Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-09-01

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Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] SHKELQIM CANI NAMED ALBANIA'S NEW BANK GOVERNOR

[02] GDP IN ALBANIA EXPECTED TO BE RAISED TO 12 PER CENT IN 1998

[03] HISTORIC OBJECTS RETURNED TO NATIONAL HISTORIC MUSEUM IN TIRANA

[04] SP CANDIDATES, LEKE CUKAJ, WINS IN SHKODER

[05] REPRESENTATIVE OF GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONFIRMS SUPPORT TO FINANCE RELIGIOUS OBJECTS IN ALBANIA

[06] REGISTRATION IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS STARTS IN ALBANIA

[07] GANG OF LOOTERS DETAINED IN MALIQ

[08] ALBANIA, GREECE HOLD TALKS ON TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

[09] CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SHKODER: STOP SHOOTINGS

[10] CIGARETTES SMUGGLED INTO KORCE

[11] DP TO HOLD PEACEFUL PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF EX-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

[12] PRESIDENT MEIDANI VISITS VLORE

[13] BOOM OF INCOME IN DURRES CUSTOMS

[14] TRAIN ENTER VLORE AFTER FIVE MONTHS

[15] BERISHA CRITICISES FOREIGN MINISTER FOR DISMISSING 20 ALBANIAN AMBASSADORS

[16] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES

[01] SHKELQIM CANI NAMED ALBANIA'S NEW BANK GOVERNOR

Shkelqim Cani, economists by profession, replaced in this post former governor Qamil Tusha, President's spokesman reported to ATA on Sunday.

According to the spokesman, upon the same decree, Fatos Ibrahimi was named deputy governor of Albanian central bank, replacing in this post Elisabeta Gjoni.

The proposal for the replacement of the head of the Albanian central bank was made by the central bank supervisory board three days ago. The central bank supervisory board discharged in its first meeting with majority of votes governor Tusha and the deputy governor Gjoni and proposed to President Meidani the appointment of Cani and Ibrahimi to the head of Albania's Bank.

Tusha was appointed to this post by former President Sali Berisha with a seven-year mandate. He had replaced in this post ex-governor Kristaq Luniku, who at the beginning of riots in Albania left for USA, from where, through different articles and interviews, accused former leaders of the state for interference in the affairs of the Albanian Bank.

The People's Assembly elected six members two weeks ago to the central bank's supervisory council./kled/mt/sh/

[02] GDP IN ALBANIA EXPECTED TO BE RAISED TO 12 PER CENT IN 1998

The GDP has been minus 8 per cent.

The memorandum foresees the inflation in percentage reach in 15-20 per cent for 1998, from 51-54 per cent in 1997. /kled/mt/sh/

[03] HISTORIC OBJECTS RETURNED TO NATIONAL HISTORIC MUSEUM IN TIRANA

Among the objects, kept in secrecy during this period by the leaders of the Museum, are those of the Illyr ethos, ceramic objects of the iron age, art works of the Illyrian and Illyrian-Roman epoch, like the head of Dea, of Artemis, sculptural works of the 3-rd century before Christ and many other art works.

In these objects are also included works of the Arber period and the Middle Ages, like the epitaph of Gllavenica, important icons of Onufer, Selenice and other outstanding Albanian mediaeval painters. Many objects used by the representatives of the Albanian Renaissance were also protected. /kled/mt/sh/

[04] SP CANDIDATES, LEKE CUKAJ, WINS IN SHKODER

In the fourth round ballot, in 4 polling stations of the electoral constituency no 4 of this district were again to challenge one another the DP candidate, Ali Spahia and the SP candidate, Leke Cukaj.

According to sources from the prefecture, it is reported that the voting was held only in two polling stations, out of 4. In the other two polling stations, the voting was not carried out because the electors did not participate.

In two polling stations, according to the process-verbals that reached the electoral commission of the constituency, winner was declared the SP candidate Leke Cukaj, who won 302 votes, against the DP candidate with 106 votes.

In the June 29 polls, DP candidate Ali Spahia and SP candidate Leke Cukaj faced the runoff. While in the other two rounds, SP candidate was declared winner.

Spahia addressed to the Constitutional Court, which decided to hold another round in four polling stations of the electoral constituency no 4. /kled/mt/sh/

[05] REPRESENTATIVE OF GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONFIRMS SUPPORT TO FINANCE RELIGIOUS OBJECTS IN ALBANIA

Estimating the vision of the program of the new government, Langenferder confirmed the engagement of the German and European Catholic church for a greater support, not only in the spiritual aspect, but also for the financing of different religious objects, also including medical, training centers, etc.

Albanian Premier and the senior German prelate talked about the current developments in the Albanian policy and life, as well as on the role of religion in the reforming process that Albania is passing through.

Hans Langenferder said that they very impressed by the tolerance and cooperation among the religious communities in Albania./kled/mt/sh/

[06] REGISTRATION IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS STARTS IN ALBANIA

The number of pupils, who will attend studies from the obligatory to the high education, is expected to lower in the whole Albania. Meanwhile, the number of pupils registered in Tirana has increased in all the links of this system.

Only in the pre-elementary school, some 5 600 kids will be registered this year for the first time, out of 5 100 registered last year, sources from the educational department in Tirana report.

With regard to the contingent of pupils of the obligatory education, it will increase by some 300 pupils, the director of the Tirana education department, Tomi Tomorri, confessed.

Tomorri stressed that the application of the Project "Tirana 2000" has already started; it enables the construction of several new objects and the reconstruction of all the existing schools. It is a project financed by the Soros Foundation and the Albanian government, worth 6 million dollars and is expected to last until 2010./kled/mt/sh/

[07] GANG OF LOOTERS DETAINED IN MALIQ

On July 14, 1997, thieves stole the Maliq town sewing shop, whose damage in materials is estimated at several million leks. The gang is suspected to have committed other crimes as well. a.ke/kled/lm/Z

[08] ALBANIA, GREECE HOLD TALKS ON TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

During yesterdays' meeting in Greece, the Minister of Public Affairs and Transports, Apostoli, and his counterpart Kastamidis stressed the need of improving the road network of Albania through the rehabilitation of the existing ones and opening of other new roads.

The eighth corridor: Durres-Rrogozhine-Kapshtice as well as Durres- Rrogozhine-Kakavije and the 10th corridor Trieste-Split-Durres-Athens will be of priority.

Apostoli accepted the idea of the Greek counterpart to extend the railway from Pogradec to Folorina. jz/lm/z

[09] CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SHKODER: STOP SHOOTINGS

The gift expressed the desire of the catholic church of the town to give up uncontrolled gunfire.

The mass was devoted to peace, fraternity, civic and religious coexistence.

Also attending the Mass was the Secretary of the German Conference of Archbishopric, Dr. Hans Langenferder, who expressed the commitment of the German catholic church and the European one to a greater support not only spiritually but also financially for the Albanian church. a.ke/jz/lm/Z

[10] CIGARETTES SMUGGLED INTO KORCE

When entering the Albanian territory, the vans with foreign plates were accompanied by some 20 Albanian citizens, armed and dressed in bulletproof vests, who threatened the border post police effective. They left without clearing the goods through the customs.

The head of the anti-contraband branch at the Customs General department in Tirana told ATA that two of the vans, together with two accompanying vehicles, were intercepted by the police roadblock which was set up immediately at the Elbasan city.

Meanwhile all the customs branches on country scale have been announced to block the vans. a.ke/jz/lm/Z

[11] DP TO HOLD PEACEFUL PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF EX-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

The group will march from the DP headquarters to the office where Arbnori is fasting.

DP leader Sali Berisha said at a news conference that the DP National Council will meet to discuss further measures regarding the Arbnori question and including the "Arbnori Amendment" in the agenda.

"One who dies in opposition becomes hero of democracy," Berisha said further on.

Today is the 12th day of the hunger strike of Arbnori, who has served 28 years in the prisons of the communist regime. Arbnori has gone on a hunger strike in protest against the TV, which has not fully covered the August 19 plenary sitting.

"The presidency and the heads of the parliamentary groups had agreed that the sitting be fully covered by the television, but later the cameramen were not allowed to film," said Arbnori before going on strike. jz/lm/Z

[12] PRESIDENT MEIDANI VISITS VLORE

Today by midday he met with deputies, representatives of local government, state institutions, political parties, religious communities, families of the Otranto victims, war veterans and others.

Later, Meidani visited the district police department and the Independence Museum.

Meidani was accompanied in his visit by the Presidency Secretary General, Daut Gumeni, advisor Prec Zogaj, Interior Minister Neritan Ceka, and Finance Minister Arben Malaj. s.sh/jz/lm/Z

[13] BOOM OF INCOME IN DURRES CUSTOMS

This month it earned 400 million leks (or 130 per cent of the monthly plan) for the state budget, as opposed to two-three months ago when it earned only 1/10th of this sum.

Now the port is in full operation. Some 60 ships have been loaded and unloaded in this port. The income have also increased as result of tight controls exercised by the customs and port police on all goods entering the port. a.ke/jz/lm/Z

[14] TRAIN ENTER VLORE AFTER FIVE MONTHS

Under the conditions created by the March disturbances, railway traffic on the Fier-Vlore segment has been suspended. The effort to resume this service by the end of April also failed due to the gangs' attacks on the train at the Fier town exit.

Another train with passengers left Vlore for Tirane on Monday morning.

With the regular functioning of this line the geography of the trains' movements to all the country's railway stations is completed. s.sh/jz/lm/Z

[15] BERISHA CRITICISES FOREIGN MINISTER FOR DISMISSING 20 ALBANIAN AMBASSADORS

The DP leader said these ambassadors "gave Albania 60 years of scholarships for 140 Albanian diplomats and not six as the ungrateful Foreign minister says."

As regards disarmament the democrat leader says that it is a fraud to say that 100 000 weapons have so far been collected and that it would be good to organise a party round table on disarmament.

Berisha also said that Interior Minister Neritan Ceka has been wrong in saying that "80 per cent of the police is incriminated".

Concerning Monday's visit of President Meidani to Vlore, Berisha, who could not go to the south over the last 10 months said:"I am very pleased that when I went to Vlore, all politicians and all papers could go there".

"If I could go, I would enable all politicians to go there," he added. jz/lm/Z

[16] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES

It was with profound sorrow that the Albanian people heard the news today of the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Our thoughts are with Your Majesty and Your Majesty Family at the moment of national and personal tragedy.

The Princess of Wales was distinguished for her tireless work on behalf of those less fortunate: the poor and the disabled, as well as being a champion of the rights of the world's children. She set an international standard for public service and commitment to justice and she will be greatly missed.

May I also take this opportunity to express my personal condolences and those of my family to Your Majesty on this day of sadness," the message says. . JZ/lm/Z

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