Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-07-14

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] PRESS REVIEW

[02] 24 trains have transported about 8 000 Kosovars towards Mjede

[03] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies on Wednesday

[04] Luiz Arbur visits Rahovec and Kaçanik regions

[05] National Conference on Privatization of Strategical Sectors to begin its proceedings

[06] Pojske refugee camp donated to Pogradec district council

[07] More than 5 400 pupils attend private education system in Albania

[08] Durres- Falling of unemployed number

[09] AFOR to continue work despite some incidents in refugee camps - Williams

[10] Dispossession opened way to construction process at "Tri Urave" point

[11] Council of Europe demands from Albania to lift capital punishment

[12] France, main partner for recovery and prosperity of Albania - Meidani

[13] U.S. Government highlights cooperation with Albanian army in overcoming crisis

[14] After repatriation of Kosovars, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Albania is a priority

[15] Corridor 8 is a priority project - Milo

[16] Albania completely committed to spirit of understanding and communication in region - Meidani

[17] French NATO troops help rehabilitate infrastructure in Elbasan

[18] Locusts harm 700 ha of sown land in Kukes

[19] Albanian Deputy Prime Minister meets with special envoy for the Pact of Stability Bodo Hombach

[01] PRESS REVIEW

KOHA JONE, independent daily -"Transport Ministry sold for $ 500 000". What is hidden after the rumors between Shuli,Zogaj and Ceka? Albanian Transport Minister, Indrit Shuli favors the Greek company harming Albanian companies. -"Meta: We will resign if Nano wins in the congress". Albanian Deputy Premier, Ilir Meta, said that "we can not govern with an alternative which is not ours". -"The revenge against Berisha starts". DP parliamentary group gathered today in Durres without the participation of the DP leader. -"The last hours of Tan Kateshi". Dritan Kateshi is arrested on Tuesday in Tirane by Elbasani police forces.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE, independent daily -"Customs houses - to be or not to be". Brussels foresees the Western Balkan to be a Free Zone. -"Ministers risking their post in September". Government reshuffle in September; Ministers Shuli, Meksi, Xhuveli, Bufi and Angjeli in the reshuffle list. - "Annulment of Cohen visit - a mister" The chief of Pentagon organized the agenda himself and had decided to announce in Tirane the aid of $ 600 000. - "Kateshi "betrayed" by his mother, police discovers his base". Elbasani police forces arrested in Tirane the escaped gang leader of Elbasan city.

SHEKULLI, independent daily -"Government reshuffle different from that made in Nano-led government". Interview with the Secretary of foreign relations close to the Socialist Party, Arta Dade. -"Cohen - frightened for an attempted attack" Misters of the annulment of Cohen visit in Tirane discovered. -"Kateshi arrested". A group of policemen from Elbasan caught in Tirane at 3 a.m in the dwelling place where he lived together with his mother.

RILINDJA, daily independent -"The first German policemen in Kosove and the miracle of Albanian engagement. -"Germany will send 210 police in Kosove". -"Pristine amid war ruins and desire for life".

ALBANIA, independent daily -"Court against Meidani to begin" -"Kateshi, the horror of Elbasan, arrested.

EKONOMIA, daily of the Albanian Agency for Economic Development - "Privatization - the challenge of the actual government". The National Conference to be Held on Wednesday. -"Taxes; Private subjects to challenge the state with incomes". -"Reconstruction: Brussels donors decide the strategies for Kosove".

ZERI I POPULLIT, daily of the Albanian Socialist Party -"Police forces caught "the powerful" Dritan Kateshi". -"Moderators: Half of the delegates are illegal". -"Albania, steps towards the Pact of Stability".

RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE, daily of the Albanian Democratic Party -"French considered as "invaders" of Elbasan". -"Destructions, scenario of foreign secrete services".

