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

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Responsibility and correctness at work, otherwise we shall be merciless - PM Meta

[02] Republican Party opposes decision for removal of death penalty

[03] European Bank of Investments gives 15 million EURO for ferry boats' terminal in Durres

[04] Over 50 tons of pesticides risk environmental pollution

[05] Some US$150 000 to asphalt Shkoder ring-road

[06] Austrian Government finances rehabilitation of Lac aqueduct

[07] U.S. Red Cross provides aid for pensioners

[08] Korce to have state - owned TV station in 2000

[01] Responsibility and correctness at work, otherwise we shall be merciless - PM Meta

This was stated by the Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta in the meeting he had on Saturday in the General Department of Roads.

"Roads which are being made should be considered as national assets. Though new roads are under construction, they must be maintained continuously, " said Mr Meta to the senior officials in the General Department of Roads.

With 12 million USD that the U.S. Government gave to Albania, the Albanian Government has decided to construct the Durres-Morine road and for this the projects and the respective tender must be made immediately, said Meta. This decision has the message that the Albanian Government must not spread the foreign funds and the foreign aid delivered, in many directions and in many hands, but must concentrate on long-term projects and mostly on those in the infrastructure which help the long-term development of the country.

"Each minute that passes regarding the realisation of the projects reduces the capabilities of the country to attracts foreign and inner investments, but at the same time it lowers the capabilities of the country's development." In addition to this, the Prime Minister demanded from the staff of the General Department of Roads to put an end to sluggishness in the realisation of procurements and a fast construction of new roads. /led/xh/

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[02] Republican Party opposes decision for removal of death penalty

"Such a division cannot lower the cases of crime in the country. Before taking this decision, ways must be found to reduce the level of crime," said in yesterday's press conference the RP deputy chairman, Maksim Begeja.

He added that the republicans will not renounce their demand for a people's referendum through which they must determine to respect or remove the capital punishment.

During this conference, republicans focused on the state budget for 2000, which the Parliament adopted recently. "RP voices its opinion that this budget is the budget of a continuous poverty in the country, it provides no convincing arguments for its figures, presented by the Albanian Government," said Mr Begeja.

Last Friday, the Parliament adopted the state draft budget for 2000, which was considered by the deputies of the parliamentary majority as a budget of the macro-economic consolidation, while one of the opposition deputies and those of the DP in particular considered it the budget of poverty. /era/xh/

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[03] European Bank of Investments gives 15 million EURO for ferry boats' terminal in Durres

The trench of 1.5 million EURO is part of the credit of 5 million EURO signed in 1995 for the reconstruction of the freighters platform. The above sources said that in order to gain time, the procedures for the tender will be eliminated and this fund will be given to the Italian firm Cosmar, which has won the tender for the extension of the existing terminal of ferry boats. The 1.5 million EURO fund will serve to asphalt 8200 square meters in a new square for the terminal.

The work for the terminal is continuing at satisfactory rates by the Italian firm Cosmar, which is using a grant of 2.2 million EURO of the European Union. /led/xh/

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[04] Over 50 tons of pesticides risk environmental pollution

Around 50 tons of pesticides stored in the agricultural warehouses in Berat, southwest of Albania, risk the pollution of the environment and, as a result, the health of the inhabitants of the surrounding areas.

"We have asked from the local bodies as well as from the Ministry of Agriculture to remove and eliminate the pesticides, but this problem has not been solved yet," the regional director for environment, Ferdinand Kurteshi, told ATA on Sunday.

The penetration of rain into the warehouses, where this amount of pesticides is stored, has caused their spreading also in the surrounding environment, he said.

Referring to this problem, the district agricultural director, Asqeri Shehu, explains that since 1995 the respective ministry pledged that the pesticides would be removed by a German firm but nothing had been done so far.

The pesticides have been stored since in 1989. One year after, they were inundated by rains, becoming useless for agriculture. Meanwhile, according to Kurteshi, some four tons of other pesticides (strong poisons), found in the state reserves deports, are to be eliminated. /lm/

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[05] Some US$150 000 to asphalt Shkoder ring-road

The specialist of the public works office in the city's municipality, Zenel Kastrati, told ATA that ADF has recently provided a fund of US$ 150, 000 for the rehabilitation of the city's ring-road.

The Shkoder ring-road, built since in 1988, has also been gravely damaged by illegal constructions. The works for the rehabilitation of this road are expected to begin on the first days of the next year.

This year the ADF has also financed eight other projects of infrastructure, such as rehabilitation of roads, aqueducts, schools.

Since its creation in 1994 this fund has financed US$1.5 million for the infrastructure of Shkoder district. /lm/

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[06] Austrian Government finances rehabilitation of Lac aqueduct

The Austrian Government has provided 98 million leks for the rehabilitation of the Lac aqueduct, the chairman of Kurbin district council, Leni Ruci, reported on Sunday.

She said that this fund will help replace pipes, some 4 km long, from the pumping station down to the reservoir.

Ruci said that the respective documentation has been completed and the bid to define the firm to engage in rehabilitating the aqueduct will be held soon. The works are expected to begin in January and are expected to end by June 2000, said Ruci.

Meanwhile, the French humanitarian association "Vivente" has undertaken the rehabilitation of the internal network of this aqueduct. /lh/lm/

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[07] U.S. Red Cross provides aid for pensioners

Bilali said that the aid, consisting mainly of food, is benefiting 12 000 pensioners, of whom 8000 in the city.

It is the second time that the U.S. Red Cross has brought aid for this category of people in the Shkoder district.

"The project of this organisation, which started one month ago, will continue until November 2000," said Bilali.

The Red Cross has extended this project to 12 northern and northeastern districts of the country. The project will benefit with food aid over 31 000 pensioners of this districts. /lm/

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[08] Korce to have state - owned TV station in 2000

He said that over $150 000 will be spent for its construction. /lh/lm/

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