Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-11-23

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

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CONTENTS

[01] Government coalition parties ask cooperation with opposition

[02] Accord with FRG for financial cooperation approved in principle

[03] President Clinton visits Kosove

[04] Exchange rates in Tirana

[05] Clinton meets with senior officials in Kosova

[06] Meidani hails meeting of coalition parties

[07] Meta evaluates Japanese aid to Albania

[08] Seminar on Freedom of Speech in Albania

[09] Clinton calls on Kosovars to end to vengeance

[10] Fifth contingent of Albanian peacekeepers back to Albania

[11] "Fair '99" in the latest preparations

[12] DP says Premier's pledge are not concrete

[13] Albania discusses joint projects with Croatia

[14] Academician Rexhep Qosja appreciates diary of Kadare "This death event helped us see each other"

[15] Minister Hajdaraga meets Chinese top officials

[16] President Clinton's visit to Kosova is a direct U.S. commitment to peace

[17] Rainfalls flood Vlora

[18] Meidani estimates Clinton's visit in Kosovo as "historic event"

[19] Albanian Premier Meta is for promotion of relations with U.S.

[20] Clinton's visit in Kosovo - develops Albanian-USA relations

[21] Albanian President Mediani meets with representatives of three powers

[01] Government coalition parties ask cooperation with opposition

This is what Premier Meta declared, hailing the "Alliance for State" round table, which defined the rules and principles of this coalition.

Meta, stressing the importance of anti-corruption process, declared that on December 30 the government will present a completed anti-corruption plan to the Friends of Albania.

"We want to make the opposition a successful part of the anti- corruption process, because we are determined to continue it to the end", said Meta.

On the other hand, Meta called on the opposition to cooperate in case it accepts and respects the institutions.

"Otherwise, we will still go ahead as Albania will not remain anybody's pawn," he said. /dast/so/lm/

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[02] Accord with FRG for financial cooperation approved in principle

This project, for which some DM 35 million will be invested, consists in repairing the Bistrice 1 and 2 hydro-power stations, as well as in the rehabilitation and construction of the sub-stations.

On the same day, the participants approved in principle the draft- agreement between the government of the Republic of Albania and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on financing the programme for the development of the mountinous areas. /dast/so/lm/

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[03] President Clinton visits Kosove

President Clinton was welcomed at Prishtine airport by UNO administrator in Kosove, Bernar Kouchner, and by KFOR General Klaus Reinhardt. He is expected to meet political leaders in Kosove. /A.A/

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[04] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreing currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling

US$ 135 135,2

DM 71,2 71,5

ITL (1000) 72,1 72,4

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

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[05] Clinton meets with senior officials in Kosova

After these meetings Clinton and the persons accompanying him flew to Ferizaj where a great reception will be organised.

Dozens of thousands of citizens of Ferizaj have crowded the city's streets.

Clinton is expected to hold a speech at the Sports Halls in Ferizaj and later will visit the American troops at e military camp.

The President ends his one-day visit to Kosova this afternoon.

The President's press today broadly covers the visit of President Clinton to Kosova. All papers including "Rilindja", "Kosova today", "Koha Ditore", "Dardania" and other papers carry the great news of Clinton's visit to Kosova.

"U.S. President Clinton, welcome to Free Kosova", is the headline which top the first pages of Kosova's press. /dast/lm/

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[06] Meidani hails meeting of coalition parties

Meidani said on Monday that its is the right of all Albanian political forces to organise such round tables at which opinions are debated.

"I hold that of special values are the discussions within Albanian state institutions, parliament, parliamentary commissions, local government, district and commune councils and town-halls, because in this way we manage to discuss opinions within institutions and resolve them quickly, to lessen the people's troubles," said Meidani. /dast/lm/

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[07] Meta evaluates Japanese aid to Albania

Premier Meta asked to further encourage cooperation in economy between the two countries.

Seki noticed a prominent progress in the performance of the Albanian government. The Japanese government, he said further on, is interested to increase and expand cooperation with Albania.

In this framework it was proposed to sign an agreement between the two countries on the protection and encouragement of joint investments.

