Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-12-08

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albania, most appropriate for developing telecommunication - SIEMENS

[02] Ruka says coordination of activity with foreign donors is important

[03] Press review

[04] "Stimulated person" is only one who guarantees completion of works

[05] European Bank shareholder in rebuilding Cinema of Elbasan

[06] Germany and France provide Kosova with eight engines

[07] Two agreements worth EURO 40 million signed

[08] Exchange-rate in Tirane market

[09] Year 1999 good for EBRD, Albania cooperation, Frank

[10] ESAF objectives for 1999 are fulfilled

[11] Democratic Party asks for engagement in analyzing legislative initiatives of the opposition

[12] Kosove transitory council discusses "Action Plan on security"

[13] Parliament Speaker takes part in PABSEC Plenary Session

[14] Tirane town-hall delayed in road asphalting, flower garden rehabilitation - Fino

[15] Tirane youth celebrates 9th anniversary of dictatorship collapse

[16] World Bank offers 13,65 million dollars on road rehabilitation

[17] "December '90" grouping commemorates December 8

[18] FRESH commemorates December 8, the beginning day of Students Movement

[19] Chairman of DP backs Albanian,Greek efforts for cooperation

[20] Italian, U.S. ambassadors visit maritime missions deployments in Albania

[01] Albania, most appropriate for developing telecommunication - SIEMENS

"Albania is the most appropriate country to develop telecommunication, as all the connections of the region, in the framework of the Stability Pact, will go through it," Schahemayer said at a meeting with SP chairman Fatos Nano.

The company's senior officials told Nano that they support the strategic programme of the Albanian government to develop the telecommunication system with two strategic operators both for the immobile and mobile systems.

Nano said that this very much suits Albania considering political telecommunication between the region and Europe.

SIEMENS AG has been present in Albania since '92 in medicine, transport, telecommunication and other fields. /dast/lm/

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[02] Ruka says coordination of activity with foreign donors is important

"Many schools are under reconstruction in Albania," he said.

For Ruka the most powerful donors in education have been the Soros Foundation, Italian government, the OPEC Fund, the German Agency Project for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and UNICEF.

Coordination of foreign donors' activity and their aid for 2000, he said, plays a significant role in developing education and creating the necessary contemporary infrastructure. /dast/lm/

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[03] Press review

Koha Jone, independent daily,

"Arapi removes Vehbiu, the villa is state-owned". Usury chief administrator Farudin Arapi wrote to the Tirane court yesterday that the villa where Vehbi Alimuca is housed has been sequestered by the state and another house should be found for the former boss. "Pollo quenches the fire of Berisha students". Lights were turned off, doors broken... at the meeting of the DP deputy chairman Genc Pollo with students in "Studenti" cine-club yesterday. "Friends of Albania" to the opposition: Now join the anticorruption commission. "Friends of Albania" today will devote a special attention to the Albanian opposition, considering the claims of the main parties of the United Right Wing and the Union for Democracy, that they have not yet received a formal invitation by Premier Ilir Meta to participate in the anti-corruption commission.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily,

"Shemsie was leaving, Berisha knew it". Tritan Shehu yesterday accused Berisha of helping former boss of "Gjallica" pyramid scheme to flee Albania. "SP ready to dissolve coalition". The SP may go to the upcoming local elections alone. "Customs tax lowered to five per cent". Customs tariffs to be lowered again to favour trade. The parliamentary commission yesterday discussed the draft-law on reducing tariffs.

Shekulli, independent daily

"Pollo: Berisha ousted Azem". Former vice chairman of the Democratic Party Genc Pollo declared this at a meeting with students yesterday. "Meta passes the winter test". Wages and pensions to increase by eight per cent. This is the aim of draft-budget of year 2000 which is approved by the Socialist Party (SP) parliamentary group but not by that of DP. "The transparency commission asks to confiscate the villa of Alimuca".

