Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-19

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albania's President Meidani praises Albania-Switzerland cooperation

[02] DP not presenting CEC candidatures for partial local polls

[03] Transaction amount allowed up to $500

[04] Albanian Government to be encouraged with regard to its stance towards the crisis in Kosove

[05] Japanese grant for primary medical service

[06] Seven houses sold in one day

[07] Institute of Albanian photography to be set up in Shkoder

[08] Serbian artillery shoots Drenice villages, two Albanians killed

[09] Serbian police confiscate humanitarian aid

[10] Police arrest a man on cocaine smuggling charges

[11] Albania - priority of NATO in military field

[12] Albanian-Rumanian cooperation is important for regional cooperation, Rumania PM

[13] Positive signals to boost German investments in Albania, Meidani

[14] SP group favours one-house parliamentary structure

[15] Italian PM says Albania should be helped to restructure army

[16] HRUP insists in having a candidate in municipality

[17] President's decision to exclude DP from CEC is hasty

[18] Sensitizing strike of health trade union

[19] Defence Commission urges drafting project-law on arm collection

[20] Constitutional court violates constitutional provisions

[01] Albania's President Meidani praises Albania-Switzerland cooperation

According to the press and information office, President Meidani briefed parliamentarian Rufi with the positive steps in consolidating of the democratic institutions and the political climate for the stability and democratic normality of the country, said Meidani, at a time when set groups of individuals are trying to prevent the normal flow of democracy, he added.

Meidani explained that so far his efforts have been concentrated on the creation of the climate of consensus among the political forces, the development of the social society and a broad participation of the public opinion in the running the country. A special role in this direction, he said, must be attached to the media and the written press.

President Meidani highlighted the very good bilateral cooperation and the possibilities for more Swiss investments in Albania. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] DP not presenting CEC candidatures for partial local polls

On May 15 President Meidani defined 10 persons to compose the CEC for the polls, due on June 21.

The CEC decree has been partial because the DP has not presented its respective candidatures. Based on the results attained in the elections the DP is entitled to have six seats for commission members and the seat of the deputy-chairman.

All the other members that have taken part in the last local elections have sent to the Presidency the names of the candidates for CEC members.

The report says that for a normal functioning of the CEC, the President for the Republic "is forced by the law to assign candidates of the opposition parties to the seats belonging to the DP.

The opposition parties rank as follows: The Republican party, the National Front party, the Legality Movement party, the Christian-Democratic party, The Social-Democratic Union party, the Democratic Union party, the Right Wing Democratic party, the Christian-Democratic Union party and the Conservative party. /a.ke/s.s./pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Transaction amount allowed up to $500

A testing period will be applied for a certain time when transfers' amount will be up to $500 for client and they can make three transfers per day.

Transfers can be make in GRD, USD and DM. On its part Savings Bank is trying to reduce banking commissions for transfers, so they can be more convenient for customers.

The agreement with Greece eliminates the danger of carrying big amounts of cash while crossing the border. Also the agreement gives a boost to the SV prestige, which operates with legal transfers and sustains the local currency stability.

According to SV deputy director, when Greece in a near future will enter EURO's system, the bank can operate with EURO as well. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Albanian Government to be encouraged with regard to its stance towards the crisis in Kosove

The press and information department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry told ATA that in the meetings with the Romanian Foreign Minister Pleshu and with the Romanian President Konstantinesku, the talks focused on the bilateral, multilateral relations and in the situation in the region.

The Albanian Foreign Minister said that with its nationalistic and intolerant policy in Kosove, Belgrade has created a bed of tension which may spillover to the whole region and broader. He ruled out the illusion that the problem can be solved through a partial solution, adding that an acceptable settlement would be the status of a republic within FRY for Kosova.

Milo said that the negotiations started between Rugova and Milosevic must have a careful observation by the international community. "Belgrade should not be allowed to keep hostage its people and all other peoples of the region with the question of Kosove," said Milo.

President Konstantinesku and minister Pleshu praised the stance of the Albanian Government and said that this approach "should be encouraged in particular because it reflects the maturity and the political realism of a country that is in the heart of the conflict." They added that Rumania hails the beginning of the dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtine and hopes a lot in its success, stressing that the dialogue is the only possible way to give a solution to the issue.

