Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-09-01

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Special police unit for release of hostages to be formed

[02] Press review

[03] Albanian cinematography for first time in Venice Film Festival

[04] Government approves auction privatization for state bonus packages

[05] Exchange rates of lek with foreign currencies

[06] "Slovenia 99" fair to open in Tirane

[07] Bankrupcy for Lac fertilizers plant announced

[08] National University Library to reopen in Prishtina

[09] World Bank to take part in reforming process of National Housing Enterprise (EKB)

[10] Meidani attending Frankophonie Summit in Canada

[11] AFOR 1 mission leaves Albania to be succeeded by AFOR 2

[12] Defence Minister Hajdaraga to visit Greece

[13] NATO presence in Albania strengthens stability in region - Bruti

[14] PM Majko inaugurates pumping station of Havaleas

[15] Balkan peace process and regional integration proposals will pose special opportunities for Albania - Wolfenhson

[01] Special police unit for release of hostages to be formed

According to the Information Ministry, in its meeting on Tuesday, the Albanian Government adopted a special decision on the basis of which a special police unit will be made created.

The police unit will operate to release hostages, to catch highly dangerous people and to solve other grave situations of crime.

The special decision of the Council of Ministers, adopted after a proposal of the Public order Ministry, aims at helping hit crime.

Recently, police forces have undertaken some successful actions regarding the fight against armed gangs and the release of hostages. /a.ke/xh/

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[02] Press review

Koha Jone, independent daily

- "Ministry of Defence, ready chains for case of rice tenders." Scandal of tenders on the purchase of food for soldiers emerges, while the Prosecutor's office signed yesterday warranties for the suspects. - "Prefects, first to be replaced by congress." The order for replacement of prefects, an idea of the Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, may be executed soon. - "Rain and technical problems prevented Holbrooke from visiting Albania - U.S." The U.S. Embassy in Tirane declared last night the reasons for the failed visit of the U.S. Ambassador in the U.N. Richard Holbrooke to Tirane.

Gazeta Shqiptare, daily independent

- "I have file on contraband." Interview with the chief of Euro-Customs Mission in Albania, Natalina Cea. - "Holbrooke, mysteries of a flight." Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador in U.N. canceled his planned visit to Albania yesterday. - "Here is how Nano fled." Judicial session for September 13, 14, 1998 case continuing.

Shekulli, independent daily

- "'Hajdaraga scandal,' generals arrested." The prosecutors's office signed yesterday four first warranties for directors in the Defence Ministry. - "DAP, community of free people - Zogaj." Liberaldemocrats react to an initiative of Gjergj Zefi to create a faction. - "Shehu: Berisha ruined institution of presidency." This is what the former DP chairman, Tritan Shehu declared yesterday.

Albania, Independent daily.

- "Pollo confronting Berisha." - "Soldiers hit funeral procession of Azem from prime-minister's residence."

Ekonomia, daily of the Albanian Agency for Economic Development.

- "FEFAD offering credits." - "Albanians pay off debts to World Bank." - "For and against incentives for private business."

Zeri i Popullit, daily of Socialist Party of Albania.

- "Holbrooke talks with Majko: U.S.- Albania relations to a very good level." - "They hit in order to kill us - Angjeli." - "Here are proposals for amendments to SP statute - Angjeli."

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Democratic Party of Albania.

- "Holbrook cancels his visit to Tirane." - "Majko accepts charges."

Republika, daily paper of the Republican Party of Albania.

- "4 000 children in hands of traffickers." - "U.S. experts uncover Albanian secret." /xh/

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[03] Albanian cinematography for first time in Venice Film Festival

This movie, the Albanian most recent production, was selected among 600 other films. "Business Funeral" is a cooperation of the Albanian company "Albania General Vision" with the Albanian National Cinematographic Center, whereas the director of photography, Dan Alexandru and the camera are realised by a Romanian cinematographic company.

