Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-07-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] NATO to assist clean mines from border area in Albania

[02] Press review

[03] Fire spreading in forests of Tepelene

[04] Exchange rates of lek with foreign currencies

[05] Albanian Parliament adopts laws of economic character

[06] Attention must be focused on how to overcome aftermath of humanitarian crisis - Meidani

[07] Official data put unemployment in Albania at 16.6 %

[08] Albanian Minister of Health on medical system of Tirane

[09]

[10] Equipment for powerful radar arrive in Sazan

[11] Technology increases tobacco production and quality

[12] Majko inaugurated transformers of Fierza hydro power station

[13] Meidani says Pact of Stability is key to regional development

[14] Albanian Bank aims to abolish credit's limits during second half of 1999

[15] Albania to sign two agreements on airline transport

[16] Employment Stimulation Program to open 13-15 thousand working places

[17] INSIG: Signs for quick privatization

[18] Albanian Foreign Ministry denounces violence against Albanian emigrants in Greece

[19] Gjinushi says peace process in Kosova should be furthered

[20] Meidani says Stability Pact to be permeated by integral policy

[21] Majko asks strengthening of discipline in public sector

[22] Different stands on Kosova status will not hurt our relations - Meidani

[01] NATO to assist clean mines from border area in Albania

The aid of the NATO forces will consist in drawing up a plan for clearance of the zones mined during the war period in Kosova and it will use all the necessary logistic means it has, said Campus.

According to him, the plan is presumed to be applied in three main stages: short term, mid term and long term.

Asked of the duration of this process, Campus explained that the demining of the zones takes a considerable time. He added that the lacking of maps which would define the mined zones is one of the main difficulties for the mine clearance process to start. /lh/xh/

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[02] Press review

Koha Jone, independent daily

- "Politicians not involved in contraband: Poci." Minister of Public Order Spartak Poci declared in Parliament that the Department of Economic Crime has no facts to prove involvement of politicians in contraband. - "Fight against corruption, more important that Kosova." - "Albania's Friends" convene to discuss order and corruption. - "A team of illegal troops in Guard of Republic." During 1997 an operational parallel company of 100 members was formed and trained to crush revolts. This was made public yesterday in parliament on the so-called process of the Guard. - "Government opens road to U.S. giant." Document of politics on development of telecommunications in Albania changed.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily.

- "Lower interest rates in Banks." Now interests rates at the level of 11 per cent. - "Clans in SP quarrel on cigarettes." Malaj against Angjeli in parliament: You favour contraband to neighbouring countries. - "Friends of Albania: Here is how to fight corruption." The last mission of Everts in Tirane yesterday. After the meeting he leaves directly for Pristina.

Shekulli, independent daily

- "DAP sends letter to Majko." Democratic Alliance Party asks Premier to convene the coalition members urgently. - "Saranda event discovered. Commissar protected traffickers." Experts of Public Order managed to discover the reasons why three policemen of the police commissariat of Saranda were wounded. - "Massacre of Cerrik: 6 testimonies against former chiefs of the Guard-Massacre of Cerrik. "Forces of Mulosmani - 100 people known as 'operational company 2.'"

Rilindja, information daily, independent

- "Serb aspiration for division of Mitrovica fails." - "320 thousand refugees from Albania have left." 110 thousand others remain in Albania. - "Plenty of governments, premiers and ministers in Kosova."

Albania, independent daily.

- "We are corrupted: Ilir Meta." - "Commissar of Saranda flees." Another policeman involved in the event arrested. - "Hot weather, one more concern for Albania. Temperatures rise up together with the number of diseases."

Ekonomia, independent daily of the Albanian Agency for Economic Development.

- "Friends of Albania: OK for customs, there is still to be made." - "Lower interests, 11.5 per cent, in Albanian banks. - "Finance: Anti-corruption, one of our priorities."

Zeri i Popullit, daily paper of Socialist party of Albania

- "Cigarettes, why Malaj was against and Angjeli was in favour?" - "Strong blow to contraband." - "Illness of Berisha is illness of DP."

Rilindja Demokratike, daily paper of the Democratic Party of Albania.

- "Friends: "Stop corruption!" - "Minister Angjeli blocks Morina."

Republika, daily of the Republican Party of Albania.

- "Bigs quarrel, Angjeli attacks Poci." - "Pollo: You, media cannot understand force of technical reasons." /a.ke/xh/

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[03] Fire spreading in forests of Tepelene

According to the chairman of the Tepelene district council, Sotir Ceka, in most of the cases, the fire is caused by shepherds "to make grass flourish."

In the district of Tepelene, forests take an area of 17 190 hectares, of which 6 170 hectares planted with oak and 1 680 with pine trees. The other area is with mixed trees. The gravest damages in the few past years have been registered in the pine forests near the mine of Memaliaj and the forests of oak in the zone of Luzat. /pas/xh/

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[04] Exchange rates of lek with foreign currencies

The lower value of the dollar is characteristic for the summer period, when Albanians working abroad come to Albania on vacations bringing home a great quantity of foreign currency. This period does also correspond with lower levels in trade exchanges.

Exchange rates of Thursday

Kind of Currency Bought Sold USD 135,5 136 DM 71 71,2 LIT(1000) 71, 5 71,8 GRD(100) 41,5 42 /xh/

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[05] Albanian Parliament adopts laws of economic character

The latter envisaged excises of 3 thousand lek for any kind of wheel tires of the vehicles entering Albania, in view of increasing the income in the state budget of 900 million lek per year. This point was opposed by the majority of deputies because this would bring about the growth of the cost of transport of vehicles coming to Albania.

A lower customs tariff for cigarettes was also adopted in the parliament, with the level falling from 20 to 10 per cent. The law envisages also excises for cosmetics articles, to the amount of 50 per cent.

The Parliament adopted the law "On the approval of the agreement of the credit and development between the Republic of Albania and the International Development Association (IDA) for the Structural Regulation program."

This credit of USD45 million that the World Bank has accorded to Albania, will improve the function of the Government and the climate for a more efficacious development of the private sector will be created. The governing and the institutional reform will be the pillar of the program of reforms to be supported with this credit. /pas/xh/

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[06] Attention must be focused on how to overcome aftermath of humanitarian crisis - Meidani

Meidani said that in these consequences are included the rehabilitation of social-cultural objects or sites used to set up refugee camps. The President attracted the attention on the villages in northeastern zone which have been gravely damaged by Serb bombings.

The president's press and information office reports the two interlocutors stressed the will to consolidate the cooperation and aid that Catalonia and the Kingdom of Spain are ready to offer to Albania. President Meidani said that now it is clearly seen that the region is passing the situation of insecurity and destabilisation that the regime of Milosevic incited over the past decade.

The Social Affairs Minister of Catalonia assured Mr Meidani of the readiness to assist Albania in the fields of education, health and tourism.

Attending the meeting was also the Ambassador of Spain in Albania, Jesus Riosalido. /pas/xh/

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[07] Official data put unemployment in Albania at 16.6 %

The Institute of Social Insurances treats about 500 thousand pensioners. According to statistics of the International Organization of Migration, IOM, nearly 15 per cent of Albania's population, at least 500 thousand people, has emigrated.

Taking into consideration the domination of the young school and preschool age and the number of the people employed in the administration, police, army, education, health, private business and in agriculture, the real figure of unemployment is lower.

According to the State Inspectorate of Labour in Albania, one in 3-4 employed people is unregistered and not insured. /pas/xh/

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[08] Albanian Minister of Health on medical system of Tirane

According to Mr Solis, there are 46 medical centres functioning across Tirana district, of which 30 do not meet the conditions for a normal functioning. He said that 66 villages have not out patient clinics at all, while 9 medical objects are being used by people to live in.

The minister said the the Ministry of Health cannot cover financially the network of out patient clinics as for their construction and maintaining. But according to a decision of the Government, this institution responds to the administration, maintaining and supply of the medical institutions depending on the ministry.

As a final solution for these problems, Solis demanded that creation of a "Regional Authority of Tirana." /pas/xh/

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[09]

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[10] Equipment for powerful radar arrive in Sazan

Under a bilateral agreement between the Albanian and Italian governments, a powerful radar to check illegal trafficking in Otranto strait will be installed on the northern part of Sazan.

The Albanian and Italian engineering forces as well as a specialised team from Brindisi have begun to build the base the radar will be installed on.

A cargo of 80 berths for Kosova children, who, for various motives, will continue to stay in Albania, was also brought by "Capri", at the initiative of the military priests of the Italian Marine. /pas/lm/

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[11] Technology increases tobacco production and quality

Administrate chief of this enterprise Ilmi Dishani told ATA that the number of the employees in this enterprise is 530 and 49% of the profit belongs to Greek side and the rest of 51% to the Albanians.

The enterprise has signed cooperation agreements not only with Elbasani farmers, but also of Fieri, Mallakastra, Korca, Shkodra farmers, as well. It has collected some 1 600 tons tobacco and the daily production varies from 15 to 16 tons.

The employees of this enterprise are paid by 13 thousand lek and an increase of 10% of the salary is foreseen in the future. /pas/linda/

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[12] Majko inaugurated transformers of Fierza hydro power station

"In cooperation with foreign donors, we will continue our work and attempts to provide financial means to go on with the strategy of normalizing the work in Fierza hydro power station", said Majko.

In his discussions with the Local Government of Tropoja Municipalities, present in the meeting, Prime Minister Majko showed his interest on the current situation in Tropoja and said that very soon the Government will take severe measures on strengthening the public order.

Prime Minister Majko was accompanied in his visit by the Minister of Public Economy and Privatization Ylli Bufi and Minister of Information Musa Ulqini. /pas/linda/

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[13] Meidani says Pact of Stability is key to regional development

"We see the stability of the region closely linked with its development as a whole and not on the basis of separate islands or countries. Even before the conflict we had asked for a Marshall plan, not for Albania, but for the whole region, also including a democratic Serbia.

The development of the region, its transformation into a space of civil, not national states, where the high standard of living, free education and other political and civic rights are respected, should be our common objective."

Meidani asked from the EU and other western states to support Albania and Macedonia especially politically and materially, as countries which, despite their fragile economies, bore the heavy weight of the crisis, avoiding the escalation of conflict throughout the region.

"We are interested in developing Macedonia, like we have been interested in its stability," said Meidani.

He said he was pleased that the Albanian factor in Macedonia had served this stability. He added that the participation of the Albanian factor in governing, the construction of a civil administration, the observation of the right to education and other rights, are a far-reaching contribution to building a multiethnic coexistence here.

The course of events linked with the conflict in Kosova and its solution gave a clear response to many issues and a new more advanced era should begin in our relations, Meidani said in conclusion. /pas/lm/

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[14] Albanian Bank aims to abolish credit's limits during second half of 1999

Albanian businessmen always complain about credit lack on the bank's part.

Although the total credit of all banks last year increased by 1.9 billion lek, by giving a new credit of some 5.8 billion lek. According to Cani "the total bank credit was not only very low, but most of the credits were in foreign currencies".

The main reasons for limiting the credits for the private business was the delay in returning on time the previous credits, and the small "fund" of the banks to face the great number and continues requests for credits. /pas/linda/

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[15] Albania to sign two agreements on airline transport

According to the press office close to this Ministry the first agreement will deal with European Airline Transport Harmonization and Integration Program (EATHIP).

The other agreement has to do with the implementation of the managing measures of airline transport by the Central Flux Management Unit. This agreement is foreseen to be signed by Republic of Albania and European Organization on the Security of Airline Navigation (Eurocontrol). /pas/linda/

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[16] Employment Stimulation Program to open 13-15 thousand working places

Some 35 projects are drafted and approved during the first half of 1999 and 1150 work contracts are signed with the new employees. Albanian Government offered some 500 million lek for this new program. The districts to profit by this program are Vlora, Skrapari and Librazhdi.

The Program of Public Affairs was an emergency program, aiming at changing the passive payments distributed by the state into a reward and salary by involving the people in public works.

This thing will improve the infrastructure. Albanian Government has put in disposal of Shkodra and Tirana districts respectively by 80 and 156 million lek for 1998 for the projects of public affairs. /pas/linda/

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[17] INSIG: Signs for quick privatization

Minzhozi said that this change will affect the increase of the production quality and the number of the insured people.

This change by becoming independent gradually smooth the budget for the part they collected from the tax payers.

INSIG is one of the companies with considerable financial incomes. By its transformation state, beside the facilitation of the expenditures burden, will profit again by the tax duties of this company.

INSIG is inscribed at Tirana Court as a juridical subject with the initiative fund of 1.745.898.455,73 lek and certificate value of 1.000.000 lek. The company will have as the object of its activity the insurance on damages and life security ans re-insurances, as well.

There are two other companies beside INSIG that performed their activities in Albania, Sigal and Sigma, which are foreseen to increase the competition in the insurance market. /pas/linda/

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[18] Albanian Foreign Ministry denounces violence against Albanian emigrants in Greece

The spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Sokol Gjoka, told a news conference that the Albanian authorities have protested against the mistreatment or gathering of emigrants in stadiums as well as against cases of refusing to consider legal the emigrants possessing valid residence permits in Greece.

Gjoka said that although the Greek authorities have not yet responded regarding these cases, the visit of the Albanian Foreign Minister to Athens will also concentrate on the issue of Albanian emigrants' treatment and the possibility of their quick legalisation.

According to data available at the Public Order Ministry, to which Gjoka referred, nearly 3500 Albanian emigrants working and living in Greece have been repatriated over the last seven days. On July 6, alone, some 1185 people were returned to the Kapshtice and Kakavije border points.

Referring to the latest contacts with the Greek authorities, either direct or through the Albanian Ambassador in Athens, Gjoka stressed that they had been guaranteed that no "broom" was being used against Albanians.

"No 'broom' is being used against the emigrants, but the Greek authorities are exercising control in the context of the fight against crime," said Gjoka.

He asserted that the information provided by the Albanian press was correct and that there have been flagrant cases of Greek authorities mistreating Albanian emigrants.

This information, he said, is also verified by the Albanian embassy in Athens and the Albanian emigrants' associations in Greece.

Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, who is in Macedonia today in the context of the visit of President Meidani there, will fly to Athens tomorrow, at the invitation of his counterpart Papandreou.

Milo is also expected to meet with the organisations of Albanian emigrants to get to know their problems. /pas/lm/

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[19] Gjinushi says peace process in Kosova should be furthered

"Placing Kosova under the full authority of the U.N., the return of all the displaced, holding new elections, the operation of self-governing institutions, gradual improvement of security conditions and of economic and social situation on the ground, are still on the agenda," said Gjinushi in his address, according to the spokesman of parliament.

Further on, Gjinushi said that a fast transformation and integration process is necessary for Southeastern Europe.

"The conflict we are leaving behind has shown that our region needs to be powerfully assisted on the road of integration into the family of the continent's democratic countries," he said. /lh/lm/

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[20] Meidani says Stability Pact to be permeated by integral policy

Meidani implied that regional offices for executing the Pact of Stability can also be set up in the capitals of other countries such as in Tirane and Skopje.

The Pact of Stability should be permeated by an integral policy, which embraces the whole region, said Meidani.

"Although Albania and Macedonia bore the main weight of the crisis, any policy of isolation or jealousy towards other countries would not bring the required results for the development of the region," said Meidani.

Prime Minister Georgievski and President Meidani agreed that Albania and Macedonia intensify their contacts to go to the Donors' Conference in Sarajevo, after 20 days, with joint projects.

Besides financing the non-financed segments of the eight Corridor, the idea was launched for setting up a railway network, to which Italy, Bulgaria and Montenegro will also be invited, and the indispensability of cooperation in infrastructure, energy, telecommunication and other fields was emphasised.

The Macedonian Prime Minister asked the reactivation of the commerce chambers and the creation of a free trade zone between the two countries. /lh/lm/

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[21] Majko asks strengthening of discipline in public sector

Addressing the meeting, Majko stressed that "it is inexcusable that in many cases public sector workers pass the time in an unproductive way".

Majko asked that state control mechanisms be efficient so that the work of any official be measured.

"In order to make the activity of state administration more efficient the number of workers in certain sectors of ministries and other central institutions will be reduced by 30%. /lh/lm/

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[22] Different stands on Kosova status will not hurt our relations - Meidani

In his pronouncement for the press after a close meeting with President Rexhep Meidani and during a meeting between delegations, Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov said that Macedonia is for a wide- ranging autonomy for Kosova but without changes of borders.

President Meidani said that "although we do not share the same opinion, this will not hurt the relations between our two countries. We see two new entities in the European community, Kosova and Montenegro."

But, according to Meidani, now it is important that all the countries of the region win the title "European citizen".

According to the spokesman of the President of the Republic, in all the meetings held by the Albanian President during his one-day visit to Skopje, especially in that with his Macedonian counterpart Gligorov, both sides shared their will to make everything possible to intensify relations and keep up contacts and dialogue on issues on which the positions of the two states are different.

Meidani and Gligorov expressed the view that the spirit of fully observing the rights of the individual will lead towards the change of regional mentalities, towards what the two presidents termed "creation of the European citizen". /lh/lm/

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