Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-09-20

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] World Bank finances Shkoder hospitals

[02] Local elections of 2000, SP challenge

[03] Lasgush Poradeci birth anniversary in Prishtine

[04] New World Telecom and Albtelecom partners with Motorola

[05] Meidani leaves for New York

[06] Private bank to open in Vlore soon

[07] Hunger strike in Prishtine for release of 7 000 Albanian hostages in Serb jails

[08] World Bank finances forests

[09] Highest fund on education so far in Kukes this year

[10] Classes started on Sept.20 in 70 non-public schools in Albania

[11] Meidani demands support for Tirane and Prishtine Radio-Televisions

[12] Status of Albanian police to be formed

[13] Albania to transport oil and gas from Caspic

[14] Some 4200 tons raw oil on sale with auction

[15] DP parliamentary group discusses agenda of current week

[16] First sub-office of Italian-Albanian Bank opened in Durres

[17] Kuwait offers 2,5 million dinars on Qukes-Qafe Thane road

[18] Deputy Premier highlights work of U.S. Democratic Institute for qualification of Albanian politicians

[19] Meksi-Limrecht discuss on commercial relations and Stability Pact

[20] AFOR 2 asks for infrastructure priorities

[21] European right wing forces support Democratic Party of Albania

[22] Some 105 schools open doors in Korce

[23] European Union to finance judiciary in Albania

[24] Work of police in Gjirokaster appreciated

[01] World Bank finances Shkoder hospitals

Labs for various tests and two ECG rooms have been set up at the central outpatient clinic. The German humanitarian association EHH will provide the necessary equipment.

Meanwhile the World Bank has provided a fund of US$ seven million, from July '99, to construct a new Hospital Compound. Its works are being carried out by Turkish firm "TEBE". /led/so/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Local elections of 2000, SP challenge

Majko, who was invited to the SP conference of Skrapar district, said that "The third Congress will be the reaffirmation of the socialist alternative, which has not changed".

Dwelling on the socialist governing, Majko said that much has been done regarding security and public order at home, but corruption remains a problem.

For this purpose the Government has ordered the declaration of properties of all functionaries.

After contributions, the conference elected the delegates to represent the SP branch of Skrapar district to the Third Congress of this party, which will begin proceedings on October 10. /led/so/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

Exchange-rate in Albania

TIRANE, Sept 20 (ATA)-By D. Koca, Following are the buying and selling rates of the dollar against the Lek on the Tirane foreign currency market:

currency buying selling US$ 136 136,5 DM 72,3 72,5 ITL(1000) 72,7 73 GRD(100) 42,6 43 /led/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Lasgush Poradeci birth anniversary in Prishtine

This symposium, scheduled to be held in the end of November or in the beginning of December, will gather in Prishtine scientists, scholars, friends and well wishers from Albania, Kosove and all over Diaspore to commemorate the great lyricist, the most idealist poet as Ismail Kadare esteems him.

Lasgush Poradeci was born in the small city of Pogradec in 1899. His real name was Llazar Gusho. He finished the secondary school in Manastir and Athens, while he started university in Romania and finished it in Austria where he was certificated in physiological sciences.

He began publishing in '20, regarding himself as the 'bird of the skies', the popular poet and writer Ismail Kadare says. His love, physiological and patristical lyrics were included in the volumes " The dance of the stars" (1933) and "The star of the heart" (1937).

The official biography mentions him as a poet "that wrote several poems, in which he enhanced the ideals of the National Renaissance and criticized severely reactionary politicians of the time".

Poradeci is also known as a translator in Albanian of the greatest world poets as H. Heine, V. Mayakovski, A. Pushkin, J. V. Goethe and others. /so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] New World Telecom and Albtelecom partners with Motorola

Also present at the news conference held at Hotel Rogner was U.S. ambassador in Tirane Joseph Limprecht.

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathura, President & Co-founder of new World telecom, stated "We are delighted to have Motorola as they are a global leader in the manufacture of telecommunication equipment. We plan to have 620.000 WLL lines installed, 4.800 wireless public payphones operational, and 125,000 cellular mobile subscribers by the year 2008.

This will more than triple Albania's existing telecom infrastructure. New World Telecom's consortium envisions an investment of US$ 325 million over 10 years. This would be the largest ever investment in Albania".

"Eventually we expect the Joint Venture to employ over 2 000 people."

