Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-12-29

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Press Review

[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

[03] Volleyball: Studenti, men,women, leads after the first stage

[04]

[05] Year 2000 ambitious in Albanian studies domain

[06] Albanian businessmen ask more advantages for participation in privatisation

[07] Project on protected forest area in Kolonje comes to the end

[08] New aqueduct in town of Gramsh inaugurated

[09] President Meidani inaugurates the extension of "Albtelekom" central Tirana, December 29 (ata) - By Elton Metaj - Albanian President Rexhep Meidani inaugurated on Wednesday the extension of national and international transit central of "Albtelekom". According to "Albteleom" general director Dhimitraq Rafti, the enlargement of the central is an investment of some 2 million dollars implemented through the assistance of Swiss Government. The extension of the central will be followed by the establishing of new ones in Durres, Lushnje and Lezhe. New investments increase the value of Albanian company, which is involved in the privatization plans of Albanian Government on strategic sectors of the economy. "Albtelekom" foresees to increase twice the existent capacities and adding of many telephonic numbers in several towns during 2000./lh/linda/

[10] Custom incomes deficit marks 7,1 billion leks in 1999

[11] AEDP project for 2000 in Shkoder

[12] Bad weather prevents processing of freighters in port of Vlore

[13] Albanian State to back the fair companies and businessmen, says Meta

[14] Admiral De Donno visits Italian militaries in Durres

[15] During 1999, agricultural production in Albania increased 6 per cent - Minister

[16] Nearly USD10 million by donors for rehabilitation of education system

[17] Turkish militaries in Orikum distribute packages of aid for inhabitants

[18] Serbs continue to kill Albanian prisoners in their jails

[01] Press Review

Koha Jone, independent daily,

"Tirana, 365 days in service of Kosova". The newspaper summarizes what has happened during the 12 months of this very difficult year for Albanians. "Kosova and the agreement with EU, our priority". This is what the chief of Albanian diplomacy Paskal Milo told a news conference on Tuesday. "Storm hits Vlora" The strong wind that hit the city of Vlora yesterday caused several damages to the electric lines. In the meantime all markets of the city have been closed down.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily,

"Milo: How the Çam question can be solved". Interview with the Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo. "SP, ready the parallel 'government'". Commissions, set up close to the SP General Steering Committee, will check every decision or action undertaken by the leading structures of this party. "Minister Poci denounces experts of criminalistics". The Minister of Order, Spartak Poci, has denounced the experts of the central laboratory of criminalistics on the elimination of a material evidence regarding the attempted attack with antitank, which claimed the lives of Denis Gina and Meidan Shehu.

Shekulli, independent daily,

"Nano, shadow government ready". The new cabinet of SP has been formed. Deputies without posts are also appointed at the head of commissions "Durres, Albania's gate for the Stability Pact" Specialist of the Durres Sea port point to the indispensability of investments in infrastructure and transport "Initiative of President Clinton: Eighth corridor, plus railway"

Albania, national independence,

"Some 400 million leks of VEFA missing" "My platform changes from that of Berisha". This is what deputy Genc Pollo has declared for the paper

Zeri i Popullit, daily of the Socialist Party of Albania,

"Six thousand refugees horrified in six New Year ferries" "Meta to visit Kukes and Has by the end of the year" "Angjeli, the first minister to render account before the press"

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Democratic Party of Albania,

"Milo sequestrates Poci' car" "All bids are manipulated"

Republika, daily of the Republican Party of Albania,

"Opposition: 'let us return power to citizens'" "Rakipi:'I feel sorry for Berisha'" /so/lm/

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[02] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreign currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling

US$ 134,3 134,7

DM 69 69,3

ITL (1000) 69 69,5

GRD (100) 40,2 40,4 /dast/so/

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[03] Volleyball: Studenti, men,women, leads after the first stage

Matches of the 10th week (the last week of the first stage) of the Albanian championship of volleyball, men, have been played. In the matches of this week the leading team Studenti was beaten by Dinamo and Teuta won against Shijak. In the meantime Skenderbeu won its second match during this stage, this time against Tirana.

The results of the matches are:

Studenti - Dinamo 0-3

Erzeni - Teuta 0-3

Skenderbeu - Tirana 3-2

After the end of the first stage Studenti leads the table after ten weeks with 18 points, followed by Teuta and Dinamo with 16 points, Erzeni 15 points, Tirana 13 points and Skenderbeu 12 points.

In the meantime after the end of the 10th week of the national championship, women, Studenti and Teuta stay top with 18 points followed by Dinamo, Lushnja, Tirana and Partizani.

Teams after a brief period of holidays will continue during January the matches valuable for the Cup of Albania finals. Matches of the second stage of the championship will begin in February. /so/

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[04]

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[05] Year 2000 ambitious in Albanian studies domain

"Special attention will be payed to scientific research in fields of History, Linguistics, Literature, Archaeology aiming to compile fundamental works of national importance", Popa said, also stressing their importance under the changing conditions in Kosova and the great opportunities offered to carry out studies in these domains.

In the field of Albanian Linguistics, said Popa, studies will be materialized through compiling the New Grammar of Albanian Language and the most utilitarian vocabularies to meet public's demands. In the field of History, studies will be focused on the realization of National Programme to be finalized through "History of the Albanian people" edition.

According to the Head of Academy of Sciences, a heavy working plan is also being drafted in the domains of Folk Culture in the framework of cultural inheritance of the Albanian people, in the domain of archaeological researches, including periods of antiquity and the early middle ages, researches on Illyrian city as well as those on Arberesh culture, and so on. /dast/sm/so/

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[06] Albanian businessmen ask more advantages for participation in privatisation

He said BOBSH, during 1999, has taken several initiatives for the benefit of the Albanian economy and entrepreneurs, but stressed that monetary austerity and not developing policies are applied in Albania.

"We have asked that all trade operators in Albania work under equal conditions, that is, should fight corruption, which is a bill paid by all Albanians asking the country's development," said Kokedhima.

He pointed to the efforts of the organisation he runs to influence in the formulation of a more national economic policy. /dast/lm/

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[07] Project on protected forest area in Kolonje comes to the end

According to the director of the district forest service, Paqesor Cane, this project envisages the fir-tree and pine-tree woods at Germenj- Shelegur massif to be announced protected area and to be turned into National Park later.

"This unimpaired massif is under proper conditions for investments to be carried out in a close future turning it into a developed tourism area", said Cane.

Concerning this issue, World Bank has preliminarily approved a fund worth $ 150 thousand on infrastructure construction and building a rest house at this forest massif.

The Forest Service Department of this district has already two other projects on setting up communal forests in the area of Barmash and Leskovik, for which a fund of 3 million Leks has been accorded by the State Budget, reported Cane. /dast/sm/linda/

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[08] New aqueduct in town of Gramsh inaugurated

Attending the inauguration ceremony were the Albanian Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, the deputy of the zone Elmaz Sherifi, the prefect of Elbasan, Durim Hushi and representatives of the local government.

The construction of the aqueduct was made possible through an investment worth 14 million lek by the state budget.

The reservoir of the aqueduct has a capacity of 2 thousand cubic metres while the pipelines supplying it by the village Kerpice is 17 km long and has a flow of 130 liters per second.

In January 2000, a new reservoir will be built near the existing one with a capacity of 3500 cubic meters and for this the state budget will fund a total of 19.5 million lek. About 14 million other lek will be invested for the construction of the aqueduct in village Çekin which will supply with water the military plant which is in that village.

Albanian Prime Minister had another short meeting in the district council and later he visited the quarter Llapushaj in which he wished the inhabitants there for the new aqueduct. /lh/xh/

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[09] President Meidani inaugurates the extension of "Albtelekom" central Tirana, December 29 (ata) - By Elton Metaj - Albanian President Rexhep Meidani inaugurated on Wednesday the extension of national and international transit central of "Albtelekom". According to "Albteleom" general director Dhimitraq Rafti, the enlargement of the central is an investment of some 2 million dollars implemented through the assistance of Swiss Government. The extension of the central will be followed by the establishing of new ones in Durres, Lushnje and Lezhe. New investments increase the value of Albanian company, which is involved in the privatization plans of Albanian Government on strategic sectors of the economy. "Albtelekom" foresees to increase twice the existent capacities and adding of many telephonic numbers in several towns during 2000./lh/linda/

Tirana, December 29 (ata) - By Elton Metaj - Albanian President Rexhep Meidani inaugurated on Wednesday the extension of national and international transit central of "Albtelekom".

According to "Albteleom" general director Dhimitraq Rafti, the enlargement of the central is an investment of some 2 million dollars implemented through the assistance of Swiss Government.

The extension of the central will be followed by the establishing of new ones in Durres, Lushnje and Lezhe.

New investments increase the value of Albanian company, which is involved in the privatization plans of Albanian Government on strategic sectors of the economy.

"Albtelekom" foresees to increase twice the existent capacities and adding of many telephonic numbers in several towns during 2000. /lh/linda/

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[10] Custom incomes deficit marks 7,1 billion leks in 1999

According to the sources from the General Custom Directorate the above mentioned figure is almost at the level predicted by the experts of International Monetary Fund IMF in October 1999.

There are many objective and subjective reasons for not implementing the plan. Referring to the above mentioned sources, among the objective reasons we can mention Kosova crisis, approval of New Custom Code in May 15, 1999, dropping of the custom tariffs, imports volume and the exchange rate of the currencies.

As subjective reasons we can mention the non-correct verification of the bills, usually presented with lower value than the real one and the failure in collecting the custom duties from the debtor subjects. Concerning the last topic there are some 824 debtors marking a custom debt of nearly 1,5 billion leks.

As far as year 2000 is concerned, the incomes plan from the custom administrate will be 47,550 billion leks against 43,5 billion leks of the plan for 1999 that is to say 23% higher. /lh/linda/

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[11] AEDP project for 2000 in Shkoder

According to him, in the context of the decentralization of the educational system "The Project for the development of the critical thinking during reading and writing" will continue to qualify the teachers in the field of contemporary teaching methods.

The project "Step By Step" which is being implemented in two kindergartens of the city, will be experimented for year 2000 also in the elementary grades of the 8 form school Ndre Mjeda.

Mesi said that after the opening of a summer course against illiteracy for the Roms of the city, one of the projects of AEDP is also the construction of an 8 form school for the city.

Whereas in January, he added, the reconstruction of the building of 28 Nentori school will start and its furnishing with didactic and laboratory equipment will be realised. /lh/xh/

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[12] Bad weather prevents processing of freighters in port of Vlore

According to them, the freighter Jupiteri, with 150 passengers on board and 100 vehicles could not anchor in the port of Vlore, while the ferry boat Scanderbeg could anchor last night in the military base of Pasha Liman.

On Tuesday, the bad weather and the wind speed, more than 25 meters per second, prevented the above ferry boats to anchor in the quays of the port. During the past 12 hours, they stayed in the sea, near the Bay of Vlore waiting for the weather conditions to improve. In the mean time, only the ferry boat Miobe managed to reach one of the quays, risking to be dashed against it.

The chief of the captains' office of Vlore, Dionis Andoni, said that the nearing of the traditional celebration of the New Year has been accompanied with the increasing influx of the emigrants coming home from Italy, whose number has so far reached to nearly 7000 people.

The unstable weather will probably cause problems in the two coming days for the freighters to reach the port of Vlore. Sources from various navigation agencies report that a part of the passengers who had booked their tickets for Italy-Vlore itinerary, have already annulled their travel. /lh/xh/

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[13] Albanian State to back the fair companies and businessmen, says Meta

"I want to express my desire and will as Prime Minister, and of the Governments as well, to be always in contact with you and to cooperate not only to create secure and supportive conditions in your initiatives, but also to reflect together on new policies that develop the domestic business, increase it and made it a real partner of the Government in developing the country", stated Prime Minister Meta in a cocktail organized by the Trade and Industry Chamber of Tirana.

"State will back them in their fair activities. We will aim at strengthening Albanian construction companies, based upon the work quality and the agreements to be signed with the state and its institutions and not upon their connection with the governmental seniors or supporters of certain political forces," stressed Prime Minister Meta. /linda/

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[14] Admiral De Donno visits Italian militaries in Durres

He met in the deployment seat of the NATO forces in Durres the commander of these troops, Luigi Chivarelli, while later he visited the deployment residence of the 28th Sea Group of the Italian Military Marine in the port of Durres.

The commander of this group, Attillio Sbordoni, presented to admiral De Donno the results of the one-year activity of the Italian marine militaries in cooperation with the counterparts of the Albanian military navy.

In the afternoon, Admiral De Donno went to visit the deployment residence of the Italian militaries in Sazan Island. On Thursday, he will leave for Kosova where he will also meet with the Italian militaries of the battalion San Marco, deployed in Kline, on the eve of the New Year. /lh/xh/

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[15] During 1999, agricultural production in Albania increased 6 per cent - Minister

Albanian farms have been restructured in order to adopt to the market economy and the number of the farms with the direction of "producing for the market" has considerably increased.

According to Minister Xhuveli, "during 1999, the area sown to vegetables has increased by 3 per cent, potatoes 20 per cent, beans 10 per cent, fodder 5 per cent, vineyards by 700 hectares, fruit trees 431 000 roots, citrus trees with 48 000 roots, olive grooves 81 000 roots and the production of vegetables has increased 8 per cent, that of potatoes also 8 per cent, etc.

In the sector of agriculture there is a boost of private investments during this period, which have also been supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with facilitating policies mostly with regard to the raw material.

"A great assistance for the Albanian farmer has been the protection through differentiated customs tariffs for the local products, mostly those of the season as against the imported products, and the growth of the investments by the state budget and foreign donors for the rehabilitation of the agricultural infrastructure mostly in the system of irrigation and drainage," said the Minister of Agriculture and Foods.

Attention will be devoted in the coming year to the process for the division of the agricultural area, said the Minister. /xh/

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[16] Nearly USD10 million by donors for rehabilitation of education system

Efforts have been made with the Greek party for the delivery of a credit worth 5 million dollars at a low interest rate offered by the Government of Greece in the context of the project "Albania-2000" which will be used for the construction of new school buildings and the rehabilitation of some of the existing ones in the capital, as well as in the villages of Tirana.

The World Bank is also ready for cooperation, envisaging the delivery of a fund of nearly USD3 million, destined for the reconstruction of the existing schools mostly in rural areas. /xh/

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[17] Turkish militaries in Orikum distribute packages of aid for inhabitants

About 70 presents were distributed to the children of the township of Orikum and 40 others to those of village Tragjas, some kilometers from this township. The chief of the Council of Elders of this village was handed over 80 other packages with food articles for the families of this village on the eve of the New year.

Along with this, the Turkish unit has worked these days to furnish with didactic instruments the general secondary school Mustafa Qemal Ataturk in the city of Vlora. /lh/xh/

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[18] Serbs continue to kill Albanian prisoners in their jails

During the past month, this is the fifth dead Albanian brought in Kosova after the savage terror exercised on them in the prisons of Serbia, packed with more than 7 000 Albanian hostages, civilians kidnaped by Serb forces during the war, who are still in prisons on the eve of this New Year. /lh/xh/

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