Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-11-12

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Orosh school in Mirdita awarded Gold Medal "Naim Frasheri"

[02] Press review

[03] Albanian PM Ilir Meta meets with Hans Peter Furrer

[04] Cooperation of Italian-Albanian structures prevents illegal traffic

[05] Dinamo-Lushnja football match opens 8th week of soccer championship in Albania

[06] Exchange rates

[07] Seven foreigners not allowed to enter Albania

[08] Subaquatic area of Durres port overpolluted

[09] Albanian Electric Distribution Corporation (KESH) signals S.O.S.for serious hydro-energy situation

[10] KFOR has under control security throughout Kosova

[11] CE's Furrer awarded title Citizen of Honour of Tirana

[12] KFOR - factor for stability in the region - PM Meta

[13] Kosova needs KFOR army

[14] Serbs burn more than 50% of libraries in Kosova

[15] Meidani appreciates CE interest in implementing Stability Pact

[16] Some 50 enterprises, state banks expected to be sold

[17] Some 14 Albanians released from Serbian jails, thousand others still in prison

[18] Albania supports KFOR mission in Kosova and region

[19] Some 333 000 liters of oil poured due to train derailment

[20] Furrer praises Assembly for meeting commitments to CE

[21] Cani says Albania does not have a favorable credit environment

[22] Meidani praises MAPE mission performance in Albania

[23] President of "Coca Cola" in Albania elected chairman of Italian Investors Association

[24] Works on Kapshtice-Pogradec highway inaugurated

[25] Angjeli, Fino analyse budget of 2000 on local government

[01] Orosh school in Mirdita awarded Gold Medal "Naim Frasheri"

According to the press office of the Albanian President, in a ceremony held on this occasion, the authorities of the commune of Orosh and the community of Rreshen, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of one of the oldest Albanian schools. The Minister of Education and Science, Et'hem Ruka, Prof. Dr. Mark Tirta and chiefs of education sector in the district spoke in the commemorative meeting.

President Meidani, who was also attending the ceremony, spoke of the education-loving tradition of the people of Mirdita district and the great role that the school of Orosh played in strengthening the national feelings of this patriot people. He highlighted the role of Catholic Church in this direction, focusing on the activity of the abate of Mirdita, the renowned Renaissance member, My Lord Prend Doci, whose name has been given to the 8th form school of Orosh. /lh/xh/

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[02] Press review

Koha Jone, independent daily

- "Police betray U.S. Embassy." While U.S. secret agents had informed their embassy in Tirane that an amount of cocaine was arriving the Rinas airport, the traffickers have been told of this fact and cocaine has disappeared. - "Ahrens: crime still a threat to Albania." In a meeting of the Group Friends of Albania yesterday, the chief of the OSCE presence in Tirane, Geert Ahrens, has informed those present of important steps being made to improve law and order in Albania. - "Administration under control of Parliament." Draft law on Status of Civil Employee was adopted by Parliament yesterday by three five of the votes.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily paper

- "Meidani avoid pronunciation on capital punishment." The Constitutional Court had its first session yesterday of the judicial process which will create the possibility to the President of Albania Rexhep Meidani to escape signing the death penalty. - "Friends of Albania group lay no more tasks on public order." "Friends of Albania" leave aside, for the first time, the tasks for the restitution of law and order and congratulated yesterday the Public Order Minister, Spartak Poci. - "Here is what the Sofia meeting treated - Meksi." Interview with the Minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade, Ermelinda Meksi.

Shekulli, independent daily - "Bill Clinton to visit Kosova." Latest reports coming from the White House say that U.S. President Bill will pay a visit to Kosova too. - "Friends": Meta must keep promises." OSCE demanded yesterday the realisation of the Program for consolidation of public security. - "Constitutional Court to decide on death penalty."

Albania, national daily

- "Clinton in Kosova." - "Farewell to death penalty." - "Delayed implementation of decision of Permet Congress."

Zeri i Popullit, daily paper of the Socialist Party of Albania.

- "SP, concrete cooperation with Socialist International." - "Any possible means to be used against crime and corruption." - "Berisha, no politics in Studenti Campus."

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Democratic Party of Albania

- Berisha honoured by Italian opposition and government officials."

Republika, daily paper of the Republican Party of Albania.