The movie conveys the message that people should invest on life, not on death. Life should be lived in honour and dignity in whatever circumstance, otherwise any kind of deal man makes with the evil transforms him not only into a carrier but also into a transmitter of it. /led/gs/xh/

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[04] Government approves auction privatization for state bonus packages

The decision will help improve business companies state bonus packages selling techniques, because those applied so far have not been very efficient. Several investors said they won't participate in this auction because the auction high opening price, was not worth company's real value.

The new technique proposed is the auction without first defining the initial price on the bonus packages. This technique is considered more efficient because a business company's assesment is made according to the value of its business. The new alternative provides a market value through the bonus packages auction. The new technique is promising for a successful and quick bonus packages privatization.

Also the new rules approved by the Albanian Government favour the business companies with losses, while whatever delay in privatization would lead to their bankruptcy. /led/gs/xh/

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[05] Exchange rates of lek with foreign currencies

Follow currency exchange rates in Tirana market

Kind of currency Bought Sold USD 135,5 136 DM 73 73,5 LIT(1000) 73 73,4 GRD(100) 43,5 43,8

/xh/

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[06] "Slovenia 99" fair to open in Tirane

"Slovenia 99" will be running from September 1-15, 1999, where some Slovenian firms will exhibit the goods and services they offer to the Albanian market and companies.

The fair organized with the aid of the Tirana Chamber of Industry and Commerce, will have exhibits by powerful firms of electronic industry, industry of computers, of wood, of pharmaceutical and chemical products, telecommunications etc.

"Slovenia 99" is expected to be displayed also in Prizren and later, in December, a considerable number of Albanian companies are invited in a fair due in Slovenia. /led/gs/xh/

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[07] Bankrupcy for Lac fertilizers plant announced

The Council of Ministers adopted in yesterday's meeting, the decision for a supplement to the decision of the Council of Ministers "On the procedures for the liquidiation of the bankrupt enterprises through administrative ways," on the basis of which the stocking factory in Korce and the fertilizers plant in Lac are declared bankrupt.

According to the decision, the incomes to be ensured from the liquidation will be used with priority to pay credits and other obligatory debts. /led/xh/

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[08] National University Library to reopen in Prishtina

Scientific and educational literature from Albania's publishing houses will arrive these days in Prishtine, thus enriching the library's fund with new books.

The family of Prof. Fehmi Agani is willing to give his personal library to the National University Library.

Meanwhile, classes for all levels started in Kosova on Wednesday to compensate for the previous school year, which broke off due to war there. /led/gs/xh/

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[09] World Bank to take part in reforming process of National Housing Enterprise (EKB)

"We want to take part in the discussion between the staff of your ministry and the EKB managing staff to redetermine the coming role of the EKB," writes Hartman.

She highlights the progress made in the sales of houses financed by the World Bank in the period following the nomination of the new director of EKB.

According to her, the progress must be considered also in view of the special situation that Albania had as a result of the crisis in Kosove and to this end, she writes that "I want to share with you the positive vision of our mission for the work made over this period by the EKB." /dast/xh/

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[10] Meidani attending Frankophonie Summit in Canada

Albanian President Rexhep Meidani in expected to leave this afternoon for Moncton of Canada, the president's press office reports.

Meidani will take part in the 8th Summit of the Frankophonie Organisation, due between September 3 and 5, which will also be attended by the heads of states and governments of the organisation.

Meidani will be accompanied by Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mimoza Hafizi and other officials. In Canada the Albanian delegation will also be joined by Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, who for several days has been in Moncton where the Frankophonie Conference at foreign ministers' level is underway.

The frankophonie organisation is currently presided by Butros Butros Ghali, former U.N. Secretary General, and is a grouping of states which refer to the French language and culture.

Albania has had the observer's status in this organisation since two years ago. /dast/lm/

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[11] AFOR 1 mission leaves Albania to be succeeded by AFOR 2

At the ceremony organised at Rinas airport, AFOR's commander, British General John Reith, handed over NATO's flag to NATO commander for Southeastern Europe, Admiral Ellis, and the latter handed it to the commander of the new force to be deployed in Albania, Italian General Pietro Frisone.

With the end of AFOR's humanitarian mission, the last 2 700 troops from 25 NATO countries which helped cope with the humanitarian crisis left Albania as well.

Admiral Ellis, in his speech, praised the performance of the soldiers from various NATO countries who came to the aid of thousands of Kosova refugees forced out of their lands.

The new NATO mission will be composed of 2 000 troops, of whom 1. 500 will be Italians and the rest Greeks, Turks and others.

The task of the troops will be to safeguard roads to Kosova, supporting the KFOR force with logistic means, as well as to continue the works to rehabilitate infrastructure in Albania. /dast/lm/

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[12] Defence Minister Hajdaraga to visit Greece

Hajdaraga will attend the ceremony of inaugurating the Steering Political-Military Committee of this force, Defence Ministry told ATA on Wednesday.

The Albanian Defence Ministry is engaged in activating all its structures participating in the Multinational Force of Peace.

Thus, all measures will be been taken that the two officers assigned under the agreement assume office in the Staff of the Peace-keeping Unit of Southeastern Europe until September 6.

Meanwhile, the Albanian government is carrying out the procedures of ratifying the agreement and the supplementary protocol and they are expected to be approved by the Albanian parliament within September. /lh/lm/

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[13] NATO presence in Albania strengthens stability in region - Bruti

"We continue to insist on the indispensability of the Alliance's presence in Albania, while we are interested in the bilateral development, respecting the commitments made," said Bruti.

According to official sources, Hajdaraga stressed the important role of Italy in the AFOR 1 mission and its special contribution now in AFOR 2, whose commander will be Italian General Frisone.

"We will make all efforts to reach the NATO standards as soon as possible. The ongoing performance in the framework of the Partnership for Peace, especially the close cooperation with NATO during the conflict in Kosova, is a sound basis achieving this important objective. /lh/lm/

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[14] PM Majko inaugurates pumping station of Havaleas

Majko said that agriculture is one of the Albanian government's priorities. He asked about the needs of the inhabitants of Havaleas villages and promised that the government will help develop agriculture in this zone also in the future.

The Havaleas station was rehabilitated at the fifth stage of the implementation of the first irrigation and drainage project. The irrigation channels, which receive water from this station, are 20,5 km long.

This station is installed near the Vjose-Levan-Fier. Four new electric pumps, produced by a cooperation of the productive firm "Sigma", Czech Republic, and "Ganz Machinery", Hungary, worth US$ 93 000, have been installed in it.

The rehabilitation of this station costs US$ 109 000. /lh/lm/

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[15] Balkan peace process and regional integration proposals will pose special opportunities for Albania - Wolfenhson

"Let me express my appreciation for the meeting I had with you during my recent trip to Albania. It was a great pleasure and a privilege to visit your country at this critical juncture, when peace in the Balkans has been restored and after Albania made such a contribution to this process by so gracefully hosting very large numbers of refugees from Kosove. I was deeply impressed by the generosity of the Albanian people and the ability of the Albanian Government to manage this unprecedented challenge.

As we discussed during our meeting, I believe that the Balkan peace process and the regional integration proposals will pose special opportunities for Albania. I encourage the Albanian authorities to seize these special opportunities, as well as to move ahead decisively with the reform agenda which needs to be implemented for Albania to become a better performing economy and a more stable society. Improving the performance of the public sector by providing public services in an efficient, accountable and transparent manner will be key on the agenda.

This includes, as you so rightly stressed, the strengthening of the judicial system and the implementation of active measures to combat corruption. Further advancement with privatization and financial sector are equally important, as well as special measures to improve social services and to reduce poverty.

We in the Bank are ready to maintain our close collaboration with Albania, as well as to continue our assistance and support to address these challenges. The Balkan cooperation process presently being launched will further provide an opportunity to review the medium-and long-term development agenda for Albania. As we discussed, the Comprehensive Development Framework, which several of our client countries implement with support of the World Bank and other partners, might be of benefit in defining this medium- and long-term development agenda for Albania as part of the community of Balkan states.

Let me again express my gratitude for this interesting and stimulating visit. We in the Bank will be pleased to give Albania support and assistance to address the challenges ahead". /dast/so/lm/

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