Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-11-11

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Armed men cause terror in Shkoder

[02] "Tirana Trade '98" Fair openes

[03] Calm situation in Shkoder

[04] European Parliament encourages Albanians to take part in constitutional referendum

[05] 40 unemployed to attend professional courses in Greece

[06] Activities of Parliamentary Referendum Commission

[07] NPA declares auction to sell share packages of 9 companies

[08] Bari Municipality Mayor, "Durres Citizen of Honor"

[09] Six projects from Albanian Fund of Development on infrastructure

[10] International Conference "Education in distance"

[11] New trials against Albanians in Peje

[12] Dollar as against 142.5 leks

[13] Kline: Three Albanian bodies identified

[14] Multi-faceted progress observed in Albania - Meidani

[15] Tirane voting lists announcements over

[16] Constitution approval tests responsibility of Albanian political forces, Meidani

[17] Minister Ruka meets Education Federation trade union members

[18] Our present and future have got only one name - west, Meidani

[19] International Monetary Fund estimates macroeconomics program

[20] We are working for an integrated region, in which physic borders should show geographical symbols- Kosova issue, serious problem of international community -

[21] Normal situation in Shkoder

[22] Constitution has been supported by international community

[23] Procedures for Constitution referendum to be accelerated

[24] Seven Albanian political activists arrested in Gjilan

[25] Ministry of Culture and "Butrinti" British Foundation sign accord "Protection of Archeological Park of Butrinti"

[01] Armed men cause terror in Shkoder

A group of gunmen, gathered at the center of Shkoder city on Tuesday afternoon, fired shots into the air, causing terror in the city, sources from Shkoder Police say.

The incident began at noon, after police forces of Commissariat no.1 in Shkoder detained three persons on Tuesday at round 13.00.

Afterwards, a group of people, identified as members of anticommunist associations, protested blocking the street from the Municipality to Prefecture. At around 14.00 they also seized a police car belonging to Commissariat no.1, while at around 16.30 gunmen within this group began shooting into the air. /dast/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] "Tirana Trade '98" Fair openes

"Tirana Trade '98" Fair, organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the auspices of Tirane Municipality, opened on Tuesday in the International Fair Center.

Over 50 l9ocal and foreign companies from different producing sectors of economy, export, service, food and industrial goods trade take part in the fair.

Present in the fair opening ceremony were also Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta, Minister of the Information Musa Ulqini and Mayor of Tirane Municipality Albert Brojka.

According to the organisers, fair's aim is the confrontation of producers and traders in order to increase both the qualitative production, specially for export considering the competition of Albanian goods in the international market, and the export volume for 1999.

Press conferences, business seminars and company presentations will be organised over the days of the fair. /lh/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Calm situation in Shkoder

Today the situation seems calm. Classes and pupils' attendance continues as normal in all the city's schools.

Work goes on normally also in all state institutions, markets and public service units.

Sources from the city's hospital say that there was nothing of concern overnight.

A group of armed men fired shots into the air in the Shkoder city on Tuesday after noon, causing terror in the city, after the police forces of Commissariat 1 detained three persons at around 13.00.

An expanded meeting is expected to be held in Shkoder Prefecture today, with the participation of local authorities, political forces and representatives from international organisations, present in the Shkoder city. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] European Parliament encourages Albanians to take part in constitutional referendum

The 5th Inter-parliamentary conference, European Parliament-Albanian Parliament, was held in Brussels between November 9 and 10.

The Albanian delegation was headed by Maqo Lakrori, Secretary of State for Euro-Atlantic Integration.

The delegation of European Parliament was headed by Ms. Doris Pack, head of the delegation for relations with Southeastern Europe, sources from parliament told ATA.

The topics discussed at the meeting include the current political and economic situation in Albania and the steps to be undertaken.

Albania's relations with its neighbors as well as the results of the International Conference on Albania, held in Tirana on October 30, 1998, were also discussed.

The heads of the two delegations called for dialogue of all political forces and all politicians in Albania, to leave aside the spirit of distrust and confrontation, which hinders the country's development.

They expressed the hope that the Majko government will be able to respond to the serious challenges Albania is faced with.

The heads of the delegation support the stand adopted by the European Union Council on November 9 to develop closer relations between the EU and Albania. They also hold that the role of local authorities should be strengthened.

The next inter-parliamentary conference will be held in Tirane by the end of 1999 after the European elections. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] 40 unemployed to attend professional courses in Greece

"The 40 unemployed youths are from four districts of the Prefecture: Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd and Peqin," Spiro Fara, head of Regional Labour Office told ATA.

The youths will be specialised in tailoring and information. /pas/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Activities of Parliamentary Referendum Commission

Speaking of the performance of Parliament and Parliamentary Constitutional Commission, Gjinushi said that in contrast with Berisha, who in an illegitimate way bypassed parliament and decreed a referendum on the fundamental law without voting it in Parliament, that is an illegitimate referendum, the parliament of this legislature, through legal, constitutional procedures, examined the submitted draft.

"Your representatives, deputies of the People's Assembly voted 80 % FOR the Constitution," said Gjinushi at his meeting with the Puke inhabitants.

On the same day Gjinushi met with the inhabitants of Fushe-Arrez.

Responding to several questions, the member of the Parliamentary Referendum Commission, independent deputy Nikolle Lesi, said that the new Constitution also includes the best chapters of this Democratic Party's draft. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] NPA declares auction to sell share packages of 9 companies

The National Privatisation Agency declares auction for selling share packages of nine companies: Sugar Factory in Maliq, Asbestos Production in Vlore, Tobacco-cigarette in Shkoder, Mechanical workshop in Kukes, Super- phosphate Kurbin in Lac, Construction Material in Elbasan, AJKA Milk in Tirane, Pesticide Production in Durres and Malto Beer in Tirana.

For the Beer Malto and AJKA Milk companies, both in Tirane, the main production activity will be preserved, a condition to be included in the share transference act from the state to the buyer. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Bari Municipality Mayor, "Durres Citizen of Honor"

Simeone Di Cagno is also the coordinator of Italian metropolitan cities Mayors and since 10 years he is Denmark consul of honor. He was awarded the title of honor Dammebrog "Knight of Order", attributed by Queen Margaret II of Danmark.

Di Cango gave an impulse to the relations with Durres signing the Charter of Good-understanding and Cooperation between the two cities on October 2, 1996. While on June 25, 1997 Bari Town Hall approved the sister- city-relations with Durres.

Over this period, Bari Municipality has assisted Durres in several directions. Thus, they brought considerable aid for the hospital and bus park of the city. /A.KE/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Six projects from Albanian Fund of Development on infrastructure

The regional inspector of this fund in the Korce prefecture, Stavri Collaku, told ATA that four projects have been completed, such as the Laktesh road, 5 km, the Trebinje road, 7 km, asphalting of the Petrushe- Cerrave-Leshnice road, 3 km, and the reconstruction of the Bucimas aqueduct.

Meanwhile, the project on asphalting the Beragozhd-Starove road is being completed. Collaku adds that the project has completed and the bid on systematising public service conduits of Pogradec city will be held.

FSHZH has earmarked $130 000 on this project. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] International Conference "Education in distance"

Sources from MES told ATA that this activity was confirmed in a meeting the Albanian Minister of Education and Science, Ethem Ruka had with the Austrian Ambassador in Albania, Arno Ridel.

Also expected to participate in this Conference are the Austrian Minister of Education and Culture, Elisabeth Gehrer, the OSCE representative in Albania, Daan Everts, the U.S. ambassador in Tirane, Mariza Lino and other personalities. /pas/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] New trials against Albanians in Peje

Accused of "cooperation for hostile activity and terrorism", Muje Tafilaj, 30, and Sinan Tafilaj, 24, were each sentenced to three years in jail.

Meanwhile two other Albanians have been arrested in Skenderaj. Muharrem Rama and Agim Prokshi, arrested near the premises of the "Mother Teresa" humanitarian association, are investigated as they are suspected of being members of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Dollar as against 142.5 leks

foreign currency exchange rate with Lek

$US 1 142.50

DM 85.10

ITL(1000) 85.60

GDR(100) 50.00 /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Kline: Three Albanian bodies identified

The same source reports that three Albanians were massacred by Serbian paramilitary forces and their bodies missed the limbs. Serbian Police buried the bodies on July 8 and did not allow to make their identification, Kosova Information Center stressed.

Meanwhile, sources from Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prishtine say that nothing is known about the destiny of 13 Albanians taken as war prisoner in Sopniq of Rahovec during September 3 offensive.

