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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-04-29Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] Long vehicle with smuggled cigarettes blockedKORCE, April 28 (ata) - By B Fejzullahu: A long vehicle carrying smuggled cigarettes was blocked on the Gorrice-Korce road, in the spot called Qafa e Zeze last Monday evening.The spokesman of the regional police department told ATA that on Monday at about 10 p.m. police forces seized a long vehicle smuggling cigarettes after it had passed through the customs house of Gorrice. During the control, the driver of the vehicle could flee to unknown direction. Also five policemen of the border police who were serving in the border point of Gorrice had left, the same source said. The long vehicle had the number plate PG 30 05 A, which is suspected to be false, while its trailer carried no number plate. The vehicle smuggling a load of 1 098 boxes with Boss cigarettes could avoid paying the customs tax of 25,5 million lek. This is the third case when long vehicles, smuggling cigarettes through that border point, are caught. The last three long vehicles with smuggled cigarettes were seized on February 13 this year. /s.sh./pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] USD quoted at lek 159,70Tirana, April 29 (ATA) - Wednesday's average exchange rate in the informal market of Albanian currency "lek" against foreign currencies like USD, DM, SFR, ITL was in favour of these last.So $1 = 159,70 lek, gaining 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 159, 50 lek. The DM was traded for 88,80 lek, gaining 0,10 points compared to yesterday's 88,70 lek. The ITL (1000) was traded for 88,90 lek gaining 0.20 points compared with yesterday's 88,70 lek. GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,00 lek, lossing 0,10 points compared with yesterday's 50,10 The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 2,00 points compared with yesterday's 106,30 lek and so on. Wednesday exchange rates Currency Average exchange rates USD 159,70 lek DM 88,80 lek ITL (1000) 88,90 lek GRD (100) 50,00 lek SFR 103,30 lek FRF 24,50 lek GBP 230,40 lek JPY (100) 111,20 lek NLG 73,60 lek /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Albanian "Glina" competes imported productsTirana, April 29 (ATA) - Since four months ago when Glina sparkling water was produced, it holds 80 per cent of Albanian sparkling water market outshining imported products, told ATA Wednesday, representatives of "ALFA Company".After considerable investments in constructing the factory near Glina village, with updated technology, the factory is the most advanced in Ballkan Penninsula. "ALFA Company" besides the turn out of Glina sparkling water has started the production of various brands of soft drinks like "Glina Cola", "Glina Ricoco" and "Top Glina", which are strongly competing in the Albanian market. According to Glina factory directors they have turned out daily around 100,000 sparkling water and soft drinks bottles. As the summer period is coming company's managers are totally committed to meet the demands of Albanian market for such products. According to them many demands have come recently to the company to import Glina water, but current factory's output is planed to cover only local market needs. In a near future "ALFA Company" will boost the production of Glina water by investing in buying new equipment. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] A $10 million grant from US for wheat and oilTirana, April 29 (ATA) - Negotiations are underway between the United States Agricultural Department and Albanian side on the realising of a $10 million grant for wheat and oil.The grant forecasts the release of 25,000 tonnes of wheat and 6300 tonnes of vegetal oil, which will be sold to private traders and the funds will be used to support the state budget told ATA Pavli Kesi director of Industry and Food department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. According to him the aid will re activate the flour and oil industry. The aid is envisaged to come during May - June period. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Reconstructed airport ready in summerTirana, April 29 (ATA) - The Rinas Airport project in Tirana figured out to be worth DM 45,5 million will be finished according to the plan, sources from the respective institution reported Wednesday.When the German company SIEMENS won the tender in 1996, it encountered some obstacles in implementing the project due in Summer 1998, but company's representatives say they will carry out the project in time. According to SIEMENS contractor, Valter Gregor the works currently are focused on the runway. Also are installed the primary and secondary lightening cables. Soon is expected to function the station and sub station and the encircling of airport will take place. The encircling has become urgent due to material looting by local people. /gen/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Prizren near and very far from Albania -Reportage by Riza Hoxha-KUKES, April 28 (ATA)-War is increasingly getting closer to the south of Kosova."The roar of arms is now being heard also in the city of Prizren and not too far, from the Lubisht village in its vicinity. Helicopters fly occasionally over Prizren", an inhabitant from Kukes exercising small trade in the city of Prizren, ATA. Serbian police road blocks, checking every vehicle moving towards Prizren from its surrounding villages, are numerous on the Vermik-Prizren village, added Hysen. By the end of 1992 tens of Kukes traders "discovered" the traditional market of Prizren, city of Kosova, less than 40 kilometres far from Kukes. For 50 years on end this customs point, 24 kms northeast of the Kukes town, remained as a "forbidden apple" for people of the same blood. Crossings to both sides of the border had been free until 1948, but during the 50 years of communist rule kinship was completely blocked, even brother and sister on the two sides of the border could not exchange a word. "The 50-year 'calm', which often had the taste of death for those who crossed the border illegally, was broken only seven years ago. During the embargo against former-Yugoslavia, over 700 ambulatory traders as well as 300 cars, substantially enlivened the economic situation of the Kukes inhabitants. In Prizren they trade in everything, beginning with underwear down to jewelry, foodstuffs to mechanical and electric appliances. "Profit has reduced substantially, but there is some gain ,however. Even 1000 leks (around $ 6) are enough for us to gain," said Ramiz Zeneli. Trade with Prizren has assumed such proportions that you can hardly find a family in Kukes not to be linked with Prizren in some way. The director of the Morini customs, Binak Halili, says that control has been tightened to prevent smuggling of cigarettes, coffee and ensure a normal operation of this customs. However, the situation today is getting worse. The approach of the war has forced the Kukes traders to make haste and remove the commodity remaining in Prizren. They say the latest situation in Prizren's market seems dead. This also for the fact that police checks, very often on Prizren-Gjakova, Prizren-Ferizaj and other roads have forced wholesale traders to leave. The same sources report that skirmishes took place in Prizren's centre yesterday afternoon between Serbian citizens residing there and the Albanians. This has caused this market to be considered almost closed now. /s.s/pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Statues stolen from Butrint to be restoredSARANDE, April 28 (ATA)-By Sh. Hajno, The statues stolen from the ancient town of Butrint will be brough back.The vice-director of the Archaeological Institute, Ilir Gjipali, told ATA that they have agreed in principle with the Greek side and an agreement will be signed in a near future to bring back in Butrint four busts and two statues, which the Greek police have seized from the traffickers of valuable pieces. According to the responsible for the archaeological centre of Sarande, Dhimiter Condi, the restoration of the stolen archeological pieces has been impossible for safety reasons, but with the reconstruction of the museum, all the conditions will be created for their restoration. The Butrint statues began to be stolen six years ago, especially in '97, during last March's turmoil. According to a AFP source, the last two statues 1,24 and 1,29 metres high were recovered last August in the house of a Greek owner in the suburbs of Athens. /s.sh/das/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Albanian Deputy Speaker meets with ambassador of CanadaTIRANE, April 29 (ata) - In a meeting with Canada's ambassador Suzanne Kartwright, the deputy chairman of the Presidency of the People's Assembly, Namik Dokle, stressed the important role of the parliament in bring the country to normality following the crisis of 1997.As the press office of the People's Assembly reports, Dokle briefed the Canadian Ambassador of the work the parliament has made so far, stressing the importance of a successful process for the drafting of the Constitution. "We are resolute to make a constitution for all the Albanians and to respect the whole legal procedure for its drafting," said Dokle. During the talk, Dokle focused in particular on the developments in Kosove and those in the region. Considering the situation there as rather explosive, he pointed out that the international community must organize a second Dayton on Kosova before waiting to have a second Bosnia. The Canadian Ambassador voiced her interest in the developments in Albania and pointed out the great progress made in this country to overcome the last year's crisis. She expressed the opinion that the bilateral relations may be intensified in various fields. Expressing her concern on the situation in Kosove, Ms Kartwirght said that although Canada is not a Contact Group member, it is rather interested in a just and long term resolution of the crisis in Kosova. /a.ke/das/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Grave situation continues in Kosova-Serbian reinforcements also along Kosova-Macedonia border- PRISHTINE, April 29 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:Sources of the Democratic League from Kacanik (south of Kosova, near the border with FYROM) says that reinforcements of the Serbian army-police forces arrived on Monday evening, at around 20.00, in the Gollobocice village, near the Kosova-Macedonia border. Meanwhile, the Serbian forces injured a fifteen-year-old Albanian, Rozafat Kamberi, in Gjakova (city near the north Albanian border) last night. He was shot just as he came out in the yard of his house, at 21.20. Shootings from Serbian forces' automatic weapons were heard overnight in the city of Gjakova, while in the suburbs of Gjakova and Decan, now engulfed by the Serb operations, the shelling continued also in the morning. Intensive gunfire overnight is also reported in Podujeve (northeastern Kosova) and its suburbs. /p.ta/das/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] NATO presence in Albania, a factor for pressure and security against the conflict- Letter of Albanian PM to Italian Foreign Minister - TIRANE, April 29 (ata) - Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano has sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of Italy, Lamberto Dini on the verge of the Contact Group Meeting in Rome, the information and media department of the Council of Ministers reports. Follows the text of the letter: "Only hours ahead of the Contact Group Rome Meeting, news from Kosova show continuous escalation of tension and the potential risk of a wide scale confrontation. Serbian police and army are deployed in intense military operations in the border zones with the Republic of Albania, while the civil Albanian population of Kosova are realising that their only protection is to organize self-defence. In the meantime, first groups of refugees from Kosova have reached Albania.Government of Albania has complied with all Contact Group decisions and documents and is committed to seeking the solution of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue. It is making all efforts to ease and moderate Albanian politics reaction on both sides of the border, and has already taken effective measures to hinder all factors that might generate the aggravation of the crisis. During the last weeks, we have successfully cooperated with international organizations in monitoring our northeast frontier. In the light of such a situation and in the framework of joint cooperation, we consider the NATO presence in Albania a high necessity, which will serve as a factor for pressure and security against the conflict. Albanian Government and I personally do sincerely hope that the Rome Meeting of the Contact Group will produce reach realistic decisions which would efficiently restore peace and dialogue. Solution of Kosova problem has a vital importance for Albania and Albanians and it strongly affects the situation in the whole region. Any delay to this solution could bring about unjustified consequences," writes the letter that Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano has sent to the Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini. /a.ke/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] War Veterans call for solidarity in defence of Albanian people of KosovaTIRANA, April 29 (ATA)-The Albanian People's War Veterans Organisation (OBVLPSH), convened on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Albanian League Prizren, calls for solidarity in defence of the Albanian people of Kosova.The appeal is addressed to the whole people of Albania, political forces, government, People's Assembly, President of the Republic as well as to the government, People's Assembly and President of the Republic of Kosova. OBVLPSH calls on the Albanian political forces to leave aside disagreements and ask from the European and Euro-Atlantic big powers to repair the past injustices of grave consequences for the Albanian nation, as well as for the Balkan region and broader. OBVLPSH asks for Kosova a solution in line with the rights and will of the Albanian people of the Republic of Kosova, according to the Charters of Human and Peoples' Rights to self-determination. The veterans organisation supports the U.S. stand on Kosova. The Albanian League of Prizren (Southeast of Kosova) was founded in June 1878. It is the first political organisation which was created inside Albania and fought for liberation from the Ottoman invader, defence of the country's territorial integrity and the formation of the national state. /a.ke/das/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Human rights associations be extended all over AlbaniaTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - By Ilir Paço: President of Albania Rexhep Meidani met on Wednesday with the leaders of the Helsinki Committees of Albania, Norwegian and the Netherlands and presented the idea of establishing a chamber of all associations to protect the human rights (House of Human rights).A spokesman at the presidency said to ATA that they discussed the development and enhancement of the role of the non governmental associations (NGOs) which deal with human rights. s.sh/mima/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Investigation group on truck seized with smuggling cigarettesKORCE, April 29 (ATA) - By B. Fejzullai: An investigation group from the Ministry of Order, in cooperation with the prosecutor's office of Korce, is investigating the persons, involved in the smuggling of cigarettes in the customs of Gorica, near Korce, the spokesman of the Department of the Regional Police told ATA on Wednesday.The five persons, who were on duty during the night of Monday, when the smuggling truck passed through, had abandoned the service and fled away. Also the civil customs officer, Ilir Hasani, had left the service. Meanwhile, the long van with number plate PG 3008 A and with a trailer without number plates, loaded with 1098 packages of cigarettes "Boss," which was seized by the police of Korce on Monday at 22:00, is blocked and kept under the protection of the district police. /a.ke/pas/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] International presence in Kosova is important, necessary, MeidaniTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - By I. Paco: "Despite the results of today's meeting of the Contact Group in Rome, the presence of the international factor in Kosova is very important and necessary not to allow the further precipitation of the situation," Albania's President Rexhep Meidani said Wednesday during a meeting with several leaders of the Helsinki Committee of the Netherlands, Norway and Albania.President's spokesman Sotiraq Hroni told ATA that the President is worried about the flagrant violation of human rights in Kosova. He added that the President considered positive imposing of the economic embargo against Yugoslavia, but it is more important for him the international presence in the region. "The presence of the international factor is necessary to create the favourable conditions for the beginning of the real dialogue," said Meidani in the meeting with the Helsinki representatives. According to Hroni, Meidani considered the international guarantee in this dialogue necessary for the success of negotiations. The Albanian President has been the first senior politician who had asked the international presence in the region. Meidani urged the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to deploy a mission of the United Nations in Kosova during a meeting he held with him in New York on February 3, 1998. /a.ke/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] US experts ready to help Albanian judiciaryTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - Experts of the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday in Tirana that they were ready to help the Albanian judiciary in fight against the organised crime, money laundering, smuggling, contraband and corruption, a spokesman of the Justice Ministry said.The U.S. delegation headed by Jane Reno, chief of the Justice Department met today with Thimio Kondi, Minister of Justice to discuss assistance and training of judges, prosecutors and experts of judiciary. Minister Kondi said that in the future both justice institutions would sign an agreement for a mutual juridical assistance in the civil, trade and penal field. The meeting was attended by the second secretary of the U.S. Embassy to Albania Lynn Guriun. s.sh/mima/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Greek charge d'affaires meets Albanian senior officialsTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - The charge d'affaires of the Greek embassy in Tirana, Dimitris Platis, met Wednesday with the State Secretary for the European Integration Ilir Meta and the Defence Minister, Luan Hajdaraga, with whom he discussed the ways to be followed by Greece for the solution of the crisis in Kosova, press and information department in the Greek embassy in Tirana reported.The meeting between Platis and Hajdaraga also discussed other issues of the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence. /s.sh/mima/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] DP to start campaign for local electionsTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - By A. Haxhiu: The Albanian Democratic party (DP) will start soon an election campaign for the partial local elections scheduled for June 21 this year which will be led by the deputy party leader Genc Pollo."The DP will present its candidates in those regions which have been considered difficult, particularly in the South of Albania, being optimistic for the victory because the present government has failed to keep the promises," Genc Pollo said on Wednesday. As regards the DP attitude towards the other parties of the political grouping Unity for Democracy, the deputy leader Pollo said that his party was always for cooperation with the allies but this would be discussed later in details. "It is important to elect the best people," Pollo said. mima/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Official says Albania opposes conflictual policiesTIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - Promotion of bilateral relations between Albania and Canada in the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation was on the focus of the talks on Wednesday between the Albanian Secretary of State for European Integration Ilir Meta and Canadian Ambassador charged of Albania Susan M.W. Cartwright, press and information office at the Foreign Ministry said.They said that Belgrade tried to blame Albania for the crisis in Kosova. Meta said: "Albania has given and is giving continuous proofs that it opposes conflictual policies." "We are cooperating with international bodies which monitor the situation in the Northeastern Albania such as Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), after an open conflict by the Serbs in Kosova." Meta added that "given an escalation of the situation in the border with Albania, we urge this cooperation be extended even with NATO in the framework of the Partnership for Peace." The Secretary of State urged the Canadian ambassador that his country contribute to a maximum in resolving the crisis in Kosova. s.sh/mima/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] EU projects for Albania to be implemented soon- Meta meets Italian ambassador in Tirana -TIRANA, April 29 (ATA) - The Albanian State Secretary for the European Integration, Ilir Meta, met Wednesday with the Italian ambassador in Tirana, Marcelo Spatafora, where they discussed the relations of Albania with the European Union countries and the situation in the region, press and information department in the Foreign Ministry reported. They stressed that the situation in Albania encourages other steps for the institutionalization of the relations of Albania and the European Union (EU), as well as with the other Euro-Atlantic structures. With regard to the situation in Kosova, Meta and Spatafora urged that NATO structures take part in monitoring the Northeastern part of Albania, along with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM). /s.sh/mima/mt/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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