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

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] Corruption and fight against it, government priority - Meta

[02] Press review

[03] Exchange rates in Tirana

[04] Some US$ 400 000 to study feasibility of terminal

[05] British club opens in Tirane

[06] Albania to participate in "Berlin International Green Week"

[07] President Meidani leaves for China

[08] Albanian-Greek firm provides aid for families of killed policemen

[09] "Red-Barnet" helps sportive movement in Shkodra

[10] Tirane has the lowest hygiene level - UNICEF

[11] Physical security, accommodation greatest problems for Kosova children

[12] Budget finances on infrastructure realized by 2.2 billion Leks during 11 month-period

[13] Soccer: Teuta leads classification list after matches of 12th week

[14] Parliament of Albanian children, new UNICEF project

[15] Ten Kurdish illegal emigrants forced to turn back

[16] Hans-Peter Furrer to visit Albania on Sunday

[01] Corruption and fight against it, government priority - Meta

"The issue of corruption and fight against it is a priority of the government, as this is a grave problem, a problem which has to do not only with central government, but also much more with with local administration, where funds are not realised, where there are many other problems," said Meta in his speech at Parliament's session to discuss draft-budget 2000.

Then Meta referred to the Democratic Party's seven point anti- corruption platform put as a condition for the government and which has only one or two valuable proposals.

"We have declared that will take into consideration and also work daily with the opposition and any one else so that finally the politicians, statesmen as well as businessmen realise that they cannot get rich illegally in this country, that finally no new pyramids can be set up because we ruined the old pyramids and will carry this process through to the end."

"In case the opposition is sincere, it should join the anti- corruption platform, which has much more points than the DP platform," said Meta, who again invited Berisha to reflect.

"We will build the institutions serving all Albanians. They will be long term and respect for them will not change with the alternation of political forces in democracy," said Meta in conclusion. /s.sh/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Press review

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily,

"Criminals escape death". The Constitutional Court yesterday decided to scrap death sentence in Albania. Twenty convicts waiting execution felt themselves relieved yesterday. "Money on electricity, roads....ready". The Albanian Parliament yesterday approved the draft-budget of 2000 by a majority of votes after a two-day marathon of stormy debates and polemics. "Berisha: DP won, pensions US$ 50". DP chairman Sali Berisha, in his speech in Parliament yesterday asked to halve taxes and promised wage and pensions increase, in case DP returns to power.

Shekulli, independent daily,

"Killers will not be killed". The Constitutional Court decided yesterday to scrap death sentence in Albania. "Justice Minister: 'This is a historic decision'". This was how Justice Minister Ilir Panda commented the constitutional Court's decision on scrapping capital punishment yesterday in Albania. "Meta: The time of weapons is now over. Berisha should know that the time of attacking institutions by means of weapons is over". This is what Meta said to DP chairman Sali Berisha in Parliament yesterday.

Zeri i Popullit, daily of the Socialist Party of Albania

"Berisha, even 83-years old, you will face trial" "The Court will no more sentence anyone to death" "A thirty-minutes debate in parliament among Berisha, Meta, Majko, Malaj and Hajdaraga. Berisha quits the hall". /lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreign currency exchange rates

Currency Buying Selling US$ 135 135,4 DM 71 71,5 ITL (1000) 71, 4 71,7 GRD (100) 41,8 42 /sm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Some US$ 400 000 to study feasibility of terminal

A US$ 400 000 grant will help define more accurate solutions for the future of containers on the east of the Eight Corridor.

Arben Llapi, specialist of the unit for monitoring investments close to this port, told ATA that the U.S. Agency for Development has selected the "Moffatt & Nicol" company to study the feasibility of the freighters' terminal and its specialists will be present in Durres port soon.

The terminal will be set up on the port's southeastern part and will serve as a site for loading and unloading the containers to arrive from the West European ports and those arriving from the inside of the continent by road.

This study envisages several phases of implementing projects, which, according to an approximate financial forecast will require US$ 92 million for completion. /lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] British club opens in Tirane

"We will try to open such entertaining and cultural centers for the youth also in other cities of Albania," he said. /sm/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Albania to participate in "Berlin International Green Week"

Albania has regularly participated in this fair since six years ago.

"This is a good 'chance' for all private subjects, which want to exhibit their agricultural and livestock products at international level," said the specialist of Agriculture at GTZ, Ismail Beka. /sm/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] President Meidani leaves for China

Meidani will meet with the head of the Chinese State, Yang Zemin, as well as with other senior authorities of the People's Republic of China.

In this visit Meidani is accompanied by Parliament's deputy Speaker Namik Dokle, Secretary General of the Presidency Daut Gumeni, Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, Finance Minister Anastas Angjeli, Minister of Public Economy and Privatisation Zef Preci, Chief of the Army General Staff, Brigade General Aleks Andoni, head of the Parliamentary Economic Commission Arben Malaj, Governor of the State Bank Shkelqim Cani, Director of KESH Farudin Hoxha and others. /lh/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Albanian-Greek firm provides aid for families of killed policemen

The owners of this firm, Gergji Disho and Fili Xavellas, distributed 170 boxes of clothes, productions of their firm, to the families of the policemen killed all over the country. The aid is worth over five million leks.

Xavellas says that the aid was distributed on the occasion of Christmas and will continue in the future. /lh/lm/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] "Red-Barnet" helps sportive movement in Shkodra

"There have been created nine different teams, in soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, chess, ping-pong and others, with the participation of the students of various high schools such as "Preng Jakova" and "Shejnaze Juka", the sport's coordinator close to this association, Enver Hyseni told ATA. According to him every afternoon, in the sportive premises of these schools, will be organized sportive activities conducted on the basis of a program drafted for this purpose.

This association has helped repair sportive premises damaged during the last four years. More than 120 fresh sportsmen are trained, helped by different coaches of this association. /so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Tirane has the lowest hygiene level - UNICEF

According to this report, only 35% of flats taken as samples in Tirane were connected with the central system of sewage network, while the correspondent figure in other cities was 70%.

In the meantime only 28% of apartments of the capital had regular service for garbage removal.

The biggest problems are estimated to be in the suborn of the city where are being constructed new houses. /led/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Physical security, accommodation greatest problems for Kosova children

"In Kosova exists a vacuum of physical security that can not be completed by the International bodies operating in this region", Elena Poptodorova, reporter of the European Parliament for Kosova children pointed out, stressing that the first thing to be established there, is public order and security.

Another imminient but long term problem as well, is the accommodation which mainly influences on children, pointed out Poptodorova. "A considerable part of the people will pass this winter in roulots and special tends of UMNIK, which are not safe for health".

The education in Kosova has made good progress, securing schools and other education premises. In the meantime the pre-school education is the most neglected, pointed out the European reporter who has visited all camps of refugees in Kosova before and after the war. /so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Budget finances on infrastructure realized by 2.2 billion Leks during 11 month-period

By the end of 1999 the fund on road reconstruction is thought to amount to over 150 million Leks while a sum of 62 million Leks is used on road asphalting.

A fund of 17 million Leks was used during this time period on bridge construction. /dast/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Soccer: Teuta leads classification list after matches of 12th week

Follow the results of football matches:

Dinamo - Bylis 0-0

Flamurtari - Elbasani 3-0

Skenderbeu - Lushnja 2-1

Teuta - Shkumbini 2-0

Tirana - Shqiponja 4-1

Tomori - Partizani 2-1

Vllaznia - Apolonia 1-0

Classification after the matches played

1. Teuta 25 points 8. Elbasani 17 points 2. Tirana 21 9. Dinamo 16 3. Tomori 21 10.Shkumbini 14 4. Shqiponja 19 11.Skenderbeu 14 5. Lushnja 18 12.Partizani 13 6. Vllaznia 18 13.Flamurtari 10 7. Bylis 17 14.Apolonia 7 /dast/A.A/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Parliament of Albanian children, new UNICEF project

This project was made public on Friday at the conference organized on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Convention of Children's Rights.

The children, through the creation of this parliament, will have the possibility to discuss and decide how to solve their problems, said UNICEF counsellor Leon Shestani.

The pilot project, to be conducted in three phases, will begin to be realized by the beginning of 2000 in Tirana and other cities of Albania such as Shkodra, Gjirokaster and Vlora. /lh/so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Ten Kurdish illegal emigrants forced to turn back

The Kurds, who had entered Albania's territory through Greece aiming at Italian coasts passing from Vlora, were blocked at around 10:00 on Saturday.

Border police accompanied them to the district commissariat, and forced them to turn back after having made the necessary verifications.

Recently, with the intensification of the control in border points have been reduced cases regarding Kurds that aim to go to Italian coasts. While since the beginning of '99 and up to now the number of Kurdish illegal emigrants detained and forced to turn back by the border police amounts to 350. /dast/so/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Hans-Peter Furrer to visit Albania on Sunday

Furrer, during his stay in Albania, will meet with Albanian state senior officials as Premier Ilir Meta, Parliament's Speaker Skender Gjinushi and the deputy minister of Foreing Affairs Pellumb Xhufi.

Also, he will meet with the Minister of Education Et'hem Ruka, Minister of Culture Edi Rama, deputy Minister of Local Government Liri Jahi as well as with the Parliamentary Commission of Human Rights.

The Political Head of the Council of Europe, Hans-Peter Furrer has recently visited Albania in November 11, 1999. During this visit he was awarded "Citizen of Honor of Tirana" title given by Tirane Town - Hall. /so/

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