Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-04-20

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Social-juridical assistance for displaced Kosovars

[02] Tirana currency rate

[03] Norwegian Government committed to assist deported Kosovars

[04] Population sheltered in Malesi e Gallapit has returned to Prishtine

[05] Deported Kosovars tell war horrors

[06] Total number of Kosovars settled in Durres estimated at 52.000

[07] Albanian Premier meets with Alliance for State representatives

[08] "Alliance for State" endorses measures taken by Albanian Government

[09] Thousands of Kosovars enter Albania via Hani i Hotit

[10] Customs to cash in state budget more than 7,5 billion lek

[11] Xhuveli:World Bank to finance 24 million dollars on watering and drying project in Albania

[12] Appeal of "Koha Ditore" reporters addressed to western intellectuals

[13] AEPC: Emergence need to mark 14 million dollars

[14] Aid in medicine meets demands of refugees

[15] World Bank to increase to 20 million dollars Agriculture Services Project in Albania

[16] Albania, NATO team coordinates humanitarian operation

[17] Kosova refugees granted identity cards

[18] Police units accompany aid columns for Kosova people

[19] March: Increase custom duties' incomes

[20] Fair distribution of humanitarian aid requested

[21] New appointments at Vlore Police department

[22] Durresi Port facing volumes increase of goods elaboration

[23]

[01] Social-juridical assistance for displaced Kosovars

The juridical, social and psychological aid for the Kosovars who perpetuated the war horrors, the Serb violations and repression is being delivered by more than 35 pedagogues and students of the Justice and Social Science Faculties, the dean of Justice Faculty, Vasilika Hysi, told ATA on Tuesday. They go to the refugees' hosting centers to deliver this aid.

The coordinator of the project in Soros foundation, Ilirjan Meta, said that the assistance in the juridical field consists in the giving of advice for the situation and actual status of Kosovars accommodated in Albania.

Seen from the social and psychologic point of view, the aid this project is carrying out in cooperation with Soros foundation, consists in the delivering of advices and distressing of thousands of Kosova refugees. /dast/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Tirana currency rate

US$1.00 145 145.2

German mark 79.8 80

Italian lire (1000) 80 80.2

Greek Drachmas (100) 47 48 EURO 152 154 /A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Norwegian Government committed to assist deported Kosovars

The spokesman of the Ministry of Justice told ATA that the purpose of the visit to Albania of Mr Dorum and the Local Government Minister Odd Enoksen was to see the possibility to provide assistance for Kosova refugees in Albania.

Minister Kondi highlighted the efforts of the Albanian judiciaries which in cooperation with the judges of the Hague tribunal coming to Albania, are gathering proofs for the massacres and mediaeval barbarisms made towards the Albanian people of Kosove. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Population sheltered in Malesi e Gallapit has returned to Prishtine

The agency said that a long convoy with civil vehicles was going to Prishtine. "The convoy with cars, tractors, trucks and other vehicles, about 10 km long, was stopped by Serb police at the entrance of the city and for over 24 hours has not been allowed to go into Prishtine," said Kosovapress.

It added that the recent reports from Prishtine prove that a part of the displaced have entered Prishtine and were housed in their homes or in relatives, while the rest has been turned from police in the direction of Podujeve. The people returned to Prishtine were sheltered in Malesi e Gallapit, the suburbs of Marevc, Mramor of Keqekolles, etc., said the agency close to the KLA. /p.ta/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Deported Kosovars tell war horrors

Out of 124 persons about 55 were children while the rest were children and elderly people. Many children had lost their parents, while the grown ups had lost their children and other members of their families.

Alban Sadiku, aged 5, from Mitrovice had lost all his family composed of five persons, while Dibran Hasani, 38, from Frasheri of Mitrovica knew nothing about his brother Mirjan, his wife and two daughters.

"I was present the day the Serb forcibly expelled us from our soils when they killed a man aged 35 years old, and a woman aged 60 in order to frighten the other inhabitants to leave immediately the village", said Hasan.

Hashim Sadiku from the village of Zhavare in Mitrovice tells that the Serb military forces killed in front of all the inhabitants Nexhat Taroku, aged 55, Adem Bahiri from Zhavara e Eperme said that some four youths from Drenice had the same chance. They were killed when the Serb forces were pushing the crowd towards the Albania border. "Not a few persons are hided in forests where they are threatened to death not only by the bombardments of Serb forces but also by the bad weather and hunger", said Bahiri. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Total number of Kosovars settled in Durres estimated at 52.000

People settled in the city of Kruje are numbered to be 5.000. All the measures are taken to set up new refugees' hosting centers near the ex- factory of Rodio-Televisions, and other grounds in the city of Durres.

Durres families have sheltered so far 42 000 people, while the Kosovars accommodated in Kruje families are about 3 000.

