Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-01-08

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

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CONTENTS

[01] State invests in rehabilitating water pipeline

[02] Toena publishes works of Albanian writers

[03] Teams, referees of soccer matches for cup of Albania

[04] 10,5 million German marks to supply water in communes

[05] Fireshots in Mitrovica

[06] Albania to attend Agrotika fair in Greece

[07] Dituria accompanies children books with reading methods

[08] Parliament approves state budget for culture ministry

[09] New ferry operates in Durres-Italy line

[10] Capital expenditure 36.3% higher in 1999

[11] Serb planes violate Albanian air space

[12] Albania, Greece boost cooperation on education

[13] Considerable profits of Airways Associations in January 1999

[14] Youths commit most crimes in Albania

[15] Albania PM meets head of Kosova Democratic Movement

[16] Five dinghies with smuggling clandestines drawn back in Vlore coast

[17] 332 million lek invested by National Agency of Environment

[18] New incidents in Kosova

[19] Delegation of Italian Rights meets Albanian right-wing parties

[20] Touristic Agencies with new statute

[21] "We welcome approval of new customs code" says Rakipi

[22] Albanian Democratic Party must take part in Parliament - Urso

[23] There is no division of Kosove - Rugova

[24] Disarmament program unites position with opposition

[25] Albanian Parliament starts sessions on January 11

[26] Albanian government respects will of Kosova people, PM says

[01] State invests in rehabilitating water pipeline

The fund enabled the operation of 24 water collectors, 14 pump stations and 350 km irrigation canals.

Emri Peca, spokesman of the prefecture, said that this had helped triple the subwater land site and increase productivity in agriculture.

During 1998, the production of grain was estimated at 19 168 kv, wheat some 23 240 kv and potatoes some 19 214 kv.

The farmers did not pay for the water and this created financial difficulties for the water distribution firm, Peca said.

Specialists say that the privatisation of water pipelines will improve the situation not only in the favour of the state but also for the private farmers. /pas/ak/

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[02] Toena publishes works of Albanian writers

Five works of Fishta, three of Konica, three of Koliqi and four of Frasheri which have been published by Rilindja publishing house in Prishtina are going to be published by Toena according to a contract between the two publishing houses.

Toena director Fatmir Toçi said that such a practice is being followed by other publishing houses to bring works of the Albanian distinguished writers closer to the reader.

"This is one of the most important initiative undertaken by the Albanian publishers on both sides of the border," he said. /pas/ak/

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[03] Teams, referees of soccer matches for cup of Albania

Teams and referees are as follows

Besa - Partizani	Kongjini	(Patos)
Burreli - Apolonia	Kristo		(Tirane)
Bylis - Lushnja		Pregja		(Tirane)
Dinamo - Teuta		Kollari		(Tirane)
Flamurtari - Shkumbini	Guzja		(Tirane)
Skenderbeu - Tirana	Velcani		(Fier)
Shqiponja - Elbasani	Aliko		(Vlore)
Tomorri - Vllaznia	Allkja		(Elbasan)

The first matches of the second tour for the 46th Cup of Albania for the previous season were played on January 10, 1998 at 14.00 p.m. Following are the teams and referees:

Teuta - Partizani	Velcani
Shqiponja - Lushnja	Taullahu
Elbasani - Shkumbini	Kristo
Tomorri - Laçi		Haxhia
Olimpik - Apolonia	Pjetrushi
Bylis - Vllaznia	Kollari
Skenderbeu - Flamurtari	Allkja
Besa - Tirana		Aliko

The Cups of Albania have been awarded to Partizani 14 times, Dinamo 12, Tirana 9, Vllaznia 5, Elbasani and Flamurtari 2 times each as well as Teuta and Apolonia 1 each. /ake/ak/

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[04] 10,5 million German marks to supply water in communes

Ibrahim Bardhi, head of the district council, said to ATA that the local Water distribution directorate had worked out studies and relevant projects in cooperation with the German firm Rodeko.

