Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-12-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press Review

[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

[03] Abortion, another threat for Albanian society

[04] Soccer: After Partizani-Bylis 0-0, other week matches

[05] Qafe e Prushit road in Has rehabilitated

[06] Some 13 citizens killed in Kosova during November last 10 days

[07] About 6 000 compatriots arrive in Albania to celebrate Christmas, New Year

[08] Xhufi meets with French Foreign Ministry political director

[09] ADF will provide $ 365 000 on Tropoje infrastructure

[10] "CARE International" finances implementation of 17 projects

[11] Road Corridors to be completed in 2000

[12] Various handsels for Tirana children

[13] Two killers of policeman sent to prison for life

[14] Soccer: First phase of 61th National Championship is over

[15] Everts and Meta hailed establishment of Kosova Interim Council

[01] Press Review

"Koha Jone", independent daily -"U.S.:Albania at the head of the Balkans". The U.S. Ambassador in Tirana Joseph Limprecht expressed yesterday the wish of the U.S Administration that Albania plays a leading role in the Stability Pact in the Balkans. -"Meta, a cup of coffee in opposition's house". The Head of the Government Ilir Meta explained yesterday in front of Christian Democrats chairmanship their place in the anti-corruption fight. -"The two young men in jail for life". Tirana's District Court has sentenced the two assassains of the policeman Azem Meshi to imprisonment for life.

"Gazeta Shqiptare", indepedent daily -"Pensioner's gang captured". A group of swindlers, 30-years-old, have managed to defraud for several years the capital's Social Inssuarances profiting each month nearly 15 pensions, but now the police has arrested them. -"Zogaj: This is the anti-corruption fight". Interview of the Minister of State Prec Zogaj. -"Godo: I am against the SP Convention". This is what the Republican Sabri Godo said yesterday.

"Shekulli", independent daily -"Kills the mother, injures the father". After an ordinary quarrel a man, 32 from Shkodra, killed yesterday his mother, and after that injured his father and himself. -"Meta 'knockes' on Bushati". Premier Ilir Meta on Friday 'landed' in the Christian Democrats headquartes where he discussed their participation in anti- corruption commission. -"Pollo at Limprecht's office". DP former deputy chairman Genc Pollo on Friday met with the U.S. ambassador in Tirana Joseph Limprecht.

"Albania", National daily -"Kills his mother, injures the father and himself". -"Govement goes mad". -"Billiards leks to destroy a state".

"Zeri i Popullit", daily of the Albanian Socialist Party -"Meta attacks Berisha, and takes his allies". -"Nano arrives in Podgorice". - "Christian Democratic Opposition - to Premier: Government and us against condraband".

"Rilindja Demokratike", daily of the Albanian Democratic Party - "Akant: Hajdari cause should have been resolved". -"John Kennedy's assassaination still concerns Americans sleep".

"Republika", daily of the Albanian Republican Party -"Alkatel" expelled from bid". -"2000, the false policemen out". /so/

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[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreign currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling US$ 134 134,5 DM 70,2 70,5 ITL (1000) 70,5 70, 8 GRD (100) 41,2 41,4

/lh/so/

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[03] Abortion, another threat for Albanian society

According to the data issued by this institution some 5749 abortions, carried out under doctors control, can be numbered during only one year. The greatest part of the women and girls who undergo an abortion are about 15,30 -year-old.

Poor economic conditions or various social problems such as divorces and emigration make these girls abort to find a solution to the difficult position they may find themselves.

"Nearly 80% of them are housemaids, unemployed and have many children, while 20% are employees, students and pupils", a social employee of this hospital reports.

Statistics show that 50% of women that undergo abortions are 25-30- year-old, 40% are 15-25 year-old and 10% 30-40-year-old.

"We try our best to help these young mothers and convince them to keep the baby, but this is often very difficult because they have (mothers) many problems", the hospital social employee says.

In fact the abortion seems as a solution for the moment, she adds dwelling on, but psychological, emotional and health consequences always exist. /so/

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[04] Soccer: After Partizani-Bylis 0-0, other week matches

The match between Partizani and Bylis played in Tirana on Friday afternoon, score 0-0, opened the 13th and last week of the first phase of the 61-st National Championship of soccer.

Fixtures of this week are:

Partizani - Bylis 0-0

Apolonia - Skënderbeu

Dinamo - Tirana

Elbasani - Vllaznia

Lushnja - Teuta

Shkumbini - Tomori

Shqiponja - Flamurtari

Classification after the 12th week: 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 14 (+1) 6. Vllaznia 18 13.Flamurtari 10 7. Bylis 18 (+1) 14.Apolonia 7 /so/

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[05] Qafe e Prushit road in Has rehabilitated

Operations for the rehabilitation of the Qafe e Prushit road, 6,5 km long, one of the main axes that connects the Northeastern area of Albania with Kosova, the chairman of Has district council Hysni Alia reported.

A fund worth 13,7 million leks provided by the Albanian Fund of Development (AFD) made possible these operations carried out in two phases and concluded within four months.

In Qafe e Prushit operates one of the main customs offices that connects Albania with Kosova. People and small vehicles can pass through this border point since three months, while the passage of goods' vehicles will begin when UNMIK establishes customs officers on Kosova border points. /lh/so/

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[06] Some 13 citizens killed in Kosova during November last 10 days

This report, which includes the period from November 21 to 30, certifies further that among the killed are two women, while 14 other people have remained wounded (11 Albanians, one unidentified and two UNMIK polices).

The report says that during this period are registered three abductions, 13 Albanian victims are identified, and the dead bodies of two other Albanians killed by Serb forces before after the intervention of NATO forces are discovered. /lh/so/A.A/

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[07] About 6 000 compatriots arrive in Albania to celebrate Christmas, New Year

According to the authorities of border police, a part of them are Kosovars who had the first opportunity to come back to their families through Albania after 50 years.

The same source reports that the number of compatriots arriving to Durres is gradually increasing. Referring to travel agencies' records in Italy the number of clients who have booked seats for Durres is rather high and a record figure of travelers is expected to be marked for the last week of 1999.

Although during this year the number of ferries travelling on lines that connect Durres with Italian ports such as Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Trieste, the shipping agencies "Adriatica", "La Vikinga Lines", "Ventories Ferries" have decided to utilize other ferries in case of an unforeseen increase of travelers influx.

The staff of custom and border policy have adopted measures to face this great influx in both terminals where five ferries can be handled at the same time.

Durres is the second biggest city in Albania. /sm/A.A/

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[08] Xhufi meets with French Foreign Ministry political director

Deputy Foreign Minister Pellumb Xhufi on Friday met with the Political Director of the Continental Department of the French Foreign Ministry, Yg Pene, and discussed bilateral relations, the situation in Kosova, the Stability Pact and steps to be taken for Albania's integration into the European structures.

According to the Stability Pact, Xhufi mentioned the ongoing measures and the importance given to the Pact, considering it a priority of the Albanian government.

As to Albania's integration into the European structures and the significant contribution of the French government to this issue, Xhufi and Pene evaluated Albania's significant steps in approving the convention of the minorities rights, the charter of local autonomy, scrapping of death sentence and study of feasibility. /lh/lm/

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[09] ADF will provide $ 365 000 on Tropoje infrastructure

This fund will be used to construct the aqueducts of the villages Prush, Dushaj i Eperm, Lekbibaj and Haste; the inner roads of Markaj village which is 3.4 kilometers long, the road Llugaj-Bukove-Ragam, 5,4 kilometers long, as well as an irrigation canal in Shoshan village.

ADF has accorded as well another fund worth $ 135 000 for concluding the construction of the objects which remained unfinished due to the crisis in Kosove.

ADF has accorded since 1995 more than 80 million Leks for 39 objects in Tropoje communes. These funds were mainly utilized on rehabilitation of irrigation canals, rehabilitation of roads, health centers and the like. /led/A.A/

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[10] "CARE International" finances implementation of 17 projects

Wotkin reported that these project are concluded while nine others are in process. Among the finished projects she mentioned the construction of the social center of women, rehabilitation of National Museum of Medieval Art, as well as the food aid for children.

The projects being implemented in this moment are of a special importance and value. According to him with the fund of $ 150 000 is being rehabilitated the elementary school "Naim Frasheri" in the city, two kindergartens, as well as the irrigation network in villages.

For the future Wotkin paid a special attention to the project on rehabilitation of "A.Z.Çajupi", Art's Gallery, lightening system and the connection with Internet of the National Museum of Medieval Art through a finance of $ 250 000. /lh/A.A/

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[11] Road Corridors to be completed in 2000

In this frame the regional initiatives on reconstruction, such as Pact of Stability, three road corridors are foreseen to be constructed in Albania, East-West, North-South and Durres-Morine.

The construction of the road corridors started in 1993 with Tirana- Durres highway. Nearly 9 km of it are constructed till now.

The first segment of East-West corridor is Durres- Rrogozhine, where the construction operations started in March 1998. At the moment it is working on this segment, the first part of East-West Corridor in Albania, through the finance of some 19,8 million ECU accorded by PHARE Program.

At the moment it is working on Rrogozhina-Elbasan highway through the sum of nearly 20 million dollars allocated by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The construction of Librazhd-Qukes highway, 22 km, is financed by European Community with some 16 million dollars.

The construction of these two corridors in Albania, East-West and North-South, needs a total finance of some 1,6 billion dollars. Meanwhile, East-West Corridor needs in total 155,9 million dollars. Some road segments of North-South corridor are not financed yet and they need the sum of nearly 94,8 million dollars. /led/linda/

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[12] Various handsels for Tirana children

The Austrian organization distributed many handsels donated by Austrian children for Albanian ones, marking a total value of some 90 thousand dollars.

Tirana Mayor Albert Brojka and Austrian Ambassador in Tirana Arno Riedel by celebrating with the children thanked the organization for the presents, which serve as "a joining bridge of the friendship between the children of the two countries".

Austrian organization Hilfswerk is known for the assistance in food and clothes offered for Kosova refugees sheltered in Tirana families during Spring '99. /led/linda/

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[13] Two killers of policeman sent to prison for life

The court decides to declare guilty the defendants Skender Hyseni and Erion Veizi accused for killing in cooperation the policeman Azem Meshi, 26.

Meshi, policeman of Commissariat No.4 in Tirana, was found killed on June 4, at 05.00 in his way home.

Meshi, the father of two kids, is shot with two bullets in his head and he is shot in short distance, explained the experts. /linda/

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[14] Soccer: First phase of 61th National Championship is over

Meanwhile, the score of the other matches are as following: Partizani - Bylis 0-0

Apolonia - Skënderbeu 3-1

Dinamo - Tirana 1-2

Elbasani - Vllaznia 1-2

Lushnja - Teuta 3-2

Shkumbini - Tomori 3-0

Shqiponja - Flamurtari 0-0

The update results and standings:

1. Teuta 25 points 8. Shkumbini 17 points

2. Tirana 24 9. Elbasani 17

3. Tomori 21 10.Dinamo 16

4. Lushnja 21 11.Skenderbeu 14

5. Vllaznia 21 12.Partizani 14

6. Shqiponja 20 13.Flamurtari 11 7. Bylis 18 14.Apolonia 10 /linda/

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[15] Everts and Meta hailed establishment of Kosova Interim Council

Meta considered such a thing as "a positive step toward normalization of the life in Kosova".

OSCE Ambassador Everts came on Friday evening in Tirana for an official visit. Before his departure from Albania he is going to hold a press conference /led/linda/

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