REPUBLIKA, daily of the Albanian Republican Party -"Three policemen remained wounded due to the attack made to the town-hall". -"How was Kateshi arrested". /A.A/

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[02] 24 trains have transported about 8 000 Kosovars towards Mjede

The chief of Travelers department in the General Directory of Railways, Patraq Skame, told ATA that two trains with 3-8 carriages are every day in disposition of the Kosovars' return. The trains were due from Pogradec, Vlore, Elbasan and other stations. /lh/A.A/

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[03] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies on Wednesday

Currency Bought Sold

US$ 134,5 135 DM 70 70,5 LIT(1000) 71 71,2 GRD(100) 41,7 42 /A.A/

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[04] Luiz Arbur visits Rahovec and Kaçanik regions

Arbur will visit as well the village of Celine, western Kosove, where the British forensic experts had found the corpses of 20 Albanian victims, mainly children, believed to have been shot dead by Serb forces.

Hague Main Prosecutor briefed the journalists in Pristine that the scale of crimes committed in Kosove is very high, and that Hague prosecutors are gathering proofs in support of the accuse against Milosheviç and four other senior Serb officials. Milosheviç and the other four Serb officials are very likely to appear before the tribunal, said Arbur, warning an increase in number of the accused for war crimes in Kosove.

The authors of the crimes have demolished the crime proofs, but as Arbur said, the proof of Kosove destruction, and several crimes are convincing arguments which show that the death cause was not accidental. /lh/A.A/

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[05] National Conference on Privatization of Strategical Sectors to begin its proceedings

This conference is organized under the leadership of the Albanian Economic Development Agency (AEDA), with the support of the Albanian Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization. A speech is expected to be held in this conference by the Premier, Pandeli Majko.

A part of the energetic sector, ports, mines, telecommunication, railways, banks, aqueducts and all the important objects estimated as national wealth, are the strategical sectors of the Albanian economy, expected to undergo the privatization process.

The privatization in Albania has begun since 1991 with the privatization of small enterprises, passing gradually to the middle enterprises. About 8, 9 billion leks, out of which 3,9 billion Leks from privatization and 4,3 leks from bonus, are cashed to the state budget until the end of 1998, while the incomes from privatization during the current year amount at 227 million leks. /lh/A.A/

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[06] Pojske refugee camp donated to Pogradec district council

Participating in the ceremony held on this occasion were representatives of Greek Red Cross and Greek army, Pogradec district chairman, Sokol Valo, and the General Greek Consul in Korçe, Nikos Garilidhis.

Valo hailed the aid delivered by the Greek government for construction of this camp, where were accommodated more than 1.300 war refugees.

The Greek consul, Garilidhis, hailed the cooperation of Pogradec local government with the leaders of the camp and reported that no incident is encountered in this camp during the time refugees were settled.

Ismail Muçiqi, one of the representatives of Kosove refugees, said before leaving the camp, that all the refugees accommodated in Pojske camp were attended with special care not only by the employees of the Red Cross, but even by the Greek ambassador in Tirane and the Greek General Consul in Korçe.

"In this camp we cured our wounds and griefs", said Muçiqi.

In the materials handed over to the district council were 200 tents with all the equipment and installed infrastructure, the electric network, the kitchen with all the equipment, and other things. /pas/A.A/

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[07] More than 5 400 pupils attend private education system in Albania

More than 450 teachers are employed in this education system.

The number of private education schools all over Albania is estimated to be 43, while 22 institutions of this kind are established only in Tirane, Tonin Pavaci, inspector close to the Education and Science Ministry, told ATA on Wednesday.

The number of schools functioning in the preschool, elementary and high school level are respectively 19 (kindergartens), 11, and 13. /pas/A.A/

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[08] Durres- Falling of unemployed number

During this period some 615 persons are employed in new working places, 55 of them in public affairs and the rest of 250 people in foundation and non-governmental associations, told ATA the Head of the Work Office of this district Lumturi Njala.

Njala said that the Work Office presented 5 different employment projects in the field of public services, aiming at further fall of the unemployed number. Our target for the second half of the year is the increase of the contacts with native and foreign employers and removal of 50% of the persons out of the scheme of economic assistance, added she.

1 375 people from 8 854 unemployed in Durres profit unemployment assistance, while the rest will be treated with economic assistance. /lh/linda/

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[09] AFOR to continue work despite some incidents in refugee camps - Williams

The incidents in camps have not presented a risk for NATO troops, said Williams, adding that the main task to safeguard the emptied Kosova refugee camps belongs to the Albanian police and not to AFOR troops.

As for the protection of the camps still with refugees who may continue to stay here for some more time, Williams said they will see the possibility for cooperation with the Albanian party.

Mr Williams also said that over these days, organized repatriation of the refugees to Kosova has continued with vehicles of AFOR, UNHCR and the Albanian Government.

Some 6 000 have remained out of 8 000 militaries of the AFOR forces in Albania at the beginning of the humanitarian mission. In addition, a part of the U.S. mission, Task Force Hawk, formerly deployed in Rinas, is now operating in Kosova. A part of the U.S. engineering staff is still in Albania working for the reconstruction of the airport. /lh/xh/

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[10] Dispossession opened way to construction process at "Tri Urave" point

According to the Head of the District Board Edi Theodhori the dispossession in this part of the road, 9 km long, will be completed in the end of this week. The value of the dispossession is no more than 15 million lek, added he.

After the completion of the dispossession, the Greek company "THEMELIODOMI" will start the operations, which are announced two years ago.

The value invested for the construction of the custom complex of Tri Urat and the automobilists road, connecting it with the national road, is 3.6 million ECU. /lh/linda/

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[11] Council of Europe demands from Albania to lift capital punishment

The Assembly is concerned that three member states, Albania, Russian Federation and Ukraine have still in high security prison cells people sentenced with death penalty. The number of the member states which have ratified the protocol has amounted to 32. Only four states, Albania, Georgia, Poland and Turkey have not signed the Protocol.

In order to reduce crime and restore faith in justice in Albania, a lot of debates have been conducted in the recent years regarding the capital punishment. Although some courts in various districts have passed capital punishments according to the law, none of them has yet been executed. /led/xh/

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[12] France, main partner for recovery and prosperity of Albania - Meidani

France has taken a special role and remains one of the main partners of the Albanian people not only in the efforts for the democratic recovery and prosperity of Albania, but the entire region, writes Meidani. Albania, writes meidani, appreciates any kind of cooperation as an important part towards its national objective, for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration and as a possibility to determine its role and place in the future in the fold of these organizations.

Based on the very good traditions and the values of cooperation, I am so much encouraged to give this cooperation more sensitive and greater dimensions, underlines Meidani. On this occasion, President Meidani invited the French President to visit Albania, which will give a powerful impetus to the cooperation between the two countries. /led/xh/

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[13] U.S. Government highlights cooperation with Albanian army in overcoming crisis

In an official ceremony held in the Defence Ministry, the minister Luan Hajdaraga said that "we express once more the conviction that cooperation between our two countries and armies will keep strengthening."

Robert Frowick, U.S. Ambassador in Tirane, said that the success reached in the solution of the Kosova crisis is a joint success and that the U.S. mission Task Force Hawk is ready to accomplish its task in Albania, but the U.S. will find ways to consolidate the presence of NATO in Albania.

Generals and high officers of the U.S. mission Task Force Hawk, in the name of their government, distributed symbolic presents for the leading officials in the Albanian Army General Staff. /led/xh/

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[14] After repatriation of Kosovars, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Albania is a priority

TIRANE, July 14 (ata) - By G Dilaveri: Full elimination of the effects and damages caused in physical constructions, the infrastructure and the social-economic system linked with the arrival of Kosova refugees will be in the centre of the work of the Emergency Management Group (EMG).

International aid organizations, also including 40 nongovernmental organizations, have voiced their readiness to stay in Albania for the rehabilitation work in this country. Many of them have expressed their interest to stay in Albania for a long time assistance for the Albanian community.

The Group has played an essential role as a coordinating mechanism of the community with humanitarian aims during the reception and accommodation of nearly half a million Kosovars to Albania. At present, 104 of 224 camps set up for the Kosova refugees in Albania, are completely emptied. /led/xh/

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[15] Corridor 8 is a priority project - Milo

Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told reporters in a news conference in Tirane after returning from the meeting that together with his counterparts Papandreou and Dimitrov, he had forwarded four priority projects adopted by the Albanian Government such as: Corridor 8 from Durres- Skopje-Sofie-Varna and Dalmatian-Ionian Corridor, the creation of a regional energy network which will link the three countries with high tension lines, including gas pipelines, construction of Pogradec-Skopje- Kercove railway, rehabilitation of the existing Pogradec-Durres line and the creation of free zones, at first with Macedonia and later with Greece.

Milo asked the reporters "to end speculations" regarding the signing by him some days ago in Athens of an agreement for the construction of Dalmatian-Ionian corridor, for which he was accused of acting on his own initiative, harming the plans for Corridor 8. "Corridor 8 is the first priority," said Milo, showing to the cameras the project for Dalmatian- Ionian Corridor, for which, he said "is adopted by the Albanian Government and the President on July 6, 1999." /led/xh/

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[16] Albania completely committed to spirit of understanding and communication in region - Meidani

Meidani stressed that Albania is totally committed to the creation of a spirit of understanding and cooperation for the economic, democratic development and the stability of the whole region and that cooperation without jealosy and with projects of common contribution is the key to the success of the Pact of Stability. He mentioned Corridor 8 as e concrete and priority example in this direction. "We see the development of the region," said Meidani, "in its joining the European course, where borders have a symbolic character."

The envoy Hombah explained to Meidani his contacts with the main western chancellories for the democratic and economic recovery not only of Kosova but of the entire region. He demanded close cooperation with the head of Albanian state to reach common solutions which would encourage the European integration of the region and highlighted his efforts as the advocate of the whole region.

Hombah said he would not allow the superiority of a state over the other, although, he added, set countries of the region have different developments. He said that Brussels will be the leading centre for the Pact. /led/xh/

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[17] French NATO troops help rehabilitate infrastructure in Elbasan

Town-hall sources said to ATA that the rehabilitation by NATO forces of the mostly-damaged road segments will give the city ring its full and regular form. The improvement of those road segments will also be good for the high tonnage vehicles which move towards Macedonia and Greece. /led/xh/

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[18] Locusts harm 700 ha of sown land in Kukes

To fight the locusts, the Ministry of Agriculture delivered recently 400 thousand lek to be used for this purpose by the agricultural department of the district of Kukes. But the inspector of agriculture in the prefecture. Bukurosh Jonuzi, said that the fund can fight the locusts only in a territory of 100 hectares of land infected by the insect.

According to specialists of the district agriculture, the insect, which has reached in Kukes through the district of Has (north of Kukes,) must be fought first in Has from where it comes. /lh/xh/

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[19] Albanian Deputy Prime Minister meets with special envoy for the Pact of Stability Bodo Hombach

Meta briefed him of the projects that the Albanian Government will present to the conference of Sarajevo on July 29-30, 1999, adding that the stress has been laid on the drafting of joint projects with neighbours, not only to ensure a growing cooperation but also to contribute to a new Balkans, far from splits and conflicts of the past.

Envoy Hombach said "I am much pleased that you plan to draw up joint projects with the neighbours because it is the idea of regional cooperation that gives life to the Pact of Stability."

"Europe is interested in the economic development of the region because only in this way a lasting stability and security can be built in the Balkans," said Hombach.

At the end of the meeting, Mr Meta voiced the opinion of the Albanian Government that the presence of NATO troops in the region would help establish the necessary stability for the implementation of the Pact of Stability. /led/xh/

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