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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-16Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Majko says cooperation with Albanian-U.S. Enterprise Fund is of priorityTIRANE, March 15 (ATA)-In his meeting on Monday with the director of the Albanian-U.S. Fund of Enterprises, Domenique Scaglione, Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko highlighted the activity of this Fund in Albania as a significant part of the aid the American government has provided for the development of market economy.The spokesman of the Prime Minister reports that Majko expressed Albanian Government's pledge to support the activity of this Fund. "I am convinced of the priority of our cooperation with you in the field of insurances, banking system, stock-exchange and other fields." Scaglione expressed his readiness to further promote the relations, participate in the process of the banks' privatisation, improve the Albanian financial legislation and other fields of mutual interest. He pointed to the positive signs observed in the country's economic development which also make up a basis to go ahead. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] DP hails decision of Albanian delegation to sign Kosova deal in ParisTIRANE, March 15 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, The Democratic Party on Monday afternoon hailed the decision of the Kosova Albanian delegation to sign the Kosova agreement in Paris."I hail the Kosova Albanian representatives for keeping their word, for the de-facto signing of the deal. I think that the implementation of the agreement will be a landmark in the history of the Kosova people and the history of the Albanian nation," chairman of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha told a news conference today. He said that the signing of this agreement would also affect the stability of the Balkans, the relations among the peoples of this peninsula and their future. The second round of talks between the Serbs and Albanians of Kosova resumed in Paris on Monday to sign an agreement of peace, proposed during the initial talks in Rambouillet of France. The ongoing reports say that the Abanian side has expressed readiness to sign this deal as soon as possible, a decision which has been hailed by the organisers of this Conference as well as the United States. /lh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] "Bylaws to be improved to bar the way to informal market" - Commission of EconomyTIRANE, March 15 (ata) - By Elton Metaj: The Albania's Parliamentary Commission of Finance and Privatization has requested a meeting with the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Shkelqim Cani, Minister of Finances Anastas Angjeli and Minister of Labour, Emigration and Social Support, Kadri Rrapi to discuss the necessary legal steps aiming at minimizing the informal market in Albania."The meeting is demanded to be held within 25th of March in the context of the tasks of the People's Assembly to improve legislation," the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission Arben Malaj told ATA. On March 10, the Bank of Albania sounded the alarm of the dangers threatening the stability of the financial system in Albania and suggested some measures to bar the way to the repetition of a phenomenon similar to the former pyramid investment schemes. According to the Bank of Albania, the Albanian economic reality continues to be characterized by "peaceful" cohabitation of both formal and informal markets. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Bocka hails cooperation with Italy in military jurisprudenceTIRANE, March 15 (ATA)-By E. Koraqi, A team of Italian military justice experts, headed by the military Prosecutor General of the Italian Republic, General Giuseppe Scandura, is visiting Tirane in the context of bilateral cooperation between Albania and Itlay in the military field.The team, along with Albanian military experts in Justice, is holding a workshop which treats significant issues of military jurisprudence, Behar Metohu, who works at the Defence Ministry's public relations department, told ATA. Deputy Defence Minister Ilir Bocka, in his meeting with this delegation, highly evaluated the special cooperation with Italy in this field. He said that "the efforts underway with the Albanian army for a perfect military juridical system would help resolve the acute and difficult tasks for a more efficient justice." General Scandura expressed the readiness and preoccupation of his team so that the initiated activity to open up prospects to achieve the objectives of the Albanian army for its juridical system. Present at this meeting were Italian ambassador to Albania, Spatafora, as well as the head of the Italian Assistance Experts delegation in Tirane, General Cantone. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] European partnership on patents and industrial ownershipTIRANE, March 16 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi: Very soon, the Albanian patents and industrial ownerships will be placed under the protection of the European legislation, said to ATA the director of the Office of Patents in the Ministry of Education and Science, Spartak Bozgo.In the capacity of the observer, the Albanian Office of Patents, he stressed, has been adhering to the European Organization of Licences in 1995, while the project "For consolidation of the functions of the Albanian office of liences" financed by UNDP is underway. In the mean time, a delegation of this office left Monday for Munich to take part in the meeting to be held there among experts from March 16-18, 1999. "This meeting will help investigate into the possibility for the application also in Albania of the legislation of western countries in the field of licences and industrial ownership," said Bozgo. Only during 1998, there were registered in Albania 1 411 patents at national and international level and 6 230 service and trade marks in cooperation with the European Patents Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ensuring incomes worth nearly 8 600 00 lek for the state budget. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Ardit Gjebrea, producer of Miss Albania '99 performanceTIRANE, March 16 (ata) - By Enkeleida Riza: The Albanian renowned singer and composer Ardit Gjebrea, 35, will be the producer of the performance "Miss Albania '99" due on May 29, 1999 in the Palace of Congresses.The company "Jon Music" which organizes national and international concerts, created by Gjebrea some time ago and known by international organizations of the field of concerts such as "M.E.O.," "Globe," "Alpajed, " has given Gjebrea the possibility to take the initiative of organizing the concert "Miss Albania '99." There will be about 30 Albanian beautiful girls who will be selected, while the jury will have a larger international participation than usually, said Gjebrea, as a practice also known in the world. One of the main sponsors of the performance will be Magic Bingo company and other famous sponsors. Ardit Gjebrea has a rich experience in presenting Beauty performances. He has presented Miss Albania performance in 1993, 1994, 1995 and has been a presenter of "Miss Europa 1996" held in Tirane. Gjebrea has represented Albania in international activities such as "Mediterranean Night in Palermo," Italy and in the renowned festival "Golden Deer" in Romania and has been a presenter of "Miss Diaspora" held in Stuttgart of Germany a few years ago. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Higher qualitative level demanded for educational projectsTIRANE, March 16 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi: A draft-project will be applied in 1999 for the development of pre-university education, director of the Institute of Pedagogical Studies (ISP) Bujar Basha told ATA on Tuesday.The project envisages the review of the existing projects of ISP, continued Basha, so that to coordinate all individual and department scientific contributions, and to have by the end of the year their concrete balancesheet in the context of the educational reform. To this purpose also served the workshop held in Tirane last week by Albanian Educational Development Project (AEDP) of the Soros Foundation, with the participation of the coordinators of education projects. The aim of the seminar was to increase of the value of professional management and ability in the realisation of the projects. The participants will soon draw up some methodical principles on the application of educational projects, outlining the criteria of their efficiency. Among the objectives of the present staff of ISP remains the increase of the personal contribution of the people involved in scientific activities, mainly through contemporary studies and methods. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Sarande to become tourist portSARANDE, March 16 (ATA)-By SH. Hajno, The Sarande port, 80 minutes from the Greek city of Corfu, will turn into a tourist port.The director of this port, Vasil Duka, says that the Study and Design Institute at the Ministry of Public Affairs and Transport has completed a study to turn it into a tourist port. The same source says that the ships will be handled at the Limjon port, some two kilometres north of today's port. Specialists say that in the future the fishing boats will as well be anchored here alongside freighters. Sarande port officials say that after the reconstruction of the existing quays, big ferries with tourists may as well be anchored here which in the past were handled through speedboats. Over 2000 day tourists arrived at the Sarande port via Corfu during the tourist season of 1998, official sources of the city confirm. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Inhabitants of Kline and Malisheve in grave situationPRISHTINE, March 16 (ATA)-Groups of Albanian inhabitants yesterday morning began leaving their homes in the villages of Kline, which for several days have been under shelling. These inhabitants are moving towards the villages of Malisheve.According to initial reports, 7 500 people are being displaced mainly to Domanek, Gurbardh and other villages. A statement published by the charity association "Mother Teresa" in Prishtine and published by the Information Centre of Kosova (ICK) says that a grave humanitarian situation has been created after the Serb forces' latest attacks against Sferke, Fush, Volljak, Perceve, Llapceve and other villages, while there are tendencies for the displacement of Albanian population to other villages of this zone. Activists of "Mother teresa" and the German humanitarian association "Cap Anamur", which have visited Gurbardh, Bubel, Damanek and other villages, ask urgent measures to improve the situation. "There is a very grave humanitarian situation which threatens to turn into a human tragedy unless an urgent concrete action is taken to help these inhabitants," the statement says. It says that based on initial reports over 7 500 inhabitants are being displaced only from the attacked villages and those near them. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] New structures in medical services introducedTIRANE, March 16 (ata) - By R Xhuvani: The Albanian Ministry of Health has drafted new organizational structures for the medical services in the districts, making a re-distribution of the doctors and other medical staff on the basis of the number of the people they are serving, diseases, the range of activities they cover and other criteria.Their aim is to determine the standards and to describe the work for each position and at all levels of medical service, said to ATA the spokesman of the Ministry. The Staff Department in cooperation with Medical Insurances has prepared special criteria and motives for a new distribution of the staff. A contract has also been prepared between the doctors and the structures of medical insurances which determines clearly each one's tasks. A special place is devoted to training in medical management in the ministry and in the medical centres. For this the Institute of Public Health and the respective ministry has projects financed by PHARE Program and the World bank. /dast/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Albania supports cooperation in BSEC frameworkTIRANE4, March 16 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, An Albanian delegation took part in the international conference "Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on the eve of the 21st century", held in Georgia recently.Mirosh Sako, head of the Albanian delegation and of the Foreign Ministry Regional department said in his speech that Albania supports the process of cooperation in the BSEC framework and is very interested in realising joint project. Albania, he said, evaluates cooperation in the framework of BSEC and other regional initiatives, as component part of European integration. The conference discussed possible ways on which the BSEC organisation should concentrate its actions in the coming years. Special attention was devoted to the materialisation of cooperation in energy, infrastructure and other fields, with the Eighth Road, the Burgas-Vlore gas pipe having a priority. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Serbs forcibly gather Albanians in front of Han te Elezit barrackPRISHTINE, March 16 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports that today at around 10.00, units of Serbian military forces in the Peldenice village of Hani i Elezit, have forced all Albanian men out of their houses and gathered them in front of the army barrack in Han te Elezit, according to sources from the Human Rights Council in Kosova.Meanwhile, LDK sources from Vushtrri report that this morning Serbian tanks and troops entered and set fire to five villages, Becuk, Strofc, Bivolak, Gllavotin and Shilivod. While the villages of Mihaliq, Druar, Bruznik, Liqej, Balic, Gurbardh, Pantine, Okrashtice, Dubofc, Galice and Taraxhe, east of the Qyqavice mountain, continue to be under artillery shelling. "Dozens of Serbian soldiers injured in the vicinity of Vushtrri were sent to the Mitrovice hospital yesterday," "Koha ditore" cites the vice- director of this hospital as saying. While the Serbian Press centre reports that "the units of the Yugoslav army did not suffer defeat in the Vushtri region yesterday". /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Tirana currency rateTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By L. Thanasi: Following are the buying and selling rates of foreign currencies against the lek in the Savings Bank.US$1.00 140.10 German marks 78.10 Italian lire (1000) 78.80 Greek Drachmas (100) 46.00 EURO 152.70/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] Some 1.5 million DM for "offices of professional teaching"TIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: The German association of the technic cooperation, GTZ, envisages the opening and functioning of "teaching offices" in several Albanian professional schools through a fund worth 1.5 million DM.GTZ, present in Albania since 1992, has successfully rehabilitated many buildings of the professional education in the framework of the mutual agreements of both countries. Both stages of the implementation of the urgent aid programs have successfully ended, while one third is expected to continue for 30 other months. The continuation of GTZ project consists of the equipment of these schools with the necessary material base by setting up "teaching offices," the chief of the professional education department in the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science, Maksim Konini, told ATA. The third stage of this project will be financed with 1.5 million DM by the German Association of Technic Cooperation-GTZ and is expected to be implemented till the middle of year 2001, stressed Konini. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] "Task Force" helps in stability of power situationTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By G.Dilaveri - The Department of "Task Force" near the Albanian Power Corporation (APC) since a month is doing its best in checking the way of using of the energy, illegal electric connections and punishes those who abuse with the power.During the last weeks of February and the first days of March Tirana branch of this department have done nearly 531 controls, cut the power to 130 illegal connections and announced the commission meeting in Prefecture entitled "Toward a Clean and Civilized Tirana". During the same period are punished nearly 97 subjects' marking a total value of 1 695 000 lek, inform the commission by hailing the work done by "Task Force". In the end of February APC informed that it will cut the power to those who do not pay the energy bills, while for public institutions the deadline was decided March 5. Traditionally 90% of Albanians used woods as a