Report on violation of human rights in Kosova, published first week this month, made public the names of round 40 Albanians missing. These names are added to the list of 1 600 people missing in Kosova since January of this year. /pas/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Multi-faceted progress observed in Albania - Meidani

Meidani portrayed the Albanian reality and its perspective, laying a special stress on the democratic developments, freedom, the country's institutional consolidation and other issues, according to the President's Press and Information office.

Meidani said that today's reality is based on the inheritance of western civilisation, that of the value and reason.

He referred to major objectives of the era such as general disarmament, a moral taboo on violence, creation of powerful international institutions and mechanisms, establishment of a real and tangible justice, mutual tolerance of states and nations towards changes, meeting of the fundamental demands for all people, care for environment, global fight against crime, corruption and human degradation.

Meidani said that these issues are significant challenges for the Albanian society.

Referring to the Albanian pluralism since 1991, Meidani said that a multi-faceted progress has been observed, although in certain moments this political life has experienced strong setbacks and signs of regress as against the aspirations of the Albanian people and applicable standards of genuine democratic institutions. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Tirane voting lists announcements over

"We hope to correct directly many mistakes in these lists," the secretary of Tirana town-hall council, Perparim Bodinaku, told ATA on Wednesday.

Three are the main mistakes encountered more frequently in the lists: the absence of the father's name, the birthday, and the exactness of the persons borned in 1980. The same names are repeated often.

"In the majority part of the cases the correction is directly made in the lists," stressed Bodinaku.

In the second phase after publicizing the lists, the bodies announcing them, made the corrections when the person has died or dies, is registered two times, is not registered in the list, does not have the right to vote, or is not in the Albanian territory.

The corrections are made by a group composed of three persons (the administrative chief of the village and two other members of the biggest political forces who are presented in the town-hall council). These corrections can be made up to 48 hours before the opening of the polling stations. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Constitution approval tests responsibility of Albanian political forces, Meidani

"My main concern was to make the constitutional process all-embracing, educative and civil. I have encouraged the role of the local and international non government organizations (NGO), as well as the other organizations, the electronic media, the experts and intellectuals throughout the country to be fully engaged in increasing the sensibility of the public opinion in this process," said Meidani.

"But how much can a democratic state tolerate the divergences and the political polarization in order not to be destroyed?", asked Meidani, pointing out that a minimum of consensus and not the boycott, an agreement for the rules of the game should be found for our country and people, as well as for the political forces themselves.

President Meidani pointed out that the assistance of the international community is very important even to make clear that no political force can be treated as such if it will continue to sabotate the political and democratic processes in the country. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Minister Ruka meets Education Federation trade union members

The aim of this meeting, was "the immediate signing of a contract between the ministry and the federation, as an essential legal act in every democratic country," the spokesman of the Education and Science Ministry, Edlira Myrtaj, told ATA on Wednesday.

The syndicalist leaders treated as well different problems on education, such as wages, the retiring of the teachers and other issues.

The spokesman confirmed that the meeting was held in a climate of understanding between the two parts." /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Our present and future have got only one name - west, Meidani

President Meidani stated that the climate of this cooperation and the challenges of the Albanian society, due to the consequences, inherited by the communist isolation and the polarization of the political life led to the creation of the "Friends of Albania." Meidani said that this group will give a new dimension of cooperation of Albania with the international community.

After briefing on the efforts of the political class regarding the development of the rule of law, of the institutional independence, of the independence and efficacity of the judiciary, President Meidani said that there is no theoretical dilemma in Albania, because the political programs of all the political parties support the rule of law and the democracy built on basis of these institutions. He stressed that he considers the political state as an archaic mentality, which leads to hybrids which are more similar with the dictatorial and autocratic past than with the democratic future.

"A special challenge for the Albanian political class remains the increase of confidence and the mutual respect between the state and its citizens, especially in these moments when there are many social problems and unemployment, and the hope for a normal living standard remains still low," said Meidani.

President Meidani declared that the events which occurred by the middle of September showed that "we have more to do to strengthen the democratic institutions."

In the end, President Meidani said that expanding of NATO, EU, and others, towards the East is a guarantee for irrevocable democratic transformations. "From these viewpoints, our present and future has got only one name - West," said the Albanian President Rexhep Meidani. /pas/A.A/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] International Monetary Fund estimates macroeconomics program

The Albanian Finance Minister, Anastas Angjeli, evaluating the lek stability for more than a year, said that "the calculation of the actual deficit is foreseen to decrease in a considerable amount from 12 % of GDP last year in 8% this year."