German Bank KWF, which has invested in different water projects and infrastructure of the city, decided last December to invest a fund worth 10, 5 million marks to help drill wells and lay pipelines, Bardhi said.

Wells were drilled in Luz i Madh, Luz i Vogel, Vorozen and Bullutaj last year which helped inhabitants have running water. This year will mark an important undertaking in all villages as regards the opening of new wells for running water, Bardhi said. /s.s/ak/

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[05] Fireshots in Mitrovica

Groups of armed Serb civilians, apart from police forces, have been seen in some quarters, the Center for Information in Kosova said referring to sources of the Democratic League of Kosova.

Fireshots were heard in villages of Frasher i Madh, Frasher i Vogel, Suhadoll, Zvecan i Vogel and from the Serb military base of Kutllofci as well as the Serb military center in Bair.

These forces have also fired at with heavy machine guns early on Thursday, the same sources said. /pas/ak/

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[06] Albania to attend Agrotika fair in Greece

This is the second time that Albania attends this fair with the contribution of PHARE, AFADA and IFDC programs.

A special day on Albania was organised last year apart from other activities with discussions on fields of cooperation between Albania and Greece in agro processing and contracts between Greek and Albanian businessmen. /pas/ak/

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[07] Dituria accompanies children books with reading methods

The abridged novel of Carlo Kolodi "Pinocchio", a book of tales "Katallani of the old city" and "Three pigs" which were published recently had also a reading method including questions and figures to help children understand the content of the book and enable teachers know better the content and control young readers.

Petrit Ymeri, director of the Dituria Publishing House said that this method helped children be more practical and have a good memory.

The publishing house will also publish a book of tales of the Albanian writer Odhise Grillo "Matia and grandfather" within January.

Dituria was founded in 1991 and has published some 200 books in the last two years, 20 of them for children. /pas/ak/

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[08] Parliament approves state budget for culture ministry

The budget is increased by 0.9 percent this year in comparison to the previous year.

Investments include restoration of culture monuments and other projects which need some 42.2 percent of all the budget allocated for the Albanian culture.

Expropriation of buildings of cultural heritage, rehabilitation of the complex of churches in Voskopoja, securing museums, reconstruction of Migjeni theater in Shkoder, equipping library of Lezha, Cultural center of the city of Peshkopia and Erseka are some of the spending for this year. /pas/ak/

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[09] New ferry operates in Durres-Italy line

Administrator of the company, Partizan Osmani, said to ATA that the ferry has a capacity of 800 passengers, 13 trucks, 70 cars and is very comfortable.

The ferry, travelling 16 miles per hours, operates Durres-Brindizi, Brindizi-Vlore, Vlore-Brindizi and Brindizi-Durres lines with the journey lasting some 6 hours. /pas/ak/

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[10] Capital expenditure 36.3% higher in 1999

11.4 billion lek of the total sum are going to be provided by the internal finance, and 19.4 billion lek from the foreign finance.

The financial limits of public investments are based on the negociations hold between Albanian Ministry of Finance and IMF, and the country's savings as well. The total internal investments for this year are predicted to be 26.6% higher than those in 1998.

The government left open-ended the possibility of realization and exceeding of foreign finance during the first period of 1999 (three or six months period), which is expected to increase the respective local finance. This thing will be achived though VAT of the considerable sum and the local costs taking the value of 1.2-1.5 billion lek./linda/

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[11] Serb planes violate Albanian air space

A white plane flew from Prizren towards villages of Kukes, Borje-Kroi i Bardhe-Kallabak at some 3 000 meters altitude and turned back, the spokesman said.

A military helicopter flew parallel with the border line over Has violating several times the Albanian airspace, the spokesman said. /s.s/ak/

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[12] Albania, Greece boost cooperation on education

The agreement envisaged the learning of the Albanian and Greek languages by children of both countries. It gave the green light to children of Albanian families working and living in Greece to learn their language, whose number, according to Institute of Diaspora at the Foreign Ministry, is some 20 thousand.