Some 1 800 kosovars are accommodated actually in the Porto Romano camp which is not completely built. /pas/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Albanian Premier meets with Alliance for State representatives

At the beginning of the meeting PM Majko said that it was a regular meeting of the parties of the coalition and the main topic of the meeting was the situation created in Albania following the great influx of the deported Kosovars.

The closed door meeting will be followed by a briefing for the press. /s.s./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] "Alliance for State" endorses measures taken by Albanian Government

"There is no any spilt in the government coalition. The coalition is united and will continue to be successful in governing the country," said Ndre Legisi, Organisational Secretary of the Socialist Party, the largest of this coalition.

At its meeting with Prime Minister, the coalition has especially evaluated the stand of the Albanian government regarding transparence over the humanitarians aid for the Kosova refuges. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Thousands of Kosovars enter Albania via Hani i Hotit

A spokesman of the local police station said to ATA that this was the highest figure of new comers in the last days. The new arrivals were accompanied by police forces in the city of Shkodra and later accommodated in the receiving center in the tobacco factory.

In the last 14 days some 15 thousand Kosovars entered Albania via Hani i Hotit border crossing. Some of them were sent to other cities. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Customs to cash in state budget more than 7,5 billion lek

The incomes fulfilled during this period are in the average levels but they are lower than the value marked in the same period of the previous year, where nearly 8,3 billion lek are cashed.

According to the specialists of the Ministry of Finance the situation created in the country that decrease considerably the custom works and the approval of the New Custom Code in inappropriate time affects in the fulfillment of these figures.

The fall of the custom income is predicted even by the Minister of Finance Anastas Angjeli, who stated "Till the end of the year the customs will lose 9,2 billion lek due to the very difficult situation in the country."

The custom income during the first three months of 1999 (in billion lek)

Planned Realized Percentage (%) January 2,750 2,342 85 % February 3,200 2, 488 78 % March 3,300 2,726 83 %

In total 9,250 7,556

/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Xhuveli:World Bank to finance 24 million dollars on watering and drying project in Albania

In the negotiations hold between the Albanian delegation led by Xhuveli and the representatives of the Wold Bank in April 8-13 in Uashington agreed the second project of the rehabilitation to be accomplished in 20 Albanian districts of the country.

The project includes the rehabilitation of the watering system from Koplik, West field, Korca till Gjirokastra and Saranda.

The investment of the Albanian Government for this project will be 5, 3 million dollars, while 13 million dollars will be financed by Dutch donators, Kuwait Fond, etc.

The total sum of the project reached to 42,5-45,5 million dollars.

According to Xhuveli it is agreeing about the beginning of the investments by a fund of 1 milion dollars for 3-4 watering schemes, before the final assignment of the agreement.

The second Project will continue 5 years and the credit payment will be done within 40 years.Its payment will start in 2009 by an interest of 0, 75%.

In the end of the meeting the discussions' protocol is assigned between the Albanian Government and World Bank./pas/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Appeal of "Koha Ditore" reporters addressed to western intellectuals

This appeal stresses the determination of the Kosova intellectuals to return to their homeland and continue the war, which serves the construction of a democratic and civil society, with equal rights for all citizens, also including the Serb neighbours "those who do not have their hands stained with blood".

"Although we remain loyal to the Paris Agreement, which we have signed, the recognition of the current regime in Belgrade as our legitimate government has become impossible", the appeal says.

The Kosova reporters ask from the international public to be more sensitive to the Serb genocide exercised on the Kosova people and which dates back to the last ten years, when the Belgrade regime turned the Kosova Albanians into second hand citizens.

"We the Kosovars have been stripped of our identity, our homes, names, our memories and archive, which have been systematically and forcibly destroyed by Milosevic. The most unbelievable became a reality: Genocide was carried out in Europe", the appeal says.

"Koha Ditore", the main Kosova daily in Albanian, ceased publishing on March 23, when its headquarters in Prishtine, was burnt by the Serb paramilitary forces.

Foreign agencies on Tuesday reported that the paper is likely to be published for the contingent of the Kosova Albanian refugee camps n Macedonia, while its reporters are in search of a financial aid. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] AEPC: Emergence need to mark 14 million dollars

"This sum is necessary to increase the readiness level of the power system, to improve the further power provision of the border region of northeastern regions of Albania and several other countries where the Kosova expelled is sheltered," told ATA the General Director of Albanian Electro-Power Corporate Alfred Paloka.

The total value to be used till now for this aim is 366 000 dollars and in the future the sum to be spend marks the value of nearly 13 708 dollars, to be used mainly for electric cabins, transformers to be set up near the camps of the Kosova expelled./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Aid in medicine meets demands of refugees

According to the Health Ministry spokesman, Artur Rada, in the hospital system, the need for medicaments has been met 100%, while in the system of outpatient clinic there have been difficulties which are being overcome in the context of aid in medicines.

Kukes presents a situation with more complex problems. For this purpose the Ministry of Health on Tuesday sent a team of 20 doctors, to be distributed to six points, to carry out the children's vaccination. These doctors will also provide the vaccinated with the respective vaccination form. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] World Bank to increase to 20 million dollars Agriculture Services Project in Albania

Albanian Delegation headed by the Minister of Agriculture Lufter Xhuveli met and discussed with the representatives of World Bank about the possibilities of preparing as soon as possible this project to start a year before the time planned.

A mission of the World Bank identified, since January 1999, the four sectors to be financed./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Albania, NATO team coordinates humanitarian operation

To cope with the huge influx of refugees from Kosova, the transport means of the Albanian army and those of NATO have accompanied the Kosovars from the border crossings to Kukes and their distribution to other areas, press information at the NATO- Albania Coordination Center said to ATA on Tuesday.

Respective sectors of the army general staff with its officials and specialists are mobilised to this end. To carry out the humanitarian tasks an important role is being played by the military police and logistic department of the army general staff in guaranteeing safe distribution of Kosova people inland Albania as well as the delivery of aid to refugee camps.

In cooperation with NATO forces the commander of air forces is controlling and defending the Albanian air space finding out possibilities to facilitate air traffic controlling.

To inform the public on the ongoing operation, the army general staff and the defence ministry, in cooperation with NATO forces, are setting up two centers for public information, one in Tirana and the other in Kukes city. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Kosova refugees granted identity cards

Providing the refugees with these cards will enable their free movement inside Albania, the spokesman of the Police Department, Lieutenant- Colonel Shyqyri Rushta told ATA.

The enrolment of the refugees will be carried out between April 19 and 28, according to the city's regions, in order to grant the identity cards. /lh/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Police units accompany aid columns for Kosova people

Agents of criminal police are monitoring the distribution of aid, sources of the criminal police department at the Ministry of Public order and department on fight against the economic, financial crime said.

"There have been cases of aid abuse and we think that in such a way we can avoid theft and abuse to maximum," operation chiefs said.

Days before two drivers, who tried to deviate an aid column bound for Kosova refugees in Kukes, were arrested by the criminal police agents in Kruja.

On Sunday a truck carrying humanitarian aid to Kukes was blocked in Durres because the driver deviated the column and tried to unload it to another destination. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] March: Increase custom duties' incomes

The custom incomes compared with the value marked previous month increase by 15 % due to the increase of the taxed imports'volume, increase of the exchange rates and the difference of the average fee levels of the goods.

While the incomes from excises fall by 18% as a result of the fall of the fuels imports by 40%. It is increasing the coffee imports nearly six times and alcoholic drinks by 1,8 times.

The custom incomes are realized by 80% of the monthly plan, the excise's incomes by 70% and the VAT incomes by 86%. Only by VAT are cashed nearly 4,360 billion lek, while in the same period of the previous year it was 4,740 billion lek./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Fair distribution of humanitarian aid requested

Meta said that the humanitarian aid provided by all non governmental associations operating in the district should be fairly distributed.

He told the local bodies to coordinate the work with non government organisations (NGO) because the latter were financed by international organisations. If some of those NGOs do not coordinate work with local bodies for a fair aid distribution the local bodies should propose these organisations be declared undesirable, Meta said.

He added that Shkodra being a border city would be government's priority in such a situation.

Prefect of Shkodra, Puka and Malesia e Madhe, Jetmir Shpuza briefed on the present situation in the district where the number of refugees from Kosova was estimated at 20 thousand people. He urged construction of new refugee camps like those set up by the Austrian government and a delivery of 10 thousand mattresses and a quantity of blankets mainly by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the Kosova people, who had been settled in with Shkodra families.

Later Meta visited the camp being set up in the Shtoj village about two kms from the city and some reception centers. /lh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] New appointments at Vlore Police department

According to the spokesman of the Vlore Police Department, the former chief of the Vlore city police, Demir Demiri, has been appointed vice- director and chief of the criminal police of this department.

Arben Zylyftari, who comes from Berat district, has been appointed chief of the Vlore police commissariat. Edmond Kule, former chief of the Sarande police commissariat, has been appointed chief of the anti-terror section at the Vlore Police Department.

Public Order Minister Koci said that the appointments served the strengthening of police performance in this prefecture. /a.ke/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Durresi Port facing volumes increase of goods elaboration

According to the chief engineer Kujtim Kumbaro entrance No.5 is put completely in disposal of military ferries, which together with the lines ones made 4-10 travels each day.

It is increasing the level of elaboration of the ships to transport the goods, a part of which brought humanitarian aid in food to stand up the emergence situation.

Seven is the number of the transport means with 7.600 ton various goods come only in Tuesday. Nearly 14 other ships with 17,700 ton goods are in the queue and most of them are loaded with food and fuels./lh/linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23]

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