Mr. Dhimiter Rafti, General Manager, Albtelecom, stated "we are looking forward with great enthusiasm to building the wireless network with our partner. The benefits to Albania will be profound, whilst Albtelecom will also benefit from its holding in the joint venture and the increased telephony traffic generated".

Mr. Constantine Aloupis, Director Balkan Region, Motorola, also spoke at the conference. "We are pleased to be associated with this new initiative in Albania," he said. /lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Meidani leaves for New York

Meidani will hold a speech, during the session's proceedings, to be attended by the heads of the U.N. member states and governments.

During his stay in the U.S., Meidani will conduct "important meetings with figures of world policy as well as with businessmen and managers of U.S. companies interested in investing in Albania". /led/so/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Private bank to open in Vlore soon

The presence in this city of some 800 important private subjects as well as contacts of local capital with that of overseas, are significant parameters which presuppose the further completion of business infrastructure.

One of the Italian representatives, Nicola Caputo, praised the vision of the Vlore businessmen for the further development of the city.

The opening of this bank is an initiative of the Agency for the Development of Vlore which operates close to the city and is approved by the Municipal council. /led/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Hunger strike in Prishtine for release of 7 000 Albanian hostages in Serb jails

The strike is being staged in front of the U.N. mission headquarters in Kosova. The strikers are representatives of state institutions, of political and non-political subjects of kosova, of Albania and of Albanians of Macedonia.

"There will be no freedom for Kosova unless the Albanian hostages and political prisoners are released," said Berat Luzha, head of the political prisoners' association in Kosova.

He appealed to the whole democratic world to make everything possible for the immediate release of Albanians from the Serb prisons, where they are subjected to terrible tortures, and exposed to violent executions and deaths.

The identification of 97 Albanians executed in Dubrave prison, near Istog, and buried in a mass grave is underway.

Unknown is the destiny of thousands of Albanians arrested and abducted by the Serbs, while the Council of the Defence of Human Rights in Prishtine has recently reported on the murder of two Albanian prisoners in a Belgrade jail. /led/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] World Bank finances forests

The project for the transformation of communal forests in Shishtavec, in three years, with a fund of US$ 90 000, is the most important one. The study for the forests' arrangement, in Bicaj - Kolosian area with a fund estimated at 3.4 million leks and in Shen Meri commune with 1.3 million leks, is of great value.

In Kukes forests occupy more than 45 000 ha. /led/so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Highest fund on education so far in Kukes this year

The Austrian government promised to provide funds to reconstruct 5 schools in remote Kukes district areas such as in Resk, Topojan etc.

The trouble lies in the construction as soon as possible of the 12 elementary schools in the villages Buzemadhaj, Geshtenje, Bele etc, where classes are being held in private houses.

Several schools in Kukes were used to shelter the evicted Kosovars during the conflict in Kosovo. led/gs/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Classes started on Sept.20 in 70 non-public schools in Albania

A modest ceremony marked the beginning of the new school year 1999- 2000 in the linguistic lyceum INKU, which started functioning as one of the non-public educational institutions this year in Tirane.

In addition to the public schools, the new academic year started also in 70 non-public schools of laic or religious character, throughout the country.

The number of such non-public institutions in Albania has been on the increase from year to year, in line with a program of the government and the Ministry of Education and Science.

"Non-public schools are having a greater space more and more in Albania," said the Minister of Education and Science Ethem Ruka, who added that there are 70 such institutions at all levels, pre-school education, 8 form and secondary schools.

According to Ruka, "this educational system is progressing relatively well with all its positive elements such as competition with public education, which is actually encountering financial difficulties."

Only during the past year, non-public schools were attended by 5 4000 pupils, with over 450 teachers working for them.

The first non-public school in Albania was the Turkish college Mehmet Akif, established in 1992 in Tirane. /xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Meidani demands support for Tirane and Prishtine Radio-Televisions

Meidani expressed in his letter the gratitude for Sharf's efforts for the successful fund raising compaign in assistance to the Kosovo Albanians during the crisis, fund which was used for the education of children in Kosova.

"I'd like to admit that one of my preoccupations is the children's education and the educational system in Kosovo, since many schools were destroyed during war and the educational system needs reactivation, not only from the material point of view", the President writes to Mr Sharf.

In this framework, Meidani demanded the contribution of the Bavaria television with audiovisual and didactic instruments to aid schools in Albania and Kosovo.

A modern media and educatinal system not only will give powerful impetus to the education but will also have a positive impact on the democratization and the further opening of our societies", Meidani writes in conclusion in his letter.

"The contribution to this field is closely linked with our goals in the context of the Stability Pact of the region, which will help enhance comprehension and cooperation among peoples", writes Meidani. /gs/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Status of Albanian police to be formed

This essential change will be reflected in the draft-law "On state police" proposed to the Council of Ministers by the Public Order Minister, Spartak Poci who will also present it to the Parliament.

The Parliamentary Public Order and SHIK Commission held on Monday a meeting with the Minister of Public Order Spartak Poci, specialists and representatives of MAPE to discuss the draft law.

"The objectives of the draft law are to create the status of the Albanian police, which has had a vacuum in this direction," said Poci.

According to the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Public Order and SHIK, Neritan Ceka, the draft law is the first step in the direction of the project "Program for reform of Albanian police."

This separation of the police ensures a legal protection for police staff from the acts of politics, its depolitization and the increase of the level of protection of the human rights and freedom. /xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Albania to transport oil and gas from Caspic

Representatives of both countries were present in the signing ceremony, EU representatives, politicians, diplomats and businessmen of different countries of Europe and Asia, and Rumania president Emil Konstantinesku, who hailed Albania and Croatia adhering in this agreement, was present as well.

This agreement is part of INOGATE program, initiated by EU and aims at oil and gas transport from Caspic toward Euro-Atlantic countries.

The Albanian vice Minister Mr.Doda expressed the involvement of the Albanian Governemnt to implement correctly and in the proper time all the duties and requirements of this agreement.

He said that the project initiated by EU will have its impact in region prosperity and will strengthen the economic cooperation between the countries. /lh/linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Some 4200 tons raw oil on sale with auction

The next auction will be organized in the coming week. The incomes from the selling of this quantity will be cashed in the state budget.

Referring to the specialists of food control, the oil stored since few months ago in the state reserves warehouses is qualitative in conformity with the consumption parameters.

The raw sunflower oil, some 6300 ton, is part of the assistance offered by American Government to the Albanian State worth some 5 million dollars. This quantity came in Albania in Vlora harbor in December 1998 and is stored in the warehouses of state reserves. /linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] DP parliamentary group discusses agenda of current week

DP group representatives will ask the Parliamentary Bureau that the approval of the draft law "On status of civil employee" be postponed until the end of October because "we consider it a fundamental and very important law," they said.

The DP parliamentary group will demand that the draft law "On title Citizen of Honour of Republic of Albania" be presented for discussion following the proposal made by the DP group Genc Pollo to grant this title to the U.S. President Bill Clinton. The DP parliamentary group decided to demand a debate with the Foreign Minister on the question of Cameria according to the platform announced in a special DP assembly for this question. /a.ke/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] First sub-office of Italian-Albanian Bank opened in Durres

This sub-office will perform many banking operation, such as deposits, opening of running accounts, currencies transfers, transfers with foreign banks, and what is more important credit offering to Durresi businessmen.

This Bank is the fourth to open its office in Durres, where already there are four foreign banks, such as Tirana Bank, National Greek Bank and FEFAD Bank. After Durresi Italian-Albanian Bank will open its sub-offices in Vlora and Shkodra.

At the moment this Bank close cooperates with Roma Bank, which covers 40% of the capital, with the Albanian state by 40% of the capital and EBRD by 20% of the capital.

Italian-Albanian Bank is the first bank with foreign capital that offers loans for Albanian business since 1994. /linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Kuwait offers 2,5 million dinars on Qukes-Qafe Thane road

This segment 19,6 km long is part of the project on national roads, which have as main target the rehabilitation of 90 km national road in the Corridors East-West and North-South.

The total cost of the project is some 66 million dollars and it co- financed by World Bank by some 25 million dollars, Albanian Government by 5 million dollars, Italy by 9 million dollars and Kuwait Fund by 8 million dollars. At the moment EBRD is asked for other finances.

The Kuwait loan of 2,5 million dinars is allocated to assist the countries in their attempts toward progress. The loan will be paid back within 20 years with an annual interest of 2% and the five first years it will be grated. The project is foreseen to be completed in 2001. /linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Deputy Premier highlights work of U.S. Democratic Institute for qualification of Albanian politicians

During a meeting on Monday with the directress of this Institute, Deborah Alexander, Mr Meta said that Albania needs new politicians who will introduce new contemporary mentalities and ideas serving the development of democracy and the prosperity of the country."

Ms. Deborah Alexander thanked the Albanian Government and especially Mr. Meta for the aid they have given to the realisation of the project initiated by that institute whose main objective is to train and promote new politicians in Albania. /a.ke/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Meksi-Limrecht discuss on commercial relations and Stability Pact

According to the official sources from the Trade Ministry, The Albanian Minister of Economic Cooperation Ermelinda Meksi informed the American Ambassador Limprecht about the initiatives and the bilateral discussions held with the representatives of countries of Balkan region and about the steps to be taken by Albanian toward its membership in the World Trade Organization.

Meksi and Limprecht exchanged also their ides on Stability Pact. The American Ambassador in Tirana stressed that Albania is in equal position with all the other countries of the region and the Stability Pact should be considered not only as projects packet, but even as a democracy development and order restoring, which create the proper conditions on stimulating the foreign investments in Albania.

"During Kosova crisis the Albanian Government showed a good image and this was just the first step", stated the American Ambassador. "But the second step is the strengthening of the order and combating of the crime by the part of the Government", ended the USA diplomatic representative in Albania. /lh/linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] AFOR 2 asks for infrastructure priorities

General Frisone confirmed to Minister Shuli that "Through this meeting I give the message of political signal of the cooperation and the continuation of AFOR 2 mission in Albania".

Frisone asked the Minister Shuli about an information on the priorities of the Ministry of Public Affairs and Transport, in which NATO will intervene, which aims at improving the road infrastructure of the country.

Minister Shuli expressed her believe that AFOR 2 will be a supervisor of the agreements signed between MEPP and AFOR 1 and this cooperation will mark higher levels. /lh/linda/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] European right wing forces support Democratic Party of Albania

"In the meetings held, appreciation was made for the achievements and resistance of DP along with the support for the efforts of the democrats to bring Albania out of the crisis," said Berisha in a news conference following his visit to Germany.

Berisha pointed out that in the meetings with leaders of rightist parties and with representatives of the German Bundestag they discussed the political situation in Albania, the negative phenomena worrying the country such as organized crime, corruption, the continuous attacks on the opposition, etc.

The Democratic leader stressed that they had also discussed extensively the question of Kosova. "I defended my viewpoint that the independence of Kosova through protectorate is the most reliable way towards peace and stability in the region," said Berisha.

Over his stay in Germany, Berisha had meetings with the chairman of CDU, Wolfgang Schauble, the chairman of the CDU parliamentary group, Karl Lamers, with the deputy chairman of the U.S. Republican Party, Henry Barber, the German Parliament speaker Thierze, the deputy chairman of the foreign commission of Bundestag, Spramger, and others. /lh/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[22] Some 105 schools open doors in Korce

The director of the education department in the district, Gaqo Mitre, said that 26 600 pupils started school in that district on Monday, 22 200 in the eight form schools and 4 400 in the secondary schools. A special care was taken to increase the vocational character of the secondary schools and the higher quality of teaching. The secondary school "Th Germenji" will have two branches, social sciences and natural sciences. A five-year branch for economics was opened for the first time in the technological school which had three branches so far, the branch of electricity was also opened in the mechanical school, while the branch of German language was established for the first time in the foreign languages school.

According to Mitre, the text books are distributed to all the eight form schools, while the pupils of secondary schools are still waiting for the books to be distributed. /lh/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[23] European Union to finance judiciary in Albania

According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Justice, Agim Neza, the Albanian Minister of Justice, Ilir Panda, suggested in a working meeting he had with the EU Ambassador in Tirane, Michael Peretti, that the investments in judiciaries be made as soon as possible.

Panda said these investments must cover the State Publications Office, the completion of the construction of the jail of Lezha with a capacity for 800 prisoners, computer installation in the Ministry of Justice and the completion of the reconstruction of the Court of Appeal along with the financing for the acceleration of the reconstruction of the Tirana Court compound. /a.ke/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[24] Work of police in Gjirokaster appreciated

Myftari commended in particular criminal police of Gjirokaster which has uncovered and arrested some suspects for grave penal acts as was the case with suspects of the massacre of Glina in 1997.

The director visited the border crossing of Kakavija and commended the work of the police effective. Myftari said care should be taken to control entries and exits of people and vehicles from that border point. He also added that they would continue to prevent illegal passing of Kurds through the territory of South Albania. Myftari demanded a greater cooperation between the inter-border police checks for the questions envisaged in the bilateral agreements with Greek police. /lh/xh/

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

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article