The Rumanian President, Emil Konstantinesku repeated to Minister Milo the invitation for Albanian President Meidani to visit Romania this autumn. /a.ke/s.s./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Japanese grant for primary medical service

The working group of this ministry has decided to spent a part of the money on the complete reconstruction of the out patient clinic No 3 in Tirane and to put into operation 30 per cent of the network of the out patient service of the capital.

The grant will also be used to furnish specialized wards with new medical equipment, to supply them with medicaments and for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure of the primary medical system. A part of the money will be spent to construct a new clinic of the emergency cases for Tirane which will meet the increasing demands for such a service as a result of the growth of the population in the capital.

The first days of July will be the deadline for the delivery of the Japanese grant. So far, the working group of the Ministry of Health has determined the most urgent needs throughout the system of hospitals and the out patient clinics for primary medical service. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Seven houses sold in one day

The value of a flat with two rooms and a kitchen in the city's centre varies from $ 15 000 to 23 000, while in the suburbs it is 20 to 30 per cent less.

There has been a great outflow of the population from the city of Berat. The largest was recorded in 1997, when more than 300 families left the city, scared from the riots and finally settled in the capital and Durres. But, no house is empty. They have been occupied by inhabitants coming from the surrounding areas such as Skrapar, Polican and other towns.

According to the statistics, the city of Berat numbers nearly 70 000 inhabitants. Last year the increase of the number of the population almost stopped, while on a district scale, the demographic movement showed that the population increased by 45.000 inhabitants, with the total number of the population exceeding the 162 000 inhabitants. Some 58 per cent of the people live in the countryside.

New apartment blocks have begun to be built this year again by private firms and the citizens themselves. According to architect Niko Mata, by the end of this year more than 70 families will move in new flats. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Institute of Albanian photography to be set up in Shkoder

The project for the creation of the institute will be realised in two stages. During the first stage, which has already started, the existing building of the photo archives "Marubi" will be rehabilitated and its laboratory and archives will be completely equipped, while in the second stage, envisaged to start by the end of 1998, the staff of the Institute will be named and work will continue for the classification of the fund and the reproduction of the negatives of the photos in Marubi.

The coordinator of the project, Mentor Kopliku, told ATA that the work to set up this institute has began with a fund of $20 000, provided by UNESCO.

The "Marubi" photo-archives is the oldest in Albania and has a fund of 500 000 negatives.

The first works it preserves are of the years 1858-1859 and refer to the most important moments in Albania's history and life in the end of the 19th century and by the beginning of the 20th century. /s.sh/pas/xh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Serbian artillery shoots Drenice villages, two Albanians killed

The missiles of the heavy artillery and the fire opened by the helicopters over the villages of Çitak and Padalisht have destroyed scores of houses. The Serbian artillery has also shot the other villages of Drencie like Buroje, Llaushe, Lecine, Vojnik, Kopiliq, Turicefc, but there are no reports on casualties due to the impossibility to set up contacts with these zones, surrounded by the Serbian forces. /p.ta/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Serbian police confiscate humanitarian aid

The aid destined for the Albanian population and families coming from the villages directly under attack of Serb army were sent to a Serbian settlement.

Reliable sources in Prishtina said that after Serbia has blocked trade of goods in Kosova four days ago Belgrade is likely to ban, starting from tomorrow, the import of foodstuffs for the Albanian private firms. pta/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Police arrest a man on cocaine smuggling charges

In a routine control, the police found cocaine strapped to body of Ludovik Gjergj Mnela, 36, born in Shkoder and resident of New York smuggling, a spokesman of the Police Department of the Tirana Prefecture said.

Mnela, a U.S. emigrant, has left Albania in the last years.

This is the first case that an Albanian national coming from the United States has been arrested of drugs smuggling in Rinas airport.

