Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-19

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albania Govt. hails signing of peace accord by Kosova delegation

[02] Crime of murder - worrying over last weeks

[03] Meidani, Coburn exchange views on aspects of Albanian society

[04] Forty-three Albanians returned to Rinas by various airlines

[05] "Arms in exchange of development" also in Vlore

[06] Detainment for accused of contraband

[07] Contract signed with IMI financial adviser

[08] Donors' Conference in agriculture, food system held

[09] Actors peacefully protest nonfulfilment of their demands

[10] Solis says warned strike of paidd blood donors meaningless and illegal

[11] Fortress of Ali Pashe Tepelena in Butrint be reconstructed

[12] Details on Serbian forces' atrocities in Babaj of Boke

[13] Mustafa: new stage of developments starting in Kosova

[14] Citizen killed near border line

[15] US dollar exchanged by 142.30 leks

[16] Justice Faculty asks for support of foreign donors for its reconstruction

[17] Brussels asks for Albanian vegetables' export

[18] Some 13 million leks accorded for asphalting of Koplik-Razem road

[19] "Friends of Albania" will help economic development in region of Kukes - Papakostantinu

[20] February '99: Exterminate products mark 12,7 million lek

[21] Complex exercise of unit 732 of Riot Police in Kurbin

[22] DP leader says yesterday's signing - national, conscious act

[23] Law on publications - a necessity in Albanian publishing field.

[24] Gross Domestic Product marks 456.7 billion leks in 1998

[25] January-February: Privatization income marks 37,6 million lek

[26] Albania president says cooperation among journalists helps extend interregional communication

[27] Valuable aid of Holland for Albanian Army - Chief

[28] "Toena", "Onufri" to present Albania in International Book Fair, Paris

[29] Project on Korça-Kapshtica broadway ready to start

[30] Minister says military legislation under improvement

[01] Albania Govt. hails signing of peace accord by Kosova delegation

The signing of the project, negotiated in Rambouillet after a long and difficult process, constitutes an outstanding historic, civilised and patriotic act that will have positive effects for the Kosova Albanians and their legitimate aspirations for freedom, peace and stability.

The Albanian Government also greets the organizers of the Rambouillet Process and the Contact Group countries, especially the United States, for their determinative role in encouraging and promoting the peace negotiations. The Albanian Government encourages international partners to show the same spirit of cooperation and coherence even in exercising pressure on the Yugoslav party to sign the peace deal or face the alternative of military force.

The Albanian Government hopes that signing of the peace accord by the Albania delegation will bring the necessary contribution in the tense atmosphere of the Balkans, and will show once again that it is Belgrade and not the Albanians who caused the conflict in Kosova.

Albania waits that the sublime act of signing the interim peace accord finds the support and understanding of the international community, so that the further steps, to be taken for the solution of the conflict, completely reflect this new and positive reality. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Crime of murder - worrying over last weeks

According to the General Director of Police, Veli Myftari, some 306 crimes have occurred from the beginning of the year until now, of which 96 were murders. Despite the situation of criminality over the last months, improvements have been noticed. The crime of murder has been more spread over the last three months, mainly the murder by fire arm, said Myftari.

Sources from the Ministry of Public Order reported that despite the decrease in the number of crimes during 1998, the crime of murder marked the largest number in the general number of crimes.

The transition period in Albania has been accompanied with the blooming of crime, which reached the climax by the beginning of 1997. One of the factors which influenced in this increase was the armament of civil population from storming the army depots. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Meidani, Coburn exchange views on aspects of Albanian society

Meidani has supported and encouraged the realisation of this initiative after the already traditional model of the U.S. Congress, the president's office reports.

During this friendly meeting Meidani and Coburn exchanged views on many aspects of the Albanian society, especially pointing to the perfection of human, family values, the tradition of tolerance and understanding among the religious communities.

