Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-07-30

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] School books to be sold in packages this school year

[02] Tirane and Durres to shelter Kosova refugees who will continue to stay in Albania

[03] Polish President supports request of Albanian delegation for a supplement to Sarajevo Summit final statement - by ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

[04] We have already identified priorities of our economic development - Meidani- By ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

[05] Some 12 778 Kosovars still in Albania - UNHCR

[06] We have already identified priorities of our economic development - Meidani- By ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

[07] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies

[08] Albania rejects fourth paragraph of Stability Pact

[09] Greeting parade of KFOR forces in Pristine

[10] Paragraph on Kosove added to final declaration of Sarajevo Summit

[11] Sarajevo Summit in its second day

[12] Majko: It is the first time that Stability Pact offers possibilities for region integration

[13] Final statement of Sarajevo meeting signed

[14] Priority projects of public investments passed by Albanian Government are made public

[15] Shuli asked "BE-HA-SE" company to start road construction in Peqini

[16] Majko says investments for stability are investments for future

[17] Starting of export of mineral water "Glina" in European markets

[18] Kouchner asks operation of customs' point between Albania and Kosova

[19] Non-protocol meeting between Majko and Clinton

[20] Greek Defence Minister to visit Albania on Saturday

[01] School books to be sold in packages this school year

"Each package will have the text books, a set number of copybooks and a present with stationery items, and the price for each package will be reasonable", sources from Book Distribution Enterprise reported to ATA. /led/ld/xh/

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[02] Tirane and Durres to shelter Kosova refugees who will continue to stay in Albania

The choice was made because these two cities have sufficient capacities for housing the Kosovars in centres adopted for winter, the UNHCR office in Tirane reports.

A number of Kosovars, estimated at some thousands, have many reasons to remain in Albania after summer. /led/xh/

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[03] Polish President supports request of Albanian delegation for a supplement to Sarajevo Summit final statement - by ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

Albania's President Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and other members of the delegation to the summit, have had an informal meeting with the Polish President Alexander Kvashnjevski, during which the latter expressed his support to the request of the Albanian delegation.

The Polish President is expected to pay an official visit to Albania by the end of this year. /a.ke/xh/

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[04] We have already identified priorities of our economic development - Meidani- By ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

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[05] Some 12 778 Kosovars still in Albania - UNHCR

According to this source, the period envisaged for the organized repatriation of Kosova refugees has shortened considerably.

The Tirana-based UNHCR Office stressed that efforts will be goiong on in the coming days to guarantee the necessary aid for the people who want to return to Kosova.

More refugees than were previously registered for the organized movement to Kosova have reached in the departure points in Tirane, Durres and Lezha.

A convoy of buses will leave on July 30, the local Emergency Management Group reports. /f.n/xh/

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[06] We have already identified priorities of our economic development - Meidani- By ATA special envoy Eranda Nepravishta -

"Its morale and the philosophy of what we are making in Sarajevo today, remains, in a broad meaning, that which the U.S. made for Western Europe for a little more than half a century ago," said Meidani.

The President of Albania stressed that this country does not agree to the last day changes in the paragraph on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the text of the final statement of the Summit and demanded that Kosova and its reconstruction must be considered as a separate unit.

"I think that now we have identified the priorities of our economic development based on projects with mutual regional benefit. Albania is resolute to play completely its role in the implementation of the regional politics and the common programs, despite the sacrifices and its unfavorable initial position, compared to other countries of the region. Nonetheless, the creation of the free trade zones and the gradual process of the customs unification, which will lead to a joint market of the regional countries, are a very important moment in the rapid integration into the European community. By retaining the identity of each country, the lifting of the barriers of trade and the investments will lead to the opening and liberalization of our national economies, an important element in our joint efforts for European integration," said Meidani, highlighting the free movement of people in the region.

Albanian President demanded the creation of regional units to fight illegal traffic and organized crime. "Albania is ready to take part and to make its maximal contribution to every initiative in the region and broader, which aims at fighting organized crime and trafficking," he said.

"I would like to stress our projects of priority in the field of energy, the extension and modernization of the port of Durres, as the entry and exit gate of the biggest Corridor to the Adriatic, Corridor 8, the reconstruction of the Durres-Kukes- Prishtine road, the construction of North-South Corridor and the railways with neighbouring countries," said President Meidani.

The organization in Tirana of the first meeting of the table discussion on the reconstruction, as is agreed upon in the trilateral meeting in Sofia, (between Albania-Macedonia and Bulgaria) said President Meidani, will give the possibility to see the implementation of these projects in details and to include them in our joint projects of the regional reconstruction. /pas/xh/

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[07] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies

Currency exchange rates

Kind of currency Bought Sold USD 135 135,7 DM 73,8 74,3 LIT(1000) 74 74,5 GRD(100) 44 44,5 /pas/A.A/

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[08] Albania rejects fourth paragraph of Stability Pact

A senior official of Albanian Foreign Ministry told ATA, after having contacted on early Friday with the Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, who is attending the Sarajevo meeting, "that the Albanian delegation will not accept the change made to the fourth paragraph by some states participating in the summit of Stability Pact in Sarajevo".

The official quoted Milo as saying that "I gave the respective instructions to the Albanian representatives who will take part in a meeting of a political directors level which will be held on Friday by 10.00, not to accept the reformulated fourth paragraph".

The senior official of Foreign Ministry said that the fourth paragraph was formulated in this way before the change: " We will not accept Yugoslavia in the Stability Pact until it accepts the conditions for democratization of inner life and adopts the political conditions set by the international community .... As Yugoslavia is in these conditions we are willing to cooperate with Monte Negro and Kosove for profiting from this cooperation".

This paragraph was changed with a propose made by some countries and with the insistence of Russia, by rendering tender the stance towards Yugoslavia. "We are sorry not to accept Yugoslavia in the Pact of Stability until it accepts the conditions for the democratization of its inner life .... As Yugoslavia is in this position we express our will to cooperate with Monte Negro", is said in the changed fourth paragraph, by excluding Kosove, but Albania will not accept this paragraph.

The same source said that Albania will respect to the end the declaration of Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, which says that Albania will not accept any declarations which will exclude Kosove.

Asked if this stance of Albania will lead the summit to a failure, the senior official said nothing but he let to be understood that the Albanian delegation has the support of western allies. "Our allies are those of the war in Kosove", said the official without mentioning the counties which support Albania in this stance. /A.A/

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[09] Greeting parade of KFOR forces in Pristine

The parade was opened with the demonstrative parachute parade of parachutist troops of British battalion dislocated in Kosove capital, Pristine. Afterwards, 800 troops of British parachutist troops marched in the main boulevard in Kosove where they were applauded by thousands of Kosove citizens.

This is a greeting parade, is said in a press release of the headquarter of KFOR Peace-keeping forces.

British Premier, Tony Blair is expected to hold a visit today in Prishtine. /pas/A.A/

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[10] Paragraph on Kosove added to final declaration of Sarajevo Summit

A meeting of senior officials of all the countries participating in the summit was held on early Friday before the beginning of official proceedings of second day of the Summit, due to the intervention of Albanian delegation on Thursday, and the change in the final declaration was made after many debates. A new paragraph on Kosove was added to the declaration, and this variant was proposed by the American delegation.

The change on the final declaration of Sarajevo Summit was made after several meetings Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani and Premier, Pandeli Majko, held with senior officials and state leaders. So talks are held with Italian Premier, Masimo D'Alema, French President, Jacques Chirac, World Bank President, Wolfensohn, Turkish President, Selejman Demirel and others. /pas/A.A/

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[11] Sarajevo Summit in its second day

The proceedings of the second day are the most important part of this summit because the American President, Bill Clinton, British Premier, Tonny Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and the French President, Jacques Schirac arrived in Sarajevo on early Friday and are taking part in the Summit.

During the proceedings of Thursday, Albanian President said in his speech that Albania does not agree to the changes made in the prepared document, and especially with the fourth paragraph which speaks about the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Meidani demanded the inclusion of Kosove as a separate unit in Stability Pact, not in the framework of Yugoslavia. /s.sh/A.A/

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[12] Majko: It is the first time that Stability Pact offers possibilities for region integration

During Kosova war and managing of the refugees crisis Albania showed that it is a real partner of the international community and at the same time, that it is the guarantee for their engagement in the region.

Albania is engaged to take all the necessary measures to strengthen the public order and the security in the country to combat the corruption, smuggling and the illegal traffic, to strengthen the state institutions, to accelerate the privatization process and to cooperate with World Bank and International Monetary Fund, as well.

Albania needs the help of the international community and its institutions to fulfill all the above mentioned objectives. We believe that Kosova crisis and the attempts to solve it gave a very important message, that of narrowing of the concept of national sovereignty compared with the universal values of the humanity rights.

Permanent NATO presence in the region is very important part of Stability Pact, which will bring stability and guarantee for the success of our targets.

Prime Minister Majko stressed that Albania wants to have close relations with Kosova, to become its important commercial partner, to serve as its connection point with the world and the main transit way. Above all we are decided to cooperate with Kosova in all the fields concerning with our common cultural inheritance, our common language and the often contacts of our people. /led/linda/

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[13] Final statement of Sarajevo meeting signed

Referring to this statement and more concretely to its fourth paragraph, which has to do with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Albanian delegation yesterday insisted on the need of changing it with an additional paragraph on Kosova.

This additional praragraph was approved in principle during a meeting held Friday morning with all representatives of the delegations participating in the Summit.

After many discussions and the persistence of the Albanian delegation on the indispensability of this addition to the paragraph, the change was accepted according to the proposal of the U.S. delegation.

The fourth paragraph of the statement says: "It is our strong desire that all the countries of the region work together with a spirit of cohesion and solidarity through the Pact of Solidarity to build a common future, a more reliable perspective. We regret not being able today to invite the FRY to be present, as a totally equal participant in the Stability pact.

"All the participants should respect the principles and objectives of this pact. We appeal to the people of the FRY to embrace the democratic changes and actively work for regional reconciliation. In order to lead this country towards this goal, respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will consider the ways for the Republic of Montenegro to benefit from the pact soon and reaffirm our support for all the democratic forces.

"In this context, we support the full implementation of U.N. Resolution 1244, which has to do with Kosova, the FRY. We also support UNMIK and KFOR in their efforts to ensure peace, democracy and security for all the inhabitants of Kosova.

"We emphasize the importance of preserving the multiethnic character of Kosova, where the rights of all inhabitants and the role of law are respected.

We welcome the encouraging results of the Donors' Conference, on July 28, for humanitarian aid and other assistance."

Kosova was not mentioned before this paragraph was changed. /a.ke/lm/

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[14] Priority projects of public investments passed by Albanian Government are made public

The priority projects of the public investments are divided into two groups; in projects on transport infrastructure and projects on energy.

Projects on transport infrastructure are prepared by bearing in mind three main direction. The rehabilitation and the modernizing of Durresi port, rehabilitation of the road East-West and the reconstruction and modernizing of the existent railway East-West is foreseen to take place in the Corridor East-West.

The reconstruction and modernizing of the existent railway North- South and reconstruction of the road corridor are predicted to occur in the corridor North-South.

The reconstruction and the construction of new road sectors are predicted to take place in the road Durres-Kukes-Morine.

The project in the energy field predicts the connection of Albania with the international network of the gas and oil; the connection of Albania with the regional energy network and the setting up of new regional sources.

Albania connection with the international network of gas and oil will be implemented through the construction of a gas transporter Italy-Albania- Greece, the construction of gas thermic station and a transbalkanic oil transporter Burgas-Skopje-Vlora.

Albania connection with the energy network of the region will be implemented through the connecting lines Elbasan-Podgorice, Burrel-Vrutok, Skavice-Prizren, Fierze-Prizren and Zemlak-Bitola. As far as the use of new regional sources are concerned the construction of Skavica hydro power station on Drini river is foreseen. /linda/

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[15] Shuli asked "BE-HA-SE" company to start road construction in Peqini

Minister Shuli asked the constructing company of this broadway to respect and fulfill the construction schedule.

Representatives of Turkish company pledged to start the construction process and the operations on Rrogozhina-Elbasan road will start within August. The starting ceremony of the operations of this segment is predicted to be organized in August 3, 1999.

The Turkish company "BE-HA-SE" is working for the construction of the broadway Rrogozhine-Elbasan, 38 km long, financed by European Bank of Investments, worth 20 million dollars. /pas/linda/

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[16] Majko says investments for stability are investments for future

Considering the Sarajevo Summit not a Conference of Donors but a political forum, whose message is the economic growth and development of the region, through partnership and creation of a favourable climate for investment, Majko concentrated on the concrete measures to be taken for the accomplishment of these conditions.

"Investments for stability are investments for a better future," he stressed.

Majko also spoke of the indispensability to strengthen public order and security at home, to fight corruption and illegal trafficking, in close cooperation with the other countries of the region, to strengthen state and law institutions, strengthen the macro-economic stability, speed up the privatisation process.

He also spoke of the close cooperation with the World Bank and IMF.

Majko considered NATO's constant presence in the region as the most essential element of the pact of Stability for Southeastern Europe.

He dwelt on the establishment of stability in Kosova and its reconstruction, which, according to him, will be carried out first of all by the Kosovars themselves.

He said Albania wants to establish very close relations with Kosova, to be the bridge and the main road linking it with the world. /pas/lm/

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[17] Starting of export of mineral water "Glina" in European markets

The first European country to start the export of "Glina" mineral water is Greece. Already the Albanian production will have to face the competition with the developed industry in this field.

"Alfa-Glina" company has financed some 8 million dollars at the end of 1997, by constructing the modern lines in Balkan. The mineral qualities of "Glina" water is approved even by Fifth Mediterranean Congress of Medicine, October 1998. /led/linda/

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[18] Kouchner asks operation of customs' point between Albania and Kosova

Kouchner said that he was pleased with the implementation of the agreement on the disarmament of Kosova Liberation Army and the development of events in Kosova, stressing that the customs's point remains a concern and that he would visit Tirane soon to discuss this issue.

Meidani, during the two days of the Sarajevo Summit proceedings, had non-protocol meetings with representatives and leaders of many states participating in the Summit.

He met with U.S. President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, Turkish President Sulejman Demirel and others. /led/lm/

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[19] Non-protocol meeting between Majko and Clinton

They met at the hall where the proceedings of the Summit on the Stability Pact for Southerstern Europe were held.

During the two-day Summit Majko also met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Turkish President Sulejman Demirel, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, World Bank President Wolfensohn and others. /led/so/lm/

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[20] Greek Defence Minister to visit Albania on Saturday

He will meet with his Albanian counterpart Luan Hajdaraga, Foreing Minister Paskal Milo, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and President of the Repunblic of Albania Rexhep Mejdani.

In the afternoon, Xohaxopulos will visit the Orthodox Autocephalous Church and meet with Archbishop Anastas.

He will also go to Yzberisht to meet with the Greek military contigent deployed there.

After the visits in Tirana Xohaxopulos will visit Kruje, the castle and museum of the city. Akis Xohaxopulos last visited Albania in April 1999. /led/lm/

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