Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-01-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Deputy general prosecutor appointed member of Supreme Court

[02] French TF3 to broadcast a serial on Albanian distinguished writer

[03] Vollebaek not pleased with OSCE mission in Kosova

[04] Durres records high number of abortions last year

[05] 951 employed in private sector

[06] 504 people from Kosova recorded in Kukes, Has

[07] Regional business office opens in Vlora

[08] Failure to approve customs code risks aid for Albania

[09] Anglo-Adriatic company to invest on tourism

[10] Massive cut offs in electric energy; Durres

[11] Serb forces attack Podujeva area

[12] New social center to help people in need

[13] Greece continues to send aid for displaced Kosovars

[14] Law on private, public media to change radio TV structures

[15] Speaker says parliament backs will of Kosova people for self- rule

[16] Normalization of electric energy supply

[17] Tirana currency rate

[18] Persons issuing number plates to cars with fake documents put under legal procedures

[19] Citizen caught with huge amount of foreign currency in Rinas

[20] Board of Directors discuss today about aids to be accorded to Albania;IMF

[21] First stage for construction of Serb church in Prishtine over

[22] Government priorities are fight against crime and traffics

[23] Egypt strongly condemns crime against Albanians in Recak

[24] Serb political forces on announced international conference about Kosova

[25] Engagement for unification of Albanian political forces on Kosova

[26] Press release of the British Embassy in Tirana

[27] Ways for institutionalization of cooperation between groups of compatriots discussed

[28] Gianfranco Fini to arrive in Tirana tomorrow

[29] Center Right backs any initiative in fight against crime

[30] Issue of organized crime, smuggling, emigrants is international problem, Everts

[01] Deputy general prosecutor appointed member of Supreme Court

Press office at the presidency said that Myrtja has been deputy General prosecutor of the Republic of Albania recently. s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] French TF3 to broadcast a serial on Albanian distinguished writer

Two co-producers and two cameramen started on Tuesday work in Gjirokastra for the serial which would be devoted to 200 well-known figures of the century including Kadare.

One of the co-producers of the serial titled "The sky conquerors" Jacques Oduen agreed to reveal something on its ambitious project. He said that the shootings will start first in Gjirokastra when Kadara was born and grown up, later in Tirana or the capital of the great winter of '60 and the shootings in North of Albania, the land of epics and motifs of Kadare, would mark the end of the work for four Frenchmen who shot the first scenes on Tuesday in the house of Kadare and Argjiro castle in the city. /f.n/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Vollebaek not pleased with OSCE mission in Kosova

"I am not pleased with the KVM as long as people are being killed," in Kosova, Vollebaek, Foreign minister of Norway told the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Vollebaek thought that the crisis in Kosova could be resolved without an NATO military intervention. But he added that it was necessary to continue military pressure (through ordering NATO activation) and international political pressure.

"The actual level of support given to KVM by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) is not satisfactory," foreseeing that failure to meet legitimate demands of the KVM would negatively affect the success of the mission.

The minister called both on Serb and Albanian authorities to act in cooperation with the international community.

"We should tell the people of Kosova that the international community is engaged in improving their living conditions and that a political solution will bring about important benefits," Vollebaek said.

He considered a first important step in reaching a political solution the adoption of a unified mediated position in uniting Albanians of Kosova.

But, on the other hand, Vollebaek said that "we should undertake all efforts to secure real readiness by the FRY to achieve a political solution."

Conceding that the verifiers' mission in Kosova was the most difficult task ever undertaken by the OSCE, Vollebaek, however, did not hesitate to express hope for the value of the mission.

"I hope that KVM will prove its values to all sides," he said. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Durres records high number of abortions last year

Specialists of family planning in Durres are concerned over an increase of demands for abortion especially from urban area.

640 women in urban area have chosen abortion as the optimum solution against 284 in rural area.

Even in cases of miscarriages the number of abortions in urban area is estimated at 188 cases out of a total of 282 cases. /ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] 951 employed in private sector

Defrim Mazelli, chief of the office, said to ATA that there were 760 private enterprises in the district besides state enterprises which had employed some 3 900 people.

The local labour office knew and closely followed the labour market, Mazelli said. He added that it was applying policies of employment through different programs.

Some 40 young women had been employed by Greek "MIK" ready-made garment firm in March last year. A project on reconstruction of Cerrave- Lumas road and Nizhavec aqueduct which employed some 87 people was carried out in cooperation with the Self-employment Foundation and professional formation in the Commune of Cerrava.

Though the private sector has employed 951 people, this is a small number against that of the unemployed which is estimated at 5.532, Mazelli said. /ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] 504 people from Kosova recorded in Kukes, Has

Jonuz Kola, coordinator of the refugee office said that the registration had been done within 20 days in order to eliminate cases of abuse with humanitarian aid bound for Kosova refugees.

For some time the local office of refugees and the UNHCR office have quarrelled on the number of people from Kosova who receive aid.

Considerable quantities of aid have arrived in these districts but part of them has been sold in the free market. This has happened because inhabitants of the areas have been included in the lists of Kosova people increasing thus the number of the latter to 1. 500.

Meanwhile the Refugee office said that despite the tense situation in Kosova, there have been no influx of people during January in these areas. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Regional business office opens in Vlora

Present at a meeting organised in the Laberia palace of culture were dozens of businessmen who operate in Vlora and other districts of the prefecture and officials of the local government.

The meeting elected a nine-member regional council. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Failure to approve customs code risks aid for Albania

Minister Angjeli said that the Albanian ambassador was summoned in Brussels to give explonation on delay to the approval of the new customs code.

The Board of directors of the International Monetary Fund will discuss on January 27 the delivery of the second tranche of aid for Albania and even the code.

"Im saying that if the code is not approved, it will be a seirous obstacle for the government and parliament," Angjeli said.

New customs code was worked out in June 1998 and was discussed by the government. Then the commission on economic policies will collect claims of deputies and discuss them before submitting to parliament.

The claims, related to the articles on the fight against contraband, will be discussed by the commission. Deputies have also seen a lack of concordance between the Albanian law and a European code which has been worked out and is expected to be approved.

"Parliament has been discussing a bill for six months due to problems coming up," minister Angjeli said. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Anglo-Adriatic company to invest on tourism

Sources from the commission said that both sides had agreed that the investments should be used for the southern part of Albania and concretely in Llogara and tourist village of Konispol.

There is fund worth 400 million leks offered for projects in tourism in Albania, projects which include the Adriatic seaside and the Shkodra city. /agj/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Massive cut offs in electric energy; Durres

A phonogram bearing the sign of General Director of the Albanian Energetic Corporation, Alfred Paloka, orders its employees to provide with electricity, according to the graphics scheduled before, 47.000 family customers, state and private companies from 5p.m till 7 p.m. Only the hospitals, aqueducts and main bake-houses in the city are to be "privileged".

According to the chief of the electric substations in Durres, Shpetim Hako, the reaction of the local government has been immediate. They have asked the Albanian Energetic Cooperation to change this measure in Durres. The electric energy was cut down at least at 5 hours a day during the last two winter seasons in this district.

Hako said that the district energetic substations have supplied with energy only the consumers of special importance, the harbor port, the clothes production enterprise, were hundreds of persons are employed, as well as Fllaka radio station. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Serb forces attack Podujeva area

Serb military-police forces and paramilitary units have attacked the villages of Lupc and Majac and later villages of Lluzhan, Burice, Glamnik, Llapashtice, Peran and Obrance, according to sources on the ground.

The Serb heavy artillery is pounding the region and heavy detonation is audible in the city of Podujeva. Heavy pounding is heard even in the North of Prishtina but there is no report on the area under attack. Serb forces are seen moving in Prishtina.

Sources of the Kosova Information Center said that during last night there had been Serb movements and reinforcement in the region of Llapi with other troops from Serbia. Tanks deployed in the Dumoshi airport were directed to Lupc village and other villages under attack.

Lessons have been interrupted in Podujeve, while Serb forces are attacking from high points along the Prishtine-Podujeve road. Sources on the ground said that fighters of the Kosova Liberation Army are responding to the attacks of the Serb forces but there are no reports on casualties. /pta/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] New social center to help people in need

The center costing some one billion and 580 million lire will serve women who are not able to serve themselves, drug addicted and alcoholic persons as well as homeless children and teenagers.

This center, to be built up in Vaqarr, a village in southwestern part of Albania, will organise tailor's training courses and employ 20 to 30 persons.

The agreement was signed for a 25-year period and all the spending will be covered by the Emanuel Community. If the agreement had not been renewed after 25 years the Albanian state would own it. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Greece continues to send aid for displaced Kosovars

Greece aid to the displaced Kosovars during 1998 was estimated at $720 000. $220.000 out of the total were sent to persons arriving to Albania from Kosova.

The Greece non government organization "Social Solidarity", in collaboration with the "International Christian Charities - LOCC" is expected to apply soon in Kosova and Montenegro the program "Winter", with an initial cost worth $214.000.

Meanwhile the Greek Red Cross is expected to begin within January 1999 an aid program, to send packages of food and flour with a total cost of $108.000, to meet the emergent needs of the refugees during the winter.

The non-governmental organization "The world Doctors", continues to provide medical aid for Albanian refugees placed in Montenegro worth US$178 thousand, financed by the Greece Foreign Ministry.

Total value of new programs is estimated at US$500 thousand, press office at the Greek Embassy said. /s.sh/a.a/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Law on private, public media to change radio TV structures

Albanian parliament approved the new leading council of the Albanian radio television which has all the legal powers to elect administrative and leading structures in order to work out the platform of RTSH and to supervise the work in the institution.

Sources from RTSH said that in its first meeting the council would set up a working group to deal with the status of the public television.

The Council was expected to ask for a confidence motion for present officials of the powerful station of electronic media in Albania due to a change from state to public institution.

"It is very important that all the structures of the RTSH function according to the law," Sefedin Cela, RTSH vice director said to ATA.

He added: "New law urges totally new structures and not improvements in the existing ones. Because it is here that one can misinterpret the new law because a partial reform would compromise the law itself."

All employees who are working in the RTSH, part time collaborators and others who have worked before will undergo a test.

"Professionalism and skills will be the basis of selection," Cela said.

Importance should be devoted to the selection of people who will work in main departments particularly in administration and program departments which, according to the law, will be totally at the service of the public who is the taxpayer of the Radio and Television. /f.n/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Speaker says parliament backs will of Kosova people for self- rule

Speaker of the Albanian parliament Skender Gjinushi told on Wednesday a delegation of the Albanian League in the world that "the Albanian parliament has closely followed and backed the will of the Albanian population in Kosova for self-rule," a spokesman of parliament said.

"We have appealed to the international institutions for NATO energetic action against Belgrade. It is important that all political forces in Albania be in unison for a solution to the Kosova issue," Gjinushi said, praising as positive the dialogue between the political forces in Kosova, including the Kosova Liberation Army.

Head of the Albanian League in the World Simon Kuzhnini, praising the role of the parliament, said that the League would convene its first congress to announce the program and platform in order to boost its activity for the sake of the Albanian national issue. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Normalization of electric energy supply

The cut off of the electric energy during the two last days brought abnormalities in the bread supply in some areas in Tirane, but the situation is under control today. The cut down of the electric energy in some areas in Tirane has been rare, but the Albanian Energetic Cooperation insists in the saving of the electric energy where possible. AEC has undertaken emergent measures to make the debtors pay the energy.

The debtors owe actually a debt of $ 70.000 to AEC.

The cut down of the energy, according to sources from the Ministry of Finance and Privatization, has caused the reduction of inflow in Fierza hydro-power station and other hydro-power stations of Drini cascade.

The Albanian Energetic Corporation has decided on a reduction of the electric energy not more than 25-30%. Hospitals, aqueducts, health centers, students campus and others are to be "privileged" from this measure. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Tirana currency rate

USD 140.10 DM 83.30 LIT(1000) 83.50 GRD(100) 49.95 EURO 161.80

/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Persons issuing number plates to cars with fake documents put under legal procedures

During a control exercised in the sector of road circulation are seen heavy violations. In the card-index box of this Ministry are found documents, according to which are supplied with number plates the cars with fake documents, the spokesman clarifies.

He added that controls are also exercised even in the road circulation in the districts of Kruje, Laç, Burrel, and Korçe, where is encountered the same phenomenon. Ministry of Public Order is to undertake the discharge from the duty and removal of the responsible persons. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Citizen caught with huge amount of foreign currency in Rinas

The citizen I.Z, aged 33, inhabitant of Tirane, was to travel for Turkey, the spokesman of the Tirane Police Prefecture, told ATA on Wednesday. Before his departure for Turkey, the criminal police forces and the forces of the custom house in Rinas airport caught and blocked considerable amounts in Italian liras, American Dollars, Swiss and Belgium Francs.

I.Z has declared that with the sum he had he would make business in Turkey on the account of "Kent" company. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Board of Directors discuss today about aids to be accorded to Albania;IMF

Here is the question of the delivering of the first tranche of aid worth $ 49 million, foreseen to be delivered to Albania according to the conditions of the agreement ESAF 2 with IMF, amount divided in six parts according to the fiscal years.

Only the first tranche worth $ 11 million is delivered so far to Albania.

The Board of Directors of the IMF is to discuss today on the conditions where the macro-economic conditions lay. All the aid is destined to support the wages bilance and its maintenance in equilibrium. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] First stage for construction of Serb church in Prishtine over

After the expulsion of the Albanian students in the university complex three huge Serb monument are built up, while all the Albania monuments are destroyed. Among the destroyed monuments is also listed the monument dedicated to more than 100 patriots shot dead in the Nazi-fascist camp of Prishtina during the Second World War. /P.Ta/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Government priorities are fight against crime and traffics

The meeting, according to the SP spokesman, "is a usual working meeting in regard with the recent political developments in the country and in the life of SP.

The spokesman said that PM Majko stressed the priorities of the government, which continue to be: respect of law, fight against crime and illegal traffics and smuggling, strengthening of the political dialogue inside and outside the country for the solution of the national issue, as well as the increase of partnership with international institutions.

Another important point in the address of Premier Majko was the deepening of the administration reform. Majko said that "work is going on intensively for the restoration of a standardized administration according to the international, civil and professional concepts."

But, according to the SP spokesman, the meeting also treated problems for the organization strengthening of the party. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Egypt strongly condemns crime against Albanians in Recak

The statement stresses that Egypt strongly condemns the crime committed against the inhabitants of Recak village. "Egypt is closely following the developments and bloody events in Kosova where the victims were scores of civil Albanians," says the statement.

The spokesman reports that this crime is considered as violation of the agreement reached last October for the cooperation in the solution of the Kosova crisis, as well as severe violation of human rights. Egypt calls on parties to be engaged in cold blood and work intensively for the implementation of the agreements already reached. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Serb political forces on announced international conference about Kosova

On the other hand, the spokesman of the Serb Restoration Party, thinks that the direct dialogue is the best way Serbia can offer. Asked whether this means that his party is against the international conference, he said that "the form is not a priority, it is important that the international community, which is an open master of the Albanian separatists, would force the Albanian party to take part in the dialogue, which would be held in the framework of the agreement Holbrooke-Milosevic."

The leader of the Social Democratic Party, Vuk Obradovic, says that now it is completely clear that the Kosova crisis has been internationalized. "One should not wait for the international community to legalize a complete new concept for the solution of the Kosova crisis and issue an ultimatum for both parties," says Obradovic.

Nebojsa Covic, chairman of the Democratic Alternative, says that it is possible that the proposal of the Contact Group be according to the Dayton Accord. But the international community does not know how to solve the problem of Milosevic. This is one of the last efforts, but the same mistake should not be made like in Dayton, so that Milosevic be a guarantee for everything, as the Serb people is fed up with his guarantees, said Covic.

Vesna Pesic said that the international community should exert a powerful pressure on Milosevic so that the solution for Kosova is imposed. "Milosevic would ask guarantees to become the one to implement the peaceful agreement, and to try to remain in power through this deal, without taking into consideration the defeat of his mistaken policy," said Pesic. /p.ta/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] Engagement for unification of Albanian political forces on Kosova

Minister Ulqini pointed out that the Albanian government will welcome and support any initiative which would serve this aim.

Kuzhnini on his side, expressing full understanding, thanked Minister Ulqini for the engagement of the Albanian government in setting up a pan- Albanian political opinion, which will enjoy the support of all the Albanian political factors. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] Press release of the British Embassy in Tirana

During this meeting, Mr. Nash stressed the viewpoint of the British government that the Democratic Party should immediately join Parliament. Berisha told Ambassador Nash that he accepted and completely respected the opinion of the United Kingdom that the best place for dialogue is Parliament. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Ways for institutionalization of cooperation between groups of compatriots discussed

President's press and information office reported that during the warm and fraternal conversation, the ways for the institutionalization of cooperation between the groupings of compatriots in the world were discussed.

The President of the Republic expressed the support for any effort or initiative which would aim at coordinating all the positive powers of compatriots throughout the world to strengthen Albania, protect the national individuality, the Albanian language and culture and find a solution for the Kosova issue. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] Gianfranco Fini to arrive in Tirana tomorrow

Press office close to the Italian Embassy reported that Fini will hold talks with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Democratic Party, as well as with other opposition parties.

In the end of his visit, Fini will hold a news conference on Thursday noon. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[29] Center Right backs any initiative in fight against crime

"The national pact for the restoration of order, proposed Tuesday by the Democratic Party, is an initiative which is not waiting for the formal understanding by the other political forces, but it should be turned into a concrete act," the chairman of the Liberal Union Party, Teodor Laco, told a news conference on Wednesday.

Laco said that the first step in this direction would be the establishment of several joint structures for the disarmament of the population, an idea which was put forward by this grouping a month ago.

"The Albanian ruling parties and mainly the current government, if they want to deepen the cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition, they should now give examples that they want to put words into practice," the chairman of the Democratic Union Party, Remzi Ndreu, declared.

Ndreu called on the current government to accept the cooperation of the Albanian opposition and the assistance that the later can give to fight the crime in Albania together. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[30] Issue of organized crime, smuggling, emigrants is international problem, Everts

In principle, he stressed, not only a single country is involved in this, and it is not fair to blame Albania. This because the fruits of the traffic, which pass through Albania, come from the other countries and go towards other countries.

It is very difficult, because these are not only problems for Albania, but also for many other countries of the world and they cannot be concentrated into a single country, like you, said Everts.

With regard to the solution of this problem, ambassador Everts pointed out that what is needed now is the closer international cooperation between the countries where it starts and where it finishes, that is, from Turkey, Greece or far China.

Everts, after pointing out the lack of means in Albania, stressed that "it is almost impossible to control the border in our countries, and not in a country like Albania, which is now trying to build its economy."

Possibilities should be created to the Albanian government in order to have the situation under control. The foreigners must not replace the work of the Albanians, but help them to work better, ended Everts. /lh/mt/

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