Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-11-24

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] Conference on encouraging foreign investments in Albania

[02] Exchange rates

[03] "Farewell to century" on 55th anniversary of Homeland liberation

[04] Task Force in Durres imposes over two million leks of fines in two days

[05] Soccer: 10th week championship matches begin

[06] Order, anticorruption, economic development, govt priorities- Meta

[07] CE earmarks 42,5 million EURO for Albania

[08] Albania - important partner in the region

[09] Albanians must ensure their country's security themselves - Pack

[10] Greek right-wing party supports Meta-led government

[11] EC to open the Central Finance and Contact Unit in Albania

[12] Integration into European Union, main objective of Albania

[13] Kosova politicians consider historical and very important Clinton's visit to Kosova

[14] Albanian parliamentary delegation leaves for Bulgaria

[15] Albanian CDP hails Clinton visit to Kosova

[16] CE provides 3.9 million Euro on rehabilitation of Albanian courts

[17] Russian President Yeltsin wishes President Meidani on Independence and Liberation days

[18] Albanian agriculture to benefit 5.2 million Euro by European Commission

[19] Constitutional Court is on Government focus

[20] Albanian Foreign Minister to leave on official visit to Spain

[21] SP chairman Fatos Nano hails adoption of Study of Feasibility in Brussels

[01] Conference on encouraging foreign investments in Albania

An international conference on foreign investments in Albania is due in Tirane on November 26.

The conference, with the support of the Agency for Economic Development (ADEA) and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), will review the experience of private sector in Albania and the Government's politics for attracting and encouraging foreign investments.

The conference under the topic "Foreign Investments in Albania a new beginning", will be attended by foreign investors, representatives from public sector, banks, government and international financing agencies.

During 1991-1996 Albania had an increase of foreign investments which amounted to $92 million in 1996. This number was reduced to less than $40 million in 1998. /dast/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Exchange rates

Exchange rates

Currency bought sold USD 134,6 135

DM 71 71,4 LIT (1000) 72 72,3 GRD (100) 42 42,3 /gs/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] "Farewell to century" on 55th anniversary of Homeland liberation

Protagonists of this concert, which is performed under the auspices of the President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani and Minister of Culture Edi Rama, will be artists of the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Folk Songs and Dances Ensemble, instrumentalists of the Albanian Radio-Television orchestra and of the Fine Arts Academy. /dast/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Task Force in Durres imposes over two million leks of fines in two days

"During controls exercised over the last two days, we cut off 870 illegal electricity connections and curtailed electricity for those without contract in 500 family consumers and 370 private and state subjects," the head of the Task Force in Durres, Hodo Kellici, told ATA on Wednesday.

Besides curtailment of electric power, said Kellici, fines of 1.250 000 leks were imposed on family consumers and 860 000 for private and state subjects. He said the whole value of fines has been paid in these two days.

The Task Force of the Durres electric power enterprise on Wednesday began control on the families receiving power from lines belonging to the railway general department, paying not a coin for the consumed electricity.

Problematic remains the situation near the mechanical site, locomotive park, especially along the railway-line of Shkozet, where there are dozens of illegal constructions and citizens have interfered with the lines belonging to the General Railway Department. /lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Soccer: 10th week championship matches begin

Follow today's matches:

Shqiponja - Bylis

Dinamo - Elbasani

Tirana - Apolonia

Flamurtari - Lushnja

Vllaznia - Shkumbini

Skenderbeu - Partizani

Teuta - Tomori

/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Order, anticorruption, economic development, govt priorities- Meta

Meta underlined that the main government priorities are order, anticorruption, reforms and economic development of the country.

On the anticorruption strategy Meta said that "Opposition has been invited, but it has imposed several preconditions which cannot absolutely create the physiognomy of a strategy".

Albanian premier informed Mrs. Pack of passing the draftlaw "On civil Service" in parliament and ratifying "European Charter of Local Autonomy" which made possible a better cooperation among Mayors to achieve concrete results in local selfgoverning.

Doris Pack said that she was pleased with the government priorities Meta had determined. She emphasized that the broader inclusion of civil society in state governing, as it is stated in the government program, will help reach objectives. /dast/gs/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] CE earmarks 42,5 million EURO for Albania

The agreement was signed in Tirane on Wednesday by the Albanian minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade Ermelinda Meksi and the chairman of the CE delegation in Tirane Michel Peretti.

