Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-01-22

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament approves new leading council of RTSH

[02] New prefect nominated in Shkodra

[03] Teachers start indefinite strike

[04] Parliament passes amendments to law on nationality in Albania

[05] Policy on health promotion

[06] Serb new attacks, reinforcement in Mitrovice

[07] UNHCR says 1 000 Albanians homeless in Recak

[08] There are still unexploited possibilities in cooperation with Macedonia - Albanian President

[09] Dollar exchanged at 140.1 lek on Jan.22, 1998

[10] U.S. sends tons of oil to Albania

[11] Tender on assets of pyramid schemes

[12] USD2 million grant from Japan for plants production in Albania

[13] Albanian Deputy PM demands more seriousness in participation of Albanian party in SECI projects

[14] Three years in jail for drug-trafficking for a 25 year boy

[15] We are for a peaceful solution to crisis in Kosove - Georgievski - joint press conference of Albanian and Macedonian premiers -

[16] We have common interests for long-term stability in the region - Gjinushi

[17] Strike of teachers was partial - Ministry

[01] Parliament approves new leading council of RTSH

Parliament considered the list of candidates proposed by the parliamentary commission on Media and selected only one of both proposed candidates by parliamentary groups, Tirana University, Academy of Science, League of Writers and Artists, Trade Unions, Associations of journalists, non government organisations of women, youth and by minority's.

New members of the leading council are: Jorgo Bulo, Alfred Dalipi, Guro Zeneli, Natasha Xhafka, Kastriot Caushi, Aferdita Onuzi, Arian Leka, Kristaq Laka, Mira Meksi, Zef Preci, Vjollca Mecaj, Dorela Haxhiademi and Arqile Garo.

There are two vacancies of the oppositions which the Media commission was expected to consider. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] New prefect nominated in Shkodra

Shpuza, 30, has worked for four years as journalist of Koha Jone newspaper and recently has been director of Radio Shkodra. He has graduated the Albanian language and literature at the "Luigj Gurakuqi" University and has knowledge of English and French languages. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Teachers start indefinite strike

Xhaferr Dobrusha, head of the trade union said to ATA that the strike was nation-wide and would continue until the government paid proper attention to "the great army of teachers".

Dobrusha denied that the trade union movement had called for the resignation of the minister of Education and Science Ethem Ruka.

This is the third time within 1999 that the teachers of the eighth and high schools abandon classes escalating their form of protest from one- hour strike to one-day strike.

Leaders of the trade union federation said that teachers demand increase of wage by 20 percent from 10 percent defined by a decision of the Council of Ministers which enters into force on April 1. They also asked for the inflation index, reduction of solidarity tax for order forces from 500 to 100 leks monthly, an extra monthly wage, approval of teachers' status within June. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Parliament passes amendments to law on nationality in Albania

The law envisaged that any children born in Albania gains the Albanian nationality when at least one of the parents has this nationality and loses it when one of the parents abandon it because the nationality is maintained on approval of both sides.

Head of the law commission urged the parliament to delay a review on the draftlaw on state secret to give time to the commission she ran to be familiarised with the remarks and suggestions of international consultants.

Parliament agreed to the proposal of the president of the Republic to nominate Ylvi Myrtaj as member of the Supreme Court.

According to the constitution, nominations as regards this body are under the competencies of the President of the Republic. Before Myrtaj was deputy prosecutor general. /s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Policy on health promotion

The project includes prevention of non-transmittable diseases, fight against drugs, smoke and alcohol and engagement in the European Network of Schools of Health Promotion.

WHO has accorded US$30 thousands for this program.

Policy on Health Promotion includes an observation on mother's mortality, creation of policy of family planning, observation on mother's and children health and respective investments for institutions on health promotion.

This project was part of agreement on cooperation which is signed once in two years by the Ministry of Health and representative of WHO regional office. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Serb new attacks, reinforcement in Mitrovice

Some 15 000 Albanian civilians have been displaced from their lands while thousands of others have been seized and terrorized by Serb forces, reports on the ground said adding that at least two Albanians were killed and four wounded as a result of bombing.

In the area of Shtimje, Serbian forces have mined some parts of Recak village, where at least 52 Albanians were massacred. These forces have launched an attack against Zborc village since early on Thursday. 200 inhabitants of the village, mainly children, women and old people, are being blocked at the cemetery of Godanec village because they are afraid of Serb snipers.

New reinforcement entered Podujeve and Mitrovica city on Thursday.

Wave of killing continued on Thursday with other three victims. An Albanian doctor from Peja was found massacred in village of Prekalle, Istog, while two others were found near Glogoc and Peja.

Albanian sources have reported on movements and reinforcement of Serb forces all over Kosova and especially in border regions with Albania and Macedonia.

Kosova e lire Radio has reported that the Yugoslav army has declared no-passing zones the villages along the border with Albania, Polan, Hulaj, Poberxhe, Voksh, Jasiq, Gjocaj and others, with population banned to return home. /pta/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] UNHCR says 1 000 Albanians homeless in Recak

Judith Kumin was quoted by the Kosova Information Center as saying that the UNHCR team left Prishtina on Tuesday in trying to find 1 000 people who were sheltered in forests of Recak.

Kumin said that most of them women, children and old people, were under open sky in sub zero temperatures.

"They cannot stay under open sky," Kumin said adding that most of the displaced were sheltered in other villages. /pta/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] There are still unexploited possibilities in cooperation with Macedonia - Albanian President

"Despite the very positive developments in the recent years, there are still possibilities to be exploited in our cooperation," said President Meidani. He considered as a priority the exploitation of the economic potentials and especially the work for strategic links such as the Corridor 8 and Burgas-Skopje-Vlore gas pipeline.

Full understanding and bilateral positive will for the solution of every problem, towards European modernization of the societies in both countries as well as the indispensability for a continuous consolidation of the bilateral relations for a quicker regional and Euro-Atlantic integration were the main questions discussed in the meeting, the report says.

The new Macedonian Prime Minister explained to the Albanian Head of State the European and Euro-Atlantic integrating priorities in the external plane and the indispensable need for the complete democratization of the Macedonian society and gradual solution of the inherited problems through maximal implementation of European standards.

Georgevski supported the constant idea of President Meidani that the civil state of equal citizens and the integration in all the structures of the administration of representatives from the civil society is the model which we must build up.

PM Georgevski highlighted the relations with Albania as "among the best in the region" and expressed the readiness to cooperation in all the fields with Albania. He considered as a priority the East-West corridors including the field of energy and telecommunication.

The interlocutors noted that the stability of the region is linked directly with the settlement of the question of Kosove and had understanding in the point that the political road is the best for the entire region. At the same time it was stressed that the NATO assistance in this context is very important and the Macedonian government encourages this cooperation.

President Meidani supported the cooperation of the Albanian Democratic Party of Macedonia in the present coalition and stressed that the increase of confidence and the continuous integration of the Albanians is the best way for stability and prosperity.

During the meeting, President Meidani wished successes to the government of Mr Georgevski, voicing the belief that it will have the necessary support for the realisation of its mission. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Dollar exchanged at 140.1 lek on Jan.22, 1998

Kind of currency	The exchange rate
USD				140.10
DM				 83.50
LIT(1000)			 83.60
GRD(100)			 49.95
EURO				161.80

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] U.S. sends tons of oil to Albania

Sources of the Directorate of Food said that this was the second part of the quantity of some 6 300 tons of oil in aid from the U.S. government and marked the end of an agreement which envisaged 25 thousand tons of wheat and 6 300 tons of unprocessed oil.

The first part of the aid of 3 150 tons of oil arrived on December 26, 1998 in Vlora and that quantity and some 25 thousand tons of grain were being sold on auction and funds were cashed to the state budget. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Tender on assets of pyramid schemes

There are some 210 items which have been made public for those concerned through a catalogue.

Items which were property of Silva, Vefa, Kamberi, Cenaj and Leka are in Tirana and Fier. They include vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks, tanks, trailers, tourist buses, office and restaurant equipment, stationery, equipment for beer factory and vehicle spare parts.

The results of the auction will be revealed on January 26. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] USD2 million grant from Japan for plants production in Albania

According to sources from the Department of Plants Production in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the grant will be divided for three districts of Albania and the plan is that USD1 200 will be used for the mechanical means for this production while USD800 thousand on chemical fertilizers.

The fund is expected to be delivered in March this year and will be distributed according to the plan. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albanian Deputy PM demands more seriousness in participation of Albanian party in SECI projects

According to a report of the Ministry of Information, in a working meeting on Friday with the Albanian group of SECI, Meta said that Albania is behind with its commitments in the context of SECI and stressed that Albania has its own profits in these commitments.

Albanian representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Cooperation, Transport and Public Affairs and Finances agreed on a better coordination of the work so that to profit as much as possible from the SECI projects and determined the procedures and the mechanisms of how to follow the SECI agenda.

The Southeastern Europe Initiative includes projects in various fields such as in the infrastructure, exchange of information, media, banking system, facilities in trade, privatization, transfer of know-how, etc. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Three years in jail for drug-trafficking for a 25 year boy

Julian Guga, 25, resident in Sarande, was sentenced with three years of imprisonment for drug-trafficking, the spokesman of the court told ATA.

Sources of the court added that Guga was caught by police while he was transporting 1 quintal of pressed cannabis to Sarande 11 months ago.

The Sarande court has had 6 cases of people involved in drug- trafficking in the past two years. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] We are for a peaceful solution to crisis in Kosove - Georgievski - joint press conference of Albanian and Macedonian premiers -

Macedonian Premier hesitated to respond to the question whether Macedonia would put at its territory at the disposal of NATO in case military intervention was needed in Kosove, saying that "it is early to make public this stance as long as we have not been asked to declare this formally, we are for a peaceful solution and hope that this will be reached."

The two premiers agreed that Kosove had taken a considerable place in their bilateral talks, and in particuar the problem of the displaced Kosovars. They declared that both governments have respective plans and strategies to face the influx of the people coming from Kosove. They considered this issue as one helping promote the intensification of bilateral relations.

Albanian Premier Majko considered the visit of his Macedonian counterpart to Tirane as "an evident example to show how the new relations in a new Balkans must develop." The relations between Albania and Macedonia, said Majko, are characterized by an intensive cooperation with Euro- Atlantic structures in the context of the establishment of peace in the region."

In case the developments in the region will precipitate and aggravate, premiers Majko and Georgievski said before reporters that they were committed to cooperate powerfully to overcome any situation and to support international initiatives.

An important place in the talks of the two premiers, as they declared in today's press conference, took the economic cooperation between Albanian and Macedonia, including here three agreements signed today, East-West corridor, construction of railways, infrastructure, etc.

Macedonian PM Ljubco Georgienvski arrived in Tirane on Friday on a one-day visit to Albania in the lead of a delegation consisting of some ministers as well. He had meetings with Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, his counterpart Pandeli Majko and the Albanian Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi. Georgievski is expected to leave Tirane in the afternoon of Jan.21, 1998. /y.pa/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] We have common interests for long-term stability in the region - Gjinushi

Gjinushi stressed that the People's Assembly of Albania supports the bilateral relations and wishes their expansion in all the fields. He said that the Albanian factor in Macedonia is a factor for stability.

Gjinushi said that without a correct settlement of the question of the Albanian people in Kosove, no lasting stability will exist in the region. "Albanian Parliament has continuously backed up the will of the Albanian people in Kosove for self-determination, by clearly expressing the idea that they are for a peaceful solution through negotiations. The Albanians in Kosove should enjoy those freedoms and rights that all other peoples in former Yugoslavia are enjoying," said the Parliament Speaker.

PM Georgievski expressed the will of his Government to extend the relations with Albania in all the fields: political, economic and cultural. He stressed that the participation of Albanians in all governing levels contributes to the stability of Macedonia. He pointed out that Macedonia is interested in a peaceful solution to the question of Albanian population in Kosove and supports the initiatives of the international community. "We have accepted the NATO missions in Macedonia and wish that a lasting solution be found as soon as possible," said Macedonian Prime Minister. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Strike of teachers was partial - Ministry

"From the information reaching the cabinet of the Ministry of Education and Science, it comes out that in 13 districts among which Kavaja, Shkoder, Tirane, Mirdite, Skrapar, Berat, Gjirokaste etc., the teachers of 8th form and higher schools have interrupted classes partially," said to ATA the spokesman of the Ministry of Education and Science, Edlira Myrtaj.

The head of education department for Tirane, Kujtim Kapllani, considered today's strike "illegitimate" because "not any trade union representation has presented the request for the strike as the law on strikes requires." Officials of this department said with regard to the countryside said that the teachers have sided with the demands of the Federation but they had not not interrupted the classes because the pupils come from far away to attend school.

Today's strike was announced for some economic demands such as a 20 per cent increase of the salaries for teachers, reduction of the police solidarity tax from 500 to 100 lek, adoption of the status of the teacher, etc. This is the third successive strike of the Trade Union Federation of teachers following the stoppages held on Jan.8 and Jan.15, 1998. According to the Federation chairman, Xhafer Dobrusha, "the strike was held in all the country's districts and will continue without a limit until all demands are met." /lh/xh/

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

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