Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-08-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

[02] Vllaznia loses 2-0 in Ternava

[03] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

[04] Diplomatic seminary in the Foreign Ministry under way

[05] Book on the life and work of Arshi Pipa published

[06] Reith says there is no reason why Albanian Army not be admitted in NATO

[07] Farewell meeting between Albanian Premier and NATO General in Albania

[08] Customs cash some 20 billion leks in state budget

[09] Only excise revenues exceed the plan

[10] World Bank finances 300 thousand dollars on road asphalt

[11] Number of Albanian military students studying in Greece increases

[12] Police take actions to check smuggling through Shkoder Lake

[13] Some 12 dinghies turned back

[14] "Kolping" provides DM 1.5 million for hospital in Elbasan

[15] Diplomatic seminar in the Foreign Ministry under way

[16] Only birthdays for Mother Teresa, undeclared saint

[17] NATO leads the projects to reconstruct linking roads of Rinas airport

[01] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

The domestic commercial activity is increasing each passing day as the summer is drawing away. According to the Bank of Albania the American currency is gaining points each day against the Lek as the Albanian refugees are leaving for the countries where they work.

Foreign currency exchange rate:

Currency buying selling

$US 134 134,5

DM 71,8 72

ITL(1000) 71,7 72,2

GRD(100) 42,4 42,7 /led/A.A/

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[02] Vllaznia loses 2-0 in Ternava

In this second match, football players from Shkodra did not score against the Slovaks of Spartak. The match ended scoring 2-0 in favor of Spartak. The first match between these teams, played in "Qemal Stafa" national stadium, ended with the score 1-1.

After the elimination of Tirana from Champions League, and the elimination of Bylis and Vllaznia from UEFA, Albania is not represented anymore in European matches. /G.S/A.A/

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[03] Dollar gains ground against the Lek

The domestic commercial activity is increasing each passing day as the summer is drawing away. According to the Bank of Albania the American currency is gaining points each day against the Lek as the Albanian refugees are leaving for the countries where they work.

Foreign currency exchange rate:

Currency buying selling

$US 134 134,5

DM 71,8 72

ITL(1000) 71,7 72,2

GRD(100) 42,4 42,7 /led/A.A/

D'Arc Avenue 23, Tirana, Albania E-Mail:

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[04] Diplomatic seminary in the Foreign Ministry under way

The main scope of the seminary is based on the ideas, projects and connections of the Stability Pact with Albania.

This seminary marks a new experience during these last ten years. According to Milo, this meeting will be transformed in a tradition in the ministry he leads. "This is an experience which should not be forgotten and should be applied even in the future, although it has not previously experienced", said Milo. /led/A.A/

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[05] Book on the life and work of Arshi Pipa published

The book is a chronological exhibition of the writer's life. It comprises as well studies and opinions over his works and literary creativity. "Arshi Pipa, was and remains one of the most distinguished personalities of our cultural and citizen life at home and abroad", is written at the back of the book.

Pipa was born in Shkodra in 1920. He finished his university studies for philosophy in Florence University, Italy. In 1946 he was jailed by the communist regime for 10 years and in 1958 he defected to USA where he lived until the last days of his life. Arshi Pipa's writings, published in Albanian, English, French and Italian are divided in poetry, esthetics, philosophy and literary criticism. /G.S/A.A/

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[06] Reith says there is no reason why Albanian Army not be admitted in NATO

NATO has some prerequisites for admittance, and the Albanian Army should improve its standards in order to meet NATO's requests. Albanian government's task is to assist the army to reach these standards. If Albania joins NATO, it should have strength and ability to take part in its missions, revealed Reith.

The chief of AFOR 1, who in September 1 will give his post over to the Italian General, Pietro Frizone, who will run the AFOR 2 mission, said that NATO has affected the stability of Albania. NATO wished this stability continued, but its main scope is concentrated in Kosove now for resolving the ethnic contradictions there. The defence of the country is a right of its own military forces of this nation, said Reith.

Judging the role and strength of the Albanian Army, the British General said that "Albanian Army compared to the prior 15 months has gone through an enormous transformation. During the Kosovo conflict period, the Albanian Army demonstrated its force to give clear messages to Serbs. I think that the Albanian Army will further be improved, even with the assistance of NATO member countries. /GE/A.A/

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[07] Farewell meeting between Albanian Premier and NATO General in Albania

"You mission in Albania was excellent, while the aid of NATO troops you commanded during this time was more than precious", said Majko, who evaluated the cooperation between the Albanian government and NATO as an extraordinary experience, which will have an impact even in the future.

General John Reith addressed his thanks to Majko for the support delivered by the Albanian government and by Majko personally to the NATO mission in Albania.

Later on he presented to the Albanian Premier several projects in which NATO is actually working in Albania, such as Rinas airport, Durres port, and in the Durres-Kukes road projects. Reith introduced the new NATO Commander, the Italian General, Frisone, who will replace him. /led/A.A/

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[08] Customs cash some 20 billion leks in state budget

Meanwhile, the total value cashed by the customs during the first seven months of the year is some 20 billion leks, from 23,7 billion leks planned or 82% of the plan.

The General Custom Directorate Ardian Maci justified these figures with two reasons. "The first reason and the most important at the same time is the great difference in the exchange rate between lek and dollar".

The second reason of plan default is the drop of average custom duty. So, in the beginning of the year the average custom tariff marked 14,1%, but after the enforcement of the New Custom Code in May 15, this value dropped to 12, 95%.

The plan of collecting the custom duties in year 1999 is some 43,5 billion leks, while during the seven months period nearly 20 billion leks are cashed against the plan of some 23,735 billion leks, by marking so a deficit of 3,7 bln leks.

Custom revenues during seven months period of 1999 (bln leks)

Planned Fulfilled Percentage (%) January 2,550 2,342 85 % February 3,330 2, 588 78 % March 3,300 2,727 83 % April 3,278 3,208 87 % May 3,450 2,944 78 % June 3,345 2, 951 83 % July 4,482 3,296 74 % In total 23,735 20,046

/linda/

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[09] Only excise revenues exceed the plan

Meanwhile, the custom duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) do not fulfill the foreseen value of custom revenues.

The total value of the incomes from the custom duties is some 925 million leks against 1,530 bln leks planned,that is to say 60% of it. While the sum of VAT is some 1,909 bln leks from the foreseen value of 2,552 bln leks, or 75% of the plan.

The revenues of the custom duties during first seven months 1999 (in million leks)

Month Custom tax Excise VAT January 758 255 1,313 February 805 201 1,450 March 929 165 1,597 April 942 324 1,723 May 867 313 1,649 June 832 332 1,675 July 925 429 1,909 In total 6,058 2,019 11,316 /led/linda/

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[10] World Bank finances 300 thousand dollars on road asphalt

The winner company "Albavia" from Shkodra and "Riska" from Tirana completed the first phase of construction operations and soon will start the asphalting of the road, which will be over within September.

Vreshtasi commune consists of four villages with some 11 500 inhabitants and possesses great natural resources. It is distinguished for an intensive agriculture and developed stock-breeding.

Only few days ago it established relation with Zhivje Ecarpit commune of Marseja region, France, which pledge to give provide support to make possible further development of the infrastructure and rehabilitation of water pipelines. /led/linda/

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[11] Number of Albanian military students studying in Greece increases

According to the protocol-agreement Albanian officers will be sent to the Higher War School of the Greek National Defence General Staff, to the National Academy of Defence, to schools training officers in infantry, artillery and other specialities.

For the Greek side the agreement was signed by Brigade-General Ellinas Nikolaos, head of Multinational and Multibranch Education Department at the Greek National Defence General Staff.

For the Albanian side the agreement was signed by the team of Albanian military experts, headed by head of Education-Personnel, Colonel Ismail Shulku. /led/lm/

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[12] Police take actions to check smuggling through Shkoder Lake

He said 24-hour roadblocks have been set up on the Shkoder-Hani i Hotit road and the secondary roads leading to the lake, especially in Shegan, Vukpalaj, Kamica and Buze Ujit villages. While a border police speedboat has been patrolling the lake since four months ago.

Over seven months of 1999 the police forces of this commissariat have blocked four truckloads of flour, three of potatoes, six of bananas, carloads with bear and cigarette as well as 40 prostitutes, in an attempt to illegally enter Albania through the lake.

According to the spokesman, the fight against contraband requires greater support with speedboats to patrol the lake. /dast/lm/

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[13] Some 12 dinghies turned back

The speedboats of Guardia di Finanza also blocked a braking-down speedboat, which can travel at a speed of 60 miles an hour, and which had been reconstructed for illegal emigrants and goods trafficking.

Twelve out of 20 dinghies, intercepted in the bay of Vlore with 20 up to 40 people on board, were forced back, the sources reported. /led/so/lm/

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[14] "Kolping" provides DM 1.5 million for hospital in Elbasan

Alongside the aid, which consists of materials and apparatuses for the hospital, "Kolping" will also bring German specialists who will help assemble the apparatuses and repair several other equipment of the hospital.

The representatives of "Kolping" asked the hospital's economic department to draw a list of equipment and apparatuses the hospital is short of. /dast/lm/

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[15] Diplomatic seminar in the Foreign Ministry under way

The main scope of the seminar is based on the ideas, projects and connections of the Stability Pact with Albania.

This seminary marks a new experience during these last ten years. According to Milo, this meeting will be transformed in a tradition in the ministry he leads. "This is an experience which should not be forgotten and should be applied even in the future, although it has not previously experienced", said Milo. /led/A.A/

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[16] Only birthdays for Mother Teresa, undeclared saint

Since the year 1950, when she established the Missionaries of Charity religious order, she would become the mother of all and would dedicate her whole life to the poor.

The order of Mother Teresa embraces 4000 nuns in 111 countries of the world. Leaders from all the world have visited her. Former Prime Minister of India Indira Ghandi, after meeting her said: "To meet Mother Teresa means to experience the feeling of inferiority and that of the great power of goodness and love".

Born in Skopje of Macedonia to Albanian parents, in 1979 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

On September 5, 1997, Albanian Mother Teresa died of heart attack at her religious order's headquarters in Calcutta. /f.n/lm/

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[17] NATO leads the projects to reconstruct linking roads of Rinas airport

According to him, NATO has decided to construct a new linking road, in order to guarantee a better movement of the airplanes in the airport. This road, which is 300 meters long and 18 meters wide is foreseen to support weights up to 600 ton and is estimated to cost approximately $ 3.2 million. Operations will be applied over 4 main phases and the road construction is expected to terminate on October 25.

Rinas airport infrastructure, constructed during the 50-ies for normal and light traffic, was seriously damaged from the great number of military and aid transport flights over the last months. For its rehabilitation NATO undertook operations to repair and improve the infrastructure all over airport area. /SO/

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

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