Albanian nationals and foreigners have been detained in Rinas for smuggling stolen archaeological items. pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Albania - priority of NATO in military field

Colonel Vanselow, who came in Albania several days ago in the head of a delegation with NATO experts in logistics, in the framework of the individual cooperation between NATO and Albania, issued this statement during a meeting with the Chief of the Army General Staff, brigade general, Aleks Andoni.

Andoni on his side said that "the close cooperation with NATO is evident."

The NATO delegation has noticed that the aid which has come recently from the countries of this organization have been well-administrated.

In the framework of the assistance for the Albanian army, considerable aid from Italy was taken today like transports means and logistic materials, as well as logistic materials from Turkey for the commando unit. Aid in logistics has been sent recently even from Greece, France, Switzerland, etc. /a.ke/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Albanian-Rumanian cooperation is important for regional cooperation, Rumania PM

"The ancient historic ties and the current good relations are a secure basis to promote our relations," said Vasile.

"Rumania and Albania have possibilities to give an essential encouragement to the commercial exchanges, ties of business and circulation of capitals," said Vasile.

The chief of the Albanian diplomacy made a description of the whole framework of the Albanian-Rumanian relations, stressing the economic relations and asking the creation of facilities even in the field of regional cooperation.

"The Albanian-Rumanian relations have more reasons to be strengthen at a time when both our countries are going towards the same objective, the European integration," said Milo.

The Rumanian PM expressed the readiness of his government to create consular facilities for the merchants, businessmen, as well as for the representatives of the Albanian science and culture who carry their activity in Rumania. He was ready to sign an agreement for making equivalent the diplomas of the Albanian students studying in Rumania.

Vasile agreed with the thoughts of the Albanian Foreign Minister for a peaceful solution of the Kosova issue by respecting the European standards and supporting a new mentality, which is not that of confrontation anymore, but that of cohabitation and integration.

Minister Milo also met on the same day with the chairman of the House of Deputies, Jon Diakonesku, with the deputy chairman of the Rumanian Senate, Marcea Jonesku Kuintus.

In these meeting, Minister Milo was also accompanied by the Albanian ambassador in Bucharest, Marko Bello.

Albania's Foreign Minister ended his two-day visit in Rumania with the above meeting and returned home. /a.ke/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Positive signals to boost German investments in Albania, Meidani

Eggers issued this statement during the meeting with the Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, where the later considered this meeting a positive signal to promote the cooperation between the two countries.

"The presence of the German companies, the culture and the discipline of work are a positive example in the private business and along with the others are an intensification of traditional ties between the two peoples and countries," said Meidani.

Evaluating the tourism and the possibilities offered by the Albanian coast for the domestic and foreign investments, Meidani stressed the necessity of a greater sensitization of German firms in this direction.

"Even our attention has been focused towards the country's economic recovery to lessen the social-economic burden of the society, meanwhile that we should not lose our energies in the political games of the political-individual interests, when the preoccupations of the people and the pan-national issue are deeply major," added the President of the Republic.

Meidani considered the cooperation of the political forces at an acceptable level for a normal diplomacy, meanwhile that "the conflictual polities still continue in the center." /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] SP group favours one-house parliamentary structure

"After a serious debate, the SP parliamentary group was expressed unanimously pro a one-house system," Pandeli Majko, the SP Secretary General said to ATA after the meeting.

Members of the commission on constitution are divided on a new structure of the Albanian parliament.

Unless an agreement is reached, the issue will be submitted to political forces.

Majko, who is also a member of the Constitutional Commission, has said that the creation of a new two-house parliamentary structure would shake everything positive reached in the last seven years from the institutional point of view. He foresees a multi-faceted crisis in a two- house concept, with unprecedented institutional consequences.

Two co-chairmen of the constitutional commission, Sabri Godo of the Republican party and Arben Imami of the Democratic Alliance party, are pro a two-house parliamentary structure seeing senate as a regulator. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Italian PM says Albania should be helped to restructure army

"The process is going slow and we should do more to help Albania restructure its army," Prodi said.

He said that the assistance in the WEU framework has been part of the wide engagement to restructure police and order forces in general. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] HRUP insists in having a candidate in municipality

The Socialist party (SP) has said that all candidatures have been decided based on understanding.

