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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-12-22Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Parliament to approve draft-law on navigating meansTIRANA, Dec. 21 (ATA) - The People's Assembly passed in an accelerated procedure the draft-law "On the registration, way of use and control of the navigating means under 20 NRT."According to the spokesman of this ministry, the Albanian Minister of Public Order, Petro Koci, was also pleased with this fact. This draft-law, which is expected to be approved soon, creates legal scopes to the order forces in their fight against the illegal traffic of emigrants, smuggling and others, by providing a better administration of the persons and navigating means, said Koci. /s.sh/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Meeting between Albanian Government and representatives of student strikers starts TuesdayTIRANE, Dec.22 (ata) By U Bajrami: A meeting started on Tuesday at 9 a.m. between the Government team and a group of representatives of the students strikers in the Rectorate of the Tirane University, a meeting realised conformed to a pact reached last Monday between the Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and the DP leader, Sali Berisha.In the focus of today's talks will be the demands of the student strikers and the predisposition of the Government to solve them. Taking part in the meeting as representatives of the Government are the Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, the Minister of Finances, Anastas Angjeli, the Minister of Foreign Economic Cooperation, Ermelinda Meksi, the deputy minister of Public Economy and Privatization, Pajtim Bello, the deputy minister of Public Order, Ilirian Celibashi and others. Attending the meeting is also the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts and members of the December '90- grouping. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, who stressed that the government has been engaged to offer an optimal solution to the students' demands. He considered a part of the requests as economical, institutional and qualified some of them as political ones. While the representative of the students, Besnik Jaku, said that "it is high time to start the dialogue as soon as possible." In the end of this meeting, an Act of Understanding will be signed between the two parties regarding the deadlines during which the demands will be met. In these moments, the meeting is going on and the reporters are not allowed to take part. /y.pa/Ani/xh/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Fire breaks in Palace of Culture Aleksander Moisiu in DurresDURRES, Dec.22 (ata) - By S Gjordeni: At about 20.15 last Monday fire broke in the Palace of Culture Aleksander Moisiu in Durres.The fire started first in the second floor of the building ruining everything there. Then it spread in the first floor and in the theater boxes, but not causing great damage. The immediate intervention of the fire engines of the city could extinguished the fire. According to the spokesman of the Police Department of the Prefecture of Durres, the fire might have been a result of cigarettes which had not been stubbed out. On Monday afternoon, youth groups had performance in the theater hall and the are suspicions that one or some of them might have thrown on the floor cigarettes without stubbing them out first. /Ani.s.s./xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Italian government allocates 1.3 milliard liras for registration of agricultural assetsTIRANA, Dec. 21 (ATA) - By E. Xhajanka: "The Italian Government has invested some 1.3 billion liras for the projects "The registration of agriculture in Albania," Paolo Garonna, coordinator of this project, told ATA.The project has started in 1994 from the Italian Institute of Statistics in cooperation with the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), and on basis of the results, the policies of developments in the Albanian agriculture will be drafted. In order to realize exact data, the specialists have interviewed half a million families and have processed the information for the work carried out in villages, the incomes of the rural families, the level of emigration and others. Until 1998, there are registered in Albania some 468 987 economic units with a surface of 453 284 hectares, of which 86% are used for production. Only 52% of the Albanian farmers who till the land, sell a part of the production in the market, while the rest use it for their own families. Each economic unit possesses one hectare of land, of which 0.83 hectares are cultivated. From the statistics, it comes out that the stock-breeding is ranked the first in the Albanian agricultural economy and a family which deals with live stock has 2 cows, 13 sheep, 12 goats and 2 pigs. Fier is the district in which the agricultural economy is more developed, and after it, there are Elbasan, Lushnja and others. The district of Has is ranked the last regarding the agricultural development. The land in 20,4% of the cases is manually tilled, 20,1% by beast of burden and 59.5% by farm machines. The specialists of the Institute of Statistics think that this registration should be made once in 10 years, aiming at confirming exact data. /mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Expenses are foreseen to occupy 30% of GDP in draft-budget 1999TIRANA, Dec. 22 (ATA) - The draft budget of the Albanian government for 1999 has started to be discussed in the parliamentary commission of the People's Assembly. The expenses are foreseen to be 165,6 billion leks, equal with 30,2 per cent of the General Domestic Product (GDP).The largest group of expenses of the budget is made of the current expenses which reach the amount of 126,8 million leks. In this group, the expenses for the wages and the contribution for the social charges occupy 31 billion leks, the expenses for the social insurance reach the amount of 33.4 billion leks and the expenses for the maintenance 15.5 billion leks. The group of current expenses include the expenses which are covered by the state each year for the interests rates and the principal which are related with the domestic and foreign debt. Some 36,49 leks are foreseen for this aim in 1999, an amount which occupies 28% of the current expenses and some 51% of the tax incomes. Compared with the GDP, the expenses for interests rates during 1999 occupy 6.6%, of which 6.3% belong to the domestic debt and 0.3% to the foreign debt. /a.gj/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Severe punishments for men-smugglers who throw children to sea - TurcoTIRANE, Dec.12 (ata) - By G Dilaveri: There must be no more men- smugglers who put at stake the life of children or throw them in the sea, said on Monday in a news conference the Italian Minister of Social Solidarity, Livia Turco.Along with the readiness from Italy to continue aid for and the cooperation with Albania, Turco stressed the greater commitment needed in the fight against illegal emigration. "We know that this is very difficult because in the centre of this problem are the questions of unemployment and poverty which exist in other countries too. But those who take in their insecure dinghies children and throw them in the sea must be severely punished both by the Italian and the Albanian governments," said Turco, demanding this in the name of the profound friendship with the Albanian people and in the name of the human rights. The Italian Minister pointed out that many Italian cities are facing problems which have emerged from the presence of many abandoned Albanian children. "On the basis of the U.N. conventions, Italy is following a very generous policy towards children, by always being in favour of their interest," said Turco. There are about 800 abandoned Albanian children in Italy and only 200 of them have been repatriated, stressed Turco. She added that in the context of the projects of aid of the Italian Government in the social field, 7 house-families will be set up to admit the abandoned and half- abandoned children, 20 other centres with activities for preschool and after-school children of 2-8 year and 11 year age groups and 11 youth centres. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] There are some 30 000 Albanian prostitutes in EuropeTIRANA, Dec. 22 (ATA) - By E. Nepravishta: There are some 30 000 Albanian prostitutes in Europe.According to a study, carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), their age is from 14 to 55 years old. The prostitution phenomenon appeared in Albania in dimensions that no one could imagine ten years ago, together with the changes in the political system by the beginning of '90-ies. The introduction of Albanians in the prostitution network abroad originates in the first emigrations during 1990-1991. The results of the studies, carried out by Italian and Greek sociologists, show that the Albanian prostitution in general is caused by the poverty. The characteristic for the Albanian prostitution abroad is the role of protectors or managers. The Albanian women are often forced to prostitute. The office of the Albanian Interpol has investigated into 103 cases of lost women from 1993 till 1998. Of these, 44 have been returned to Albania. Meanwhile, out of 580 persons, suspected of prostitution trafficking and managing from 1991 to 1997, only 200 of them have been arrested. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] State budget to pay 25.2 billion leks for interest rates of treasury bondsTIRANA, Dec. 22 (ATA) - The payment of the interest rates for the treasury bonds in 1999 in the draft budget of the Albanian Government is expected to be 25.2billion leks. In general, the expenses for the interests of the treasury bonds in 1999 come of the previous years. This is for the fact that the interests of the treasury bonds, printed in 1998, will be matured in 1999. Thus, next year, the total amount of the interests rates to be paid for the treasury bonds, printed in 1998 is 22,3 billion leks or 88% of all the interests for these bonds. /a.gj/mt/Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Dialogue between government representatives and student strikers continuesTIRANE, Dec.22 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi, U Bajrami: The dialogue started