Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-23

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Five billion GRD allocated to develop private sector

[02] US to offer greater assistance to Albanian army

[03] Crisis in Kosove still pending

[04] Four public work projects underway

[05] A dinghy with illegals prevented from leaving for Italy

[06] Yugoslav border authorities return Albanian detainees

[07] US ambassador says Albanian-Serb negotiations - a step forward

[08] Return of Saint Mary's icon shows faith in hope and benevolence

[09] Vaccination of Albanian emigrants in Greece to start in May 28

[10] Coalition to have joint name, candidates in local polls

[11] Dinghy intercepted in south of Kepi i Lagjit of Durres

[12] Testing jurists, good initiative and necessity

[13] Declaration of coalition candidate opens electoral campaign in Vlore

[14] Government approves Foreign Ministry draft-acts package

[15] Results of 33rd week matches of national soccer championship

[01] Five billion GRD allocated to develop private sector

Tirana, May 23 (ATA) - Albanian government has sent to Parliament for approval the draft law "On loan ratification between Albanian and Greek governments to support the private business development".

The program which costs 5 billion Greek Drachmas will be implemented through credit lines for the development of private sector in Albania.

The credit will be disbursed with a maturity of 25 years, five percent interest and a grace period of seven years.

The 5 billion GRD amount will be used to support private business, giving priority to Greek and Albania companies and joint ventures between these two countries, which suffered damage during the last year unrest in Albania.

Albanian government will channel this fund through a mediator bank, which will credit private sectors within a general framework to be defined in an agreement by Albania and Greek Finance ministry.

The bank will operate with its clients in accordance with market conditions and within the criteria approved for credit activity.

The agreement is part of programs to be financed by the 20 billion GRD fund of Greek government for Albanian government.

Until now Greek government has disbursed only 2 billion GRD from the fund to support the balance of payments.

Also, on April 24 was signed the agreement of soft term loan to support the macroeconomics sector with a 3 billion GRD loan.

The agreement is signed between two countries' Central Banks and will be disbursed soon. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] US to offer greater assistance to Albanian army

President Meidani praised the meeting of the deputy Defence ministers of the Southeastern Europe in Tirana as an event, which will contribute to the promotion of cooperation between the regional countries in the framework of Partnership for Peace, press and information office close to the presidency said.

"Albania will constantly support every regional initiative to help build confidence and increase cooperation between the regional states as well as between Albania and NATO," Meidani said.

As regards today's Belgrade-Prishtina talks and attitudes of the participating sides, Meidani said that mechanisms to help build confidence between the sides for a realistic solution to the issue through democratic dialogue should be found.

The meeting focused on the general situation in the Yugoslav federation and the best relations between Albania and Macedonia.

The U.S. assistant Secretary of Defence stressed the seriousness of the U.S. undertaking for a solution to the Kosova issue and praised Albania's cooperation to that. He assured president Meidani for a greater U.S. assistance for the Albanian army.

The U.S. ambassador to Tirana Marisa Lino was present at the meeting. ake/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Crisis in Kosove still pending

"The crisis in Kosove is still pending," said Ilir Bocka, Albanian Deputy Defence Minister, stressing that "the Yugoslav (Serb) system is far from being democratic," when it declares "a policy of challenge towards Kosove, as well as towards the international community."

Bocka called for an "immediate withdrawal of the Serbian troops from Kosove, the interruption of violence and the beginning of a serious dialogue in the presence of a third presence."

According to him, a significant increase of the Serbian military presence on the border with Albania, the military operations and the commitment of the FRY Premier, Bulatovic, are stepping up the tension. "The Albanian Government has clearly and categorically stated that it is for a political peaceful solution to the question of Kosove," he said.

Franklin D Kramer, U.S. Assistant Defence Secretary stressed, after a detailed explanation of the situation in Kosove, the U.S concern about the situation there, the violence used against the unarmed population. "We back up Albania in the program of individual partnership. We consider Albania and Macedonia as the hottest beds with regard to the question of Kosove for the very position they have," said Kramer.

The Italian representative condemned the used of violence in Kosove, while the Greek representative stressed that "the solutions should be made in the contest of the international commitment." The Bulgarian representative in the meeting underlined his support for the decisions of the Contact Group and described as positive the bilateral Milosevic-Rugova contact.

The Turkish representative considered Kosove as "one of the most important elements for the stability in the region," while the Macedonian representative said that "the problem is difficult." /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Four public work projects underway

Each project will have a three-month time span and around 150 people will be employed, the spokesman of ministry of labour said Saturday.

Employment through public work projects has started to be applied recently by the ministry of labour to lower the number of jobless people.

Until now, people encompassed in these projects have received welfare, but the moment work is provided for them, they are excluded from the social assistance scheme.

Some 150 other people will enter the economic assistance scheme replacing the 150 employed people in those four public work projects. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] A dinghy with illegals prevented from leaving for Italy

The chief of criminal police of this commissariat, Odise Ndreu, told ATA that border police forces and those of public order were placed in alert in the coastal zone near Mali i Robit, 8 km north of Kavaje. At about 8.30 p.m., the dinghy with more than 20 illegals on board, which was ready to set sail, finding itself surrounded by police, and after leaving the illegal people on the seashore and left in the open sea. Police forces detained eight of the would-be-emigrants, 3 of whom were girls from Skrapar, Ballsh and Kamza.

Ndreu added that the owner of the dinghy was identified, his name was Mehmet Gjoci, from the town of Kavaje, while vehicles of Guardia di Finanza are looking for the dinghy, with only the owner on board.

Recently, vehicles of Guardia di Finanza with Italian-Albanian staff, in cooperation with police forces of the coastal districts, have prevented from leaving scores of dinghies with illegal people ready to make for the Italian coast, also favoured by the good weather. /s.sh./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Yugoslav border authorities return Albanian detainees

The Yugoslav authorities handed over to the Albanian border crossing of Qafe Prush (Has) at 18. 00. p.m. the Albanian nationals Vehbi Malaj, 52, and Kujtim Bardhoshi, 35, both from Peraj village.

They have been caught by the Yugoslav border guards on May 6 some 100 meters inland the Yugoslav territory grazing cattle.

Malaj and Bardhoshi have been punished with 15 days in prison for illegal border crossing in the Peja jail. s.s/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] US ambassador says Albanian-Serb negotiations - a step forward

He told journalists at the office of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) that both sides discussed the ongoing negotiations and need to build up confidence measures.

"Some of these measures are clear," Hill said, adding that "to have successful negotiations shootings should be stopped."

He believed that these things should be considered soon.

"We are at the beginning and at this phase none should have great hopes. I think that the sides are listening to each other and it is clear that they are dealing with many things. We hope the process can continue and that it should be given an impetus," Hill said.

He said that the situation in the ground was extremely difficult and dangerous and expressed the hope that the next meeting would be held within a week, as it was scheduled in the framework of Rugova-Milosevic negotiations.

"Today's meeting is the first step though we are still away from a substantial progress," Hill said.

Asked on what capacity he was in Prishtina, ambassador Hill said "the situation in Kosova is difficult and there is no need to discuss titles or functions."

Nevertheless, he added that he was the member of the Gelbard- Holbrooke delegation and had been instructed to stay there and see what he could do. pta/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Return of Saint Mary's icon shows faith in hope and benevolence

After expressing the great values of this present that His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second gave to the Catholic worshippers of Shkodra and all its people in this day of peace, the message said: "After more than five centuries, the icon of Saint Mary returned once again from where she left. This return is a testimony of faith in hope and benevolence. Let's hope that She returned bringing with her the everlasting bless and pardon, virtues which the Albanian people and nation need in these difficult times they are experiencing."

"On this occasion, let us pray to Mother Saint Mary that through her love and goodness help us ennoble our troubled spirits, illuminate our minds for more faith and engagement in the future of a prosperous Albania and our nation," Nano said in his message. s.sh/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Vaccination of Albanian emigrants in Greece to start in May 28

All the children of the Albanian emigrants in Greece will take the vaccine during this campaign.

The Health Ministry of Greece is taking measures to prevent the infectious diseases noted recently among the Albanian emigrants living in Greece. /a.ke/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Coalition to have joint name, candidates in local polls

The five coalition parties: The Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance, the Human Rights Union Party and the Agrarian Party, as well as the National Unity Party, included in the partial local elections, signed on Saturday a political agreement regarding these elections.

"The political agreement clearly showed the position of all political parties. I think it is the event which represents the idea and the concept of what was realized after the June 29 polls," the SP Secretary General, Pandeli Majko, told ATA after signing the accord.

While for the President of DAP, Neritan Ceka, this act is a proof of the political will to rule the country.

"For this reason it was chosen even the name which represents the rule of law; on the other hand it is a proof made before the Albanian electorate for the nine months of governing, as well as a step towards the XXI century, for a broad-based coalition which will be institutionalized right after the elections," Ceka told ATA.

The coalition will set up joint electoral commissions for the partial local elections to be held on June 21 of this year.

After these elections, the coalition parties will convene in the political table to define the modalities of the long-term operation of the governing coalition.

The symbol of the coalition for the local polls will be an emblem with a circular green field, two joint hands, six stars and the initials of six parties.

"SP and SDP have fielded up joint candidates since the parliamentary elections of June 29, 1997. Before these elections, SP, SDP and DAP signed a preliminary political agreement for the governing coalition after the elections, which was joined after that by the HRUP and the AP. The NUP does not participate in the government coalition. /a.ke/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Dinghy intercepted in south of Kepi i Lagjit of Durres

The spokesman of the Guardia di Finanzia mission deployed at the Durres port told ATA that after a signal from the Kavaje district police station, the motorboat V 5004 and a speedboat of the Durres border police, at around 13.20 on Saturday, intercepted a dinghy with three persons on its board, two miles from the Kepi i Lagjit.

The Albanian-Italian forces ordered the persons on board to stop. The dinghy took the direction of the shore but upon arrival the three persons were on the run.

The same source adds that at around 14.00, the dinghy, six meters long with two Fuoribord motors, was found in the deserted beach, three km south of the Kepi i Lagjit.

The dinghy is also thought to be the same which escaped the Kavaje police forces on Friday, leaving on shore 20 illegal emigrants, of whom eight were detained, the source says.

On Saturday the dinghy was impounded at the Durres port.

The spokesman of the Guardia di Finanza also said that three dinghies with illegal emigrants, setting sail to Italy from the mouth of the Vjosa river, north of Vlore, were turned back on the night of Friday by the Italian-Albanian forces.

On the same day, the patrol motorboat spotted, six miles from Kepi i Rodonit, 30 km, north of Durres, two speedboats sailing towards Montenegro from Italy. The speedboats "Freccia 1" and Freccia 2", must be Italian, dealing with cigarette smuggling from Montenegro to Italy. The Guardia di Finanza pursued them up to the Yugoslav territorial waters, but failed to block them. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Testing jurists, good initiative and necessity

"We all are aware of the fact that the judges who have not the required professional level are not few," Hoxha said.

The Tirana court numbers some 50 judges who have graduated from the Law Faculty, of whom 14 have the diplomas of six-month courses.

Asked what do they think about testing prosecutors and judges, the majority show approval, but some show surprise at this testing.

The jurists' test will be applied by the High Council of Justice. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Declaration of coalition candidate opens electoral campaign in Vlore

The declaration of the candidature of doctor Neki Dredha for the Vlore-city mayor, as representative of the governing coalition, opened the campaign for partial local elections in this city, today.

Dredha, currently director of the Vlore hospital, was assigned by the leadership of the SP branch for Vlore, as the local coalition of the parties participating in governing gave it the right to present its candidate.

A marathon meeting, also attended by SP Secretary general Pandeli Majko, parliament's deputy chairman Namik Dokle and Finance Minister Arben Malaj, ended the prolonged debate on the two candidatures, Dredha and the current Vlore city co-mayor, Devid Tushe.

Meanwhile Tushe on Saturday made known his decision to run for independent candidate in these elections.

The other political subjects have not yet declared the names of their candidates, who will compete for mayor on June 21.

For more than one year, the Vlore city-hall has been run by two co- mayors, SP and DP representatives, who replaced Gezim Zile, who had resigned. Zile, put forward as a candidate by the DP, had ran the Vlore city-hall since the local elections of October 20,1996. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Government approves Foreign Ministry draft-acts package

The Council of Ministers' Media and Information Department told ATA that the approved package of draft-acts of the Foreign Ministry, is composed of three draft-laws and two draft-decisions: the draft-law "On foreign service of the Republic of Albania", draft-law "On exercising consular functions by the diplomatic or consular missions" and the draft- law "On reaching international treaties and agreements".

One of the approved draft-decisions of the Foreign Ministry envisages that several diplomatic and consular missions open or close and concretely agrees that the embassy of the Republic of Albania opens to Israel, a Representation Office is set up in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, general consulates of the Republic of Albania open in Bari and Salonika, and that the embassy of the Republic of Albania to Pakistan closes.

The government also approved the draft-decision "On the control and administration of the loan-taking companies which are under investigation process by the Coopers & Lybrand company.

This company has won the bid held for the control and administration of 12 loan-taking companies and concretely:Gjallica, Side, Global Foods, Reno sh.p.k., Populli. Demokracia Popullore-Xhaferri, Premti, Dea, Esperanca, Al Delon, Arkond, Grunasi.

The Council of Ministers also approved several other draft-decisions such as "On carrying out investments by water system departments", "On Government Foreign Debt Negotiating Committee", "On National Food Board powers" and other draft-decisions. /a.ke/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Results of 33rd week matches of national soccer championship

the 59th national soccer championship

played on Saturday afternoon:

Tomori - Shqiponja 1-0

Flamurtari - Partizani 2-1

Dinamo - Laçi 7-1

Apolonia - Lushnja 1-0

Bylis - Besa 2-1

Tirana - Sopoti 1-0 (on Friday)

Skenderbeu - Vllaznia 3-2

Shkumbini - Teuta 3-1

Albpetrol - Elbasani 1-2

Standings:

Vllaznia 71

Tirana 65

Partizani 61

Teuta 53

Apolonia 52

Shkumbini 51

Elbasani 49

Tomori 47

Skenderbeu 45

Laçi 45

Bylis 45

Dinamo 44

Lushnja 44

Flamurtari 43

Besa 41

Shqiponja 37

Sopoti 35

Albpetrol 19

/A.KE/pas/lm/

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

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