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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 96-12-25Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] GROWING COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND JAPANTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - By Eva Allushi: In the context of the intensification of the relations between Albania and Japan, the Japanese state financed 6 million dollars for two important projects in the field of agriculture and energy in Albania.The project in agriculture financed in the form of a 3 million US dollars grant by the Japanese government will help increase the agricultural project in Albania. According to sources in the Economic Department in the Foreign Ministry, the grant will be used by the Albanian government for chemical fertilizers, agricultural machineries and equipment, for the transportation of various products from Japan to Albania. The second project financed in the form of credit is that for the distribution of the electric energy. The credit of about 3 million dollars will be paid back by the Albanian Government in 20 years and the payment will start after a ten-year period with a 2.3 per cent interest rate a year. The Japanese Government will furnish the credit for 5 years from the moment when the agreement is signed. On December 17, 1996 Albania and Japan exchanged verbal notes for the two agreements which were signed by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tritan Shehu and the ambassador of Japan with headquarters in Vienna, Yushu Takashima. ake/kei/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] MINISTRY OF CULTURE HAS REALISED ALL OBJECTIVES FOR 1996 - Minister LacoTIRANA, DEC 24 (ATA) - By Flora Nikolla: The Ministry of Culture, the legitimate institution of the Albanian culture, has realised in general al the objectives for 1996.The Minister of Culture, Teodor Laco, said before reporters Tuesday that the main objective of his Ministry "has been the support of art and culture in general." Laco mentioned all the main activities held in the field of music, figurative arts, drama, cinematography, cultural heritage. For Laco, 1996 was "the year of a greater affirmation" in cinematography. He supported this with the French-Polish-Albanian feature film "Colonel Bunker" which is shown in a number of international festivals, with the Bastille festival where the film "Mother's Heart" of Besnik Bisha was awarded the prize of critique and with the participation of Albania in a series of activities in European countries through the "Days of Albanian film." Laco considered cultural heritage as a very important point of the strategy of the Ministry he directs, and literature "as one of the peaks of Albanian culture." Lastly, minister Laco presented for the reporters the projects of the Ministry of Culture for 1997 both inside and outside the country. kei/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] 71ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALBANIAN FLEET MARKEDTIRANA, DEC 25 (ATA) - By Atlant Frasheri: The 71st anniversary of the creation of the Naval Fleet was celebrated in the Army Centre yesterday.The General commander of this Fleet, Rear Admiral Edmond Zhupani spoke of the activity of this military force. "In 1925, the two first Albanian warships set sail, later this force of the army was added new warships," said Zhupani. "But this did not continue because of the dictatorship. The 1991 changes affected the naval Fleet as well." The greeting of the Defence Ministry minister, Safet Zhulali was read by the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Sheme Kosova. Minister Zhulali wrote among others that "The Fleet has had a fruitful cooperation with fleets of other NATO countries, the U.S. and the partner countries." During the last year, joint exercises have been conducted with the U.S., NATO, Greece, Turkey and Italy. Various decorations and orders were distributed in the name of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, for members and ex-members of this force. At the end those present saw the documentary film "The Albanian Fleet-vision 2000." kled/xh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] A YOUTH FROM LEZHA WINS THIRD EUROPEAN PRIZELEZHA, DEC 24 (ATA) - By Z Pergega: A girl from Lezha, Northern Albania, has won Third Prize in the contest "Youth Perspective" held recently in Italy by UNDP with the participation of youths from European countries.The winner of the prize, Loreta Nikolli, pupil of the Hydajet Lezha secondary school, has won the first prize in the contest on the same topic held in Albania some months ago. Nikolli has presented in the contest an article of 1 500 words, in English (Nikolli also masters the Italian language.) She writes in the article her opinions on the all-sided education of youth, including sexual education, for which, she "recommends" the creation of special health centres for the youth. These and Nikolla's opinions on the relations among parents, children and school and new practices to test the pupils who want to attend university made her win the prize in the contest. The first prize was conferred to an Italian youth and the second to a Romanian. ssh/pas/xh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] WHICH IS THE PLACE OF ARVANITAS IN THE NEW GREEK HISTORY?TIRANA, DEC 23 (ATA) - Although Arvanitas, as the arberesh of Greece are called, have made a very important contribution to the new history of Greece, the topic of arvanitas is not treated to the necessary degree by the local historiography.This is the opinion of a Greek scholar of Arvanitas origin Aristidh Kola, who told BBC that "the reason for such a position towards this topic is related with the opinion which has dominated in Greece for arvanitas and for Albania." Some days ago, the third edition of the book "Arvanitas, the horsemen of new Hellenism" with the author one of the greatest scholars and urbanists of this century in Greece, arvanitas Kosta Biri, is on sale in many bookshops of Athens these days. Biri died in 1980 but the book is still considered as a symbol in the Greek historical literature and ethnography. The new edition of the book was also accompanied with positive comments from the critique and confirms a truth: the publications on the Arvanitas topic have been few and evident vacuums have been noticed from one decade to another. "The vacuum created is related with the opinion which has dominated in Greece for Arvanitas and for Albania. For whole decades, the topic of arvanitas has been considered a taboo and no one dared deal with it and throw light on to it," said Kola. He added that 'as is known, arvanitas are the creators of the new Greek state. Through fight and sacrifices they carried out the revolution in 1821, they spoke Albanian, but the official language was Greek." Kola says that theoreticians of the revolution were not Arvanitas. "Later followed the events of the so-called problem of 'North-Epirus, ' the law of war with Albania, an absurdity which continued for half a century until the beginning of the 90s with the anti-albanian policy of Mitsotakis," Kola continued. All these had a negative influence on the possible treatment of the topic of Arvanitas. Kola voiced the conviction that with the normalization of the Greek- Albanian relations in the last months, there are very good conditions existing for the topic of arvaniotas to come to the fore. ag/kei/xh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, DEC 25 (ATA) - Rilindja demokratike today carries an editorial entitled "Belgrade declares violence." The paper makes coverage of yesterday's meeting of Albanian President with editors-in-chief of some papers under the title "Berisha frees the press from taxes" and a message of greetings of President Berisha on occasion of Christmas. The paper carries the greetings of the president directed to young soldiers who took their oath, under the title "Democratic State will invest to consolidate a modern army." The events in Belgrade are reflected in the article "Greater tension in Serbia" and "15 wounded Tuesday in Belgrade."In one of its articles the newspaper writes that there is a split in the Democratic Party. The meeting of Berisha with reporters is reflected by ZP in the article entitled "Financial facilities for newspapers." The paper carries the article "Legal norms to be observed strictly in all cases of penal prosecution." The paper has the article under the title "Serious commitment for the initiative of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation." Republika carries an article "Two other foundations ruined in Tirana." The paper has an article "The new congress of RP will bring about changes." Rilindja has a note "British parliamentarians continue to sign the motion for Kosova," and the article "Clashes and blood in Belgrade." The paper carries the speech of Macedonian President Gligorov in Belgrade "We are committed to encourage Prishtine-Belgrade dialogue." Albania entitles its editorial "Victims of Serb apartheid." The newspaper has another article "The west accuses Milosevic." It carries a declaration of K Islami, in the SP presidency, after the invitation of Albanian president made to them to join the parliament, under the title "Our stands are principled and consistent." Gazeta Shqiptare has an article "The world of pyramidal schemes, anxiety and expectation in Sudja." Another article runs that the rates of inflation this year in Albania are greater than the achievements of business." Dita Informacion today has an article entitled "The big companies must tell where their money is." Another article writes that possibility for other bankruptcies is not ruled out." Koha Jone writes in one of its articles that the police in Vlora is "investigating" into two employees of the Gjallica company. Another article raises the question if Serbia is threatened by a civil war. The paper carries an interview with the chairman of the commission for the verification of pyramidal schemes Bardhyl Pelingu under the title "The secret of usuries only in the Parliament." jz/xh/Z/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] HELSINKI WATCH ASKS MILOSEVIC TO START IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF ALBANIAN FERIZ BLAKCORITIRANA, DEC 25 (ATA) - The Human Rights Organization, Helsinki Watch, through a letter to Milosevic, points out that the death of the 34-year old Feriz Blakcori, father of two, died in the hospital of Prishtine on December 10. The local human rights activists saw the body of the late with signs of hitting in the legs, hands, thigh, genital organs, in the neck, head and back.The death of Blakcori is not a separated incident, says the above letter. At least 19 Albanians from Kosova, says the letter, have died in the last two years after physical tortures by Serbian police and forces of order and, with few exceptions, the authors of these tortures have not been punished at all. Scores of Albanians are maltreated in Kosova every day. The Helsinki Watch says the letter, appeals to Milosevic to put an end to such abuses. The first step may be undertaken with the case of Blakcori. The authorities should start investigation into his death and the maltreatment and deaths of others in Serbia and Montenegro, be they Albanians, Serbians, Moslems, Hungarians or Roms. The culprits for usage of unnecessary force, says the letter, should be responsible before the law. sk/jz/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] SHKODRA: PRESIDENT BERISHA IN THE FAMILY OF CARDINAL KOLIQISHKODRA, DEC 25 (ATA) - By Myfit Malja: Albanian President Sali Berisha today paid a visit to the house of Cardinal Mikel Koliqi, in which he handed over to his relatives the High Order "Honour of the Nation," accorded to the Cardinal a day before.Appreciating the figure of the first Albanian cardinal, Berisha said that the Cardinal has made much for Shkodra, for Albania and the Albanians, for Christianity in general. He described Koliqi as one of the most distinguished figures of the Albanian nation. Cardinal Koliqi has been sick for some time now. The High Order had the inscription: "Mikel Koliqi is the first cardinal, the leader of Albanian Catholic Church, a living martyr of Albanian nation and Christianity in general, who with his half a century sufferings and sacrifice in prisons of the dictatorship, is the embodiment of the resistance and faith of the man with the national and divine values, thus honouring before the God and humanity, our family, clergy, nation, Albania and homeland." ake/kled/xh/sh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] PRESIDENT BERISHA WISHES CATHOLIC BELIEVERS ON CHRISTMASSHKODRA, DEC 25 (ATA) - By Myfit Malja: On occasion of the Christmas celebration, the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, visited the Arch Bishopric of Shkodra.President Berisha said in his greeting for all Albanian Catholics, that they come on this day with the great feeling of pride not only for their valuable contribution to the history of Christianity but also for their resistance and great sacrifices in defence of the values which go down to the roots of our civilization. Berisha said that the sacrifices, sufferings and martyrdom of the Albanian clergy, and of Catholic clergy in particular, are a great contribution and testimony of the strong belief in God and nation. He mentioned the support of the Albanian state, and highlighted the great assistance of Albanian clericals in the creation of national values after the democratic processes. The arch bishop Frano Ilia said that this year Albanians are celebrating Christmas better than any other year thanks to the great achievements of democracy during the last years. "We, he stressed, are working to spread religion in Albania, which for 50 years has been ignored by the communist system. ake/kled/xh/sh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |