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Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-03-22Albanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>Albanian Telegraphic AgencyCONTENTS
[01] New port tax does not favour tourists' access to AlbaniaSARANDE, March 22 (ATA)-By Sh. Hajno, The new port tax, which has begun to be applied for every foreign tourist entering Albania, is high and does not help increase the number of tourists, Hasan Haxhiu, chairman of the Sarande district Chamber of Commerce, told ATA.He said the tax had earlier been 5 US$ for every foreigner entering Albania, while today it varies from 10-57 US$, according to the states. Four archeologists, representatives of the British Foundation "Butrinti", who entered the Sarande port on Sunday on an archaeological expedition, paid 57 US$ as a port tax. The representative of the Cultural Monuments Institute and co-worker of this foundation in Sarande, Telemak Llanaj, told ATA that this tax is too high not only for the tourists wishing to visit Sarande and the antique town of Butrint but also for the researchers and scientists coming to Sarande to implement the joint projects and programmes among state institutions for the development of archaeology. This concern about this new tax for foreigners has also been expressed by the city's tourist offices. They say this new tax, which has begun to be applied by the beginning of spring, does not favour the tourists' access to Albania but restrains them. Over 2000 tourists, mainly Austrian and German, arrived in Sarande via the Greek island of Corfu during the tourist season of 1998. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[02] SOROS provides 7000 US$ for middle school library in TropojeBAJRAM CURRI, March 22 (ATA)-By R. Hoxha, A new library opened in the middle school "Asim Vokshi" of Bajram Curri town recently. It is fruit of this school's cooperation with the SOROS foundation, which invested 7000 US$ in setting up and equipping this library.This fund served for the equipment of the new library with the necessary material base and the introduction of new literary and scientific publications. Almost all libraries, also including that of the district which continues to stay close, were destroyed during the March 1997 turmoil. The Tropoje district numbers over 40 authors, who have published over 140 various literary works. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[03] Investments in Vlore portVLORE, March 21 (ATA)-By H. Koci, Works to expand the quay of the Vlore city's port will begin in March.According to the port's director, P. Islami, there are three Italian firms that have won the bid and will soon begin to set up the shipyard. For this purpose, territory inside the port and several of the current administration offices of this enterprise will be exploited. The project to expand the ferries' quay is financed by the European Union and is part of a broader project which aims at expanding and modernising the Vlore port. Earlier the Vlore port was included in the CROSSBORDER programme of the EU, which has carried out several investments to increase its loading and unloading capacity. /s.sh/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[04] World Bank provides $3.2 million to rehabilitate Gjanci irrigation systemKORCE, March 22(ATA)-By B. Fejzullai, The World Bank will provide US$ 3.2 million for the rehabilitation of the irrigation system of Gjanci, Korce district.Fehmi Xhemo, head of the district's Agriculture and Food department, told ATA that this project includes reconstruction of the main tunnel, main and secondary channels. The project envisages excavation of 50 000 cubic metres of earth and the reconstruction of the works of art which have been destroyed. The rehabilitation of this irrigation system will supply with water an area of 6050 hectares of land. The reservoir of Gjanci has a capacity of 17.5 million cubic meters of water for each irrigation season and is at the same time an irrigation and electric power project. Its water puts into motion two turbines with a capacity of 4500 kilowatt per hour. After 1991, this irrigation system, built in the '80s, was gravely damaged because of the poor quality of construction as well as because of lack of funds for maintenance. Another project of the World Bank to follow that of Gjanci is that for the drainage system of the Maliqi field, which envisages the rehabilitation of the drainage system in an area of 5200 hectares and its improvement in 12 000 hectares. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[05] Law on town-planning to save "face" of TiraneTIRANE, March 21 (ATA)-By G. Dilaveri, The ratio of the members of central institutions and those of local institutions at the Territorial Adjustment Council (KRRT), changed by the new law on town-planning has been a cause of debates between the two main groupings of councillors at the latest meeting of the Tirane Municipal Council.The contradictions on "The law on town-planning", which in several articles has been rejected by the Constitutional Court, have prevented KRRT's meeting for nearly three months. A statement of the DP councillors' group says that among the 21 persons making up the KRRT, only three are specialists, the rest is defined by the Prefecture and Central Government. The socialist councillors have argued the change in the KRRT's composition with its professional strengthening, admitting that the law has shortcomings which should be corrected. Three months ago, the Tirane municipality brought a charge at the Constitutional Court against the new law "On town-planning". According to the verdict of this court, the new law on town-planning violated the powers of the municipality, as well as the principles of the Constitution. Besides the contradictions, the two councillors' groups have considered absurd article 51 of the law "On town Planning", which for unauthorised buildings defines a fine which is lower in value than that for securing a construction license. According to Mayor Brojka from 250 requests, treated in November and December, none of the investors has come to receive the construction license, as the payment of 6% disturbs the balance of the beginning of investment. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[06] Some 28 million leks for investment in InfrastructureBURREL, March 21(ATA)-By Hysen Ruspi, The first figures of investment from the state budget in Mat district have been issued.Some 28 million leks will soon be invested mainly for the rehabilitation of infrastructure. Some 12 million leks have been put at the disposal of the regional Road Maintenance Department for the rehabilitation of Skuraj- Burrel road, construction of the bridge for Gurre village and of a supporting wall. This fund will also enable the construction of a bridge for the Madesh village, while for the Burrel town-hall investments will be provided for the rehabilitation of the road, maintenance of cemeteries and reconstruction of a bridge for the New Lagje. /pas/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[07] Milo and Hajdaraga in Brussels to ensure Albania's integrityTIRANE, March 22 (ATA)-By E. Koraqi, Foreign Minister Paskal Milo and Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga are leaving for Brussels today to take part in political consultation between Albania and the NATO Council, according to the Foreign Ministry's press and information department.The political consultation, due on March 23 at the NATO headquarters, are based on the "Partnership for Peace" Framework document. According to article 8 of this document, "NATO will consult every active participant in the Partnership for Peace which perceives a direct threat against its territorial integrity, political independence or security." Albania has signed the Framework document "Partnership for Peace", on February 23,1994. During his meeting on Sunday with NATO ambassadors in Tirane, Foreign Minister Paskal Milo asked them to help with the military and humanitarian infrastructure of Albania so as to cope with a possible aggression by Serbia. Meanwhile, considering the environments on Albania's northern border, Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga, based on his constitutional tasks, through a military exercise put the Defence Ministry and the Army's General Staff on the alert. /s.s/lm/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[08] ALKATEL damaged 4500 meters of paved wayGjirokaster, March 22 (ata) - By H.Cani - ALKATEL damaged nearly 4500 meters of paved way through the canals of telephoning connection, stated on Monday the Director of cultural monuments of Gjirokastra Jorgo Xuhano, blaming in the same time the well-known Italian company.According to Xuhano the quality of paved way reconstruction is not acceptable. Meanwhile the man responsible for ALKATEL operations in Gjirokastra Armid Ponde said that the accusations done by Xuhano do not stand and the reconstructions of paved way are more strong than before. Gjirokastra has almost all paved ways and this is the reason why it called "Town in stone". The paved way are constructed by handicraft's master three centuries ago, but during the Second World War they were reconstructed again./linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[09] Kosova crisis object of International Conference on NATOTirana, March 22 (ATA) - By Enkelejda Koraqi - The solution of Kosova crisis was the object of the discussions of two days International Conference hold in Athens, inform for ATA the Press and Information Directory at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The International Conference on NATO entitled "NATO's second half of the century" is hold in the eve of 50 anniversaries of this organization establishment. Due to the dramatic developments in Kosova and the involvement in it of several personalities and international organizations the number of the participants in this conference was expected to be very high, but in fact it was not the one expected. The vice General Secretaries of NATO Roland Wegner greet all the conferences' participants for NATO's General Secretary Havier Solana. The participants of the conference talked about the situation in Kosova. In this conference was inviting the Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, who could not attend it due to the involvements to solve Kosova's crisis. His speech on "Minstrel Forum" session is hold by the Albanian Ambassador in Greece Kastriot Robo. Concerning the crisis in Kosova, the quick NATO's involvement on Beograd is asked in this speech, in order to impose to it the political solution of Kosova crisis offered by the International Community, actually by Contact Group. The effective contribution of NATO must be felt even in humanitarian field concerning the people that left their country because of Beograd's military actions in Kosova regions, was stated in the speech of Albanian Foreign Affairs Minister Paskal Milo. A delegation from the Albanian Committee of the Northern Atlantic attended this conference, led by its Head Alfred Moisiu./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[10] Private subject to act with two payrollsTirana, March 22 (ATA) - By Lolita Thanasi - According to the sources from the Public Work Inspectorate at the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs there are a lot of cases of acting with two listrolls by the private businesses. One listrolls is used according to the work contracts and the other by the salaries of their business. Financial results are like this: For 25 000 employees the Institute of Social Insurance do not cash about 800 million lek every year (25 x 2.700 x 12).It is understandable that this value stands only for the announced number of the employees, because in the private sector the number of the employees is three times higher than that inscribed in the Social Insurance register. It is some massive phenomena that the social partners, employers and employees agree to avoid the social duties. The employee benefits a small value of money from this and loses a lot for his future. The employer is the one who benefits most, and does not cash in public accounts the necessary sums. Employees' number according to the subjects ---------------------------------------------------------------- NO | Name | Subjects' number | Employees number ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | Juridical persons 8.955 | 110.550 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | Physical persons' | 33.949 | 88.450 ---------------------------------------------------------------- In total | 42.865 | 199.000 ----------------------------------------------------------------/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[11] NATO meeting planned for March 23 adjournedTIRANE, March 22 (ata) - The joint consulting meeting between the Albanian Government and the North Atlantic Alliance Council planned to be held on Tuesday, has been adjourned for another day, the press department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry told ATA.The meeting due in Brussels was to be attended by the chief of Albanian diplomacy, Paskal Milo and the Defence Minister, Luan Hajdaraga. A diplomatic source said the meeting with NATO will be held soon. The political consultations planned with the NATO Centre, are based on the Context Agreement of the Partnership for Peace. According to Article 8 of this document, "NATO will consult every active participant in the Partnership for Peace which percepts a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence or security." According to Point 2, paragraph 7 of the "Political Objectives" of this Document, Albania "has the right to consult urgently the North Atlantic Council in case of an immediate and direct threat to the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty." Albania has signed the Context Document of the Partnership for Peace, on Feb.23, 1994. Over the meeting on Sunday with the NATO countries' ambassadors in Tirane, the Foreign Minister Paskal Milo asked them to help the military and humanitarian infrastructure of Albania face any possible aggression from Serbia. Proceeding from the circumstances created in the northern border of Albania, Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga, at 04.00 of Sunday sounded alarm in the Ministry of Defence and the Army General Staff to see the preparedness of the militaries. /y.pa/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[12] Signing of Paris Accord by Albanians, a very important act - MajkoTIRANE, March 22 (ata) - By A Haxhiu: The Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko met Monday with a delegation of Albanian negotiators of Kosove, led by Hashim Thaci.According to PM's spokesman, Mr Majko considered as very important the signing by Albanians of the Provisional Accord on Peace and Self- determination in Kosove. PM Majko spoke of a closer cooperation in the future between the Albanian factor on both sides of the border, the coordination of joint political actions on both sides of the border and with the international factor. He stressed the full orientation of the policy of the Albanian government towards finding of a peaceful solution to the conflict in Kosove, which has become rather tense in the past few days. "We are continuing to have contacts with the international factor but we are also preparing to face any sudden act and the worst scenario," said PM Majko who stressed his hope for a NATO military intervention in Kosove. Mr Hashim Thaci hailed the initiative of PM Majko for the unification of the political and military factor in Kosove and for the full support, which he considered as very valuable, for the delegation of the negotiators of Kosove Albanians, in the signing of the Peace Accord in Paris. Mr Thaci said that the stability of Albania has a special importance for Kosove in these moments. The spokesman said that Majko and Thaci discussed at length the various options of the Albanian action in case Belgrade signs or does not sign the agreement. They also talked of the way of the implementation in practice of the Agreement signed in Paris and of the establishment and consolidation of the democratic institutions in Kosove in a near future. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[13] Elbasani in eve of first meting on town developmentsElbasan, March 22 (ATA) - By M.Lulja - Elbasani municipality organized on Sunday a meeting with the representatives of "EDA" association, which assumes the preparations of the first international meeting on town developments, expected to be hold in the first days of April.The aims of this meeting, which is going to be attended by the heads of Albanian Government, and representatives of foreign financial organizations, is the economic development of Elbasani region through the stimulation of foreign investments and the reactivity of internal sources, inform for ATA the head of Elbasani Municipality. "EDA" association is composed by eight intellectuals of all fields, who are working to draft the material to be presented these days to the Albanian Government. Beside the groups of this association another group in Tirana is working for this meeting. The group of Tirana intellectuals is headed by professor Ylli Popa. Elbasani Municipality will make possible the projects' publishing, which will help the native and foreign investors./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[14] Albanians want qualitative information - UNDPTIRANE, March 22 (ata) - By E Nepravishta: The information on political events and domestic social-economic issues is one of the preoccupations of Albanian nationals. Although frequently there is dissatisfaction for the level of the information provided and there is lack of faith in the public information organs, Albanians still show much interested in this information.According to UNDP office, the first place in the information sources is for the information coming from the television, 46 per cent, the second is that