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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-09-16Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Albanian firms to partake in EuropartnershipTen most potential local companies will participate in Euro partnership meeting, staged in France, officials from the Chamber of Commerce inform."The meeting will be held under the European Community initiative, aims at presenting local business to the foreign one and signing various cooperation contracts," told Albanian Telegraphic Agency, spokesman of the chamber, Aleksander Papa. The selection of ten best Albanian companies is over, and the winners like "Arlind Group LTD", "BB International", "Gjerdo", "Landi" will be presented with craftsmanship work, electric and food stuff products, as well as house appliances and spare parts. As Papa says "the meeting is a result of Albania's Chamber of Commerce collaboration with its foreign counterparts." The French Central Massive location is chosen for this activity, which is a centre of all industries and hundreds of local and foreign firms exercise their activity. [02] Government: VAT 22 percent, Parliament to decideBy Emin Barci -- Valued Added Tax (VAT) to be increased to 22 percent, says the draft law approved by the government Monday.As the VAT was expected to grow to only 7,5 percent, the government will demanded from Parliament an increase of 9,5 percent. The decision is closer to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank proposal, anyway is Parliament, which has the last say. A high official of Nano's cabinet told Albania Telegraphic Agency that this is a drastic measure, but for a short period of time. "If the fiscal evasion will be avoided and the budget incomes realised based on the new tariffs, its longevity will be only six months," confirmed the official. "This reform is not applied to achieve cabinet's success but for the future of Albanians and the country," interpreted Premier Fatos Nano his recent proposal, in front of cabinet's members. In Nano's cabinet meeting was also decided the change of excise payment. Until now excises were payed in custom houses, after this decision, the excise will be prepayed at the moment when the traders buy the stamps to be stuck at their commodities. Taking into consideration the positive effect on prices (their growth), the government is drafting a new plan for strengthening the welfare system for families, who receive it. In his yesterday meeting, Premier Nano has explained that the measures taken by his cabinet very soon will strengthen lek position towards foreign currencies, which will lead gradually to price reduction. The last decision Nano's cabinet took yesterday was the growth of owners 'tariff, who lease their property, to two times. Until now the owners were levied with 10 percent of the rent value, so now this tax goes up to 20 percent. [03] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT DECIDES RAISE OF VAT - Reform for the future of Albanians and new Albania - Nano -TIRANA, SEPT 15 (ATA)-By E. Barci, The draft-law adopted on September 15 by the government says that the Value Added Tax (VAT) becomes 22%. While the VAT was expected to increase only by 7.5 per cent, this draft-law, which will be discussed in the parliament's plenary session today, envisages a 9.5 per cent raise.This decision of the government is closer to the proposal of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. A senior official of the Nano cabinet told ATA that this measure is really drastic but it is only temporary. "If fiscal evasion can be avoided and the plan of budget income realised with the new tariff, this measure will not last more than six months," the official confirmed. This move is not made merely for the success of this cabinet, but for the future of Albanians and the New Albania," Prime Minister Nano explained his latest proposal to the cabinet members. The cabinet yesterday also decided to change the payment of excises. While today excises are paid in the customs, after this decision and its approval by parliament, the excise will be prepaid in the moment the traders buy fiscal stamps to be stuck to every commodity. Taking into account the effect on prices (their increase), the government is also drafting a new plan to strengthen social benefits for the families receiving them. Nano argued yesterday that the measures undertaken by his cabinet will very soon lead to an increase of the value of the lek against foreign currencies, which will gradually bring about price reduction. The Nano cabinet also decided to double taxation on tenants. So far, this tax has been 10 % above the value of the rent.pas/lm/k [04] GOVERNMENT WANTS TO HELP VICTIMS OF FINANCIAL FRAUDTIRANA, SEPT 16 (ATA)- By A. Gjata, The government has no interest in confronting desperate people, who have lost or fear to lose their life savings, says Vladimir Prela, adviser to Prime Minister Fatos Nano."Every Government act in this direction should be backed at any cost by the victims of financial fraud," said Prela shortly after yesterday's protest of a group of creditors of the VEFA company. Vefa Holding has distributed a petition which says that this company is able to give back all the money to its creditors. The petition says that the company and its creditors will reject the presence of state auditors in the role of supervisors. jz/lm/k [05] BELGRADE AIMS TO INTENSIFY EXPLOITATION OF KOSOVA RESOURCESPRISHTINE, SEPT 16 (ATA)-Discovery and intensive exploitation of coal resources of Kosova is at the centre of a study undertaken by the Mineral-Metallurgical Faculty of Belgrade, for the supply of the whole energy system in rump Yugoslavia.The project envisages the construction of nine heat-power stations, with a 2 800 Megawatt capacity, which will be added to the seven heat-power-station block set up earlier, with a 1.500 Megawatt capacity. According to the above project there are 20 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be enough for a 1 500 year period. B.J. P.Ta/pas/lm/sh/ [06] UNITED EUROPE TO RESTART RELEASING ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR ALBANIATIRANA, SEPT 16 (ATA)- The United Europe, within 1997, will resume releasing the existing funds of assistance for Albania and will also accord new funds.Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano and a PHARE delegation of the European Commission, headed by head of Department for Relations and Reconstruction with former Yugoslavia and Albania Teresa Sobieski, stressed the indispensability of intensifying cooperation between Albania and the United Europe at a meeting yesterday evening. Nano and Sobieski said that the activity between the Albanian authorities and international organisations, including the World Bank, IMF, BERD, EU and other institutions, should be coordinated to define the priority fields of financial contribution to Albania. s.sh/kei/lm/sh/ [07] LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF PRIVATISATION STRATEGY TO CHANGE WITHOUT CREATING LIMITATIONSTIRANA, SEPT. 15 (ATA)-By A. Gjata, The legal framework of the strategy of privatizing the key economic systems will be changed and completed in order to stop corruption, but without creating limitations in this process, said Minister of Privatisation and Economy Ylli Bufi at a round table on Monday.At the meeting organised by the Ministry of Privatisation and Economy and the GTZ project of Germany at "Rogner" hotel, specialists and investors discussed to define ways of the strategy of privatising the major national assets of Albania, including energy, mines, waters, forests, oil, industry and other resources. According to Albanian experts of privatisation, production should be normalised first, and then the necessary organisational and technological restructuring, to open the way to privatisation. Investor Vehbi Velia said that privatisation in Albania should be carried out with transparency, in accordance with the country's specific conditions. kei/lm/sh/ [08] PRESS REVIEWTIRANA, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - The newspaper Zeri i Popullit covers yesterday's meeting of the Albanian government in an article entitled "Overcoming of crisis urges confident and decisive steps." "800 thousand students undertake the long way of knowledge," the paper says referring to the start of the new academic year. "Though the political forces had decided to suspend military operation on March 1997, the movement of forces towards South continued," the paper reports under the title "Berisha's war against the South of Albania had foreseen the use of chemical weapons." "Work - the only 'box-office' of well-being," the paper says in the economic column."Dozens of creditors of VEFA company protested on Monday in front of the office of Prime minister Fatos Nano, when the government was considering a law, which doubles the taxes for all the Albanians," the newspaper Rilindja Demokratike says under the title "Protests surround Nano." Yesterday's press conference of the Democratic leader Sali Berisha is covered by the same paper under the title "Berisha: Nano should keep the promises of June!". "Former Defence Minister pointed out Sabit Brokaj as the author of the army's and country destruction," the paper says under the title "Sabit Brokaj involved in the destruction of the Albanian army." "Opposition, cross word of former president" is the editorial of the newspaper Republika. "Last visit of Milo in Athens seemed as doubtful," the paper say under the title "Albanian-Greek-Serbian confederation?!". "I have not declared bankruptcy to be audited," the paper quoted the president of the VEFA company Vehbi Alimuca under the title "Government has frozen the money on creditors' interests." "Do you want money from IMF? Tighten the belts," the newspaper Koha Jone says. "Recent events, involving the biggest investment scheme company VEFA, are showing that the transparency on pyramid investment schemes can possibly risk the future of the new government," the editorial says under the title "Government or VEFA?". The paper carries an interview with the Interior Minister Neritan Ceka under the title "Ceka: Transparency on money-lending not started as planned." "Bell rings after arms' silence," the paper says referring to the new school year. "Who is the Albanians' head of state?" is the title of the editorial of the newspaper Albania. "Everything, since the election of Meidani as president shows clearly that he is obliged to be a puppet president," the editorial says. "Nano should return the money" is another article carried by the paper under the headline "DP will help government to reimburse the money." "Government: We have the money of VEFA," the paper says in the Actuality column. General prosecutor questions Zhulali" is another article. Rilindja carries a statement of the Albanian president Rexhep Meidani in Calcutta under the title "Gonxhe Bojaxhi honours the Albanian people." "President of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova arrived on Monday in Tirana," the paper reports in the first page. "Police station attacked on Monday in Kijeve village in Malisheva," the paper reports saying that there is no information on casualties or the authors of the crime. "Fatos Nano meets with the Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Milan Milutinovic", the paper Dita says under the title "Ice melted in the North." "VEFA has no money in its cash boxes," the paper quotes Finance Minister Arben Malaj as saying in the economic column. "Greece: Albanians to be granted green cards within November" is another article carried by the paper. "Increase of VAT and all prices signed," the newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare says under the title "Nano: Tighten the belts." "Refugees, Athens to give a green card for nine months," the paper says in the second page. "Meidani and Berisha shake hands thousand kms away from Albania," the paper says. /kled/ak/sh/ [09] IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH U.S. - A PRIORITY - ministerTIRANA, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - By Flora Nikolla: Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, addressing a jubilee conference devoted to the 210th anniversary of the American Constitution and 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the U.S., said on Tuesday that "the new Albanian government, resulted from the 29 June elections, considered the improvement of relations between the two countries as one of the major priorities."This priority aims at lifting the relations from a low level they fell a year ago because of the deformations to the democracy in Albania," Milo said. Milo considered the visit of an Albanian delegation headed by the Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano in the United States, to participate in a session of the General Assembly of the United Nation Organisation as an important element of the political will appearing in Albania. jz/ak/Z/ [10] NO POLITICAL BORDERS AND DIVISIONS BETWEEN ALBANIANSTIRANA, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano and President of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova said in a tete-a-tete meeting on Tuesday that there are no political borders and divisions in minds and hearts of Albanians.They stressed the need to institutionalize contacts between Tirana and Prishtina in all levels of politics and society in Albania and Kosova to promote the Albanian issue. Rugova praised Albania's aid as "a fundamental element in their efforts to solve the problem of Kosova." This fact, he said, is important today when the situation is stabilised in Albania and the Kosova problem is put on international agenda. Referring to present developments in Albania, Rugova stressed the fact that "there is no change in positions towards the aims and program of government, led by Nano. ssh/jz/ak [11] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES THREE LAWS OF ECONOMIC PACKAGETIRANE, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - By Arban Hasani: After remarks by the Commission of Economy and various parliamentary groups, the parliament today approved by majority of votes three laws of the economic package, those on the value-added tax, the excises and the personal income tax.There were a lot of protests for the approval of these laws by the Democratic Party parliamentary group and fists exchanged between 2 deputies of SP and DP. jz/xh [12] PRESIDENT MEIDANI HAILS DEMOCRATIC WAY FOR THE PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KOSOVA QUESTIONTIRANE, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - In a friendly meeting that the President of Albania Rexhep Meidani had with the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova on Tuesday, Mr Meidani hailed the democratic way for the peaceful solution to the question of Kosova.Mr Rugova said that the June 29, 1997 elections in Albania were a positive step which led to the improvement of the situation in the country. He spoke of the situation in Kosova and the efforts of the international community for the solution to the question of Kosova. Rugova reiterated the constant stand "for an independent and neutral Kosova, open to Albania and Serbia." A strong and stable Albania, pointed out Mr Meidani, means a greater support for Kosova and the stabilization of the region. President Meidani stressed that "the application of the agreement on education between Belgrade and Prishtine and the creation of possibilities for free movement of people and economic exchanges would contribute to the development of the region, creating the premises for the Balkan problems to become known in Europe." ssh/jz/xh [13] INFLATION WILL FALL TO 20 PER CENT IN 1998 FROM 54 AT PRESENT - Finance MinisterTIRANE, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - By Arban Hasani: "The Government believes that with the economic package the Parliament approved today, inflation, which by the end of this year is envisaged to amount to 50-54 per cent, will considerably reduce," the Minister of Finance, Arben Malaj, told ATA. The present quota of the inflation is 32 per cent but, he said, in 1998 inflation will fall to 20 per cent. According to Mr Malaj, the economic package aims to ease the negative fiscal effects.After remarks by the Commission of Economy, Finances and Privatization, the value-added tax was fixed 20 per cent. The excises tax has not changed but only the procedure of paying it has changed, said Malaj. ssh/jz/xh [14] VEFA CREDITORS CONTINUE PROTESTSTIRANE, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: Today too a small group of creditors of Vefa company continued their protests. They gathered in front of the building of the People's Assembly, chanting "we want our money."The protesters, who blocked the entry in the Parliament of the deputies, reacted towards leaders of the Democratic Party calling them thieves. Today afternoon, the protesters did not go to the meeting fixed a day before with one of the advisers of PM Fatos Nano, who had promised them a response to their concern by the government. The Finance Minister, Malaj declared to one of the dailies today that Vefa has no money in the bank. ssh/jz/xh/Z/ [15] "WE SHALL TRY TO OBSERVE THE DEADLINES PARLIAMENT SET FOR THE CONSTITUTION - Minister of Institutional ReformTIRANE, SEPT. 16 (ATA) - By Aurel Simoni: "We shall try to observe the deadlines that the Parliament has set for the approval of the Constitution," the Minister of the Institutional Reform Arben Imami said today.The political parties have started to name their deputies as members of the Parliamentary Commission for the preparation of the Constitution. In the mean time, the two co-chairmen of the Commission, S Godo and A Imami have not yet contacted the representatives of the Forum for Democracy grouping. The DP leader, Sali Berisha reiterated the DP option for a Constitutional Assembly. ssh/jz/xh Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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