Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-05-11

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Albanian president meets with US special envoys

[02] Kosova President meets Holbrooke and Gelbard

[03] Police intercept two vans carrying contraband ferro-chromium

[04] Sale of small assets starts within six weeks

[05] Suburb of Ponoshec turns into ruin

[06] Price rise of group "food, beverages and tobacco" continues

[07] Prishtine-Peje road closed

[08] Four children injured in an explosion blast

[09] Reduction of inherited internal debt is done step by step

[10] USD quoted at lek 157,50

[11] Energy subsidy may be lifted from industrial consumers

[12] HRUP chairman asks institutionalization of government coalition

[13] SP to take part in meeting of Socialist International Council

[14] Albanian coalition parties to complete soon political organizational measures for polls

[15] Literary language in media to be discussed in round table

[16] Investments in millions of USD, but effectiveness still low

[17] Wheat is demanded to be part of food aid

[18] Shengjini port until 2020 will look like Durres port

[19] Six Serbs wounded in Kosove

[20] Villages of Gjakove, Decan and Prizren continuously bombed

[01] Albanian president meets with US special envoys

Ambassador Holbrooke, the envoy of the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, expressed President Meidani the U.S. concern on the seriousness of the situation in Kosova and the will to avoid bloodshed of Albanians there.

He was interested in the situation in Albania's northern borders and the president Meidani's views on a solution to the Kosova issue.

President Meidani reiterated his view on the issue "which means that the state concept conforms to with the right of self-rule and that of territorial integrity."

Speaking on the situation in Kosova, President Meidani considered end to military and police operations and withdrawal of forces from the areas of military operations as necessary steps to prevent its radicalization and pave the way for a dialogue between sides under international mediation.

He also considered the international presence in Kosova a necessity which would serve to that.

President Meidani expressed readiness of the Albanian side to welcome every international presence in Albania to help avert the conflict.

Albania Foreign minister Paskal Milo attended the talks. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] Kosova President meets Holbrooke and Gelbard

President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova asks from the envoys of U.S. President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Richard Holbrooke and Robert Gelbard, who arrived in Prishtine today, a greater intervention and pressure to immediately halt Serbian police and army operations in several region of Kosova.

The possibility to establish unconditional dialogue between Prishtine and Belgrade for a peaceful and long-term settlement of the Kosova issue was at the centre of attention at Rugova's meeting with the envoys.

Rugova reconfirmed Kosova people's determination to realise their will for independence through peaceful means. He pointed to the indispensability of unconditional dialogue between Prishtine and Belgrade under international mediation.

Highlighting the importance of the friendly relations between the U.S. and Kosova, Rugova thanked the U.S. administration for its comprehensive engagement in the Kosova issue. He also invited the U.S. to assume a leading role in the solution to the Kosova issue.

Also attending the meeting was the U.S. ambassador in Skopje, Chris Hill, and the chief of the U.S. Mission to Belgrade, Richard Miles. /pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Police intercept two vans carrying contraband ferro-chromium

The vans with Durres and Lezha number plates were heading for Montenegro, a spokesman of the local police station said to ATA. ake/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Sale of small assets starts within six weeks

Tirana, May 11 (ATA) - According to the draft law "On ways and procedures of property selling of juridical non banking persons, who have received loans from public", selling of small assets commences within six weeks, sources from the supervising council of loan taking companies told ATA Monday.

Selling of big enterprises and complex properties starts shortly with the approval of law and continues until the end of December 1998.

The selling of loan taking companies, properties will be open for all individuals, inside and outside the country. During the selling procedures will be applied one of the ways" Direct sale

Auction

Tender (in two phases)

Sale's agent (on special occasions) Small properties will be sold on auctions or public tenders. Real property and small scale businesses will be sold mainly through public tenders.

Big enterprises and complex properties will be sold gradually through public tenders with two phases.

Luxurious properties like planes and sea cruisers, as a rule will be sold in international market through auction or tenders and through sale's agent.

The direct sale will apply only in cases when the property will be demanded for buying by creditors of loan taking companies, who have the right of buying in advance. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Suburb of Ponoshec turns into ruin

The Center for Information in Kosova said that Ponoshec, with 350 houses was turned into an empty village with roads full of shell casings and dead animals.

Part of Ponoshec, particularly the quarter inhabited by Dulaj, Aliaj, Bajrami, Ademi, Ramaj families and others, was turned into ruin.

Reports from Ponoshec say that some families and persons are missing.

The division of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) said that there were no reports on the fate of the families of Sadri Sejdiu, Uke Uka and Selman Zeqe from Ponoshec. None know anything about the fate of a youth from Morina, arrested by the police, while Rame Ali Neziri, 88, whose body was brought recently to the morgue of the Gjakova hospital by the police, is buried by the Serb police somewhere.

The city of Gjakova is under curfew. The hill of �abrat is turned into a shooting-range from where the Serb forces control the whole city. pta/pas/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Price rise of group "food, beverages and tobacco" continues

Compared to December 1997 prices rose 8,28 percent, while compared with the same period last year the hike is 27,99 percent.

The price index of group "food, beverage and tobacco" grew with 1,99 percent. The highest increase within the group went to sub group prices' "fruit and vegetables" with 8,8 percent.

Potatoes have costed 22,1 percent more dearly, than tomatoes with 5,9 percent, green peas 11,4 percent, oranges 5,7 percent and apples 3,8 percent.

Within the group "food, beverages and tobacco", sub group "beverages" has the highest price increase with 1,7 percent.

Also sub group prices "fish and meat" rose with 1,3 percent.

The price index of the group "garments and shoes" rose with 0,9 percent and the same increase was noticed of "transport and telecommunication" group, where the highest price increase went to bus tickets with 3,2 percent.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] Prishtine-Peje road closed

A eyewitness told QIK by telephone that on Saturday, after 16.00 p.m. the road was open, but yesterday its was closed without any explanation.

The closure of the road, which links Kosova's east with the west, has completely paralyzed traffic of the people, goods, foodstuffs and medicaments, badly needed in these areas, which are under the encirclement of the Serbian forces. /p.ta/pas/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Four children injured in an explosion blast

The blast, which heavily damaged the house of the correspondent Zenepe Luka, occurred on Sunday at 22.20. p.m.

Police sources said that unidentified persons placed some 5 kg explosive device injuring the two children of the Luka couple and two others of the next door family, whose house suffered considerable damage.

The injured are immediately rushed to the hospital and their condition is not life threatening.

"It is a miracle we escape death," the correspondent Luka said.

The regional police chief Rebani Memushi said to ATA on Monday that a defensive concrete wall had somewhat prevented the blast avoiding a tragedy.

The Vlore district association of professional reporters denounces this crime through a protest and asks the respective bodies to find out the persons responsible as soon as possible.

It calls on the reporters' association to show more culture on the pages of the Albanian press and avoid insulting and denigrating articles, occasionally carried by several papers.

The association asks that, in token of protest, no information from the Vlore district be published for a week. /pas/ak/lm/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Reduction of inherited internal debt is done step by step

Tirana, May 11 (ATA) - The internal debt by the end of 1997 mounted 120,5 billion leks sources from the Finance ministry reported Monday.

Somehow this high figure is curbed, because from the second quarter of 1997 until the last quarter of the increase stands at 19 billion leks, while if we compare the third quarter with the last one, the internal debt is only 3 billion leks.

The specific weight of internal debt is held be the treasury bonds with 71 billion leks or 59 percent.

For this purpose the government aims at to pay 36 billion leks within 1998, as interest rates of the internal debt reimbursement.

Also in budget is forecasted the drop of accumulated debt of this year from 63 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 59 percent.

Meanwhile, a considerable part of 34 percent of the internal debt worth 40 billion lek, is hold by the Central bank loans.

According to these figures, the debt against the banking system in relation with the blocked loans has been stable since 1994 until late 1997, and is estimated at 8 percent or over 9 billion leks.

According to specialists the reduction of this inherited and accumulated debt, which has deepen the state budget deficit, will not be implemented immediately by step by step, with the revival of economy and inflation drop, which is part of a mid term policy.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] USD quoted at lek 157,50

So $1 = 157,50 lek, gaining 0,20 points compared with yesterday's 157, 30 lek.

The DM was traded for 87,20 lek, gaining 0,10 points compared to yesterday's 87,10 lek.

The ITL (1000) was traded for 87,90 lek gaining 0.10 points compared with yesterday's 87,80 lek.

GRD (100) was exchanged for 50,70 lek, gaining 0,30 points compared with yesterday's 50,40

The Swiss Franc was traded for 104,30 lek lossing 1,00 points compared with yesterday's 105,30 lek and so on.

Monday exchange rates

Currency Average exchange rates

USD 157,50 lek DM 87,20 lek ITL (1000) 87,90 lek GRD (100) 50,70 lek SFR 103,20 lek FRF 23,50 lek GBP 220,70 lek JPY (100) 111,60 lek

NLG 73,80 lek

/gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Energy subsidy may be lifted from industrial consumers

While for family consumers the power price won't be changed. In Albania the energy price doesn't correspond with its production cost, because until now, the state has subsidized the price.

The measure is though to be taken when many industrial consumers owe Albanian Energy Corporation (AEC) money in unpaid electricity bills.

AEC losses from all Albanian consumers in unpaid power bills have mounted $50 million. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] HRUP chairman asks institutionalization of government coalition

"I asked the President about this because the normal functioning of the coalition is an element of the equilibrium and is within the interests and scope in which the head of the state should operate," Melo told ATA after the meeting.

"The President told me he would welcome any initiative and mechanism which would enable the normal functioning of this coalition," continued the HRUP chairman. /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] SP to take part in meeting of Socialist International Council

SP Secretary General Pandeli Majko said that the invitation to attend the meeting to be held in Oslo from May 18-19, 1998, was signed by the Secretary General of the Socialist International, Louis Ajela.

"The invitation shows that the SP relations with the International are not formal but confidential," Majko told ATA on Monday.

