Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-11-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Government approves draft-budget for 1999

[02] Albanian gunned down by Greek national

[03] Radio Tirana's 60th anniversary celebrated -President Meidani and Prime Minister Majko attend-

[04] Finland provides aid for Kosova refugees

[05] CEC declares approval of Constitution by November 22 referendum

[06] Dollar exchanged for 142.6 leks

[07] Hajdaraga: military cooperation with Italy of priority

[08] Qosja: November 28, day of spiritual unification of Albanians for common goals

[09] Deserted dinghy sequestered

[10] Constitution, indisputable achievement of Albanian democracy and international assistance - Meidani

[11] New Press Center begins work in Prishtine

[12] New book on Voskopoje

[13] Last treasury bond auction over

[14] Adoption of Constitution opens new vistas to Albania - Rugova

[15] Chirac greetings on National Day of Republic of Albania

[16] Letter of thanks of Albanian Government for commitment of international organizations in the process for constitutional referendum

[17] Government approves draft-project for Ministry of Culture

[18] New Albanian journalists "to learn" in a two-days seminary

[19] Wishes for Albanian friendly people on their National Day - Cetin

[20] The foreign trade - export 7879.8 million leks, import 27752 million leks

[21] CEC result of referendum on Constitution is legal- Çano

[01] Government approves draft-budget for 1999

Prime Minister Pandeli Majko stressed at the government meeting yesterday that this draft-budget is a reflection of the Government's new economic-social politics and the demands of the ESAF 2 agreement.

This budget, said Majko, has also been drafted in close cooperation with IMF experts.

The main objectives of this draft-budget are preservation of macro- economic stability and economic recovery; rapid increase of incomes by 20%, higher than that planned for 1998, through reduction of fiscal evasion.

The new draft-budget aims at keeping a satisfactory level of local investments and stability of foreign investments, further consolidation of the tendency not to create a new debt, which was apparent for the first time in the budget of 1998.

At the same time the draft intends to guarantee social politics in the field of wages and social insurances, which are also expressed with the increase of pensions by 10%, beginning from January 1, 1999, and wages 10%, beginning from April 1.

This draft-budget also aims at increasing the decentralisation level through expanding local autonomy, implementing for the first time the new relationship between the central budget and the local one, giving priority to the latter.

The draft-budget is a reflection of the new scheme of financing the juridical power which fully respects the independence of this power also through the budget.

The draft-budget has been drafted on a new methodological basis, which is the new budget law approved in July this year and which represents a new standard in budget planning.

This draft-law, after approval by the Government, will be submitted to parliament for discussion and approval. /a.gj/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Albanian gunned down by Greek national

Gjirokaster police leading officers, told ATA that the incident took place after a flock of cattle of a Greek farmer from a border village near Radat entered Albanian territory. The debate resulted in a grave conflict, with an Albanian citizen being shot dead by an automatic hunting gun.

The victim, Afrim Kazma, was inhabitant of Lazarat village. While the injured, Gezim Kazma (brother of the victim), is hospitalised in the Gjirokaster regional hospital and his health condition is very grave.

The Kazma family has hired a plot near the Radat village, some 32 km south of Gjirokaster.

The Albanian police in Gjirokaster have requested immediate meeting with the Greek side, which is due tomorrow morning. Through a document presented to the Greek consulate, they have also asked that the Greek police consider the case with priority. /s.sh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Radio Tirana's 60th anniversary celebrated -President Meidani and Prime Minister Majko attend-

The 60th anniversary of Radio-Tirana was celebrated at the Arts Academy on Thursday.

Also attending the activity were President Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and other figures of the Albanian state, culture and art.

President Meidani, speaking of the radio performance despite the difficult material conditions, highlighted the contribution Radio-Tirana has rendered to this century's Albanian civilisation.

He also dwelt on the transformations Radio-Tirana has undergone over the last seven years as well as on the close relationship it has established with the public.

The president awarded Radio-Tirana the order "The Nation's great honour" and the conductor of the Albanian Radio-Television Orchestra, Ferdinand Deda, the order "Great master of work", as an outstanding musician and composer.

