Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-08-26

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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] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

[03] Members of a looting gang arrested

[04] EC asks WTO to give Albania the status of favoured nation

[05] "Parashkolloret" magazine writes about Kosove children in Albania

[06] Kosovo Albanians continue to block road for Rahovec

[07] World Bank continues to support institutional and political reforms in Albania

[08] Slovenian companies to open Autumn Fair in Tirana

[09] NATO to send 2 500 troops to Albania

[10] VAT bills more secure in October

[11] EC asks WTO for status of favored nation for Albania

[12] Starting of project implementation in Albania

[13] EBRD accords 10 million EURO on construction of Elbasan-Librazhd road segment

[14] Albanian, Greek military relations increasing - Hajdaraga

[15] Economic agreement signed between Trade Chamber of Albania and Kosova

[16] Albanian state ready to help Kosova in education - Meidani

[17] Strike of Albbaker employees ends

[18] Government invests 2 million leks on road rehabilitation in Tepelena

[19] Official Athens pleased with Simitis visit to Tirane

[20] Draft-law on juridical amendment of property alienation for public interest approved

[21] Government approves several decisions

[01] Press Review

KUHA JONE, independent daily

-"Majko decided to dismiss the Prefects". The prefects in some Albanian areas will be replaced very soon". -"The staff for Berisha opponent under preparations". The work staff of the alternative candidacy for the DP chairman is being selected and the names of experts who are in service of Pollo candidacy, deputy chairman of DP, are not made public. -"Diaspora will help for reconstructing the Durres-Prishtine road". Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani supported on Wednesday the idea of Premier Majko on contribution of diaspora in the construction of Durres-Prishtine road. - "The police commissar arrested". The people were making fun at the drunken commissar, Shpetim Zoto, while he ordered the arrest and the maltreating of some tens of people. An arrest mandate issued by the Military Court obliged Kolonje police arrest Shpetim Zoto.

GAZETA SHQIPTARE, daily independent

-"Milo, war who will take EU money". Interview with the chief of Albanian diplomacy, Paskal Milo. -"DP: We in power, Berisha Premier". The blue headquarter presents the status: The party chairman will have an unlimited mandate". -"The ten people who kidnaped Laliotis arrested, but the Greek hostage disappeared in mountains". After some months of investigations, the special police forces have arrested several people on Wednesday in some areas of Vlore, amid whom they have even arrested 10 people who took Laliotis a hostage.

SHEKULLI, independent daily

-"Nano, Majko, Meidani and Meta want the SP head". the candidacies for the post of SP chairman are not settled yet, but it seems that the majority part of SP leaders will be ready to present their candidacies. -"Anti-crime, investigators and police an a team". A three-hours long meeting is held on Wednesday between the Minister of Public Order, Spartak Poçi, and the Prosecutor General Arben Rakipi regarding the coordination of work between the two institutions".

ALBANIA, daily independent

-"Mass arrests in the South". -"Commandos fights with the post police". -"Kolonje police chief arrested".

EKONOMIA, daily paper of Albanian Agency for Economic Development

-"Pyramid: the phantom of informal economy follows us". -"Contraband: The interwoven information discovered the abuses.

ZERI I POPULLIT, daily paper of Albanian Socialist Party

-"Thirty innocent people maltreated, the head-police in jail" -"The verification of wealth, the procedures to be made soon". -"Rakipi: We have totally failed".

REPUBLIKA, daily paper of Albanian Republican Party

-"The wage of directors higher than that of the Premier". -"The prosecution office and police engulfed by corruption".

/A.A/

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[02] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

Foreign currency exchange rate:

Currency buying selling

$US 133 133,5

DM 71,7 72 ITL(1000) 71,8 72,2

GRD(100) 42,5 42,7 /led/A.A/

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[03] Members of a looting gang arrested

The four looters, inhabitants of the villages of Hot and Bajze, Malesia e Madhe, aged between 18-23, are caught on red hands in the village of Tamare while they were looting the travelers in the Koplik-Vermosh road axes. Automatic rifles, masks, a BMW car without a number plate, TNT and other things were found during the police control. /led/A.A/

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[04] EC asks WTO to give Albania the status of favoured nation

EC demands the realization of an agreement which will allow Albania export its productions, although it (Albania) does not meet all conditions of the EC community for these products.

"Let Albania be listed among the favoured nations of WTO", - is said in an explanatory memorandum archived in the offices of our ministries". According to EC "important is the fact that Albania will be allowed to export 'in block', without referring to special states, thing which will bring afterwards the realization of a trade regime compared with the regional standards".

In this agreement which will last till December 2000, EC asks directly WTO to include Albania in the list of favored nations. The adherence of Albania in WTO, is the most important step towards the membership in the European Union. According to the above mentioned sources, Albania will take part in the Third Ministerial Conference of WTO, scheduled to be held at the end of November in Seattle, America. /led/A.A/

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[05] "Parashkolloret" magazine writes about Kosove children in Albania

The 10th editorial of this magazine, is just issued and is dedicated to the main events that Albanian went through during the Kosove crisis.

