Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 00-01-05

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Calendar of 2000 for Albanian emigrants in Greece

[02] Academy of Sciences to run implementation of 5 national programmes in 2000

[03] Press Review

[04] Some 500 million DM provided for Kosova electric-economy

[05] Exchange rates in Tirana

[06] Government priorities for 2000 - strengthening of institutions, infrastructure

[07] Motorboats workshop in Shkozet changes destination

[08] Universities open auditors to students

[09] Freezing leaves Kukes in total blackout for 24 hours

[10] Encouragement of Employment among main objectives of 2000

[11] What does Himare offer to foreign tourists?

[12] Development Fund increases financing on Kukes infrastructure

[13] "Albtelekom" net profit in 1999 to be 3,388 billion leks

[14] Albanian Parliament to improve legislative infrastructure of Local Government

[15] Increasing of Albanian emigrants influx returning Greece

[16] Ministry of Local Government takes measures for local elections

[17] Weather forecast for Thursday

[18] Frost renders difficult circulation of vehicles in Gjirokaster city

[19] 180 thousand tons fuel cleared in 1999

[20] Belgium Red Cross makeshift camp to be used for training of order forces

[21]

[22]

[23] Albanian Ministry of Health takes necessary measures for influenza epidemic

[24] Six carriages donated by Italian Government reach port of Durres

[25] Frosty roads block traffic in rural areas of Tepelena

[26] Two soldiers of Civil Defence of the Republic lost lives from cold

[01] Calendar of 2000 for Albanian emigrants in Greece

The publication of this calendar has been made possible by the Arvanitas renowned scholar Aristidh Kolja, through his publishing house Thamiras, in Athens, Greece.

The calendar, in the pages of each month, presents views from Albania's territories and cities also accompanied with proverbs.

Kolja has also published several study books mainly on the Arvanitas history, among which "The Arvanitas and the Greek language", "The proclamation of the Arvanitas League 1899", "Early Arvanitas studies", and has published the three months magazine Arvanon.

During the last decade, the Arvanitas scholar helped many Albanian authors who are temporarily living in the Greek capital. /dast/lm/

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[02] Academy of Sciences to run implementation of 5 national programmes in 2000

According to the scientific Secretary of the Academy Eduart Sulstarova "Natural Resources", "Albanological Studies", "Systems and Technologies of Information", "Biotechnology and Biologic diversity", "Geology, extraction and processing of minerals", are the main programmes for which implementation will be engaged qualified employees of affiliated institutions of the Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

In the meantime each institution has defined several mini-projects depending on these programmes.

"A fund worth seven million leks will make possible the implementation of the projects of this programme which, during this year, will be focused close to the Institute of Hydrometeorology in Tirana", said Sulstarova. /lh/so/

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[03] Press Review

Koha Jone, independent daily,

"State senior officials to quit party tasks". The Socialist Party (SP), for the first time this year, will present a new working method among the Albanian political parties of the last ten years. Since the first days of this year SP has made ready the working programme until December 31, 2000. "Reformers: It is high time to unite with Berisha". Opponents to the DP leader, Sali Berisha, ask coordination of political activity with the official DP. "Nano, Meta, Dokle and Ruci: SP and government performance to be analysed every month". The SP chairman, Fatos Nano, Premier Ilir Meta, Secretary General Namik Dokle and chairman of the parliamentary Group Gramoz Ruci, will meet at the end of each month to make an all round analysis.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily,

"December 31, two soldiers die from cold". Two youths from Skrapar, who were on military duty in Tirane, could not celebrate the New Year with their families as they died from cold at the gorge of Devria. "Gjinushi: Inquiries into our properties". This is what Skender Gjinushi, Speaker of Parliament, declared yesterday. "Koja pretends to become head of FRESH". Premier Ilir Meta is expected to withdraw soon from the position of the FRESH chairman and he is thought to be replaced by Gjergj Koja, currently deputy chairman of the Eur.-Socialists Forum.

Shekulli, independent daily

"Flu, four died in Tirana". Minister of Health Leonard Solis demanded an urgent meeting with his subordinates. In the meantime 120 persons in Librazhd have been infected by the Australian flu. "Two soldiers died from cold during New Year night". Two soldiers from Skrapar villages, while going home to celebrate the change of years, died from cold. "Kosova, independent or united with Albania". Interview with ADP chairman in Macedonia, Arber Xhaferri.

Albania, national independent

"Albania, the Balkans' black hole" "Two soldiers congeal on the snow" "More than half of the population can hardly make both hands meet"

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Albanian Democratic Party

"2000, Albanians on the square" "Shkoder of the new century - Free economic zone"

Republika, daily of the Albanian Republican Party

"Nano proposes Majko Minister of Defence" "Preci : Judiciary is corrupted" /lm/so/

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[04] Some 500 million DM provided for Kosova electric-economy

Kosova is facing a great shortage of electric power because of war destructions.

Kouchner, chairman of the Interim Administrative Council of Kosova, and the members of this Council, Hashim Thaci, Ibrahim Rugova and Rexhep Qosja, on Tuesday afternoon, visited the Electric Power Generation Firm. /dast/sm/so/

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[05] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreign currency exchange rates

Currency Buying Selling

US$ 134 134,5

DM 70,4 70,7

ITL (1000) 70,5 70,8

GRD (100) 40,5 40,7 /dast/so/

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[06] Government priorities for 2000 - strengthening of institutions, infrastructure

"We should work hard to eliminate vacuums in the existing legislation to make the Constitution of the Republic more concrete and applicable," Premier Ilir Meta said at the meeting.

The Albanian government will consider with priority the performance of the anti-corruption commission to draft and implement the anti- corruption strategy, so as to fight this form of crime.

The development of the country's infrastructure, willalso be a priority.

"Our attention will be concentrated on the rigorous implementation of the initiated projects (.....). Likewise, the completion of the medium and long term strategy on the Albanian Electric Power Generation and Distribution Firm (KESH), for the creation of other power sources and the reconstruction and maintenance of the grid is required," said Meta.

Meta asked from the cabinet members to follow with priority Albania's projects within the Stability Pact. /dast/lm/

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[07] Motorboats workshop in Shkozet changes destination

"This workshop, set up several years ago in Shkozet, has produced various small power motorboats. Now this workshop will not produce such speed boats, as it has reached a several-year contract with the Public Order Ministry for the production of powerful motorboats needed for the police forces," the Italian owner of this workshop, Graciano Partini, said.

The first powerful speedboat, ordered by the Public Order Ministry, to be used against illegal trafficking was completed on Tuesday.

The motorboat is 12 m long and has two powerful engines. This workshop employs 32 Albanian workers and now it will also produce spare parts for racing motorcycles in Italy.

This workshop has so far produced 80 tourist motorboats. /dast/lm/

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[08] Universities open auditors to students

"Rectorates and the leading staff of universities and higher schools of Albania, during this academic year, will apply new teaching programmes, more qualitative", Mimoza Hafizi, deputy minister of Education and Sciences told ATA on Wednesday.

The beginning of this new year at the same time marks the conclusion of new elections for the leading university posts. "These elections are being conducted in conformity with the new law "On the high education", and Constitution of the Republic of Albania. /dast/so/

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[09] Freezing leaves Kukes in total blackout for 24 hours

According to the director of the distrcit electric power affiliation, Besnik Kerxhalliu, this was caused by a cut of a high voltage wire, Fierze- Fushe Arrez, by the ice in the vicinity of Fierza on Tuesday.

According to him, since Tuesday afternoon, the two repairing brigades of Fierza and Fushe-Arez have been working to repair the defect, but snow and cold makes difficult the normal work of employees.

He said that for Wednesday afternoon in this region normal supply with electrical power is expected to resume in this region. /dast/sm/

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[10] Encouragement of Employment among main objectives of 2000

According to him, the encouragement of employment, will aim at the realization of long-term employments in private businesses gaining absolute priority as against the programme of public works.

This programme, only during the last year, made possible the employment of about 6 000 persons in the private sector.

According to figures of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the level of unemployment in Albania in 1998 reached 17,5%, as against 15,2 registered by the end of 1997. /dast/so/

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[11] What does Himare offer to foreign tourists?

The Himare shore on the South of Albania is one of the rarest beauties of the Albanian nature. At a length of 60 km it offers to Albanian and foreign vacationists not only the desired sand but also other pleasant surprises.

According to Mayor Anesti Dhimojani, Himare reserves the possibilities to satisfy the curiosity of those who love antiquity or the later Medieval periods. It has two very well maintained fortresses which, according to Dhimojani, may become the elements of a completed tourism.

"In the current condition and located at dominating points of the coast, they are very luring objects to attract foreign tourists," Dhimojani says.

He says that through few investments the road infrastructure, which leads to these two points, and the water supply and electric power network can be repaired. /dast/lm/

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[12] Development Fund increases financing on Kukes infrastructure

According to him, during this year AFD will intervene in all district's communes, mainly in rural roads building, aqueducts, health centers, schools and irrigation canals.

This fund will make possible the construction of about 20 objects located in 14 communes of the district. /dast/sm/so/

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[13] "Albtelekom" net profit in 1999 to be 3,388 billion leks

Referring to the sources from Albtelekom, the fixed telephone company, the annual net profit plan has been 2,782 billion leks, while it is expected to be fulfilled by 121,76%.

The incomes plan of the only company of that kind was 9,719 billion leks, and the value fulfilled in 1999 is nearly 10,134 billion leks or 104% of the plan.

The total value planned to be cashed by Albtelekom in the state budget was 3,1 billion leks.

The main target of Albanian Ministry of Public Economy and Privatization for the year 2000 is the beginning of privatization process of Albtelekom within the year. Albtelekom company will offer INTERNET service, as well.

The increase to 47 thousand telephonic numbers is foreseen to be implemented in several towns of Albania. /dast/linda/

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[14] Albanian Parliament to improve legislative infrastructure of Local Government

According to this office, in this frame the legislative and organization infrastructure of the local government will be improved. We can achieve such a thing through our possibilities and the assistance of the international organizations.

Better parliamentary control will be in use to prove the accusation for corruptions. For this purpose special anti-corruption commissions with define deadlines in conformity with the rules of the Parliament will be set up.

During this year Parliament will work even on improving Albanian legislation in conformity with the one of the countries EU members.

Special work will be performed by Albanian Parliament in implementing the Pact of Stability. /dast/linda/

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[15] Increasing of Albanian emigrants influx returning Greece

Nearly 300 Albanians moved to Greece every day from the two traveling agencies in Korca town, that perform the bus transport in the lines Korce- Seloniki and Korce-Athens. In order to face this influx always increasing, the travel agency "Skenderbeu" put in disposal 8 busses, while "Andeisa" agency has in service its four busses in the lines to Greece.

It is managed to face without any problem the number of the travelers, nevertheless the bad weather, told ATA the head of "Skenderbeu" agency Koco Irakli. /linda/

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[16] Ministry of Local Government takes measures for local elections

Referring to press office close to this ministry, the electoral code, drafted by the Juridical Department of Council of Ministers, after the analyze of the Ministry of Local Government, will be reviewed by the government and later on will be sent for approval to the Parliament.

The approval of "Electoral Code" will open the way to the drafting and implementing all the legal acts related with the local election of year 2000 and later on with the legislative one in 2001.

This ministry is working on several project drafts concerning the smooth-course of the elections.They have to do with the functioning of election law, administrative-territorial division of Republic of Albania, in order to perform the necessary improvements in municipalities and communes and make possible the establishing of the circuit.

Based upon the proposals of the Ministry of Local Government this division will include some 40 circuits and will be formed before the local election.

The computerized registration of the voters together with the acts of civil status will be performed, as well. /lh/linda/

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[17] Weather forecast for Thursday

The weather is envisaged to be sunny, the wind will blow slightly and averagely northwards.

The lowest and highest temperatures are forecast to be: in mountain areas -8 and 0 grade Celsius, lowland areas -4 and 8 and in coastal zones - 2 and 10 grades Celsius. /lh/xh/

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[18] Frost renders difficult circulation of vehicles in Gjirokaster city

According to these sources the characteristic roads of this city increase the danger for vehicles' slide. For this aim police forces are set up groups to control the speed of vehicles in the road segments where the danger is more obvious.

The road circulation is difficult even in the Qafe Muzine road segment, place where Gjirokaster is admistratively divided from Sarande. During the first hours of the morning no vehicle can move in this road. The movement in this road segment starts only after the scoria is hurled by the road-bridge enterprise.

Several accidents have occurred in this road and the number of persons who have lost their lives is great. /lh/A.A/

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[19] 180 thousand tons fuel cleared in 1999

Referring to these data, twice more fuels are cleared in the custom points during the year 1999 than the previous year.The total quantity cleared in 1998 was 88,2 thousand tons.

After the approval of the New Custom Code in May 1999, the custom taxes on several fuels increased, but such a thing does not affect on falling of the clearances of these products.

The legal entrance of the fuels in Albanian custom points during the second half of the year 1999 has been at the same level, by excluding here September, which was the most lucky month when some 20 707 tons fuels are cleared. March is the month when the lowest fuel quantity is cleared, some 5,561 tons.

The custom tax for all the goods is decreased to 18% in January 1, 2000. The greatest fall is benefited by gasoil, whose custom tax decreased to 10% from 20%. /dast/linda/

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[20] Belgium Red Cross makeshift camp to be used for training of order forces

The camp, built and administrated by the Belgium Red Cross during the Kosove crisis, on early Wednesday has passed into the administration of Durres prefecture and it will be used as a training place for the police forces.

Present in the ceremony held on this occasion were the Albanian Minister of Public Order Spartak Poçi, the Prefect of Durres Martin Cukalla and others. The protocol was signed for the Albanian part by the Prefect Cukalla and for the Belgium part by the logistic coordinator of Belgium Rec Cross, Pietro Tallarico.

Some 650 Kosovars were sheltered in this camp during the crisis in Kosove, while afterwards the camp was used for the handicapped children from Kosove and Albania. /lh/A.A/

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[22]

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[23] Albanian Ministry of Health takes necessary measures for influenza epidemic

Among most important measures adopted is increasing number of medical staff so that all the cases have the medical aid in the right time, insurance of medicaments reserve, more staff in first aid service, insurance of information in the quickest possible time.

With regard to the latest information for this problem, the Ministry of Health is keeping contact with the international medical institutions and the World Health Organisation. /lh/xh/

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[24] Six carriages donated by Italian Government reach port of Durres

He said that the six carriages will be installed in Tirane-Pogradec railway line, while 6 other Italian carriages have arrived six months ago and have been installed in the same railway line, that of Pogradec.

According to Burnaci, the incomes in the last two months of 1999 have been nearly 30 per cent higher as compared with the same period of the previous year and nearly 50 per cent higher than the incomes of November- December, 1997. /lh/xh/

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[25] Frosty roads block traffic in rural areas of Tepelena

According to this department, the axes of the road Progonat-Tepelene is unpassable due to the frozen layer reaching as high as 20 cm.

The staff of the rural roads maintenance department have poured scoria on this road to facilitate the movement of vehicles.

Though the traffic is not totally interrupted, problems have also been caused on the national road Gjirokaster-Tepelene -Ballsh due to the frosty weather there. The sector of road traffic close to the Tepelena police commissariat has installed police patrols in most dangerous road segments, helping the drivers passing through that zone. So far no accidents have been registered. /lh/xh/

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[26] Two soldiers of Civil Defence of the Republic lost lives from cold

According to the MCR chief in the Defence Ministry, colonel Bashkim Leka, the soldiers Kajo Osmanlliu and Andon Cenollari were going from village Kovecan, near the town of Çorovoda to return to their homes to celebrate New Year. They had left Tirana at 6 a.m. and arrived in Çorovoda at about 11 o'clock in the morning on December 30. Later, they were continuing their way home on foot.

The first body that was recovered was that of soldier Cenollari, said Leka. The frozen body was found by local police on January 1 and on the same day they had informed the Defence Ministry in Tirane.

On January 1, the Defence Ministry sent an helicopter with 8 officers on board, but due to the storm and the coldness, the searching was impossible on that day. The mission which continued on January 3 was to recover the body of the second soldier, which was found some 500 meters farther, the same sources reported. /lh/xh/

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