heating material during the winter and nearly 10% used coal and few electric powers. But after 1990 this report changed completely. The power used for illimination and partly for cooking this time started to be used mainly for heating the flats and for cooking./dast/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] CoE official says Korça optimistic for developmentKORCE, March 16 (ATA) - By B. Fejzullai: The city of Korça is optimistic for development because it has many natural and economic resources, a good geographic position and human resources as well as a high cultural and education level, Andreas Papaconstantinou, representative of the Council of Europe (CoE) in Albania told local government officials on Tuesday.Papaconstantinou held separate talks in Korça prefecture to get acquainted with the order and law situation, economic and social problems and the level of autonomy for the local government. Some 80 firms operate in the Korça prefecture and the interests of foreign investors have been increased. Korça mayor Dhionis Kotmilo said that the investments will amount to 143 percent this year more than last year. He said that the town hall was included in the CoE programmes Eco Uverture, Cross Border and Life. He said that the Korça town hall has profited some 14 thousand ECU for two projects of the Eco Uverture program and eight projects of the Cross Border, six of which for road asphalting and the rest for the reconstruction of the city market and industrial area. Kotmilo mentioned the start of works for the reconstruction of the Korça aqueduct for which the German government had allocated a fund worth 24 million marks. Papaconstantinou said that the priority of the CoE in Albania was to reinforce and stabilize order, strengthen autonomy of local government and economic as well as cultural development for all the regions of Albania. He said that the CoE had noticed that the relations between the government and local government had been increasingly improved but it needed efforts to strengthen autonomy of local government particularly finances. The CoE has a program for a nationwide training center for officials of the local government and its administration. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Demands of shoe factory factory fulfilledGJIROKASTER, March 16 (ATA) - By H. Cani: The strikeer workers of the shoe-factory "REKORALBANIA" in Gjirokaster suspended Tuesday the one- day strike, because most of the demands were reached. The petition of 10 points was sent to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker.In today's talks with the managers of the factory, the workers were pleased with the increase of wages by 40%, with signing of the collective labour contract immediately, with a series of remuneration, as well as with the setting up of a canteen in the factory. The workers appreciated the increase of wages, which will not be less than 15 000 lek, and according to the category it will be 21 000 lek, said the representative of the Albanian party, Flamur Cani. According to him, there will be no job cuts, but other workers are expected to be employed. The Albanian-Greek joint venture "REKORALBANIA" was set up with 15% of the Albanian capital and 75% of the Greek capital. The contract with the Greek party has been signed for 15 years, according to the laws approved by the then Parliament, said Cani, who denied the existence of the abuses in this agreement. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Agreements in Work and Social insurance fieldTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By M.Pupa - In Ankara is hold the first meeting group of bilateral cooperation between Albania and Turkey in Work and Social insurance.In this meeting an agreement is assigned between the two parts.According to the agreement Turkey is ready to give its assistance concerning this field with technical assistance, training and different qualifications to Albanians' specialists, in Albania or in Turkey, inform for ATA the press office of the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs. The agreement predicts also technical assistance in work process and work's relationships./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Six Serb soldiers enter Albanian borderTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By U. Bajrami: Six Serb soldiers entered Monday inside the Albanian border.Press office close to the Albanian Ministry of Public Order reported to ATA on Tuesday that by 13:30 on Monday, in front of the border post of Dobruni in Has (Northern Albania) close to the post C 14/15 and C 14/9, six Serb soldiers entered some 50 meters inside the Albanian territory. According to the same source, they were observed by the Albanian border units and OSCE observers, deployed in Has. Later on, they turned back to their territory. Also, in the district of Kukes, beyond the border line, close to the border post D 17/3, some 17 Serb soldiers and a civilian have been positioned. While, close to the border post C 4/15 in the district of Has, a group of Serb soldiers opened fire at the Albanian territory. As a result, an Albanian citizen was wounded, ends the report of the press office in the Albanian Ministry of Public Order. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Draft-law on Albania Prosecutor's Office be discussed in StrasbourgTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By Th. Thanasi: A group of prosecutors, headed by the Albanian Attorney General, Arben Rakipi, will discuss with experts of the Council of Europe about the draft-law on the Albanian Prosecutor's Office.The Albanian delegation will leave Wednesday for Strasbourg where they will exchange opinions with the specialists regarding the draft-law on the Albanian Prosecutor's Office, the spokesman of the General Prosecutor's Office told ATA on Tuesday. According to the spokesman, this draft-law has been drafted based on the European experience, with the assistance of the jurists of the Council of Europe. This draft-law was compiled by the experts of the Albanian Prosecutor's Office. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Trade Chamber asks for corporation with business' communityTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj - The Trade and Industry Chamber is looking forward for a cooperation with Investitures Union and Union of Organizations of Albanian Business (UOAB) aiming at further progress of the business in Albania.The General Assembly of the Chambers of Trade and Industry, beside the corporation with the business community, asked also for a closer corporation with the Government and especially with the Ministry of Economy and Trade Corporation. This assembly asked for accomplishing of the law "About the Trade Chambers", by which all the subjects must be inscribed in the chamber. In the meeting it is discussed about the new law "About Trade Chambers" by making the necessary modifications to make it sound more actual. The General Assembly of Trade and Industry Chambers hoped that the problems discussed in the meeting will be fulfilled in the institutions that want the further economic progress of Albania./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[22] Albania Foreign Minister leaves for ParisTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By I. Luto: Albania Foreign Minister Paskal Milo left Tuesday for Paris to closely follow the developments in the Conference on Kosova.Press office close to the Albanian Foreign Ministry reported to ATA that the presence of the chief of the Albanian diplomacy in Paris will be in the capacity of a high ranking representation of the Albanian government in the ceremony of signing the accord by the delegation of the Kosova Albanians. The delegation of the Kosova Albanians in the peace talks in Paris has accepted on 15 March that it is ready to sign the draft-agreement, without explaining the exact day in which it will be signed. The Albanian Foreign Minister is the only high ranking official who represents the Albanian government, meanwhile that a special delegation, headed by the deputy Foreign Minister, Pellumb Xhufi, is closely following the peace talks since the beginning. As the above source reported, Minister Milo is expected to hold talks with senior personalities of the international diplomacy in Paris. /lh/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[23] Maks Velo presents his art in FranceTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By K. Shehu: The work of the Albanian painter, Maks Velo, has been shown recently in Paris, thus carrying to ten the number of his personal exhibitions opened in France after 1990. The paintings of the outstanding Albanian painter have been shown this time in the Atelier of Adzak museum and stay open from 10 to 21 March.The works of Velo make the autopsy of mankind and conveys philosophical messages and shocking subjects. Painter Maks Velo has passed many years in jail. The communist dictatorship burnt after punishment some 250 works. The specialists of painting have considered his painting "as special" and "based on signs of a Balkan primitive-abstract configuration." Velo has opened recently many exhibitions in Italy and Poland and has until now 2 600 paintings. Maks Velo is author of five books, two of which with configurations and three books with stories and poetry from the communist prison. He is also author of a series of monotypes and lithography. /pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[24] Town hall to allocate funds for road asphaltingTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By G. Dilaveri: Half of the fund of investments put at the disposal of the Tirana town hall for 1999 will be used for rehabilitation and asphalting of roads.The fund at the disposal of town hall and its enterprises was estimated at 92.3 million leks and 41 million leks of them would be used for rehabilitation and asphalting of roads, a town hall spokesman said to ATA on Tuesday adding that some 3.5 km roads would be rehabilitated. Funds for the Tirana asphalting during '98 were procured particularly by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for 27 roads and by the town hall for one road. This year the Tirana town hall will cover large part of it. Tirana mayor Albert Brojka reiterated recently the charges he had made a year ago on the violation of legal procedures and technical conditions in asphalting roads during 1998. He said that the road asphalting was done without any projects blocking existing road channels. Brojka mentioned the Gjin Bue Shpata Street where the holes were 50 cm through the asphalting was done recently. Last week prime minister Pandeli Majko asked for a start of legal procedures against responsible persons for the maintenance of main roads in Tirana which were asphalted with funds from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[25] Chromium: 54% of plan to be realized in FebruaryTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By M.Pupa - According to the operative data of the chromium mines in February is produced nearly 6.800 tons chromium that is to say 54.4% of the plan, while it is planned to be produced 12.500 tone chromium.Pojska mine produced 210 tons chromium from the total ammount, while the plan was 200 tons. Prenjasi