Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-12-11

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] The approval of draft law about the returning the money of piramidal schemes postponed next monday

[02] Transport donors:" Quick solution to the dispossession problem"

[03] Tax incomes: Private companies help the total income by 51%

[04] Meidani awarded title "Doctor Honoris Causa"

[05] OSCE provides aid for Malesi e Madhe police

[06] Some 1.400 private subjects, members of Vlore Chamber of Commerce

[07] Snow blocks roads in Puke

[08] Odise Grillo chosen by International Centre of Distinguished Leaders' Biographies

[09] Shuli asks acceleration of road reconstruction

[10] OSCE mission regional centre opens in Prizren

[11] Measures to prevent spread of viral hepatitis

[12] International community not reconciled to boycott of constitutional process and parliament - Rumeliotis

[13] Albanian Government follows students' strike with responsibility

[14] Clarification of Albanian PM's cabinet on request for release from post of SHIK chairman

[15] USD losing points as against Lek

[16] Those who lead student hunger strike have no relation with students - Minister

[17] Some $ 23 million accorded by WB to rehabilitate Durres port

[18] Some 16.000 emigrants smuggling repatriated in Durres harbor for 11 months

[19] Kosova, the country with most violations of human rights, CPHRF

[20] WEU Secretary General to visit Albania

[21] University teachers annulled ione hour stoppage

[22] President Meidani meets with compatriots in Bulgaria

[23] Customs house indexes - 29.4 billion leks

[24] Defence Minister of Albania Luan Hajdaraga leaves for Bosnia

[25] Austrian Minister of Education to visit Albania

[26] OSCE office established in Korce

[27] Economic and Financial Parliamentary Commission starts discussion on 1999 draft-budget

[28] Viral Hepatitis A is not a mere epidemic

[01] The approval of draft law about the returning the money of piramidal schemes postponed next monday

Tirana, 10 December/ATA/ - In the parliamental sesion hold Thursday focused on draft law "Debt duties and returning of wealth values by juridical persons, owened from the people".

According to the information of Transparence Supervision Group about piramidal schemes, 30.673 is the number of the creditors that has taken the money in deposit, after the date of the companies collapsed on January 23, 1997.

The main group include 1,990 creditors, that has taken 64$ milion after that day. Three proposal for modifications is submited in the Parliamental Commission of Economy and Finance. The first proposal exclude the creditors that had taken the sum of 2.000$ from the piramidal schemes. The second proposal was thrown not to include as debitors those who has taken 5.000$, while the third one does not predict any change in the draft law.

The parliament has to approve the draft law considering the changes done today, but lacking the needed number of deputies to pass the law, the chairman of the parliament Skender Gjinushi, postponed the session next monday, 16.00./pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Transport donors:" Quick solution to the dispossession problem"

Tirana, 10 December/ATA/ - "One of the main obstacle in roads constructing is the slow process and the problems resulted from dispossession", stressed the transport donors in thursday meeting in Tirana.

According to minister of transport and public affairs, Ingrid Shuli, new amendaments has been added to complete the law, that would help in solving the dispossession problems.

Suplement fund of 145 milion lek is in disposition about dispossessions in 1998, while in 1999 1.2 billion lek are predicted to used for this purpose./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Tax incomes: Private companies help the total income by 51%

Tirana, December 10/ATA/ - Tax duties income for ten-month period is 17.4 billion lek or 81% of annual prediction. They are 60% higher than those of the same period of 1996.

Beside the objective factors of economical growth, the measures taken against the fiscal invasion, had effected in increase of tax duties income.

The income from VAT are predicted to be 9 billion lek, according to the analyses, that is twice comparing with 1997.

A good incomes are expected by the tax duties on small bisness, resulted in an increase to 160% as against last year marked 70%.

The private sector had contributed by 51% in total tax duties income, as against 42% of 1994./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Meidani awarded title "Doctor Honoris Causa"

Wearing academic clothes, Prof. Dr. Rexhep Meidani, accompanied by the rector of the Sofia University, Prof.Ivan Lalov, entered the hall where the decoration ceremony was held, according to the president's press office.

Prof. Lalov, after describing the scientific activity of Meidani, his old academic relations with the Sofia university, declared the decision of the High Academic Council of this University to award the President of the Republic of Albania the title "Doctor Honoris Causa".

Alongside this high title the Council also awarded Meidani the Highest Decoration of Honour.

This is the third academic honour to the President of the Republic of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, after those provided by the Istanbul and Salonika Universities.

Thanking for this honour to him, Meidani said in his speech that "The Academic Communities positively precede the integration processes throughout the region."

On Thursday afternoon, the President of Bulgaria, Peter Stojanov, and his wife visited the official residence of Albanian President Rexhep Meidani to bid him farewell. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] OSCE provides aid for Malesi e Madhe police

The chief of the district police commissariat, Fiqiri Dani, told ATA that this aid consists of 10 intercommunication radios for the border police, to enable communication throughout our border belt, beginning from Vrake to Vermosh, some 110 kms long.

The OSCE office in this district was opened five months ago, mainly to observe the situation along our border line. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Some 1.400 private subjects, members of Vlore Chamber of Commerce

Some 1.400 private subjects have become members of the Vlore district Chamber of Commerce.

This figure is confirmed to ATA by the secretary of this Chamber, Petrit Levendi, who explains that it makes 52 per cent of the total number of the private subjects operating in Vlore district.

Levendi adds that this number has increased and in comparison with the last year it is five per cent higher.

Membership in this institution is an additional possibility to provide the businessmen with greater visions and possibilities to exercise activity in other states, says Levendi.

Based on the contacts established, the Chamber of Commerce offers manuals providing data on well-known markets in Europe, especially Greece, Italy, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia and other states.

The future projects, Levendi says, include the construction of a business center, which will further promote the private activity. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Snow blocks roads in Puke

The snow that fell overnight in the district of Puke (northern Albania) has blocked some of the main roads in this district.

The spokesman of the district police commissariat told ATA that the main roads connecting Puke with the districts of Tropoje and Kukes and Puke with Rreshen have been blocked. The snow is 20 cm thick in the Puke town, 50 cm in Qafe Mali, while in the areas of Iballe and Fierze 50 up to 70 cm.

According to the spokesman, the police forces, in cooperation with the department of the road maintenance enterprise in the district, are closely following the work to unblock the roads.

Meanwhile, there have been difficulties in supplying the population with water and electricity, while the remote mountainous areas of the district, such as Iballe, Fierze and Bleran, have long since been supplied with winter reserves. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Odise Grillo chosen by International Centre of Distinguished Leaders' Biographies

This encyclopaedia, which provides bio-bibliographic data on renowned figures of literature, literary studies, music and scientific researches is published in March of each year, and this time it will also include the names of two of the most renowned writers of the Albanian literature for children, Bedri Dedja and Odise Grillo.

Writer Odise Grillo, in his creativeness, mainly for children, includes up to 124 editions such as poems for children, poems, tales, translations etc. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Shuli asks acceleration of road reconstruction

The minister of Public Works and Transport, Ingrid Shuli, asked from bid winning companies higher rates and total mobilisation in road reconstruction.

At a meeting with foreign donors in transport held at the Council of Europe (CoE) headquarters in Tirane this afternoon, Shuli presented the road infrastructure as dramatic, also due to the inherited situation and increase in the volume of transport.

She asked from the donors support for short and mid-term interventions and made a presentation of the implementation of the major projects included in the 8th road.

Referring to the railway network, she said that the existing lines should be reconstructed and new lines linking Albania with the neighbouring states be built.

As to the air transport the participants urged the reexamination of the Master Plan of the Rinas Airport as well as the possibility of building a new terminal with a capacity for 0.5 million passengers per year, and the foreign donors were asked financial support and assistance.

Attending the meeting were donors from various countries financing projects in transport, representatives from international financial organisations active in Albania, such as the World bank, USAID, European Commission, who are expected provide their conclusions on the ongoing financing in transport. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] OSCE mission regional centre opens in Prizren

Also attending the ceremony on the occasion in Prizren, where 110 verifiers have so far arrived, was the chief of the OSCE mission in Kosova, William Walker, and the ambassador of Great Britain in Belgrade, Brian Donelly. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Measures to prevent spread of viral hepatitis

Sinan Agolli, director of the district's public health, told ATA that controls and drinking water analyses are being carried out in the Bilisht town and villages to prevent the spread of viral hepatitis.

He said that there have been 12 cases with viral hepatitis in the Cangonj village due to obsolete water pipes and mixture of drinking water with sewages.

Agolli stresses that the emergency situation has been coped with and that the virus of hepatitis is of Group A and does not pose any problem of consequences for the health of the sick. He stressed that all pipes are chlorinated daily. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] International community not reconciled to boycott of constitutional process and parliament - Rumeliotis

Speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi on Friday met with the European Union (EU) coordinator for the Royaumont Initiative, Panaiotis Rumeliotis.

"Our initiative is within the framework of the EU and aims at stability in the South-Eastern Europe, the parliament's press office quoted Rumeliotis as saying.

"The European Community devotes great importance to Albania's stability," said Rumeliotis.

He dwelt on aspects of cooperation between the Albanian parliament and South-Eastern European Parliaments in the framework of the Royaumont initiative.

"An inter-parliamentary meeting for this purpose will be held in Skopje next year. The EU includes training of parliamentary personnel and new deputies of this region in its programme," he said.

Gjinushi considered this initiative significant, in the framework of regional integration and broader.

Referring to developments in Kosova, Gjinushi said that the Albanian parliament has expressed itself in favour of a peaceful solution, supporting the legitimate right of the Albanian population in Kosova to self-rule.

Meanwhile, referring to the approval of the constitution, Gjinushi said that this will serve the consolidation of the rule of law and state institutionalisation.

He said that there are political forces which tend to destabilise the situation, as on September 14. The International Community, he added, knows well these actors of the country's destabilisation.

Rumeliotis said that the International Community has not reconciled itself to the boycott of the constitutional process and of parliament. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albanian Government follows students' strike with responsibility

"Considering strikes inevitable phenomena of the democratic transition process, the Albanian government is committed to making all the proper efforts to respect and guarantee their rights and freedoms," the spokesman says.

Determined to realise its priorities in the field of order and economic stability of the country, the government remains ready to institutionally negotiate with all those who respect the law, far from any form of imposition and violence, the spokesman concludes.

The statement of the spokesman follows the beginning of the hunger strike by a number of students at the compounds of the Studenti Campus in Tirane who on Thursday had asked a meeting with the Albanian Prime Minister. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Clarification of Albanian PM's cabinet on request for release from post of SHIK chairman

Based on his constitutional competence, on Dec.2, 1998, the Prime Minister Majko made a proposal to the President of the Republic, with a motivating report attached to it, for the release of Klosi from the post of the chairman of the National Information Service.

On the basis of the law 7495 dated 02.07.1991 "On the organization of the National Information Service, this service is a central institution depending on the Council of Ministers and "the Chairman of the Council of Ministers has the attribute of directing, of the political responsibility and the information activity in defence of the interests of the democratic constitutional order and the institutions set by Constitution," ends the clarification of the PM's cabinet, referring to the request for the release of SHIK chairman, Klosi. /y.pa/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] USD losing points as against Lek

Exchange rate of foreign currencies with lek:

Kind of currency	Bought	Sold
USD			139.0	140.9
DM			 83.0	 85.65
LIT(1000)		 82.7	 87.5
GRD(100)		 48.8	 50.65

/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Those who lead student hunger strike have no relation with students - Minister

The minister pointed out the political character of the strike, which, he said, "is being exploited by Berisha and his clan to spoil the image of Albania before the international opinion precisely during the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration."

"Those who are leading the strike," said Ulqini, "have nothing in common with the students, moreover some of them have no student passes at all."

Minister Ulqini said that "despite other challenges the government is facing, it has not neglected the problems of the students. In these moments, the government is completing some projects related to the improvement of conditions in the Campus, beginning with the most emergent one, which is heating, and with others."

The general students strike, which has started days before, aggravated yesterday with the hunger strike waged by a representative group of students from Tirane, Shkoder, Elbasan, Gjirokaster and Vlore.

The strikers demand an improvement of the student status, growth of scholarships, improve of living conditions in hostels and other demands.

Minister Ulqini said that "PM Majko has been very sensitive to the problems of the students, and this is seen in his commitment to the drafting as soon as possible of the law on higher education, with a special chapter of it devoted to the autonomy of universities."

According to Ulqini, "today's incident, when the son of Sali Berisha, accompanied by some individuals who looked more as bodyguards than students, had prevented the students in the main gate of the Faculty of Law, from taking part in classes, needs no comment for the very political nature of the strike," ends the pronunciation of Information Minister on the strike of the students. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Some $ 23 million accorded by WB to rehabilitate Durres port

The director of the port, Leonodha Gjermeni, told ATA that all the conditions put by the WB for the releasing of this sum are almost completely covered by now. He also added that during these months the decrease of the working power, which is one of the conditions placed by the WB, continued. Some 500 workers are given assistance, while some 130 others are scheduled to be given a technical assistance by the end of May. The deployed workers are given another cash year wage despite the one-year assistance.

Representatives of the WB met with the leaders of the Durres harbor, to see the realizing of the conditions put by the WB. Gjermeni told that the representatives of this bank were contented with their work so far, and added that the WB project for the rehabilitation of the harbor is efficient now and the funds are released. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Some 16.000 emigrants smuggling repatriated in Durres harbor for 11 months

There are many prostitutes among the returned persons. According to the harbor police sources, approximately 5 prostitutes caught by the Italian police forces while exercising their "profession" have reached the Durres port every day. Some 1.700 are repatriated in Durres harbor for the 11 month period, and many of them are repatriated more than 4 times.

The figure of the returned emigrants smuggling is even bigger if we take into consideration the fact that the emigrants smuggling repatriated by Guardia di Finanza, with its headquarter in Durres, are not accounted. Guardia di Finanza has made possible the capture and repatriation of thousands of persons while setting sail for Italy by dinghies. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Kosova, the country with most violations of human rights, CPHRF

According to him, the Serb infantry machine have killed and massacred 1 831 Albanians, only in this year. Out of this number 200 were children, while more than 2 000 others are disappeared, kidnaped or arrested.

Nushi said also that the Serb forces have bombarded, destroyed and burned 432 houses and several cities with more than 40 000 houses in one year period. Some 40% of the population are obliged to leave the country, and go towards different world and Europe countries trying to find the necessary living conditions. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] WEU Secretary General to visit Albania

During the first day of his visit, Kutiliero is to hold meetings with the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, with the Public Order Minister, Petro Koçi, with the Albanian Premier Pandeli Majko and with the Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi.

On his second day of visit, the WEU Secretary General will hold a mutual meeting with the representatives of the Parliamentary Commissions of the Public Order, and the Foreign Policy. He will also meet the Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani.

He will organize meetings with the WEU ambassador and other international bodies.

The WEU Secretary General, Kutiliero, will hold a press conference at the end of his visit. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] University teachers annulled ione hour stoppage

According to the secretary of the trade union, Vaso Kosta, after a meeting held with the Rector of the University, the trade union members agreed on a number points of the 20-point petition they had presented to the Rector's office.

The rector Banush Mezini said that he had no competence to meet most of the requests of the petition. Mezini considered as groundless the character of ultimatum of some of the demands of the teachers, such as a 50 % salary increase, removal of the solidarity tax, etc. and according to him, the petitioners themselves were not clear of what they demanded and how to attain it.

Normal classes continued today in E Cabej University. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] President Meidani meets with compatriots in Bulgaria

President Meidani congratulated his compatriots for the fact they they had preserved the national language, culture and pride, highlighting the other fact that a part of them, though had left Albania long ago, had maintained fanatically the Albanian nationality.

President Meidani paid a visit to the U.S. University in Bulgaria in which 600 students attend classes, and 35 of them are Albanians, as members of a group of 150 foreign students in that university.

President Meidani held a lecture on the topic "Globalism and Education," in one of the halls of the University. Then he responded questions by students from different countries with regard to the political position of Albania in the region, the question of Kosove, etc.

President Meidani and Minister of Education Et'hem Ruka had a meeting later with the Albanian students alone.

Meidani said to the Albanian students that wherever they are study and working, they are a part of the dignity of Albania and that the Albanian society is in great need of their knowledge and work. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Customs house indexes - 29.4 billion leks

But the main factor, is a subjective factor and is directly connected with the smuggling, corruption and fiscal evasion in the custom house Administration.

The positive effects resulting from the struggle against the smuggling, corruption and others, are expected to be reflected more during the current month. Taking into consideration the continuous improvements and the increasing struggle against corruption and fiscal evasion, the realizing of the incomes in the custom house system is foreseen to be realized by 84% of the level foreseen at the beginning of the year. /A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Defence Minister of Albania Luan Hajdaraga leaves for Bosnia

The visit of Hajdaraga is in the course of the inspections in all Albanian military units. He is accompanied by the Albanian Army General Staff Chief, Brigade General, Aleks Andoni. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] Austrian Minister of Education to visit Albania

Gehrer will take part in the Conference "Democracy in Education" due in Tirane and after the conference, she, together with Albanian Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, and the director for Education, Youth and Sport in the Council of Europe, Raymond Weber, will have a news conference. /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] OSCE office established in Korce

John Mattson, chief of the office, said to ATA that "the aim of the inauguration of the office is to assist the region of Korce to develop after West European democratic standards and to observe the respect of the human rights and freedoms according to the charter of that organization."

Mattson said that OSCE office will make a special work with the students of Fan Noli University and with pupils of secondary schools in order to inculcate in them the loftiest principles of European civilization. The office will make a financial contribution also to the projects for environment, tourism and economy.

At present, OSCE is helping with the project of afforestation of the outskirts of the city, by buying the the saplings needed for this purpose.

Although Mattson has only a few days staying in Korce, he said that "One can easily see that Korce is a city with deep cultural roots." /lh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Economic and Financial Parliamentary Commission starts discussion on 1999 draft-budget

According to the set time modules, the project on the state budget is to be discussed up to December 16, and it is to be discussed by the parliamentary groups as far as December 21.

According to Gjinushi, there exist two variants for the approving of the draft-budget. The first variant should be introduced in the plenary session in Parliament and is to be approved by December 21-23, while in the second variant the project-budget ought to be approved by the parliament by December 28. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] Viral Hepatitis A is not a mere epidemic

The First Health Aid Department in the Ministry has made a valuation of the situation and on the basis of the information it has received, the situation of the disease is in normal proportions, as compared with the past years.

According to health department chiefs in districts, most of the cases have been from rural zones. This has been a result of the problems created regarding the lack of hygienically pure water supply in those zones caused by the heavy rain falls.

In none of the cities, including the capital, Tirane, have been problems with the epidemic of viral hepatitis A, or cases of death. /lh/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article