The director general of the Albanian Radio-Television, Ardian Klosi, and the director of Radio-Tirana, Martin Leka, spoke of the performance of the radio employees since its creation.

Leka presented the President with a cassette carrying the voice of the Albanian polyhedral figure, Fan Stilian Noli.

Radio-Tirana was created on November 28,1938, when King Zog, through a ceremony, inaugurated the first radio-phonic station in Albania with the name "Radio-Tirana". /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Finland provides aid for Kosova refugees

Inspector for public relations in the Durres prefecture told ATA that this aid was addressed to the Durres prefecture to correctly distribute it to the main centres, where the Kosova refugees have settled. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] CEC declares approval of Constitution by November 22 referendum

The Central Election Commission (CEC) issued the final results of the Constitutional Referendum on Friday at 03.00.

The result released by the CEC on Thursday at 16.30 was not approved as it was rejected by the "Union for Democracy" commission members.

The second voting was held at 03.00 on Friday and the result issued by the CEC was voted by the coalition members of the "Alliance for state" coalition and a member of the Republican Party.

The CEC official report released on Friday morning says that:

-Enrolled in the voting process for the constitutional referendum were 1.914.859 citizens.

-Turnout was 968.346, or 50.57 per cent of the total number of the registered citizens.

-Voting "for" the constitution were 879.488 citizens or 93.5 percent.

The CEC declares the November 22, 1998 referendum on the Constitution of the Republic of Albania approved.

The final official result of CEC was signed by the CEC chairman, Assistant Prof. Dr. Daver Cano, and CEC secretary Shahin Bistri, while the CEC deputy chairman, Dr. Pellumb Cela, did not sign it. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Dollar exchanged for 142.6 leks

Foreign currency	exchange rate
US$ 1			142.60
DM			 84.70
ITL(1000)		 85.50
GRD(100)		 49.80

/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Hajdaraga: military cooperation with Italy of priority

Also attending the meeting was the deputy chief of the Albanian Army's General Staff, Colonel Mehmet Musai.

The Italian General said that his visit to Tirane aims at observing the ongoing cooperation results, spokesman of Defence ministry Albert Mullai told ATA.

Hajdaraga stressed that cooperation with Italy also in military is of priority. He said that the main directions of the joint work are reconstruction of the army and a return to normality, preparation of the main documents of the Security and Defence Policy and cooperation in the framework of the Partnership for Peace Initiative.

Hajdaraga said that the Italian aid has been comprehensive and is estimated at several billion lire.

Hajdaraga extended to Italian General Ottogalli an invitation for Italian Defence Minister Carlo Scognamiglio to visit Albania within December.

The two also discussed other projects such as that on disarming Albanian population, the coastal guard and other projects. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Qosja: November 28, day of spiritual unification of Albanians for common goals

The message says that this year Albania and the Albanian people will celebrate November 28 with an additional joy, that brought by the approval of the democratic Constitution, which testifies to Albania's political and democratic enhancement "We wish that this year, too, the Independence Day be that it has been throughout our national life, a day of Albanians' spiritual unification for common goals and tasks", the message concludes. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Deserted dinghy sequestered

The spokesman of the Guardia di Finanza mission, deployed in Durres port, told ATA that the patrol motorboat of Class V 4000 intercepted a boatload of illegal emigrants within the Durres bay at around 21.00 on Thursday.

Pursued by the motorboat, the owners of the dinghy steered it to the shore, at the site called Mali i Robit, five km north of Kavaje.

The illegal emigrants fled in the direction of the forest, while the owners abandoned the dinghy and failed to retake it because of the coast guard.

The police of Kavaje district commissariat blocked the dinghy at around 24.00 on Thursday and sequestered it.

According to the same sources, at around 02.00 on Thursday, a broken- down dinghy, followed by the patrol motorboat of class V 5000, abandoned 15- 20 illegal emigrants on the Sazan island who were later helped leave the island by the ships of the Group 28 of the Italian Military Marine. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Constitution, indisputable achievement of Albanian democracy and international assistance - Meidani

Expressing the regret for the legal juridical aspect and the contestation on the moral and political planes which are left aside, and which continue to be present in the Albanian political life, President Meidani said the Albanian people legalized with a complete national and civic conscience the new Constitution of the Republic of Albania.

"This is an indisputable achievement of Albanian democracy and of the assistance and support of the international community for Albania," said President Meidani.

Both interlocutors stressed the need for continuous consultations in order to improve the legislation of Albania and in some special aspects of the work in the field of judiciary.

Present in the meeting also were the Minister of Justice Thimio Kondi and the Chief of the Albanian Project for Juridical education, Imholz. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] New Press Center begins work in Prishtine

Maloku also said that the introduction of a draft-study of economic research Institute REINVEST from Prishtine is going to be carried out.

This institute has carried out and published the draft-study, "Economic activity and democratic development of Kosova", in English and Albanian. Draft-study reaches to the conclusion that Kosova is able to be economically independent. It is the most important activity of this private Institute since its creation in May of 1995," KIC points out. This project is supported by CIPE - Center of International Private Enterprises - Washington, some modules, the Open Society Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the British Know How. /P.Ta/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] New book on Voskopoje

In the book is stressed the fact that the cultures of many countries, and especially the Albanian and Armenian cultures coexisted in Voskopoje. The author represents the people of Voskopoje as capable businessmen and managers, painters and artists who leaded the city's life and affected the civilization of Balcan cities.

The book is published by the private Publishing house "Dhori Kote" of Koça town.

The author of the book was born in Voskopoje in 1926, and he has worked there as a teacher. Fallo has published other books on Voskopoje as well.

Voskopoje, situated in the west part of Korçe, reached its development peak in the centuries XVII-XVIII. Despite the Balcan cities, its citizens had commercial relations with Venedik, Vienna, Lapsing etc. The city had schools, churches with huge architectural, decorative values and others. Nowadays Voskopoje is a small village. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Last treasury bond auction over

The Ministry of Finance offered a sum of 1.4 billion leks for the three month period maturity treasury bonds. In fact, the sum wanted during the auction was higher that that offered by the Finance Ministry. The wanted sum was 2.375.950.000. The minimal interest offered was 21%, the maximal interest was 23%, and the middle interest was 22.91%.

For the six month maturity treasury bond the sum offered by the Finance Ministry was 1.450.000.000 leks. The sum wanted in the auction was 1.911.925.000 leks. The minimal interest offered was 21%, the maximal interest was 23% while the middle interest was 22.99%.

The sum offered by the Finance Ministry for the treasury bonds with 12 months period maturity was 3. 207.200.000 leks, while the sum wanted in the auction was 3.207.200.000 leks. /A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Adoption of Constitution opens new vistas to Albania - Rugova

Serb reshuffles from Belgrade to Prishtine are "a known show which we have also seen some months ago," said Rugova today in his news conference, referring to the presence for the second time in succession of the Serb president Milutinovic, last Wednesday in Prishtine. "The talks must be prepared well and yield concrete results. This is the stand of Kosove, of the U.S. mediator Hill, the Contact Group and the international community," said Rugova.

Rugova considered as important for the moment the return of refugees and deployment of NATO troops in Kosove. "We must make more to ensure the return home of the refugees while the deployment of NATO troops would increase the security of the citizens of Kosove," said Rugova, adding that "there are many Serb forces and much violence," in Kosove.

In reply to the question "What has made and what more can Tirane authorities do for Kosove," Rugova said: "Naturally, Tirane supports and must support the aspirations of the people for the independence of Kosove. The approval of the Constitution of Albania, the new constitution, is a step forward in the stabilization of the situation in Albania and opens new perspectives for Albania. "There is not any problem in our relations with Tirane, we communicate normally," replied Rugova to another question, explaining the reasons for his absence in Tirane. "I have been busy with the question of Kosove and the situation in Kosove which has been very grave," said Rugova. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Chirac greetings on National Day of Republic of Albania

"The approval of the new Constitution in your country is a key moment, because the stregthening of democracy asks that the rules of the game be clearly alloted," Chirac wrote in his message to mr Meidani, the President's press and information office reports.

"The international community wants to back your efforts, as it was stressed in Tirane Conference of October 30, but it is the Albanians' duty alone to build up their future," the messages went on.

According to the President of France, the contacts between Albania and France allow the development of a loyal and fruitful dialogue.

"I wish that this favourable climate leads to promotion of our relations in all the fields," ends the message of President Chirac to his Albanian counterpart, Rexhep Meidani. /dast/lola/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Letter of thanks of Albanian Government for commitment of international organizations in the process for constitutional referendum

The spokesman of the Albanian Foreign Ministry, who is authorized to express the thanks on behalf of the Albanian Government, considered once more as groundless and harmful to the image of the country, the recent attacks against representatives of the international community in Albania.

"The international support expressed this time too for the democratic developments in Albania, which aims the continuation of the reforms, consolidation of the cooperation and the processes of integration is of a special importance for the rapid normalization of the local situation and the consolidation of the rule of law," writes the communique of the information office of the Foreign Ministry of Albania. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Government approves draft-project for Ministry of Culture

"This draft-project is expected to be approved by Albanian Parliament, " the mentioned sources said.

This draft-project, along with employees' salaries and social insurances, will also cover different investments, in which restoration of objects with cultural values, rehabilitation of Voskopoje churches, security of museum objects, reconstruction of "Migjeni' theater in Shkoder, etc. will be included. /dast/lola/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] New Albanian journalists "to learn" in a two-days seminary

Sources from the Ministry of Culture told ATA on Friday that "the idea for the realization of this project came because the Albanian press is still below the European standards, although it has made an undisputable progress" and "because of the fact that the majority part of the press leading staffs is made up of young people."

This seminary marks the beginning of a circle of seminaries on Albanian media problems, and will be hold in the grounds of the Congress Palace with the participation of 40 journalists. Foreign journalists are to take place in the seminary as well. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Wishes for Albanian friendly people on their National Day - Cetin

Cetin stressed that "the political forces in Albania must be in unity for the sake of the interests of the nation, leaving aside the splits and boycotts."

Cetin also voiced the continuous support of Turkey to assist Albania in its future and in this regard, he added that "you must also exploit the possibilities that Albanian community in Turkey have."

At the end, Cetin conveyed his greetings to the President of Albania Rexhep Meidani and his Albanian counterpart, Skender Gjinushi.

Attending the reception also were other senior political and military personalities of Turkey, representatives of art, culture, reporters, representatives of the Albanian community in Turkey and of the diplomatic corps accredited to Ankara. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] The foreign trade - export 7879.8 million leks, import 27752 million leks

The humanitarian aids were 1978.8 million leks or 33% more than the second three month period.

48% of the total export and 15.3% of the total import for this timespan was covered by "the textile and shoes" group. This thing shows that the export of goods with ordered material has been important.

"Food, drink and cigarette" group covered about 27.2% of the total export and about 28.7% of import total during the third three month period. About 15.9% of the commercial total import was covered by the "machineries, equipments and spare parts" The main commercial partners during this period have been Italy and Greece.

The European Committee countries continue to occupy the majority part of the commercial exchanges representing about 93.2% of export and 83.7% of commercial export. /A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] CEC result of referendum on Constitution is legal- Çano

The press release, distributed on Friday afternoon by members of the commission, representatives of "Alliance for State" and the representative of Republican Party, said that "CEC commends the work of all voting commissions at all levels, which lead to the realisation of this calm and civic process. The commission, after received and examined the protocls brought from all the districts, released the official result of the referendum on the Constitution."

"The CEC decision adopted by more than half of the CEC members, declares the final voting result as legal," Cano said.

CEC handed over the decision on the final result of referendum on the Constitution to the President of the Republic, who is expected to decree it officially on National Day of Albania. /lh/lol/xh/

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

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