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ATA News from Albania (96-06-26)Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] MORE TOURISTS IN PRIVATE HOTELSRealising the great potentialities the country offers, the Albanian government regards tourism as profitable business for private individuals.According to the Ministry of Tourism figures during the last three years in this field are invested or being invested some $150 million to construct hotels, tourists' villages or other tourists spots. The setting up of tourists structures of international levels, certainly is an undertaking which can't be achieved without the assistance of foreign investors. The remodeling of Tirana International Hotel by an Italian company and the construction of Rogner Hotel by an Austrian one, meanwhile the arabic company Mak-Albania after the construction of the motel in Linze, in the outskirts of Tirana through an investment worth of $5 million, is building up another hotel with five stars in Tirana through an investment of $32,5 million. There is a host of foreign companies engaged in such activities such as Mak Albania, Babini&Cantori, Torcello sa, STS srl, Elenica Isak Kryger and Wolfgang Endrich. Albanian investors too, alongside foreign ones, are following this way. A large number of them have joint ventures with foreigners. There are 3300 rooms and 6500 beds in all tourists spots spread over the country, and what adds to this are the 50,000 foreigners, whom have visited Albania during the first three months of this year. Some 2000 tourists have been accommodated in state hotels, meantime the number of tourists in private hotels has been around 7300. As summer comes in, it is expected a boost in the number of foreign tourists and locals as well. Family tourism is booming too, during summer time./S.Faja/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] FORTY MILLION LEKS TO FIGHT GRASSHOPPERSAlbanian government has lately accorded a fund of 40 million Leks to fight the grasshoppers which are widely spread all over the planted areas in Albania.The highest number of these insects is mostly found in the Central and South Albanian districts and is inclined to spread in new directions. The fund accorded by the Albanian government is nearly thrice that offered last year for this purpose Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] REPRESENTATIVES OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ATTEND "BORITEC" ACTIVITY IN MILANA delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and industry-Tirana, led by its Secretary-general participated in the Boritec activity (International stock exchange of Cooperation, Development and Investments," held in Milan of Italy recently.After meetings with representatives of Italian business, the Chamber established contacts with many companies interested to invest in Albania such as Coral Eng VI Group, which wants to set up in Albania a timber processing factory estimated at $2 million. Other companies as Electromecanica Colombo, s.e.s. interested in trading transformers and other electromechanical equipment, Project 200 interested in electric house appliances and UNI interested in the production of paper with raw material from accumulated used paper. During its stay in Milan, the Albanian delegation met with Prof Marini, Secretary General of Fiera di Milano and General Director of IPI (Institute for Industrial Promotion centered in Rome.) Pro Marini said he would help institutionalize the relations between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tirana and IPI. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] FISH EXPORT TOWARDS EXPANSIONThe lifting of the European Community barriers has influenced in the growth of Albania's fish export towards other countries, especially Italy.According to the institute of statistics only for a three month period an average of 2,2 tons of fish and 1,1 tons of prawns are exported. The export of sea products is increased 2 to 3 times as a result of a greater number of fishing boat along the coastal line starting from Shkodra north down to Saranda south. Another factor is the lifting of custom taxes. The introduction step by step of the monitoring system on sea productions as the examinations of fish species and checking of water quality have influenced in exporting a variety of fishes. After a temporary pause the eel export is expected to resume, mainly from fisheries in Lezha town. It is from this town that the fishing boats number is triple and some 450 people are employed. There are some 26 fisheries in the whole country according to the fishing centre. The prognosis of the fishing sector development according to the specialists will be expanded not only towards the export but also in the setting up of modern fisheries in order to secure more incomes from this sector. A.GJ. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] STATE TO BUY WHEAT FROM FARMERS AT A HIGHER PRICEThe Council of Ministers has recently decided that from June 20 the State Reserves General Department and the Wheat Store Enterprises in districts will buy the wheat from private farmers at the price of 20 leks per kilogram.The Agricultural specialist at the Wheat Department of the Food and Agricultural Ministry, told ATA that the substantial increase of the wheat price and consequently, the increase of the flour price in the international market at 30 to 35 per cent is among the measures that the Albanian government is taking to store farmers' reserves. Last year, the state bought the wheat at 15 leks per kilogram. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] INTERNATIONAL BODIES FOCUS ON FORESTRYAlbania's forests that cover an area of 36 percent of the whole country are now on the focus of the international bodies, who in cooperation with the forestry department are carrying out various projects to protect them.According to the specialists the massive wood export, which started after 1990, alongside with the process of deforestation is reduced now. Nevertheless the process of privatisation can completely curb the destruction of forests, they say. The Government with a special resolution has prohibited the export of unprocessed wood. The private ownership of part of forests is being implemented in some zones of the country as in Pogradec, Vlore and Lezhe. The U.S. International Aid Development agency has accorded $5million for the implementation of a project on the income increase from forests in rural areas and also on the qualification of the staff regarding the sector. Alongside with private forests will exist forests under the administration of the communes. A.GJ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] CONTRABAND CIGARETTES INTERCEPTEDSome 130 boxes of "Cooper" and "Partner" cigarettes were recently intercepted by customs police of the Elbasan district.The contraband goods was loaded on two trucks with plates of Tirana and Librazhd moving towards Qafe-Thane-Tirana. It was intercepted in a police blitz operation. The 1.3 ton cargo was worth 25 million leks, according to customs sources in Elbasan. The customs police had also intercepted earlier another contraband nine ton cargo of "Partner" cigarettes in the vicinity of Prrenjas, south of Elbasan. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] PRIVATE EXCHANGERS OPERATE LARGE SUMS OF MONEYAccording to the Albanian Centre for Economic Research the street exchange market, which has its beginnings in 1990-91 when banks still followed the regime fixed exchange, has expanded its activity alongside with the Albanian economy during this transition period.According to a survey conducted by the centre in the framework of the Balkan countries, including Bulgaria and Rumania, the characteristic of the informal currency market is that alongside the numerical growth of the exchangers, structural changes have occurred concerning the volume of the monthly cash turnover. This market circulates mainly hard currency sent by the Albanian emigrants as well as part of the currency that wholesale traders use for wholesale purchasing of goods in the neighboring countries. Almost all of interviewed, 94 percent of them, operate with a capital bigger than $5000 in a month while 21 percent of them circulates over $10 000. Here is included the biggest group of exchangers operating everyday in this market and that earn the profit from differences between the buying and the selling prices within the day. Nearly 71 percent of the interviewed exchangers operate with their own capital. They have consolidated their position using their profits in other investment. Only a small part of them, 4 percent, operate with borrowed capital playing the role of a broker. From some verbal interviews with another group of exchangers, it is confirmed that there are some people even a small number, that operate monthly sums worth of $10 million and carry out the exchange operations in the foreign banks especially Greek and Italian. They usually are operating with and profiting by differences in the exchange rate using in Albania with that of foreign banks. A feature of informal currency market is its segmentation. So, about 89 per cent of the interviewees operate mainly with only one of the four currencies: USD, DM, Lireta, and Drachma. This is linked with the economic regions in which one currency is more preferred and with which the Albanian businessmen carry out the transactions. Coastal areas prefer Italian Lira, Southern part Greek drachma and Eastern part DM. A. Lazaj. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES PRIVATE FARMERSOne of the main duties of the Agriculture Department of Kuksi district in the condition of free market economy, is the assistance towards the private farmers in order to face the free competition.So starting form 1993 some 140 tractors are delivered in this district. Through IFAD program the selective seed of potatoes is introduced to the private farmers, stirring up the interest of the farmers to cultivate more land with potatoes. Only during the spring the farmers have received some 90 kv patatoe seeds. The government has subsidized up to 70-80 per cent of its price, enabling the farmers to spend 30 leks per kilogram. M.Spa. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] PROMOTIONAL SALE FOR AUSTRIAN AIRLINES-Austrian Airlines offers special travel conditions for family members and all passengers, who travel abroad on Mondays and Thursdays.Manfred Wiltner, director General of this airline, which is installed in Hotel Rogner "Europa-park" in Tirana, said in a news conference on Friday that "Any family member can buy a ticket for any destination of the Austrian Airlines in Europe, while the other member of the family can get the same ticket at half price. Both family members can travel together on the same flight and at the same class of the above line. This offer is valid until August 28, 1996, said Wiltner who also familiarised reporters with the platform of the line, which is trying to include Albania in the tourist map of Europe and bring foreign tourists to Albania. Wiltner told press representatives that an information book on Albania is being prepared. It provides the necessary information on Albania as regards tourism, geography and commerce. The book will be distributed free of charge to many countries of Europe, he said. Austrian Airlines flew for the first time to Albania in the fall of 1993. Now this airline carries out six flights a week. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] PARTICIPANTS IN ILLEGAL OPPOSITION RALLY STAND TRIALTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA)-By A. Frasheri, Ten people, participants in the illegal rally held by the left opposition on May 28, two days after the May 26 elections in Albania, were brought to the court today.They are charged with "taking part in an illegal rally despite warnings made by the competent bodies". According to article 262/2 of the Penal Code, the defendants are fined or sentenced with up to three months jail. All 10 defendants were Socialist Party militants, ex-employees and collaborators of the communist secret police, Sigurimi. Before the forewarned rally was held, the Interior Ministry had made continuous warnings through the television and newspapers, saying that "for reasons of heavy traffic, the political parties are not allowed to hold rallies at the Skenderbej square". Despite the warnings, the organisers of the rally tried to reach the square and the police intervened to prevent the illegal meeting. The Interior Ministry had put at the disposal of the left opposition supporters other places to hold the rally such as squares, sports halls and stadiums. At the first sitting the court's jury decided to accept from the court all the evidence the defendants asked to be taken into consideration during the investigation. The panel of judges decided to continue investigation at another sitting on July 2, in which the defendants' testimony will be heard. After the partial results of the parliamentary elections were made available, according to which the Democratic Party won the majority, the left opposition forces issued successive appeals for illegal rallies and gatherings at the Skenderbej square. The left opposition withdrew their election commission members three hours before voting closed and boycotted the second round of the poll and the partial repetition of the elections on June 16, accusing the party in power, DP, of rigging the vote. s.sh/kei/lm/z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] ELISABETH REHN CONCERNED ON KOSOVA CHILDRENBELGRADE, JUNE 25(ATA) - The UN charge d'affaires on human rights in former Yugoslavia, Elisabeth Rehn, expressed Monday evening her deep concern about medical situation of children in Kosova.After talk with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Ren said she will do everything possible to improve the actual situation. Serbian officials treat the problem as " Albanians' lack of readiness to participate in the governing, in which their rights would be taken into consideration." According to the Albanian doctors in Kosova only 30 per cent of Albanian children are vaccinated against 80 per cent five years ago. Consequently 31 cases of paralytic children have been registered last years. "Only 44 per cent of the population have clean drinkable water" says the doctor of infectious diseases Ilir Tolaj. Many small towns have completely infected water according to his information. The autonomous status of the Kosova region whose 90 per cent population is Albanian was abolished by the Serbian leaders of Belgrade in 1989. Since then the Serbian leaders of Belgrade rule Kosova by using police methods.aca/fh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] ALBANIAN MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS FRANCETIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA)- An Albanian military delegation, including civil experts in the security policy and defence planning as well as other high ranking militaries, left for France on Tuesday, at the invitation of the French Defence Ministry.The visit is part of the cooperation agreement in defence between Albania and France, signed in May 1996 by the two countries' defence ministers, Zhulali and Millon. The implementation of the military agreement in defence will lead to the institutionalisation of relations between the Albania and France and the promotion of their military cooperation. jz/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] TIRANA AND EU TIES MAY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP FRUITFULLY -ministerTIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA)- The relations between Tirana and the European Union may continue to develop fruitfully, just as expected by Tirana, and, naturally, as wished by Italy, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini told the Chamber of deputies, on the closing of Italy's six month chairmanship of the EU.The newspaper Albania cites Dini as saying that Italy, also as holder of the EU presidency, has followed "with special attention" the last weeks' events regarding the electoral process in Albania. He expressed regret at the fact that the Albanian left opposition regarded as "inadequate the repetition of elections in 17 constituencies". Dini considered that "the second round of polls on June 2, was held under a great self-control climate" and that the June 16 voting was run without incidents". Dini said that reports from international rapporteurs show that "it is true there have been irregularities but not at the extent of considering the total voting invalid". "We cannot pretend elections of western countries' standards in Albania, after 50 years of a savage regime. And this should be taken into consideration". kei/lm/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] TWO GREEK MILITARY DELEGATIONS VISIT ALBANIATIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA) - Two Greek military delegations, one of the personnel and one of medical service arrived in a visit to Albania in the context of relations and cooperation in the field of defence.These delegations will talk with representatives of the Albanian Army and discuss concrete help they may offer in these fields. Besides reconstruction of the Polyclinic of Central Military Hospital in Tirana, the medical Greek delegation will closely see the reality and decide necessary medical apparatus and equipment for this hospital.jz/fh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] LDGSH DELEGATION ATTENDS EUCD WOMEN'S CONGRESSTIRANA, JUNE 25 (ATA) By A Sakja - A delegation of Albanian Democratic Women League (LDGSH) headed by its chairwoman Flutura Hasko attended the second women's congress of European Christian Democrat Union (EUCD) which was held in European Parliament in Strasbourg from June 20-21.Women of all central and right wing European parties as well as representatives of the same political colouring of East and Central Europe attended this congress. A special attention was paid by the congress to the Albanian women issue as a unique case of discrimination and oppression by the most savage communist regime in Europe. It greeted the contribution democratic women gave in the quick democratisation process in Albania. The congress stressed at the end that this forum should adopt a policy of closer contact and help for women of Central and Eastern Europe. The Albanian delegation had separate meetings with the Italian People Party delegation, Italian CDU, German CDU, Austrian People Party, French RPR and others. Albanian delegation had special meetings with the president of this union Euro-parliamentary Marlen Lenz, with the newly elected president of this congress Mrs. Agnes, the Dutch CDU representative and deputy presidents Doris Pack and Francesca Bernasara. It also had a meeting with the president of the Women's Christian Democrat International Anamaria Cervona who confirmed her desire and will for a further cooperation with democratic Albanian women. ssh/jz/fh/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] SDP CHAIRMAN WORDS IRRESPONSIBLE - GODOTIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA) - The Republican Party chairman, Sabri Godo, invited in Strasbourg with other Albanian party leaders by the European Parliament considered "irresponsible" the words of Social Democratic Party chairman Skender Gjinishi saying that "100 people were arrested only in one constituency.""According to Gjinushi's words it results that about 12 thousand people should have been arrested in 115 constituencies" Godo said. The Republican leader opposing Gjinushi's words that "the RP deputy chairman Fatmir Mediu had been badly beaten" is cited by "Albania" newspaper saying "he has not been touched at all." "I am the present RP chairman in this meeting and I do not understand how can a representative of another party, who has come to speak about his own party problems to speak for the Republican Party" Godo added. kei/fh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] LEGITIMACY OF ALBANIAN NEW PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE CALLED IN QUESTION-comissionTIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA)- The legitimacy of the Albanian new parliament cannot be called in question, the Council of Europe Political Commission concludes in the draft-resolution, expected to be approved this afternoon by the Parliamentary Assembly, Wednesday's newspaper Albania reports.The conclusion of the Political Commission fully complies with the final report of the OSCE parliamentary delegation which followed the elections in Albania. The draft-resolution takes into consideration the fact that the Albanian left opposition boycotted the polls nearly by the end of the first round. It also boycotted the second round and the partial rerun of elections in 17 constituencies. Both the government and the opposition should bear responsibility for the irregularities, the draft-resolution says. The draft-resolution prepared by the CE Political Commission will be submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly, after amendments proposed by the Albanian delegation, the paper says. After the hearing with the representatives of the Albanian political parties on June 24, the CE Political Commission discussed at a special session the May 26 elections process in Albania. The Political Commission members, headed by the Hungarian parliamentarian, Barshon, provided arguments about the legitimacy of the elections process in Albania based on various information and reports. "Albania has made a very impressive progress," said Greek deputy Aristotelis Pavlitis. "But I hold that Albania, its political forces and especially its institutions have been able to resolve the disagreements themselves. Let's leave Albania March on its own road". German deputy Klaus Byler and Austrian deputy Schwimer brought in the CE Political Commission facts and arguments on the legitimacy in which the elections in Albania had been held. Also, the deputies, members of the Political Commission, took into consideration the insufficient experience and the lack of democratic institutions in Albania for a long time and, above all, the extremely bad and long experience under the communist dictatorship. "We have been witnesses to cases of flagrant violations of the legitimacy also in other countries, even in those countries, which, in view of their history, can in no way be compared to Albania, the deputies in the Political Commission of the Council of Europe said. Also, the report of the Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Commission, Uksvarav, who monitored the elections in Albania, concluded that elections in Albania were valid. It did not in any way recommend their repetition. On June 25 afternoon, radio BBC begged Albanians's pardon regarding an earlier report, according to which OSCE had called for fresh elections in Albania. BBC justified its error with the fact that it had referred to the French news agency, AFP. kei/lm/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, JUNE 26 (ATA)-Today's newspaper Rilindja Demokratike carries the draft-resolution of the CE Parliamentary Assembly entitled:"Legitimacy of the Albanian parliament is indisputable".The paper carries an interview with the DP chairman, Tritan Shehu, who says that the Albanian opposition, in a paradoxical way, continues to throw mud at Albania and to insist on Albania's suspension from the CE. The paper also carries the article:"Who observed observers" by Mark Almond, observer in Albania from the Helsinki Committee for the Defence of Human Rights. The paper carries the debate about Albania European Parliament Political Commission entitled: "We cannot pretend to elections of Italian, Austrian and German standards in Albania". Zeri i Popullit says in its editorial that the CE Parliamentary Assembly will declare its official stand, which, according to the paper, will be :"Fresh elections after changes to the current legislation". The paper announces of a rally of the opposition in Tirana on Friday and carries the article: "The government delays in taking decisions", regarding a decision of the government to protect the land from erosion. The paper carries a pronouncement of the President of the Socialist Youth International, Nicola Zingaretti, entitled: "The manipulated parliament does not enjoy the support either of Albanians or of the democratic world". Republika carries the speech of RP chairman, Sabri Godo, at the expanded meeting of the EC Political Commission. It also carries the article:"Europe towards the Godo formula". Polit i Qendres carries the article: "Untimely elections and a compromising solution". The paper carries the article entitled:"Berisha brings Arsidi on the scene". Lajmi i Dites carries the article: "Andreas Papandreou - historic personality of Greece". Rilindja cites President Clinton as saying: "My platform also included the Kosova issue". The paper also carries the article: "The opposition wins Strasbourg's contempt". Koha Jone carries the editorial :"Europe: Consensus with untimely elections" and the article:"Storm" in the Supreme Court, six jurists leave". The paper says that U.S. President Clinton responds to the DAP leader N.Ceka, after the latter's visit to Clinton on manipulated elections. Tribuna carries the article:"The CE confirms the legitimacy of the Albanian new Parliament". The paper also runs the article:"The DAP members protest: Ceka should not be DAP president". Dita Informacion carries the article:"Europe crucifies Berisha". The paper carries the article:"Papandreou's death and Greek-Albanian rebuses. Albania carries the editorial:"The Albanian new parliament is legitimate". The paper also carries a pronouncement of Tritan Shehu, DP chairman, entitled:"The resolution will approve the free vote". The paper carries a pronouncement from Strasbourg by the RP chairman, Sabri Godo, entitled: Gjinushi, SDP leader, and Kalakulla (leader of the Democratic party of the right) in absurd roles. Gazeta Shqiptare carries the article:"CE: let the parties dialogue". The paper also reports on a letter of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State on relations with Europe and Canada, to Democratic Alliance chief Neritan Ceka entitled :"The U.S.:solution through peaceful means". jz/lm/k From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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