Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-11-08

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF BERLIN WALL'S DISMANTLING COMMEMORATED

[02] FINANCIAL SCANDAL IN STUDENTS' ENTERPRISE OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY

[03] PRESS REVIEW

[04] INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN THE FOCUS OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

[05] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS WITH SIEMENS REPRESENTATIVES

[06] TIGHT MEASURES OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ECONOMIC REVIVAL - Press conference of Albanian PM, Fatos Nano -

[07] GREECE TO LEGALIZE ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS FROM JANUARY 1, 1998

[08] CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT COMMITTED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OF BATHORE RESIDENTS

[09] 40 BOXES OF CIGARETTES BLOCKED AND SEQUESTERED IN LIBRAZHD

[10] IN CRETE I DID MY DUTY. I DID NOT REPLACE KOSOVA AUTHORITIES-Nano

[11] BAVARIA TO ASSIST ALBANIAN POLICE

[01] EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF BERLIN WALL'S DISMANTLING COMMEMORATED

The audience was greeted by the second Secretary of the Embassy Julia Gross.

She said, among others, that "the June elections this year in Albania were another figure, which shows that the Albanian people have the future in their own hands."

Head of the Friendship Association Zihni Haskaj also greeted the audience.

Sources of the German Embassy in Tirana said to ATA that a project on a cemetery and obelisk for the German soldiers killed in Albania during the Second World War has not started "because the location has not been set and operation to find corpses of the German soldiers has not been concluded. /ake/kled/ak/sh/

[02] FINANCIAL SCANDAL IN STUDENTS' ENTERPRISE OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY

A paper sent in the first days of November by the trade enterprise for the treatment of students no. 3 in Tirana to the Ministry of Tourism, signed by the director Gjin Shalsi, facts for the disappearance of money without carrying out respective operations come to light.

The document gives facts for expenses of money under the pretext for services in the enterprise, services which have been not carried out.

From the verification made in the lists of some 122 employees dismissed in July 1997, it came out that ten part time staff have been payed, among whom guards of the Guard of the Republic. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

[03] PRESS REVIEW

With regard to this problem, the paper also carries a declaration of the Interior Minister, Neritan Ceka, under the title "The illegal amnesties. "The Interior Minister asked that a Legal-Medical Commission examine the mental state of Berisha," underlines the paper. "The strike, pretext for destabilization," reports the paper on the second page. "30-40% of pupils use drugs and alcohol," reports the paper on the sixth page, referring to a survey of the Monitoring Center for Youths.

"All communes and town halls of the country demonstrated yesterday their incompatibility with the central power, communist revenge of this government, blockage of funds for this state power, discharge from work of a considerable number of local officials," reports Rilindja Demokratike under the title "Local government closes the doors. "Disillusion, failure, isolation, betrayal in the first 100 days of the ex-communists' governing," writes the paper regarding the news conference of democratic leader Berisha. "Former President presented documents of the meeting between him and President Gligorov which uncovered the cheating of Nano," reports the paper under the headline "In Krakove and Lisbone, I have asked Gligorov to recognise the University of Tetova." "Vefa has effectively collapsed," writes the paper on the fifth page. "Europe and USA do not recognise the errors of Nano," is another article published by the paper.

"Who hide the keys of the town hall of the capital?" is the title of the editorial published in Republika. "The Defence Ministry sues the deserters," reports the paper on the second page. "The firsts in lists, the commanders of the units in South," underlines the paper. "Alimucaj reveals the secret of the Vefa ownership," reports the paper on the economic page.

"The first 100 days of the Nano government does not seem to be the reflection of its work," says the editorial of Koha Jone, entitled "War and Peace in 100 days." The paper covers the news conference of democratic leader Berisha under the title "Berisha: Nano this is the end." "The government and the opposition gave different information regarding the strike of local officials yesterday," reports the paper under the title "The strike of local officials throws down the politics." The paper covers the news conference of the Republican leader Mediu, under the title "RP: We will win the state power with the Albanian United Right." "The Kombinat neighbourhood smears with blood, policeman killed," reports the paper on the second page.

"Albanian government strongly reacted against a one-day strike of the town halls of main cities in Albania, including the capital," says the editorial of the newspaper Albania under the title "State of violence, with people of violence." "Communist offer $100 thousand for the killer," the paper says under the title "A hit man for Sali Berisha." "14,800 petrol workers go on a general strike," the paper says in the fourth page and reports that they have economic demands.

"Witnesses summoned to Attorney General office refused to testify both of fear and insecurity existing in Vlora and danger about the "Zani's case" in which present senior state officials are thought to be involved," the paper says in the second page. "Democrats analyse Socialist governing," the paper writes under the title "Within 100 days the government commits the worst things." "Banks grabbed VEFA," is another article carried by the paper.

Rilindja covers the news conference of the head of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova and quotes him as saying that some statements of Albania's prime minister Fatos Nano after the meeting with the Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic are not in concordance with the will of the people of Kosova. It carries a statement of the government spokesman saying that the position of the Albanian government on the national issue is unchanged and that the meeting with Milosevic was very important. The paper says that the NATO Secretary General Havier Solana will visit Belgrade on Saturday and will ask Milosevic for an acceptable solution for Kosova.

Dita reports that the President of Albania Rexhep Meidani has referred to the parliament the law related to the investigation of March unrest and he is quoted as saying that "Ngjela commission resembles the prosecutor's office." The paper says "Bukoshi, tete-a-tete with Nano," referring to a meeting between Albania's prime minister Fatos Nano and that of Kosova Bujar Bukoshi, for which the paper says that being held behind closed doors "can be a sign of differences existing between the two sides on the problems concerning Kosova. The paper carries an interview with the SP deputy Gramoz Ruci under the title "SP, even fractions" and subtitle: "I am waiting for Berisha in parliament, there are things we need to be confronted." The paper covers a news conference of the DP leader Sali Berisha under the title "Government organises grabbing of firms."

Gazeta Shqiptare reports "Prishtina-Tirana relations cooled." The paper quotes Rugova as saying that Nano should be more careful in his statements on Kosova. Under the title "Local servants on strike against government," the paper says that the work has continued normally in some district municipalities. The paper reports that a six-month emergency aid from IMF to Albania is ready now that the administrators have started working at VEFA company. kled/kei/mt/ak/k

[04] INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN THE FOCUS OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT

Highlighting the loyal role of the opposition in general, PM Nano called on DP to take their seats in the Parliament.

Describing Berisha as "one who ruined the DP image," Nano said that "he keeps doing the same thing."

With regard to the stand adopted by DP as an opposition party during the 100 days under Nano governemnt, he said that DP, despite factions and wrong governing which led the country to crisis, it still remains "part of Albanian pluralism with its own electorate."

The role that DP must play, said Nano, is to hold debates as a rival party in the coming electoral contest to be held at the beginning of the next century.

Concerning the latest interference of DP in the local government activity and "orientations" for strikes by officials of the local government, deputy PM Fino stressed that "they are not participants of Berisha's rallies, but state officials." pas/xh/

[05] ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS WITH SIEMENS REPRESENTATIVES

Siemens representatives presented the new project of the Rinas terminal, whose financing will be made privately and not through donors. The terminal is planned to be completed after 15 months.

Siemens is present in the Albanian market for about 4 years working in the fields of telecommunication, health, energy and at the Rinas Airport. pas/xh/

[06] TIGHT MEASURES OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ECONOMIC REVIVAL - Press conference of Albanian PM, Fatos Nano -

"This situation forced the Government to adopt a number of tight economic measures although they were pains-taking and unpopular." The value-added tax increased from 12.5 to 20 per cent. We aim to cooperate with the IMF to reduce inflation to 18-20 per cent," said PM Nano.

Nano mentioned the Rome meeting and that of donors in Brussels in which Albania was offered over 600 million dollars in the form of assistance, thus helping it realise the initialled projects. He said that the Albanian Government will reduce the budgetary deficit to no less that 14 per cent of the GDP in 1997, with the objective of setting it to no more that 10 per cent in 1998.

Premier Nano said that the number of employees in the state administration will reduce with the aim that their number fall to 10 000 in March 1998. He pointed out that the private sector will be encouraged and that an efficient strategy will be created for the privatization which will enable the creation of about 220 000 new jobs until 2000.

Referring to the pyramid schemes issue Nano said that IMF, right after the establishment of auditors also in the last loan-taking company, gave the green light on Friday for the application of a six-month aid programme. This aid precedes the signing of a three-year agreement in the next March.

Among the government measures for economic recovery, Nano mentioned the approval in December of the state budget for 1998, the beginning since December the 1st of the coordinated work of the IMF experts with Albanian specialists to launch structural reforms, and the opening of a single "window" for all foreign investors to carry out the formalities.

Nano also spoke of the Government's performance to restructure banks and, in cooperation with the World Bank, through the new improved law to be adopted by parliament, create sound banking local and foreign institutions.

"Actually, the aim is to liquidate the inefficient banks, including the Agrarian Bank and the National Commercial Bank, and the privatisation of the Savings Bank. In both cases the citizens' deposits in these banks are secured," Nano said. pas/xh/lm

[07] GREECE TO LEGALIZE ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS FROM JANUARY 1, 1998

From this date the emigrants in Greece have to be registered in the local labour offices, said Greek deputy minister of Labour, Cristos Protopapas.

The Greek high official made the above declaration in a conference on the questions of employment in Salonika. He said that the Decree is now in the last stage of preparation, that is its signing by the President of the Republic.

The decree envisages the distribution of 9-month provisional green cards to be followed by a number of formalities by the emigrants in order to receive the three-year green card, with a two-year term of renewal.

The first draft of the decree was presented in January this year and after reviewed it was presented again in June, sparking a wave of reactions because it excluded emigrants from the neighbouring countries, namely Albania and Bulgaria. Some weeks later, upon the initiative of the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the said article was brought to the previous form, with the Albanians included.

More than 350 thousand from about 450 thousand illegal foreign emigrants actually in Greece are Albanians, official sources say. ssh/xh/

[08] CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT COMMITTED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OF BATHORE RESIDENTS

There are 25 000 people in about 5400 families, a part of whom living there in difficult conditions for 4-5 years, who receive no social or economic assistance. They are lacking energy, drinking water and schools.

Mr Gjinushi told them that he will be seriously engaged, together with other links of the government, to solve their pending problems. He said that respective ministers will report about these problems in the parliamentary commissions as soon as possible. ssh/pas/xh/

[09] 40 BOXES OF CIGARETTES BLOCKED AND SEQUESTERED IN LIBRAZHD

The cigarettes of Boss trade mark and without documentation were found in a van of Diber.

Librazhd police sources say that the value of the total amount of cigarettes is about 1.2 million lek and that the person who was accompanying the commodities, a youth from Elbasan, has been detained.

Police in the checkpoint of Mirake have uncovered and sequestered considerable amounts of canabis sativa planned to be sent to Greece. pas/xh/

[10] IN CRETE I DID MY DUTY. I DID NOT REPLACE KOSOVA AUTHORITIES-Nano

"It was an activity held in favour of Albania and Albanians wherever they are," Fatos Nano said at a news conference on Saturday.

He made clear that of priority in the contacts conducted was national interest. He said that this was a first step, characterised by the presentation of bilateral stances.

"Albania's positions in the Balkan developments focus on the defence of national interests as well as the realisation of the Albanian people's goals through legitimate ways," he said.

Nano spoke of his meeting on Friday with the Prime Minister of the Kosova government, Bujar Bukoshi.

"I assured Bukoshi and the Kosova authorities that they will find in me an honest and responsible partner, who does not double or replace the stands of the Kosova government".

He said that the representatives of the Kosova government, headed by Bukoshi, reconfirmed the stand of Kosova for independence, using political means. Nano cited Bukoshi as saying that the mediation of a third side is needed to achieve the goal and that practice has shown that the Serb regime respects no agreement without pressure from the big powers.

Nano stressed that both the representatives of the Kosova government and the Albanian government considered important the coordination and joint presence where the Kosova issue is discussed and stressed that decisions should be elaborated. pas/lm

[11] BAVARIA TO ASSIST ALBANIAN POLICE

This was confirmed last Friday in a meeting that Albanian Interior Minister Neritan Ceka and the State Secretary, Ndre Legisi had with the German delegation, led by Mr Siegried Frischmuth, State Director in the Interior Ministry of the Land of Bavaria.

During the meeting they discussed expansion of relations and cooperation between the two respective ministries as well as continuation of aid in restructuring the Police Academy and other important sectors of the Albanian police, the spokesman of the Interior Ministry said.

The delegation of the Interior Ministry of the Land of Bavaria, which also includes several representatives of the "Hanns Siede" foundation, visited the Police Department in Durres.

Tomorrow it will take part in the ceremony of the delivery of a 1.5 million DM worth of aid the Interior Ministry of the Land of Bavaria has accorded to the Albanian Police Academy. pas/xh/lm

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