Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-11-22

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanian President visits Arberesh villages

[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

[03] Academician Shaban Demiraj writes on Albanians origin

[04] Level of water in hydro-power station of Fierza increases

[05] Divorces number increases in Vlora

[06] Doris Pack to visit Tirana on Tuesday

[07] Draft law on "State Budget for 2000" presented in Parliamentary Commission of Economy

[08] Library of Agricultural University of Kamza inaugurated

[09] Public to have access to Information Department close to Government

[10] Demi emphasises need for DP democratisation

[11] TV local reporter injured in Pogradec

[12] Government coalition parties discuss cooperation platform

[13] Government coalition parties discuss cooperation platform

[14] Government hails decision of opposition parties for cooperation

[15] Government provides $12 million for building Kukes-Morine road

[01] Albanian President visits Arberesh villages

Meidani highlighted the traditions, the culture and the Albanian language in that dwelling place and called that this culture must take more space in the life of the inhabitants "with whom we are linked by common roots."

The Mediterranean University of Peace, Rene Caso organised an instrumental concert, where the Albanian President and his delegation were the honoured guests.

After the concert, one of the leaders of this university which holds the name of the outstanding French jurist, compiler of the universal Declaration of the Human Freedoms and Rights, gave Meidani the honour ribbon and the symbol of that university, motivating this honour of the Albanian President "as a valuation for his intellectual contribution, as a respected scientist and state leader." /led/xh/

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[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreing currency exchange rates

Currency Buying Selling

US$ 134,8 135

DM 71,2 71,5

ITL (1000) 72,1 72,4

GRD (100) 42,2 42,4 /led/so/

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[03] Academician Shaban Demiraj writes on Albanians origin

The main reason which encouraged Demiraj to pay special attention to the origin of Albanians, according to linguistic and historical evidence, was the fact that "during the last years foreign scholars have expressed scientifically groundless thoughts on the origin of the Albanians and the Albanian language".

Shaban Demiraj is one of the most renowned academicians in Albania. Among his works can be mentioned the "Historical grammar" published in Tirana in 1986 and in Prishtina in 1988. A version of this book has been published in '93 required by the Austrian Academy of Sciences. /led/so/

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[04] Level of water in hydro-power station of Fierza increases

He is optimistic for a rapid improvement of the energy situation, which a week ago forced Premier Ilir Meta to adopt urgent measures to face the emergency situation caused by the shortage of electricity throughout the country.

It is not only the drought, but also the fact that some consumers of electric energy have not paid to the Albanian Electric Distribution Corporation the electric consumption such as families and juridical and physical subjects. This has led to the fact that the district of Tropoja is being supplied with electricity only four hours a day in the countryside and 7 hours in the town. /led/xh/

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[05] Divorces number increases in Vlora

According to these sources there is an increase of 5% of the divorces' number as against the same period a year ago. In 47 cases, are women who sue for divorce and according to jurists the violence exercised by their husbands is on the basis of these requests.

Jurists confirm that based on the Family Code the court favors women, and in the 47 aforesaid cases the divorce decision has offered favorable conditions to them.

This favoritism is made to women taking into account their position in society as well as other factors connected with the woman, the future of the children and others.

Some of the divorced women in the aforesaid cases are helped in different ways by the associations that assist women. Some 342 divorced women are assisted economically, morally and in other ways as well, in the Center of women of Vlora. This district has over 250 000 inhabitants and is one of the biggest cities of the Southern area of Albania. /so/

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[06] Doris Pack to visit Tirana on Tuesday

At first, she will have a briefing with the German Ambassador Peter Kiewitt and the Council of Europe Chief in Tirane, Michel Peretti.

Further on, Ms. Pack will meet with the OSCE Ambassador in Tirane, Geert Ahrenc and with representative of the MAPE Mission in Tirana.

On Wednesday, the 6th Parliamentary Peeting is planned to be held in Tirana between Albania and the European parliament. /led/xh/

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[07] Draft law on "State Budget for 2000" presented in Parliamentary Commission of Economy

"The draft budget for 2000 will consolidate the macroeconomics and the public finances, and one of its characteristics will be the reduction of the budgetary deficit and the general deficit," said Angjeli.

According to him, a special care will be taken to the application of a mature fiscal, taxation and customs policy aiming to create spaces for investments and for a fight against fiscal evasion, contraband and corruption.

The plenary session to examine the draft budget, after it is examined in the parliamentary commissions and groups, is forecast to be held at the beginning of December. /led/xh/

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[08] Library of Agricultural University of Kamza inaugurated

"There can be no development without books, without information, without knowledge," said President Meidani.

When it was burnt in 1997, the Library of Kamza University, considered the biggest university library in Albania as well as in the Balkans, counted for about 2000 thousand titles of books of the science of agriculture, while now it has only 10 thousand books.

Along with the financial support of the Albanian Government with a fund of 12 million lek to help the reconstruction of the library building, the British, French, Hungarian embassies in Tirana, the foreign languages school in Tirana, people who had books of this nature, teachers of the Prishtina University, GTZ, USAID, UNDP, the Parliament Library, the National Library, the Soros Foundation, and others have also made their financial contribution. /led/xh/

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[09] Public to have access to Information Department close to Government

"In this way there will be transparency in covering the activity of the government", Minister of State Prec Zogaj and Head of this department Mesila Doda told a news conference on Monday.

The department will consist of two sectors, one will offer to the Albanian media continuous information on the daily activity of the government. While in the other, to be called 'sector of public access to government', the public, interested in various problems, can search information on the activity of the government.

The Information Department was founded after the removal of the Ministry of Information with the formation of the new government headed by Ilir Meta. /led/so/lm/

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[10] Demi emphasises need for DP democratisation

"One cannot speak of the democratisation of life in the country, of new elections or other demands, without first democratising the DP itslef, which leaves much to be desired," Demi told ATA.

Demi also expressed himself against tendecies noticed, especially recently to denounce those who voice alternative opinions on the further democratisation of the DP.

Demi, who until September this year carried out the task of the Secretary for Foreign Relations in DP and has been member of the presidency of this party, is a member of the group of moderators.

The moderators of the DP, which is at the same time the biggest party of the Albanian opposition, have been considered as such as they have often opposed the opinions of the forums of this party and its chairman Sali Berisha. /lm/

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[11] TV local reporter injured in Pogradec

Vjollca Karanxha, 50, reporter of local Radio-Television, was recording a programme at an eight-year school at the "Gorrice" quarter in the town.

At around 11.30, when she was leaving school she was shot and injured by two persons in a car who were on the run.

The seriously injured reporter was immediately taken to the city's hospital.

According to sources from the hospital, she underwent surgery and now her condition is not life threatening. /dast/lm/

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[12] Government coalition parties discuss cooperation platform

At this meeting, held at the SP headquarters, the Socialist Party also launched its fundamental objective for drafting a national strategy for Euro-Atlantic integration.

Premier Ilir Meta said that this round table aims at the further encouraging the country's preparations for the implementation of the Stability Pact, so that Albania and Albanians do not miss the chance offered to them.

In this framework, Meta said further on, today the government will decide the creation of an inter-ministerial commission, in which, besides the ministers directly engaged in the work for Albania's integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, also invited will be representatives from the world of civil societies.

Also, the "Alliance for State" agreed in principle to develop all political initiatives and support all institutions of the Albanian state, so that this year's end Albania recognizes and signs all obligations towards the Council of Europe and International Community for scraping the death sentence. /dast/so/lm/

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[13] Government coalition parties discuss cooperation platform

At this meeting, held at the SP headquarters, the Socialist Party also launched its fundamental objective for drafting a national strategy for Euro-Atlantic integration.

Premier Ilir Meta said that this round table aims at the further encouraging the country's preparations for the implementation of the Stability Pact, so that Albania and Albanians do not miss the chance offered to them.

In this framework, Meta said further on, today the government will decide the creation of an inter-ministerial commission, in which, besides the ministers directly engaged in the work for Albania's integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, also invited will be representatives from the world of civil societies.

Also, the "Alliance for State" agreed in principle to develop all political initiatives and support all institutions of the Albanian state, so that this year's end Albania recognizes and signs all obligations towards the Council of Europe and International Community for scraping the death sentence. /dast/so/lm/

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[14] Government hails decision of opposition parties for cooperation

On Monday afternoon, the head of Information Department close to the Council of Ministers, Mesila Doda, read a statement on behalf of the Albanian government which stressed that the government has seriously examined the platform proposed by the Democratic Party on the fight against corruption.

The statement says that the DP proposal for transferring the State Control to the direction of the DP is a matter that does not belong to the government but to Parliament, while at the beginning of this legislature the DP refused this post.

Also, through this statement, the government reconfirms the determination to reexamine the anti-corruption programme and hopes for a reflection on the part of the opposition and the Democratic Party, inviting them to become part of a successful process. /dast/lm/

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[15] Government provides $12 million for building Kukes-Morine road

The amount of $12 million was provided one week ago by the U.S. government as aid to the Albanian State budget.

"In this decision the government considers the fact that the Kukes district and its inhabitants played a historic contribution to coping with the influx of the Kosovar refugees," Prec Zogaj, Minister of State close to the Prime Minister, told ATA.

"The U.S. aid, provided to alleviate the aftermaths of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Kosovar refugees influx in Albania, could have no better destination than the construction of this road," said Zogaj.

Zogaj, on behalf of the Albanian government, also hailed the visit the U.S. President Bill Clinton will pay to Kosova on Tuesday. /dast/lm/

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