Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-10-17

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanians must manifest dignity and humanism - Milo

[02] Mission of International Community is to defend minorities - Kouchner

[03] Kouchner to visit Albania in November

[04] Exhumations in Kukes, threat for epidemics and violation of law

[05] Mine cleaning on border zones attracts attention of humanitarian associations

[06] World Bank finances to clean Lake Ohrid

[07] Kucove celebrates 55th anniversary of liberation

[08] Albanian Airlines starts Tirane-Prishtine flight

[09] Around 100 customs workers involved in contraband - Angjeli

[10] Customs deficit for nine months at around 3,243 billion lek

[01] Albanians must manifest dignity and humanism - Milo

In his press release, Milo said that Kouchner has come to Kosova with a very important mission, to bring tranquillity to Kosova, to normalize and stabilize the situation there and to give Kosova the possibility to develop a democracy with democratic institutions, with a multiethnic society and with all rights respected.

"For the first time in the history of the Albanian people, we have had such a powerful international support," said Milo. "Now we must not lose this great asset, this great moral and political support, we must act with very great care, with great dignity and with more and more humanism," stressed Albanian Foreign Minister. /s.sh/xh/

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[02] Mission of International Community is to defend minorities - Kouchner

The civil administrator of Kosova, after meeting the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, said that the mission of the international community is to defend the minorities.

"The International Community intervened in solving the question of Kosova because it was for the observation of the rights of the minorities in the former FRY," said Kouchner, adding that this principle also dictates the mission of the international administration in Kosova to respect the rights of all national minorities.

"Any attack on a minority is another victory for Milosevic," he said.

In this context, Milo asked from all Albanians in Kosova to act with dignity and humanism. A multiethnic society must be built in Kosova, in which all the human rights must be respected despite the ethnic group one belongs to, underscored Milo. /s.sh/xh/

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[03] Kouchner to visit Albania in November

Kouchner, who is in Kosova as a representative of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, said that "Albania is part of a difficult process and is one of the most important countries of the region in this process." /s.sh/xh/

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[04] Exhumations in Kukes, threat for epidemics and violation of law

According to Nuri Coka, supervisor for funerals in the northern city hall, during the period of the crisis, 154 Kosovars were buried in the city cemetery, all in a special plot, and 4 of them are not yet identified.

For Admir Bresa from Prizren, who attended the exhumation of one of his relatives, there is no cause for panic because "the wooden coffins were not yet ruined and in addition, plastic bags which are hermetically closed, are being used."

But the president of Dragoti firm for funerals, Bajram Katroshi opposed this opinion. He said that the Albanian law, which allows exhumation only after five years from the moment the dead has been buried, must be respected.

The specialist for infections, doctor Mark Nushi says the risks are not so great. "If the coffin is not opened and if is covered by plastic sheet and closed hermetically, there is no reason for concern," he added.

The phenomenon of exhumation is presently taking great proportions in Kosova, with hundreds of killed and massacred people being buried with honours by their relatives. /lh/xh/

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[05] Mine cleaning on border zones attracts attention of humanitarian associations

He said that CARE has started a campaign of sensitization on border villages of that district on the danger that mined zones present for people.

According to Kola, the people in the border villages, while waiting specialised groups to come and clear the zones, are now being organized to realise this process themselves.

Activists of the humanitarian association CARE are concerned of the fact that many inhabitants of the zone keep the defused mines at home, because some unauthorized people have told them that these mines will be bought, something which is a great danger for the families. Hence, said Kola, they were working to convince the people to hand the defused mines to the nearest military units.

Only after June 13, 1999, as a result of the uncontrolled movement of people to zones with mines on the northeastern border of Albania, 13 people have been killed and 52 other injured. /lh/xh/

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[06] World Bank finances to clean Lake Ohrid

Vako said that for the realisation of this project, besides the financing of 4.1. million dollars from the World Bank, the Albanian and Macedonian governments have also contributed with an amount of 150 thousand dollars each.

A board of 12 members from the cities of Pogradec and Ohrid is following and coordinating the activities in the context of this project.

The project also envisages the planting of trees along the Lake and the construction of a powerful collector which will clean that waters which pour in the Lake. /lh/xh/

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[07] Kucove celebrates 55th anniversary of liberation

Also present at the celebration ceremony were Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, the President's press office told ATA.

Meidani, who was also accompanied by Speaker of Parliament Skender Gjinushi and socialist deputy of the zone Bashkim Fino had a meeting with local government representatives.

A ceremony on the inauguration of the town's emblem was also held on the occasion of the liberation anniversary. /dast/lm/

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[08] Albanian Airlines starts Tirane-Prishtine flight

The first flight from Tirane to Prishtine took nearly 20 minutes.

On this occasion a ceremony was held in Prishtine in which took part representatives of Kosova and Albanian governments.

"Albanian Airlines" is the second air company which creates the possibility of flying to Prishtine, following the Albanian air company "ADA AIR", which established the first flight from Tirane to Prishtine on Saturday morning. /dast/lm/

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[09] Around 100 customs workers involved in contraband - Angjeli

Albanian Finance Minister Anastas Angjeli on Sunday stated that around 100 customs workers in Albania are involved in contraband.

"Information available from the Investigation Department of the General Customs Department, CAM-Albania, secret service bodies, in and outside Albania, show that around 100 customs workers have favoured illegal activities," said Angjeli during a nine-month analysis of the General Customs Department.

Angjeli ordered the General Customs director, Ardian Maci, to carry out verifications within a week and exercise all powers to crackdown on the workers responsible.

Considering the weak working results, Angjeli proposed that Maci issues admonitory measures against four officials of the General Department, six chief customs workers in districts. He also asked him to dismiss the chief customs worker in Kukes, Binak Alia.

In conclusion Angjeli stressed that the General Customs Department should be totally engaged concerning problems emerging during the implementation of the Stability Pact, effects from changes in customs tariffs, liberalisation of trade in the region and other issues. /dast/lm/

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[10] Customs deficit for nine months at around 3,243 billion lek

The Albanian customs administration income plan for the first nine months of 1999 has been realised by 89% with a deficit of 3,243 billion leks, the Customs General Director Ardian Maci at a working analysis of this administration on Sunday.

He said there have been several factors which have substantially influenced in this setback. As the main factor Maci mentioned the change in the exchange rate of the lek against the dollar. Hence, the average lek- dollar exchange rate, from 147,5 leks envisaged in the budget, is 138,71 leks per dollar.

"From this change in the lek-dollar exchange rate, the loss amounts to 1,530 billion leks," stressed Maci.

As a second factor in the setback for this period he mentioned the decrease of the tariff level from 14,1 to 12,8, which has brought about a loss of 1,199 billion leks.

Maci said that a negative factor has also been the decrease of taxed imports to 447 million leks because of an increase in untaxed imports.

The customs administration should deposit in the state budget for 1999 an amount of 43,7 billion leks, while for the last three-month period the customs should realise an addition of 14,020 billion leks. /dast/lm/

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