Seki handed over to Meta a message by his Japanese counterpart Keizo Obuci, which expresses the desire to consolidate relations between the two countries. /dast/so/

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[08] Seminar on Freedom of Speech in Albania

The seminar, which started proceedings in the premises of the Parliament's Presidency, was organised by the Parliamentary Media Commission and the representative of Albania at the Media Committee of the Council of Europe, Ramo Prieto Suarez.

Its objective is to make evident the defence of the right to free speech, the role of the journalists in a democratic society and the way of receiving information.

It will present the European experiences regarding the freedom of speech and information and Albanian experiences in this domain will be shown.

The seminar will continue proceedings tomorrow. /dast/lm/

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[09] Clinton calls on Kosovars to end to vengeance

The U.S. President on Tuesday paid a visit to the city of Ferizaj, where he was welcomed by tens of thousands of inhabitants of this city who expressed gratitude for what he and the international community had done for the freedom of Kosova.

Clinton addressed the citizens with the words: "Milosevic wanted to keep control of Kosova forcing you all out from here, but we said "No". Now his hold of Kosova is over and you have returned".

Clinton assured the participants of the U.S. and international support.

"We owe the children of Kosova a good future. We owe them a self- governing of Kosova, a democratic based Kosova," said Clinton.

While Albright, addressing the children of Ferizaj said among other things: "I promise you will grow up with America by your side". /dast/lm/

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[10] Fifth contingent of Albanian peacekeepers back to Albania

This unit, consisting of 35 militaries and officers, faced the tense situation in the Balkans during the Kosova crisis, increasing in this way the professional level.

The Albanian contingent, which ended its mission, was replaced by the sixth contingent of Albanian peacekeepers. Albanian military units have joined the peacekeepers since 1996. /dast/so/

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[11] "Fair '99" in the latest preparations

The organiser of the Fair, the company Klik Ekspo Klik, presented on Tuesday in a news conference the activity it has made to carry out successfully this event in the Albanian economic sphere. More than 300 firms and companies, Albanian and foreign, will present their activity of business.

The Fair will open in the Palace of Congresses, the International Cultural centre and in two other cultural centres, the Figurative Arts Gallery and the Museum of National History.

The developments which favour the opening of businesses towards regional and European cooperation will be the main aim of this fair.

Among the most powerful participants are the Italian companies MONTEDISON, ENEL, BEG which operate in the field of electric energy, from Greece PANAPHON D.E.H. ETEM, ETC. Taking part in the fair will also be the USAID, WHO, UNFPA, SOROS, GTZ AND UNICEF. /led/xh/

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[12] DP says Premier's pledge are not concrete

"The thin excuses of Premier Meta saying the realization of DP platform is not up to him, since it is the problem of the Assembly and other institutions, are not clear. When making proposals, the Premier should clarify whether he is speaking on his behalf or the majority's which chose him Premier", Jemin Gjata, DP deputy chairman declared in an press conference.

DP also estimated yesterday's government declaration regarding DP refusal to head State Control Service as untrue.

Meta yesterday said that the seven points of the platform drafted by DP are not directly dependent on the government. Meta added that this shows DP does not closely know institutions' responsibilities. The premier though, left some space to consider any of these points, with or without the presence of DP. /dast/gs/

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[13] Albania discusses joint projects with Croatia

The Albanian delegation was headed by Minister of Public Works Arben Demeti, whereas the Croatian party was represented by the Minister of economy, Nenad Porges.

During proceedings the Croatian party came up with several principles on whose grounds a free trade agreement between the two countries could be discussed, aiming at their liberalization in the future.

The two delegations exchanged their views on the Stability Pact and stressed the importance of joint projects in the area of transport, in which besides the Albania-Croatia highway, was brought forward the idea of constructing a railway line. It was also discussed on the energetic field and the connection of energetic systems. /led/gs/

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[14] Academician Rexhep Qosja appreciates diary of Kadare "This death event helped us see each other"

So said the Albanian literary critic Rexhep Qosja in the presentation of the book of the writer Ismail Kadare "This death event helped us see each other" in the All-Albanian book fair "Prishtina '99" held for the first time in Prishtina from Nov.17-22 November, 1999.

The book is a diary on Kosova, held for ten months beginning with the first days of 1999. "In his diary, Kadare registers the most tragic events, in Kosova on the one hand and the fluctuations and movements of the European political class towards the campaign of air strikes in Kosova, on the other" said Qosja.

In his work, Kadare makes a mental analysis of all the processes that brought about this tragedy, speaking of the European scissors which have maimed and truncated all Albanian territories and the Albanian people, by leaving outside the state borders of Albania half of the Albanian areas and moreover leaving out half of the Albanian people.

Writer Ismail Kadare stressed that this book is part of a great mosaics of the books to be written on Kosova. "I am sure that other books are being published, are being written, bringing thoughts on this great event at the end of this century and the whole millennium, which is Kosova, " said Kadare.

A few months ago, when the war was going on in Kosova, nobody had ever thought that about 60 publishing houses, of which 23 from Albania, the rest from Kosova, Macedonia, Montengero and the Diaspora, would present their books precisely in Prishtina. /led/xh/

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[15] Minister Hajdaraga meets Chinese top officials

Tien estimated the visit as "a good omen showing that chances to cooperate according to mutual interests do exist".

Hajdaraga made an introduction of Albanian role as factor of sicurity and stability for peace in the Balkans and.

Hajdaraga was received in special meetings by deputy president of People's Republic of China Hu Cin Tao who valued the visit of Albanian delegation which precedes the Albanian president Rexhep Meidani's visit in China.

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[16] President Clinton's visit to Kosova is a direct U.S. commitment to peace

"The Albanian Government hails this visit and considers it a new, direct and great service of President Clinton and the U.S. to the freedom, justice, democracy, peace and tolerance in Kosova," said Zogaj to ATA.

Zogaj reconfirmed the determination of the Albanian Government to give all support and assistance for the process of peace, freedom, democracy and self-determination in Kosova. /led/xh/

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[17] Rainfalls flood Vlora

The rain falls have continued since last Monday evening and have inundated whole city quarters and roads, thus creating difficulties in the traffic.

Besides the incessant rain falling, another cause for the difficult situation is also the fact that one of the pumping stations used to take away the city waters has not been functioning for lack of electric energy.

A day before, the emergency staff was formed in the prefecture to overcome the situation caused by the heavy rainfalls. The staff convened on Tuesday to set the duties and the necessary measures. After the report on the inundation of 60 hectares of land in the Western lowland zone, the electric enterprise managed to supply the pumping stations in that zone with the necessary electric energy. /led/xh/

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[18] Meidani estimates Clinton's visit in Kosovo as "historic event"

"It is a demonstration of the USA commitment and specially Clinton's for the future of Albanian people and nation, for the future of our children, for a future of tolerance and cohabitation, to live in peace, freedom and democracy", Meidani told ATA on Clinton's visit in Kosovo. /led/gs/

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[19] Albanian Premier Meta is for promotion of relations with U.S.

Highlighting the good Albanian-American relations, Mr Meta stressed that they should not remain in the level reached during the Kosova crisis, but they must be relations of partnership and further promoted.

After briefing of the work made by that command not only during the crisis in Kosova, general Lost stressed that it is necessary to chose the proper persons, the proper places, and the promotion of the level of the administration remains a priority. "It is necessary to improve the work in the training of the troops and the care taken for them," said the U.S. general, who expressed his readiness for a further intensification of the cooperation in this respect. /led/xh/

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[20] Clinton's visit in Kosovo - develops Albanian-USA relations

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[21] Albanian President Mediani meets with representatives of three powers

Present in the meeting were the Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, the Parliament Speaker, Skender Gjinushi, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Fehmi Abdiu, chairmen of judiciaries at all levels.

President Meidani focused on the relations between the judiciary and police, demanding the normalisation of the situation, security and protection of courts, judges and prosecutors and the coordination of the relations between the institutions whose task is to fight crime.

Meidani considered the observation of law as a way which will help change the present situation. /led/xh/

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