"If the SP says that all other parties have agreed on the candidates except our party and says that the problem is over, this is another thing," Vasil Melo, HRUP leader who was not present at Monday's round table to discuss the candidates, said to ATA on Tuesday.

He added that the HRUP had not agreed and refused to sign the candidates for mayors of Ura Vajgurore, Patos, Roskovec and urged to have at least a candidate for a town hall.

"I am not responsible for Melo's absence at the round table. I should listen to his arguments and he to mine and to others and at the end the minority should obey to the majority," Gramoz Ruci, the SP Coordination Secretary, said to ATA.

Pandeli Majko, the SP Secretary General said that the HRUP representatives had reached an understanding for all the candidature in Monday's round table.

He added that the parties of the government coalition and the HRUP are expected to approve a political document on the forthcoming partial local elections.

The partial local elections scheduled for June 21 will be held in 16 communes and municipalities. The government coalition including the Socialist party, Social Democratic party, Democratic Alliance party, Human Rights Union party and Agrarian party, as well as National Unity party are expected to have common candidates in the forthcoming elections. /mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] President's decision to exclude DP from CEC is hasty

"The act of the President is very hasty and damages the Albanian democracy. The largest opposition party cannot be excluded from the participation in the CEC at a time when the President himself has violated the law on partial local elections," the DP Public Relations Secretary, Vili Minarolli, told ATA on Monday.

"According to the law on local elections, in cases of resignation or removal of chairmen of communes or mayors, the President should decree the date of partial local elections within six months," said Minarolli.

Anyhow, Minarolli expressed the confidence that President Meidani would withdraw his decision and would respect the Albanian opposition.

DP has not presented yet the names of six members and the deputy chairman in the Central Electoral Commission, although the President's office has requested this officially several times.

The President of the Republic is obliged by law to appoint in the seats belonging to the Democratic Party candidates from the opposition parties which are ranked after it, according to the law on local elections. /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Sensitizing strike of health trade union

"It is a sensitizing strike to enable the organization of our meeting with Minister Solis where we will present our requests which have simply economic character and are without political influences," the chairman of the trade union of the Central Polyclinics in Tirana, the doctor Vaso Vasili told ATA.

The agenda of the meeting includes the corruption in the health sector, the low salaries and the ways for their increase without affecting the state budget, the right of speciality, the administration reform, and others. /mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Defence Commission urges drafting project-law on arm collection

"I think that this project-law is necessary, taking into consideration the international support in this direction. The drawing up can be made either by the Defence Ministry or the Ministry for Local Government or the Council of Ministers, which would enable the collection of weapons only through law," the deputy chairman of the Defence Commission, Arber Qilimi, told ATA on Tuesday.

Qilimi also confirmed the assistance of the United Nations regarding the draft-law because "a draft-law cannot be passed through without the assistance of this organization."

The opinion of most of the commission members is that the collection of arms should be made without any kind of compromise.

The army depots were stormed during last year's turmoil throughout Albania and most of them were looted.

A parliamentary commission, set up to investigate on the responsibilities of last year's unrest, will report in Parliament next week and the commission is expected to also respond among others even on the persons responsible for storming the army depots. /s.s/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Constitutional court violates constitutional provisions

"The constitutional court decides before the ratification whether the international accords reached on behalf of the Republic of Albania conform with the constitution, whether the laws comply with the accepted norms of the international law and other agreements in which the Republic of Albania is a signatory," the constitutional provisions of the Republic of Albania said.

Caka said that she did not believe that the international agreements ratified by the parliament which were not in conformity with the constitution would be reconsidered.

Skender Gjinushi, parliamentary Speaker said to ATA on Tuesday that "conformity with the constitution should be reached for important international agreements in which Albania is the signatory, such as those of military character which are of mutual interests."

He said that one of the international agreements which should be considered whether it conformed with the constitution was Albania's adherence to the Islamic League.

"If Albania's adherence to that League affects its laic character, the constitutional court can decide that the accord should not be ratified, " Gjinushi said.

He did not exclude the possibility of reviewing other disputable accords ratified by the parliament. /mima/ak/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article