These funds aim to encourage the economic development through improvement of infrastructure, contributing directly in the consolidation of the main state institutions.

This agreement will be implemented in a two year period until the end of 2001. The whole sum of 42,5 million Euro should be disbursed within 2002. /dast/so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Albania - important partner in the region

The members of the delegation of the European Parliament stressed that the negotiations for the signing of an agreement of stability with Albania are a clear evidence of the steps that EU demands from Albania for its rapprochement with that Parliament.

The delegation recalled that EU continues to be the most important donor of Albania and considered as positive the work of the delegation of the European Commission towards Albania.

After the report of the Public Order Ministry, Spartak Poci, the delegation considered the improvement of public order in the country as a priority question. The European delegation asked from the Albanian Government to continue the efforts to fight organised crime and corruption.

The delegation of the European Parliament expressed its support for all political forces in Albania which are ready to cooperate, leaving aside the old type political fight and lack of confidence. /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Albanians must ensure their country's security themselves - Pack

In the news conference at the end of the 6th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between Albania and EU, Ms Pack called on all Albanian political parties to support the Government Meta in the fight against corruption and in the course of the implementation of the Local Autonomy Charter.

Doris Pack reiterated the support of the European Parliament to help increase Albania's integration in the European Union and highlighted the readiness of the Albanian party for the implementation of the Stability Pact.

Doris Pack ended her two-day visit to Albania with a news conference on Wednesday. /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Greek right-wing party supports Meta-led government

According to the Information Department, Allias expressed his high consideration on the work carried out so far in the combat against crime and corruption and intensification of relations with the neighbors.

He handed over to Meta a congratulation message send by the chairman of the right-wing party "New Democracy", Kostas Karamanllis, in which the later demanded a closer and more constructive cooperation between the two countries on the interest of peace, stability and prosperity of both parts.

Meta revealed that "The very good relations between out two governments should be extended further, and considered the Greece opposition as part of the public opinion and expression of interest of Greek people. We hope that the relations between our countries would be further intensified". /led/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] EC to open the Central Finance and Contact Unit in Albania

Sources from EC delegation in Tirane reported to ATA on Thursday that "the program will consist in technical assistence, trainings and operational supports for erecting CFCU".

The Albanian government and the EC will carry out all the necessary procedures within a short preparatory period which will pave the way for signing the Well-understanding Memorandum and the settling of this new unit at the beginning of 2000.

EC will provide 12,6 million Euro through COP program '99 on rehabilitation of water and drainage system and it accorded 2,55 million Euro on Albania transport. The component parts of the program are the drafting of detailed projects for two road sections; for the road which links Tirane with Rinas airport and for Qafe-Thane-Pogradec section of East- West Corridor. /led/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Integration into European Union, main objective of Albania

The Albanian Parliament Speaker Skender Gjinushi asked the support of the European Parliament for the integration of Albania into the European structures.

"Having as a strategic objective Albania's integration into EU, the acceleration of talks on the new agreement of stabilization and association between Albania and EU becomes of a special importance, and we ask the European Commission to make the first step to approve the physibility study", said Gjinushi.

"There are still problems which are not solved as promised. Let us leave words aside because it is hightime we should move to carry Albania forward", said Pack.

At this meeting the delegation of the European Parliament was headed by Doris Pack, chairman of the Commission of this Parliament for Southeastern Europe, while the delegation of the Albanian Parliament was headed by Maqo Lakrori. /led/so/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Kosova politicians consider historical and very important Clinton's visit to Kosova

After the meeting, the Premier of the Interim Government of Kosova, Hashim Thaci, stated that the message of President Clinton and the State Secretary Albright was to safeguard the peace and the values of the common life. "We won the war thanks to the KLA, thanks to the assistance from the international community and now we must respect this freedom, the peace we have," said Thaci.

While the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova described as "historic" the visit of Clinton. "Now we must reconstruct Kosova in the economic, political aspects and President Clinton pledged continuous support for Kosova, for its guaranteed future," said Rugova.

Academician Rexhep Qosja, leader of LBD, said that "President Clinton instructed that Kosova must be the country of tolerance and that the political factor must adopt joint decisions. Our prevailing opinion is that the U.S. and EU are in Kosova and Kosova must be a free country for development and democracy." /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian parliamentary delegation leaves for Bulgaria

The conference is organized by the political commission of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where will take part even the Secretary General of SP, who is at the same time the Parliament Deputy Speaker, Namik Dokle.

The President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the President of European Parliament, representatives of American Congress, the President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the President of European Council, Romano Prodi and other personalities are expected to take part in this conference. Participating will be as well regional parliamentary delegations.

Fatos Nano is expected to hold a speech in one of the three work sessions of the conference. /led/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Albanian CDP hails Clinton visit to Kosova

"Relations between the Albanian state, Kosova and U.S. are the most secure guarantee of the further developments towards democratic processes for the integration into the European family as soon as possible", a declaration of CDP reports.

CDP states further that the development of the relations between the Albanian and U.S. state will be consolidated, because that would help the further cooperation between the two countries.

Clinton, on Wednesday paid a one-day visit to Kosova, accompanied by the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. During this visit he held talks with Kosova political leaders, KFOR leaders and the representative of UN in Kosova Bernard Kouchner. /led/so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] CE provides 3.9 million Euro on rehabilitation of Albanian courts

According to the 42.5 million Euro financial memorandum signed between Albanian and CE, the Albanian courts will benefit a fund of 3.9 million Euros in the context of the COP '99 program.

Another priority of the program COP '99 of CE is the Albanian police. During 1999, the Phare program will support a detailed midterm strategy drafted by the Albanian Government and MAPE on the development of the Albanian police.

This program will deliver a fund of 2.35 million Euros for Albanian customs, 0.6 million Euros for the High State Control and 1.5 million Euros for the Institute of Statatistics. /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Russian President Yeltsin wishes President Meidani on Independence and Liberation days

"On occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Albania, the Flag Day, and the 55th anniversary of the liberation of the country from the Nazi-fascist occupiers, I convey to the Albanian people wishes on peace and welfare. I would like to thank in particular the veterans of the antifascist war, to wish them good health and long life. I express my assurance that the relations between Russia and Albania will be promoted to the interest of our countries, peace and security in Europe," wrote in his message to President Meidani the Russian President, Yeltsin. /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Albanian agriculture to benefit 5.2 million Euro by European Commission

The finance will consolidate the activity in all components of the agricultural program included in the previous aid of the Phare program, such as fishing sector, veterinary services and food control.

The European Commission accorded on Wednesday 7.2 other million Euros in the context of the COP '99 program for the Development of Local Communities. This amount of money is expected to be used by local government structures on about 50 objects of public infrastructure to be rehabilitated in 36 districts of Albania.

Whereas the program Tempus will have from this program 1.6 million Euros to be used on the reforms of the public administration including the policies of local and regional development, agriculture, infrastructure and water. /led/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Constitutional Court is on Government focus

"Despite the powers' division, which is the base for rules of Democracy functioning, all parties have responsibilities for the application of law because only that will enable the increase of citizens' confidence, and on the other hand it will influence directly the consolidation of institutions".

The Head of the Constitutional Court Fehmi Abdiu praised the respect towards this institution and law as one of the priorities of the Albanian Government. He expressed his consideration for the governing programme, where Constitution is considered as the only compass leading it.

The visit of Premier Meta to the Constitutional Court is conducted a day after the meeting President Rexhep Meidani held with representatives of the three powers, executive, legislative and justice government. /led/so/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Albanian Foreign Minister to leave on official visit to Spain

During this visit, it is expected to sign Cultural Agreement and to parafer the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Albania and the Kingdom of Spain.

The Albanian delegation will have talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Abel Matutes. Minister Milo will be also received by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos.

The official talks will focus on the development and consolidation of the bilateral relations, the recent developments in Albania, the situation in the region, the Stability Pact and Albania's integration in Euro- Atlantic structures. /eld/xh/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] SP chairman Fatos Nano hails adoption of Study of Feasibility in Brussels

"With today's decision, the European Union increases our chances for integration, but it also encourages us to go ahead resolutely until complete membership, which now is not a dream any more, but a task of all Albanian political class and the institutions they are leading," said chairman Nano, who is now in Tetova.

"The strategy for euroatlantic integration must assume national dimensions," said the leaders of Albanian parties of Macedonia whom Nano met in Tetova. /led/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