from the radio, with 30 per cent, followed by the written press with 24 per cent. According to the Institute of Albanian media, 57.63 per cent of the people interviewed on the quality of the news in media, think that there is some improvement, 33.37 per cent said that the level of the information is low and 8.30 per cent of them do not know to value the quality of this information. /y.pa/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[15] English "Butrinti" in Butrinti townSaranda, March 22 (ATA) - By Sh.Hajno - A group of English archaelogists came on Monday in ancient town of Butrinti in the frame work of the projects of English foundation called "Butrinti".The group of eight persons leaded by the archeologist Sally Martin commerced its work on Monday. Sources from this town inform that the English group will start a common expedition with the Albanian one and specialists of the Institute of Cultural Monuments in Tirana. The aim of this expedition is the use of archeological findings, mainly of ceramics discovered in Butrint in Summer 1998. The archeologists are most interested in roman time. The first expedition between the English and Albanian ones is done in Butrint in 1994. According to an agreement assigned between the English Archeological School of Roma and the Albanian Archeological Institute the common expeditions are done every year, excluding summer 1997, in the time of chaos and anarchy in Albania./pas/linda/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[16] World Bektashian Centre in Tirane celebrates Day of NevruzTIRANE, March 22 (ata) - By Enkeljda Riza: The ceremony to mark the day of Nevruz Ali was held in the headquarters of the World Bektashian centre in Tirane today.In the presence of many believers of the Moslem community and of the Helvetii sect, Father Dede Reshat Bardhi, prayed for peace and prosperity at the beginning of the ceremony. "This day conveys a message of peace and unity for all mankind," said Bardhi, adding that they were also praying for Kosova brothers to win their rights. The celebration of Nevruz marks the beginning of the new year, according to Bektashian sect. The sect of Bektashians and Helvetii is located mainly in southern Albania. Bektashians are also found in Kosove and in Macedonia. There are 67 Bektashian masjids in all Albanian territory. The Bektashian sect has emerged in Anadoll in the 14th century and it took this name from its founder Haxhi Bektash Beliu. The representatives of Bektashism have made a great contribution to the Albanian national question. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[17] Serb soldiers violate Albanian territory againBAJRAM CURRI, March 22 (ata) - By Riza Hoxha: The situation on northeastern border of Albania continues to be tense as a result of the provocations from the Serb army.The spokesman of the police commissariat of the district of Tropoje told ATA on Sunday that a unit of the Serb army had entered the Albanian territory in the zone of Kamenica, between the border signs C6 and C7 and then had left. The same source said that in the same zone on Sunday, 60 Serb soldiers planted mines on the border zone, some meters into their territory. Kamenica is the zone in which 19 Kosova people have arrived recently and after the first aid given to them by the Albanian border forces there, have been accommodated in village Golaj, district of Has. /lh/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[18] Lobby of city-halls through which Corridor 8 (highway) passes to be formedDURRES, March 22 (ata) - By S Gjordeni: The mayors of the city-halls of Durres, Tirane and Elbasan, cities through which the Corridor 8 (highway) pass, decided to create a joint lobby.The mayor of Durres, Arqile Gorreja told ATA that the aim of the lobby of the municipalities of these three cities will be a greater commitment to the construction of Corridor 8. Gorreja added that this lobby will be joined soon by other cities of Albania where the highway will pass through, to continue then with the cities of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria. The main centre of this lobby will be in Durres, as the gate to Corridor 8. /pas/xh/ Albanian Telegraphic Agency[19] Number of Albanians killed in Skenderaj may be over 100 - CouncilPRISHTINE, March 22 (ata0 - ATA correspondent in Prishtine Behlul Jashari reports: During the Serb offensive in Drenice, which is continuing today too, at least 16 civilians in Skenderaj are reported as killed but there are doubts the number of the civilians killed is more than 100. Serbian special forces in Skenderaj divided, in separate groups, the women and children from the men, sent them to a stadium and killed most of them, reports from the Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Kosove say. The same source added that "Skenderaj is in flames and the situation in that city, sealed off by Serb forces, is too bad.Serb attacks and bombing in Drenice are continuing, two ground-ground missiles have hit village Likovc, which is located in a strategic position. The Serb forces have penetrated deep in Polac and are setting on fire the villages Prekaz i Poshtem and Prekaz i Eperm, Lubovec, Mikushnice, Prelloc and others. Serb forces are preventing the International Red Cross Committee people to go to Skenderaj and its outskirts, while in village Qirez, there are more than 15 000 displaced Kosovars, without food and medicaments, without most elementary living means and most of them are in the open air. According to Albanian sources, fighting and bombardments have been seen also in the latest hours in the regions of Vushtrri, Gllogoc, Malisheve, Suhareke etc. In the village Stidecan of Suhareke, Serb forces have wounded two Albanians. Today the tension has been high also in Prishtine. Groups of Serb forces have stopped and maltreated Albanian citizens on the streets. /lh/xh/ From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ataAlbanian Telegraphic Agency Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |