Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-06-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] "Why did you make me hate you" - winner of "Songs of the season '98"

[02] Drug, visible phenomenon in Albanian society

[03] Yugoslav army shells Pantine village of Kosova

[04] Kuwaiti Fund finances works on Elbasan-Qafe Thane road

[05] Self-treatment centres for sick of 65-70 age-group

[06] Elections in Shijak free and democratic -association

[07] Health Ministry to prepare draft on dental health strategy

[08] Exhibition on Italian-Albanian relations opened in Shkoder

[09] Program for greater care by Albanian state for its emigrants and emigration presented

[10] Humanitarian situation of Albanian refugees under control, but no good perspective - CEI

[11] There is no conflict between Berisha and me - DP vice chairman

[12] Registration of agricultural economic units continues - INSTAT

[13] CEC says second round to be held normally

[14] Rexhep Qosja elected head of Kosova new democratic league

[15] Yugoslav army mines roads in Shtimje

[16] Serb forces hold 150 Albanians hostage

[17] Albania president expresses condolences to MAPE mission

[01] "Why did you make me hate you" - winner of "Songs of the season '98"

At the request of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Edi Rama, the festival carried messages against Serbian violence and terror in Kosova.

Thirty-two, out of 71 songs presented for the great spring activity, were selected during last April.

All songs were accompanied with video clips. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Drug, visible phenomenon in Albanian society

TIRANA, June 26 (ATA)-By K. Shehu, The drug phenomenon, a social worldwide wound, is assuming alarming proportions also in Albania. Mostly affected by this phenomenon is the most vital part of the society, the youth.

"The drug effect on this strata is linked with many reasons," Sevin Arbana, head of the association "For the benefit of the Albanian woman", told ATA, adding that the Albanian society has found itself completely unprepared to cope with this new phenomenon.

Data provided from surveys conducted by this association and well as those provided from the Toxicology Clinic at the Central Military Hospital, the Public Order Ministry and other institutions, speak of alarming figures.

"Positive is the fact that over 50 per cent of the interviewed think that the use of drug is dangerous and makes up a social problem for our society," says Arbana.

In Albania there is only one ward in the Central Military hospital which treats a very small number of drug addicts.

The drug specialist at the Ministry of Health, Sokol Morina says that "the creation of clinics for the deintoxication and rehabilitation of drug addicts is still not even thought about, as they are very expensive".

Zihni Sula, chief of the Toxicological ward says that "80 per cent of the drug addicted, treated in our ward are between 15 and 28 years old, who have left school, are unemployed, with family, psychological problems and others. /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Yugoslav army shells Pantine village of Kosova

In this village, engulfed by fire and smoke, many houses are destroyed and burnt, sources from the spot report.

The region is under complete isolation and there are no reports on the barbarous assault against the Pantine village, which was also attacked two days ago, killing three Albanians. /b.ca/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Kuwaiti Fund finances works on Elbasan-Qafe Thane road

The details of the agreement have been discussed recently between the Kuwaiti Fund and representatives of the Finance Ministry, Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade, Ministry of Public and transport Affairs and general Road department.

The first to be rehabilitated and improved will be the Elbasan- Librazhd road section 20.5 km, Librazhd-Qukes 21 km and Qukes-Qafe Thane 19.6 km.

The Elbasan-Qafe Thane segment is included in the motorway Rogozhine- Elbasan-Qafe Thane, which is an extension of the Durres-Rrogozhine segment. All this motorway from Durres to Qafe Thane of 150km, costs 90 million dollars.

As regards the transportation sector, among the bilateral donors are Germany, Italy and Kuwait.

So far in this sector have been engaged some $337 million fro various donors and some $76 million from the Albanian government. /lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Self-treatment centres for sick of 65-70 age-group

"The project constitutes in setting up training centers for patients to cure themselves, first in Tirana and then in the country's districts," the spokesman of the Health Ministry, Artur Rada, told ATA.

