Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-10-18

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CONTENTS

[01] Albanian footballer Bozgo, best scorer in Slovenian championship

[02] Albanian PM Majko meets ex Premier Nano

[03] Cohabitation with Serbs, another challenge for Kosova people

[04] Albanian Foreign Minister visits Adem Jashari house

[05] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies in Tirane

[06] "Albania, a prison," last map of Albanian prisons

[07] World Bank provides US$ 1 million for natural park of Tomorri

[08] German Defence Minister to visit Albania

[09] Albanian Foreing Minister concludes visit in Kosova

[10] IMF to give finish in touch to Albania's budget for 2000

[11] Greece provides 120 million drachmas for education in Gjirokaster and Vlore

[12] Poverty in Balkan - consequence of ethnic conflicts

[13] Italian Project on managment of Albanian secondary schools

[14] Albanian police to have a new law soon

[15] 1 285 tons coffee are imported in nine months period

[16] Imported fuels mark 119,2 million lire during nine months period

[17] Albanian Prosecutor General to pay an official visit to Rome

[18] Bank of Black Sea asked to credit SME-s

[19] We should define rules on way SP continues governing - Majko, Nano

[20] SP congress reconvenes on Friday

[21] Cigarette clearance during nine months period

[22] Milo, Thaci officiate Tirane-Prishtine relations

[23] Umberto Ranieri in Tirana on Tuesday

[24] Nano, Majko meet, cooperation resumes

[25] Pollo accuses Democratic Party of falsifying the statute

[26] SP leader cancels second meeting with government head

[27] 49 million leks to rehabilitate roads in Shkoder

[28] Premier Majko meets President Meidani

[29] President Meidani meets with SP leader Fatos Nano

[01] Albanian footballer Bozgo, best scorer in Slovenian championship

After 10 weeks in the championship of Slovenia, Bozgo has scored 8 goals for the team of Maribor, leading the list of the championship scorers. /a.ke/xh/

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[02] Albanian PM Majko meets ex Premier Nano

Sources from the SP headquarters said that they in the meeting, initiated by Nano, are discussing the future developments within Socialist Party and the future of the present government cabinet, which is the hottest point of the discussions after the third congress of SP, held recently.

The meeting of Majko and Nano is being held only one day before the first meeting of the General Leading Committee of SP, which will elect the chairmanship of this party. /led/so/xh/

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[03] Cohabitation with Serbs, another challenge for Kosova people

PRISHTINE, Oct. 18 (ata) - Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo appealed to the leaders of the Kosova three biggest communes, Prizren, Peje and Gjakove to act with more care so that the question of Kosova be not turned against the Albanians and in favour of Serbs.

Milo had a visit on Sunday to these three communes to see closely their problems and to discuss with respective authorities of the assistance that the Albanian Government may offer in this direction. He asked from the commune chairmen to act with tolerance, thus preparing the climate to live in a multiethnic society.

For this new reality, which still seems to be absurd for the Kosovars who have just come out of the war atrocities, Milo said that this cohabitation should be seen as another challenge for the people of Kosova who should publicly show that just like they knew to defend their just cause, they also know to forgive.

In these meetings, the leaders of the communes highlighted the excellent cooperation with KFOR, while they expressed their reserves for the relations with UNMIK.

Minister Milo said that he would exploit all his diplomatic contacts to deal with this concern. According to him, the Albanian Government will soon undertake a diplomatic offensive so that Kosova too, benefits from the Stability Pact. /led/xh/

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[04] Albanian Foreign Minister visits Adem Jashari house

PRISHTINA, Oct 18 (ATA) - The Albanian Foreing Minster Paskal Milo visited on Sunday the house of Adem Jashari, in Drenica, and met with members of his family.

Albanians should transform this house into a cult place where they can pray generation after generation, said Milo.

Speaking with the family members of Adem Jashari, minister Milo took this occasion to call once again on the Albanians of Kosova to be tolerant.

"Now, at the time troops of Belgrade left Kosova definitively there should be place even for the simple Serb, who is not besmirched with crimes", said the Foreing Minister.

The house of Adem Jashari has been transformed into a symbol of the resistance of Albanian people of Kosova to Serb violence and repression. Over 2000 people visit this house each day.

On Monday, Milo will meet with the Premier of Kosova Interim Government Hashim Thaci. /led/so/

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[05] Exchange rates of Lek with foreign currencies in Tirane

Exchange rates of Lek in free market

Kind of currency Bought Sold

USD 130,5 131,5

DM 72 72,5

LIT (1000) 72,5 73

GRD (100) 42,5 42,8 /led/xh/

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[06] "Albania, a prison," last map of Albanian prisons

The Foundation Musine Kokalari made public last weekend the complete map of jails and camps in Albania, called "Albania, a prison."

Ideated by the foundation chairman, Agim Musta, the map was realised by scholar Ylli Kolonja, who has used, to this end, the topographical books published after 1945.

According to this map, besides the general figures, 995 other people have died, while 1253 foreigners, both men and women, have served their prison terms in Albania.

This is the second map of this kind published in Albania and kept in the Museum of National History. According to Ylli Kolonja, "the new map is more complete, taking into account that the first map has only 30 prisons and camps displayed." /xh/

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[07] World Bank provides US$ 1 million for natural park of Tomorri

This project foresees an intervention for the protection of the rich fauna and flora created in this park for centuries, the regeneration of rare natural trees, the protection of wild animals as well as roads' building in the mountainous ground, sources from the district's forest service reported on Monday.

The national natural park of Tomorri, laying at the mountainside, with the same name, (South Albania) has not been damaged being far from cities and inhabited areas. /led/so/

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[08] German Defence Minister to visit Albania

After his arrival in Rinas airport at noon on Tuesday, Mr Scharëing is expected to have a tete-a-tete meeting with his Albanian counterpart, Luan Hajdaraga. The other meetings of Mr Scharping will continue with the President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paskal Milo.

This is the second visit that Mr Scharping pays to Albania. His first visit was described as an expression of the interest and commitment of Germany for the situation created in Albania by the Kosova crisis. /led/xh/

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[09] Albanian Foreing Minister concludes visit in Kosova

Milo met with a wide spectrum of Kosova political forces and the highest representatives of the international authorities present in Kosova.

The Albanian Foreing Minister visited several cities and villages of Drenica and Dukagjini as well. /pas/so/

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[10] IMF to give finish in touch to Albania's budget for 2000

Now, specialists of the Finance Ministry have prepared the sketch of the budget which will discussed with the IMF mission members, and which envisages an economic growth of 8 per cent and an increase of fiscal incomes by 16 per cent.

The drafting of the financial law for 2000 is based mostly on the objectives of the midtern program of the Albanian government and in the agreement ESAF 2, signed with IMF in May 1998. In addition, the economic and financial consequences from the crisis of Kosova have also been taken into consideration.

The IMF mission is expected to discuss also the "Letter of Intent" and the implementation of the respective agreements. The Albanian officials and IMF experts will also discuss the procedures for the privatization of the National Commercial Bank and the Savings Bank, and the achievements in the privatization of strategic sectors.

The objectives of the Albanian Government in the midterm strategy are a rapid economic growth, further reduction of inflation and poverty and creation of new jobs.

ESAF 2 has also determined that during the three-year period, the aim of Albanian authorities will be to reach a stable economic growth of 7-8 per cent and to lower the inflation to the levels of the main trade partners of Albania (to about 3 per cent until 2001). An objective to be reached is also the reduction of the deficit. /led/xh/

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[11] Greece provides 120 million drachmas for education in Gjirokaster and Vlore

This fund will be used to reconstruct several schools in Gjirokastra, the primary school of Jergucat (Dropulli i Siperm) and the high school of medicine in Vlora.

The fund provided by the Greek Ministry is the most considerable one Greece has earmarked during the last years to help education in these districts. Several times, Greek state institutions of education have financed and provided with deductive instruments the education sector of Gjirokastra.The worth of this aid, during 1998 only, amounts to 50 million drachmas. /led/so/

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[12] Poverty in Balkan - consequence of ethnic conflicts

Minister Rrapi spoke as well for the perspective of the struggle against poverty in Albania and in the region, in the framework of the European integration of the Balkans. He considered international initiative of the Stability Pact for the Southeastern Europe as a great chance for the regional progress.

Participating in this World forum organized by the European Council in cooperation with UNO, from October 15-16 in Strasbourg, were even representatives of the World Bank.

In the report of World Development for 199-2000 period, the WB estimated that approximately 1,5 billion persons will live with $1 a day at the beginning of the new millennium, while 1,2 billion lived in this level in 1987. The WB report foresees as well that the number of people who will live under this international level of poverty in 2015 will reach 1,9 billion people. /dast/A.A/

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[13] Italian Project on managment of Albanian secondary schools

This project, continued Cuka, that is to be applied by experts of "Luigi Bocconi" University of Milan in Italy, aims at creating a course on administration techniques for the principals of secondary schools and 45 technical and professional schools in Albania.

The Italian experts first will convey their experience in the field of administration training for the educational institutions in seven selected areas of Albania.

The Albanian specialists via this project will put forward the characteristics of their areas and will transmit their experience. /dast/gs/

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[14] Albanian police to have a new law soon

The initiated reform of the Albanian police will be followed by the approval of "Draftlaw on police", and the actions by law to implement it.

Sources of this ministry say that in the wake of this phase the legislation on police is expected to be drafted, aiming to improve it and approach with legislation standards of the European Union countries.

The draftlaw on state police complies with the principles of the organization of Western police, went through discussions with specialists of European Council, MAPE, social organizations and after undergoing a five- month discussion-debate, was introduced in the Council of Ministers and is already in the parliament to be passed. /dast/gs/

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[15] 1 285 tons coffee are imported in nine months period

Referring to the figures taken from this directorate, some 513 tons coffee are cleared only in July, 227,4 tons in August and 372 tons in September.

According to the official sources 172,5 tons coffee are imported in total in Albania last year. January and February are the months with lowest clearance value, respectively by 2 and 4 tons. /lh/linda/

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[16] Imported fuels mark 119,2 million lire during nine months period

There is an increase of fuel clearances in September, if compared with the value marked previous months. Some 23 million fuels are imported in Albania within a month, while the quantity of the fuels import in the period January-August 1999, was 96,2 million lire.

88,2 million lire is the value of the fuels cleared in 1998. /led/linda/

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[17] Albanian Prosecutor General to pay an official visit to Rome

Problems of drugs traffic and the struggle against it are the main problems to be treated in the meeting organized by Italian and France anti mafia. Participating in this meeting apart from the general prosecutors will be even the anti-mafia chiefs.

Another three-day long meeting of the prosecutors of Southeastern Europe will be held after three days in Oher on coordination of the work against organized crime in the region. Four prosecutors of General Prosecution office will participate in this meeting organized by the Macedonian General Prosecution office. /lh/A.A/

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[18] Bank of Black Sea asked to credit SME-s

According to the sources from the Trade Chamber in Tirana, the creation of exchange information network and its activities within the programs of Stability Pact was stressed out in this meeting.

In this meeting, where Albania was represented by Luan Bregasi, Head of Tirana Chamber, it is asked about the possibilities of financing the small and medium enterprises. In this context Bank of Black Sea is asked to finance not only the public projects worth more than 3 million dollars, but to create also the environments for credit offering to the small and medium enterprises.

The Board of the Directors asked the Bank to send it missions in all the member countries to contact with businesses concerning their credit. /led/linda/

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[19] We should define rules on way SP continues governing - Majko, Nano

The spokesman of the Prime Minister told ATA that at today's meeting Majko and Nano discussed the latest political developments and their effects on the reality created at home following the congresses of the two main political parties, the Democratic and Socialist Parties.

The spokesman said Majko asked from the SP chairman to review his proposal for calling the congress, as he considers this act ad a precedent that would not positively affect the developments at home.

Shortly after his meeting with Majko, Nano met with SP local chairmen and decided that the SP Congress reconvene on Friday to determine the fate of 36 members of the General Steering Committee who gained more votes that the others on October 10, but who failed to win half of the general number of the congress votes, a thing which runs counter to article 15, point 7 of the SP statute. /dast/lm/

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[20] SP congress reconvenes on Friday

Nano demanded the gathering of SP congress on Monday as only 44 people elected in the congress held on early October out of 80 members fulfil the SP status criteria, according to which "the candidate who has won more ballots than the others, but not less than 50% of the whole ballots is considered elected".

Nano said that three alternatives will be suggested to the delegates and they will be free to choose.

The first alternative deals with the adding of an amendment where is clarified that the election of members of SP leading forums is made through a simple voting process. The other alternative consists on the renovation of the list of 137 candidates among whom will be elected the other 36 KPD members, or the congress can 'abrogate' the point number 7 of 15th article of the status, after which these 80 names will automatically be transformed into members of this forum. /dast/A.A/

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[21] Cigarette clearance during nine months period

Referring to the figures taken from the General Custom Directorate the total quantity of legal imported cigarettes during the period January- September 1999 was 1 556 tons. The value marked in 1998, which enter through the custom points in Albania was 579 tons cigarettes.

In the beginning of July, Albanian Parliament passed several changes of the law "On excise in Republic of Albania". These changes, that came out mainly from the engagement of Albanian Government to become a member of WTO, brought only one category of cigarettes. The measure predicts unification of three categories of the cigarettes in only one and it is 11 leks per packet, which fulfills at the same time the requirement to keep alive the domestic industry.

Another target of these changes was the expected fall of the prizes, by effect positively in increasing the clearances and minimizing the contraband.

This way the monthly quantity of cigarettes clereance was foreseen to be vary from 125 tons per month to nearly 200-250 tons per month. This target is fulfilled within few months. /led/linda/

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[22] Milo, Thaci officiate Tirane-Prishtine relations

Albanian Foreign Minister revealed after the meeting that he highly appraised the work carried out so far by the Thaci-led government on normalization and stabilization of situation in Kosove and on leading the country towards the road of democratization and construction of a pluralist society.

Milo said that the main issues discussed in the meeting were the problems existing in the cooperation level between Kosove and Albania where the cooperation in the fields of economy, education, order and combat against criminality were highlighted as areas where cooperation was more emergent.

The opening of an intercommunication office in Pristine by Albanian government in a near future will render less difficult the obstacles of this cooperation.

The meeting with Thaci concluded the two-day visit of Albanian Foreign Minister in Kosove, which marked the first visit of an Albanian high-ranking personality in Pristine. /dast/A.A/

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[23] Umberto Ranieri in Tirana on Tuesday

During his one-day visit Mr.Ranieri will meet the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Governmental Coordination, Ilir Meta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Paskal Milo, Minister of Economic Cooperation Ermelinda Meksi.

Italian Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Umberto Ranieri will also meet the head of Socialist Party Fatos Nano and the Head of Democratic Party Sali Berisha, as well. /dast/linda/

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[24] Nano, Majko meet, cooperation resumes

Following his meeting with government head Pandeli Majko on Monday, Nano said that they had discussed the problems handled at the Congress as well as the reconvention of the Congress, as regards the voting process for the members of the General Steering Committee.

"We discussed the political and administrative responsibilities we have, as a party leading the government, in coping with governing challenges, problems regarding the country's stability and SP's ongoing efficiency regarding the governing coalition," Nano said further on.

He stressed that the meeting did not aim changes in government which "although this was an important institutional meeting, cannot be discussed outside the leading forums of this party." /lh/lm/

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[25] Pollo accuses Democratic Party of falsifying the statute

The DP moderator deputies on Monday said that the DP parliamentary group is not eligible to choose or propose the alternative candidatures for the leader of the group. "The parliamentary group should propose the leader who afterwards is approved in the National Council. The DP current leaders violated this decision, since they were pro changes in the statute, at a time when this is not true, so we are in front of a falsification", said Pollo after the meeting.

The newly-elected chairman of this group, Jemin Gjana, considered Pollo's accuses as groundless.

"I don't think that a minority could take decisions not to recognize the DP statute. This parliamentary group does not have an approved applicable regulation to have such definitions".

The DP congress decided that one of the party's vice chairman will be leader of the parliamentary group as well. Formerly, it was the DP parliamentary group that proposed this and the National Council approved it afterwards. /dast/gs/

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[26] SP leader cancels second meeting with government head

The Ministry of Information reports that the meeting had been requested by Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, Deputy Speaker Namik Dokle, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Government Coalition Ilir Meta, Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga and Minister for Public Order Spartak Poci, to discuss the request of SP chairman, made public today, for calling the SP Congress. /lh/lm/

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[27] 49 million leks to rehabilitate roads in Shkoder

The rehabilitation of the road Shkoder-Muriqan 8 km long, Koplik- Razem 13 km, and Shkoder-Velipoje 25 km, is almost completed thanks to these funds.

Actually the bridge of Gomsiqe is being repaired, which was gravely damaged with explosives during unrest of March 1997.

These objects are thought to end within this year.

In the meantime, the repairing of the roads in the road axis Shkoder- Torovice, Shkoder-Koplik, Kryebushat-Vau i Dejes, has been completed.

Along the national roads rehabilitation it is being worked to rehabilitate several rural roads, such as those in the commune of Mesi, Dukagjin, Shllak and Velipoje. /lh/gs/

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[28] Premier Majko meets President Meidani

The meeting at the Presidency seat lasted for two hours.

Following his meeting with Meidani, Majko, through his spokesman, made public his request to Fatos Nano to review his proposal on reconvening the SP congress, as, according to Majko, "this is a precedent that would not positively affect the developments at home". /lh/lm/

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[29] President Meidani meets with SP leader Fatos Nano

According to reliable sources, the meeting at the presidency seat lasted for one hour and thirty minutes.

Meidani had earlier met with Premier Majko, who has asked reelected socialist leader Nano, at a meeting on Monday morning, to reconsider his proposal for reconvening the SP Congress. /lh/lm/

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