Albania, national daily

"Pollo outside the Democratic Party" "Shehu: Elections can't be won through dismissals". "Pollo: We want a Democratic Party for all democrats".

Zeri i Popullit, daily of the Albanian Socialist Party.

"Berisha related to another woman, Shemsie" "The socialist: 500 million Leks for the pensions before '93". n "Two policemen, drug traffickers arrested in Pogradec.

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Albanian Democratic Party.

"Pollo ousted from the Democratic Party". "Vlore, legal owners start protest."

Republika", daily of the Albanian Republican Party

"Special forces in revolt". "Police put on alert 2". /lm/sm/

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[04] "Stimulated person" is only one who guarantees completion of works

At a meeting, chaired by deputy Prime Minister Makbule Ceco, the council also considered several projects on building hotels and tourist villages in the area of Golem, Durres and Kavaje as well as several demands by construction companies to win the tittle "stimulated person in tourism".

The council also decided that, in cooperation with the local government bodies, they destroy unauthorised constructions in the area of Golem and control any new construction in the approved tourist areas./dast/sm/lm/

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[05] European Bank shareholder in rebuilding Cinema of Elbasan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), through the fund of investments for medium and small enterprises in Albania, will be among the shareholders for rebuilding "11 Nentori" cinema in the town of Elbasan.

This was decided on Wednesday with the signing of an agreement between EBRD's representative, Roberto Zavata, and the representative of the shareholding company "IDA ltd", Alban Xhillari.

This company realised the reconstruction of former cinema "Republika" in the capital and aims at broadening the cinema network in Albania.

EBRD will invest US$ 175 000 to reconstruct the cinema of Elbasan for which a total of US$ 300 000 are envisaged to be invested.

The works for the reconstruction of the cinema are planed to be completed by spring 2000.

"IDA ltd" envisages to extend the network of the contemporary cinemas also to the city of Shkoder, Berat, Vlore and Durres. /dast/lm/

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[06] Germany and France provide Kosova with eight engines

"They will support the capacity of Kosova's railway and accelerate the distribution of humanitarian aid all over Kosova", said Lavua.

The engines, which arrived in Macedonia on December 6, are expected to be sent to Kosova very soon.

The Kosovapress reported that the UNHCR spokesman, Paula Ghedini, told a news conference in Prishtine yesterday that the U.S. has provided $10 million to support the UNHCR programme in aid of the Kosovar women.

The women's initiative began in September this year to continue until next September. Its goal is that women help themselves because they represent the most suffering part of the population.

The programme will cover the entire Kosova and is valid for all Kosovar women, without considering their entity, the Kosovapress agency reports. /dast/sm/lm/

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[07] Two agreements worth EURO 40 million signed

The Albanian government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Wednesday signed two projects on reconstructing the electric power sector and rehabilitating a segment of the Eighth Corridor.

Also attending the signing of the agreements, which total EURO 40 million, was the Albanian Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, who appreciated the EBRD support and considered it a very significant partner of the Albanian government for the country's development.

The first project of EURO 30 million will serve for the reconstruction of the electric power sector.

According to the EBRD deputy president, Charles Frank, the project will enable constant supply of the local market with electric power, minimizing technical and commercial losses and improving the electric power capacity in Albania by 80%.

The credit terms are 12 years of maturity including a two-year remittance period.

The next agreement, worth EURO 10 million, has to do with the rehabilitation of the Elbasan-Librazhd road, part of the Eight Corridor. The terms of this credit are 15 years of maturity including a three-year remittance period. /dast/lm/

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[08] Exchange-rate in Tirane market

Currency buying selling

US$ 135,3 135,7

DM 71 71,5

ITL (1000) 71,6 72

GRD (100) 41,9 42,1

/lm/

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[09] Year 1999 good for EBRD, Albania cooperation, Frank

According to Frank "the new strategy of EBRD aims to further support the private sector mainly small and medium enterprises that represent the hope for the future of a country's economy".

"The corruption phenomena in Albania has influenced the credits' giving by this bank.If these credits were accorded as envisaged Albania would have been developed sooner" Frank told journalists.

"But the situation in Albania is visibly improving and the corruption phenomena reduces from day to day".

The deputy President of EBRD after speaking of the different investments and projects in Albania stressed the contribute EBRD is giving for the privatization of AMC and cooperation with the government in tourism domain. /dast/so/

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[10] ESAF objectives for 1999 are fulfilled

"The objective of economic increase and three quantitative objectives followed by Bank of Albania concerning the monetary policy will be achieved", said governor Cani by giving explanations in the parliamentary commission of Economy and Privatization about the economic, monetary, currency and bank situation in Albania, the policy followed by Bank of Albania and the objectives for year 2000.

The Head of Albanian Central Bank said to the Parliament Members that during this year the limits defined for the budgetary deficit and finance with its internal sources, inflation and the deficit of coherent account in proportion with General Domestic Production GDP, are respected.

According to Bank of Albania the economic increase fro 1999 will be 8% and the annual level of the inflation in the end of the year might reach to -1%, a figure lower than the defined objective of some 7%.

The governor of Albanian Central Bank Shkelqim Cani asked the members of the Commission on Economy, Finances and Privatization to take into consideration the opinion of this institution for any law of economic character in conformity with the law "About Bank of Albania". /led/linda/

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[11] Democratic Party asks for engagement in analyzing legislative initiatives of the opposition

"The project law "On Parliamentary Commission of the Proxy Control of public funds, giving of licenses for the period April 1,1992 - December 31, 1999, responds to the platform announced by Democratic Party in combating the governmental corruption", said Mrs.Topalli.

The establishment of this commission is of special importance, because it involves Parliament directly in the attempts combating the corruption", said Mrs.Topalli.

Democratic Party suggested in November the establishing of Anti- Corruption Parliamentary Commission, which can be headed by a Socialist Party deputy to check up the period 1992-1996 (the period when the Democratic Party was in power), meanwhile for the period 1997-1999, the Democratic Party suggests the leading of the group by one of its deputies. /led/linda/

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[12] Kosove transitory council discusses "Action Plan on security"

The International authorities as well as the Albanian subjects of Kosove discussed all the violation acts and incidents which have happened recently in Kosove and demanded their interruption for creating normality and security for all the citizens.

"For a grater security in Kosove we demand responsibility and cooperation of citizens with the international police of KFOR after the establishment of the joint administration", said Ibrahim Rugova LDK leader.

In the meeting was discussed as well the issue of the Kosovar traveling documents on which the Interim Government of Kosove issued a draft-law during the last week. "We have seen the draft. For the moment we will have temporary traveling documents which will be given by UMNIK", said Kouchner.

The transitory council discussed even other issues such as the sheltering problem, especially of that part of population which is yet under tends, and the problem of telecommunication.

Some 12 000 houses are ruined in 2 000 villages and cities of Kosove, sources from the international civil administration in Kosove reported recently. /lh/A.A/

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[13] Parliament Speaker takes part in PABSEC Plenary Session

"During this period we have intensified work to continue the multi- dimensional legislative, institutional and economic reform", said Gjinushi. Dwelling on developments in Kosova, he said that "we support a long term protectorate that will enable setting up and consolidation of democratic self-governing institutions". He pointed out the Albanian commitment towards the Stability Pact.

A delegation of the Albanian Assembly headed by the Parliament's Speaker Skender Gjinushi and deputies Ylli Vejsiu and Theodhoi Bej participate in the proceedings of the 14th Plenary Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Countries, which began proceedings in Ukraine on Wednesday. /led/so/

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[14] Tirane town-hall delayed in road asphalting, flower garden rehabilitation - Fino

The Council of Ministers provided by mid-November 46 million leks to Tirana town-hall for asphalting "Siri Kodra" and Kombinati road as well as the rehabilitation of the flower gardens after kiosks removal.

December 25 marks the final term of realization of these operations. After having verified that town hall is delayed on realization of these investments, Ministry of Local Government demands intensification of works.

The greatest part of funds for road asphalting during this year has been accorded to Tirane town-hall. According to specialists of this institution it has concluded operations in the greatest part of these undertakings procuring with regular contracts 96% of the funds. /lh/so/A.A/

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[15] Tirane youth celebrates 9th anniversary of dictatorship collapse

Present in this activity were the Premier Ilir Meta, the Minister of Culture Edi Rama and other state top personalities.

The youths celebrated the 9th anniversary of students movement which marks even the toppling of dictatorship.

This activity was held under the auspices of the Minister of Culture, Youths and Sports Edi Rama, the Directory of Youth Policies, Tirane Education Directory, Albania Youth Council and Top Albania Radio. /lh/A.A/

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[16] World Bank offers 13,65 million dollars on road rehabilitation

This emergent loan to support the rehabilitation of the main road connecting Adriatic Sea (Durresi Port) with Kosova and the national road Berat-Corovode, as well. Both the roads are damaged during Kosova crisis due to the transportation of the refugees and humanitarian aid.

The project includes emergent operations on rehabilitation of the following roads Fushe Kruje-Mamurras-Milot, Q.Qele-Fushe Arrez, Fushe Arrez- Kukes and Kukes-Morine and consultant services on supervision of the operations in these roads.

The loan of some 13,65 million dollars will be used in conformity with IDA standards to be paid back within 40 years by including a grant period of 10 years.

Albania became a member of World Trade in 1991 and since 1992 the total sum of the credit for 34 projects reached to 495,4 million dollars. /lh/linda/

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[17] "December '90" grouping commemorates December 8

Representatives of this grouping on Wednesday started the silent march from the Students campus square, the square in front of the University, continuing alongside " Martyrs of Nation" Boulevard up to the memorial dedicated to the deputy Azem Hajdari, close to the Democratic Party headquarters.

Public order police forces in cooperation with road police made possible a peaceful march, without problems organized by "December '90" grouping.

December 8 of 1990 marked the beginning of the students movement against communist dictatorship in Albania and the establishment of the pluralism in the country. /lh/so/

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[18] FRESH commemorates December 8, the beginning day of Students Movement

FRESH Under Secretary Gjergj Koja and Organization Secretary of this organization Adi Shallku and many young people attended this conference.

December 1990 marked the greatest returning point for Albanian society, by bringing to an end the dictatorship and social-economic vague, said FRESH Under Secretary Gjergj Koja. /lh/linda/

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[19] Chairman of DP backs Albanian,Greek efforts for cooperation

Berisha, during the meeting held without the presence of journalists, considered relations as "very good", but according to him "there is still place for improvement". "Thousands of emigrants who give a considerable contribute in favor of the Greek economy make up an important factor in this direction", said Berisha.

As regards situation in Kosova DP chairman was expressed in favor of the protectorate and cooperation between Albanian political and international forces.

The Greek party briefed Berisha on the opening of the first class in Albanian language this year for the Albanian emigrants in Athens and Thessaloniki. Berisha considered it as the realization of a promise, expressing the wish that these schools extend in Greece, in all regions Albanians live. /led/so/

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[20] Italian, U.S. ambassadors visit maritime missions deployments in Albania

The Commandant of the Italian-Albanian mission of Guardia di Finanza deputy colonel Arpante and Commandant of the 28th maritime Group of the Italian military marine Sbordoni were expressed in favor of a "fruitful cooperation of all Italian and Albanian structures in the fight against all kinds of illegal trafficking", stressing the concrete results of operations to stop illegal emigrants trafficking from all Albanian coasts.

The symbols of the military missions in Albania were handed over to ambassadors Limprecht and Bova in the premises of the Italian military ship "Pantelleria". /led/so/

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