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Albanian Times, Vol. 2, No. 11, March 18, 1996From: Albanian Times <[email protected]>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryCONTENTS[1] Berisha Pardons Newspaper Editor[2] Kosova Leader Downplays Belgrade's Visa Move[3] Tirana, Prishtina May Establish Direct Flights[4] Albanian Dies at 112[5] Greece Set To Upgrade Relations with Albania[6] Greece May Supply Gas to Albania[7] Electricity Prices Low Despite Losses, Officials Say[8] 32 Chambers of Commerce Operate in Albania[9] Meksi Visits Oil Platform[10] Three Killed in Truck Crash Near Tirana[11] Socialist Paper Apologises to State Department[12] EU Poll Shows Albanians Pleased With Democracy[13] Human Rights Group Criticizes Albania's Record[14] U.S. Embassy Says Socialist Paper Warped Rights Report[15] Albanian Democrats Jubilant at UDE Admission[16] Albania to Issue New 1,000 Lek Note[17] Energy Project Wins Foreign Aid[18] OSCE Ties Belgrade's readmission to Kosova[19] Consumer Prices Increased in February[20] Albania Looks Forward to Stephanopoulos' Visit[21] Heavy Snowfall Hits Northern Albania[22] Journalist Found Guilty, Fined $300[23] Greek Businessmen Call for Regional Market[24] Minister Expects New Development in Military Ties with U.S.[25] World Bank Helps Albania Update Power Grid[26] Europe's Conservatives Accept Albanian Party as EDU Member[27] Planned Balkan Bank Hit by Delays[28] Greek Minister Evaluates Ties with Albania[29] Parliament Approves Insurance Bill[30] New Health Facilities in Vlora[31] Albanian Movie to Compete in Cannes Festival[32] Court Upholds Custody for Former Security Officials[33] Albanian Weightlifters in Australia[34] Albania Participates Balkans Business Conference[1] Berisha Pardons Newspaper EditorTIRANA, March 16 - President Sali Berisha has forgiven a $1,000 fine imposed on an Albanian journalist for allegedly offending an official in Gjirokastra, his office said on Saturday. Aleksander Frangaj, editor-in- chief of the daily Koha Jone, was found guilty on Thursday for alleged slander and unfounded accusations against a Gjirokastra police official. The court had ruled he would have to pay a $1,000 fine in damages. This is the second time for Frangaj to be found guilty by an Albanian court. Commenting on Berisha's pardon, Frangaj urged authorities to use denials rather than punishments against journalists whenever they feel they have been unfairly treated. Berisha's decree comes only days after a strongly termed U.S. State Department report concerning Albania's human rights record. (Albanian Times)
[2] Kosova Leader Downplays Belgrade's Visa MoveTIRANA, March 17 - A Kosova Albanian leader has downplayed a Belgrade decision to lift visa requirements for travel to Albania. Bujar Bukoshi, prime minister of the self-styled Republic of Kosova told Albanian television. "The move was overpublicised. Serbia had to make such a decision, but it used this move to improve its image," Bukoshi said. "We must not allow a shift of the attention from the fundamental issues facing the Albanians in Kosova," he added. On Thursday, the government of Serbia- Montenegro revoked the visa requirements for travel to the Republic of Albania. According to Radio Tirana, in the border checkpoints with Albania, Kosova Albanians are still denied entry without exit visas. The regulation which was revoked Thursday was in place since 1981, in an apparent attempt to cutt off communications with Albania. Albanians from Kosova who have visited Albania in the past few years have had their passports routinely confiscated by the Serbs, or else had to pay heavy fines. (Albanian Times)
[3] Tirana, Prishtina May Establish Direct FlightsTIRANA, March 17 - Efforts are being made to establish direct flights between Tirana and the capital of Kosova, Prishtina, according to Radio Tirana. Two private companies have offered twice-a-week flights between the airports of Slatina (near Prishtina) and Rinas (near Tirana) each lasting 23 minutes, the radio said without specifying the companies. (Albanian Times)
[4] Albanian Dies at 112TIRANA, March 17 - A 112-year-old Albanian who remembered the country's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, died in his village in northern Albania, the daily Koha Jone newspaper reported on Sunday. Gjin Ndue Tuci, born in 1884, spent most of his life as an agricultural worker in the village of Kthelle Eper, 70 km (45 miles) northeast of Tirana. Tuci, who died on Friday, was reported as saying he well remembered the day when Albania became an independent country 84 years ago, the paper said. It said his diet consisted largely of cheese and meat. It was not known whether Tuci was Albania's oldest person. Newspapers two weeks ago reported the death of a 108-year-old woman from the same region. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[5] Greece Set To Upgrade Relations with AlbaniaATHENS, March 16 - Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Friday his country is willing to enhance relations with Albania while protecting ethnic Greeks in its northern neighbor. "Our country has assumed an effort to upgrade relations with Albania, at the same time implementing a policy for the protection of the Greek minority in the neighboring country," Pangallos was quoted by ANA. President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Foreign Minister Pangalos will visit Tirana on Thursday to sign a friendship and cooperation accord which according to Albanian officials "would lay the foundations for a permanent cooperation that will not be affected by any changes in government." Officials in Tirana hope to sign an agreement on legalizing the illegal Albanian emigrants working in Greece. (Albanian Times, ANA)