SP has the status of an observer in the Socialist International but Majko did not agree to comment whether the participation in the meeting presupposed a possible membership of SP in the Socialist International. /s.sh./mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Albanian coalition parties to complete soon political organizational measures for polls

"The agenda of today's meeting was the electoral campaign of the partial local polls. The parties, which will take part in the elections with common candidates, will discuss their common symbols and the political measures," said Ruci.

"The representatives of the political forces decided that a meeting of the party chairmen of the elections precincts be held on Wednesday in order to listen to their opinions," said Ruci. s.sh./mima/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Literary language in media to be discussed in round table

"The media commission held a meeting, invited was also the representative of the Albanian Linguistic Institute, Emil Lafe, which discussed the problems of the literary language in media," the chairman of the Media commission, Musa Ulqini, told ATA after the meeting.

Ulqini stressed that the Commission has asked assistance from the Institute of Linguistics for the draft-law on the electronic media, which will be examined in this commission, after the suggestions and remarks of different subjects.

"This was the first meeting this institution has held with the Linguistic institute regarding this issue," said Ulqini.

Meanwhile, the linguist Lafe expressed his reserves on the literary language used in media.

"The linguistic discipline in media has not been at the right level," added Lafe.

Ulqini and Lafe voiced the necessity of a legal framework regarding the literary language in media, state institutions and public administration. /s.sh/mima/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Investments in millions of USD, but effectiveness still low

Tirana, May 11 (ATA) - The summer droughts make more high-toned the potable water problem.

Considered as a priority to the social-economic sector, the rehabilitation of current aqueducts network remains on the focus of Albanian government and foreign donors, who play the main role in this sector's investments.

Thus until 1997 the financial assistance mounted $125 million, out of which $33 million belonged to Albanian government and $88 million to various donors.

Depending on the type of the financial assistance, $43 million are grants, while the rest $45 million are soft loans.

Among the potential donors, Germany comes first with $33 million, than Italy with $21 million, while World Bank has allocated $12 million and the Islamic Bank $7,5 million.

At present, the European Union, in the framework of Cross-Border program has pledged to finance the construction of Saranda and Gjirokastra aqueducts estimated at $4,2 and $1,4 million each.

While the German government will finance for the rehabilitation of Kruja town aqueduct figured out to be around DM 12 million.

Recently the Albanian government has informed donors with its main projects, respective costs and the general studies on Tirana, Durres, Korce, Elbasan, Fier, Shkoder and Lushnje districts aqueducts.

Regarding the works in Bovilla aqueduct, through a finance of Italian government worth 22 billion lire, it seems that the cementing of big water reservoir is nearly over. This part of the works is planned to finish ahead of deadline, which is June.

In relation with this project foreign financiers have asserted "a maximal commitment" is case that Albanian government will permit the liberalization of current water tariff. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Wheat is demanded to be part of food aid

Loans mainly for technical equipment are predicted to be released for private sector.

In order to put back into efficiency the flour industry, initially is demanded that the aid from Greece and United States should be in wheat to be processed in these mills.

There are 200 flour mills in Albania, which totally cover the market demands, but Bozo said that this system is experiencing difficulties to find the monetary means, and the release of foreign aid in wheat can assist in finding such financial means.

Only the American food grant, besides oil includes 25 tonnes of wheat to be released soon. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] Shengjini port until 2020 will look like Durres port

According to the chief of transport sector, the master plan to be implemented into two phases, will convert Shengjini port into a transport key point for entire northern area.

In the first emergency phase is forecasted the naval fleet be put at the disposal of fishing fleet. A shipyard to repair boats will be constructed and Phare program has allocated Ecu 360,000. While for the rehabilitation of old quay the respective organ has earmarked 100 million leks.

The project's second phase includes the setting up of 4-6 tonnes cranes which will improve the loading and unloading of the ships, works which are estimated to cost around $7,8 million.

In the third phase, which spans from 2010 to 2020 will be carried out the port designation like that of Durres (Albania's main port) and will cover an area of 33 hectares, where 400,000 tonnes of goods will be processed annually.

To realise this ambitious master plan great financial means are required, thus the World Bank's assistance will be demanded in this case. /gen/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Six Serbs wounded in Kosove

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Villages of Gjakove, Decan and Prizren continuously bombed

The Peje-Prishtine road was still closed and reinforcements have been deployed all along it. From 6.30 a.m. up to 9.a.m. Serbian forces blocked a segment of the road leading to the Serbian base in Sllatine, about 16 km from Prishtine. In the vicinity of this base, in which a military airport is also located, according to the Information Centre of Kosove, gunfire has continued for nearly 10 minutes while the military garrisons in Mitrovice and Ferizaj have opened fire with heavy artillery pieces for about 2 hours (from 8.00 am - 10 a.m.) the Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Kosove reports.

A police vehicle drove amidst Albanian peaceful protesters today in Shtimje injuring at least six people. In Mitrovice, 7 Albanians, who were arrested days before, were given a longer term of detention while four other Albanians were arrested. The Serbian court in Peje has started investigation for 13 Albanians, 10 of whom are already detained in prison. /p.ta/xh/

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