Meidani familiarised the guests with the need of replacing the policies of exception and assessment of realities in black and white from rigid political-party positions with understanding and mutual trust which benefit the development of the country and society.

Also present at the meeting was U.S. ambassador in Tirane Marisa Lino. /s.sh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Forty-three Albanians returned to Rinas by various airlines

TIRANE, March 18 (ATA)-By Th. Thanasi, Some 43 Albanian nationals were returned to Rinas on Wednesday by various airlines for invalid documents, the Public Order Ministry reports.

The sources say that 30 persons were returned by Albanian, two by Austrian, six by Malev (Hungarian), and five by Adria (Slovenian) airlines. /y.pa/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] "Arms in exchange of development" also in Vlore

The conference, initiated by the OSCE regional office and the association "The Hearth of Vlore Woman" is planning a wide-scale program, which aims at disarming the population.

Eric Filipink, the head of the OSCE regional office, as well as an English specialist for disarmament, made the respective proposals, meanwhile that the manager of UNDP, Philip Pierce brought the experience of Gramsh, where 400 arms have been collected, out of a total of 10 000 that are in the hands of population of this district.

The director of Vlore police, Sokol Kociu, gives reports on the collection of arms over the last two years, as well as the number of people killed or wounded since the army depots were stormed.

Some 860 persons were killed in Vlore since the population looted the army depots, adding that 50% of them were not killed with pre-mediation. Nearly 2300 persons were slightly wounded and 430 suffered serious wounds during this period.

The head of local police reported that police have collected 506 machine guns, 162 rifles, 257 heavy machine guns, 560 anti-tanks, 10 million cartridges and others. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Detainment for accused of contraband

Judge Flora Cabej after hearing the prosecutors of the case, Bilbil Meta and Pertef Hamzaj, and the defence lawyers of 13 arrested persons, ruled unlimited detainment for 12 of them and a 20 day detainment for the Bllate customs' official Fadil Lazri.

They are accused by the Prosecutor's office of contraband, which has caused an economic damage of $900 000.

The 13 defendants were arrested on Tuesday, after a joint operation of the public order forces of the respective districts and the Rapid Intervention Forces, also in cooperation with the prosecutor's office. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Contract signed with IMI financial adviser

IMI has been defined as adviser, after the tender financed by the World Bank worth $1 million and the amount will be covered by the Italian government. This adviser will play the role of the financial adviser and will organize the tenders for buying five important Albanian enterprises like Albatelecom, AMC, Albkrom, Albbaker and Albpetrol.

Signing of the contract defines the beginning of consultation of IMI, because the Italian experts have already started to cooperate with the specialists of privatisation. This for the fact that the formula of privatisation of AMC (Albanian Mobile Communication) will be defined within a few days and its tender will be announced by the end of April 1999. The adviser will also deal with the privatisation of Albatelecom, Albkrom, Albbaker and Albpetrol. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Donors' Conference in agriculture, food system held

"Taking into consideration that some 60 per cent of the active population lives in village and is engaged with agriculture, and the rural zones are the poorest parts of Albania, the attention and engagement of the government remain maximal," the Albanian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lufter Xhuveli, said in his speech.

Nearly 12 projects and 13 mini projects are being implemented with a total value of $220 million. While, many others worth $188 million are on the way.

The main directions of the operation projects are the policy of land, irrigation, drainage, livestock, agricultural mechanics, forests. These projects are carried out in cooperation with a large number of donor countries and organizations, like FAO, IFDC, USA, Islamic Bank, World Bank, Italy, Greece, Germany and Holland. /dast/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Actors peacefully protest nonfulfilment of their demands

The actors held this peaceful protest after a one-hour strike two weeks ago because of failure to meet a petition they had addressed to the top state instances.

Representatives of the National Theatre, Tirane Variety-show, Puppet Theatre, National Circus, "Skampa" Theatre of Elbasan, "Andon Zako Cajupi" of Korce, "Migjeni" of Shkoder, "Petro Marko" of Vlore, Durres Theatre told the press that "we consider the Albanian dramatic art dead", therefore they are wearing black ribbons in their arms.

Peaceful but angry, the actors moved along the "Martyrs of the Nation" Boulevard and stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Culture and the presidency.

They launched slogans against reform in theatre, for the dismissal of Minister of Culture Edi Rama, and suspension of the draft-law on "Live spectacle".

According to representatives of the actors' assembly, the actors will continue their protests until all their demands are met. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Solis says warned strike of paidd blood donors meaningless and illegal

"Unless the 15 000 members of the Blood Donors Association are provided with a status they are right to within all legal criteria, then they will declare a hunger strike," the head of the association, Skender Hekuri, told ATA, adding that they would wait until March 20.

Minister of Health Leonard Solis said that it is impossible for the budget of this ministry to reimburse all health services for paid blood donors, as their number keeps increasing.

Solis considers the warned strike of the association meaningless and illegal.

The Minister of Health has begun cooperating with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on the status issue.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health are of the opinion that the status has a honorific character, "as our health policies aim at donating blood without payment and at applying volunteer, family and autologous donation.

Paid donation was stimulated recently, as the demands for blood during the unrest of '97 were increasing. For this category of donors, by decision of the Council of Ministers, last year the price for blood unit increased to 2.800 leks from 2.200 leks (one unit of blood is 400ml of blood). /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Fortress of Ali Pashe Tepelena in Butrint be reconstructed

The chief of the atelier of monuments of culture in Saranda, Telemak Llahanai told ATA on Friday that the fortress of Ali Pashe Tepelena, as a monument of culture, will be reconstructed based on a project of the British Foundation "Butrinti."

The same source said that the reconstruction of this monument will aim at having a new functional side, which has to do with the use of rooms of the fortress as a scientific center for scholars, who will hold a scientific activity in Butrint.

The construction of the fortress of Ali Pashe Tepelena, close to the channel of Butrint, dates back to the century XVI. The Pasha of Ioannina (1740-1822) reconstructed this fortress by adding other grounds for fortification and hibernate. /pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Details on Serbian forces' atrocities in Babaj of Boke

They forcefully gathered all inhabitants of the village, stripped them off, lined them up against the wall of a house and began their identification.

A 20-year-old youth who tried to escape was shot dead by the police. Five others had their hair cut with knives and hands pierced by the police.

The police committed these acts also against the inhabitants of the Shishman of Boke village, where the men were gathered at the elementary school "Sulejman Vokshi" and were freed when OSCE verifiers arrived in these villages, the sources say. /p.ta/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Mustafa: new stage of developments starting in Kosova

"A new stage of developments is beginning in Kosova with the signing of the Paris agreement by the Albanians," the spokesman of President Rugova, Xhemail Mustafa, declared in Prishtine today.

He said that with these developments "preliminary conditions are created for the Belgrade to be blamed for the situation in Kosova and for NATO to urgently intervene against Serbian targets and immediately establish its troops in Kosova".

Both Rambouillet and Paris testified to the fact that "the Serbian side is against political solution", and that the Serbian forces built-up shows that "Belgrade is intensively preparing itself for a military solution to the Kosova issue," said Mustafa.

He said that the situation in Kosova is becoming dramatic with atrocities, bloodshed, ethnic cleansing and destructions. The Serbian regime has now turned Kosova into a military-political trench and all developments show that it is preparing a general offensive against Kosova," said Mustafa, asking the international community to urgently act in defence of the Kosova people. /p.ta/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Citizen killed near border line

The spokesman of the prefecture police department told ATA on Friday that citizen Hysni Hajdarmataj was killed last night at about 23.00 in the Stoberce village, some 30 km from the Bajram Curri town, near the C-10 border post.

According to the spokesman, Hajdarmataj, aged 40, was killed near the border line.

The border police forces were immediately rushed to the area, but the direction of the bullets killing Hajdarmata is yet unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, according to the spokesman, the situation along the whole border belt continues to be tense due to the Serbian forces' built-up. /dast/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] US dollar exchanged by 142.30 leks

Foreign currency	exchange rate
US$1			142.30
DM			 79.70
LIT(1000)		 80.40
GRD(100)		 48.15
EURO			155.00

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Justice Faculty asks for support of foreign donors for its reconstruction

Vasilika Hysi, dean of this faculty, said that a meeting organized under the attention of OSCE, was held on Friday. Participating in the event was as well the OSCE ambassador, Daan Everts. The main issues discussed in the meeting was the need of support from foreign donors through the professional training of the actual staff of pedagogues.

The scope of this meeting, were participating were also representatives from the government, the Education and Science Ministry, Tirane rectorate and others, was " the support of foreign donors for the Justice Faculty, by creating better teaching conditions according to the Program of multilateral aid of well-understanding.

Some 4 000 students are actually attending this faculty, while the number of pedagogues reaches 35. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Brussels asks for Albanian vegetables' export

This is the first request from Brussels concerning the Albanian exports, meanwhile it is requested an information on potential exports and the kinds of the vegetables to be exported in the countries of the European Community.

Albanian vegetables are considered as products without health problems. In this group are including also fish and animal husbandry.

The needed data are collecting already in order to provide the right information asked from Brussels.

The total quantity of the vegetables foreseen to be exported is nearly 11.250 tons/year, inform sources of the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to statistics the actual export of the vegetables is nearly 420 tons/ year and in the top list of vegetables' export is white bean by 200 tons/year. While in the top of the pontencial export is the tomato by 5 000 tons/year.

Brussels request is due to the continuous attempts of the Albanian Ministry of Food and Agriculture to open the way to the Albanian exports' move toward the countries of the European Community, based on the approved schemes of preferences.

In the classification did by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture most of the native agriculture products are included in the third and in the fourth group of the scheme of the Gross Domestic Product(GDP). /pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Some 13 million leks accorded for asphalting of Koplik-Razem road

The chairman of Malesia e Madhe district, Luigj Rakaj, said that the fund accorded by the state budget is to be used for the asphalting of the road Koplik-Razem, 13 kilometers long, in order to create possibilities for development of tourism in the Razem area and afterwards in that of Boga.

Rakaj said that several projects from Albanian and foreign investitures are handed over to the Territory Regulation Council, for investments in this distinguished tourists area.

The tender which will proclaim the winner company to be engaged with the asphalting of this road, is to be held in the coming days. Proceedings are thought to finish during the six month period of this year. /s.s/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] "Friends of Albania" will help economic development in region of Kukes - Papakostantinu

The representative of the Council of Europe in Albania, Andreas Papakostandinu, over a visit on Friday to the district of Kukes, said to local authorities that "Friends of Albania group countries will assist in the economic development of the region of Kukes."

After the panorama by the prefect of Kukes, Qemal Elezi of the social and economic state of the zone, Mr Papakostandinu stressed that "the black clouds on Kosove have also been reflected in the economic state of your zone, which is on the forefront."

He guaranteed the local authorities of Kukes of the support by the Council of Europe and the group "Friends of Albania" in the economic development of this region.

Mr Papakonstandinu stressed to the local authorities that the development of the zone of Kukes is one of the priorities of the Council of Europe and of the international community. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] February '99: Exterminate products mark 12,7 million lek

Nearly 1.258 controls of different levels are done in different productive and commercial subjects.

A large amount of products is blocked because they do not fulfill the standards and the requests of the law "About food", inform sources from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Nearly 13 quintals' products having a value of 328 000 lek are exterminating only in Tirana. In this group are including 3096 packet of fruit juice and 930 fish' cans.

The control process, beside the measures taken like the stop of productive activities and taking of the licenses, marks for this month seven fees in Tirana, Fier, and Vlora. These subjects are punished by fees from 5.000 to 100.000 lek.

The process of new licenses distribution already started. 34 is the number of the new licenses given during this time and 242 old ones are renewed./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Complex exercise of unit 732 of Riot Police in Kurbin

For more than two hours, the unit members demonstrated exercises and operations they had learned over a month-long training held by Multinational Advisory Preparatory Elements (MAPE) mission.

The Minister of Public Order, Petro Koci, highlighting the good level of the demonstration, said that "Lac and the zone round it has problems with the crime but seeing this exercise we become optimistic that everything will change." "Let us put all our energies to ensure public order and peace to the Albanians," said Koci. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] DP leader says yesterday's signing - national, conscious act

"The delegation of Kosova Albanians signed the accord drafted by the Contact Group. Through this agreement Albanians signed the peace. Despite further procedures, if it (accord) will be signed or not by the Serbian side, it consists a national, conscious act," Berisha said.

He said that the consensus and unity between representatives of the Albanian delegation, and between the political and military wings are of very importance.

Meanwhile, Milosevic (Yugoslav president Slobodan), according to Berisha, would not sign the agreement, being aware of great responsibilities for the drama he had caused to the Balkans.

"He understands that this agreement marks the end of his policy of wars and crises," Berisha said.

Referring to the NATO stand in case Serbs would not accept the agreement, Berisha said that "NATO should observe its statements on an energetic intervention because if it took on a challenge from Milosevic this would be very grave."

Nevertheless, he expressed his conviction that Milosevic would get the due response. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] Law on publications - a necessity in Albanian publishing field.

According to him, "the drafting of this law and its approval afterwards, will bring about the regulation of the relations between the editor and the author, will systemize the relations between the editors and libraries, and will rehabilitate the book distributing network.

A work group made up of representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Association of Albanian Publishers, a lawyer and a representative of Soros foundation are actually dealing with the formulation of this law.

The first Publishing Houses in Albanian were opened after 1991.

The Association of Albanian Publishers is created in 1993, and some 40 publishing houses are actually counted. These publishing houses have asked the Ministry of Culture, through this association, to discuss this draft-law in government and in parliament.

The lack of such a law has continuously caused problems in publications, such as non-respecting of the right of the author, translation right, re- publishments and others. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Gross Domestic Product marks 456.7 billion leks in 1998

GDP with coherent prices, which presents the GDP calculated with the actual prices, is in continuous increase. GDP in 1990 was 16,8 billion leks.

GDP with constant prices (which refers to the prices of year 1990) marked the value of 15.3 billion leks in the end of 1997 and 16.5 billion leks in year 1998.

The difference between the two kinds of GDP indicates the inflation's level.

              Gross Domestic Products (million lek)

---------------------------------------------------------------
                           | 1990   | 1991   | 1992   | 1993
----------------------------------------------------------------
GDP with coherent prices  | 16.813 | 16.404 | 50.697 | 125.334
----------------------------------------------------------------
GDP with constant prices   | 16.813 | 12.105 | 11.235 | 12.309
----------------------------------------------------------------
        Continuation
----------------------------------------------------------------
                | 1994    | 1995    |  1996   | 1997   | 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------
GDP coher.price | 184.393 | 229.793 | 280.998 | 341.716| 456.766
----------------------------------------------------------------
GDP const.price | 13.331  | 15.107  | 16.478  | 15.325 | 16.556
----------------------------------------------------------------

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[25] January-February: Privatization income marks 37,6 million lek

The incomes collected by the privatization of the public enterprises go for the finance of the budget deficit. Nearly three billion lek is the value of the incomes predicted in the law "On Public Budget" for 1999.

In two months period of January-February nearly 37,6 million lek are cashed from the privatization process, which is to say 1,2% of annual plan.

The total sum to be collected in 1998 was 1,5 billion lek, but it failed because it was impossible the full sale of the small and medium enterprises of the Albanian Economy.

According to the Head of the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization the privatization of 469 small and medium enterprises is foreseen within the first six months of this year.

47 common enterprises and six commercial companies are going to be privatized within March and the Government will sell to its partners the share-certificates, which cover less than 51% of their total./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[26] Albania president says cooperation among journalists helps extend interregional communication

Meidani praised the cooperation and contacts among journalists of different countries of the Balkan region as a possibility, which helped extend lines of interregional communication, press office at the presidency said.

Given the need to boost contacts in all levels of society for building confidence on integration and harmonious development of the region, President Meidani backed different projects of infrastructure and telecommunication which would connect and bring together the economies and peoples of the Balkan region. He considered these priorities of the assistance offered by the international community for the future.

As regards the contacts with his counterparts in some friendly countries, Meidani was optimistic for an open and cooperative attitude to help boost regional cooperation in all fields. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[27] Valuable aid of Holland for Albanian Army - Chief

General Andoni made a panorama of the situation in the Albanian army, of the work and efforts to rehabilitate it and the great assistance that NATO countries and partner ones have given in this direction. "Your assistance has been great and valuable especially in the field of medicine, transport and especially in the field of the education of Albanian officers in various schools and courses in Holland."

Speaking of the situation in the north of Albania, the Chief of the Army General Staff said that "the Albanian Army has made efforts to avoid any provocations. We are for a peaceful solution to the question of Kosove and in this context we hail the signing by the Albanian delegation of the peace accord in Paris.

Speaking of the cooperation between the two armies, General Andoni said that the program for 1999 is intensive and very valuable in all the aspects.

Admiral Croon said that the Albanian army is on the right track. "We will help you as much as we can, both in the bilateral cooperation and in the framework of the Partnership for Peace." /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[28] "Toena", "Onufri" to present Albania in International Book Fair, Paris

President of France, Jacques Chirac, cut the ribbon of inauguration of this fair, one of the biggest fairs in the field of publications in the world, Fatmir Toçi, president of the Publishing House "Toena" told ATA on Friday.

Some 1500 publishing houses from 450 countries of the world are taking part in the five-day book fair in Paris. The fair is 12 kilometers long and has got a surface of 40 000 square meters.

The organizers report that "some 1600 book authors are present in the fair. According to the traditions they are to show their books signed with an autograph".

About 270 activities are thought to be held during the fair and some 22 000 visitors from all over the world are expected to visit it.

Albania is taking part in this fair for the fourth successive year. The publishing houses "Toena" and "Onufri" are presenting the publications realized during the last years in a special pavilion for the Albanian book. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[29] Project on Korça-Kapshtica broadway ready to start

Roland Raço responsible for the urban section at the District's Council told for ATA that the procedures of the dispossission process of the objects to pass the broadway is completed.

According to a decision of the Ministers Council nearly 207 156 meter square land is dispossessed in February 1999.

Korça-Kapshtica broadway is 36 km long, 11.5 metres wide and has four divisions.

In the auction hold about this projects a Macedonian company "Granit" was the winner.

According to the same sources, the project's group completed also the project about the second part of this broadway 65 km long of Korça- Pogradeci and Pogradeci-Qafe-Thana.

Through this broadway Korça region will be connected with Greek neighbor country and the eight corridor./dast/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[30] Minister says military legislation under improvement

"Important issues in the juridical system for armed forces dealt with in a joint seminar open up perspectives in boosting cooperation between our armies and possibilities to help our juridical system," Hajdaraga said.

Referring to the Italian experience in jurisprudence, Hajdaraga said that a special joint program would provide assistance for the Albanian army in many directions.

Italian chief prosecutor General Scandura praised the organisation of a few day seminar with Albanian military experts as a very important step marking the start of cooperation in that field.

The team of Italian military experts at law together with Albanian military experts are attending a joint seminar dealing with the issues of military juridical system. /dast/ak/

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