand for this kind of transport. He stressed that five supplementary wagons were needed every Tuesday in the Shkoder-Lac railways service to meet the demands of Catholic believers who attend religious services in the Church of Lac. Greater difficulties are encountered in summer when additional trains are needed for people coming from Tirane to the coastal city of Durres.

The government had envisaged to ensure 58 wagons last year but they are not yet made a reality, says the director of railways. /s.sh./pas/xh/

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[05] Around lek 28,5 billion worth of goods during Q1

An increase was noticed also during March compared with two previous months.

In imports structure, in absolute value the highest specific weight is taken by the raw material for textile articles with lek 1,2 billion, vegetal products with lek 1 billion and also machineries, technical equipment worth lek 999 million.

The highest volume of imports comes from neighboring countries with Italy first, totaling lek 4,8 billion, then Greece totaling lek 3 billion.

The high quotas of imports volume compared with export volume bring about the trade deficit to remain on the previous level. /gen/

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[06] Territory Adjustment Council approves site for Milot-Lezhe highway

The Milot-Lezhe highway is a part of the northern segment of the North-South Corridor, Hani Hotit-Kakavije, to be funded by the World Bank with a total of 4 million dollars. /s.sh./mima/xh/

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[07] Enhanced strategy of Albanian electro energy system

Tirana, May 7 (ATA) - Within June the development strategy of the Albanian electro energy system will be over, the minister of Public Economy and Privatization, Ylli Bufi said Thursday.

Three are the main drives which will determine the emergent, mid and long term development of our electro energy system.

Firstly in the emergency and mid term phases will be rehabilitated country's system. The second phase is related with the reduction of technical and non technical losses, that currently are at 59,1 percent.

Thirdly is being worked to connect our electric grid with the international network to give and to receive energy.

Also, in this development plan are defined the alternatives for the final solution of people's heating problem.

At present the electric power is the cheapest compared to other energy derivatives.

The drafting of the development strategy of the Albanian electric grid is also related with its serious condition, when the consumption of power from 1992 to 97 is increased with 48 percent.

The last constructed Koman hydro power dates back to 1985. Meanwhile the debt owed to Albanian Energy Corporation in years is figured out of $50 million, which means less investments by AEC to rehabilitate the electric grid. /gen/

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[08] Agri business sector seeking finances

Thus "Mireli" company located in Kavaja district, engaged in processing milk, as a result of Centre's assistance turns out 1000 liter of milk daily and supplies with dairy products 159 stores in Tirana.

Other assisting projects to promote agri business, according to Centre's director, Edmond Mara, are being implemented with "Shpiragu" company in Bearat, "Morava" company in Korca and "AIBA" company in Durres.

These companies are being supplied with equipment, local and foreign experts and finances as well estimated to $1 million.

The allocation is expected to be provided due to Centre's close relations with the World Bank, GTZ project and other foreign foundation active in Albania. /gen/

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[09] USD quoted at lek 156,90

So $1 = 156,90 lek, gaining 0,40 points compared with yesterday's 156, 50 lek.

The DM was traded for 86,80 lek, gaining 0,30 points compared to yesterday's 86,50 lek.

The ITL (1000) was traded for 87,60 lek gaining 0.40 points compared with yesterday's 87,20 lek.

GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,20 lek, gaining 0,10 points compared with yesterday's 50,10

The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 1,00 points compared with yesterday's 105,30 lek and so on.

Thursday exchange rates

Currency Average exchange rates

USD 156,90 lek DM 86,80 lek ITL (1000) 87,60 lek GRD (100) 50,20 lek SFR 103,10 lek FRF 23,30 lek GBP 220,40 lek JPY (100) 111,50 lek NLG 73,40 lek /gen/

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[10] Italian experts to help agri processing industry

Italian Prof, Francesko Rossi, Pierluigi Meriggi and engineer Ricardo Sasarini made a panorama of the Italian agri processing sector and pledged support for Albanian side to but back into efficiency this industry, sources from the ministry of Food and Agriculture told ATA.

The Italian mission will stay in Albania three days and will hold talks in Tirana and other districts with specialists of agricultural sector. /gen/

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[11] Italian experts to help agri processing industry

Italian Prof, Francesko Rossi, Pierluigi Meriggi and engineer Ricardo Sasarini made a panorama of the Italian agri processing sector and pledged support for Albanian side to but back into efficiency this industry, sources from the ministry of Food and Agriculture told ATA.

The Italian mission will stay in Albania three days and will hold talks in Tirana and other districts with specialists of agricultural sector. /gen/

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[12] MAPE to continue training of Albanian policemen

During a meeting on Thursday with the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Public Order and SHIK Neritan Ceka, MAPE representatives stressed that the training centre will be inaugurated in August and along with Durres policemen, also 150 policemen from other districts of Albania will get training in the centre.

Ceka highlighted the fruitful cooperation and the work made so far by the MAPE mission in Albania.

MAPE was established in Albania on May 27, 1997 upon request by Albanian authorities and will be present in this country until April 12, 1999, with the possibility of reviewing this deadline. /s.s/mima/xh/

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[13] MAPE to continue training of Albanian police officers

During a meeting held Thursday with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Order and SHIK, Neritan Ceka, the MAPE representatives stressed that the training center will be opened in August and along with policemen from Durres, some 150 other policemen from different districts of Albania will be also trained.

Ceka, on his side, appreciated the fruitful cooperation and the current work of the MAPE Mission in Albania.

MAPE mission was installed in Albania on May 27, 1997 upon the request of the Albanian authorities and will be present in our country until April 12, 1999, leaving open the possibility of renewing this mandate. /s.s/mima/mt/

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[14] Albanian speaker meets with a delegation of world Albanian league

Prasing their initiative as a good start, Gjinushi said that a platform of national issue, which aims at coordinating alternatives and projects, was currently being drawing up in cooperation with other institutions, press and information office at the parliament said on Thursday.

Diversity of alternatives should not divide us but unite in our intentions for the national issue, Gjinushi said.

The Albanian parliament had passed two important resolutions in support of the Kosova people for self-rule and a resolution which obliged the Albanian government and other institutions to be very careful towards Albanian emigrants wherever they were.

"We come here with the idea to cooperate with the whole Albania and Albanians wherever they are in their territories or in diaspora," a member of the Initiating Council said. "Our league aims at contributing in a better coordination of the efforts for our national issue." s.s/das/ak/

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[15] SP Secretary urges coalition to hold round table soon

The meeting of the SP presidency held Wednesday, based on the statue rights, decided to give the right to Pandeli Majko and Gramoz Ruci to represent the Socialist Party in the talks of the table of the coalition parties for the modalities of appointing the candidates and the campaign of the partial local elections.

According to Ruci, the Socialist Party has held bilateral meetings with the other parties of the coalition, which have expressed their readiness to field up join candidates.

He stressed that the table of parties will discuss the symbols of the parties and the different political measures the parties should take to win these elections.

"The Socialist Party, as a ruling party, has the responsibility to organize democratic, free and fair elections," said the SP Coordination Secretary, Gramoz Ruci. /a.ke/das/mt/

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[16] Report on last year's turmoil in Parliament next week, Speaker

"The testimonies have been collected and the documents are sufficient to draft the final report," Speaker Gjinushi told ATA on Thursday.

The special commission, approved by Parliament in October 1997, has presented its first report in February of this year, which had facts taken from the archives of the Defence, Interior Ministries and the National Information Service (SHIK) regarding the responsibilities of riots.

After this, the commission, headed by the Legality Party member Spartak Ngjela, collected testimonies in the districts mostly affected by the turmoil in Southern Albania and drafted a list of persons to be questioned as witnesses or under investigation on the last year's riots.

Among the persons under investigation was also the former Albanian President, Sali Berisha, actually chairman of the Democratic Party, which has not recognised the commission. /a.ke/das/mt/

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[17] Former DP president illegally ordered movement of forces, armaments

"Orders on armament movement including missiles were given to bodies which had not been authorized to carry out armed operations, such as the National Information Service (SHIK)," Gjinushi said to ATA.

Gjinushi reminded that the imposition of the state of emergency in Albania was among the violations done by the former president but refused to elaborate.

He was referring to the data of the Defence and Interior Ministries and SHIK.

A parliamentary commission investigating the unrest last year was expected to give the final report on responsibilities for the unrest.

Berisha was summoned to the commission to be inquired on his orders but he refused to report to it, because the Democratic party he was leading had not recognised the commission. ake/das/ak/

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[18] Albania premier leaves for Greece

The Albanian PM was expected to address representatives of the Greek business and finances on relations between Albania and Greece and importance of development and promotion of economic ties between the two countries, press and information department at the Council of Ministers said. ake/das/ak/

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[19] Coalition cooperation to include local govt senior staff

"Our parties have decided that since the coalition exists it should be presented as such in the partial local elections. The parties will be engaged more to win the staff of local bodies," the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Skender Gjinushi, told ATA on Thursday.

He added that the table of the coalition parties (the Socialist Party - SP, the Social Democratic Party - SDP, the Democratic Alliance Party - DAP, the Human Rights Union Party - HRUP and the Agrarian Party - AP,) is expected to be held next week and "more or less he has a clear vision for the preparation of the campaign."

"There is no problem to present a joint symbol, because the coalition itself is a joint symbol. If we will find a nice symbol, I will agree about it," said Gjinushi with regard to the confession of a coalition leader, the DAP chairman Neritan Ceka, on a joint symbol in the local elections. /a.ke/das/mt/

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[20] Joint strategy should be drafted to protect Kosova, says DP head

The first and the most secure option for the protection of two million Albanians in Kosova is the red line of the U.S. government. Albania should offer all the airport facilities to NATO and WEU to secure this protection and should insist in establishing a non-fly-zone over Kosova and in removing the armoured vehicles, artillery and the Serbian police from Kosova, stressed a statement of this grouping.

"The situation in Kosova is not improving, on the contrary it is further deteriorating," said the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha.

He also expressed his scepticism regarding the forthcoming meeting of the Contact Group, because, according to him, no positive result is expected to be reached.

"All the Albanian political forces, wherever they are in their territories, should draft a joint strategy for the protection of Kosova, in case the international factor will not reach a fair solution for this problem," said Berisha. /a.ke/das/mt/

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[21] Albania, Greece to boost police cooperation

The spokesman of the Order Ministry reported that with regard to the situation in Kosova, both parties shared the opinion that the only solution is the peaceful way and without violence of the problem.

Another theme of talks, on which the parties agreed, was the issue of the Albanian emigrants in Greece, aiming at their legalization and seasonal employment, based on the agreement signed between the two governments last summer.

In this meeting, the Greek party expressed its engagement to further help the Albanian police overcome the difficulties in the logistic field as soon as possible. /s.sh/das/mt/

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[22] Albania minister meets local, regional govt. congress president

Milo assessed the work of the Congress considering it one of the powerful pillars of the Council of Europe.

Referring to the forthcoming partial, local elections, Milo said that they would be a proof for the Albanian democracy.

"The Albanian government will create a democratic terrain for these elections, as they are a test for the present government," Milo said.

He asked Hagi for the presence of representatives of the Council of Europe in the forthcoming elections.

Claude Hagi, president of the Congress of local and regional government, said that despite the events last year, the establishment of democracy in Albania was continuing and that was not an easy work.

Hagi considered the local government a basis of democracy and said that it should have many funds and financial independence.

"I see a consensus in Albania. I am astonished by the spirit of cooperation between different party representatives in the local government. There are cooperation and wish to cohabit democratically in the grass roots, " Hagi said. s.s/das/ak/

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[23] Speaker meets president of local, regional govt. congress

Gjinushi told the delegation that in parliament there exist not only the political will to help enhance powers of the local government, but also legal conditions have been created for its autonomy, press and information office at the parliament said.

"Though, there is a tendency on the part of former president Sali Berisha to stir up conflict among the levels of the local government, efforts have been undertaken to increase cooperation between the political parties to enable the local government exercise its powers normally in the interest of citizens and economic prosperity," Gjinushi said.

We were determined to include in constitution the principle of the autonomy of the local government in the incontestable spirit of the European Charter for the local government.

"The establishment of democracy needs an intensive work and perseverance. The Council of Europe has developed some projects in Albania and is engaged in promotion of cooperation in your country," Hagi, president of Congress of local and regional governments, said.

Focusing on the autonomy of local government and principles of the European Charter on local government he said that it was important to include these principles in the new text of the constitution. s.s/ak/

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

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