The editorial stressed that more that 17 000 Kosove children were integrated in our preschool programs, and special education programs, games and the like were drafted for them.

Other things published in the magazine are pieces of writings for the parents of children, the doctors' advices for the summer season, illustrated tales and verses dedicated to the wonderful world of children. /fn/A.A/

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[06] Kosovo Albanians continue to block road for Rahovec

The talks made so far with KFOR authorities for giving an end to the blockade have failed. "As the Kosove people do not like Russians, we will not sign any deal", the chairman of coordination council of protests, Agim Hasku, reported.

The blockade is transformed into a general protest of more than 40 000 people of Rahovec, the majority part of whom are passing the nights in the roads. Several women from Rahovec have presented testimonies in UNMIK showing that the Russians have looted them and have torn their ears off.

Albanians have accused the Russians for tough behavior and incidents caused even after their settlement in the framework of KFOR peacekeeping troops in Kamenice and Malisheve. "In the framework of Russian troops, masked soldiers, who are thought to be members of military and paramilitary Serb units, move around", the deputy Defence Minister, Fatmir Limaj, told a news conference a day ago.

Pristine press reported on Thursday that the Russians who are confronted with the protestors in the entrance of Rahovec, have maltreated a 10-year old Albanian, named Blerim Kadriu, to whom they have caused grave wounds. /A.A/

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[07] World Bank continues to support institutional and political reforms in Albania

"The efficiency of gathering the public sources in Albania does not depend only on strong parliamentary institutions and such legislation, but even on strong public administration and effective function of juridical system", it is written in the letter. /led/linda/

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[08] Slovenian companies to open Autumn Fair in Tirana

Different strong Slovenian companies will be presented in the fair, which will be organized by the support of Tirana Commerce and Industry Chamber. Meanwhile "ISKRA" will present its offers on telephonic connection between Albania and Kosova.

The fair "Slovenia 99", which will make possible the stimulation of the Slovenian investments in Albania, is foreseen to be opened even in Prizren and in December a considerable number of Albanian companies are invited to participate in a fair to be organized in Slovenia. /led/linda/

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[09] NATO to send 2 500 troops to Albania

On the 1st of September the command of AFOR 1 will be handed over to the new NATO troops, headed by Italian General Pietro Frisone. AFOR 1 has ended its mission and its troops will return home.

At the moment of the humanitarian crisis in Albania AFOR numbered around 8000 troops while now at the end it has around 2700 troops.

With the humanitarian crisis being over in Albania, NATO's attention has focussed on Kosova. The Atlantic Council decided to extend the term of NATO presence in Albania to support the KFOR troops in Kosova.

The humanitarian mission, code-named AFOR, started last April to cope with the crisis in Albania following the arrival of 500 000 Kosovars. /led/lm/

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[10] VAT bills more secure in October

According to them the procedures on preparing the bills have started since a month, but the production companies are not defined yet.

Through new VAT bills, the tax administrate aims at putting under control the private productive and commercial subjects, to avoid the fiscal evasion and to absorb as much revenues as possible in the state budget. /led/linda/

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[11] EC asks WTO for status of favored nation for Albania

EC asks the fulfillment of an agreement, which will give to Albania the right to export its productions, nevertheless that it does not fulfill all the preferences on these products, like other community countries.

"Let Albania is written in the list of the nations favored by WTO", it is said in the explanatory memorandum of EC. According to EC "it is important that Albania should be allowed to export in block, without referring to special states, which later on will make possible realization of a preferential commercial regime in conformity with regional standards".

Through this agreement, which will continue till December 2001, EC asked directly WTO to include Albania in the list of Favored Nations.

Albanian adhering in WTO is an important step toward the membership in European Union. Referring to the above mentioned sources, Albania will take part in the Third Ministerial Conference of WTO, which will organize in the end of November in Seattle, USA. /led/linda/

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[12] Starting of project implementation in Albania

Mrs.Berberi presented to American representatives even the five priorities of this ministry to be covered with technical assistance. Here are included the tax policies and taxes' administration, assistance on drafting and managing the budget, bank reforms, banks privatization, capital market and the draft and implementation of the legislation related with the combating of financial crime. /lh/linda/

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[13] EBRD accords 10 million EURO on construction of Elbasan-Librazhd road segment

Meanwhile the rest will be financed by PHARE Program of European Union, Central Europe Initiatives (CEI) and Italian Government.

EBRD financed different projects in Albania in various fields such as telecommunication, energy, tourism, banks and financial sector, worth some 280 million Euro. /lh/linda/

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[14] Albanian, Greek military relations increasing - Hajdaraga

Hajdaraga expressed thanks for the latest decision of the Greek Defence Ministry to increase the financial treatment for the Albanian officers and students studying in Greece, according to the Defence Ministry spokesman.

General Ellinas appreciated the performance with the Albanian military counterparts and said that he is observing this fruitful cooperation also in the final draft of the protocol-agreement for 1999- 2000.

He told Hajdaraga that the Albanian officers and students who have studied and are studying in Greece have been distinguished for devotion and correctness in assimilating the teaching programmes.

The Greek delegation, besides talks with Albanian military education experts, visited the "Scanderbeg" Military Academy and the Foreign Languages Centre, to closely get to know the conditions of the Greek Language cabinet and to project an aid programme for its completion. /lh/lm/

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[15] Economic agreement signed between Trade Chamber of Albania and Kosova

According to him this agreement foresees the exchange of economic information, common activities in support of business, exhibitions, seminars, etc.

The delegation from Albania, led by the Head of National Union of Trade Chambers Anton Leka, was received by the Deputy of Prime Minister of Interim Government of Kosova Mehmet Hazizi and the head of Economic Chamber Ismail Kastrati.

The business representatives from Albania paid a visit at the tobacco- cigarettes plant and the one of batteries in Gilan, and other enterprises, by seeing from the near the native resources and the cooperation possibilities in the future. /lh/linda/

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[16] Albanian state ready to help Kosova in education - Meidani

"We have vast possibilities in this field and we will do our utmost," said Meidani.

He was interested in the situation of Albanian delegation in Kosova, that of the teaching personnel, especially in the rural areas, in the steps taken so far to set up this education and other matters.

Minister for Education Et'hem Ruka said that the Albanian institutions can help education in Kosova with school-texts, teachers of all levels, programmes and other things.

Deputy Minister for Education Koliqi considered the visit the first step in the contacts between the education institutions on both sides of the border, in the realisation of the goals to develop education based on the programmes adapted in Albania and in Kosova.

Meidani, analysing the situation in Kosova and the position of the Albanian factor in general, suggested "as little euphoria as possible".

"The problems have now began and more organisational, democratic and leading capabilities, more engagement and cohesion of the Albanian factor should be shown to reach the maximum option to normalise the situation and finally resolve the Kosova issue," he concluded. /lh/lm/

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[17] Strike of Albbaker employees ends

The strike started in July 22 and its main requests were the transparency on the coming agreement with American Company "Research Metal Group", which will take with concessions several objects of cooper industry, keeping the same number of the employees and the increase of the salaries as well.

In the agreement reached with the striking employees and the Minister of Public Economy and Privatization Ylli Bufi,it is defined that no other intervention will be performed in cooper industry till the ratification of the contract with American company. A part of the employees will be treated with defined salary till the American company to define the number of the employees and the objects to be invested.

The other part of the employees will be kept to work in Albbaker lines and at the time when the agreement with the American company will be enforced, the way how to deal with these employees will be finally defined. /lh/linda/

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[18] Government invests 2 million leks on road rehabilitation in Tepelena

According to him, the state investments in Tepelena town marks considerable values and they are used mainly on reconstruction and construction of the state buildings damaged and ruined during the troubles of year 1997. /lh/linda/

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[19] Official Athens pleased with Simitis visit to Tirane

In informing reporters, Repas stressed the fact that the importance of good relations between Albania and Greece was highlighted not only by the statesmen but also by the chiefs of the main Albanian political parties Simitis had met with.

They very clearly and firmly observed that the friendly relations of Albania with Greece are the key to rebuilding the country and this is very significant, said the spokesman, who also presented this fact as a success of the Greek Foreign policy.

Referring to the Albanian citizens' properties in Greece, which makes one of the hottest points in the bilateral relations, the spokesman said that "this issue was raised only by the DP chairman, Sali Berisha, but the Greek Prime Minister immediately responded that this was a closed issue and there was nothing to be discussed."

The spokesman considered the differences in views about Kosova something expected and explained Tirana's position with the fact that Albania was one of the countries which were directly involved in the last months' crisis, different from Greece which maintained a more neutral stand.

What impresses you in the Greek reaction to the visit of Simitis to Tirane is the statement of one of the renowned jurists of the country, George Aleksandros Magakis, who had been PASOK's deputy and minister in the socialist government, before Simitis was elected Prime Minister.

Mangakis, who belongs to PASOK's conservative wing, in his criticism observes that the Greek minority in Albania and the Albanian emigrants in Greece should be a linking bridge between the two countries.

The main opposition party, New Democracy, considers quite unacceptable the identification of the minority issue with that of emigrants.

"We express our radical non-reconciliation with the unacceptable and fluid conditions raised by Simitis for the legalisation of Albanian Emigrants," this party says in a statement regarding this visit. /I.Pu/lm/

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[20] Draft-law on juridical amendment of property alienation for public interest approved

According to this source, this draft-law amends the right of the state to alienate or make temporary use of the properties of physical and juridical, private persons as well as defends the right and interests of the respective owners. /lh/lm/

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[21] Government approves several decisions

The Ministry of Information told ATA that the ministers approved the decision "On a supplement to the decision on preserving state property in several trade companies and enterprises", according to which the bread factory in Tirane and the "Petrolimpex" company are added to the list of the state-owned enterprises.

The ministers also approved the decision "On approving in principle the veterinary agreement between the government of Albania and the government of the state of Israel".

Also, they reported on the situation and progress of the works on the road segments which are part of the Eighth Corridor and asked accelerated working rates, high quality and control. /a.ke/lm/

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