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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-24Albanian 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 reconvenes government on crisis in KosovaTIRANE, March 24 (ATA)-Albania's Prime Minister Pandeli Majko on Wednesday reconvened the cabinet earlier in the morning (02.30 local time), to take further steps on the situation in Kosova.At the meeting, Majko, in the presence of reporters, read a solidarity letter sent to him by the NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, after giving the go-ahead for alliance air raids in Kosova. "I would like to stress that the Alliance will very seriously consider any attack by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia against your country. The alliance has repeatedly made clear that the security of each of the NATO member is inseparably linked with that of all the nations of the Partnership. Your security is a concrete and direct concern of the Alliance". The meeting continued behind closed doors. /dast/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Fight against organised crime requires fuller legal framework for bilateral cooperationTIRANE, March 23 (ATA)-Th.Thanasi, Time has come for us that, besides mutual cooperation between the two prosecutor's offices, to also employ the legislative, Alberto Maritati, deputy prosecutor General of Italian Antimafia, told a news conference on Tuesday night.The increase of organised crime requires, besides the results attained between the two prosecutor's offices, the employment of the legislative between Italy and Albania, in order to attain a full legal framework in the fight against organised crime, said Maritati. He said the agreement signed one and a half year ago with the Albanian prosecutor's office has ensured an exchange of data of mutual interest. "But, he said, "signs for an increase of legal proceedings in Italy, where many Albanians are involved in organsied crime, leave room for a broader cooperation," he said. "Many Albanian criminals active in Italy cooperate with elements in Albania. For this reason, we also intend to reach comprehensive cooperation with the Albanian state," he added. He said Albanian criminal groups in Italy which mainly act in the northern part of this country have autonomy, fight for territory extension and are savage and violent. They have often entered into relations with the Italian mafia. Maritati was of the opinion that the Albanian mafia in Italy has gained a lot of money through drugs, arms and prostitution trafficking and this is the most prominent side of the medal. But the other invisible side of the medal is that for this asset they (Albanians) have also used corruption. "The money they bring in Albania seem to be an asset. But it should not be considered as such. The way of ensuring it is dishonourable, but on the other hand it is a property of only a minority, which sooner or later will make lose the freedom of the other part," said Maritati. /a.ke/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Kukes division put on high alertKUKES, March 24 (ATA)-By R. Hoxha, The Second Infantry Division forces in Kukes prefecture have been put on the high alert not only along the border belt but also deeper.The spokesman of the division, Azem Perllaku, told ATA that a part of the forces are on the allert to intervene if needed, while the division's staff is in constant touch with the Government and the Army's General Staff. Perllaku said that this unit has been reinforced by considerable troops and armament. He said that last night another alert test was carried out among the mobile forces of the division and that the staff of the second infantry division is working out all possible variants to cope with a military aggression against Albania. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Your security is a concrete and direct concern of the Alliance - Solana-NATO Secretary-General sends a letter to Albanian Prime Minister-TIRANE, March 24 (ATA)-Prime Minister Pandeli Majko early Wednesday received a letter for the NATO Secretary-General, Javier Solana. "In continuation of my letter on October 13,1998, I would like to stress that it would be unacceptable if the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia threatened the territorial integrity, political independence and security of your country." "I would also like to stress that the Alliance will very seriously consider any attack by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia against your country. The alliance has repeatedly made clear that the security of each of the NATO member is inseparably linked with that of all the nations of the Partnership. Your security is a concrete and direct concern of the Alliance". /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Italy, Albania to sign protocol against organised crimeTIRANE, March 23 (ATA)-By Th. Thanasi, One of the points of the protocol expected to be signed between the Italian and Albanian Justice ministries is that of investigation in the distance.At a news conference held at the General Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday, Francesco Mandea, head of the office for Criminal Affairs and Foreign Relations at the Italian Justice Ministry, set forward the points of the planned protocol to help fight organised crime in both countries. He said the protocol envisages the installation of a video-conferences system between the two prosecutor's offices. This system will also serve investigation in the distance, in which prosecutors of the two countries, besides consultations, will be able to interrogate the respective persons in the distance. The protocol projects an information service on investigation issues of mutual interest, freedom in carrying out investigations in the respective countries as well as permission in both countries to sequester the assets made on crime in these countries. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Majko says Albanian nation undergoing great test-Speech of Albanian Prime Minister at government's meeting- TIRANE, March 24 (ATA)-Albania's Prime Minister Pandeli Majko addressed a government meeting today at 02.00 a.m., stressing that the Albanian nation is experiencing one of the most difficult days in its history."The situation created in Kosova is more than grave. NATO has declared its readiness to start air strikes against Serbian military targets in Kosova. We have just received a message from the NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana, for the Alliance's full support for our country's territorial integrity, political independence and security," said Majko. "I want to guarantee the whole Albanian nation that the Albanian government is closely following the situation created and is adopting the necessary measures to be ready to cope with the worst possible scenario. The sovereignty of the Republic of Albania is sacred and we are working intensively to work out the concrete measures to cope with the situation". Majko said that the signing of the Paris Agreement for Interim Peace and Self-Governing in Kosova finally ranked the Albanian nation on the same line with the U.S., NATO, the international factor which demands a peaceful and political solution to the Kosova crisis. "I would like from this office to send a message of full solidarity with the entire people of martyr Kosova and KLA fighters and to repeat that in these difficult days we are close to them. The test-clock has already struck for the whole Albanian nation; in this decisive effort our patriotism, citizenship and vitality are put to the test," Majko said in conclusion. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Albanian government, IMF reach agreement under ESAF arrangementTIRANA, March 23 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj: Mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which visited Albania over the past two weeks, would ask the Executive Board to approve the program for the second half of 1999, according to the press statement from the IMF office in Tirana.Following close discussions, the mission has reached an agreement in principle with the Albanian authorities on a second-year program under the ESAF arrangement (IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility), which would run through March 2000, IMF permanent representative in Albania Volker Treichel said. The IMF mission has evaluated the economic developments in Albania. Growth in 1998 is estimated to have been 8 percent, after a decline in output in 1997 due to the crisis. Inflation fell below the 10 percent target in December 1998 and has fallen further in the first two months of 1999. The IMF has assessed that the 1999 budget approved by parliament in January provides a solid foundation for continuing the macroeconomic stability. At the same time, progress in privatisation, land registration and banking sector reform are helping to improve the structure of the economy. According to the press statement, the main macroeconomic objectives of the program for 1999 are GDP growth of 8 percent and the maintenance of inflation below 7 percent. Achieving these objectives, the government will need to reinforce the 1999 budget with measures to improve tax collection through full implementation of the revised customs code, improvements in customs valuation of imports and strengthened efforts to fight smuggling and corruption. The Bank of Albania will need to maintain its prudent management of monetary policy. Finally, the government, the IMF said, will need to make further progress in structural reform, especially in important areas like bank and enterprise privatization, development of the agricultural land market and public administration and governance. Treichel said that Albanian authorities have agreed to implement some key measures over the coming weeks. Assuming economic developments and policies remain consistent with the objectives of the ESAF program, the IMF staff would then seek the Executive Board's approval of the second-year program. During its stay in Albania, the IMF mission held talks with Albanian senior officials. In a separate meeting with prime minister Pandeli Majko, chief of the IMF mission said that the mission agreed in principle with the objectives of "Letter of Intent" for the second-year program in 1999. "We will support Albanian government in implementing the agreement," Korker said. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Kukes prefecture takes measures to defend civilian populationKUKES, March 24 (ATA)-Right after NATO's authorisation to begin air strikes against Serbia, the Defence Staff of Kukes Prefecture convened today at 01.00 a.m. to define the tasks for the defence of the civil population under the new conditions created.The prefect of Kukes, Qemal Elezi, dwelt on the tasks facing the local government, especially for the defence of the civil population and cooperation with the military forces. He asked the adoption of measures, in the event of an aggression against Albania, especially for the evacuation of the population to safe shelters against air strikes. Measures were also asked to be taken in the event of an influx of Kosovars, to receive and shelter them. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Tense situation in Has, population displaced from border villagesHAS, March 24 (ATA) - By Riza Hoxha: Population of Dobrune village and Kurpali quarter in Letaj had been displaced spontaneously early on Wednesday due to increasing tension in the border area, a spokesman of the police commissariat of Has district, North Albania, said to ATA.He said that women and children of these villages had fled their homes while men stayed there. He added that military border forces were doubled in the area to face possible aggression. On the other side of the border, along the border line with Has district, there had been Serb police and army reinforcement with heavy armaments, especially in the area of Qafe Prush and Dobrune. Meanwhile, the local government structures and the emergency staff of the Has district have intensified efforts to prepare shelters for the civil population in case of aggression. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Emergency staff urges preparation of shelters for populationKUKES, March 24 (ATA) - By Riza Hoxha: Emergency staff of the Kukes town hall allocated a fund worth 100 thousand leks in Wednesday meeting to help prepare shelters for the civil population.The city shelters have been blocked by quantity of garbage thrown there and work for their cleaning and preparation in case of war is underway. A spokesman of the Kukes prefecture Emri Peca said that in the three districts of the prefecture the emergency staff has analysed the situation and taken measures to organise the alarm system. Meanwhile the staff has asked for full information on the reserves of wheat and other foodstuffs as well as medicaments. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Solana assures Majko of defending Albania's integrity, independence and security(Majko-Solana telephone conversation) TIRANE, March 24 (ATA)-Albania's Prime Minister Pandeli Majko on Wednesday morning had a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, according to Prime Minister's spokesman.Solana repeated the full guarantees the Alliance offers to Albania for the defence of Albania's territorial integrity, political independence and security. During the talk, the spokesman says, Majko and Solana exchanged views on security problems in the Balkan region and stressed the indispensability of keeping constant contacts between the Albanian government and NATO. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Number of street children increased in TiranaTIRANA, March 24 (ATA) - By E. Nepravishta: Number of street childrenis increasing yearly and this was confirmed in researches conducted under different projects of non government organisations (NGO). The study on "Street children" conducted in 1998 by some NGO-s and financed by UNICEF included the cities of Tirana, Shkodra, Durres, Fier, Vlore, Berat and Korce. It revealed that only in Tirana capital there were some 1300 street children. A study conducted in 1996 by NGO-SHEFT showed that some 980 street children were recorded in the capital. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Albanian parliamentary delegation to U.N.TIRANE, March 23 (ATA)-The Albanian parliamentary delegation to the U.N. met with senior U.N. officials and expressed the stands of Albania's palriament in favour of the will of the Albanian population for self- governing.On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning the Albanian delegation, headed by parliamentary speaker Skender Gjinushi, met with the Speaker of the U.N. General Assembly, Didier Operti, the President of the Security Council, the U.N. deputy Secretary General for Disarmament, Jayatha Dhanapal, and the deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Priendegast, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Peter Burieight, Congressman Eliot Engel and others. Gjinushi, Arben Imami, Minister of Institutional reform, and deputy Kastriot Islami held a news conference at the U.N. Press Centre. The parliament's press office told ATA that in these meetings Gjinushi supported the will of the Albanian population in Kosova for self- governing, hailed the Ramboiullet process and the role of the Kosova Albanian representatives and called for the intervention of the NATO forces. Referring to the developments in Albania, Gjinushi stressed that parliament and the government are fully engaged in realising the legislative, institutional and economic reforms. In his meeting with Dhanapal, Gjinushi said that Albania is interested in the extension of the U.N. disarmament project all over Albania. Dhanapal said he will come to Albania in June for this purpose and that for the development of the disarmament project some U.S.$35 million will be secured from various donor countries which will also serve as a support for development projects and for the democratic processes in Albania. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] German foundations allocated funds for city libraryVLORE, March 24 (ATA) -By Harilla Koçi: German foundations have allocated a fund worth 20 thousand marks in aid for the library of Vlora city.Liljana Gjika, chief of the city library said to ATA that "the ambassador of the Tirana-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Daan Everts was the initiator." The library has been closed to readers for more than three years. It was transferred in the premises of the culture palace Laberia because the previous building was handed over to its owner. The library was partially raided during spring '97. The new library was placed now in the premises of the former Agrarian Commercial Bank which was seriously damaged during the same period. To rehabilitate the building, the municipality council accorded a fund worth 500 thousand leks in emergency aid plus a fund worth 5.5 million leks from the budget of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Tempus offers post graduate fellowshipsTIRANA, March 24 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: Tirana-based Tempus office informed that 65 post graduate fellowships had been accorded for Albania in 1999.Deputy minister of Education and Science Mimoza Hafizi said to ATA on Wednesday that the Tempus office debated in its latest meeting the criteria how to divide fellowships for university teachers according to their contribution in the interest of teaching methods and scientific researches giving priority to university departments, which had not received any in the last years or those, which had received a small number. The one-month fellowships are individual. The number of fellowships accorded by Tempus for Albanian higher school teachers this year is four times higher than last year. Albanian universities have received Tempus fellowships since 1992. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Eduart Mazi, Director General of Albanian Radio-TelevisionTIRANE, March 24(ATA)-By E. Riza, Eduart Mazi on Wednesday was elected, by a majority of votes, Director General of the Albanian Radio- Television, which is expected to turn into a Public Radio-Television soon.Mazi, so far director of the Abanian Television, was elected to this position after winning two thirds of the votes of the Steering Council of the Albanian Radio-Television. Before voting, the RTV Steering Council heard the platform and vision of the two final candidates, Eduard Mazi and Mevlan Shanaj, currently director of the Film Department in the Albanian TV. The candidatures resulted from the first round of voting a day ago. Later the Leading Council interviewed the candidates and by secret voting and without the presence of the media elected Eduard Mazi as director general of the Albanian Radio-Television. The Steering Council asked Mazi to present the candidatures for the general vice-director of the Albanian Radio-Relevision and the Directors of the Television and Radio, no longer than April 5. The candidatures will be examined by the Steering Council, which will later vote it. /f.n/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Thousands of civilians to face humanitarian catastrophe, Serb attacksPRISHTINE, March 24 (ATA) - Thousand of civilians who have come to Qirez risk to face a humanitarian catastrophe but also a possible Serb attack, Abdyl Ymeri, chief of the police department in Skenderaj told the paper "Kombi", according to the Center for Information in Kosova.Speaking on the situation in villages located on the right of the road axis from Terstenik to Skenderaj, Ymeri said that the situation was very dramatic while Serb police and army had reached the village of Baks, Dushkaje quarter, whom they raided and burnt down. Houses of the Prelloc and Krasalic villages, at the bottom of Qyqavica, were also burnt but the situation was more alarming for thousands of displaced who were settled in the mosque and the school of Qirezi. Ymeri said that the villages of Polac, Prekaz i Ulet e i Eperm, Duboc, Lubovec, Krasalic and Preloc had been burnt down in the recent attacks. The civil population from the villages of Gradice, Duboc, Gllanaselle as well as villages of the commune of Vushtrie: Oshlan, Novolan, Bukosh, Taraxhe, Pantine and the like in trying to flee Serb attacks against that part of Kosova were accommodated in Qirez. Ymeri said that the humanitarian situation is difficult for the fact that a large number of displaced people were in the open lacking foodstuffs and sanitary equipment. But the great danger for all those displaced is the fact that they are under total curfew of the Serb forces, who are likely to attack and the case of Skenderaj, where over 17 men have been executed, can be repeated, Ymeri said. He called on humanitarian organisations operating in Kosova at present, especially the International Red Cross, to reach Qirez and help these civilians, including children, women and elderly people flee the catastrophe and the danger of a possible massacre. /pta/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Tirane prepared for any state of emergency - MayorTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - By G Dilaveri: The city-hall of Tirane is adopting all necessary measures to face any state of emergency in the capital.In face of the present situation in the region, with possible raids also on Albania not being ruled out and when NATO has guaranteed the integrity of our country from any imminent attack, "still, the municipality is adopting all the measures for a state of emergency," stated Wednesday the Mayor of Tirane, Albert Brojka. Tirana is prepared and has not problems with electricity, water and bread supplies, but in the current conditions, the cooperation between all the citizens is indispensable in order to overcome the situation, said Brojka, who in a call to the people of Tirane has asked those who have cellars to clean them along with other bomb shelters. On Tuesday, Brojka summoned in the city hall, all the chairmen of the administrative units and set as a priority task for them the preparation of shelters and notification of every family of the location of these shelters. This problem has also been focused on in the meetings that Tirana Mayor had late last night with senior officials of the Local Government Ministry and the Defence Ministry. Informing the people of the location of the shelters in case of war has been the only preoccupation of the 168 heads of elders' councils and administrative units, said Brojka. According to him, about 1 000 of 1330 bomb shelters in Tirane are ready and cleaned, and for the rest the work is going on by the respective staff and in extended hours. The situation in the bomb shelters, of which 587 are in ground floors of some buildings and 789 are completely underground, has been worsening especially following '90s. Most of them have been stolen, ruined and blocked by mud and garbage, while about 18 have 'disappeared' as a result of the illegal constructions built on them. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Dollar marks 142.7 lekTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By Lolita Thanasi - According to the fixed currency rate of Tirana Bank a dollar against the Albanian currency LEK is 142.70 lek. DM against LEK is 79.80 lek, LIT(1000) against it is 80.40 lek, GDR(100) IS 48.10 LEK and EURO against LEK is 154.00 lek. The following is the foreign currency rate against the Albanian one:CURRENCY RATE USD 142.70 DM 79.80 LIT(1000) 80.40 GRD(100) 48.10 EURO 154.80/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Albania's Ministry of Health adopts measures for state of emergencyTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - By R Xhuvani: The Ministry of Health has taken preliminary measures to ensure continuous supply with medicaments and other medical equipment to respond to the emergency and tense situation in northern districts of Albania due to the war in Kosove.In this context, the Minister of Health, Leonard Solis proposed a direct procurement of medicaments and construction materials of the institutions of medical service of the northern districts in "Fufarma SH.A." According to him, all public medical institutions of the districts of Kukes, Tropoje, Peshkopi, Has, Malesi e Madhe, Shkoder, Lezhe and the University Hospital Centre in Tirane may have direct procurement for their supply with medicaments and medical equipment in the amount of 5 000 000 lek for every institution in the above-mentioned northern districts. For the University Hospital Centre the procurement will be as high as 20 000 000 lek from the funds of the institutions, set for 1999. The effects of this draft decision, which is presented Wednesday for approval by the Prime Minister Majko, will continue until June 30 this year. Still in the context of the emergency, the Ministry of Health suspends the planned operations in the University Hospital Centre and in the Central Military Hospital and their postponement for two weeks. All measures have also been taken for the accumulation of the blood bank units in the Blood Transfusion center and in the blood banks in the hospitals. /y.pa/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Airline companies suspend flights to Tirana, Adria returns halfwayTIRANA, March 24 (ATA) - By D. Koça, E Metaj: The airplane en route from Ljubljana to Tirana of the Adria airlinedid not land in the Rinas airport according to the timetable. Official sources of the Tirana-based Slovenian company said that the airplane left Slovenia capital at due time on Wednesday but received an order from the company to return to Ljubljana airport. Adria flights for Wednesday have been annulled in the four Balkan capitals Tirana, Sarajeva, Skopje and Belgrade because its itinerary foresees flights over the area where NATO air strikes will start. The Swissair company has annulled its flight to Tirana, Sarajeva, Skopje and Belgrade for the same reasons. Officials of both companies said that tomorrow flights would be planned according to developments. An airplane of the Albanian Airlines, an Albanian airline company, left Bologna for Tirana and was expected to land late on Wednesday like the airplane of the Hungarian airline company "Malev" which was going to land in Rinas within a few moments, official sources of the above companies said to ATA. An airplane of the Austrian Airlines landed in Rinas airport before noon. Asked by ATA on flight suspension to Tirana, the minister of Public Affairs and Transport Ingrid Shuli said "she cannot confirm it." "I have heard something but I should secure further information to confirm it," Shuli said. /pas/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[22] Gjirokaster: Odri forests in commune pilot projectsTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - Nearly 1100 hectares of Odri forest in Gjirokastra district will accomplish a pilot project on new administrative organization, which predicted the owner change from the government to the communes, inform sources from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.The project is experimented for the first time in the forest and will spread the experience of enriching the green wealth. This zone is proper one and complete infrastructure for this experiment. There are 500 ha pastures in the total area of 1100 hectares, to be given to the commune according to the 10 years contract. This way of organizing the things will open a new activity, which will fulfill the citizens needs and will bring a better treat of the nature. There are five companies dealing with the green wealth business in Gjirokastra district. Gjirokastra is one of the richest districts with summer pastures./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[23] Local defence structures in Shkoder in full alertSHKDOER, March 24 (ata) - By M Malja: The defence staff of the prefecture of Shkoder in a meeting on Wednesday morning, analysed the latest situation created after NATO's decision for the beginning of air raids against Serbia and discussed the measures to be adopted to face the possible situations.Prefect Shpuza asked the police and army leaders to be on the alert to face any possible attack on Albania by the Serb army. He demanded that mobilisation of new recruits must continue along with the preparation of all bomb shelters for the civil population and the security of the special important institutions in the districts of that prefecture. Leaders of the police of the prefecture and of the army division of Shkoder reported of the measures which are adopted and will be adopted to overcome the situations that might be created. They pointed out the fact that there are many Yugoslav military and police forces deployed along Albania-Montenegro border. District border police of Malesi e Madhe are following the situation closely and with 5 patrol ships are controlling the Lake Shkodra. In the mean time, defence staffs have been set up in the three districts of this prefecture for any new situation. Now the situation in the city of Shkoder and in the two other districts of this prefecture is calm. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[24] Albanian Parliament to approve "On Anti-dumping" project lawTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By D.Koça - The Albanian Parliament approved on Wednesday the project law "On anti-dumping", after several changes presented by the respective commisions.According to the commissions' heads of Economy,Industry and Social Affairs the law will take direct protection of the industry, trade and native business through accomplishing the anti-dumping measures such as non- tax measures. These measures will be taken after Albanian membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Dumping phenomena, unknown for the Albanian economy and structure, brought negative results in the economy and business of the resentment years of the market economy reforms. The main function and purpose of Anti-dumping Office, which is going to be established according to the law, will be the investigation and the decision of the suggestions on anti-dumping taxes, expected to be approved by the Parliament as long as the definition of anti-dumping limits and measures will be difficult to be taken by Albanian experts./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[25] 1.2 Swiss francs accorded for second phase of reconstruction of industrial school in DurresDURRES, March (ATA) - By S.Gjordeni: The second phase of the project for reconstruction of the industrial school "Beqir Çela" in Shkozet, Durres, begun to be implemented recently.The director of this school, Fatmir Shengjergji, told ATA that some 1.2 million Swiss francs, allocated by the foundation "Swiss contact", are to be used to equip the school workshop with different machineries. The students of this school are to realize themselves different productions, and this activity will bring incomes to the school. Qualification and re- qualification courses based on the projects drafted by the teachers of this school are to be be organized as well. Shengjergji added that the training of the personnel by foreign specialists who will come to Albania as well as the training of teachers abroad are to continue in the future. Some teachers from this school are to be trained in Germany at the beginning of April. The industrial school "Beqir Çela" is a pilot school. The Swiss government has invested 1 800 000 Swiss francs in 1994 through the foundation "Swiss contact". This fund was used to equip the school with different machineries, and to train the teachers. The Swiss government as well as the Albanian state budget spent approximately $ 2 million for the full reconstruction of this school. The school has got 384 students, who are studding in the aggro- mechanical, electro-mechanical and energetic field. /pas/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[26] March 25: Deadline of custom warehouses' controlsTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By E.Metaj - March 25 is the deadline of the controls in Albanian custom warehouses, informs sources from the Ministry of Finance.According to the order of the Minister of Finance Anastas Angjeli dated March 20, the General Tax and Custom Directory is order to complete within a period of five days the controls in all Albanian customs' ware houses. According to this order the tax staff will control the quantity of the sold products and the payment of the duties by the subjects to keep the custom warehouses. At the same time all the procedures of custom warehouses authorizations will be checked. Actually there are nearly 13 custom warehouses, while last year their number were 18 ones. The control will check all the subjects dealt with the custom warehouses during 1998, which means all the subjects that renew the authorizations and the ones that take new ones. According to the laws the custom ware houses are used by the merchants for systemizing and collecting the import products. If these products are going to be used for consume in Albanian market, then the tax is predicted to be paid in full. In the case of products' re-export, they are excluded from custom duties./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[27] Albanian government adopts measures to face any eventualitiesTIRANA, March 24 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: Albanian government through all its structures has adopted necessary measures to face any eventualities, Musa Ulqini, minister of Information, told a press conference on Wednesday."Every ministry is preparing all legal acts, which should be put at the disposal of parliament, government and president in case an emergency state will be declared in the north or allover Albania," Ulqini said. "The Albanian government is in constant contact with all international organisations, which have been acquainted with the danger Albania is facing if a conflict breaks up," Ulqini said. He added that the Ministry of Defence sounded the alarm in yesterday's meeting for the defence staff, ministry personnel, anti-aircraft system, radars. At present, our army forces in the northeastern region are in readiness while their appearance in the front line should be considered a state of alert. The Ministry of Order has sounded the alarm for the Guard of the Republic and ordered that institutions of special importance like hydropower stations, telecom and the like in Has, Kukes, Tropoje and Malesi e Madhe be put under control of order forces. Representatives of Civil Defence have taken all measures in cooperation with the local government to prepare and outfit bomb shelters for the population. /lh/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[28] Albanian citizen hands over 13 automatic rifflesTIRANE, March 24 (ATA) - By Th.Thanasi: Zef Lleshi, a citizen from Laç, handed over to the police forces 13 automatic riffles.The press office in the Ministry of Public Order, told ATA on Wednesday that the police forces gathered 28 weapons in the commune of Terpan, Berati district. /lh/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[29] Conference "On land market administration and progress"Tirana, March 24 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - A conference on "Land market administation and progress" is hold on Wednesday in Congresses Palace.The main purposes of this conference were the analyze of the achivements to establish a land market in Albania, the evidence of the hinder factors in this process and the definition of the objectives for year 1999 aiming at fulfillment of the program of the Albanian Government. The Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, who hailed the conference, said that the agriculture is one of the most important field of governing a country. "Agriculture is one of the priorities of the Albanian Government Program", added the Prime Minister Pandeli Majko. "The reform accomplishing on land distribution and market consolidation are the main factors fo a functional and stable market", said the Albanian Minister of Food and Agriculture Lufter Xhuveli./lh/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[30] Socialist Party calls on Albanian political factor to be unitedTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - By I Luto: The Socialist Party stated in a declaration made public in a news conference on Wednesday its full support for the measures the Government is taking to face any situation that may be created from the developments in Kosove.The declaration calls on all political forces operating in Albania to unify the approaches and leave aside the narrow party interests and focus their attention on the question of Kosove in this moment which is considered rather delicate and decisive for the history of the entire Albanians. "We appeal, in particular, to the Democratic Party not to turn the political irresponsibility into a national irresponsibility," writes the declaration, "because every effort for destabilization...would harm the national question and this would serve Belgrade regime." The secretary for public relations in the Socialist Party, Ilir Zela, said that the cooperation of the structures of the local government with the executive in the districts in these moments which demand a maximal mobilisation, is an example to be followed by the senior DP leaders. Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and two of ministers of his cabinet reported on Tuesday in the Albanian Parliament on the measures that the Government has been adopting to overcome even a situation of war. Asked in a news conference if Albania can be seriously endangered by NATO strikes on Serbia, the SP Foreign Relations secretary Arta Dade, said that "besides the mobilisation of our army, the Government of Albania has taken guarantees from the NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana for the defence of its territorial integrity." /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[31] Majko: Albanian economic increase closely connected with agricultureTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - "We are conscious that Albania stability and the economic increase are closely connected with the developments in agriculture sector", stated the Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko in his speech in the conference "On land market administration and progress"."Agriculture is one of the priorities of the program of Albanian Government. This is because the agriculture is the strong base for a stable development of the country economy. In order to keep and strengthen the free initiatives and the mechanisms of the market economy the Albanian Government pay a special attention to the increase of public investments in agriculture sector", stressed the Prime Minister Pandeli Majko. "The Albanian Government is involved in consolidation of all the positive achievements of the reforms already completed and the new ones, aiming at stable increase of agriculture productivity through a technical progress and the rational use of the essential factors of the production", added the Albanian Prime Minister. "This thing will provide a satisfactory living level for the rural population and will help Albania integration in the international structures. For this purpose the Strategy of Agriculture Progress is approved, which is one of the most important start points for the future. Beside these different agreements are assigned with international institution such as ESAF 2 agreement ", said the Prime Minister. He "hailed the changed done last year concerning the laws on land distribution, abolishing the sell priorities and land renting", but he stressed that "still there is a lot to do in the future". Concerning the problems faced with the land owners the Prime Minister said that " The Government is conscious for these problems and is involved to solve them according to the rules and in realistic way". According to the Albanian Prime Minister the solution of land problems need the cooperation of all public structures, being central or local ones./lh/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[32] All state structures in Albania on high alert - MinisterTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - By Enkelejda Koraqi: There has not been yet any kind of provocation on northern border of Albania, the Minister of Information of Albania, Musa Ulqini said Tuesday in a news conference."Only in a part of the border zone of Has," he said, "there is some tension among the population due to the situation on the other side of the border, where the alarm sounded by Milosevic has been commented as strikes on Prishtine." "The open conflict as a result of the crisis in Kosove may have its consequences also in other countries of the region," said the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of Albania, Sokol Gjoka. To this end, the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, and Deputy Defence Minister Ilir Bocka leaves for Brussels today to take part in the meeting of the NATO Council. The Albanian delegation will have consultations there in the context of the Partnership for Peace, in relation with the 8th point of this document which perceives a direct danger to the territorial integrity and the political independence. Ulqini dismissed voices for a possible closing down of the Rinas airport. Referring to the situation on the Yugoslav-Macedonian border, Gjoka said that in his visit today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Macedonian Ambassador in Tirane have refused misunderstandings for the closure of the border, although they have influenced to a reduction of the influx of refugees towards Macedonia. The spokesperson of the Public Order Ministry said that the ministry had taken the measures to secure all embassies in Tirane, including the Yugoslav Embassy. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[33] Nearly 12,6 million dollars to be invested in Vlora cement factoryTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By M.Pupa - The contract between the Privatization Directory and "Group KA Holding" is assigned on Wednesday in the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization.This contract predicts the activity protection by investing nearly 12, 6 million dollars. This activity, undertaken by the French-Greek group, expected to employ nearly 80 persons.This investment will stop the further factory destruction and will increase the cement production reaching the previous level. According to the Ministry spokesman "Group KA Holding" represent a very strong company in producing construction materials in general, in this case of cement production. It competes with "LA FARGE", one of the greatest companies in the world, and "HERACLES", the greatest cement producer and it is members of financial group "MONTEDISON". "This investment will be fulfilled within four years", told for ATA the Director of Privatization Directory at the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization Vaso Pano./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[34] Bomb shelters in high efficiencyTROPOJE, March 24 (ATA) - By R. Hoxha: The situation in the district of Tropoje is considered calm on Thursday, because no incidents are reported to have happened along the 50 kilometers long border line. After the publications of NATO orders taken against Yugoslavia, the the local government structures are gathered urgently and have taken the necessary measures to face any eventuality.The Secretary of District Council, Isa Kuliqi, told ATA that all the bomb shelters are ready to face any possible bombardment from the Serb part. Local government has adopted all the measures to supply the population of this region with food items, bread and electric energy. /lh/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[35] Vlore tests its military preparednessVLORE, March 24 (ata) - By Harilla Koci: Vlore is testing its military preparedness, said to ATA the spokesman of the prefecture of Vlore. At 02.20 a.m. on Wednesday the prefect Tare Hamo, in the capacity of the chairman of the staff for the state of emergency, announced a situation of high alert, summoning all the local structures with tasks to carry out in such a situation.According to the spokesman, for about 30 minutes, all the staff and the employees of the prefecture were ready to carry out any orders. From 3.30 to 4.00 a.m. contacts were put with all official local structures which executed all orders from the emergency staff. It is the first time that Vlore has such a test, proving that all the structures were functioning normally in the district of Vlore to face any situation. According to prefect Tare Hamo, this situation continued during all the day, with readiness maintained in all local levels according to the law for the state of emergency. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[36] Local structures in Kukes follow situations step by stepKUKES, March 24 (ata) - By R Hoxha: The emergency staff of the Prefecture of Kukes gathered again on Wednesday at 3.00 p.m. to analyse the implementation of the tasks set in the previous meetings today.Leaders of the district council in the meeting stressed that all measures were taken to evacuate the people of border zones deep into the country in case of bombing from the Serbian Army; to ensure food supplies for the people; to bring to a normal condition the bomb shelters in the city of Kukes; to accommodate people coming from Kosove in the villages Curraj, Fierze, Syrraj, Trung, etc. in case of a possible bombardment. According to prefect Qemal Elezi, for 3-4 days, that district can ensure shelter for up to 17 000 people displaced from Kosove. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[37] Army Division Laberia on high alertGJIROKASTER, March 24 (ata0 - By H Cani: Precipitation of the situation in Kosove and the NATO decision for air strikes on Serbian bases has considerably increased the military discipline in all the the military sectors and units in the 5th infantry division, Laberia, in Gjirokaster.According to the commander of this division, Anastas Gurma, in addition to the test of the warning system and the scout and observation systems control, military units of this division started Wednesday to clean the bomb shelters in cooperation with local government structures. Gurma said that the military troops of Laberia Division are on a second level alert. Today a meeting was expected to be held between the leaders of the Division with officials of the prefecture of Gjirokaster to discuss the problem of shelters and perfection of the communication network. The prefect of Gjirokaster Sotir Mantho and a team from the military inspectorate of this institution went to Tepelene and Permet today to discuss these problems. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[38] Ambassador of European Community interested in Albanian economic situationTirana, March 24 (ATA) - By E.Metaj - The ambassador of European Community in Albania Michel Perretti is interested about the economic situation in Albanian capital in his meeting with the head of Trade and Industry Chamber of Tirana Arben Shehi.According to the spokesman of this Chamber during this meeting the Chamber head Shehi presented the activities of the Trade and Industry Chamber of Tirana informing the EC ambassador about the wide connection with different international organizations, about the common programs, etc. The EC ambassador Perretti is interested about the economy situation in the Albanian capital Tirana and asked the head of the Chamber to make possible meeting with representatives of Albanian business. Beside this he wanted to visit the industrial environments to create a clear vision about the economic situation in Albania./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[39] Serb military forces open gunfire against Albania's territoryKUKES, March 24 (ata) - By Riza Hoxha: Serb military forces opened gunfire on Wednesday noon in the direction of the Albanian territory, in Has district.The spokesman of the Has district police commissariat told ATA that today at about 13.20 p.m. a Serbian army unit opened fire with automatic weapons in the direction of the Albanian territory near the border signs C/14, C/13 between villages Dobrune and Qafe Prush. The fire continued for about 20 minutes without causing any casualty, said the spokesman. He added that movements of Serb troops have been noticed on Wednesday afternoon. Albanian border police forces have been reinforced in that sector and are following attentively all the movements of the Serb military forces on the other side of the border. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[40] Tirane police in full alertTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - By Th Thanasi: The police of Tirane was put in full alert to ensure tranquillity and the normal activity in any situation.Beginning with the last Tuesday, police of the capital of Albania has been put on alert for an unlimited time, said to ATA on Wednesday the spokesman of the Police Department of the Prefecture of Tirane. According to him, the Police Department of the Prefecture of Tirane has adopted measures for reinforced police services in all important state institutions, and to secure the Diplomatic Corps in Tirane, the Yugoslav Embassy included. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[41] Albanian Government hails NATO strikes on military targets in YugoslaviaTIRANE, March 24 (ata) - Albanian Government hailed Wednesday evening the beginning of NATO air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.In a press release today, the Albanian Minister of Information, Musa Ulqini, speaking in the name of the Government, stated that "the Albanian Government hails the raids on the military targets of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and reckons that this is a very qualitative step towards the establishment of peace in Kosove." /y.pa/xh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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