During the school year 1998-1999, 1.670 pupils out of 2.615 of Greek and Macedonian minorities, which learn their languages in Albania, are of Greek minority. They follow the lessons in the eighth year schools in four districts in Albania, Gjirokaster, Sarande, Delvine and Permet.

Some 26 elementary and 40 eighth year schools operate for the pupils of the Greek minority. Only in 11 of them they study together with their Albanian pupils. Some 300 teachers are teaching the pupils, 271 of whom are of Greek minority and have been trained in Greece.

Inspector of the Ministry of Education and Science Dashnor Nikollari said that 90 percent of the classes in the elementary are run in the Greek language while in the eighth year school the ratio is 60 percent in the Greek language and 40 percent in the Albanian language. /pas/ak/

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[13] Considerable profits of Airways Associations in January 1999

Airways companies "Alitalia","Olimpic","Ada Air", "Austrian Airlines", "Swissair", "Albanian Airlines", recorded the great number of sold tickets. Although the tickets prices are higher than the other ways of traveling the Albanian passengers prefer to travel by air, even for the coming days.

During the first days of 1999 the airlines marked the gratest profits, although there is no change in the ticket's price, even for the students, as it is done in many countries. So $250 is the sum paid by each student in Tirana-Roma-Torino destination.

The passengers' needs are met by 13 airways companies, 11 of them are foreign ones and the rest joint companies. A great job is done by them during 1998./linda/

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[14] Youths commit most crimes in Albania

According to PNUDI, 53% of the crimes are committed by the minors and the youths under 26 years.

The data shows that 2% of the crimes are committed by children aged under 14, 11% are committed by 14-18 years old children, 40% from the persons aged 19-26, and 46% of the crimes are committed by persons over 46 years.

The statistical information speak for a low education of the persons who commit these crimes. So, only 15% of them have finished the higher school, 22% have finished the general high school, 59% of them have finished only the obliged elementary school, while 18% of these persons have are completely uneducated.

Statistics from the Ministry of the Public Order tell that the crimes committed in 1997 show that the most used crime is the killing. During this year 51% of the crimes are murdres, while 33% are tentative for killings. /pas/A.A/

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[15] Albania PM meets head of Kosova Democratic Movement

Invited by PM Majko, the head of the KDL will hold meetings on Friday and Saturday with senior personalities of the state and politics, as well as with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi, Foreign Minister Paskal Milo and others.

"We talked about the Kosova issue and the situation there, about what the Albanians should do in Kosova and else where in order to coordinate their opinions, acts and activities to the good of the solution of the Kosova matter," Qosja declared right after the meeting.

"The political factor in Kosova does not speak in a single voice, and that is causing us problems," continued Qosja, adding that "Albania is playing its role, she is piedmont of Albanians."

"I would like the official Tirana continues its efforts so that the Kosova Albanians join their political mind and speak in unison for the Kosova question."

While the Minister of Information, Musa Ulqini, considered the visit of Qosja in Albania as an expression of the engagement of the Albanian government and the Premier himself to talk with the most outstanding representatives of the political factors in Kosova. /dast/mt/

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[16] Five dinghies with smuggling clandestines drawn back in Vlore coast

DURRES, Jan. 8 (ATA) - By G.Kabashi: The patrolling motorboats of Guardia di Financia, with italian-Albanian personnel, have drawn back four dinghies with smuggling clandestine through all the Wednesday night. They were tracked down 5-6 miles away the Vlora coast.

The spokesman of the Guardia di Financia contingent dislocated in Durres port, told ATA the after the signalizations of the Italian Military Marine, 5 dinghies full of smuggling clandestines were tracked down in the Sazani island in the territorial waters on Wednesday.

After the track down of the motorboats of the V 5000 class, the five dinghies with 130 clandestines on board turned back in Vlore.

According to the same source, two other motorboats were tracked down two hours later returning back empty towards the Albanian coast.

The spokesman of the Guardia di Financia said also the signals of the Italian Military Marine warned at about 9 p.m the Guardia di Financia forces in the Otranto port for the presence in the Italian coast of a speedboat coming from Albania. The forces of the Guardia di Financia blocked the motorboat with three persons on board, Albanian citizens, who were afterwards arrested. /s.s/A.A/

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[17] 332 million lek invested by National Agency of Environment

According to NAE Economics Director Ermira Basha, the fond of the budget is predicted to be spend mainly on daily expenditures and NAE strengthen, and reviewing of the excisting structure as well.

Foreign donators will accord 280 million lek from the total sum for realizations of the objectives and planned projects.

During 1999 an increase in number of the foreign projects and the participation of NAE different internatioanal convents is predicted. /dast/linda/

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[18] New incidents in Kosova

Powerful explosions were heard on Friday noon from the places where the Yugoslav soldiers have been deployed in the suburbs of Prishtina, but still there are no reports on the extension of shots.

A grave incident has been caused by the Serb forces in the road Prishtine-Prizeren, close to Suhareka, in the place called Mali i Biraces. Sources from the Kosova Information Center say that people were hurt and killed, but no detailed reports were available.

Injured people were reported to have been sent to Suhareke, while the Serb forces have attacked the village of Bllace. In vicinity of Strellc village, a student was found killed. He was kidnapped two days ago. While the body of a woman was found close to the village of Sekirace in Podujeva along the streets and the witnesses said that she had been run over by a military Serb vehicle. Five Serb tanks have moved today from Dumosh towards Lluzhane and Podujeve and reached Qershite e Llapashtices. Albanian sources also reported that the suburbs of Obiliq have been shot since three days by the Serb forces. /p.ta/mt/

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[19] Delegation of Italian Rights meets Albanian right-wing parties

The press office of this party said that some of the issues discussed during this meeting were the political situation at home as well as the role of the Albanian opposition in the domestic policy.

During their visit in Albania, the representatives of the "Liberty Pole" coalition, held a meeting with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha on late Wednesday. He met afterwards the leaders of the Republican Party and members of the parliamentary grouping "Right Center", Zef Bushati and Remzi Ndreu. These meeting were held without the presence of journalists.

Before meeting the DP chairman, the deputy of the Forca Italia, Dario Rivolta, declared before the journalists that the aim of their visit in Albania was the problem of the clandestine emigration. Rivolta stressed also that they had come to discuss with DP as their ally, in order to strengthen its role as the opposition party in Albania by giving its contribution in the Albanian political life.

The Italian deputies are to held also a meeting with the Albanian Premier, Pandeli Majko, on late Friday. /y.pa/A.A/

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[20] Touristic Agencies with new statute

There are nearly 100 touristic agencies, which are going to follow this new statute and be equiped with new license.

Every touristic agency have to deposit in bank $3000,in order to get a year license. While the agencies planned to get three year license have to deposit $6000.

Although it is the second year of their excistance and activities the number of the foreign tourists is so small. Political situation is the main factor that hinded the coming foreign tourists.

The touristic agencies acting in Saranda, managed to establish close coorperation with greek partners, and increase the comings of daily foreign tourists in Albania. While the other ones send many Albanian tourists abroad. Many of them were in Italy, Greece and other countries to celebrate the seasons holidays./linda/

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[21] "We welcome approval of new customs code" says Rakipi

The spokesman considered untrue the fact that the Attorney General has turned down this code through a document addressed to the Parliament Presidency.

Stressing the opinion of the Attorney General, the spokesman said that the General Prosecutor's Office welcomes the approval of the New Customs Code.

The Prosecutor Office has had only technical remarks which were taken into consideration by the group drafting the project of the customs code and the respective commission by making these on time, ended the spokesman.

