Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-07-20

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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] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies on Tuesday

[03] Some 226 000 travelers choose ferries to arrive in their country or to leave it

[04] French office to be opened soon in Pristine

[05] "Unlimited clowns" end their tour in Durres

[06] SP: Respect General Leading Committee institutions and decisions

[07] Kosova hydro-power stations resume work

[08] Kosove daily "Rilindja" resumes its publications

[09] Williams says no decision is yet approved regarding continuation of NATO presence in Albania

[10] "Toena" delivers books to Pristine cultural institutions

[11] Some 4 820 narcotic plants destroyed

[12] Albanian Minister of Finances promises fall of inflation

[13] Application of project "Education 2" for renovation of schools to start soon

[14] Revenues of half year of '99 are realized by 92%

[15] Budget expenditures under predicted limit

[16] Minister Bufi presented priority projects in energy field

[17] USD500 thousand for 40 new milk processing facilities

[18] Total cost of two corridors' infrastructure marked some 1,6 billion dollars

[19] New touristic villages in Golemi coast

[20] Albanian artists with Opera Carmen in Ioannina

[21] President Meidani invited to take part in Summit of Pact of Stability

[01] PRESS REVIEW

KOHA JONE, independent daily -"SP decides: Nano stop the campaign!. You are destabilizing the party and the public order". The chairmanship of the Socialist Party is gathered on late Monday, and in a press release it issued it demanded rigorous implementation of procedures of SP third congress. -"Meidani: The government is becoming more executive." The leader of Albanian state is contented with the reflection of government after the idea it put forward some times ago. -"Albania's future is in the hands of Albanians". The president of the financial "giant", Wolfenson, visits Tirane, Bathore and Kukes, while the WB he leads is financing three projects with a total value of $ 41 million. -"First session of "forgiveness" for DP". The parliamentary bureau is completed on Monday with all the political colors after the participation in it of the vice-chairman of DP parliamentary group, Genc Pollo.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE, independent daily -"SP - the compromise formula ready". SP finds out the compromise formula between the three central figures. A propose, not officially issued so far, is thought to content all the groupings, where besides the chairman, the Albanian President and the Secretary General of the party are to win competencies. -"NATO in Albania? Everything hover". The Atlantic Council did not manage to take the decision on a new mandate of NATO troops in Albania. -"Wolfenson visits Albanian Bathore". You should first build up your houses, and think afterwards for the regional projects, WB President, James Wolfenson, pointed out during the visits and meetings he held in Albania's capital, Bathore and Kukes.

SHEKULLI, independent daily -"Meta says Nano is irresponsible". The chairmanship of the SP is gathered on late Monday especially for outgoing SP chairman, while severe clashes between clans on the rallies and meetings of Nano are reported. -"Fate and money in the hands of Albanians". Wonferson confirmed on Monday the support of WB for Albania. -"DP Assembly to be held before the Congress of SP". DP will held its regular Assembly before the SP third Congress.

RILINDJA, daily independent -"Grief and joy at the same time" -"The missing relations between Tirane and Pristine". -"Grief on attacks against Albanian minorities in Kosove"

ALBANIA, independent daily -"We will leave Albania" -"3 5000 repatriated within 48 hours" -"Malaj: Majko is repeating Nano mistakes".

EKONOMIA, daily of the Albanian Agency for Economic Development - "World Bank: 200 million for 18 months" -"Bufi: projects for Pact of Stability ready" -"FEFAD increases the shares, the capital equal to 700 million".

ZERI I POPULLIT, daily of the Albanian Socialist Party -"Chairmanship: Stop activities outside the party" -"I, our Premier, will do what the government is doing" Wolfenson says he is here for Albania's future, where the projects do not lack, but they need a strategy of 5-10 years. -"Road corridors = $ 1.6 billion".

RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE, daily of the Democratic Party of Albania. - "Pristine - Balkan's reconstructed capital" -"NATO is necessary in Albania"

REPUBLIKA, Daily paper of the Republican Party -"Rumors amid SP opponents" -"The state opposes the money repatriation"

/A.A/

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[02] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies on Tuesday

Exchange rates on Tuesday:

Kind of currency Bought Sold

USD 136,5 137

DM 71 71,3

LIT(1000) 71,7 72

GRD(100) 42 42,3 /led/A.A/

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[03] Some 226 000 travelers choose ferries to arrive in their country or to leave it

According to the employee of the ship sector, Varvara Stepa, the ferries of the navigation companies such as "Adriatika", "Iliria lines", "Shpresa", and the like have made during the last six months 817 travels towards Durres port, against 582 travels made in the same period of the outgoing year. The travelers arriving in this port are numbered to be 105 000, while the ones who left are registered to be 121.121 people. More than 28.200 cars are transported by the ferries during the six month period. /led/A.A/

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[04] French office to be opened soon in Pristine

PRISTINE, July 20: ATA correspondent, Behlul Jashari quotes Tomas Wagner, diplomatic adviser of KFOR French forces, saying in a meeting held yesterday with Mehmet Hajrizi, a member of Thaci cabinet, that the French office will be opened very soon in Pristine.

They talked about Kosova situation, temporary government work, the realization of the agreement on demilitarization and transformation of KLA, the setting up of the transitional counsel and the relations between parties in Kosova. pas/NA/A.A/

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[05] "Unlimited clowns" end their tour in Durres

The group named "Unlimited clowns" entertained tens of children, as well as their parents, who were attending with interest and applause the pantomimes, acrobatic exercises and musical couplets.

This group has staged shows in most south towns, especially in Kosovars camping sites and hosting centers. /led/NA/A.A/

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[06] SP: Respect General Leading Committee institutions and decisions

SP Chairmanship considers each organizm outside the SP structures as violation that does not have any thing in common with the decisions taken in a democratic way in the GLC meeting.

The members of SP chairmanship reached this decision after three hours of debates in a regular workshop held in the framework of preparation on the third congress of this party to be held in forthcoming September.

The chairmanship demanded the work group charged with the drafting of thesis to accelerate its work, and reconfirmed its support for the coalition government in function of challenge we are passing, says the pres release. The chaimanship decided to call a GLC meeting on next Monday. The discussion and approval of congress thesis are expexted to be in the focus of the meeting.

SP chairmanship is made up of 18 members, but the press release was voted by 15 members after the voting invitation made by SP Secretary General, Pandeli Majko. /led/A.A/

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[07] Kosova hydro-power stations resume work

Kosova hydro-power stations work with coals, and the massive coal resources in Kosova are known in the world. /P.Ta/NA/A.A/

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[08] Kosove daily "Rilindja" resumes its publications

"I believe, "Rilindja" will transmit a stable democratic national political opinion" Hashim Thaçi, the chairman of the Kosova interim government pointed out in an interview given to this newspaper. /P.Ta/NA/A.A/

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[09] Williams says no decision is yet approved regarding continuation of NATO presence in Albania

Asked about the new mission of AFOR force, Williams said that the opinions regarding the military duties and projects on regulation of Albanian infrastructure are made known to AFOR command in Italy (AFSOUTH), but however this decision will be taken in Brussels' meeting.

AFOR will continue to supply Kosove population with food items, clothes, and other necessary living means", said Williams.

Number of AFOR force in Albania is reduced in 5 000 out of 8 000 settled at the beginning of Kosove war. /led/A.A/

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[10] "Toena" delivers books to Pristine cultural institutions

Fatmir Toçi, President of "Toena" Publishing House, told ATA that "the books, mainly historical, Kosove maps, philosophical books as well as books for children, were delivered by a group of Albanian intellectuals during a work visit in this town".

The books were granted to Pristine National Library, where 90 percent of the book inventory is in the Serbian language, and the remaining part to Pristine University and some schools of this town. /led/NA/A.A/

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[11] Some 4 820 narcotic plants destroyed

These plants were sown in four parcels in Floq village, Fier district, which belonged to four Albanian nationals. The four citizens Shpetim, Feim, Teki and Ilir Behaushi were judged in absentia because they were not found in their dwellings after the control exercised by police forces.

Some days ago, four families, who had cultivated such plants, were proceeded according to law by the police forces. Police statistics show that the narcotic plants planted in southern districts are about 100 hectares. /led/NA/A.A/

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[12] Albanian Minister of Finances promises fall of inflation

Minister Angjeli said that the financial and economic situation during the first six months of 1999 is considered as stable and in conformity with the annual program defined by the Government. Macroeconomics and structural policies of this period are in conformity with ESAF agreement.

According to him the Government keeps the macroeconomics and financial stability upon the increase of 8% of the GDP and an inflation value, which might be less than 7% at the end of the year.

"The visit of the Executive Director of International Monetary Fund and the one of the President of the World Bank Wolfensohn in Albania, in which the full financial support of these very important international organizations to the Albanian Government is reconfirmed, showed that the Albanian objectives are fulfilled", stressed the Minister Angjeli. /led/linda/

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[13] Application of project "Education 2" for renovation of schools to start soon

The aim of the project "Education 2" is to finance projects for text books, etc.

Regarding the implementation of this project, the Minister of Education and Science, Ethem Ruka met on Tuesday with a World Bank representation led by H Hartman, specialists for education in this institution. He discussed with them the grant that the World Bank will provide in assistance of Albanian schools. /dast/xh/

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[14] Revenues of half year of '99 are realized by 92%

These figures are announced today at the analysis of the work of the Ministry of Finances during the first six months of 1999.

The deficit created in the revenues during this period, marking the value of 2,5 billion lek is due to non-realization of the plan in the customs, which cashed 16,8 billion lek or 87,1% of the plan. While as far as the taxes are concerned the plan is realized by 99% by collecting some 12,8 billion lek.

Customs administration was most problematic in revenues collecting during this period.

But, according to the Minister of Finances Anastas Angjeli some factors have negative impact here. So, the delay of the enforcement of the New Custom Code and the respective packet, the impact of Kosova crisis in the volume of the commercial imports, reviewed plan for the first six months and corruption and smuggling elements are some of the reasons that caused non fulfillment of the plan. /dast/linda/

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[15] Budget expenditures under predicted limit

According to the Minister of Finances Anastas Angjeli some limited measures on the control of the expenditures undertaken in March due to Kosova crisis and its consequences have positively affected in this non realizatizon.

According to the Minister of Finances "in this level are reflected even the use of the some main expenditures in inappropriate time by the Budget and Treasure Directorate, which should follow carefully the transparent management of the budgetary expenditures and the control of the budgetary deficit". /dast/linda/

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[16] Minister Bufi presented priority projects in energy field

Some of the priority projects identified are the sources of the water power, where less than 35% of the hydro power reserves are used till now, and construction of new term power stations.

Albania's connection with the international gas network, might be performed through Italy, through the gas transporter from Northern Africa.

The advantages of this version, for which Italy and Greece offered their support, is that Albania participation in this project makes it not only final point, but the transit point with considerable profits. Minister Bufi stressed that "soon the working groups will be established to make possible the physibility study".

Another priority in the energy field is the strengthening and the construction of international systems lines, which will connect our system with the ones of the neighbor countries and further on with the regional and European ones.

Minister Bufi stressed that the priorities' projects are strongly supported by the countries of the region and by the strong financial institutions such as EBI, EBRD,etc, which showed their interest to co- finance in these projects. /led/linda/

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[17] USD500 thousand for 40 new milk processing facilities

The value of a centre is estimated as high as 14 thousand dollars and the project envisaged the installation of 40 other such centres to the tune of nearly USD500 thousand in other districts of Albania.

The USAID aid aims at increasing the capacity of the milk industry in the country and the improvement of the milk processing technology. /dast/xh/

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[18] Total cost of two corridors' infrastructure marked some 1,6 billion dollars

Specialists of the Ministry of Transport reckoned this high value by taking into consideration even other road segments connected with the main lines of these corridors, and the rehabilitation of the railways and main ports, as well.

The work in two corridors started two years ago and the main part of them are covered by the finances of the donors, while some segments are not financed yet.

The segment left without finance in the Corridor 8 is Elbasan- Librazhd, while partial sources are found for some national roads connected with the Corridor, such as Qafe Thane-Pogradec, Pogradec-Kapshtice, etc.

PHARE Project financed the road segment Korce-Kapshtica, while the line Pogradec-Korce is not financed yet. The total value of the finances needed for some road segments of the Corridor North-South is some 94,8 million dollars. /led/linda/

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[19] New touristic villages in Golemi coast

The association "Princess Internacional Ltd" led by Artan Dulati started the construction of the tourists village in Golem, upon the approved projects, which marks the value of 800 thousand dollars. The project of this touristic village includes beside the setting up of the villas even the systemizing of the road infrastructure, the set up of the entertainment places, etc.

Meanwhile, "CLA and XHO" company led by Mr.Bujar Tuko in Tirana, completed the construction of another touristic village in Golemi coast. The construction of this touristic village started two years ago, marking the value of 400 thousand dollars. /led/linda/

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13 million lek for rehabilitation of Koplik-Razem road

KOPLIK, July 20 (ata0 - By M Malja: 13 million lek by the state budget will be used for the rehabilitation of Koplik-Razem road, 13 km long, in the district of Malesi e Madhe, said to ATA the spokesman of the prefecture of Shkoder, Petrit Kraja.

With the rehabilitation of this road, possibilities are created for the development of tourism in the zone of Razem, he said, adding that Razen are has been a tourist spot for foreigners since the past century.

The work is being carried out by the local firm Deda, winner of the tender.

In addition, 4 other million lek by the state budget will be used for the rehabilitation of some rural roads in that district. /dast/xh/

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[20] Albanian artists with Opera Carmen in Ioannina

Attending the performance were also a group of musicologists, art critics from Athens, reporters, representatives of the local government and the prefect of Ioannina, Papastravos.

The Albanian consul in the consulate of Ioannina, Ilirian Zhupa told ATA that "the opera was considered a success also in the circles of music and art not only of Ioannina but in the capital of Greece as well."

Opera Carmen was premiered in its original version in the Opera and Ballet Theater at the end of June this year. /dast/xh/

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[21] President Meidani invited to take part in Summit of Pact of Stability

The current European Union president, Marti Ahtisaari and the President of Bosnia Herzegovina, Ante Jelavic, have invited the President of Albania to take part in the Summit along with the heads of states and governments of the countries of the region, the heads of the main international organizations and agencies and of all the participating and donating countries of this Pact. /s.sh/xh/

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