[6] Greece May Supply Gas to AlbaniaSALONIKA, March 15 - Greek Minister of Development, Vasos Papandreou said Greece is considering the possibility to supply Albania natural gas, which would be carried to Greece through Russia and Bulgaria. Mr. Papandreou made his comments on a two-day regional economic conference in Salonika last week. Greece is Albania's second biggest investor. Last year, Greek exports to Albania increased 45 percent. (Albanian Times)
[7] Electricity Prices Low Despite Losses, Officials SayTIRANA, March 16 - Electricity prices in Albania are much lower than in other European countries, officials in Tirana said. Current prices, established in 1994, vary between 1.2 to 3 leks per kW/hour for industrial consumers and 4.5 Leks per kW/hour for family use. However, energy costs for businesses supplied through low voltage networks far exceed the average. In Winter, services are imposed prices as high as 10.1 Leks per kW/hour, according to ATA. Losses caused by stealing have pushed electricity prices higher in the recent years. The wholesale price of electricity for 1996 is 3 Leks per kW/hour, of which 2.5 Leks represent the production, transmission and distribution costs. The government has decided to reduce the contribution of the Albanian Electricity Corporation, KESH, to the state budget, to encourage new investments by the company. The government believes the debt reduction would enable KESH to implement a series of mid-term projects funded by the World Bank and other financial organizations. (Albanian Times)
[8] 32 Chambers of Commerce Operate in AlbaniaTIRANA, March 16 - Albania has about three dozen chambers of commerce and their activity is coordinated through a recently created ombrella organisation, the National Union, which serves as a bridge between them. The law on chambers of commerce was passed in October 1994. Their aim is to protect Albanian businessmen in the relations with their foreign counterparts, by providing necessary information, locating suitable partners, and organizing their work. All the 36 districts of Albania will have their chambers of commerce soon, ATA reported. (Albanian Times)
[9] Meksi Visits Oil PlatformTIRANA, March 15 - Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi has visited an oil drilling platform at Rodon, some 4 km offshore. Drilling began last January by the Austrian company OMV and Occidental America with total costs estimated at $16 million. Drilling is being carried out in a relatively dificcult area, forcing companies to bring in high technology equipment. The platform is provided by the U.S. "Santa Fe" company. Results so far indicate the area is rich in oil. (Albanian Times)
[10] Three Killed in Truck Crash Near TiranaTIRANA, March 17 - A truck travelling the wrong way on Albania's only motorway crashed into a car, killing three of the six people inside, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday. The accident occurred on Saturday on the five-km (three-mile) stretch of motorway near Tirana, which was opened last year. The driver of the car, his five-year-old daughter and a passenger were killed. The driver's son was in critical condition, and his wife and another passenger injured, the ministry said. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[11] Socialist Paper Apologises to State DepartmentTIRANA, March 16 - Albanian socialist newspaper "Zeri i Popullit" has apologized to the U.S. Department of State for presenting a distorted version of its 1995 country report on human rights for Albania. The translation, printed as a supplement in its March 14 issue, was blamed by the U.S. embassy in Tirana as "containing significant and serious errors, distortions of and omissions from the English language version of the report as approved and presented to the Congress." While apologising, the newspaper described the faulted translation as "inaccuracies and technical omissions" and promised to print a corrected version of the report. "The report has unequivocal values," Zeri i Popullit, a former communist newspaper, said in its apology - an apparent attempt to win U.S. backing for the upcoming elections. The State Department report contained harsh criticism for Albania's human rights record, but U.S. diplomats said that does not mean the government has a negative view of Albania in terms of its respect for human rights. (Albanian Times)
[12] EU Poll Shows Albanians Pleased With DemocracyTIRANA, March 15 - A survey conducted by the European Commission showed on Friday that Albania was the most optimistic of central and eastern European states over the development of its democracy and market economy. The survey, known as the Eurobarometer, said 79 percent of Albanians believed their country was going in the right direction, 59 percent were pleased with the way democracy was developing and 76 percent felt the creation of the market economy was right. ``For the first time since 1991 the majority of Albanians are satisfied with the way democracy was developing,'' said the survey, released by the EU's representative in Tirana, Elio Germano, at a news conference. ``The support for a market economy is the greatest in Albania,'' it added. The Eurobarometer was conducted in 19 central and eastern European countries last November and December and questioned some 800 to 1,000 people in each nation. Forty-four percent of Albanians believed their future was closely tied to the EU, 39 percent with the United States, but only four percent considered their future was linked with Russia. A total of 73 percent of Albanians said they considered their financial situation to have improved last year and would be better still in 1996. ``We may realistically say Albanians are pleased with their life in a market economy,'' Germano told reporters. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[13] Human Rights Group Criticizes Albania's RecordNEW YORK, March 14 - In a report released today, a New York based human rights group charges that Albania's first post-communist government systematically violates the basic civil and political rights of its citizens. Human Rights Watch said, Albania has made progress toward respect for civil and political rights but the legacy of the Hoxha era has not been wiped away. The report said, the complete absence under communism of independent courts, a free media and human rights mechanisms poses a serious challenge to Albanian democracy today. Critics of the ruling Democratic Party are often regarded as critics of "democracy," according to the report. As a result, Albanian citizens are still plagued by serious human rights violations, such as restrictions on freedom of expression and association, manipulation of the legal system and violence by the police, Human Rights Watch said. The 168-page report, based on lengthy missions to Albania, documents many of these abuses, including sections on the judicial system, freedom of the press, police abuse and minority rights. It lists a series of recommendations to the Berisha government to improve human rights practices. (Albanian Times)
[14] U.S. Embassy Says Socialist Paper Warped Rights ReportTIRANA, March 15 - The U.S. embassy in Tirana issued a statement, deploring a translation of the Department of State's 1995 country report on human rights for Albania as presented in the March 14 supplement of the Socialist paper "Zeri i Popullit". The statement said, the supplement contained significant and serious errors, distortions of and omissions from the English language version of the report as approved and presented to the Congress. "This supplement does not accurately reflect the version of the report...published by the government of the United States of America," the statement said. The State Department report contained some harsh words for Albania's human rights record, but U.S. diplomats said that does not mean the government has a negative view of Albania in terms of its respect for human rights. (Albanian Times)
[15] Albanian Democrats Jubilant at UDE AdmissionTIRANA, March 15 - Albania's ruling Democratic Party said on Friday its admission to a grouping of European conservative parties showed support from the West ahead of general elections due in May or June. Democratic Party secretary general Tritan Shehu told reporters that it was unanimously accepted into the Democratic European Union (UDE), an 18-year-old grouping of conservative parties, at a meeting in Paris this week. ``Such success is due to our policies...that contributed to the success of reforms implemented by the government and President (Sali) Berisha,'' Shehu said. The Democrats are also members of the Union of European Christian Democratic parties. Shehu used the occasion to lambast the opposition Socialist Party, heir to the communist party of late dictator Enver Hoxha. The Democrats defeated the reformist Socialists in a landslide victory at general elections in 1992. Shehu said the UDE meeting expressed concern at the re-emergence of former communist parties, which have regained power in such countries as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Lithuania. The Socialists accuse the Democrats of being corrupt and inefficient and are confident of defeating them in the general elections. The Democrats in turn claim the Socialists have not yet severed ties with their communist past and have no alternative programme for the future.
