Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-01-01

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Growing activity of NGO for 1998

[02] Evolution of monthly export indices in Albania

[03] Police detained 140 people during 1998 for different offences

[04] Pogradec customs house fulfill annual plan 116 per cent

[05] ARB of Gjirokaster extends its activity in rural zones

[06] Five persons wounded by strain bullets

[07] Four births within six hours of New Year

[08] Police in readiness during New Year

[09] Incomes from taxes - 56 % more than 1996

[10] Structure of imports and exports in Albania in last two months of 1998

[11] Volume of imports registers high indices

[12] New Year records rise in dollar

[13] Three injured by firearms, fireworks

[01] Growing activity of NGO for 1998

According to the figures published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, there are 62 humanitarian associations in Albania. The value of the humanitarian aid in Albania for the past three, four months amounts to USD2 495 500 with about 2 000 people benefiting from it.

According to an observation made in 46 non-governmental organizations, the number of people working in them is 594, the same source said.

There are over 300 non-governmental organizations operating in Albania and registered in the NGO Forum. They are in various fields and deal mainly with social problems, with health sector, environment, women, youth, sport, culture, etc.

A priority for the NGO-s in the future remains the adoption of the law on these organizations and the drafting of the map of social NGO-s in Albania. /s.sh./xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Evolution of monthly export indices in Albania

Compared with the beginning of the year, January 1998, this volume is 3 % higher and compared with November 1997 it is 49 % higher.

The increase by 7 % has occurred as a consequence of the growth of the export volume of Albanian production (15%.) Inward processing export has decreased 1 %.

Some 73 % of the total volume of exports has been realised in the Customs House of Durres, and 68% of the total export has been with Italy. A big quantity of export is in the Customs House of Vlore (11%) and in that of Kapshtice (8%.) The exports to Greece take 15 % of the total export.

The total volume of imports has also a 4% growth as compared to October 1998. There is an increase of 10 % of the untaxed imports and a 2 % increase of the taxed imports.

In the structure of the untaxed imports there is a considerable increase in the group of goods that is imported on the basis of government agreements (2 times,) personal goods (-59%) and grants (-9%.)

During November 1998, the ratio between the taxed and untaxed imports is almost the same as the previous month (71% : 29%.)

The volume of import is 16 % lower than the month average of the last four months of 1997 (September-December 1997.) /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Police detained 140 people during 1998 for different offences

A spokesman of the police station said to ATA that members of some gangs had been arrested on charges of grabbing passengers in Shkodra-Bushat and Vau i Dejes-Koman road axis.

People trying to smuggle goods particularly through Shkodra lake had also been detained.

But police forces are concerned over the fact that some of the detainees have been given minimum sentences and others released after three months. /s.sh/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Pogradec customs house fulfill annual plan 116 per cent

Niko Tasellari, chairman of this customs house, reported to ATA that the annual plan is closed since 20 December. According to him, the incomes only during the last days of December have been 145 million leks.

While, according to the special items, it comes out that the incomes from the Value Added Tax (VAT) has been 120 million leks and from the customs tax 10 million leks.

The only item which wasnot fulfilled by this customs house is that of the excise, which has not passed the figure of 13%. Tasellari explained this with the entering in this customs house of goods having low excise, while goods, like alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and others with high excise, have missed. /s.s/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] ARB of Gjirokaster extends its activity in rural zones

The chief of this agency, Hulusi Kokalari, told ATA that for the first time, training courses for the businessmen and economists have been held during this year for the rural zones in five districts of the southern region, in which are included the districts of the Gjirokaster prefecture, as well as the districts of Delvine and Sarande.

Kokalari said that for 1998, some 200 training courses have been held, while plan-projects have been presented for a series of businesses.

The activity of ARB in Gjirokaster is limited, compared with last year, because of several factors, also including the insecurity of foreign donors. /s.s/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Five persons wounded by strain bullets

Police sources said to ATA on Friday that wounded people were taken immediately to hospital and their life was out of danger.

The five persons were lightly injured in feet or legs while one of them had a wound in the shoulder, the same sources said.

They said that there were no reports on the casualties because there had been considerable volleys of gunfire and fireshots in certain areas of the capital.

Police sources said that a person was found dead near Coca- Cola bottle enterprise in midmight. They said that the cause of death was natural.

"He had no wounds in the body," police said. /y.pa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Four births within six hours of New Year

The doctor Diana Shahini said to ATA that three other babies had been born within the six hours of the new year.

She said that both babies and mothers were in good conditions. /s.s/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Police in readiness during New Year

A considerable number of policemen were in readiness to help Tirana citizens celebrate the new year holiday without trouble in houses, bars or discos and all those who wanted to travel by car or walk during the night, police sources said to ATA on Friday.

The same sources said that only five people were lightly injured by strain bullets. "Shqiponja" police units patrolled the city, both in the center and suburbs, during the night.

Police units were also stationed near numerous bars where families, youths were gathered to entertain and celebrate the new year.

The same sources said that people went out to visit their relatives and wish them the new year or gathered in the center of Tirana in midnight without any trouble or concern.

There were reports of fires in some apartments due to overcharge in power lines, but it were put out by fire brigade, police sources said. /y.pa/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Incomes from taxes - 56 % more than 1996

The chief of this branch, Anastas Gjipali, said to ATA that this amount is 56 % higher than the realisation of 1996 when 348 million lek was the total of the taxes for the state budget. He explains that the monthly income of 47-50 million lek from the taxes of the subjects operating in that district, marks the highest average realised by that branch in the past years. "Consolidation of control in the accumulation of the taxes with the aim that they reflect the real situation of the economic potential of the subjects," underlined Gjipali, "is accompanied with the special care for the registration and licensing of all the subjects conformed to the respective legislation."

Presently, there are 2 300 physical and juridical subjects operating in the district of Vlore in the fields of production and trade. Nearly 400 of them operate in the rural zone, not including here the small trade units.

The chief of the taxes branch said that the accurate evidence for all the subjects has been one of the difficulties for the staff of the taxes branch, due to the lack of vehicles for them to move. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Structure of imports and exports in Albania in last two months of 1998

As compared with the previous month an increase is noted this month for the group of Vehicle, Metals, Paper, etc.

There is a decrease registered in other groups, especially in Plastic Products, Ready-made foodstuff, Chemical Products etc.

In the mean time, in the structure of exports, Textiles, Footwear, Vegetable products, Mineral products and Machinery and Equipment have the highest specific weight. In comparison of October, there is an increase marked especially in the group of "Stone Items and Raw hides and skin, leather, etc.

A lower level is registered in the group of Machinery (reexport,) Animal products, Metals. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Volume of imports registers high indices

volume compared with the low level of the volume of exports has made the trade deficit remain at the same level as previously.

The customs revenues (customs duty + VAT + Excise + other) are estimated at 3 140 million lek or 83 % of the plan envisaged for November 1998, from which:

Customs Duty	81%
Excise		75%
VAT		83%

VAT has increased 4% in comparison with October 1998 as a direct consequence of the growth of the volume of imports by 2 %.

The excise has increased by 35% compared with October 1998. This is because of the considerable growth of the import of fuel (+81%,) while alcoholic drinks have been reduced to -59%.

With regard to the average level of the tax (14.12%): 46 % of the volume of the taxed imports has been realised by the imports taxed with 10% and 34% by those taxed with 20%.

As compared to October 1998, there are changes at the tax structure of the goods in favour of the latter, with a 20 % tax level. /xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] New Year records rise in dollar

The state bank which had played a major role in maintaining stable the buying and selling rates of the leks against other foreign currencies is closed during holidays and will open on January 4. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Three injured by firearms, fireworks

A 14 year-old boy lost three fingers of his right hand due to a cartridge detonation. While a pregnant woman, around 30, was taken to the military hospital in Tirana.

Selimi said that the woman was injured in the back by a strain bullet when she went out in the balcony some minutes past the midnight. A 60 year- old man who was also injured by a strain bullet in the knee was out of danger.

When 1998 was leaving, the new year 1999 was heralded for 20 minutes in the port city of Durres with fireworks and even with volley of Kalashnikovs which killed even in holidays. /dast/ak/

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article