The new customs code, which is expected to be approved soon, is an entirety of juridical norms which regulate the customs activity in the Republic of Albania. /lh/mt/

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[22] Albanian Democratic Party must take part in Parliament - Urso

After this meeting held without reporters, deputy Urso declared for the press that "the Democratic Party must take part in the Parliament, but this means that the Albanian Prime Minister, Majko must respect the human, civic and political rights of the opposition." According to him, the government must work to find the killers of deputy Hajdari.

With regard to the situation in Kosove, Italian deputies voiced their regret that the dialogue between the Serb and Albanian parties is unable to solve the conflict.

DP deputy chairman Genc Pollo said after the meeting that the main questions discussed were the political and social situation in Albania, the dialogue resumed between the ruling parties and the opposition on the eve of Christmas and the relations between our two countries. lh/xh/

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[23] There is no division of Kosove - Rugova

He asked the parties in the conflict and the international factor a greater commitment for a political settlement in Kosove.

Rugova considered the situation in Kosove as grave and delicate, with violence, killings and the great presence of the Serb forces in the region continuing. He demanded wisdom from all people of Kosove and especially from Serb citizens, who since yesterday have blocked the roads leading to and coming out of Prishtine and some other roads.

In reply to a question of the ATA correspondent on the similarity of the blocking of roads in Kosove with the blocking of the roads during the war in Bosnia and Croatia with the aim of dividing and seceding a part of the territory, and on some Serb warnings for a possible division of Kosove, Rugova said that "we do not wish this and we are working so that what happened in Bosnia and Croatia be not repeated."

Naturally, Serb extremists have such plans, but they cannot be taken into consideration," said Rugova.

Asked about some international and national initiatives for a meeting of all subjects of Kosove and an invitation to this end from the official Tirane, Rugova said that "a meeting has been negotiated and this is more an initiative of some Albanian groups and political parties. We may organize the meeting, but we have to see how and where to hold it." /xh/

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[24] Disarmament program unites position with opposition

The peculiarity of meeting held today with Albanian intellectuals, initiated by the city town-hall, is the fact that the town-hall chairman, Kujtim Kllogjeri, who represent the opposition, and Bashkim Koçi, representative of the ruling party met together in this meeting after some months. They shared the same opinion on the sensibilization platform which will accompany the implementation of this program.

After many discussions, they agreed to hold frequent meetings with the inhabitants on regional and commune base, to explain them the steps foreseen to be taken towards infractucture and employment, on exchange of the arms looted in March '97. /lh/A.A/

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[25] Albanian Parliament starts sessions on January 11

In a meeting held Friday morning, the Presidency of the Parliament and the chairmen of the parliamentary groups, decided that the Parliament start sessions on January 11 with the meetings of permanent parliamentary commissions, while on Wednesday, the first plenary session for this year will be held. It will adopt three draft laws presented to the Parliament by the Council of Ministers.

The demand for an earlier opening of the new session of the Parliament was made by Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko.

The last session closed on December 29, 1998, and it adopted the state budget for 1999. /lh/xh/

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[26] Albanian government respects will of Kosova people, PM says

In the talks that the Premier held with the head of the Kosova Democratic League, Rexhep Qosja, Majko stressed that "time was lost in finding the means and ways for the unification of the entire political factor in Kosova."

The head of the Albanian government has noticed that such a step has been already taken in Albania, which was embodied in a resolution of the Albanian Parliament, adopted in December of last year.

The report stressed that Qosja on his side understood the concern of Majko and stressed that it is high time to draft a pan-national strategy and not contested by any political factor for the solution of the crisis in Kosova.

Professor Qosja pointed out that the process of political re- compositions in former Yugoslavia and the geopolitical transition are not over yet.

In the meeting it was also presented the idea of setting up an embassy with the most outstanding figures of politics in Kosova, a structure which would realize the necessary self-control of the Albanian factor in Kosova, ends the report of the Ministry of Information for ATA. /dast/mt/

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