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ATA News from Albania, 96-08-27Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] PROFESSIONAL DATA BANK FOR FIRST TIME IN ALBANIAA professional data bank in Albania for the first time. Tirana is the first district to be lucky to get extensive information about professional data. Initiator GTZ - INKUS segment office has supported Trade Production Qualification in Albania, with the aim of incrasing transparency in the fields of education and professional formation. Work started last April and with the information collected so far by the Data Bank brochure "Offers for Professional Formation in Tirana", which is free of charge has been published. The first task carried out by the office of INKUS (Information, Qualification, Specialisation) which started its activity two years ago, was a study on needs for professional formation in enterprises in Tirana and Shkodra, because the GTZ project itself has been concentrated in these two cities. The most important and interesting activity has been "ALBINKUS 96" Fair held in April 1996 with more than 32 institutions and professional schools taking part. GTZ, whose nucleus is the INKUS office has been operating in Albania to support education and professional training. It has been focused on secondary vocational schools and on work to enable them to prepare a professionally trained younger generation in Albania. G.C.Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] UNFPA ON POPULATION POLICYUnfpa representative Peer Sieven told ATA that this recently opened office will work in cooperation with the Albanian government to work out the necessary policy on the population. Sieben referred to three UNFPA priorities: reproductive health public health and relationship betweenpublic health environemnt and food."Our principal priority is what we call reproductive health that covers all the problems people cope with in their reproductive age from 18 to 49 years old. It has a bearing on safe pregnancy and birth and the upbringing of the children. We want people to mature before they become parents," said Sieben "We also want parents to freely decide on the number of children they want to have". According to Sieben UNFPA office seeks to provide people with means and information family planning being one of the means. "We seek that all child birth are safe; This means that we shall support all maternity homes in the districts in particular. We want that every babu is welcome and brought up healthy and to raise the quality of life", said Sieben adding that fifty percent of the office"s fund serves this purpose. Asked about abortions, Doctor Sieben said that the number of abortions in Albania is on the rise, while still births have been dropping in Albania over the alst decade. He underscores that abortion, which is always risky is not the only family planning method. Administration of contraceptives is necessary in this regard. Aware of many unsolved problems, he says that the Office can only assist. His office will promote views that favour a useful police to the benefit of the population. "If you fell a tree you have to plant another one"; he says underlining that his mission is also to examine various mentalities relating to population and family planning. Sieben also says that in the implementation of the programs, the Fund will cooperate with the Albanian government, non governmental organisations and the World Health Organisation (WHO). "We have established cooperation with the Economics Faculty to train students in demography subject", says Sieven adding that his office has also established links with the Agronomy Faculty of the University of Agriculture. So far a number of students have been trained in the field of demography in Albania and abroad. The Fund has been present in Albania since the year 1989 and has collaborated with INSTAT, while the UNFPA office opened in Tirana a few days ago. Dr.Sieben who is currently residing in Tirana, is United NAtions representative for bulgaria and Georgia too. A paediatrician Dr Sieben from Denmark has a very long experience as an expert of health issues. Before working in the United Nations, Sieben used to work as health adviser at the Danish Foreign Ministry as epidemiologist of the World Health Organisation in Kenya and Botswana as well as in Malaysia and Uganda as an International Red Cross representative . Prior to his Albania assignment Dr.Sieben worked as UNFPA representative in Sudan. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] FIRST CENTRE FOR DRUG-ADDICTS REHABILITATIONA National Centre for the rehabilitation of drug-addicts will be furnished with equipment next week in the suburbs of the capital of Albania, in Kamza town."According to reports we have so far, the number of the victims of the over dose usage by drug addicts is four, whereas the number of the drug- addicts keeps increasing throughout the country," says a specialist at the Health Ministry. The construction of the rehabilitation centre of drug-addicts has been a donation by Albanian Caritas. Medical staff consists of psychotherapists, psychologists and social assistants from Italy. Such centre has not existed before in Albania but its opening to the world and immigration has exposed Albanians to drug use, a phenomena which in on the increase. "The National centre of drug-addicts will consist of patients who want to stop using drugs voluntarily," said the specialist. The efficiency of this centre will be higher due to cooperation with specialised structures of the Interior Ministry and that of Labour and Social Affairs, thus creating a barricade to drug-traffickers and drug- addicts. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES START IN TIRANAFirst meeting started on Friday between employers, employees and lawyers of the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs to give a solution to the problems of employment and salaries.The meeting concluded that the creation of a National Threeparty Council was a necessity. "This Council, made up by five government officials, ten representatives of the trade unions and ten of the employment organisations will institutionalise the social pact between the trade unions, employers and the government" said spokesman of this ministry. According to him, this council will increase in a higher level the correct application of the articles of the Code of Work, although two problems are still evident and make difficult the work of the council. They have to do with the representation of the trade unions and the employers in this council. The new process hopes to treat problems of incitement of employment, policy of salary, problems of professional formation and that of insurance at work. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] NEW VISTAS IN ORE RESEARCHProspecting for ores soon enter a new stage. Approval of a draft law on a technical cooperation agreement in the ore research field with the Mineral, Metal Agency of Japan at a recent meeting of the goverment is expecded to lead to promotion of the country. According to information from the Ministry of Mineral and EnergyResources, under the agreement, a project of chromium research and assessment will be implemented in the Shebenik-Pogradec area wthin the framework of the Office of Developement Aid of the Japanese government to finance and assist developing countries free of charge upon request for three year period. Phase of work scheduled for the first year of the project for which the Japanese government has accorded 840 thousand dollars has been over. In the meantime, work has just starded to carry out the project for the second year. According to the data of the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources, funds for such projects, which amount to 3 million US dollars, being free, will enjoy every necessary facility by the Albanian government as concerns exemption from taxes levied on machinery, equipment and other materials to be brought to Albania. /M.Noti/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC PROGRAMEuropean Union has endorsed allocation of $ 175 million for Alobania in an effort to support the Albanian government's economic program and the country's incorporation in the European community.According to official sources from Brussels, the aid accorded through the PHARE program is part of the many year program of cooperation (1996- 1999) and the 1996 operative program. Under the program priority will be given to the development of production basis (agriculture, transport, private financial and other sectors) as well as to the development of natural and human resources. Operative programme for the year 1996 involves $41.5 million to be used mainly for improvement of the infrastructure of transport, agriculture and education. Endorsement of the long term program of cooperation between the European Union and Albania constitutes a powerful support for the economic programme of the "Meksi 2" government and the sustained reforms it has launched. ITALIAN GOV'T:NEW PROJECT FOR ALBANIA The Italian governments has approved funds to the tune of $11 million and 19 million for a forest and auxiliary road management project. The fund approved by the Steering committee of the Italian Foreign Ministry, supports the implementation of the medium term programme of the Albanian government. According to experts, it will have particular impact on priority development of rural areas. By approving the fund Rome joins the World Bank to impart a considerable impulse to farming in Albania. Albanian official sources report that the implementation of the projects will start soon since all the necessary structures have already been set up. Italy has ranked first in terms of financial contribution to reforms and rehabilitation of the Albanian economy after 1992. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE ON FOCUS OF BALKAN COUNTRIES MEETINGAn European-Balkan meeting about the foot-and-mouth disease was organised in Tirana, in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, according to CE recommendation in July 1996, about the measures to be taken to eradicate this disease in the Balkan region.Representatives of the European Community, of the World Veterinary Organisation, experts of FAO, representatives of the Veterinary Service from Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania attended this meeting. Albanian Minister of Agriculture and Food Prof. Dr. Bamir Topi said foot-and-mouth disease is a complex problem, that is why it has been supported by the CE, FAO and the World Organisation of Veterinary. He thanked experts of these organisations and the foreign institutions which helped its present diagnosing in Albania. Then, Topi voiced the need for a European strategy to fight this disease which should consider Balkan as a European filter for this disease. Representatives of the Albanian Veterinary Service and those of the other countries discussed about the situation of the disease in their countries and the measures they have taken to curb it. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] ALBANIA SURPASS SUBSISTENCE LEVELAverage wage in Albania has surpassed subsistence level by eight percent. This figure based on an IMF study, is the highest ever recorded after the institution of the democratic changes in Albania. In a 1995 study, this same financial institution reckoned that expenses on food of an Albanian family made up 70 percent of its monthly income.According to INSTAT data, the monthly average wage of the workers increased to 65 and 75 dollars by the end of the year 1995 and in August 1996 respectively. In the year 1993 it was 37 dollars or equal to 38 percent of the minimum living standard. The year 1994 marked a turning point in the average wage of the workers as well as a new distribution of monthly income. In 1996, expenses of food constitute 62 percent of the monthly revenue making it possible for the Albanians to save more of their incomes. According to INSTAT data the highest average wage on a national scale has been recorded in the Kruja district estimated at 75 pecent and the lowest at Puka district put at 58 dollars. Nevertheless, according to an IMF study, about 55 percent of the Albanian families are still living below subsistence level. This figure is about 30 percent lower than what was recorded in the year 1994, at a time when IMF data showed that 85 percent of the Albanian families lived below subsistence level. This figure is higher than in 12 countries of Eastern Europe and 30 percent higher than in Hungary and Poland. The study specifies that spending on food will change, while the structure of expenditure will get closer to the level of Estonia and Lithuania, where expenses on food make up 44 percent. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENESThe Council of Ministers convened on Monday under the direction of Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, spokesman of the Council of Ministers reported.The meeting approved some changes to the law "On the documentation and accounts on levies." The draft aims to solve the problems emerging when the law "On the value-added tax" is not executed. In order to stabilize the situation in the drinking water system in Bajram Curri town, the Council of Ministers authorized the Public Service, Territorial Adjustments and Tourism Ministry, to provide directly the necessary funds to repair the aqueduct. A group of decisions adopted in the meeting is related with questions of secondary and higher education. Hence, permission for private educational institutions was adopted. The Ministry of Education and Sports will control the laic educational process and the execution of laws in the educational field. A project for the administration of the Lake Ohrid was also approved in principle. The project will be financed by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF.) The investment is estimated at 4 million USD. In regard to this project, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Albanian and Macedonian parties was also approved. The Council of Ministers approved an agreement of the Japanese grant between Albania and the International Development Association as an administrator of the funds granted by Japan for the preparation of the second project of the transport for the amount of 500 thousand USD. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] PHARE APPROVES PROGRAM FOR ALBANIARecently, the Managing Committee of the PHARE Program (European Union Program of Assistance for Central and Eastern Europe) examined and approved the Program of Cooperation for 1996-1999 and the Operative Program of 1996 for Albania on the basis of an official report from Brussels, spokesman of the Council of Ministers reports.The first program consists of a free financing worth 140 million ECU ($ 175 million) for Albania in support of the economic program of the Albanian Government and in the context of the country's position in the European community. The operative program of 1996, which contains details of the first program, is estimated at 33 million ECU. The adoption of the Cooperation Program of the European Union for Albania is a support for the realisation of the program of reforms of the Democratic Government and at the same time a strong impetus to the process of Albania's integration into Europe. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] TIRANA, SOCIAL PACTNo strikes, no demonstrations, only dialogue to come to agreement, under the supervision of Ministry of Labour specialists, in order to resolve employment and remuneration issues was the keynote of the first negotiations between employers, the employeed and jurists of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, who are intent on founding a National Triaprtie Council."The council, to be composed of five officials, ten trade union reepresentative and ten representatives of employers' organizations, will institutionalize the social pact between trade unions, employers and the government" said Labour Ministry spokesman, who also stressed that the tripartite council will help raise to a higher level the implementation of Labour Code articles, though there are two problems, that make the commencement of the work of the council difficult; these problems have to do with the representation of the trade unions and the employers as seperate parties. This process, that has started, is expected to address problems of promotion of employment, wage policy and professional training. Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] ALBANIAN PRIVATE BANKS TO SERVE THEIR CLIENTSTIRANA, AUGUST 26 (ATA) - By M. Noti The first foreign private bank will be opened along with other Albanian state banks or half-state owned ones."Tirana Bank", with its main shareholder the Greek bank of Pire, will start its activity at with an initial capital of 2 million USD. "It is the first bank among three other foreign banks, which has received licence to carry on its private activity from the Albanian Bank," said Miranda Rama, director in the Supervision Department of the Albanian Bank. Thus, the banking system has opened way to private banks among which the branch of National Bank of Greece, centered in the Business Center VEVE and the private Malaysian International Commercial Bank. The latter, installed first in Tirana, with an initial capital of 2.5 million USD, will expand its activity in all the districts of Albania. kled/mt/k Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] SP CONGRESS - DOWN WITH KING, LONG LIVE OLD ROYAL COURT AND NEW KING - BERISHATIRANA, AUGUST 26 (ATA) By A Frasheri - Second Congress of the SP, which ended on the first hours of Monday was considered "an arena which openly reflected the splits and groupings which have gripped the SP for more than a year and were clearly expressed after May 26 elections.""This Congress held under the motto 'Down with king, long live the old royal court and the new king' shows that the SP came out of it more closely to Enverism. It came out as a true association of Enver Hoxha. This Congress put the SP under absolute rule of the Alia-Nano clique. This clique has today assumed total destruction of the Albanian left wing" said President of the Republic Sali Berisha, in a meeting of the DP National Council held Monday. While the DP chairman Tritan Shehu said that "this congress did not resemble a party congress, but a sect's meeting based on conspiracy and on principle that two friends are wolves for each other." Fatos Nano was reelected the SP leader, having no other candidate as alternative, which is a violation of this party's statute. Nano ranked ninth after the voting of the candidatures in the SP General Leading Committee. Some 144 delegates voted against Nano's election as party leader. Namik Dokle (SP deputy chairman) said, with regards to Nano's ideas in his motion, that "it was very important some of them were further deepened, specially the denouncing the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha and his follower Ramis Alia." Berisha said "It (SP) appeared to Europe and the world as a Stalinist type party, where the efforts for reformation turned to struggle for power making use of Stalinist methods." The SP leader for Tirana, Musa Ulqini, one of Nano's opponents speaking about the fact of 144 votes against Nano said "this shows the level of emancipation the SP members have, who do not look at Nano an unerring figure of number one." Sources from the SP said that during the voting procedure have noticed many irregularities which have brought about violations of voting procedure, accompanied with tension during the counting procedure from the commission members, representatives of the two groupings. The SP congress considered as the congress of reformation, satisfied itself only with the scrapping of Marx from it programme and resignation of Pellumbi, while in the new General Leading Committee were included almost all previously known names proposed either by the congress or Nano, a good number of them ex-ministers of Ramis Alia and ex-communist. "They gathered to denounce Stalin and denounced Servet (Servet Pellumbi, former SP deputy chairman, who resigned) gathered to denounce Enver and reelected his son, gathered to denounce Ramis and put at the head his ministers" said Berisha. While Shehu said "inside the SP rules the psychology of conspiracy. All accuse each other of treason, of acting behind the scene. The SP suffers of a struggle between clans, unprincipled groupings which is a struggle within the species and not a principled political struggle. They had a reformation way, that one suggested by the President in his message, the dissolution of their party and its restructuring from the foundation based on principles of social democratic parties and those of a left wing party." Some 75 per cent out of 110 thousand members, the SP pretends to have, are ex-members of the PLA. The DP chairman said "this congress had the characteristic of a deep isolation, great loneliness inside and outside Albania. The only greeting that of the Socialist International, was a request and lecture for reformation, an expression of support for Albania and not for the SP. No word for Nano or the SP presidency but only for Eurosocialists, on condition of their reformation." Fransua Vallin Secretary General of the European Socialist Party was invited but he not only did not come but did not send a greeting telegram to the Congress either. Nano has hardly attacked even the Albanian Euro Socialist Youth Forum (FRESH) which according to Shehu "were those who really aspired for real reformation, but were heavily attacked, putting thus the SP wide apart from the moment of reformation and the true social democracy." The second SP congress issued a statement which said that its deputies would not take their seats in the Parliament. It also said that the SP "will boycott the local elections unless all their demands are fulfilled, and in this we will not tolerate." The SP, which boycotted the May 26 elections some hours before closing of the ballot, has also boycotted a round table of the president with political parties and another one initiated by the DP with parties represented in the local government. fh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] FROM THE REPORT OF SECOND SP CONGRESS SUBMITTED BY SP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN SERVET PELLUMBITIRANA, AUGUST 27 (ATA) - Comrade delegates, I would like to address you with the demand to be really up to the historical moment we are living, and that passions and splits which have sprouted long ago are with gravely dangerous consequences for the party. Besides, there is no reason for us to discus with passion and to be nervous.If we declare our party passions, offences and labels for each other, then we not only will have no reformation but we will take ourselves some years behind and this is to be regretted... Patterns are introduced but the presidential pattern is not for our party because if we talk of patterns I may mention here the studies of Veixneker who is the greatest specialist on parties not only in Europe but also in the world and Mr Islami might have had the chance to read some of his books during his stay in Germany for more than two years. According to the French pattern, they have suggested Fatos Nano precisely this question because as you have seen today in papers, Nano has sent the list of the general leading committee. Shall we apply this pattern...? If we want a reformation, it does not accept dictates and concretely speaking, if you do not approve the petition I will withdraw from the working group for the political report of the congress and this is what he did. Where is tolerance? Hence, either a dictate, an absolute power in the party or entitle me the right of the veto or I do not accept to be elected. What is this? How can one ask the right of a veto in the party? Why the chairman should have an absolute power? What is he going to solve with these vetoes? Why doesn't he has faith in the forums...? It was not spontaneously when, after the petition of Fatos Nano, I declared and I will still ask in the congress not to be elected, and I was sincere because I thought that my resignation would be in the interest of the party's reformation. But I cannot be silent when I see that there is speculation with the reformation of the party in order to bring here elements who cannot reflect the image of a reformed party, because I do not want to sacrifice the job I have made without any interest, not for a post, but I feel bad at ease when I think that after the petition, scenarios are being hatched up and attacks are being launched at me going so far as describing me a collaborator with Berisha. Shame on those who consider me a collaborator of Berisha. I can never accept such an accusation... Comrades, these are my concerns (You must consider them properly.) One cannot play with the party, with a total of 110 000 members and with 4000 organizations because Kastriot Islami wants to become a secretary and leaves no stone unturned going so far as to declare that I have played the role of the person who organized the Tirana conference in 1956. But all these are being made for set aims and I feel regret because some elements are exploiting the name of Fatos Nano because the report or the long address read here yesterday has not been written by Fatos Nano, it has been written in the computer of Kastriot Islami. Then the letter of Gramoz Ruci was read. I condemn that letter because it is not Ruci's. It has been written by Guro Zeneli and others have shortened and edited it, what are all these games? This is my concern.xh/ e Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] THIRD PHASE OF "OSPREY '96" ENDS IN USCAMP LEJUELEN, AUGUST 27 (ATA) By A Pasko -Third phase of peacekeeping exercises Cooperative Osprey '96 organised in Camp Lejuelen, North Caroline closed Monday at noon.The Albanian platoon's duty was "to defend a humanitarian caravan" which fell into an ambush. It was the first military formation which "fall under enemy's fire." Its reaction in front of the unexpected "fire" of the enemy was immediate (like during all the exercises with unexpected situations.) The military and journalists who had come to follow the military drill gave their best opinions for the quickness and the way the Albanian platoon decided to use in the given situation. The militaries said this was the "most correct" combined reaction of the training until now. The exercise continued then some 20 km away, in Camp Davis, where a meeting of "the humanitarian caravan of North and that one from South" was simulated." The Albanian platoon acted here in joint actions with two US and one Romanian platoon, as well as with a Polish one and another from the Baltic countries which added to the first company during the third phase of the training. Military means used during this phase were armed lorries of type LAV, military transporting trucks, helicopters, military airplanes C-130. These airplanes were used for the airlifting of the Albanian troops from Camp Davis to their campsite. The peacekeeping exercise "Cooperative Ospray '96" started on August 12 in Camp Lejuelen, North Caroline. Three NATO member countries and 16 members countries of the Partnership for Peace Accord participate in this exercises. During its first three phases the peace keeping forces were trained how to give solutions in on humanitarian situations, bearing in mind situations met in Bosnia. The phase which ended yesterday, was the most important phase, as it aimed a complex situation training, where elements practiced until now were interwoven with each other. During these days the traning aimed compact actions of different troops coming from different countries. Many journalists, besides those who regularly follow the training, have arrived to Camp Lejuelen to follow them. am/eva/fh/e Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, AUGUST 27 (ATA) - Today's press focuses on the second congress of the Albanian Socialist Party, which was held on August 24 -25, 1996. The political congress had strong debates between the chairman of the party, Nano, imprisoned for corruption and falsification of official doccuments while in office as prime minister in 1991, and four SP chairman deputies.The delegates in the congress split into clans as result of this giving rise to strong debates and mutual offences. With regard to this, Rilindja Demokratike carries an editorial entitled "The farewell congress," which said that "everything happened in this congress was in function of final departure of this party with its political future". While Zeri i Popullit writes about the congress "New visions, changes and final departure from the past", as well as "Fatos Nano is reelected chairman of the Albanian Socialist Party", and "Servet Pellumbi resigned from the leading committee of the party." Republika carries the article "The SP's bells will toll the same", in which it is said: "Now, it is clearly seen that although in jail, Nano managed to win the overwhelming majority of the party and fulfill almost all requests in his speech and the lists sent to the congress". Albania writes that: " It has sufficient evidence that this list (list of the SP members of the Leading Committee) was compiled in the house of one of Nano's fidelities". According the paper "Sabit Brokaj, Kastriot Islami, Besnik Bare, called otherwise "the working group", have compiled before the congress a list of loyal people as well as some formally doubtful candidates". Koha Jone writes: "SP towards social democracy - Pellumbi gives his final resignation from party leadership". As far as the lists of members of the Leading Committee is concerned, the newspaper writes that 37 out of 61 elected candidates are supporters of Nano's petition. Dita Information writes: "Anti Nano fraction establishes". The newspaper considers this fraction "a conglomerate fraction, referring to its people and their political past", while the voting process for the members of the Steering Committee is considered by this newspaper as "an enigmatic and controversial one". Tribuna Demokratike writes: "The socialist unity comes to an end - Enverists destroy the Socialist Party", while Gazeta Shqiptare carries a chronicle of the last sessions of the SP congress, and writes: "SP congress: Nano defeated them all". kei/mt/sh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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