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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-02-17Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] International Festival of Theater "Argjiro '99" in search of fundsTIRANA, Feb. 16 (ATA) - By K. Shehu: The organization of the International Festival of Theater "Argjiro '99," which will be held in Albania for the first time in summer of this year, needs a considerable financial support, sources from the Ministry of Culture reported.Along with the financial support of the ministry, the bargains with the local and foreign donors have already started to provide the necessary funds, meanwhile that on 25 February a meeting well be held between the Albanian and Greek party in Athens. The International Festival of Theaters is organized by the Albanian Ministry of Culture and the Greek foundation "Llaci." This activity which is expected to last a week, will be held in the castle of the Southern town of Gjirokaster, which will convene in its 'arena' the theater crews of Mediterranean countries. The project initiated last week by the President of the Albanian Center of the Mediterranean Theater, Alfred Bualoti and presented in the International Institute of the Mediterranean Theater, based in Madrid, was approved by the first Assembly of this Institute. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] Byzantium, post Byzantium icons collected in a catalogueTIRANA, Feb 16 (ATA) - By K. Shehu: Iconographic Byzantium and post Byzantium art in Albania will be published in a collection entitled "Byzantium and post Byzantium icons in Albania", sources of the Culture Ministry said to ATA.The preparation of materials to be included in this publication is backed by the National Art Gallery. The Byzantium icons dated back to XII, XIII, XIV and their authors were unknown while icons which dated back to the Byzantium period were done by Great Onufri and his son Nikolla, Onufri Cypriot, Zeografi brothers, Shpataraku. The Ministry of Culture will cover part of the fund for this collection, which will include over 60 colour photos of the Albanian icons. The publication will be prepared in the Albanian and English language from the Getty Foundation, which operates out of Albania. Specialists praise the publication of the catalogue given the fact that though Albania is the richest country in the Balkans as regards the iconographic art there has been no publication like that which throw light on this cultural heritage. /dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Tax police controls local bars, cafesVLORE, Feb 17 (ATA) - By Harilla Koçi: Tax police of the Vlora district started on Tuesday control in bars and cafes operating in the city, Anastas Gjipali, police chief, said to ATA.Gjipali said that the week-long operation aimed at registering them at the tax police office to make evident their number and make them pay their obligation. Police controlled some 150 bars in the city during the first day. /dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] Albanians, Greeks linked by an antique, common historyKORCE, Feb. 17 (ATA) - By B. Fejzullaj: The Greek consulate in Korce and the town hall of this city are initiating a cultural activity which is expected to be held in May this year with the participation of respective ministers of culture in Albania and Greece.A meeting, held Tuesday in Korce with the participation of the general consul of the Greek consulate in Korce, Nikos Vamvaunakis and members of the Cultural Association "Iliria", has underlined the increase of cooperation and cultural activities between the two countries which, according to the participants, "are linked by an ancient and common history." A historian said that Illyrians and Greeks are of a common descendant which resulted from Pellasgus. Today in the framework of a new Europe this saying is very meaningful for Albanians and Greeks, who should build a future of understanding, mutual respect and brotherhood," Nikos Vamvaunakis, Greek consul told the meeting. He added that "these peoples should cooperate more than ever through culture." /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Albanian male dominates leading postsTIRANA, Feb 17 (ATA) - By E. Nepravishta: Leading posts in Albania are dominated by males not because they are more able to lead but because they are favoured by the Albanian patriarchal mentality.The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) said that males which occupy leading posts are estimated at over 70 percent while females only 29 percent. Low participation of females in this sector shows that females are not properly evaluated though they carry out same works as males and in some cases more skilled than males. The statistics show 60 percent of the women employed in public administration master a foreign language. The same tendency is obvious in the local government. Nevertheless, the number of males employed in leading posts is twice the number of females. Only the municipalities recorded equal participation between male and female. The participation of females in private business is low. At the end of 1997, females leading private businesses are estimated at 18 percent while males 82 percent. Low participation of females in the economic life of Albania has increased unemployment among them particularly among those over 35. dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Police arrest members of anti-American organisationTIRANA, Feb 17 (ATA) - Police have arrested on Monday night two Islamic young men, one Iranian and one Syrian, under the charge of creating an anti American cell in Tirana, according to Albanian daily press.The daily Koha Jone said that they were collaborating with an Albanian engineer arrested a month and a half before. They were planning an attack against the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. The police found some hand grenades and a police radio transmitter during a check in their house. The same daily said that police sources, which refused to be identified, said that they were members of a ring located in Tirana with the aim of surveying and preparing the conditions for any revenge against the headquarters of the U.S. Embassy. The other daily Gazeta Shqiptare said that Muhamed Nexhip Jasim and Abdyl Muhem Naem, both under custody, were accompanied by two Albanians at the time of their arrest. But the Albanians were set free for lack of evidence. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has reduced its activity in the last six months and is under tight security after bomb attacks in U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania which claimed the lives of over 200 persons. Police forces have arrested some persons accusing them of participating in terrorist organisations operating against the United Stations and its diplomatic headquarters in the world. /dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Second catalogue on Albanian cinematography to be published soonTIRANA, Feb 17 (ATA) - By E. Riza: A second catalogue on the point of view of the Albanian women cineasts worked out by the State Central Film Archives will be presented soon in Albania and later in Italy, sources from the archives said to ATA.Natasha Lako, chief of the Archives, said that the catalogue, which was of historical documentation for the Albanian cinematography, reflected the work of the Albanian cineasts in the feature and documentary film since the beginnings of the Albanian cinematography. After the presentation in Albania the catalogue will be presented in Italy, too, followed by a premiere of best documentary films produced by Albanian producers. The first catalogue "Film-Museum" presents the films produced during '86-'96. It was distributed successfully in many countries, which had no idea on the Albanian cinematography. This catalogue and the recognition of the Albanian cinematography through its films in different festivals in the world have paved the way for a cooperation between Albanian and foreign producers. /dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] Greek, Turkish embassies under tight securityTIRANA, Feb 17 (ATA) - By Urim Bajrami: Ministry of Public Order has adopted tight measures around the Greek and Turkish embassies in Tirana.The number of police forces was double in the area where embassies were situated and Greek soldiers were seen around the Greek embassy. An armoured carrier was placed near the Turkish embassy at the Kavaja Street while Shqiponja forces were patrolling the road. After the arrest of the Kurd leader Abdullah Ocalan on Tuesday by the Turkish security forces, his supporters forced their way in some headquarters of Greek embassies and consulates in different European counties. Asked about the tight measures, senior officials of the Order Ministry refused to elaborate. /dast/ak/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Global warming - a real, expected dangerTIRANA, Feb. 17 (ATA) - By R. Xhuvani: The global warming is a real and approaching danger, confessed specialists of the National Environment Agency (NEA), who have participated in several international agencies, organized recently regarding this problem.The climate of our planet is changing and the combustion of coal, different fuels, gas and others, creates in the atmosphere considerable concentration of carbon dioxide and other gases with the greenhouse effect, they say. Referring to the NEA reports, thye average of the environment pollution has increased over the last years. Concretely, the quantity of the soot diffused in the air is 56,5 ml per square meter, while the pollution from the sulphur dioxide and azote hydroxide has increased by five per cent over the last three years. To prevent this danger in the whole globe, representatives from many countries signed in 1992 the Project Convention of the United Nations for the Climatic Changes, which aims at reaching a stabilization for the concentration of gases with the greenhouse effect at a certain level to halt the dangerous interferences. Based on this convention, the emanation of gases in years 2000 in the developed countries should be the same as in 1990. The agreement signed in Kyoto of Japan last year serves this aim and based on it, the European Union will reduce the amount of emanation of gases in 8%, USA 7%, and Japan 6%. From the recent reports, the year 1995 has been the hottest year in the history of earth. The Northern Pole is experiencing massive melting. If this phenomenon is not prevented, the temperatures in the next century are expected to increase by 2 Celsius degrees, while the sea level by 50 cm. /dast/mt/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Serb authorities confiscated 100 tons of wheat destined for humanitarian aid in KosovaPRISHTINE, Feb. 17 (ATA) - The Serb authorities have confiscated 100 tons of wheat, humanitarian aid given for Kosova people by the German humanitarian organization "CAP anamur", the Information Center of Kosova reports."The police forces as well as the Serb commercial inspectors who are settled in Rudare, region between Kosova and Serbia, halted on Thursday 4 lorries filled with wheat, send by the German humanitarian organization "CAP anamur" to the humanitarian association "Mother Theresa". The quantity of wheat confiscated is the first part of a contingent of 300 tons of wheat that the German humanitarian organization bought in the Yugoslav market, after the visit the chairman of this association, Ruper Nojdek, payed to Kosova. /dast/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] Dollar increases slightlyTirana, Feb.17 (ATA) - BY Lolita Thanasi - The dollar's value increase on Wednesday by 0.1 point compared with yesterday's value.According to the fixed course of Tirana Bank today a dollar against the Albanian currency LEK is 141 lek. DM against it is is 81.3 lek, LIT (1000) are exchange with 81.6 lek, GRD (100) with 49.10 lek and EURO against it is 157.6 lek. The following is the rate of foreign currencies against the Albanian LEK: CURRENCY RATE USD 141.00 DM 81.30 LIT(1000) 81.60 GRD(100) 49.10 EURO 157.60/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Explosion in GjakovePRISHTINE, feb. 17 - ATA corespondent Behlul Jashari reports: Gjakove is trembled by an explosion happening in the northern part of the city at about 1 p.m on Thursday. Sources from the Council of Human Right in Gjakove report only some material damages, but no casualties in persons are reported so far. The explosion happened in the vicinity of a fire- extinguishing station, in the road leading to Decan.This is the fourth explosion happening in Kosova after the beginning of Rambuillet Conference. Some three Albanian were killed and 20 others were wounded in the previous explosions. The Albanians have accused Serb authorities for escalation of violation even in the urban centers, while the Serb radio in Prishtine accuses the Albanians for the explosion in Gjakove. /Y.Ta/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Oil auction: 4 200 tons oil soldTirana, Feb.17 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - The total quantity of the oil sold in the auction is nearly 4 700 tons, from the total quantity of 6 300 tons brought by the American Government aimed at helping Albania.Four private subjects participate in the fifth auction organized by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The total quantity of the oil sold is 4 200 tons. This quantity is sold by a reduced price from 750 to 650 USD/ton (including here the transport, VAT, etc). The rest of the quantity, which is nearly 1 600 ton oil, will continue to be sold in the other auction. The auction is predicted to be hold within a year. The incomes provided by the auction will pass to the budget. The oil shipment is done in Vlora Port in December 27, after that is sent to the public storehouses./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] Durres people demonstrate their support for question of KosoveDURRES, Feb.17 (ata) - By S Gjordeni: Inhabitants of the city of Durres, under the call of political parties and non-governmental associations, held a rally on Wednesday in support of the question of Kosove, in front of the palace of culture "Aleksander Moisiu."The speakers who took the floor demanded from the international community a correct solution to the question of Kosove, condemnation of those who made inhuman massacres against innocent people. They denounced energetically the Serb crimes, which have caused and are causing hundreds of innocent people killed and wounded, and are forcing a great number of Kosovars to leave their homes. Participants in the rally voiced the belief that the Albanian people will never kneel down until they win their freedom, dignity and flag and stressed that Albania will always be on the side of the Kosovar people. A message that the participants in the rally addressed to the Contact Group, just decisions were requested to be adopted for the status of Kosove in the meeting of Ramboillet and that the bloody hand of the Balkan butcher, Slobodan Milosevic be halted. /xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] Sally Backer leaves AlbaniaSHKODER, Feb. 17 (ATA) - By M.Malja: English distinguished benefactor, Selly Becker, so called "The angle of Monstar" left Wednesday the city of Shkoder.She stood in Shkoder for nearly 2 months, taking care of the displaced Kosovars, settled in three centers of refugees. During this period she collaborated even with the Danish association "Red Bin", which helped two orphanages of this city. Maringlen Krasniqi, aged 4, from Decan, is taken by her to be cured in one of the hospitals of England. She send 40 other children to be cured to U.S.A some months ago. Representatives of the OSCE office in Shkoder went to see her off. Selly Becker came to Albania in July of the outgoing year, when the wave of Kosova refugees begun entering the district of Tropoje. She was wounded in the center of the city in November of 1998 in unclear circumstances, but she did not accepted to leave Albania. /lh/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] Decrease prices of imported foodTirana, Feb. 17 (ATA) - By E.Xhajanka - During this week the Albanian markets are characterised by a price decrease of the imported products and an increase of the prices of fruit and vegetables, inform sources from the Statistical Directory in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.The group of imported products, whose price fall during this week, includes wheat, sugar, and rice. They respectively to 62,4 lek/kg, 68,8 lek/kg, and 87,4 lek/kg. The price oscillations are seen also in the dairy products such as: white cheese, fresh butter, which fall respectively to 352,8 lek/kg, 540,8 lek/kg. The products whose prices remain constant are the imported eggs and the cow milk, respectively with 14,6 lek and 50,9 lek/litre. The veal is sold by 615,5 lek/kg from 620,8 lek/kg that was sold before./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Owner of 14 kg of cannabis in a bus caught by policeLIBRAZHD, Feb.17 (ata) - By H Balliu: 14 kg of cannabis were uncovered on Wednesday by police of Librazhd during a check up they had in a bus of Vlore-Korce bus service.At 11.45 a.m. police in Mirake controlled the bus with the number plate KO 0626 A, said to ATA the spokesman of the police commissariat of that district. In one of the bags of the passengers, they found 10 packages with pressed cannabis, for which nobody there accepted to be the owner. In these conditions, police took the bus to the police commissariat, and after a detailed verification, the owner of the bag was uncovered. The young man, S.B. from Vlore accepted he possessed the narcotic plant and his aim was to sell it to Greece. This is the first case that narcotic plants are caught and blocked this year by police on that national road. During the first half of the past year, police caught 400 kg of cannabis. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Draft-law on university education to be discussed soonTIRANE, Feb. 17 (ATA) - By P.Shuteriqi: The project law "On University education" is comprised in the Parliament agenda of forthcoming week.Reviewing of the existing law as well as the drafting of a new law on university educational system, was made in accordance with the new requirements for social-economic developments, comprising even the private educational system, autonomy, efficacity of institutional organization and others. Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Mimoza Hafizi, told ATA on Wednesday that this project law asks to get familiarized with the private university educational system, as an undisputable necessity of the request for a greater development of private sector in Albania. She added that Education and Science Ministry should be decided in the first article of the law to be the competent institution which makes the proposal, while the Council of Ministers decides through by-laws the criteria and procedures to be followed for functional openings of private universities in Albania. According to Hafizi, this project law would sanction the financial independence of Universities, through deciding funds for special faculties or departments as well as the scientific research for widening of collaboration, registration taxes and others. /s.s/LP/A.A/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Tirane Court decides detention in jail for two MuslimsTIRANE, Feb.17 (ata) - By Urim Bajrami: The Tirane district court decided Wednesday the detention in jail for Mohamed Nexhip Jasim and Abdyl Muhem Naem, under charges of falsification of a number of official documents and for illegal possession of arms.The judge Sokol Pasho, after hearing the prosecutor Ajaz Gjeta and defence attorney Nexhat Kambo, decided the detention in jail for the two defendants. The detainees, one from Iran and the other from Syria, were members of a religious foundation which was exerting activity in Albania since three years ago. They were arrested late on Monday after a successful police operation. During the control, police found a number of fake official documents, a machine gun, hand grenades, 30 bullets, a sophisticated radio-receiving set, which were all blocked with the value of material proofs. Investigation is continuing for the two Islamic suspects as members of a terrorist group. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[20] Majko: Privatisation very imported after Albanian constitutionTirana, Feb.17 (ATA) - By Elton Metaj - "Privatisation in itself is one of the moments, that I want to stress as most important after the approval of the Albanian Constitution", said the Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko in the meeting hold in the MInistry of Public Economy and Privatisation.The Prime Minister met the head of the Privatisation Ministry, the one of Ministry of Transport and Public Affairs and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to analize the the steps followed till now in the privatisation process and the further ones predicted to take place in 1999. "The privatisation process will change the market mentality, the mentality of the relationship between the government and the citizens, as well. It will bring new ways of managing the property and above all will increase the number of new investments in Albania", said the Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko. The head of the Albanian Governemt made some remarks on the slow steps in the process of privatisation and asked for its acceleration this year, because, according to him " the government must not be anymore the greatest owner". The minister of Public Economy and Privatisation Ylli Bufi explain the privatisation strategy for 1999. According to him within the first six months will finish the privatisation of small and medium enterprices in Albania. This year is predicted to finish the privatisation of the strategic sectors of the Albanain economy such as AMC, Telecom and 40 chromium and cooper mines./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[21] Seminar on Tourism DevelopmentTirana, Feb.17 (ATA) - By A.Lila - In the end of this month the Albanian Commettee of Tourism Development will organise a seminar on touristic activities of legal bases and the increase of the cooperation level between different subjects that act in this field.In this seminar it is predicted to take part representatives of different subjects with or without licenses, the chiefs of the hotels and of other accomodation units. The seminar will deal with legal and technical problems faced by this subjects in their work./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[22] Investors urge concession for international gas network in AlbaniaTIRANE, Feb.17 (ata) - By E Metaj: A Letter of Intent to link Albania with the international gas system was signed yesterday by Albanian Minister of Public Economy and Privatization, Ylli Bufi and the President of the Swiss company FOREMOST Investments" S.A. with its headquarters in Lugano, Jon Molgora.The agreement carries the demands in which Albania is interested to cooperate for the development of its energetic sector. The agreement aims at meeting the needs of the population for heating and for industrial production. FOREMOST Investments S.A., which has investing and financial capacity, presented in the Letter of Intent its interest to mediate in two main directions: implementation of the project to put into operation the gas system in Albania and the development and rehabilitation of the electro- energy system. The needs for natural gas in Albania are between 1.5-2 billion cubic meter per year. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[23] Restructuring of Army is developing on the right track - PM MajkoTIRANE, Feb.17 (ata) - By I Luto: A demonstration exercise of the Anti- Aircraft Battalion in fighting was conducted on Wednesday in Maminas.Attending the exercise was also the Albanian Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko, the Defence Minister, Luan Hajdaraga and senior officials of the Albanian Army, sources from the Public Relations Department in the Defence Ministry told ATA. The aim of the exercise was to test the fighting readiness of the Brigade of antiaircraft missiles. Conceived as a complex exercise, it aimed to realise the objectives for the increase of the fighting alert in defence of inhabited zones. At the end of the exercise, PM Majko congratulated the militaries underlining that "the restructuring of the army is developing on the right track and that was manifested in the exercises." PM Majko, accompanied by senior army officials, visited the Air Base of Gjader and saw the living and training conditions in that base. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[24] National contest for children closed in from blood feuds announced in AlbaniaTIRANE, Feb.17 (ata) - By P Shuteriqi: Hundreds of families and their children at the age for school are staying at home for years and cannot come out because of being in feud with another family.In order to sensitize the opinion so that these children have the possibility to continue the school, the Independent Sociological Centre Eureka announced on Wednesday a national contest. It will concist of information and studies with data on the children held in on district scale, grouped according to sex, age, residence, their educational level, the cause of the conflict, the work made to solve the feud, etc. Participants in the contest have also the right to present interviews with parents and children who are staying at home because of feuds, accompanying them with photos and videos along with the essays, literary descriptions, etc. According to the coordinators of the project in the Eureka Centre, "the contest has a profound human character and it is non-profitable." /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[25] Deployment of NATO troops in Kosove - a guarantee to region's future - MajkoTIRANE, feb.17 (ata) - The latest developments in the Balkan region, the situation in Albania and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were in the focus of the meeting that Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko had Wednesday with the chairman of the Party for Democratic Prosperity of Macedonia, PPD, Arber Xhaferi.The PM's spokesman said that they shared the same opinion and valuation for the increasing role of the Albanian factor in the regional developments and underlined the need for stability in Albania and Macedonia as a very important guarantee for the stability across the region. Speaking of the Albanian-Serb talks going on in Rambouillet, PM Majko said that "it is still early to draw conclusions on the results of these talks. We may say that an eventual deployment of NATO troops in Kosove would be a guarantee to the region's future." Mr Xhaferi stressed that the Albanians of Macedonia are a guarantee to the stability of Macedonia and they are interested in its stabilization. Xhaferi added that the new Macedonian Government is moving towards a positive direction with the establishment of the relations of cohabitation in that republic. The meeting of PM Majko and the PPD chairman, Xhaferi, was followed then by a tete-a-tete talk. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[26] Strong bombing in region of PodujevePRISHTINE, Feb.17 (ata) - ATA correspondent in Prishtine, B Jashari reports: The region of Podujeve is being bombed tonight powerfully from some positions of Serbian military and police forces.The activist of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Podujeve, Harullah Surkisht, told ATA correspondent in Prishtine, through a telephone talk, that the bombings started at about 6 p.m. Tanks and heavy guns are hitting villages Llapashtice, Katunishte, Obrance and others from the fighting positions of these forces in Dumosh, Tabet, Llapashtice and Peran. Serb forces are also using luminous missiles in the attack. Flames can be seen from the region under strikes. Bombing and fighting have continued during the day as well. KLA forces are counter attacking the barbarous riots by Serbian forces. /lh/xh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |