Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-04-25

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] RP says Kosova issue urges unique stand by Albanian policy

[02] Trade Unions to hold rallies of protest on May 1

[03] Albania to alter customs' tariffs of imported wheat

[04] Term deposits for Italian Lire are preferred

[05] Exports volume rises compared to last year

[06] OSCE to organize an orientation visit to Vlore

[07] Serb forces aim at reaching highest peaks in Rrafsh i Dukagjinit

[08] Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports resigns

[09] Edi Rama appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

[10] Albania's Prime Minister Nano meets with Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

[11] Cooperation with international bodies to avoid conflict on the border intensified

[12] Albania's President meets with French constitutionalist

[13] Norwegian Foreign Minister to visit Albania

[14] Albanian state prepared to cope with Serbian aggressive policy in Kosova - Nano

[15] Albania's Prime Minister convenes reformed government

[01] RP says Kosova issue urges unique stand by Albanian policy

"Today, more than ever, the Kosova issue urges the whole Albanian political parties to be united and undertake more active actions in defence of this issue," Fatmir Mediu, leader of the Republican party (RP), the initiator of the meeting, said.

Participants said that the Albanian policy should continue under the motto "One nation on attitude."

The meeting was attended by parties member of the Unity for Democracy, and those of the united right-wing. The coalition parties were absent except the Social Democratic party. ake/mima/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Trade Unions to hold rallies of protest on May 1

"Although it is not considered open with the trade unions, the current government of the five-party coalition disregards us and does not listen the suggestions we have presented to overcome the difficult situation the country is going through," continued Muco.

The manifestation of May 1, which will be held in Tirana on the occasion of the Workers' International Day, will join in their economic protests the two largest trade unions, the Confederation and the Independent Trade Unions. For this, according to the Confederation chairman, the police department has approved the organization of the protest in defence of our requests against the new Albanian capitalists. /mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Albania to alter customs' tariffs of imported wheat

With the approval of the law, Government wants to boost the production of wheat and flour locally.

Based on the envisaged alternation the customs' tariffs of wheat from current 10 percent are thought to drop to 5 percent, while the tariffs of imported flour from 10 percent is thought to go 20 percent.

With the above mention proposals for 1998 these imported flour and wheat figures are predicted to be achieved.

                             Wheat

Amount       Value              Customs value     VAT
220,000 T   39,600,000 USD     3,960,000 USD    8,712,000 USD 10%

                            Flour

Amount       Value             Customs value       VAT
100,000 T   26,000,000 USD     2,600,000 USD    5,720,000 USD 10%
100,000 T   26,000,000 USD     5,200,000 USD    6,240,000 USD 20%

From this forecast revenues from customs' tariffs and the Value Added Tax with current tax level will reach 20,992,000 USD, while with the new proposed customs tariffs they will be 21,736,000 USD

Thus incomes to state budget will be 750,000 usd higher, without including the earnings from the processing of wheat to flour which are estimated to reach $ 3 million more and other factors as well like the new job places etc.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Term deposits for Italian Lire are preferred

Around 91,6 percent of total deposits belong to term deposits, while the rest fall to demand deposits.

Regarding term deposits more preferred are 12-month term deposits which take 50,9 percent of the total, while 3-month term deposits take 27,6 percent, 6-month term deposits take 12 percent and one month term deposit take only 1,1 percent.

Structure of deposits in Italian lire

-------------------------------------------------------
Nomination           !  1992    !   1996   !   1997   !
-------------------------------------------------------
Demand deposits      !  27,3    !   12,1   !   8,4    !
-------------------------------------------------------
Term deposits        !  72,7    !   87,9   !  91,6    !
-------------------------------------------------------
1-month term deposit !   0      !    0     !   1,1    !
-------------------------------------------------------
3-month term deposit !  17,5    !  16,8    !  27,6    !
-------------------------------------------------------
6-month term deposit !   5,3    !  12,3    !  12      !
-------------------------------------------------------
12month term deposit !  49,9    !  58,8    !  50,9    !
-------------------------------------------------------

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Exports volume rises compared to last year

Exports volume augmented with 66 percent compared with the same period in 1997, when export value was lek 3,7 billion.

During March '98 the volume of exports has been 11 percent higher than the exports' volume of February '98.

The increase occurred as a result of the growth with 60 percent of the export volume of the Albanian production.

In absolute value the highest specific weight is taken by textile products with lek 873 million and shoes with lek 681 million.

From the re activation of some mines were exported mineral products worth lek 263 million.

Meanwhile in the structure of exports we have increase in group "chemical products", "articles of stone, ceramic", compared to the previous month which take a small specific weight in exports total.

According to the country the highest volume of exports is carried out with Italy estimated at lek 1,5 billion and than with Greece estimated at lek 606 million.

Albanian imports volume for the first quarter of 1998 witnessed, a 61 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

An increase was noticed also during March compared with two previous months.

In imports structure, in absolute value the highest specific weight is taken by the raw material for textile articles with lek 1,2 billion, vegetal products with lek 1 billion and also machineries, technical equipment worth lek 999 million.

The highest volume of imports comes from neighboring countries with Italy first, totaling lek 4,8 billion, then Greece totaling lek 3 billion.

The high quotas of imports volume compared with export volume bring about the trade deficit to remain on the previous level. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] OSCE to organize an orientation visit to Vlore

The orientation visit is organized with the intention to familiarize the international representatives with the economic, political and security situation in the Vlore region. Meetings will be held with local officials, including the district Council Chairman, the District Military Commander, representatives of political parties and NGO's and representatives of the business community. Also, a tour of the city will be made, which will include stops at the hospital, a school and the harbour.

Preceding the visit to Vlora, a stopover will be made in Fier for a briefing on the 250 mln USD Anglo-Albanian Petroleum Limited investment project.

Approximately 25 international delegations will participate in the visit. From the side of the government, the Minister of Transport and Public Affairs, Gaqo Apostoli and the Minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade, Ermelinda Meksi will partake, as well as a Director from the Ministry of Public Economy and Privatisation. /a.ke/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Serb forces aim at reaching highest peaks in Rrafsh i Dukagjinit

Explosions and shootings have been intensified since 04.00. on Saturday in the direction of Babaloc, Gramacel, Thermjan, Zhdrelle, Radoniq villages.

The Albanian sources in the areas where Serb military operations are underway said that the Serbian forces aimed at reaching the highest peaks of the hill of Rrafshi i Dukagjinit to control the surrounding areas. pta/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports resigns

In a letter, addressed Friday to the President of the Republic, Dade explained the reasons which forced her to quit.

In the request of resignation, Dade pointed out her dedication to the work as Minister to realize the government program. She added that "if the country has not resolved many vital problems over the past nine months, the culture, arts and sports, were not only restructured, but have also been a spiritual component of revival, hope and development."

With regard to the reasons which forced her to resign, Dade writes:

"Given the delicate moment we are facing due to the irresponsibility, lack of normal communication for almost four months and deliberate, absurd obstacles, created by the Prime Minister and his cabinet for a normal activity of the Minister of Culture, given the difficulties to cope with in conflictual conditions, not for lack of efficiency in work, but for being contrary to the fact that the PM has gone beyond the competencies envisaged by the law, please, accept my request to quit the post of Minister with the conviction that during these months I have given my contribution for the Albanian world of culture, youth and sports."

Dade spoke in conviction that the institution of the President, as until now, "will continue to be concerned and to work for the emancipation of the Albanian politics and state, from the senior official down to the common citizen."

Dade engaged herself, as deputy and member of the Presidency of the Socialist Party, in offering her contribution "so that the Albanian life is freed from dictate, suffocation of the spirit of criticisms and manipulations behind the coulisses for mesquin interests."

In the framework of the reshuffles in the government cabinet, Premier Nano has urged the President of the Republic to release Arta Dade from the post of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. /s.s/pas/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Edi Rama appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

The President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, decreed today the appointment of Rama to the high post of the Minister.