mine reached to realize the plan by 99%. Kalimashi and Bulqiza mines do not managed to produce the predicted quantity of chromium./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[26] Albanian, CoE experts discuss legislation in judiciaryTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: Experts of the Council of Europe (CoE) held a working meeting on Tuesday with officials of the Justice Ministry, Supreme Court and high-ranking inspectors of law.The spokesman of the Justice Ministry Agim Neza said to ATA that the meeting exchange views on amendments underway for the law on organisation of judiciary as well as preparation for a regulation of the inspectorate of the Supreme Council of Justice. A topic of discussion was also the law on Supreme Court, regulation for judicial conference, Supreme Council of Justice and its inspectorate, organisation of judicial structures as well as the issue on the judiciary status, police service in courts and the like. Present at the meeting was also minister of Justice Thimio Kondi. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[27] Great difference in number of businesses inscribed in tax and social insurance officesTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By Lolita Thanasi - There is a great difference in the number of the businesses inscribed in the tax offices and those one in social insurance.According to the specialists the number in both of them must be the same. According to the sources of the Work Inspectorate at the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs, all the businesses must be included in the scheme of social insurance, including the private employers,as well. The great difference in this number is presented by physical subjects. The number of the subjects inscribed in the offices of tax and social insurance is as following: ---------------------------------------------------------------- No| Inscribed subjects | Subjects | | Juridical | Physical|In total ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | Subjects inscribed in | | | | tax offices | 8.965 | 33.949 | 42.914 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | Subjects inscribed in | | | | Social insurance | 7.480 | 11.420 | 26.900 ----------------------------------------------------------------/pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[28] 22 billion lirets on payments' balanceTirana, March 16 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj - The project law "On ratification of financial agreement between the Albanian Government and "Mediocredito Centrale", Italy, about the program in support of payment balance" is presented already to the permanent commissions of Albanian Parliament.According to the Common Declaration of Cooperation between the Albanian Government and the Italian one on urgent inference a total sum of 22 billion lirets are accorded by the Italian part as an assistance credit. The aim of this assistance is the import of Italian goods and services in power sector, water supply and watering one in the frame work of a program in support of payments' balance. The Italian Minister of Treasure authorized "Mediocredito Centrale" Italy to accord a financial credit of 22 billion lirets to the Albanian Government.14 billion lirets of this credits will be given to the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization, 6 billion to the Food and Agriculture Ministry, 2 billion to the Ministry of Public Work and Transport. The credit is a soft one and will have e return time of 30,5 years, form which 12,5 years will be e free period only in interests'payment./dast/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[29] Agriculture Ministry to propose lower custom fees about imported materialsTirana, March 16(ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is against the increasin of custom taxes of the materials that come from import.According to sources from this Ministry the cut of the taxes of imported materials will affect in falling of the cost of ready production in Albania. The materials like chimical materials, pesticides, biological materials, etc will have a custom tax of 5%. In the second group of auxilary materials will have a custom fee of 10% and the third group of ready agricultural products will have a custom tax of 20%. "The new fees proposed by this ministry we will have increases in imported products, but on the other side it will increase the native production" stated the specialists of this ministry./lh/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[30] Clinton's initiative contributes to institutionalisation of security structures in Albania, Balkan regionTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - President of Albania Rexhep Meidani sent a letter on Tuesday to the United States president Bill Clinton expressing his satisfaction for Clinton's initiative in Southeastern Europe."I have the great satisfaction to hail the new initiative for Southeastern Europe undertaken by You and the president of France Jacques Chirac and made public on February 19," President Meidani said in the letter, according to the press office at the presidency. He said that the initiative showed once against the great engagement of the United States and yours personally for security, prevention of conflicts and development of economic cooperation in this region of Europe. "I am sure that this initiative made public a year after the Action plan of Southeastern Europe will serve promote cooperation between Albania and other countries of the Balkan region with the United States, its allies and NATO structures in defining a long-term strategy on security issues. This undertaking is of special importance in these difficult moments facing the region with the worst crisis in Kosova," the letter said. President Meidani expressed his gratitude for Clinton and his administration for their realistic evaluation and serious engagement in signing of peace accord in order to stop genocide and bloodshed in Kosova. Clinton's decision to send U.S. troops as part of NATO forces for the implementation of the agreement was a major guarantee for the establishment of peace and democratic institutions in Kosova contributing directly to the stability and security in the Balkan region, Meidani said. "I would like to assure you once again that the Republic of Albania is totally engaged in the process of regional integration and cooperation in all levels. I appreciate your initiative and consider it in conformity with Albania's interests and policy of security and a concrete contribution in institutionalizing structures of security in Albania and in the Balkan region," Meidani said. He also reiterated the readiness of the Albanian state to cooperate closely with the United States and its allies in order to put the initiative into practice In his letter, Meidani expressed his deep gratitude for Clinton's interest and support for Albania and the Albanian people. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[31] We will find out ways for foreign investments in Elbasan, PMTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - Albania Prime Minister Pandeli Majko visited Tuesday the town of Elbasan. He held talks in prefecture, town-hall, metallurgic plant and visited the economic fair opened in Elbasan, PM spokesman reported.The relations between the central and local government, identification of possibilities to find the ways for the attraction of investments in Elbasan, as well as the future of the metallurgic plant were some of the main concerns of Premier visit in this town. In the meetings held in the prefecture and town-hall, Premier Majko pointed out the climate of cooperation between the central and local government. "Elbasan is one of the best examples being installed in several big centers of the country," said Majko. The Prime Minister underlined the fact that the budget, planned this year for this prefecture is bigger than the previous years. "We will make our efforts to direct foreign investments in Elbasan, as part of the general strategy for the economic restoration of the country, " said PM Majko. The Premier underlined that the reconstruction has been planned to start in almost all the hospitals of the Elbasan prefecture, the German project for the final solution of supplying the town with water, and above all, the expected interventions in infrastructure will be some of the government priorities in Elbasan. During his visit in the metallurgic plant, Majko stressed that the contract reached between a Turkish investor for the steel works is one of the ways to pull it out of collapse. He said that the privatization of strategic and non strategic sectors is the only way we are forced to move on, adding that investors come to invest in Albania by calculating the risk that Albania offers at the moment. PM Majko, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Privatization, Ylli Bufi, also visited the economic fair opened in Elbasan, where he contacted with a number of local and foreign businessmen. /lh/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[32] Gjirokaster, Korce border area be under police controlGJIROKASTER, March 16 (ATA) - By H. Çani: Outlining new strategies in fight against illegal trafficking and police surveillance in all border posts were the topics of a meeting between officials of the Albanian and Greek border police for the Gjirokaster-Korce border area.The meeting on Tuesday in Gjirokaster lasted more than three hours and discussed the issues in details. "Cases of trafficking noticed in the southern border area between Albania and Greece and ways of fighting against them when they appear in most sophisticated forms urge a close cooperation between both police forces," Gezim Goci, border police chief, said. The Greek side expressed readiness and assured for further cooperation with the Albanian border police along the southern border area saying "this will help rise to the maximum the efficiency of the fight against violators to the law sanctioned by both democratic states." /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[33] Police arrest members of a contraband ringTIRANA, March 16 (ATA) - Structures of the Ministry of Public Order in cooperation with the general prosecutor's office seized early on Tuesday 13 persons, members of a powerful contraband ring.Specialists of the criminal police, those of order and rapid intervention forces and forces of the prefecture police participated in the blitz operation, said a spokesman of the public order ministry. The General Prosecutor's office has issued warrants for 17 persons involved in criminal activities organised in different contraband rings. The 13 included officials of state institutions, customs house staff and others and the economic damages cause to the state by the group's activity was estimated at US$900 thousand. A meeting was held late on Tuesday at the Ministry of Order with the participation of the minister of order, general prosecutor, chief of Albanian Information Service (SHIK) and other senior officials of the ministry to discuss the outcome of the joint operation launched nationwide. They stressed that the operation was only the start of a fight against contraband. /lh/ak/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |