Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-08-09

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] One killed and two wounded in Tirane last Sunday

[02] All artists of Tirana on summer holidays

[03] Albanian football player to play in Greece soon

[04] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies

[05] Greeks invite Premier Thaci to Athens

[06] Albanian Government committed to promote democratic character of local government - Majko

[07] Three field clinics from Italy to be installed in Durres

[08] 19 year old boy arrested for desertion of military service

[09] Mission of French contingent of NATO in Elbasan ends

[10] Austrians of Rapid and Wakker take interest in Albanian football player Merkoci

[11] Affiliation of AEC in Has adopts drastic measures against debtors

[12] Mediterranean shows immigration problems through 7th art

[13] Beginnng of Durres port reconstruction inaugurated

[14] Absorption of investments - important duty of the executive; Albanian Premier saysTIRANE, August 9 (ATA) - By Ilir Paço: Albania Premier, Pandeli Majko, expressed his reserves on Monday regarding "the low level of investments for inner finances in the national scale". Majko held a meetings in the grounds of the Palace of Congresses with the town-hall mayors and with the chairmen of the councils of Albanian districts, where he highlighted that the investment level was reached only by 69% and that this result was issued by the four main ministries which absorb 80% of the state budget. The Premier demanded the leaders of local government to provided a full analyses on the realization of investment duties for the past period and the measures adopted on the absorption of additional funds in the year budget approved by the Parliament. He reminded the local leaders of the additional fund, 6 700 million Leks (equal to 65% of the year budget), adopted by the Albanian government and the Parliament for the second six month period of the current year. Majko said that the main subjects profiting from this fund were the ministry of Local Government, the ministry of Public Work and Transports, the ministry of Health, and that of Education and Science. Majko made an analyses of investments' proceedings at home.In the field of public works and transport, he said that the investments are realized only by 79.1% (equal to 138.3 million Leks). Majko criticised the work of six biggest town-halls of the country, Tirane, Durres, Shkoder, Vlore, Korçe and Elbasan, which were granted an additional fund of $ 5 million for the second six month period. This fund was let to be used by these town-halls in objects set by them. "An indirect test we have made, testimonies that the number of projects which are underway is very low even two months after the government decision, although it was followed by a second decision which admitted the direct procuration for the beginning of proceedings", Premier said. He asked the city-hall mayors to give concrete arguments on this situation and he asked them as well to identify the guilty and resposible persons who have caused this situation. "The full absorption of foreign investments, those accorded so far and those expected to be adopted, mark an important duty for the Albanian executive system in the center and in the local level. I think that their efficient use will give the desired results and the effects expected" said Majko at the end of his speech./lh/A.A/

[15] Another mass grave discovered in Kosove

[16] Number of AFOR troops in Albania amounts to 4500

[17] "OXFAM" Association finances six projects in Shkoder commune

[18] Index of infantile mortality reducing

[01] One killed and two wounded in Tirane last Sunday

The police spokesman of Tirane prefecture said the event occurred near the bar Palma on Durresi Road.

It was 8.15 in the evening when a still unidentified person opened fire with an automatic weapon against the 21 year old Edgar Xhevdet Libohova, who was in the bar, causing him instant death. As a result of the arms fire, Gjovalin Dede, 30 years, and Angjelina Kosta Haxhiu, 7 years, were wounded and taken to hospital in a grave state.

Libohova, said the spokesman, has been sentenced twice before, once for illegal possession of arms and the other time for having wounded someone.

According to preliminary investigation, it is presumed that the motive of the killing has been settling accounts between rival groups. /s.s/xh/

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[02] All artists of Tirana on summer holidays

However, in these hot summer days, people in the capital, tired from the hot temperatures are finding no ways to entertain themselves.

The artists are in vacations. Concerts are lacking and in this conditions people have but to pass the hot hours of the day in bars, cafes.

The only artistic activity expected in August is the concert by the renowned Swiss singer D.J. Bobo in the Scanderbeg Square in Tirana, which, according to forecasts will gather about 100 thousand people.

But this is very little when thinking that there are lots of Albanian artists with a satisfactory professional level while Tirana has over 750 000 people. /f.n/xh/

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[03] Albanian football player to play in Greece soon

The good form of Asllani during the friendly matches he has played in Apollon of Greece, urged the leaders of the team not to hesitate in signing a contract with the Albanian talented striker. /s.s./xh/

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[04] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies

Exchange rates on Monday in Tirana market

Kind of currency Bought Sold USD 132,5 133 DM 72,4 72,8 LIT(1000) 72, 5 73 GRD(100) 43,2 43,5 /xh/

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[05] Greeks invite Premier Thaci to Athens

"Perhaps this visit will be followed by a simultaneous opening of our representations in Prishtine and Athens," said Thaci, leaving the possibility for the newspaper to underline in its comment that the invitation for Thaci marks a fundamental turn in the Greek foreign policy, which is now moving in the direction of rapprochement and recognition of the Kosova Liberation Army.

In the interview, Thaci turned down the opinion that the KLA has adopted a hostile approach towards Greece, explaining the stance adopted by the latter during the war in Kosova, as a result of the lack of information by Athens for the real character of the KLA. "I would say that the stance of Greece was that of wait and see what in fact we were," said Thaci.

In reply to the question if he feels not well for the fact that the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis did not meet him in Prishtine as other leaders such as Schroeder or Blair did, Thaci confirmed his desire for close relations with Greece.

"Be sure that when Mr Simitis will come to Prishtina officially another time he will talk with me. I, personally am interested to establish relations with Greece, since this is required by the our common present, future and past. In the postwar Kosova, Greece must be close to us, so that we help the recovery, as well as the stability of the Southern Balkans," said Thaci in his two-page interview with the Greek daily Elefterotipia.

The Greek Government has not manifested any reaction to the interview of Thaci, while it has been considered with interest by political analysts especially those who hace criticized continuously the profound pro-Serb approach noticed during the NATO bombing on Yugoslavia. /p.ta/xh/

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[06] Albanian Government committed to promote democratic character of local government - Majko

During a meeting with mayors and chairmen of the district councils, being held in the Palace of Congresses in Tirane, Majko said that "the overcome of the Kosova crisis proved once again of the energies so frequently unknown, underestimated and ill-used, that the Albanian people were able to offer."

Majko also hailed that which he referred to as useful and practical cooperation between the central government and the opposition which has the majority of the local government.

"The Albanian Government is committed to and aims at attaching the necessary importance to the continuous perfection of the work of the representative authorities of the local government and of their executive structures to promote the democratic character of the governing, the further decentralization of the local government and the creative cooperation with the local government," said PM Majko.

The Prime Minister told the senior authorities of the local government that "according to the requests and in view of the new Constitution, the Albanian Government has orientated steps towards the legal improvement and to fill in the gaps, a process which is urged by the real and gradual decentralization of the local government." /s.s./xh/

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[07] Three field clinics from Italy to be installed in Durres

In cooperation with the Department of Public Health, the city-hall of Durres decided that these clinics be installed in the zones of the beach, namely in Spitalle and former Keneta zone.

The field clinics are provided from Italy and expected to arrive soon. They have a lot of medical equipment for a number of diseases and for various medical treatments. /s.s.Art/xh/

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[08] 19 year old boy arrested for desertion of military service

Police sources stated to ATA on Monday that a day before, the national Besnik Ismail Leka, from Libohova was arrested in Gjirokaster.

Leka was declared a wanted person about four months before by the Military Prosecutor's Office for the penal act of desertion of military service. Under the same charge, police have also detained several nationals in the last two months. /s.s./xh/

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[09] Mission of French contingent of NATO in Elbasan ends

Some 120 of 700 French troops deployed in that region have gone to Kosova, said to ATA the colonel of the French forces, Josper Gross. The French Government considered their mission terminated and they will continue with their peacekeeping mission in Kosova, said gross.

The French contingent of NATO installed in the region of Elbasan has assisted not only to cope with the emergency situation with the rush of Albanian refugees into Albania, but also with the reconstruction of two schools in the villages Kukel and Kodovjat of the district of Gramsh, the construction of the southern road segment of the city ring and the old sport grounds in the city of Elbasan. /s.s/art/xh/

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[10] Austrians of Rapid and Wakker take interest in Albanian football player Merkoci

Hence, according to the Austrian daily, Kronen Zeitung, the former striker of Tirana is being demanded by the known teams Rapid Vienna and Wakker Insbruck. The good form of Merkoci in the first matches of the Austrian second league has aroused the interest of the two above mentioned sport clubs. /s.s./xh/

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[11] Affiliation of AEC in Has adopts drastic measures against debtors

"About 2 370 debtors owe to this affiliation approximately 64 million Leks", Sokal Poga, director of Has district affiliation, told ATA on Monday. More than half of the debtors are family consumers. Non-budgetary enterprises have lent to this affiliation 22 million Leks, while the budgetary affiliations have lent 2.4 million Leks. Among the subjects which owe a considerable sum to the affiliation are listed the mine enterprise of Golaj, 11,9 million Leks, aqueduct enterprise with 1.5 million Leks and the water enterprise with 1.5 million Leks.

According to the director of this affiliation a part of inhabitants of this district insist not to pay the sum against the energy they have used with the motivation that Fierza hydro-power station has flooded their soils and houses. The worst thing is that several greivances are presented to the electric affiliation during these days.

Despite the obstacles, a greater engagement of the employees of this sector is remarked recently regarding the gathering of money for consumed energy. Some 485 000 Leks were gathered by this affiliation due to a close cooperation of affiliation employees with the forces of district commissariat. /s.sArt/A.A/

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[12] Mediterranean shows immigration problems through 7th art

The news was delivered to ATA on Monday by Natasha Lako, director of central film archive who said that "each country can demonstrate the immigration cause, phenomenon which is widely spread during the last years, through the cinematographic productions".

Albanian will be presented in this activity with three cinematographic productions selected by the Central Archive of Films. The films will be: "Waiting years", "Bolero" as well as a documentary film which unfolds the immigration phenomenon after the '90-s. /f.n/A.A/

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[13] Beginnng of Durres port reconstruction inaugurated

A ceremony was held on this occasion in the grounds of this port where participating were the President of Albanian Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Parliament's Speaker, Skender Gjinushi, and the Italian ambassador accredited to Albania, Marchelo Spatafora.

Greeting the participants in this ceremony, Albanian President highlighted that Vlore port will be one of key Balkan ports in the future and it will serve for the Albanian integration in the framework of Stability Pact.

The beginning of proceedings was hailed even by representatives of Italian companies EAGLE and ELDIS, which will carry out the projects, as well as by the Italian ambassador.

The reconstruction of Vlore port is part of the strategy for transformation of this port in an important one, besides Durres port, Vlore Prefect, Tare Hamo told ATA on Monday. He added that the beginning of these proceedings is only the first phase, which will be realized with a fund of 4.2 million Leks accorded EC in cooperation with the Albanian government. This phase will be followed by a second one, which is foreseen to have a financial value of 14 million EURO.

Hamo said that Albanian government has delivered 10% of the total value of projects in the first phase finance. /lh/A.A/

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[14] Absorption of investments - important duty of the executive; Albanian Premier saysTIRANE, August 9 (ATA) - By Ilir Paço: Albania Premier, Pandeli Majko, expressed his reserves on Monday regarding "the low level of investments for inner finances in the national scale". Majko held a meetings in the grounds of the Palace of Congresses with the town-hall mayors and with the chairmen of the councils of Albanian districts, where he highlighted that the investment level was reached only by 69% and that this result was issued by the four main ministries which absorb 80% of the state budget. The Premier demanded the leaders of local government to provided a full analyses on the realization of investment duties for the past period and the measures adopted on the absorption of additional funds in the year budget approved by the Parliament. He reminded the local leaders of the additional fund, 6 700 million Leks (equal to 65% of the year budget), adopted by the Albanian government and the Parliament for the second six month period of the current year. Majko said that the main subjects profiting from this fund were the ministry of Local Government, the ministry of Public Work and Transports, the ministry of Health, and that of Education and Science. Majko made an analyses of investments' proceedings at home.In the field of public works and transport, he said that the investments are realized only by 79.1% (equal to 138.3 million Leks). Majko criticised the work of six biggest town-halls of the country, Tirane, Durres, Shkoder, Vlore, Korçe and Elbasan, which were granted an additional fund of $ 5 million for the second six month period. This fund was let to be used by these town-halls in objects set by them. "An indirect test we have made, testimonies that the number of projects which are underway is very low even two months after the government decision, although it was followed by a second decision which admitted the direct procuration for the beginning of proceedings", Premier said. He asked the city-hall mayors to give concrete arguments on this situation and he asked them as well to identify the guilty and resposible persons who have caused this situation. "The full absorption of foreign investments, those accorded so far and those expected to be adopted, mark an important duty for the Albanian executive system in the center and in the local level. I think that their efficient use will give the desired results and the effects expected" said Majko at the end of his speech./lh/A.A/

Majko held a meetings in the grounds of the Palace of Congresses with the town-hall mayors and with the chairmen of the councils of Albanian districts, where he highlighted that the investment level was reached only by 69% and that this result was issued by the four main ministries which absorb 80% of the state budget.

The Premier demanded the leaders of local government to provided a full analyses on the realization of investment duties for the past period and the measures adopted on the absorption of additional funds in the year budget approved by the Parliament.

He reminded the local leaders of the additional fund, 6 700 million Leks (equal to 65% of the year budget), adopted by the Albanian government and the Parliament for the second six month period of the current year. Majko said that the main subjects profiting from this fund were the ministry of Local Government, the ministry of Public Work and Transports, the ministry of Health, and that of Education and Science.

Majko made an analyses of investments' proceedings at home. In the field of public works and transport, he said that the investments are realized only by 79.1% (equal to 138.3 million Leks).

Majko criticised the work of six biggest town-halls of the country, Tirane, Durres, Shkoder, Vlore, Korçe and Elbasan, which were granted an additional fund of $ 5 million for the second six month period. This fund was let to be used by these town-halls in objects set by them.

"An indirect test we have made, testimonies that the number of projects which are underway is very low even two months after the government decision, although it was followed by a second decision which admitted the direct procuration for the beginning of proceedings", Premier said. He asked the city-hall mayors to give concrete arguments on this situation and he asked them as well to identify the guilty and resposible persons who have caused this situation.

"The full absorption of foreign investments, those accorded so far and those expected to be adopted, mark an important duty for the Albanian executive system in the center and in the local level. I think that their efficient use will give the desired results and the effects expected" said Majko at the end of his speech. /lh/A.A/

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[15] Another mass grave discovered in Kosove

This mass grave is situated amid the village of Padalishte and Rakosh, along Mitrovice-Istog road, the Commission of Kosove Interim Government charged with investigation of war crimes, informed on Monday.

According to the testimonies the execution is made in prison cells.

In the meantime nothing is known on the fate of 5000 Albanians kidnapped and imprisoned by Serbs. /SH.Dha/A.A/

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[16] Number of AFOR troops in Albania amounts to 4500

Ericksen said that AFOR forces are leaving Albanian gradually after the termination of their humanitarian mission. They are to be substituted with a new NATO force, expected to come to Albania at the beginning of September.

This new forces, called AFOR 2, will be concentrated in the Communication Zone West, and will secure the connection and support for KFOR troops in Kosove. AFOR 2 will continue the work on reconstruction of Rinas airport and for reconstruction of Durres-Kukes road, which will serve as a linking bridge with Kosove.

Asked about the action of KFOR French troops in the city of Mitrovica, Ericksen said that the confrontations of Albanian population with Serbs in this area are numerous, and those should be passed with a deal between the two parts. "KFOR troops are installed there to halt violence and not to affect the ethnic division", said Ericksen. /s.sh/A.A/

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[17] "OXFAM" Association finances six projects in Shkoder commune

Zef Nika, employee of this association, told ATA that the projects, mainly concentrated in road and aqueduct rehabilitation in some villages of the communes of Postribe, Shllaku and Pulti, have started three months ago and are expected to be over within this year.

"OXFAM" humanitarian association, which operates in Shkoder city since 1992, has invested for several objects in the above mentiond communes. Four elementary schools in Shllak zone, two in Dukagjini area are constructed with funds of this association. /lh/A.A/

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[18] Index of infantile mortality reducing

Mataj said that the infantile mortality for the period January-July 1999 was 22 persons in 1000. At the same period of the previous year were counted 24 dead infants in a group of 1000.

The heath-consultation centers "the Mother and the child" function in all the communes, and $ 200 000 are used to set up ten new health centers, mainly in villages of Vrake, Grizhe, Gruemire, Bajze and the like. /lh/A.A/

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