- "Grouping for renovation of DP outlined." - "Friends of Albania": Here is strategy against organised crime." /xh/

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[03] Albanian PM Ilir Meta meets with Hans Peter Furrer

Meta highlighted in the meeting the importance the assistance provided by the Council of Europe has had for the Albanian Government, for the consolidation of the democratic institutions in Albania.

Information Department at the Council of Ministers of Albania announced on Thursday that Mr. Fuhrer was for a continuous assistance and cooperation of CE with Albania. He praised the work made so far by the Albanian government to institutionalize, expand and separate the competence of local ruling from central ruling structures.

The two interlocutors stated the necessity of attracting experts on civil society to help govern the country and to provide a greater role in all aspects for the Albanian society. The Political Director in CE, Hans Peter Fuhrer, invited Albanian Premier Meta for a working visit in Strasbourg. /lh//gs/xh/

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[04] Cooperation of Italian-Albanian structures prevents illegal traffic

Commander of Guardia di Finanza Leitnant Colonel Giovanni Arpante told ATA on Friday that motorboats located at Durres port and Sazan island have stepped up cooperation level with Albanian police forces at sea and on land, with Albanian military marine as well as with the Naval Group 28 to strengthen the preventing measures of illegal emigrants' traffic.

Arpante values the good work and devotion of coastal police forces, specially towards improving professional level.

He added that from the beginning of mission on November 1997 in the Albanian territory have been sequestered five ships with some 70 tons of contraband tobacco, fifteen speedboats used for trafficking of people, tobacco and marihuana including 35 dinghies, thirteen of which for having violated the law 8440 passed in Janary 1999. 73kg marihuana have also been sequestered. /gs/

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[05] Dinamo-Lushnja football match opens 8th week of soccer championship in Albania

Dinamo of Tirana seems to have made some improvement, with its four point won and respectively with the victory over Partizani in derby two weeks ago and its draw with Shkumbini in Peqin.

In the mean time, Lushnja aims to win in Tirane, thus going higher in the classification table.

The classification, so far, is as follows:

M W D L GOALS P 1. Teuta 7 5 0 2 10 4 15 2. Tomori 7 4 3 0 9 4 15 3. Bylis 7 3 4 0 13 8 13 4. Tirana 7 3 3 1 5 1 12 5. Lushnja 7 3 2 2 9 7 11 6. Shqiponja 7 3 2 2 6 4 11 7. Elbasani 7 3 1 3 6 8 10 8. Shkumbini 7 1 5 1 7 7 8 9. Skenderbeu 7 2 1 4 7 9 7 10. Vllaznia 7 2 1 4 6 9 7 11. Flamurtari 7 2 1 4 9 13 7 12. Partizani 7 1 3 3 7 8 6 13. Dinamo 7 1 3 3 6 9 6 14. Apollonia 7 0 3 4 3 12 3 /xh/

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[06] Exchange rates

Currency exchange

Currency bought sold

USD 134,8 135

DM 71,2 71,6

LIT(1000) 72,2 72,5

GRD(100) 42,1 42,4 /gs/

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[07] Seven foreigners not allowed to enter Albania

Five Turks, one Romanian and one Bulgarian travelled towards Albania with "Turkish Airlines", "Albanian Airlines", and "Malev". The Bulgarian and the Romanian citizens were forbidden to enter Albania because they did not have visas, whereas the Turk citizens did not posses the required amount of money thus not meeting the condition to enter Albania.

Two of the Turks were sent back with the same airline they arrived here and the others will return later depending on the flying schedule.

The Bulgarian and Romanian citizens should have a visa to enter Albania, whereas the Turkish citizens enter Albania after they pay the respective tax to pass the border, but they have to posses enough monetary amount for the declared staying period and the hosting addresses. /gs/

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[08] Subaquatic area of Durres port overpolluted

Vlash Grami, in charge of the environment at the port said that the situation is grave and the layer of dirt is half meter thick. The subaquatic area of the docks has never been cleaned in the last ten years, said Grami.

The specialists figured out that several meters deep in the water there are various waste materials such as oil, fuel, scrap, timber etc which bring about ecology damage of the biggest port in Albania and hinder normal circulation of ships.

The Italian company "Cosmar", working on ferries' terminal, brought onto surface a lot of waste material while working at the Eastern dock yesterday. /gs/

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[09] Albanian Electric Distribution Corporation (KESH) signals S.O.S.for serious hydro-energy situation

In order to overcome this situation, KESH launched a new appeal on Friday for the entire public opinion to save in maximum the electric energy.

"The hydro-energy reserve in the reservoirs of the hydro-power stations in Albania is such that even with the eventual technical maximum of import, even less than 70 per cent of the country's needs can be met," KESH sources say.

In these conditions, according to these sources, the Corporation is forced that in order to avoid the catastrophe, to make great limitations in the energy supplying and demands from all private and state subjects to make a very rational use of the electric energy. /xh/

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[10] KFOR has under control security throughout Kosova

General Reinhardt, who arrived in Albania on Thursday evening, explained the reasons of his visit, which he linked with the evaluation of the assisting role of Albania during the crisis of Kosova and with the inspection of the contingent of the COMMZ (W) mission, whose troops are a powerful support for KFOR in Kosova.

The five points of the KFOR Mission in Kosova, in view of the implementation of the resolution of the Security Council, are being fulfilled, said Reinhardt. According to him, the results attained so far are that all Serb paramilitary troops have been displaced from Kosova, the KLA has been demilitarised and transformed into a civil multiethnic organisation, support for the U.N. Mission and the humanitarian mission for the rehabilitation of the Kosova population. The curb of the cases of violence is falling, said Reinhardt, but still the final objective for the complete elimination of violence has not been reached.

Referring to the issue of Mitrovica city, Reinhardt said that 40 patrols and 15 checkpoints of KFOR are operating in that region and now security in Mitrovica is progressing.

Reinhardt considered the role of Russian troops as important for the creation of security, because, according to him, they have given examples of being unbiased. While in reference to the case of Rahovec, he said that they had started talks on planning and the solution of the problem.

The German General Reinhardt took the command of KFOR on Oct.8, 1999, replacing in this post the British General, Mike Jackson. /lh/xh/

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[11] CE's Furrer awarded title Citizen of Honour of Tirana

The Mayor of Tirana, Albert Brojka gave the Title to Mr Furrer in a ceremony held in the Museum of National History in the presence of representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirane, personalities of the Albanian state, and others.

"The democracy of Europe does not make any distinction between teachers and pupils, small and big. Albania is one of the countries where I took lectures on democracy," said Mr Furrer.

Mr Furrer has been in Albania during the political developments in the recent years in this country. Mr Furrer has visited Albania also over the period of the crisis in Kosova, where he has had meetings with heads of Albanian state. /lh/xh/

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[12] KFOR - factor for stability in the region - PM Meta

According to the press department in the Council of Ministers, PM Meta said that "we support the building of democratic institutions in Kosova and the creation of a climate of tranquility and cohabitation, because now it is the time of work and not war."

General Reinhardt stressed the importance of cooperation between Albania and Kosova for the consolidation of democracy. He stressed the importance that the existence of tolerance takes in these moments to help create a multiethnic society based on democratic principles.

General Reinhardt arrived in Albania on Thursday evening. Besides meetings with the Albanian Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, General Reinhardt had also a news conference in the COMMZ (W) Centre. /lh/xh/

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[13] Kosova needs KFOR army

"There will be no Serb defence corps, but I hope that they are included in the 10 percentage determined for other ethnic groups in the civil organization of the Kosova Defence Corps (TMK)," said Reinhardt.

The 50 000 well-trained soldiers of KFOR know well what to do if everyone tries to return to Kosova as soon as possible, said General Reinhardt, referring to eventual attack by Serb forces. The KFOR forces are monitoring Kosova in a very narrow zone. There are three battalions (Turkish, German and Italian) of the mountain infantry operating and helping with the monitoring of the border zones of Kosova.

The KFOR Commander explained the return of some Yugoslav militaries in Kosova, with some of whom General Reinhardt is expected to meet soon, with the security of the monuments of culture, the clearing of mines and control of the border. But the deadline for the return should be delayed, said Reinhardt, as long as the full security of the returnees would be made possible.

In the news conference, General Reinhardt was accompanied by KFOR Commander for Macedonia, Albania and Greece, U.S. General Robert Ruth and by the COMMZ (W) Commander in Albania, Italian General Luigi Chivarelli. /lh/xh/

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[14] Serbs burn more than 50% of libraries in Kosova

According to Albanian sources, 64 libraries and some 200 000 books in Albanian have been burned.

Other hundreds thousand books in Albanian language have been transported from the unburned libraries to paper factories. /dast/so/

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[15] Meidani appreciates CE interest in implementing Stability Pact

The President's Press and Information Office reports that Furrer appreciated Albanians' performance and set forward several of the cooperation fields for the future.

Meidani familiarised the high CE representative with the performance of the Albanian judiciary to enhance its independence, decentralisation of local government, through the creation of new structures, and other issues.

Referring to the Stability Pact Meidani asked the application of an integral vision for its realisation in the region. /dast/lm/

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[16] Some 50 enterprises, state banks expected to be sold

The budget of 2000 foresees an increase of privatization incomes, which will be supported by several legal and administrative measures. The above mentioned sources pointed out that the Albanian government will intensify attempts to realize the selling of more than 50 middle and small enterprises. In the meantime the procedures on privatization of strategical sectors is being carried on.

Within 1999 Albanian government will choose the buyer of AMC and is expected to present to the Parliament the law on Albpetrol privatization. The government will prepare as well the conditions on privatization of Albkrom by concession or bid privatization. The budget program of 2000 foresees also the privatization of oil selling stations and Albpetrol service sectors.

The privatization of state banks remains a government priority. The government will adopt all measures to put an end to the negotiations during 1999 and the first years of 2000, for handing over the National Commercial Bank to the winning company. The government is working also to pass the law on privatization of the Savings Bank to Parliament within this year. /A.A/

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[17] Some 14 Albanians released from Serbian jails, thousand others still in prison

They arrived in Prishtina, under the supervision of the International Red Cross, on Thursday evening, in very poor health conditions due to the tortures suffered in prison.

"That is the hell for Albanians and thousand others have remained still in that hell", said Nexhat Kabashi from Gurrakoci, Istog.

According to the Association of political prisoners of Kosova, at least 7 000 Kosova Albanians are kept and terrorized in Serbian prisons.

Belgrade foreworned of a long series of trials against Albanians kept in Serbian jails. Accusations against them for "terrorism", are followed by sentences up to 20 years imprisonment.

This week 12 Albanian hostages were sentenced to 180 years imprisonment at Prokuple court, while the trial against the pediatrician and poetess, Flora Brovina, engaged in humanitarian activities, and accused of "terrorist activity", began on Thursday at Nish court.

The political trial, against the 6 Albanian youths who studied in Belgrade, is foreseen to begin on November 22, in Belgrade.

The release of a symbolic number of Albanians, just like that of the 14 Leskovc prisoners, is considered by Albanians as a cynical answer of the Serbian authorities against International pressure. /dast/so/

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[18] Albania supports KFOR mission in Kosova and region

"Albania considers NATO the priority institution in guaranteeing the security and defence of the Eur.- Atlantic space," said Hajdaraga.

Reinhardt appreciated Albania's important contribution during the war in Kosova. He said that the cooperation of the Albanian army with NATO in border control is very good.

Reinhardt expressed confidence in the continuation of the Albanian state's and Armed Forces' contribution to the normal development of situations.

During his visit to Albania Reinhardt also met with Prime Minister Ilir Meta. He ended his two-day visit to Albania today.

Reinhardt has been KFOR's Commander since one month ago, replacing British General Mike Jackson. /dast/lm/

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[19] Some 333 000 liters of oil poured due to train derailment

The event took part at about 21.30 on Thursday in the village of Kraps, Fier district, in a turn in vicinity of a bridge when the goods train bearing the number 70 was derailed. As a result five wagons loaded with gasoil and a wagon loaded with solar fell over.

The train documentation shows that it was traveling from Ballsh to Tirane on the account of Tirane fuel affiliation.

No casualties are reported, but some 332 900 liters of gasoil, worth 17 316 000 Leks are poured.

According to the sources of the Public Order Ministry the cause of the accident was the poor railway condition. However the real cause of the accident will be issued after the final investigations. /lh/A.A/

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[20] Furrer praises Assembly for meeting commitments to CE

At a meeting with Albanian Speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi, Furrer positively assessed the approval of the law "On the status of the employee", which "will serve for the stabilisation of the Albanian public sector".

Gjinushi concentrated on the aid request addressed to CE regarding the creation of a Central Elections Commission and the working out of the Electoral Law. Views were exchanged at the meeting also on the developments in the region, especially in Kosova.

Furrer, who was declared Citizen of Honour of Tirana on Friday, also conducted meetings with President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani and Prime Minister Ilir Meta. /dast/lm/

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[21] Cani says Albania does not have a favorable credit environment

This bank estimates that this situation is very likely to remain unchanged even during the forthcoming year.

The credit level of economy, according to Cani remains still low. The credit accorded since September 1999 is estimated to be 6 billion Leks. The limit of credit adopted for 1999 is 8 billion Leks and it is thought to be realized only by 25%.The loan protocol continues to be overburdened by the problematic loans.

The lost credits, according to the bank, make up 26,6% of the total loans at the end of September 1999.

The increase of stock credits for 2000 will be in the levels of 7,5 billion Leks. /dast/A.A/

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[22] Meidani praises MAPE mission performance in Albania

"Now we are seeing the fruits of cooperation of the police and public order institutions with this mission," said Meidani.

Kutileiro promised the continuation of this mission for training the Albanian police and considering Albania's demand for extending the MAPE activity from ministerial also to operational level.

Meidani said that the fight against organised crime and international illegal trafficking should be waged through the creation of two-three to multilateral structures.

Referring to the aftermaths of the Kosova crisis in Albania, Meidani asked aid for the country's northern area, which bore the main weight of the crisis and asked development projects for this zone.

They also discussed judiciary problems. /dast/lm/

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[23] President of "Coca Cola" in Albania elected chairman of Italian Investors Association

President of Albania Rexhep Meidani was also present at this activity. He hailed Italian businessmen and assured them of a wider legal support for the encouragement of the Italian investments in Albania.

Nearly 650 enterprises of Italian businessmen are active in Albania and the Italian aid for Albania amounts approximately to US$ 500 million. Commercial exchanges have also been increasing, where export with Italy covers about 76 % of the total export, while imports covers nearly 36 % of the whole quantity of goods which enter Albania.

The newly appointed chairman, businesswoman Kristina Buzi, replaced the businessman Luixhi Fabri, who ended his task after four years according to the Association status.

"The Association of the Italian Investors has been created to protect interests of the Italian business in Albania and has played an important role in enlivening this business even during the difficult moments Albania experienced", said Busi at today's meeting. /dast/so/

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[24] Works on Kapshtice-Pogradec highway inaugurated

Also present at the ceremony on the occasion were Albanian and Macedonian Premiers Ilir Meta and Ljubco Georgevski.

"The rehabilitation and construction of East-West Corridor and the third Kapshtice-Pogradec section is of a great economic and political importance for Albania", said Ingrid Shuli, Albanian Minister of Transports.

The construction of this section 33.2 km long and 11.5 wide is made possible with EURO 20 million worth of fund provided by the PHARE Programme of the European Union in the framework of the Stability Pact. The bid for the construction of this section was won by renowned Macedonian company "Granil" which will complete works in 24 months.

"We all should work to build a new Balkans, to definitively Europeanize it", Georgevski said in his greeting speech.

"The Stability Pact invites us all to leave behind the bitter past to consolidate cooperation in conformity with the European norms and standards into which our countries aim to be integrated" said Meta. /dast/so/lm/

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[25] Angjeli, Fino analyse budget of 2000 on local government

In his speech, Local Government Minister Bashkim Fino stressed the indispensability of cooperation between the two parties in collecting local taxes, increasing in this way the possibilities for investments in the community they exercise their activity.

Angjeli stressed that the Government has undertaken the preparation of all the necessary legal acts which will make possible the practical implementation of the decentralisation programme.

These acts, according to Angjeli, will be prepared within the year 2000 to be finally completed in 2001.

Angjeli said that important steps will be made next year to facilitate the funds transference procedures for the local government bodies, especially for investments, so that they are more flexible.

"Redistribution of funds will be directly carried out by the Finance Ministry with the approval of the Local Government Ministry," said Angjeli. /dast/so/lm/

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