Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-12-13

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Peace Bell arrives in Gjirokastra

[02] Chief of CAM-SEA in Durres replaced

[03] Exchange rates in Tirane

[04] New health centre built in Maliq

[05] Durres youth says no to weapons

[06] School in Vlore reconstructed

[07] Number of unemployed reduces in Kukes

[08] Problem of national minorities in focus of Xhufi-Furrer meeting

[09] Peace Bell continues travel in southern Albania

[10] Geology: National Program on Research and Development

[11] Customs incomes plan 2000 marks 47,550 billion leks

[12] Police of Adriatic and Ionian watered-countries to fight organized crime

[13] Tax incomes mark 25,8 billion leks

[14] "Towards new century without conflicts" project for high schools

[15] DP expels moderators from representation in international commissions and organizations

[16] Skampa at the eve of theatrical meeting '99

[17] Agreement on money transfer between Albapost, Western Union Financial Services Inc.

[18] Furrer highlights removal of death penalty in Albania

[01] Peace Bell arrives in Gjirokastra

At first it passed through the Museum of Arms, contrasting in a way its origin. This bell was prepared by the shell casings gathered by children of Zadrima, Lezhe.

"The dream of the children and of the all Albanians is that all world weapons enter the museums. Let's make rapid trains with their metal so that children can travel all over the world", Don Antonio Sharra, Vatican's missionary that accompanies the Peace Bell said in his speech adressed to the people present at the center.

The Peace Bell, that started its trip through Albania from Lezha, on Monday is expected to arrive in Saranda, Delvina and Tepelena. According to Don Antonio Sharra, " this bell will toll in Prishtina as well". /led/so/

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[02] Chief of CAM-SEA in Durres replaced

Gentile, aged 52, commander of the Guardia di Finanza forces in Mesina, replaces in this office Major Sante Tani, at the end of its last mission in Albania.

The mission, deployed in Durres port, has been operating in Albania since last April. Financed by the Albanian government and the European Union, the mission serves as a support for the 21st Division of the Eur.- customs, centered in Tirane. The primary task of the Italian-Albanian crew of the mission's ships is to fight contraband on sea. /lh/lm/

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[03] Exchange rates in Tirane

Foreing currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling US$ 136 136,4 DM 71,1 71,5 ITL (1000) 71,6 72

GRD (100) 41,9 42,1

/lh/so/

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[04] New health centre built in Maliq

Pecani said that around 70 million leks, provided by the government, has helped build a two-storied building of this centre. This centre has also been completed with new medical apparatuses and equipment.

Works have begun in the Korce district to rehabilitate 35 health centres, of which 31 in villages. The works are being carried out by the U.S. humanitarian association "Action against hunger", through a fund of $500 000. /lh/lm/

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[05] Durres youth says no to weapons

Over 1500 young men and women of Durres, for about an hour and a half, attended a performance by renowned singers of Albanian light music and young musical groups of the city. According to the organizers, the concerts performed in the framework of the World Day in defence of human rights aim at transmitting the message "life will be more beautiful and secure if weapons are thrown away".

The concert given in Durres is the second after that performed in Berat several days ago, while other concerts will also be due in Vlore, Shkoder, Gjirokaster and Korce. /lh/sm/lm/

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[06] School in Vlore reconstructed

The reconstruction of an eight-year school in the village of Akerni, Vlore district, has been inaugurated.

The project, worth 20 million leks, was financed by the Council of Europe (CE), through the Italian non-governmental association "AVCI", which realised its implementation.

Attending the ceremony on the occasion were also representatives of the local government, OSCE and others.

This is the third project the Italian association has completed in Vlore through CE financing. /lh/so/lm/

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[07] Number of unemployed reduces in Kukes

Omuri said that if by the beginning of this year there were 6 240 unemployed, this figure has now reduced to 5 300.

This is due to job creations in the private companies dealing with small business, especially after the opening of borders with Kosova.

Illegal work still remains a serious problem. According to Omuri controls exercised on the private sector show that around 2000 persons are employed in private companies. But the majority have not yet been insured by these companies, says Omuri. /lh/so/lm/

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[08] Problem of national minorities in focus of Xhufi-Furrer meeting

Mr Xhufi highlighted the steps undertaken by the Albanian state in the context of the democratisation of the society. "The successful facing on your part of the Kosova crisis proves that you have considerable forces of equilibrium and cooperation," he said.

Mr Furrer linked closely his visit to Albania with the question of minorities. "This fact-gathering visit to some countries of the region will be materialised with the organisation of a conference at the level of foreign ministers of the CE member countries in Lubljana," said the Political Director in CE.

Mr Xhufi evaluated the holding of the Lubljana conference and reiterated that the Albanian Government is considering with priority the question of minorities because their maltreatment has contributed to the creation of the conflicts in the region. /led/xh/

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[09] Peace Bell continues travel in southern Albania

The bronze symbol, weighing 500 kg, put on an open vehicle back part and decorated with other peace symbols such as dove, olive branch etc., passed through the main boulevard along the Ionnian seashore.

Children from Zadrima of Lezha, who have made the bell with the cartridges they have collected and who are accompanying their 'invention' along the estafette travel, gave a concert for those present.

The local authorities of Saranda and the missionary of the Vatican, Don Antonio Sharra addressed those present in the ceremony made to welcome the Peace Bell.

"Let us spread in all the generations the message of the Albanian President Rexhep Meidani carved on this bronze bell: "Peace has the name of the children. Let us serve it the way we serve our children," said the Vatican missionary. /dast/xh/

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[10] Geology: National Program on Research and Development

Based upon "National Program on Research and Development" the geological services marked good results in finding new mineral sites and at the same time it supported other branches of the economy, such as construction of the infrastructure, tourism, during the last four-years period.

27 important projects, such as the study on seismic regions of Albania, geological study of sand areas in the region Kreshpan-Patos- Marinez-Kolonje and on review of the oil and gas reserves in Kucove-Arrez- Ras-Pekisht, are implemented.

Deputy Minister of Public Economy and Privatization Viktor Doda hailed the geology specialists, who after estimating the achievements of this program stressed that they should be in conformity even with the programs of Stability Pact. /led/linda/

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[11] Customs incomes plan 2000 marks 47,550 billion leks

The increase of some 23% of custom incomes for the year 2000, is foreseen in the state budget approved by Albanian Parliament few days ago.

Referring to operative data taken from the General Custom Directorate, the total value to be cashed in state budget during the 11 months period of 1999 is some 32,471 billion leks, from 38,773 billion leks planned or 84% of the plan.

According to the above mentioned sources, 37,457 billion leks against 43,5 billion leks planned are foreseen to be cashed in the state budget in 1999, by marking a deficit of nearly 6 billion leks. /dast/linda/

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[12] Police of Adriatic and Ionian watered-countries to fight organized crime

The press office of the Ministry of Public Order told ATA on Monday that representatives of the highest police levels of Italy, Albania, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro had a meeting last Friday and Saturday in Bari of Italy in which they discussed the indispensability and the forms of cooperation between police in the fight against organised crime, men- smuggling, drug trafficking, to prevent entry of stolen vehicles, etc.

At the end of the meeting, the participants signed a joint declaration in which they stressed that the police structures of the countries watered by the Adriatic and Ionian seas are charged with tasks and responsibility in the fight against organised crime and illegal traffics. /dast/xh/

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[13] Tax incomes mark 25,8 billion leks

The total value to be cashed in November is nearly 2,5 billion leks against 2,6 billion planned. The value to be cashed by the tax institution on December is 3,4 billion leks, a high figure to be fulfilled.

According to the sources from the General Tax Directorate, although the monthly incomes have been positive ones, 99% of the plan of 1999, worth 29,2 billion leks, is foreseen to be implemented. /dast/linda/

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[14] "Towards new century without conflicts" project for high schools

The project will be carried on by the Foundation "Reconciliation of disagreements" in Tirane in cooperation with Soros foundation.

The project aims at transmitting peace messages for the students of these 20 schools and it will be carried ahead even in other schools of the country. /dast/A.A/

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[15] DP expels moderators from representation in international commissions and organizations

DP deputies, including here the ex-deputy chairman of DP Genc Pollo and functionaries of this party such as Leonard Demi, Ylli Vejsiu, Ferdinand Xhaferri and others qualified as moderates in that party, have opposed the present political line of DP and especially that of chairman Sali Berisha. They have gone so far as to accuse him of profiting and abusing with his post.

DP chairman Berisha said in his address to the Parliament on Monday that the moderates "with their acts have become spokesmen of Fatos Nano and Skender Gjinushi."

The DP chairman also focused on the murder of deputy Azem hajdari in September last year, accusing the Albanian Government of "being unable to find the killer of deputy Hajdari."

The DP National Council focused in its meeting on the adoption of some amendments to the inner regulation of the party, the disciplinary commission and other internal questions of the party. /dast/xh/

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[16] Skampa at the eve of theatrical meeting '99

Concepted as a joint table of the national and international scene art, in this meeting will take part 12 theatrical troops. Six of them are foreign troops while the rest are from Elbasan, Fier, Durres, Publimedia and the private company OAZ.

The president of this activity is the mayor of the town-hall Engjell Dakli and its opening will be accompanied by a ceremony on Dec. 15, while the troop of Sarajevo theater Kamerni-Theatre will compete with the play "Rose in a tattoo" authored by Tenis Williams.

This activity is initiated by Skampa theater in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture which has delivered a fund worth 4 million Leks to the Elbasan town-hall, Soros foundation and other donors. /dast/A.A/

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[17] Agreement on money transfer between Albapost, Western Union Financial Services Inc.

According to the leader of the Western Union in Albania Edmond Leka "the agreement with Albapost will help extend a quick money transfer service all over Albania".

"Albapost guarantees that its service will be the same with the service of other money transfer agencies" said the director of Albapost Aleksandra Çollaku.

Albapost aims at extending this service in all the post offices of Albania till the end of 2000.

According to the director of Western Union for Southeastern Europe Conrad Olszaneski, this company has signed agreements with 25 post associations all over the Europe.

The network of Western Union Money Transfer is the biggest of this kind in the whole world and it has got more than 75 000 agencies in more than 175 world countries. /dast/A.A/

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[18] Furrer highlights removal of death penalty in Albania

Making a summary of Albania's activity carried out in cooperation with the Council of Europe, PM Meta mentioned the ratification of the European Charter of Local Autonomy and in this context the legal package being prepared for the decentralisation of the local government and the projects and assistance in the field of judiciaries.

As far as the rights of the national minorities are concerned, PM Meta stressed that Albanian Parliament has adopted in June this year the convention on the defence of minorities.

"We think that our region will progress when all will accept a philosophy of cohabitation, when all will accept the existence of a multiethnic society, because this will open the way to the integration of the region of Southeast Europe," said Meta.

Furrer brought to evidence the present problem of the region for the creation of a climate of tolerance and cohabitation so that a multiethnic society be formed in the region.

"In this context, Albania may assist a lot and may serve in the future as a main factor for the complete integration of the region in the European organisations," said Furrer. /dast/xh/

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