Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 00-01-08

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Exchange rates in Tirana

[02] Press review

[03] Schools' reconstruction - powerful investment of CRS

[04] Vehicles' movement in Kapshtice custom resumes

[05] Reform in scientific institutions - priority of 2000

[06] Eight passengers coaches, aid for Albanian Railways

[07] Normal traffic on Tirana roads

[08] Clark arrived in Kosova on Friday evening

[09] Attempts of Albanian Government to protect forests

[10] Bajram celebrated in Kosova on Saturday

[11] Meidani wishes Moslem believers happy Bajram

[12] Meta holds Greek minority important in two countries' relations

[13] Efficient fight against corruption, priority of 2000

[14] Defending cultural values of Gjirokaster, priority of Albanian government

[15] Weather forecast for Sunday

[16] We are not subject to investigations by international authorities in Kosova

[01] Exchange rates in Tirana

Foreign currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling

US$ 135 135,3

DM 71 71,4

ITL (1000) 71,3 71,7

GRD (100) 41 41 /lh/A.A/

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[02] Press review

Koha Jone, daily independent

-"The south unblocked, Greece retreats". The Albanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pellumb Xhufi said on Friday that the vehicles blocked in the border with Greece for some days will be allowed to pass on Saturday. - "Meta dismisses four prefects". The Council of Ministers decided in its meeting on Friday to release from duty the prefects of Shkoder, Diber, Durres and Berat and nominated four other perfects. -"Opposition: we will not go to the elections with this Central Election Commission and with this electoral law". This is what is revealed on Friday by leaders of the "Union for Democracy" and the "United right-wing parties" during a joint meeting.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily

-"Italy: Shuli blocks Corridor 8". The full text of the memorial that Rama mission in Tirane has handed over to the Albanian government published. - "The opposition together against Meidani". The DP leader Sali Berisha gathered on Friday the leaders of the right-wing parties and demanded together the change of the Central Election Commission and the change of the electoral law. -"Milo renders account to Athens about licenses". The Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo had a meeting on Friday at his request with the second number of Greek embassy in Tirane Ana-Maria Bura whom he remarked as regards to the measures adopted recently by the Greek part in the border points between Albania and Greece.

Shekulli, daily independent

-"Incidents in the eve of politicians' tour". At the time when the Albanian Premier Ilir Meta has decided to visit the city of Gjirokaster, three persons from Lazarat have opened fire towards the police armoured vehicle. In the meantime in Berat are delivered tens of leaflets against the programed visit of the DP chairman, Sali Berisha in this city. -"Local elections: DP attacks Meidani". The union for Democracy and the United right-wing parties seem to have unified their stances on Friday at the eve of local elections". -"'Renea' liberates Burrel".

Albania, national daily

-"Greece - blockade against Albania". -"DP and the right-wing parties together for the early elections". -"Four prefects dismissed".

"Zeri i Popullit", daily paper of Albania Socialist Party

-"Americans open their embassy for issuing visas in Tirane". -"Milo asks the Greeks to put an end to the embargo of the licenses". -"Special forces back in Burrel".

Rilindja Demokratike, daily paper of the Albanian Democratic Party

-"Giant theft in Telecom". -"Opposition throws a safe step towards new elections".

Republika, daily paper of Albanian Republican Party

-"The government coalition close to destruction". -"Tracts against the visit of Berisha in Berat". /A.A/

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[03] Schools' reconstruction - powerful investment of CRS

He explained further that the vehicles bearing Albanian number plates have strated again moving towards Greece starting from 20.30 on Friday.

The movement of vehicles was blocked on Wednesday by midday by Greek police authorities in the Kapshtice custom under the pretence that the Albanian police had not yet signed the Geneva agreement on Transport. /lh/A.A/

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[04] Vehicles' movement in Kapshtice custom resumes

He explained further that the vehicles bearing Albanian number plates have strated again moving towards Greece starting from 20.30 on Friday.

The movement of vehicles was blocked on Wednesday by midday by Greek police authorities in the Kapshtice custom under the pretence that the Albanian police had not yet signed the Geneva agreement on Transport. /lh/A.A/

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[05] Reform in scientific institutions - priority of 2000

Considering the development of science and technology as a national priority, the set bodies have intensified the attempts and the planned actions in scientific institutions and centers in higher schools and in production sectors for appointing a midterm development policy.

For this aim, according to Minxhozi, some 6 programs of national importance will be implemented during 2000. Five of them will be realized and leaded through the Academy of Science and other institutions belonging from it. /lh/A.A/

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[06] Eight passengers coaches, aid for Albanian Railways

The chief of Foreign Relations at General Directorate of Railways, Alush Kuci, said that these coaches were unloaded from the ferry on Friday and delivered to Albanian Railways.

This is the third charge that comes from abroad to improve Railway Transport.

During the last year have been transported 22 passenger coaches, 12 of which have been provided by Italian Railways, while 10 others have been transported from Austria in return of railway scrap purchase.

The coaches arriving from Italy and Austria, make up four trains to further improve Durres-Tirane and Pogradec-Tirane lines. Nearly 35% of the existing passenger coaches park, which was out of use, was already renovated with the arrival of 22 passenger coaches.

During 2000 other passenger coaches are expected to come from Italy, according to the respective agreement between the two countries aiming at the total renovation of the whole park of passenger coaches. /lh/sm/so/

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[07] Normal traffic on Tirana roads

The streets with the busiest traffic are those of Kavaja, Durres, "Jean d'Arc" and some segments of Tirana Ring. /lh/so/

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[08] Clark arrived in Kosova on Friday evening

In Prishtina he met with U.N. Civil Administrator, Bernard Kouchner, and the KFOR Commandant Klaus Rainhard. /lh/so/

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[09] Attempts of Albanian Government to protect forests

According to him, about 7,3 million leks, from the state budget, have been invested for the arrangement of 6 thousand hectares forests in Nikaj- Mertur zone.

Still, damages in forest areas are great, says Seci. So during 1999, 150 cubic meters timber have been sequestrated, and 86 minutes have been issued with a damage value of 3,6 million leks.

But fines' collection doesn't meet the expectations. "Since 6 years, although the number of fines imposed on timber damagers is considerably great, none of them has been collected", said Seci. According to him this is the result of the lack of the efficacious cooperation with other structures of district police to block the illegal timber trade.

In Tropoja the timber trade towards Kosova has been blocked only during the last months of 1999.

In Tropoja, nearly 43 thousand hectares, out of the whole district area of 103 thousand hectares, is covered by forests. /lh/sm/so/

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[10] Bajram celebrated in Kosova on Saturday

Peace and understanding should prevail in Kosova, said Rexhep Boja, head of the Islamic Community of Kosova, at festivity held on this occasion at the Youth and Sports Hall in Prishtine.

He also asked that the 7 000 Albanian hostages be released from the Serb prisons and that the Albanian brethren of Eastern Kosova, where the Serb regime is carrying out violent ethnic cleansing, should not be forgotten. /lh/lm/

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[11] Meidani wishes Moslem believers happy Bajram

"I wish all Moslem believers in Albania and all over the world as well as our Kosovar brethren a good year and wish them enjoy not only Bajram but all the other holidays," said Meidani in his greeting.

The chairman of the Albanian Moslem Community, Haxhi Hafiz Sabri Koci, said that "the Bajram of this year should open the doors to welfare and peace for our entire people".

Also, Deputy Premier Makbule Ceco, U.S.ambassador Limprecht as well as other representatives of the government, of various political parties, functionaries of diplomatic missions accredited in Tirane and others wished the people a happy holiday. /lh/lm/

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[12] Meta holds Greek minority important in two countries' relations

Meta expressed the desire for cooperation with Greece in all fields, far from the creation of new conflicts. "Our two governments will never allow the language of hatred between the two countries," said Meta.

Meta considered a priority the development of business, movement of goods and people as well as the development of infrastructure.

"On behalf of the government I pledge that the minority zones will have the same priority in investments, while some US$ 500 000, provided by the Greek government for the minority areas in Gjirokaster and Sarande, will be invested in these zones," said Meta.

Meta vowed that the Albanian government will respect the right of the minorities, as, he said, "we have had common chances both in the past and at present". He assured the inhabitants of Dervican of the government's commitment to complete restoration of order.

Meta also visited the firm "Meton SA ETEP" in Jergucat, which is engaged in building the Kakavije-Gjirokaster main road. /led/lm/

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[13] Efficient fight against corruption, priority of 2000

In 2000, the first step will be the conclusion of the work programme from the technical team by mid January, which will be presented to Premier Ilir Meta to approve it latter in the government. The admittance of this plan by Friends of Albania group and other institutions that contribute in the anti-corruption fight will testify to its efficency and seriousness.

The beginning of the programme implementation makes up the second step. The implementation process itself is two faceted. On one hand the fight against corruption with legal measures which will hinder the increase of corruption and on the other one the cooperation among institutions specialized to hit cases of violations and abuses.

Government has defined the priorities of the anti-corruption fight since September 24 of the last year.

Meta Cabinet decided to review the anti-corruption plan and include in it new measures, more actual. These measures include the creation of the inter-ministerial commission that will organize and manage the performance of the experts' group.

Also, the cabinet decided to restructure the anti-corruption monitoring group, changing its constitution, status and designating a person responsible in the Council of Ministers.

The creation of monitoring sectoral groups guaranties the correct implementation of this plan. The anti-corruption plan is also extended in the grassroots through the coordination of the work with the local government. /lh/so/

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[14] Defending cultural values of Gjirokaster, priority of Albanian government

Meta made his first stop at the city's Medrese, where he met with the South's Mufti and greeted the Moslem community on the occasion of the Greater Bajram holiday.

Later Meta and the team accompanying him met with institutions directors and local functionaries of Gjirokaster Prefecture districts.

Meta underlined that he was aware of the problems of this city and the region as a whole and that in the plans of the government he runs, Gjirokaster will be one of its priorities with the aim of defending the architectural and cultural values of the city.

Meta also spoke of the acceleration of the works on the Gjirokaster- Kakavije road, the investments in the city's internal infrastructure.

The plans of the Albanian government do not exclude the Greek minority in this district, either", said Meta, underlining that "it will be respected as an irreversible part of the establishment of a genuine democracy". /led/lm/

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[15] Weather forecast for Sunday

The weather is forecast to be clear, and a little cloudy in the western part of the country.

The wind will blow lightly and averagely from the northeast.

The lowest and highest temperatures are forecast to be: in the mountains -9 and 3 degrees, lowlands -2 and 10 and in the coastal areas 2 and 14 degrees Celsius. /a.ke/lm/

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[16] We are not subject to investigations by international authorities in Kosova

Sources from the ATA office in Prishtine reported on Saturday that Kouchner and Reinhardt expressed regret at the fact that Thaci's family and the party he leads have been subject to several controls of UNMIK police and KFOR participants. /led/lm/

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