According to Rada, the team of the training personnel will comprise specialist doctors, nurses and public workers.

Surveys conducted in various health centers and at the University Hospital Centre, show that the 60-70 age-group has the greatest number of diseases. In 80 percent of the cases this age-group suffers from hypertension, diseases of cardiovascular system, digestive apparatus diseases, gastrological diseases and diabetes.

According to specialists, the level of health treatment of the sick is only confined to general therapy and chronic treatment of the sick, not devoting much importance to the theoretical treatment of the disease. /a.ke/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Elections in Shijak free and democratic -association

"According to opinion polls conducted by the association with inhabitants of various ages showed that the local by-elections in the town of Shijak have been the calmest over the last six years," the head of the SHDK branch for Durres, Ilir Xaxa, told ATA.

The June 21 local by-elections were held in seven town-halls and nine communes, in which their leaders quitted work or left it for various reasons during last year's unrest.

Three political groupings presented their candidates in the latest local polls, the Alliance for the State which comprises the government coalition parties the Socialist party, Democratic Alliance party, Social Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Human Rights Union party as well as National Unity party, the right-wing political grouping "Unity for Democracy" which comprises the Democratic party, Social Democrat Union party, Legality Movement party, Christian Democratic party and Democratic Union party, and DBSH grouping which consists of the Republican Party, the National Front party, the Party of December Movement, the Conservative party and the Right Democratic party.

The Alliance for State political grouping won 53 per cent of the votes. /s.sh/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Health Ministry to prepare draft on dental health strategy

"The preparations for a draft and supplements to be carried out in the respective legislation will make the dental sector more functional," the Health Ministry spokesman told ATA.

He said that a regulation will be compiled on the service and operation of the dentist cabinets in elementary and eight year schools, secondary schools and the University Dental Centre, while the private dental system will continue to function as earlier.

"Over the last years the dental centers in most of the schools in the capital and districts have been destroyed and closed, which has made impossible the treatment of the 5-18 age-group free of charge. /s.s/mima/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Exhibition on Italian-Albanian relations opened in Shkoder

The exhibition displays 60 photos of 1900-1950 proving of the early relations between Albania and Italy.

The chairman of the association "Hope," Blendi Dibra told ATA that at first the exhibition was displayed in Puglje of Italy and was visited by many local visitors for one week. Through black and white photos the ancient trade relations between Italy and Albania are reflected, he added.

The representative of the Italian Embassy in Tirane, present in the inaugurating ceremony, Luciana Ladiu, said that the exhibition will help further consolidate the relations between the two peoples and countries.

The negatives of the photo archives Marubi have been used for the realisation of the photo exhibition. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Program for greater care by Albanian state for its emigrants and emigration presented

According to the Department of Emigration in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, efforts are underway to explore the labour market and to sign agreements of employment with Canada, Argentine, Scandinavian countries, Cyprus, etc. Also a better control is expected on private, non- state activities which are related with emigration.

So far, the Department of Emigration has made efforts to put off the registration of documents for the legalization of Albanian emigrants in Greece until October 31, 1998, agreement of employment with Germany has been renewed and procedures for the granting of visas from Italy for Albanian citizens who have work contracts have been accelerated. Also the agreement for professional training of Albanian youngsters in Greece is being applied. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Humanitarian situation of Albanian refugees under control, but no good perspective - CEI

But the members of the mission, representatives of Bosnia, Croatia, Herzegovina and the Czech Republic told reporters in a news conference at noon that the perspective seemed to be not good because the continuous fighting, they said, would cause a new wave of refugees moving towards the poorest area of Albania.

"Winter, which is not too far, may bring about a real catastrophe," said that leader of the CEI delegation, Vladimir Drognjak.

Drognjak said that "actually there are sufficient humanitarian aid and so far there is no hunger." He added that "a very positive fact, despite the difficult situation prevailing, is the strong presence of the international community in Tropoje."

Drognjak said that the international community,already used to events in Bosnia, has now experience in the treatment of the refugees.

He stated before reporters that the three-day visit of the CEI mission in Albania aimed at knowing the situation and the needs that Albania has and in making recommendations for various international institutions.

The CEI delegation declared that it will ask a strong international presence in Kosove but it did not specify whether the presence would be of a diplomatic or military nature. /s.s./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] There is no conflict between Berisha and me - DP vice chairman

"The articles in some papers of a conflict between chairman Berisha and me with regard to the outcome of the latest partial local polls are not true. Berisha has congratulated the electoral staff which I direct, for a good job during the campaign," said Pollo.

In the local polls held on June 21 for the mayors in 7 town-halls and chairmen in 9 communes, the grouping Union for Democracy won in one town hall and in three communes, whereas The Alliance for the State won in four town halls and in six communes.

Some Albanian papers wrote last Thursday that DP chairman Berisha had accused his deputy Pollo as leader of the electoral staff of Union for Democracy, of the loss in the polls. /s.s./pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Registration of agricultural economic units continues - INSTAT

The registration is the first of this kind in Albania and is based on the law "On statistics." Object of the registration is the gathering of information on the state of the Albanian agriculture, referring to the activity of private and public economic units of the country during 1997- 1998. Information is being accumulated on the number of the economic units, the surface of the total land, the way how it is used, the number of the heads of livestock, the use of mechanical means, contribution of various categories of the labour hands in the activity of the economic units, etc.

Until June 22, 1998, according to operational data in the INSTAT, the poll has been conducted in 63 per cent of the agricultural economic units and is expected to be over within the deadline, June 30.

The preliminary results of registration will be ready in November 1998. The provisional information will be subject of analysis by the competent structures of the registration and will be presented in a meeting in Tirane by the end of the year which will be also attended by representatives of donating countries, by FAO, OCDE, EUROSTAT, countries of Eastern and Central Europe and representatives and officials of Albanian ministries. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] CEC says second round to be held normally

Daver Çano, chairman of the CEC, said to ATA on Saturday that "reports, ballot papers and all other documentation have been sent to respective town hall commissions which will distribute them to polling station commissions."

The CEC has set up 2 groups of four commissioners from the Alliance for the State grouping, Unity for Democracy and the United Right-wing groupings, which had joint candidates in by-elections, to monitor the second round.

Foreign observers, who monitored the by-elections in June 21, will also be present.

The candidate of the Alliance for the State grouping will contest that of the Union for Democracy in Vora town hall, while the candidate of the United Right-wing will face that of the Unity for Democracy. s.sh/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Rexhep Qosja elected head of Kosova new democratic league

The LRDK assembly, which is under way in Prishtina, calls on all the Albanian political parties in Kosova to unite and cooperate for the ideal of freedom, for an independent and democratic Kosova in order to face the barbarous aggression of the Serb military-police machine. bca/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Yugoslav army mines roads in Shtimje

Sources of the Center for Information in Kosova said that Yugoslav reinforcements with heavy artillery have been deployed in Godanc i Ulet a few days ago. bca/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Serb forces hold 150 Albanians hostage

Sources of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) say none knows why they have been taken into custody when they were travelling by bus from Gjakova to Junik.

Sources from Gjakova said that in Shishman village and in others the Serbs have settled in emptied houses and are using snipers to shoot at every Albanian passing by. bca/das/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Albania president expresses condolences to MAPE mission

Jean Louis Bastide, who died late on Thursday from a heart attack, had been working in Albania for eight months and was going to leave for France next Tuesday.

A mass was going to be said in the Catholic Church in Tirana with the participation of the Albanian authorities, colleagues of the French officer and his relatives. Later, a ceremony will be held in the Rinas airport where his coffin will be transported to France by a special airplane.

The Eagle Golden Medal accorded by the president Meidani for special merits in qualification of the Albanian police, promotion of cooperation and friendship between the two police departments and two peoples will be handed over to relatives of the French officer, press and information office close to the presidency said. s.sh/ak/

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

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