Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-02-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanian premier holds working meeting on Kosova

[02] Railway - priority of transport and public works ministry

[03] Albanian government approves economic agreements

[04] Albanian publishers to attend international fair in Paris

[05] Seminar on women role in decision making

[06] Albanian universities be integrated in European study center

[07] Influenza strikes elderly persons, school children

[08] Original cassettes with author's right for the first time in Albania

[09] Students interested in graduating electric engineering

[10] Premier says government ready to face peace process in region

[11] Tirana currency rate

[12] 1.429 billion leks deposited in state budget

[13] World Bank defines districts for pilot project in agriculture

[14] ATA service enters Reuters-Business-Briefing

[15] CE representatives meets with leaders of local government in Shkoder

[16] Tourism: $2,4 million lek investments in 1999

[17] 27 medical centres of Tirane in projects of World Bank

[18] Monument of Mother Tereza to be placed in Tirana center

[19] Familja Jashari has made a great contribution to the Albanian question in Kosove - Minister

[20] Telecom to be transformed in commercial company

[21] Sacrifices made and blood shed are foundation of free Kosove - Speaker

[22] Tax police block 7 tons coffee and several hotels

[23] January: Overfulfilment in incomes from fate games

[24] 1,429 billion lek cashed in budget in January

[25] Rally in Shkoder to back Kosove question

[26] CEI hails negotiations in Rambouillet and hopes for a political solution

[27] Understanding momerandum between Albpetrol and Kitari Group

[01] Albanian premier holds working meeting on Kosova

The aim of the meeting was to consider the role of the ministry in relation to the situation in Kosova and the latest development in Rambouillet, France, Paskal Milo, Albanian foreign Minister said.

Milo pointed out the very important role of the ministry he was running in such moments in order to encounter a situation "which is approaching its historic borders."

The meeting continues. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Railway - priority of transport and public works ministry

Albanian minister of Transport and Public Works Ingrid Shuli held a meeting late on Thursday with the staff of the Directorate General of Railways in Durres, a sector which suffered more damages than any other sector of transport.

Director General of railways Leonard Burnaci said to ATA that the meeting marked the start of a close cooperation with the ministry in trying to find optimal way out for the future of railways in Albania.

Railway staff appreciated the control of the ministry on licensing transport vehicles, especially vans and cars what would enable an honest competition of transport alternatives.

They have also asked for the support of the ministry in providing the transport of some 130 thousand tons of iron-nickel by railway which are actually stock in port of Durres and use it to repair railway tracks.

Minister Shuli got acquainted with the problems facing the Albanian railway sector and assured its staff for an ongoing support and cooperation. /ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Albanian government approves economic agreements

The same source said that it approved an agreement between the Albanian government and the Federal Republic of Germany which foresaw a grant worth 800 thousand marks for researches in the economy, culture and science with the help of German expertise.

Another agreement was also reached with Germany. But it envisaged a grant worth 2 million and 450 thousand marks for a project on assisting the Agricultural University of Tirana.

The Albanian government approved in principle a project on consultancy in privatising strategic sectors worth US$1 million and 100 thousand granted by the Italian government.

Today's meeting approved in principle a protocol of talks of the first session of Albanian-Bulgarian inter-government joint commission for economic and trade cooperation scheduled by the end of February.

It also approved a decision on a 10 percent rise in payment of militaries in reserve. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Albanian publishers to attend international fair in Paris

There are 8 Albanian publishers from Albania, Kosova and Macedonia who are going to display their publications.

"Private publishing houses in Albania such as Onufri, Toena, Dituria, Encyclopedic, Albin, Text Book Publishing House, will display publications of 1998," Fatmir Toçi, head of the Albanian Publisher's association said to ATA.

This is an annual fair and is also the biggest one for books in the world with the participation of all countries in the world.

Private publishing houses have been present at the fair for the three years in succession and the Albanian book will be displayed in international fairs in Geneva, Bologna and Torino this spring. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Seminar on women role in decision making

The seminar on women in decision making was organised by the parliamentary sub commission on Youth and Women Affair in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the committee "Woman and Family."

Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko and parliamentary Speaker Skender Gjinushi would be present at the opening ceremony.

A news conference will be held on Sunday at the end of the seminar. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Albanian universities be integrated in European study center

The cooperation with analogous institutions of Luven, Belgium, Thesaloniki, Greece and Grenada, Spain, aims at setting up a library with contemporary literature to help the faculties of History-Philology, Law and Social Science to outline a proper curriculum for a post graduation as well as training of speakers and students.

Project coordinators financed by the Council of Europe arrived in Tirana last week to help organise joint activities. They also foresee a seminar scheduled in May and speeches of foreign speakers in Albanian faculties.

The project includes four-month or one to two-week training in foreign universities. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Influenza strikes elderly persons, school children

According to the experienced doctor, Koçi Moisiu, the low temperatures which are continuing for more than 6 weeks, have favoured the complication of deceases.

Some 10-15 patience in severe health conditions face the emergency ward each day.

The sequences of deceases are also remarked in the reduced number of pupils attending the school.

As much as 20-30% of school pupils are treated mainly at home. Doctors from the Durres civil hospital say that number of patients in pediatric ward has increased. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Original cassettes with author's right for the first time in Albania

The private radio channel Top Albania-Radio, has realized the first original cassettes which are advertised on Thursday in the shops selling cassette.

These cassettes are of a high quality, and comprise hits, Greek songs, alternative, dance and disco music.

Each cassettes costs 300 leks, and they can easily complete the other cassettes produced after 1990 in Albania. The previous cassettes are illegally produced, they are of a low quality and they do not respect the right of the author. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Students interested in graduating electric engineering

The faculty numbers 900 students and is the oldest one opened in 1957 when the Tirana University was established on the basis of a former poly technical institute of 1951.

Since 1992 the faculty has secured the assistance and support of the European Union particularly through Tempus Program and closely cooperates with Italian and Greek faculties.

The number of the students is increased by 80, 100, 120 until 141 this year.

After graduating the faculty the new specialists are employed in Power Distribution Firm (KESH), Telecom and different private firms operating in Albania. /pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Premier says government ready to face peace process in region

Prime minister Majko and the diplomatic board of the Foreign Ministry held a meeting early on Friday to discuss the role of the Albanian diplomacy in these decisive moments regarding a solution to the crisis in Kosova and establishing peace all over the region.

"We asked for a maximum commitment of the diplomatic corps in facing the situation, which is approaching the borders of history," Paskal Milo, Albanian foreign minister, said at the start of the meeting.

Later, the Albanian premier said that it (meeting) was "very efficacious" and related with the maximum commitment of the politics of the Albanian state to back all the Kosova political factor and particularly the negotiation group of Kosova in Rambouillet conference in France.

He added: "Whatever is the attitude of the negotiation group of Kosova in the Rambouillet talks expected to end soon, the Albanian government and state would back it."

Referring to peace talks in Rambouillet, the Albanian prime minister said that the preconditions were pesimist and he accused the Serbs, who, according to him, have sabotaged the process without excluding the impact of some international factors known for their pro-Serb policy.

"If Rambouillet fails to reach an agreement it would cause instability in the region for which the Albanian government is not at all interested. But interested in resolving the Kosova crisis and respecting the will of its people, it (government) has engaged in maximum not only its diplomatic potential for the sake of peace in the region," Majko said.

If it happened that the Serbs and Albanians of Kosova reach an agreement, something long expected but none is sured of, the Albanian prime minister said "this would be a green light to kick off a process whose core is the deployment of NATO forces and withdrawal of Serb troops from Kosova." /ypa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Tirana currency rate

US$1.00			140.70
German mark		 81.00
Italian lire (1000)	 81.30
Greek Drachma (100)	 48.85
EURO			158.00

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] 1.429 billion leks deposited in state budget

Most of the tax offices have fulfilled their plan at the start of the year with offices in Durres, Vlora, Elbasan, Shkodra, Korca depositing considerable amounts of money estimated at over 100 percent of the plan.

The Tirana office fulfilled its January plan at 92 percent.

Sources from the Directorate General of Taxes said that Tirana numbered some 53 percent of the nationwide income.

The annual plan of taxes is some 29 billion leks. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] World Bank defines districts for pilot project in agriculture

The bank has allocated a fund worth US$15 million for these districts which, according to specialists, are the largest centers for agricultural products nationwide.

The projects will cover six sectors related to seed selection, agricultural markets, land, livestock concentration, fishing with the aim of increasing agricultural production and family income. /ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] ATA service enters Reuters-Business-Briefing

This is made possible by an agreement signed months ago between Reuters and ATA according to which Albanian news agency becomes a source in the information network of Reuters, or Reuters website.

The Reuter-Business-Briefing is a special service containing selected, brief and current information with most serious news agencies contributing to it.

"It numbers 4 500 collaborators including Albania, too," Lulezim Lika, business representative of Reuters in Tirana said to ATA.

The English Service of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency will enter directly the Reuters database, which is the most powerful private data base in the world.

Lika said that it was not unusual that ATA became the only source of Albania entering the Reuters-Business-Briefing, because the ATA news was referred to due to its accuracy in reporting.

ATA director general Frrok Çupi considered it an important undertaking for the fact that ATA managed to enter the world information service such as Reuters thus offering its information to the world. /y.pa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] CE representatives meets with leaders of local government in Shkoder

Prefect of Shkoder, Jetmir Shpuza, briefed Papakonstantinou of the work going on for the reestablishment of public order in this prefecture.

Speaking for the cooperation between local government structures, Prefect Shpuza said that this cooperation is present at all levels of the government and despite their political convictions, the advisers are united by the interest of the city.

During this year, said Shpuza, the construction of three important works will be constructed such as the Hydro power station in Bushat, the cement plant in the village Mes by a German firm and the hew hospital complex by a Greek firm.

Shpuza said that soon a conference will be held in Shkoder with foreign donors, in which priorities of the investments in this region will be presented.

The Council of Europe representative Papakonstantinuo voiced his satisfaction for the fruitful cooperation between the local government structures, adding that a meeting will be held in Vienna of the Friends of Albania Group to discuss the investments in Albania. "I will present in that meeting also some projects for your city," said Papakonstantinou. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Tourism: $2,4 million lek investments in 1999

The private investements in tourism started since year 1993 and till now the total sum financed in these sectors reached the value of 57 million lek. 4,9 million dollars from this sum are financed by the Albanian businessmen.

Sources from this Commettee inform that 14 is the number of the Albanian investitors, who will open this year new touristic hotels, especially in the area of Golemi Beach of Kavaja district and in the Southern Albania, as well./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] 27 medical centres of Tirane in projects of World Bank

The project which covers the medical service in the city of Tirane and in its district villages, will continue until 2001. According to specialists, the funds of the World Bank will also be used to supply these centres with medical equipment thus modernizing the medical service in over 80 per cent of the existing medical institutions.

According to Hoxha, the working group is preparing the projects in which they envisage a study for about 40 of such centres with the aim that they function in zones with more than 4 000 inhabitants.

Presently, there are 18 first aid medical centres, over 150 out patient clinics and consultative centres in 16 communes and in two municipalities of the district of Tirane. They have 327 specialists, along with 96 family doctors working in all the villages. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Monument of Mother Tereza to be placed in Tirana center

Beside this in the meeting it is taken into consideration the town planning of Tirana to make it suitable for the changes expected to take place in the future.

In the project presented by the Studies and Projects Institute it is planned to be constructed great public garden in front of National Museum, where the monument of Mother Tereza will be placed.

The Albanian Prime minister is against the previous project approved by Tirana Council of Territory Adjustement for the construction of a bisness center. He said that " I will not sign for the construction of a bisness center in this place, because it will stiff Tirana center".

Majko suggested the project of the above Institute to be discussed with the arcitects and Tirana Council of Territorry Adjustement. After that it will be presented to the CTAAR for its approval.

During this meeting it is approved also three other construction sites. The first is the one that is going to be used for the construction of the new electric stacion of Tirana. The second one is going to be used for the construction of a custom house in Permeti district and in the third one, Maliqi Agriculture Center in Korca district will be constructed.

The town planning study of the area from Tourism Hotel to Cuka Chanel in Saranda district is approved as well in the last meeting of CTAAR.

From the part of the Council other projects for constructions approved by Tirana Council of Territory Adjustement are taken into consideration such as; the Great Tirana Park, the construction of the ten-storied building in "4 Shkurti" Street, and the revalue of town planning area of former Mechanic Factory in Kavaja Street in Tirana district./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Familja Jashari has made a great contribution to the Albanian question in Kosove - Minister

"Family Jashari is a living expression of the great will of the Albanian people for freedom and national rights," the press department of the Foreign Ministry reports. Mr Milo said that the present situation in Kosove, the talks in Rambouillet which have an extraordinary importance for the fate of Kosove, demand from us to be united and act as a single unit for a lasting and stable settlement of the crisis in Kosove.

The representatives of the Jashari family, after voicing their thanks for the welcome, stressed that they have been and will always be devoted to Kosove.

"We hail the Rambouillet Conference and hope much in the Albanian delegation there. The decisions they will adopt must be conformed to the interests of the Albanian people in Kosove," said one of the representatives of Jashari. He also highlighted the maximal efforts of the Albanian Government to back the process in Rambouillet and the solution to the Kosova crisis. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Telecom to be transformed in commercial company

After the transforming into a commercial company "ALBATELEKOM" will subdue the reconsruction to reach an effective managing. The transformation process is the first step towards privatisation, which, according to the plan drafted by the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatisation, will start in the second six months of this year.

"ALBATELEKOM" will be the second enterprice in the strategic sectors of the Albanian economy that will make its way towards privatisation. It is the second after AMC.

Till the end of year 1998, Telecom mark a total income value of nearly 19 million dollars, being so the most profitable public enterprice in Abania.

Before its transformation the Albanian Telecom assigned in Washington an agreement with the american company "New World Telecom", that is going to invest in 10 years in succession a total value of 325 million dollars. This investement will be used mainly in Mobiles and will be spread in the rural areas of Albania./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Sacrifices made and blood shed are foundation of free Kosove - Speaker

Focusing on the role of the Kosova Liberation Army, KLA, Mr Gjinushi said that one cannot consider terrorists the boys and girls of Kosove, the people of Kosove who are defending their territories, their homes. The road to Rambouillet, he said, is covered with the blood of your unforgettable beloved people, therefore we must hope in a just agreement, which will guarantee the will of the Albanian population in Kosove.

The relatives and members for the martyrs' families thanked Mr Gjinushi for his stand and the approach adopted by the Albanian parliament, highlighting its resolution in support of Kosove. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Tax police block 7 tons coffee and several hotels

Thousand commercial subjects that act without respective lisences are fined in the operation taken by this police.

It is stopped the activities of four hotels and bar restaurants such as "Europa", "Broadway", "Imperial", "Muhamet Ali", etc.

According to the officers of Tirana Tax Police, this action will go on and will stop all the subjects that act without license. Beside this the undeclared goods will be sequestrated according to the rules./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] January: Overfulfilment in incomes from fate games

While VAT, which covers the greater part of the incomes provided from the tax duties, could not exceed the limit of 84%.

Meanwhile the excise brought a considerable incomes, nearly 135,1%, due to the new law passed by the Parliament in end of year 1998. The new law decrease the excises of the imported goods.

The great incomes are cashed in the budget from the small bissness, national taxes, solidarity tax, as well. They mark the following respective values of 158,3%, 123,3% and 203,5%./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] 1,429 billion lek cashed in budget in January

In the begining of the year the great number of tax directories exceed the plan. The great towns like Durresi, Vlora, Elbasani, Shkodra, Korça cashed considerable sums in the budget exceeding the predicted plan of 100%. Meanwhile Tirana directory realized nearly 92% of the plan in January.

Sources from the General Tax Directory inform that Tirana cover 53% of the incomes of the total ones in the country.

The annual plan of the incomes from the tax duties marks the value of nearly 29 billion lek./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] Rally in Shkoder to back Kosove question

The rally was held by political parties and non-governmental organizations operating in Shkoder.

The speakers in the rally condemned fiercely the crimes of the Serb military-police forces against innocent people of Kosove, forcing the latter to move from their territories. They demanded from the international community a correct solution to the question of Kosove and the denunciation of those who organized the inhuman massacres against women, children and aged people of Kosove.

Participants in the rally voiced the belief that the people of Kosove will never kneel down until they will win their freedom. They also addressed a message to the Contact Group demanding among others that just decisions be adopted in the Rambouillet meeting for the status of Kosove. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] CEI hails negotiations in Rambouillet and hopes for a political solution

According to the press department of the Foreign Ministry the statement writes that it is high time for the whole international community to support a lasting solution of the crisis, adding that "CEI backs the decision of the Contact Group, hails the negotiations in Rambouillet and hopes that the process will lead to a political solution."

The CEI also hails the strategy of the Alliance of North Atlantic which aims at halting the violence and supports the talks for a political solution. It highlights the readiness of the Alliance to adopt all indispensable measures in case the parties fail to take the steps envisaged in the Alliance declaration of January 30, 1999.

CEI underlines the special need for a constructive and supportive role of the neighbouring countries in the region of the crisis, to contribute to the international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis through negotiations. It stressed the need to reduce the negative role of the crisis in the security of the neighbouring countries. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Understanding momerandum between Albpetrol and Kitari Group

In this momerandum the two parts agree to complete the all terms and the issues of this Agreement License and the decision of the Minister's Council dated May 25.

The operator of Kitari Group will restart its actions in the predicted areas within this month. The operator promises to present to the NAH on March 1999 the Program of Experimental Operations and the Program for 1999, as well. Beside this he presented the respective bugdet for all the coming Hidracarburs operations, that will take place following the above mention programs.

In the same time the two parts agree to calculate the actual production and the averaged daily production according to the contract.

In this memorandum the two parts agree about other important topics such as the bill, the approval by the operator the prices offered by Albpetrol and the drafting of a new contracts on "Oil selling" and "Service Contract"./linda/

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