Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-01-14

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Police operational hall of Eagle 19 inaugurated

[02] Seven policemen announced "Martyrs' of Police"

[03] Kakami gang, its accomplices face trial

[04] Meeting of Southeastern Europe be held in Greece

[05] Low control for food quality during 98 in Gjirokaster

[06] Tons of iron-nickel stir up quarrel

[07] Berat may lose the physiognomy of a city museum

[08] City roads cleared after hours of heavy rain

[09] Super phosphate, Evertrade boost cooperation

[10] Police arrest man possessing cannabis sativa

[11] Durres to be "freed" from constructions without permit

[12] Telephone connection dead for 10 hours

[13] Teachers in one-day strike

[14] Long-term unemployment higher in males

[15] Another smuggler of children in jail

[16] U.S. embassy in Tirana continues work normally

[17] Disarmament program to begin at the end of January

[18] Soros foundation to continue contribution for Albania

[19] Some 4 draft-laws, 10 decisions adopted in regular government meeting

[20] President Meidani holds reception for diplomatic corps in Albania

[01] Police operational hall of Eagle 19 inaugurated

This contemporary service, according to the director of the Prefecture Sokol Kociu, will cover all the city of Vlore, ensuring a coordination and rapid exchange of information between mobile patrols in various points of the city.

The new operational hall will guarantee the combination of the operations of all the police patrols according to the place they are installed. The service has also 5 cars and the necessary staff. Preparations for the hall started two months ago with the arrival in Vlore of a considerable staff of the Mission Interforza who installed the new equipment of the operational hall and in the new laboratory of crime.

In addition to this, also another modern hall for police is being installed in the Island of Sazan and will be completed soon. A new gymnasium for police was also inaugurated in the police department of Vlore on the day of the 86th anniversary of police. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Seven policemen announced "Martyrs' of Police"

In the presence of scores of guests, the chairman of the district council, Medin Xhelili, said that the district council had declared martyrs of police Spiro Toshi, Besim Manoli, Gezim Shabani, Viron Rrapi, Valter Harizaj, Bashkim Bitaj and Artur Resuli who during the difficult days of spring 1997 and later, clashes with the gangs and other law violators, by laying down their lives.

The district council of Vlore has started procedures to declare martyrs four other policemen who also lost their lives during the same period, while they were on duty.

In 1997-1998, eleven policemen have been killed by criminals and seven others have been injured in the district of Vlore. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Kakami gang, its accomplices face trial

They gave evidence on the killing of their relatives to the penal jury and prosecutor of the case accusing indirectly the Kakami gang.

The hearing was over after the four gave their evidence. The other session will be held on January 22 with evidence of other witnesses.

Alfred Nebiu, dubbed as "Kakami" and his accomplices G.Brokaj, A. Sulejmani, S. Sinemati, E. Leskaj, F. Mertiri, R. Boraku and G. Nebiu are accused of creating armed gangs and felony.

Prosecutor's office said that "Kakami" gang is accused of nine identified murders, kidnapping, hostage-taking, racket, theft and grabbing.

The charge for creation of armed gangs covers all penal offences committed by Kakami himself or in collaboration with other members of his gang.

Alfred Nebiu was arrested a month ago in Greece with the help of Interpol. While another gang which is on the run by the police is that of "Gaxhai". The Gaxhai members will be tried in absentia.

Kakami is accused of the same offences as its rival Myrteza Caushi, known as Zani of Vlora. Six hearings have been held for Zani and his gang in the Tirana district court so far. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Meeting of Southeastern Europe be held in Greece

Albanian Minister of Culture Edi Rama, chief of the cabinet Blendi Gonxhe, chief of the Directorate for youth policies Vasilika Vjero and chief of the group for a law on "Live show" Xhevdet Ferri will go to Greece between January 14 and 17 for talks and to attend the meeting, sources of the ministry said.

The same sources said that the Albanian delegation will meet the Greek minister of Culture, director of the National Theater of Greece, Director of "Laci" Foundation and other Greek culture and art personalities.

The talks will focus on join programmes and projects on culture and implementation of agreement signed in Tirana, talks to boost start of project on construction of national theater building and others.

They will discuss the application of part of the funds on organising Festival of Balkan Theater to be organised during '99 in the Gjirokaster castle.

The delegation will also discuss the organisation of a week of Greek film in Albania and vice versa. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Low control for food quality during 98 in Gjirokaster

According to him, the guarantee of food for 1998, in the conditions of abnormal social situation, the lack of laboratories for food analysis for Tepelene and Permet, has been insufficient and in many zones at unacceptable levels.

The sector of economy-statistics in the Prefecture noted that during 1998 about 300 controls, 1 355 laboratory analysis have been made and the value of expired commodities has been only 29.7 thousand lek. In the district of Tepelene there have been made about 218 controls and commodities worth 37 thousand lek have been eliminated, while Permet are made 250 controls and expired commodities (mainly spirits) which have been exterminated, are estimated at 97.9 thousand lek. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Tons of iron-nickel stir up quarrel

The removal of this quantity of mineral is the major condition for the start of works for the reconstruction of quays estimated at $23 million, a fund accorded by the World Bank.

Merita Brati, the ARM specialist, said that the removal of iron- nickel would be made possible by World Bank funds.

So far ARM has been tough towards the port directorate which has tried to remove minimum quantity of low quality mineral to asphalt roads. It has also fined the directorate warning it that it is the agency which decides what to do with the cargo that can pollute the environment.

The alternative proposed by the port on depositing the quantity of low-quality mineral in a hole near Rrashbull hill, 5 km from Durres city, has got no official response from AKM. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Berat may lose the physiognomy of a city museum

The protected museal city quarters, the objects of Moslem and orthodox cult have been time and again damaged by individuals.

During the past three years, specialists of the monuments of culture told ATA, some museal city quarters have been gravely harmed.

Some iron-concrete buildings built on the mountain side of the ancient castle have spoiled considerably its view.

The protection of the museum city quarters in Berat is the main concern for the staff and specialists of the monuments of culture. Previously the houses of that zone, especially the monuments of culture of first category, were granted long-term credits. Since 1990, none of such credits has been offered and this is urging the citizens to abandon the city quarter or to intervene themselves in the buildings there, thus spoiling everything created in centuries. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] City roads cleared after hours of heavy rain

The level of rain on Tuesday was 70 mm, chief of hydro-metheorological center Selami Omari said to ATA. The traffic in main roads of the city with the level of rain reaching 20-30 cm between 16.00 and 21.00 was impossible.

Citizens worked for hours to clear the rain drains and the roads were opened after 22.00 p.m.

Enver Bushati, director of the public service enterprise, said that this had happened due to waste left after numerous constructions. Whoever constructs should clear the site and this should be done by everyone, he said.

Police sources said that there were no reports on damages in private or state buildings.

The national road near Bushat some 15 km from the city was blocked on Wednesday for half an hour for the water of the Zefjana stream overflowed its banks.

The public service workers are controlling all the road rain drains to avoid any possible blocking.

The same situation happened three months ago due to the heavy rains. /s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Super phosphate, Evertrade boost cooperation

The Albanian Ministry of Public Economy and Privatisation and the "Evertrade" French Company signed a letter of intent to boost the operation of the Superphosphate plant. The cooperation which started in 1995 has doubled the annual production from 10 to 15 thousand tons to some 55 thousand tons of phosphate fertilizers.

The French company will soon present a detailed project on a continuous cooperation observing also the Albanian legislation.

Evertrade operates in Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraina with an annual production of 1.200 000 tons of phosphate fertilizers, a spokesman of the ministry said. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Police arrest man possessing cannabis sativa

A police spokesman of Durres prefecture said to ATA that the blitz was launched by the regional forces in fight against drugs and in cooperation with police mobile units.

Kastriot Mullai was caught in the action while the quantity of cannabis sativa was confiscated.

This is the first operation launched this year by the regional office in fight against drugs. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Durres to be "freed" from constructions without permit

This was confirmed to ATA by the director of construction police of the city, Meritan Stari, who added that in the context of the three-month program, an undertaking will start the coming week to free the spots on which constructions without permit have been built.

According to him, there are 470 homes and 70 kiosks erected in public spots, in parks, in the sea port, etc., which will be ruined or removed from those spots.

First, the industrial park spot will be freed and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest for it 30 million dollars for the construction of a free customs zone, adopted by the Council of Ministers and the Territory Adjustment Council. There are 72 homes built without permit in that zone and these families have been notified these days of the decision.

The action will continue in the sea port, in which 67 houses constructed without permit will be ruined, thus realising the condition set by the World bank for the second stage of the rehabilitation of that port. Whereas in February, the kiosks in from of the Telecom building and 1 Maj park will be removed. The 70 kiosks placed there are a threat for infections.

The chief of construction police said that the work will continue for the removal of the kiosks in the entrance part of the city and they have to ruin 330 constructions made without permit on the sand areas in the beach of Durres. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Telephone connection dead for 10 hours

Technical sector at the Telecom said that the total cut of the telephone signal happened early on Thursday and it partially began on Thursday noon.

Groups of Telecom technicians have started work to repair the line and it is expected that the phone connection be established completely in the evening. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Teachers in one-day strike

The discussions hold between this Syndicate leaders with the Ministry of Education and Science on early Wednesday, finished without concrete results.

The main requests presented to the Minister of Science and Education, Et'hem Ruka, by the leaders of this syndicate were: a 20% increase of the wage, 10% more that the government decision, the supplementary wage due to the difficulties or the long distance from the work place, as well as the approval of the teachers status.

Considering the teachers requests as right, the Minister Ruka materialized the attempts made during 100 days of the cabinet Majko governing for improving the economic level of employees, including here even teachers, but he stressed that attempts encountered various difficulties the Albanian society is going through in the transitional period. The state budget is also very poor.

Regarding the tax of solidarity with police forces, he said that he agrees with this request, but "this should be made with parliament approval.We should also set up a work group to draft the teachers' status."

The representatives of the education syndicate insisted in their requests and said that they are to hold the warned one-day strike in all the pre-university level on Friday. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Long-term unemployment higher in males

According to the information of INSTAT, the long-term unemployment for 1997, was higher in males than in females. So for persons up to 20 years old, the number of unemployed males was 12 260, while the number of females was 9 325. For the persons aged 21-34 years, there were 40 303 unemployed males and 33 506 women, while for the persons aged over 35, the number of unemployed males was 39 781 while the female number was 27 414.

The fact that the long-term unemployment is "suffered" more by men than by women, shows that they could find work sooner than the men, or females have less pretensions for the kind of work offered to them, and get easily acquainted with other professions than men.

However, females are payed less than man, and this fact is available for both, the private and the state sector. /s.sh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Another smuggler of children in jail

The spokesman of the Prefecture Police Directory, told ATA that the citizen Samuel Dema, aged 35, inhabitant of Kuçova city, was arrested on Thursday, because he was caught in a quarter of the city of Korçe, close to the dwelling place of the child E.XH, aged 9, while offering her some money to make her step in his car, and afterwards threatening her with a knife.

According to the spokesman of the Prefecture Police Directory, this person is suspected of illegal traffic with children for profit purposes. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] U.S. embassy in Tirana continues work normally

A representative of the press office in the embassy told ATA that "the U.S. embassy in Tirana continues work normally."

He did not make any comments on some articles published Thursday by several dailies of Tirana, in which they informed about closing of several western embassies, also including the U.S. embassy, in case of a burst of a conflict between Albania and Yugoslavia. The press representative only confuted officially the information regarding the U.S. embassy.

The Italian embassy categorically denied in a press release the reports on an evacuation of its staff from the Albanian capital. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Disarmament program to begin at the end of January

The chairman of the district council, Bashkim Koçi, told ATA that the decision is issued on Wednesday by the English vice ambassador, Catherine John, during a visit she hold in Gramsh on the occasion of the Albanian police feast.

The implementation of the program is foreseen to be initially applied in a quarter of the city, decided after the town-hall proposal, and is to continue afterwards in all the quarters and communes of the district. The managing office of this program is opened some 40 days ago. Its representative, Filip Piera, has hold several meetings with local officials, non-government organizations, intellectuals and others.

The disarmament program in exchange of development, plans to allocate $500 000 accorded by the UN Organization. This fund is to be used in the projects of infractucture and employment in the region, parallely with the voluntary handing over of the weapons. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Soros foundation to continue contribution for Albania

President Meidani, identifying the main problems the Albanian society is facing, considered as priorities the social-economical development of the country, complete restoration of order and public security.

The civil development of the society was also very important to President Meidani. In this framework, he invited the leaders of this foundation to increase their contribution for the consolidation of the civil society, development and increase of professionalism in public and private media, strengthening of public opinion regarding the economical- social development and democratic and institutional processes in Albania.

To the Regional Director of Soros, the positive changes in these directions are very encouraging.

Rolett also assured about a continuous contribution of this foundation in different zones of the country. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Some 4 draft-laws, 10 decisions adopted in regular government meeting

The announcement of the Information Ministry said that the adopted decisions had to do with some changes in the Administrative Legislation of the Albanian Republic.

A package of draft-decisions for rehabilitation of the health system was also adopted in the government meeting. Concretely was adopted the decision on reconstruction of Elbasani hospital, worth 5.5 billion Italian liras, the project for the physical rehabilitation of infractucture and health centers of Librazhi, Peqin, and Gramshi districts, the decision for reconstruction of Berati hospital, worth 3.5 million Italian liras as well as support for the National Institution of Health Sector.

Is worth to be mentioned also the approval in principle and ratification of some international convents and declarations. The government approved in principle the Convent on interborder collaboration of the local unions and territorial authorities, as well as the declaration "For lengthening of agreement term on naval aid in the customs house sector" between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Italy. Another draft-law adopted was that for Adhesion of the Republic of Albania in the Vienna Convents for protection of ozone layer, and in the Montreal protocol for the substances which thin the ozone layer. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] President Meidani holds reception for diplomatic corps in Albania

Attending the reception at the Palace of Brigades was also senior representatives of the Albanian state, press and information office close to the President reported. /dast/mt/

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