The President's press and information office reports that President Meidani accepted, conformed to his constitutional authority, the resignation of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ms Arta Dade, and decreed her release from that post.

"Considering the resignation of Minister Dade as an act of democratic civilization, the President of the Republic hails the work made by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, which has been successful in a difficult period of spiritual revival," says the report of the press office. /s.s/pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Albania's Prime Minister Nano meets with Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

A report of the information and media department in the Council of Ministers says that Monsignor Paglia informed the Albanian PM of the first results seen in some of the faculties where Albanian students are attending classes. He underlined the enthusiasm of the Albanian students and teachers for the beginning of normalization in the didactic process. They stressed the need for more efforts so that the agreement be completely realised.

During the talk, PM Nano described as very dangerous the situation in Kosove due to the present violence and open terror against Albanians, and said that the situation may escalate towards a conflict of great proportions in case the necessary international pressure is not exerted on the Serbian regime of Belgrade - the report says.

PM Nano and Monsignor Paglia reiterated the importance of an active action on the part of the international factor to stabilize the situation in Kosova and to find a stable solution through dialogue, far from violence and terror. /s.s./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Cooperation with international bodies to avoid conflict on the border intensified

TIRANE, April 25 (ata) - By Ilir Paco: The High Defence Council convened urgently on Saturday to analyze the situation on the Albanian- Yugoslav border. It decided, among others, to intensify the cooperation with international structures to put to operation the mechanisms of collective security in order to avoid the conflict, said the Albania President's press and information office.

Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, also General Commander of the Armed Forces, demanded the Council to convene urgently following the recent incidents and the aggravation of the situation by the raids of the Serbian security forces on the Kosova villages near the border, which have forced Kosovars to flee towards Albania in the recent days.

Sotiraq Hroni, spokesman of the President, said that "the Prime Minister Fatos Nano and the Chief of the General Army Staff, Brigade General Aleks Andoni, reported on the latest events on the northeastern border areas of Albania and the measures adopted in this respect."

Those in the meeting voiced their concern also for the illegal passing of the border and urged that the border be secured and every illegal trafficking be stopped.

The President's spokesman also said that after the discussions, the High Defence Council decided that "all necessary measures must be adopted by the state institutions and the local government structures to safeguard and secure the state border of the Republic of Albania, guaranteeing the prevention of illegal passing of the border and any other trafficking."

The meeting decided that cooperation with international partners, the Contact Group, NATO, OSCE, U.N. etc., be intensified for the resolution of the question of Kosove through peaceful and political means. /a.ke/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Albania's President meets with French constitutionalist

The spokesman of the president said that "Carcasson presented Meidani his ideas for the development of an open, sure and fair constitutional process, which also considers the role of the President as an unbiassed figure, with moral authority accepted by the political subjects participating in it".

Meidani familiarised the French constitutionalist with his position during this process. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Norwegian Foreign Minister to visit Albania

Volleback will meet with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi, Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian state prepared to cope with Serbian aggressive policy in Kosova - Nano

at the government meeting on Saturday that the Albanian state has taken all the necessary measures to cope with the Serbian aggressive policy against Kosova, according to the Council of Ministers' Information department.

Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, too, reported on the Kosova issue. /mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Albania's Prime Minister convenes reformed government

Addressing the first government following the appointment of eight new ministers Nano also said that "the Government will insist on the selection in general of the main staffs of each minister, giving priority to the new generations of experts recently graduating from local and foreign schools.

The journalistic debates and storms accompanying the latest governmental changes were regarded by the prime minister as a new chapter in the Albanian pluralistic experience.

"The President of the Republic, unlike his forerunner, is showing that he is the president of all Albanians, free of any party or military leaning, and proving that the policy which won the June 29 elections tends towards emancipation of the society and not towards the interests of the clan".

"I fully hope for a perfection of the President's mission as a constitutional and political guarantee of the state's equilibriums," said Nano. /mima/lm/

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