Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-06-26

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Mula and Papavrami in Paris give concert for Kosova

[02] Argentine President says his country will be present in Kosova

[03] Di Tela praises Albania's role in region

[04] Monroe hails Majko's participation in SIC meeting

[05] USAID: Over US$ 60 million for Albania for 1999

[06] Foreign currency exchange rate in Tirane

[07]

[08] Albanian Foreign Minister praises NATO's role in stabilising the Balkans

[09] NATO asphalt 400 meters of Rinasi street

[10] May: Customs cashed 2,8 billion lek in state budget

[11] Albanian media must convey new ideas to Albanian public opinion - President

[12] Albania should pass from political governing onto executive governing - Meidani

[13] Economic cooperation agreement is assigned with Branderbourg

[14] Mak Albania: Modern aggro-industrial complex in Maliq

[15] Normality being restored to Prishtine

[16] More than 50 000 Kosovars expected to pass winter in Albania

[17] Orchestra of Mediterranean Youths to have tour of Albania

[18] Albania must take the place it deserves in region - FRESSH

[19] Albanian Foreign Ministry refutes references in "The New York Times"

[20] Albanian Socialist Party admitted Consultative Member of Socialist International

[01] Mula and Papavrami in Paris give concert for Kosova

Organised by the humanitarian association CEMPEA and the Albanian embassies, under the auspices of the wife of French President Jacques Chirak and Ambassador Luan Rama, this concert is the fifth for Mula and the fourth for Papavrami devoted to the Kosova children.

Renowned instrumentalists such as the pianist of Turkish origin Hysein Sermet and violincelist Franchoise Salk also played alongside the two Albanian artists.

Also present in this activity were renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, ambassadors accredited in Paris, renowned musicians and others. /lh/lm/

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[02] Argentine President says his country will be present in Kosova

"We should be grateful to NATO's resolute intervention in the region, avoiding the risk of the appearance of a new Hitler in Europe," said the Argentine President at a special meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Majko, who is currently in Argentine.

Also, Menem said that he would be glad to visit Albania after the deployment of the Argentine police troops in Kosova.

"I consider my visit to your country special also because of the full confidence Argentine offered Albania during the grave period of the conflict in Kosova," said Majko.

Also present at the meeting was Argentine Foreign Minister Di Tela and Interior Minister Corach. /pas/lm/

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[03] Di Tela praises Albania's role in region

Majko said that the Kosova Albanians had signed cohabitation with the Serbs in Rambouillet, while the Milosevic regime had in the meantime prepared massacres and genocide, according to the spokesman of the Prime Minister.

Majko said that he considered difficult the realisation of this cohabitation in practice, especially after uncovering and witnessing the unprecedented crimes committed by the Serbs in Kosova.

"If Milosevic remains in power there will many problems in this direction. However, no one in Serbia has yet condemned what has happened in Kosova and a strong charisma of alternative to Milosevic is lacking there," said Majko.

He explained the steps taken by the Albanian government in accordance with the ideas of the Pact of Stability of Southeastern Europe for developing stability in the region, in multiethnic countries and societies. /pas/lm/

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[04] Monroe hails Majko's participation in SIC meeting

Monroe pointed the utmost efforts of the Government headed by Majko and the extraordinary values manifested in coping with the crisis in Kosova, according to the spokesman of the Prime Minister.

Monroe considered Kosova one of the biggest challenges of the century and stressed that the socialist left has been present in the efforts to resolve the conflict.

After the failure of the diplomatic efforts, the NATO air strikes were the sole way to halt the ethnic cleansing inspired by dictator Milosevic in Kosova, said the SI President. /pas/lm/

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[05] USAID: Over US$ 60 million for Albania for 1999

Babbitt, who has visited Kukes and Durres to inspect several refugee camps and several projects on infrastructure, stressed that the current USAID aid will concentrate on the support of the communities which have hosted the Kosova war refugees. It mentioned the case of Durres, where funds have been provided by the USAID for the drainage system and schools.

"The refugees are leaving Albania, but not the USAID and the U.S. Government," said Babbitt, adding that an increase of funds has been envisaged for Albania.

During the 1992-1998 period, Albania has been provided with over US$ 169 million in aid by the U.S. through the USAID. While since March 1998, the U.S. has provided US$ 217 million in humanitarian aid for the Balkan states, with a significant share benefiting Albania.

Ambassador Babbitt visited several premises in Prishtine before arriving in Albania. /pas/lm/

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[06] Foreign currency exchange rate in Tirane

Currency buying selling US$1 136,8 137 DM 72,6 73 7ITL(1000) 73 73,3 GRD(100) 43,6 43, 9

/Na/

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[07]

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[08] Albanian Foreign Minister praises NATO's role in stabilising the Balkans

"NATO's role in the Kosova crisis testified that its presence in the region constitutes a determinant factor in checking and eliminating the factors generating crises and conflicts. The Albanian government holds that our region needs NATO's role and presence in the years to come," said Milo.

Milo pointed to the urgent need that the process of integrating the Southeastern Europe into the European Union be quick and all-embracing.

"The democratisation of the Balkan Societies, which is manifested in the multiethnic cohabitation and development of regional relations, free from historical atavisms, diversion and policies of pressure, will create the new climate of understanding and cooperation in the Southeastern Europe. The Albanians strongly believe in this policy," said Majko. /pas/lm/

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[09] NATO asphalt 400 meters of Rinasi street

Meanwhile in this part of the road it the existing asphalt is ruined and the enlarging of the road in its both sides is implementing. It will be 6 metres wide.

The construction process is realized by close cooperation between NATO and Albanian contractor "Albavia".

The entrance road to Rinas airport is of special importance, due to the fact that Rinas is the only International Airport in Albania and the main entrance in Albania, as well. /dast/linda/

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[10] May: Customs cashed 2,8 billion lek in state budget

According to the data taken from the General Custom Directorate on the customs' incomes for May, the two greatest Albanian customs, Durresi and Tirana one, realized the plan respectively by 80% and 87%.

According to the specialists of the Ministry of Fiances, the reason for not fulfilling the plan is mainly due to the increase of the humanitarian aid, which in conformity with the Albanian State are excluded from paying the custom duties.

Taking into consideration the difficulties in the custom offices, the Ministry of Fiances decrease the value of annual plan by 1,5 billion lek, by adding it to the annual plan of tax administrate. /pas/linda/

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[11] Albanian media must convey new ideas to Albanian public opinion - President

President Meidani asked the same devotion and commitment also to be manifested in the future to the new questions emerging by the situation. "The Albanian media must influence in sensitizing the Albanian public opinion of what must be made for Kosova in the future," said Meidani.

According to him, to the reconstruction of Kosova would also serve the return there of many Albanian Kosova intellectuals who have studied abroad and are living in various countries of Europe.

"The Albanian media must convey new ideas to the people for the greatest possible presence of the Albanians in Kosova. It must sensitize the intellectuals, businessmen, various associations and the entire civil society to come to the assistance of the reconstruction of Kosova," said Meidani.

According to the President, of importance is also the selection of the information of foreign medias from the Albanian ones, with priority attached to the information of national benefit. /dast/xh/

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[12] Albania should pass from political governing onto executive governing - Meidani

"The conflict in Kosova, which put on a balance the values and the anti-values, will give impetus to the development of the region and the Albanians must know how to benefit from this chance. To this end, the governing must pass from political to executive," said President Meidani.

The post-war period in Kosova offers a development of the region in general and according to President Meidani, this fact is rather important because this will make possible that the region go ahead on the road of development, thus making possible its integration into Europe.

According to Meidani, Albania is the gate of this integration. "If Albania will manage to set up the infrastructure of the penetration fast, its benefits will come fast as well," he said. /dast/xh/

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[13] Economic cooperation agreement is assigned with Branderbourg

This agreement makes possibly the participation of Albanian Business Union at "Europartnerat, Branderburg '99", to be held in October.

According to the spokesman of this Chamber the preparatory sessions on this activity are organized in Potsdam , Germany. It is organized on the initiative of the European Commission and it was focused on Small and Medium Enterprises and encouraging cross border cooperation in Europe,

In this meeting the Chair of the Trade and Industry Chamber in Tirana, Luan Bregasi was nominated the national adviser of Europartnership for Albania. /pas/linda/

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[14] Mak Albania: Modern aggro-industrial complex in Maliq

Fehmi Xhemo, the Director of Agriculture and Food of this district told ATA that for the construction of this complex the company will invest 2 million dollars.

The complex, which will cover some 3,5 ha land, will consists of an elaborating factory, conservation of the fruit and vegetables, a beer factory and 4 ha green houses for vegetables' cultivation.

The construction process will start after few weeks. /pas/linda/

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[15] Normality being restored to Prishtine

Yesterday, KFOR representatives asked the Serbs settled in the Assembly building of the city to release the premises, while the employees of this institution are informed to appear at work on Monday morning.

During all the day last Friday, the people gathered in Mother Teresa square and in all streets and squares of Prishtine, and in many spots in Prishtine, Albanian national flags have been flying. The market too has more and more clients while some shops and clubs are opened as well. The most preferable place is the square in front of Grand Hotel, in which a great number of foreign press reporters have been accommodated. /p.ta/xh/

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[16] More than 50 000 Kosovars expected to pass winter in Albania

If it will happen like this, the remaining Kosovars may pass the winter in collective centres, in host families and winter tents, with priority attached to the buildings existing especially on the coastal zones, the same source reports.

For the moment, the possible capacity in the collective centres is over 100 000 people and after the identification of the other buildings, another capacity of nearly 50 000 people may be easily taken into consideration.

Until June 24, the number of the Kosova deportees housed in tents and collective centres in Albania was 128 105 people. The rest, some 240 000 people, are living in host families and 65 per cent of them have hired homes. /pas/xh/

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[17] Orchestra of Mediterranean Youths to have tour of Albania

The program of the orchestra consists of four concerts with selected pieces from the creativeness of world famous composers in four cities of Albania, Tirane, Korce, Elbasan and Durres.

The activity will be funded by the Ministry of Culture.

The orchestra of the Mediterranean Youths was formed five years ago and has had a number of concerts in France and in Albania. It has ten instrumentalists, of whom six are French and four Albanians. /dast/xh/

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[18] Albania must take the place it deserves in region - FRESSH

The committee of FRESSH expressed through a declaration the appreciation for the Kosova Liberation Army led by Hashim Thaci, for all the political and social subjects of Kosova and for the Albanian Government which was committed to the solution of Kosova issue.

The time for a new Balkans, as a part of the Alliance and the European Union has arrived, therefore the Albanian Government must use the same devotion and capability it manifested in governing the country during the difficult crisis also in the new conditions of the peace, in order that Albania take the place it deserves in the development of our region, writes the FRESSH declaration.

FRESSH disassociates itself from all efforts to underestimate the role of the Albanian Government and factor in the solution of the crisis of Kosova, which, as the declaration writes, aim to destabilise the country and darken the new perspective already opened to Albania.

FRESSH is a youth organization with a left wing political orientation. /lh/xh/

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[19] Albanian Foreign Ministry refutes references in "The New York Times"

The spokesman of the Ministry, based on an article entitled "Separatists" published in the newspaper "The new York Times" dated 25.06.1999, is authorized to state: The above-mentioned article of the renowned American paper carries some groundless information coming from suspicious sources, whose aim is to accuse and involve the Albanian Government and institutions of the Albanian state in the so-called "killings of KLA political opponents."

Turning down the above references published in The new York Times, the Foreign Ministry states responsibly that it has never interfered in the quarrels of separate individuals of various political forces of Kosova. On the contrary, the Albanian Government has supported all political forces of Kosova and the KLA in their efforts to realise the patriotic mission for the unification of all Albanian factors, without showing preferences for one or the other factor.

The interpretation of the facts and events with such tendencies does not serve the process of peace, stability and the future of Kosova, but the splitting of the Albanian political factors of Kosova and Albania, the declaration of the Albanian Foreign Ministry writes in conclusion. /lh/xh/

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[20] Albanian Socialist Party admitted Consultative Member of Socialist International

Taking part in the meeting of the Socialist International Council going on in Buenos Aires is also a delegation of the Socialist Party of Albania, led by Prime Minister and Secretary General of SP, Pandeli Majko, invited by the SI Secretary General, Lois Ayala.

At the end of today's plenary session, it was made public that the Socialist International Council, after examining the request of the SPA for membership in the Socialist International, decided to accept SPA as Consultative Member of the Socialist International.

The normal procedures for a SI membership, according to the statute, consist of three stages: Observer Member; Consultative member and Full Member.

This decision of the SI Council will be adopted by the SI Congress, expected to be held at the end of this year in Paris.

The Socialist Party of Albania made its request for membership in the SI in March, 1998. /lh/xh/

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