Tuesday morning between some of the Majko cabinet members and the representatives of the students who are staging a hunger strike for nearly two weeks, is continuing. The main discussion focused on the claims of the students that political prisoners must be released in Albania. The representatives of the Government said that there are no prisoners for political motives in Albania. Also the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts, present in the meeting, pointed out that there are no political prisoners in Albania.The two parties in the talks also discussed the demand of the students for a 50% increase of the student scholarships. One among the measures the government adopted in response to the demands of the students recently was the growth by 10 per cent of the scholarships. /das/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Everts optimistic for continuation of Government-Opposition dialogue in AlbaniaTIRANE, Dec.22 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi, U Bajrami: The OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Daan Everts, present in the dialogue going on for four years between the representatives of the Government cabinet of Pandeli Majko, led by Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, and the group of students who are staging a hunger strike, representatives of the Independent Student Unions, said Tuesday at noon he was optimistic of the dialogue established between the Government and the Opposition in Albania."I am very enthusiastic that the dialogue started yesterday between PM Majko and DP leader Berisha, is continuing today with the meeting between representatives of the government cabinet and the student strikers, " said Everts. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Inter-border cooperation programs between Albania,Greece approvedGJIROKASTER, Dec. 22 (ATA) - By H. Cani: The programs of inter- border cooperation between Albania and Greece were approved in the framework of the program PHARE Cross-border for 1999, officials of Gjirokaster prefecture told the press on Tuesday.With regard to the inter-border cooperation during the coming year for the Gjirokaster prefecture, it is defined a fund worth 7 million ECU-s, but the Albanian party urged its increase by some 1 million ECU-s, while the Greek party with some 3 million ECU-s. For the 4-year period 1994-1998, out of 42 million ECU-s planned for the inter-border program with Greece, some 19 million ECU-s belong to the Gjirokaster prefecture. From this amount, 14 million ECU-s will be used for the construction of the highway Kakavije-Gjirokaster-Tepelen, 1.1 million ECU-s for the rehabilitation of the Gjirokaster aqueduct, 0.35 million ECU-s for the reconstruction of two roads in the town of Gjirokaster, while some 2 million ECU-s for the economic and social development of the Permet district. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Health sector expected to be financed with about 2,285 million lek from 1999 state draft budgetTIRANE, Dec.22 (ata) - By Rudina Xhuvani: The sector of health in Albania is envisaged to be financed for 1999 with 2,285 million lek. About 1,045 million lek will be defrayed by the state budget and 1,240 other millions will be paid by foreign donors.Budgetary funds are planned to cover projects of the Health Ministry with foreign partners (the World Bank, Germany, Switzerland, etc,) so that to ensure the continuation of work in the projects left uncompleted in 1998 and to improve the infrastructure in the health system. Budgetary financing is also envisaged for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure in the system of priority health service and to furnish with medical equipment health centres in districts. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Better living conditions for people displaced from KosoveHAS, Dec.22 (ata) - By R Hoxha: The accommodation for the people, who have come from Kosove to the district of Has, ha considerably improved recently.Monday afternoon the reconstruction of officers centre in Krume was completed and it will house 100 people who have come from Kosove. The reconstruction was funded with 7 million lek by the German organization DHW. Present in the ceremony for the centre rehabilitation were leaders of the district local government, representatives of the OSCE and UNCHR offices operating in Has and the prefect of Kukes, Qemal Elezi. According to the office of registration of refugees in that district, the number of the people from Kosove settled in Has is around 800. The German government organization DHW has also contributed to the reconstruction of two other buildings in the city of Kukes, where people from Kosova have been already accommodated. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] About 4 000 Albanian emigrants return from Greece every day to join their families for Christmas and New YearBILISHT, Dec. 22 (ATA) - By B.Fejzullai: The flux of the Albanian emigrants who return from Greece to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their families, has ostensibly increased during these days.The spokesman of the Devolli district police commissariat told ATA on Tuesday that the number of emigrants entering Albania has increased in 4 000 persons a day from 200-300 emigrants who entered the Albanian border usually. According to him the movement of the emigrants has been made easier because they are equipped with white cards from Greece. This movement is followed by the entrance of many goods and monetary values in Albania. As a result the police services which control the national road Kapshtice- Bilisht and Bilisht-Korçe have increased. The spokesman added that the police forces are exercising a 24 hour control in these roads. The spokesman of the Korçe police directory said that the buses and other vehicles returning from Greece with emigrants are accompanied by police forces in order to create more security for their journey. /dast/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Students interrupt hunger strikeTIRANA, Dec 22 (ATA)- By P. Shuteriqi-U. Bajrami: Students decided on Tuesday to interrupt the hunger strike they started about ten days ago.The decision was taken after a meeting between a government team and a student representation in the Tirana University. The government representatives promised that they are going to meet the students' economical and institutional demands defining concrete deadlines for their fulfilment. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Albania willing to extend relationship with SpainTIRANE, Dec. 22 (ATA) - Albania is willing to extend the relationship with Spain, especially in the framework of the European Atlantic structures, as well as the regional medieval bodies, the new Albanian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Agim Isaku, said in the speech hold on the occasion of presenting the credential letters to the King of Spain, His excellency, Huan Karlos de Burdon.The press director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Isaku expressed to His excellency his gratefulness for the help that Spain has given to Albania during these last years. Regarding the Kosova issue, both parts expressed their concern for the actual situation which is rather tragic. His excellency, Huan Carlos, said that this tragic situation is due to the lack of political dialogue. At the end of the meeting with the Albanian ambassador, the King of Spain, sent his best wishes to the Albanian actual government, and to the Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani for the heavy burdon that they have undertaken in these critical moments, to develop the democracy in Albania. /lh/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Government coalition leaders supported Majko-Berisha meetingTIRANE, Dec. 22 (ATA) - By Ylli Pata: The Albanian Premier Pandeli Majko, in the regular meeting that he hold on Tuesday with the representatives of the government coalition parties "The alliance for state", has received their support for the meeting he hold on Monday with the Democratic Party chairman Sali Berisha.The spokesman close to the Prime Minister told ATA today that Majko cited the above mentioned meeting " as a preventive step in the program of the Albanian government, a useful step which will help the dialogue with the opposition." The Albanian Premier, voiced in this meeting that the international factor has also hailed the initiative for dialogue with the opposition. The leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), appointed by the leaders of the government coalition parties to be pronounced in the presence of journalists, declared that "although it was a regular meeting, its main theme was the gesture of the Premier Majko to meet the leader of the biggest opposition party. This was a normal action after a long period of political anormality and irregularity. The meeting of the DP chairman, Sali Berisha with the Premier can be hold each week." Regarding this important event in the Albanian policy, the DA leader Neritan Ceka said that "we all expressed our delight for finding a way out of the political and absurd crisis, now at the end of thes year. We also think that the treating of Kosova issue was rather positive. The Albanian political parties should conclude a mutual solution, to be close to the Albanian Parliament resolutions. Ceka declared that the position and opposition reached an agreement to create a mutual commission to investigate and through light upon "Hajdari" case. He stressed that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, is also a message addressed to the Albanian people, who are tired of the lack of stability and tranquility at home. The meeting of the government coalition parties hold on Tuesday, is a regular one. The government coalition parties decided in the previous meeting to organize a meeting with the Premier every week to investigate the problems in the country. /dast/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Albanian army aims at being integrated in EuroAtlantic structuresTIRANA, Dec 22 (ATA) - By Enkelejda Koraqi: Albania is seriously engaged in cooperating with NATO because its final aim is to meet conditions for an integration into the Euro Atlantic structures, Luan Hajdaraga, Albanian Defence Minister, said in a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels last week.Hajdaraga briefed his NATO and Partnership for Peace counterparts about the cooperation of the Albanian army with these countries and its goals for the future, a spokesman of the Defence Ministry Albert Mullai said to ATA on Tuesday. Pointing out the role of the Council for Euro Atlantic Partnership in security and peace processes, he said that "Albania's engagement in PARP and in NATO individual partnership program conveys our modest contribution in Partnership for Peace as well as increases transparency and confidence." Hajdaraga praised the role of the NATO office in Tirana and establishment of Cleansing House forum which assist in restructuring the Albanian army. Considering bilateral relations in the region a special aspect of security and peace, Hajdaraga said that "the creation of a regional multinational brigade will serve this end." The Albanian minister also spoke about the crisis in Kosova. Reiterating the view of the Albanian government, Hajdaraga said that "we support the project of international community which aims at administrating the crisis in Kosova peacefully."/dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Albanian government, hunger strike students reach agreementTIRANA, Dec 22 (ATA) - By P.Shuteriqi-U.Bajrami: Students who had started a hunger strike since December 13 decided to end it on Tuesday after a meeting with government representatives.The government team included Et'hem Ruka, Minister of Education and Science, Anastas Angjeli, Minister of Finance, Ermelinda Meksi, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade, Ilirjan Celibashi, deputy minister of Public Order, Pajtim Bello, deputy minister of Public Economy and Privatisation, Vasillaq Kureta, Coordinator for education in the Council of Ministers and Arben Isaraj, premier's legal advisor. Present at the meeting held at the Tirana University were Daan Everts, the ambassador of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Tirana and a representative of December '90 grouping. After six hours negotiations both sides agreed as follows: - on the autonomy of universities and establishment of an institution for free elections; Ministry of Education and Science will announce procedures and modalities for free elections within February 1999. - regarding the demands of students of "Luigj Gurakuqi" University they agreed that all higher schools should have their national simbols at the start of the second term. The Education and Science Ministry has met the demand to categorize universities and differentiate wages and will also provide a bus for training within January 15. It will intensively work to establish an Internet and E-mail connection, provide and supply a study hall and put a TV set in. The Albanian government has accorded a fund worth 4 million leks through direct procurement for telephone connection, partial improvements of the campus, 300 beds, matresses, heaters and others. As regards the campus in the city of Shkodra, the government will consider project presented by the regional government authority and rectorate of the Shkodra University. Ministry of Public Order has assumed the opening of a police post at the campus of Shkodra until January 1999 to guard students' premises. The Albanian government welcomes all the initiatives undertaken by the opposition and the ruling coalition as well as the assistance of the international institutions to throw light on the killing of the Democrat deputy Azem Hajdari. The government expressed its will that those considered by the opposition as political prisoners have an international monitoring for legal, accurate process. - Starting from January 1 until March 31, the students' scholarship will be increased 10 percent, and later another 10 percent, that is 20 percent. - A three-month period of reorganisation will start on January 1 to give a status to the "Student" campus. - Projects on operation and modernisation of Tirana and Polytechnical University Library will finish at the end of next February. - A joint statement signed by minister Ruka on behalf of the government and Besnik Jaku, a students' representative presents the measures adopted under the direct auspices of the Prime minister Pandeli Majko to improve the living standards in campuses. The government will subsidize the text books for secondary schools, while 18 million leks have been allocated for authors of higher school text books. The Ministry of Finance has accorded an extra fund worth 2 million leks to subsidize university text books. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport will provide a bus line for students of the Higher University of Kamza and Natural Sciences. While the Ministry of Public Order will investigate on police intervention to end the hunger strike on December 17 to find out any incorrect actions and guarantee safety of those students who were in hunger strike. The students agreed with these solutions and their respective deadlines and decided to end their hunger strike on Tuesday afternoon. /lh/ak/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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