"The increasing of prizes 6% during the first three month period, shows that the 10% inflation during 1998, can be achieved within the possibilities," voiced Angjeli.

Even the financial policies, according to the Albanian Finance Minister, have been effective. So the internal fiscal deficit is aimed to be 6.6% of the whole year GDP, as the monetary program is expected to remain within the objectives.

The chief of the IMF chief for Albania, Juha Kakhonen hailed the work done for the realization of the macroeconomics program by the Albanian Bank and the Finance Ministry. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] We are working for an integrated region, in which physic borders should show geographical symbols- Kosova issue, serious problem of international community -

After mentioning what should be achieved in the interior level of the Albanian state, and after appreciating the constant improvement of the friendly relations with the neighbours, the Head of the Albanian State says that we are trying to build an integrated region, where the physic borders should show only geographic symbols of the territorial continuity.

"It is my conviction that the development, prosperity and the integration of our society and of all the Southeastern European countries will remain a slogan if we do not back and implement the European integrating liberal concepts for the emancipation of the inter-ethnic relations," said President Meidani, stressing the importance for the restoration of confidence and understanding between the peoples and nations to gradually increase the exchanges and regional cooperation. Meidani expressed the necessity for the emancipation of the mediae and social mentalities against the xenophobia, nationalism and other issues which hinder the emancipation of the region.

"The violence has no prospective in the solution of disagreements," he stressed.

President Meidani said that as the legal requests of the Albanian people in Kosova were not fulfilled, this issue became a serious problem of the international community. "The intensive efforts of the international community in Kosova should become concrete soon by using the necessary ways and means for finding a solution for the present and the future," said Meidani.

President Meidani presented that the tragic viewpoints of the situation in Kosova and added that the new positive developments in the region are threatened by the leading clique of Belgrade, which continues to be an explosive island of the ethnic hatred of non confidence, ethnic cleansing and genocide in the middle of Europe. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Normal situation in Shkoder

The order police forces are present everywhere, in all the streets of the city.

The people move normally and all the commercial units are open, said the spokesman, adding that the work has continued normally in all state institutions.

According to him, the governor Ali Laçaj organized a meeting with representatives of the anticommunist associations and the local government, regarding the situation created Tuesday afternoon in Shkoder, where a group of people gathered and shot by gunfire.

He explained to the participants that the detention of Marjan Gryka (one of the three arrested,) was not made for political motives, because he is accused of looting when he was member of the Guard of the Republic.

The representatives of the anticommunist associations issued a statement asking to free Gryka, also member of one of these associations.

Lacaj said that the problem of Gryka will be resolved by the justice. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Constitution has been supported by international community

The approval of the Constitution on 22 November is also a great support we give to Kosova in these difficult but historic days, when it is the time that its fate will be decided.

In the end of his speech, Speaker Gjinushi said that one of the reasons that Albania has been destabilized was the lack of the Constitution, that's why it is important to vote for it on 22 November. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Procedures for Constitution referendum to be accelerated

In the meetings held Wednesday, this commission made several changes in the commission members of communes and town-halls, according to the proposals of the Republican Party and the recent instructions of the Central Voting Commission, the chairman of the district commission, Nezir Selimi, told ATA.

Tonin Alimehilli, deputy chairman of the district council, as representative of the Democratic Party, was against the participation in these commissions of the representatives from the Republican Party and the national Unity Party by considering it illegal.

The chairman of the commission Selimi also confirmed that all the voters' lists have been announced in all the polling stations. He added that "we are ready for verification and correction of all remarks that might be presented 48 hours before the voting." /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Seven Albanian political activists arrested in Gjilan

The Serb police have given no reports on the reasons of these arrests.

Some thousands of Albanians have been kidnapped and arrested during this year in Kosova by the Serb forces. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] Ministry of Culture and "Butrinti" British Foundation sign accord "Protection of Archeological Park of Butrinti"

Sources from the Ministry of Culture told ATA that "this agreement has to do with the protection of the archeological park of Butrinti and the grounds around it, drafting of a working program so that the visitors are better familiarized with the monuments of Butrinti, its role and history, improvement of conditions for the visitors, and others.

The British foundation "Butrinti" was set up in 1993 by Lord Rothschild and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover. /lh/mt/

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