[16] Albania to Issue New 1,000 Lek NoteTIRANA, March 14 - Bank of Albania, the nation's central bank, was to issue a new 1,000 Lek note on Friday, according to Radio Tirana. The new bank note was printed in 1995. It is a reprint of the 1992 model, identical to it in size, paper type, design, protective colors and print but contains new security features. (Albanian Times)
[17] Energy Project Wins Foreign AidPart of an electricity transmission project in Albania will be financed by the Swiss government alongside the World Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the Japanese government and the Italian government. The Albanian government approved recently an agreement with the Swiss Confederation for a financial aid of 11 million Swiss franks. The Albanian Electrical Corporation (KESH) will implement the project. The Swiss aid of 11 million Swiss Franks will be used for the construction of the electric terminal of Durres and for technical assistance for the transmission project. The work for the construction of the new terminal has started. The company that has won the tender is waiting for the equipment that will cost 3 million Swiss Franks. The Swiss government has also provided an aid of 10 million Swiss Franks for the rehabilitation of hydro power stations on Drini and Mat Rivers. (Albanian Times/ATA)
[18] OSCE Ties Belgrade's readmission to KosovaTIRANA, March 14 - Stability in the Balkans will only be achieved once the status of ethnic Albanians living in rump Yugoslavia is settled, a European security forum official said on Thursday. Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti of Switzerland, current chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said Belgrade's readmission to the body would be tied to the solution of the Kosovo problem. ``We believe...the Kosovo issue should be solved in the context of human and minorities rights, a solution that unfortunately is still far away,'' Cotti told reporters during a nine-hour visit to Albania. Turning to Albania, Cotti said the OSCE was satisfied with Albania's ``rapid and effective development towards democracy, the judicial state and the market economy.'' ``Looking at the recent history of the country we could feel only much admiration for the democratic life which we could see ourselves from all the contacts we have had,'' he added. Cotti suggested, however, that Albania should strive to establish a new constitution and work to achieve a better separation of the judiciary from the executive. Washington has in the past criticised Tirana for perceived government pressure on the judiciary. Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi thanked Switzerland for granting Albania $40 million, mainly through power distribution and telecommunications projects, over the past five years. (Courtesy:Reuters)
[19] Consumer Prices Increased in FebruaryTIRANA, March 14 - Consumer prices in Albania increased in February, the State Institute of Statistics, INSTAT said. The Index of Consumer Prices in February 1996 increased 1.7 per cent against January. Compared with one year ago, the increase is 5.71 per cent. The greatest price increase was in food articles, with prices increasing by 2.4 per cent. Prices of meat increased. Beef prices increased by 3.7 per cent and fish by 3.8 per cent. The greatest price increase in February was registered in dairy products: 7.7 per cent. Within this group, the price of eggs increased by 20.5 per cent, sour milk 12 per cent and white cheese by 4.5 per cent. The price of butter also increased by 5.8 per cent, olive oil 2.7 per cent, flour 8.6 per cent and rice 2.6 per cent. The index of prices for the "sugar, coffee, tea, spices" subgroup increased by 1.5 per cent. The biggest increase was recorded in sugar, 2.1 per cent and coffee 1.6 per cent. During February fruit prices fell 1.6 per cent. The prices of apples, oranges, lemons, onions and potatoes decreased. Vegetables were sold at prices 1.4 per cent higher. (Albanian Times)
[20] Albania Looks Forward to Stephanopoulos' VisitSALONIKA, March 13 - Albanian officials said they hope the visit to Tirana by the Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos next week will be a milestone in the cooperation of the two countries. Engjell Dakli, Minister of Labour and Immigration told MPA the Albanian government expects the signing of a friendship and cooperation accord during Mr.Stephanopoulos' visit, which "would lay the foundations for a permanent cooperation that will not be affected by any changes in government." The albanian Minister was participating in the 3rd International Conference on Inter-Balkan Business Cooperation in Salonika. According to a report by the Albanian radio on Wednesday, officials in Tirana hope to sign an agreement on legalizing the illegal Albanian emigrants working in Greece. Referring to a recent Albanian decision to lift visas for Greek citizens, Minister Dakli urged Greece to reciprocate, at least for the Albanian businessmen. Mr.Dakli added that studies should be conducted to determine the most prefered sectors and to win further increase of Greek investments in Albania, MPA reported. (Albanian Times, MPA)
[21] Greek Minister Evaluates Ties with AlbaniaSALONIKA, March 12 - Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said there has been a spectacular improvement in relations with Albania after the latter endorsed a draft bill providing for a possibility to establish private Greek language schools, according to ANA. Mr. Pangalos made the statement during an address to the Balkan business co-operation conference. Mr. Pangalos said 100 Greek businesses operate in Albania through joint ventures and have invested more than $100 million. He estimated remittances by Albanian nationals working in Greece to more than $400 million annually. "Half the Albanian people are dependent on Greece," Mr. Pangalos said, adding that Greece offered $10 million in financial assistance to the country each year and promoted a series of infrastructure works "aimed at creating an integrated economic area between Epiros and Albania." (Albanian Times, ANA)
[22] Heavy Snowfall Hits Northern AlbaniaTIRANA, March 12 - Heavy snowfall in north Albanian districts of Kukes, Has, Tropoja and Puka have virtually isolated the area from the rest of the country, according to local officials. The hardest hit is Puka, where whole villages have been cut off by snow reaching as much as one meter in depth. In parts of the region, already poor communications were interrupted as of Tuesday. Many vehicles were stranded in the snow covered treachery roads. (Albanian Times)
[23] Journalist Found Guilty, Fined $300TIRANA, March 12 - An Albanian journalist arrested hours after last month's explosion in central Tirana was found guilty of calls against the constitutional order, court sources said. Ylli Polovina, was fined $300 by a Tirana court that found him guilty of "encouraging violent acts against the constitutional order." Months ago, Mr. Polovina had published an article in the newspaper "Populli Po" where he said "the car bomb attack against (Macedonia's President) Gligorov may be repeated in Albania too." The car bomb explosion in Tirana on February 26 left 4 people dead and 27 wounded. The authorities have blamed the former secret services for organizing the attack, but so far have failed to bring any substantial proof to that effect. Mr. Polovina was among the first to be arrested in connection with the blast, whose authors remain unknown despite a full scale investigation. The journalist insist his writing was no more than a political analysis and has vowed to appeal the verdict to a higher court.
[24] Greek Businessmen Call for Regional MarketSALONiKA, March 12 - Greek business leaders are calling for a single regional market in southeastern Europe. "The idea of a single regional market in southeastern Europe comprising the 60 million consumers of the Balkan states and the 200 million consumers of the Black Sea countries constitutes our common prospect for taking part in international competition under better terms," Nikos Efthymiadis, president of the Federation of Northern Greek Industries, told a two-day regional economic conference in Salonika on Tuesday. Efthymiadis said "the lifting of the numerous embargoes and retorsion measures that had accumulated on our northern borders have created a positive climate in trade transactions and business contacts among the Balkan states." In Albania, Greece is the second largest investor after Italy. About 60 Greek companies operate in Albania. Exports to Albania jumped by 45 per cent in 1993-1994, conference participants said. Albanian Labor Minister Enjell Dakli said his country had both the infrastructure and the capacity for an increase in foreign investments. According to Mr. Dakli, Italy was the number one foreign investor in Albania, accounting for 50 per cent of investments, followed by Greece with 20 per cent. Placed third and fourth were Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. (Albanian Times/ANA/MPA)
[25] Minister Expects New Development in Military Ties with U.S.WASHINGTON, March 12 - Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali has met with a U.S. National Guard delegation that arrived in Tirana Monday, according to a Washington Times report. Zhulali told Albanian television "there will soon be new, very important developments in military cooperation between Albania and the United Sates." Zhulali may have been referring to a planned visit to Albania later this month by the U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry. Lt. Gen. Edward Baca, head of the U.S. delegation, praised Albania's readiness to expand its ties with the United States, according to The Washington Times. Albania and the U.S. have completed about a dozen joint exercises on the Albanian soil and are planning more. The two countries have developped unusually close military ties over the past few years. (Albanian Times)
[26] World Bank Helps Albania Update Power GridTIRANA, March 13 - The World Bank is lending Albania $29.5 million to modernise its crippling power grid by the year 2001, Radio Tirana said, adding that stealing of electricity by citizens has created problems with domestic energy supply and is pushing electricity costs higher. According to a Financial Times report, the Swiss government was also to sign an agreement on Wednesday to give Albania $9 million for the modernisation of a power transmission facility in the port city of Durres. Other co-financiers of the project include the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Italy and Japan. Albania, through its state owned company is expected to contribute $25 million to the project, the paper said. Through the modernisation program, Albania expects to increase exports of electricity, reduce the loss of power during transmission and begin the privatisation of the power sector. (Albanian Times)
[27] Europe's Conservatives Accept Albanian Party as EDU MemberPARIS, March 13 - The Democratic European Union accepted Albanian Democratic Party as a new member in its one day-meeting in Paris on Wednesday. Party chiefs from 29 European countries, including President Sali Berisha, pledged stronger efforts to counter the resurgence of communism in central and eastern Europe. Democratic Party's admition was signed by its General Secretary Tritan Shehu. A statement of the meeting expressed support for Albania's "European orientation" and wished Berisha success in the upcoming national elections. European conservative leaders also blasted Russia saying it had no right to veto former East Bloc countries' membership of NATO or to claim special status on human rights or the use of force. The Gaullist Juppe told a news conference that western European countries had themselves partly to blame for a re-emergence of communist movements in the former East Bloc. Albania remains one of the few East European countries where the former communists are not in power. UDE member parties have been paying special attention to Eastern Europe since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, helping and advising conservative parties emerging in former communist countries. Fourteen of the 37 parties represented are East European. (Albanian Times/Reuter)
[28] Planned Balkan Bank Hit by DelaysSALONIKA, Greece, March 12 (Reuter) - A planned Balkan and Black Sea bank has been hit by delays, dealing a blow to efforts by 11 states to promote commercial ties in the volatile region, delegates at an economic conference said on Tuesday. Some members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) group had yet to ratify the founding pact or put up money for the regional development bank, officials at a two-day regional economic conference in Salonika said. The Balkan and Black Sea development bank was supposed to start operating in Salonika in early 1995. Greece has provided a building for the bank and ut up a brass plaque but done little else, Greek delegates said. Greece, Turkey and Russia have been allocated 16.5 percent of the bank's shares, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine 13.5, while Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Albania and Azerbaijan two percent. The bank will have a share capital of at least one billion Special Drawing Rights ($1.6 billion). These are reserve assets created by the International Monetary Fund. Their value is a composite of the dollar, yen, mark, pound and franc. (Courtesy of Reuters)
[29] Parliament Approves Insurance BillTIRANA, March 11 - Albanian parliament has approved legislation which break the state monopoly on insurance activities. So far, Albania has only one insurance company - INSIG (Instituti i Sigurimeve) - a state owned enterprise. Experts believe the privatisation of insurance activities will diversify the market and will result in cost reduction for the insured. According to the law, insurance firms should be public companies with a minimum starting capital of 30 million Leks (about $300,000). Parliament also approved legislation on Excises and Wages and a presidential decree on amendments to a Law on the compensation of former owners. The decree increases the amount of compensated land to 20 thousands square meters. (Albanian Times)
[30] New Health Facilities in VloraA remodelled hospital and a new maternity home were inaugurated Saturday in Selenica, Vlora district in a ceremony attended by a campaigning President Berisha and several cabinet members. About 85 percent of the construction funds were provided by the World Bank and the rest by the Albanian government. According to local officials, infantile mortality in the commune is 12 per thousand. Some 20 health facilities are planned to be reconstructed or built in Vlora district in 1997. Health service in Albania continues to be state funded but private medicine is also allowed. Privatisation has been fastest in dentistry.
[31] Albanian Movie to Compete in Cannes FestivalTIRANA - An Albanian-French-Bulgarian movie will compete in the International Festival of Cannes this spring, ATA said. "Colonel Bunker" was directed by Kujtim Cashku (Albanian) with equipment and cameras brought in from Bulgaria and Poland. The operator is Bulgarian and the producer a French. (Albanian Times)
[32] Court Upholds Custody for Former Security OfficialsA Tirana court has upheld a decision for two former security officials to remain under arrest until invetigations have been completed. Irakli Kocollari, former head of the National Information Service (1991-1992) and Vladimir Hysi former Interior Minister (1991-1992) have been indicted for abuse of office and obstruction of justice. They have been accused of deliberately destroying thousands of file belonging to the Interior Ministry archives. (Albanian Times)
[33] Albanian Weightlifters in AustraliaThree weightlifters of the Albanian national team and their coach Ymer Pampuri of the Olympic Sports Club participated in the International Weightlifting Tournament in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first time that Albanian weightlifters participate in an international tournament in Australia. Genc Barkici, Ilir Suli and Sokol Bishanaku are preparing for the European Weightlifting Championship to be held in Norway. They are also expected to take part in Atlanta Olympic Games. (Albanian Times/ATA)
[34] Albania Participates Balkans Business ConferenceAlbania is participating in the third Balkan Business Conference in Thessaloniki, a gathering of more than 200 businessmen from the Balkan countries. Scheduled to speak yesterday were also the Albanian Labor Minister Engjell Dakli and the General Director of the Albanian Ministry of Industry, Transport and Trade, Mikel Dushniku. Organized by the Association of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE), the Macedonia-Thrace Bank and the Hellenic-American Chamber, the conference also features speeches from the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev. In opening remarks, the Chairman of Industries Association in Northern Greece Nikos Efthimiadis made an assessment of the greek business activities in Bulgaria, Romania and Albania and stressing that the idea of a unified regional market in south-eastern Europe with 60 million consumers in the Balkans and 200 million in the Black Sea region constitutes a shared prospect which will enable the region to participate in the international competition under better terms and will increase its influence on the choices made by any economic super-power, always within the framework of the European Union. Addressing the conference, the United States ambassador to Greece Thomas Niles, described as encouraging the improvements in Greece's relations with Macedonia and Albania over the past year. (Albanian Times/MPA)
The material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & ConsultingInternational. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, pleasewrite to [email protected]Copyright (c) ATCI, 1996 |
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