Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-02-27

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Some 20 Albanian prisoners run away from Crete prison

[02] Albania PM meet with representatives of artists' community

[03] Ministry of Culture to organize debate with new artists

[04] Greek consulate in Gjirokaster helps Sarande aqueduct enterprise

[05] Soros foundation, Albanian Publishing House helps students with books

[06] Cooperation between Albanian, Greek police forces against thefts in border point

[07] 1.2 tons of smuggling coffee blocked

[08] Blood donors to have own their status

[09] Albanian well-known lawyer, Kleanthi Koci, dies

[10] Strategy for development of business between regions Korce and Oher

[11] Fighting continues in Kosove

[12] Second stage of restoration starts for Church of Saint Dhimitri

[13] Export-import structure in January 1999

[14] Tirana ranks first in soccer championship

[15] Five U.S. patrol ships for Albanian Army

[16] Slight changes of Albanian currency LEK during last ten days

[17] Republican deputy urges understanding in Albania on Kosova

[18] January-February 25: 1 billion 500 million lek cashed from Durresi custom house

[19] Exports' increase in January 1999

[20] Line 110 in Tirana square do not affect in citizens'health

[21] Croatian parliamentary delegation to visit Albania

[01] Some 20 Albanian prisoners run away from Crete prison

The spokesman of the Ministry of Justice reported that some 2000 Albanians suffer their punishment in the Greek jails. The Albanian and Greek Ministry of Justice have cooperated to transfer some of the Albanian prisoners from the Greek jails to the Albanian ones. During this period, 4 Albanian prisoners were transferred and the request for the transfer of some 35 others has been addressed to the Greek Ministry of Justice.

After the riots of 1997, the prison of Tirana 313, the prisons of Burrel, Tepelene are actually functioning.

Some 862 persons suffer their punishment in the Albanian prisons. /lh/mt/

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[02] Albania PM meet with representatives of artists' community

"Today, when we were waiting for the final response, from the contacts we had with the Premier's office, Presidency and the Assembly, we learnt that the petition with the 13 demands of the artists' community was not deposited in the senior state institutions," the Chairman of the Artists Trade Union, Ahmet Pasha, and the chairman of the Pan-national Association of Artists, Vangjush Furxhi, told ATA.

Thus, representatives from the artists' community met Friday with the Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko, who said that all the demands of the petition can be solve, despite that for the discharge of the Minister of Culture, Edi Rama.

Ten days ago, the artists' community of theaters in the whole country, organized in an association and a pan-national trade union, addressed a petition with 13 requests to President Meidani, Speaker Gjinushi and Premier Pandeli Majko.

They asked in this petition the discharge of the Minister of Culture Edi Rama, the suspension of the draft-law "The live spectacle," the discharge of the working group, which will draft this project-law, the establishment of three working groups to draft a new law and others.

The demands of this petition should have been solved, according to them, within 26 February, otherwise the artists had warned they would escalate their acts to a hunger strike. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] Ministry of Culture to organize debate with new artists

Sources from the Ministry of Culture reported to ATA that "this debate will be organized to analyse the problems regarding the employment over the last years of the new generation who have been graduated from the Academy of Fair Arts."

According to the statistics in the Faculty of scenic art, some 120 actors have finished their studies during 1990-1999 and only five of them work in the National Theater, meanwhile that from 43 producers and 60 scene- designers, graduated during this period, none of them works in the National Theater.

The main topic, to be discussed in the cultural debate, will be the concrete possibilities for the employment of the new artists, the strategy to carry out the institutional, artistic reforms taken by the Ministry of Culture, the discussion of these reforms at institutional and artistic level, and others. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] Greek consulate in Gjirokaster helps Sarande aqueduct enterprise

A breakdown in electric pumping station of the aqueduct of Vrion in Sarande, created serious problems in supplying the city with water.

According to the deputy chairman of the district council, Kosta Barka, the district council asked the assistance of the Greek consul in Gjirokaster, Kostandinos Kaqiucis, who allocated within a short time an aid worth 470 000 drachmas for the rehabilitation of the electric pumping system in Vrion.

According to official sources of the district council, the general Greek consulate has helped recently with financial aid the reconstruction of several objects of infrastructure, mainly in the villages of the Greek minority in districts of Sarande and Delvine. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] Soros foundation, Albanian Publishing House helps students with books

This project offers to students the books published during 1998 with a reasonable price. The subvention will be payed by Soros foundation.

This project will begun to be implemented initially as a pilot project in the "Luigj Gurakuqi" University in Shkoder and in the University of Korce.

The first phase of the project will begin to be implemented during March, and April 1999, and is to continue afterwards during the whole school year.

Fairs are to be organized in the grounds of Universities, serving as points where books with reduced prises can be sold. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] Cooperation between Albanian, Greek police forces against thefts in border point

According to this source, a signal given by the Greek counterparts of the Igumenica (Greece) Police Directory, on the theft of 160 heads of cattle from a Greek owner, helped in the identification of one of the authors committing the crime.

The collaboration between the Albanian and Greek police forces to struggle the crimes and illegal traffics, is strengthen especially after a cooperation agreement signed between the two respective Ministries two years ago in Athens. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] 1.2 tons of smuggling coffee blocked

The smuggling material was found in a vehicle with the plate number SR 1082 A, which was driven by Avdulla Dumeri, from Shale village, the chief of Sarande Police Commissariat, Major Edmond Kule, told ATA.

The smuggling coffee entered Albania through the land border with Greece, while the market destinations were Saranda and other countries.

According to the criminal police sources, Dumeri was arrested, and investigations are being carried out for another citizen.

This is the only case during the last five years where such an amount of smuggling material is blocked. /lh/A.A/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] Blood donors to have own their status

It is an honor for the blood donors that a status is offered to them, the Minister of Health, Leonard Solis, told ATA. The approval of a status also helps the policies of the Ministry of Health, which aim at giving the blood without payment, added Solis.

A status will be drafted soon for the blood donors, but it is not decided yet whether the paid donors will be included in this status.

The paid donation of blood was encouraged recently, because the demands for blood during the recent riots have increased. For these donors, the Council of Ministers issued a decision last year by increasing the price for a blood unit from 2200 leks to 2800 leks. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] Albanian well-known lawyer, Kleanthi Koci, dies

The spokesman of the Albanian Embassy in Rome, Ylli Polovina, reported to ATA that by 18:30 on Friday, Kleanthi Koci died in the military jet while flying towards Italy due to heart suspension.

The body of the late is now in the morgue of the hospital "Umberto Primo" in Rome, and will be repatriated, but it is not known the date of arrival, added Polovina.

The 60-year old lawyer, Kleanthi Koci, was shot by fire arm at 22.00 p.m. on Sunday near his apartment in the capital by unidentified persons.

After this act, lawyer Koci has been under the constant control of the medical team of the Tirana Military Hospital.

According to the expert doctors, lawyer Koci was wounded in abdomen and lungs.

Kleanthi Koci was one of the best legal experts in Albania. He has worked for several years as deputy chairman of the Supreme Court and during 1990-1991 he was its chairman. For many years he was pedagogue in the Faculty of Juridical Sciences, as well as chairman of a serios of commissions for testing lawyers. Recently, Koci was Chairman of the National Chamber of the Albanian Lawyers. /lh/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] Strategy for development of business between regions Korce and Oher

Frederik Mico, chairman of the Korce district Council told ATA that in the context of the project "Business without borders" financed by CREDO Program of the Council of Europe the joint strategy between the two councils of the district has been prepared for the economic and tourist development of the two border regions. The platform will also serve for the coordination of the plans of business to compete with the markets and other regions, he added.

The district council of Korce and that of Oher will publish a book in the current year with information about the firms and businesses in those districts, a brochure in both languages on the legislation for business and customs and will organize two conferences, one in each city, on the development of businesses.

According to Mr Koci, the Korce district council and that of Oher will soon present for approval to CREDO Program also other joint projects in the field of tourism and the protection of environment.

CREDO plans to offer 7.7 million ECU for the development of 36 inter- border regions of Central and Southeastern Europe, including the regions of Korce and Oher. /s.sh/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] Fighting continues in Kosove

PRISHTINE, Feb.27 (ata) - ATA correspondent in Prishtine Behlul Jashari reports: At least four Albanian civilians and eight others were wounded in the attacks by Serb forces last night and today in Kosove.

The Yugoslav Army bombed all last night and is also today bombing Albanian regions in the region of Vushtrri, East of Mount Qyqavica and the region of Mitrovice (Northwest of Prishtine.) The shells by Serb artillery pieces and tanks are directed to villages Pantine, Okrashtice, Oshlan, Pirc, Veganice and others, including the regions of Drenice, West of Mount Qyqavice, villages Galice and Lubovec.

Sources of the LDK in Mitrovice report that two Albanians were killed and another was injured in villages Veganice, while reports from village Vushtrri say that six Albanians were wounded there. During the bombing last night by Serb forces in villages Randobrava of Prizren, two Albanians were killed and another was wounded.

A tense and dangerous situation also exists in many regions of Kosove in which there are great concentrations and continuous movements of Serb troops and military means. /p.ta/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] Second stage of restoration starts for Church of Saint Dhimitri

The Church of Saint DHimitri, constructed in 18th century, is located in the yard of the Monastery with the same name and is part of the fund of the Monuments of Culture.

During the second stage of the work for the restoration of the church a hall will be added for the conduct of messes which are attended by a great number of Orthodox believers from the village.

The project for this stage, which is financed by the Orthodox Church with 13 million lek, was realised by the Technical Office of the church in cooperation with the Institute of Monuments.

The Monastery and the church were built in the lower part of village Qeparo, which at that time was in the hill. About the 20th century, the families started to built their homes near the sea and consequently the Monastery and the Church of Saint Dhimitri were found amidst houses.

Despite the status of the Monument of Culture, years ago this church degraded thus needing an urgent restoration, the first stage of which started in January 1997 and ended in Nov. 1998. The investment for the first stage was 18 million lek. The project maintained in general the existing building with all its characteristics. /pas/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] Export-import structure in January 1999

There is an increase in the exports of the textiles, vegetables, minerals and shoes compared with the same period of the previous year, January 1998. There is a fall in the export of the minerals and the metallic products in January 1999.

Textiles and their products cover 37,1% of the total export in January, while the shoes and the ombrellas cover 22,5% of the total exports.

According to the General Custom Directory food, machineries, equipment, textiles, means of transport and The mineral products cover the greater part in the import structure.

There is an increase mainly in the machineries, equipment and means of transport compared with the imports of the previous month. There is a fall in the import of the chemical industry products and the stone products.

Textiles, machineries and equipment cover respectively by 12% of the total Albanian imports in January 1999. /linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] Tirana ranks first in soccer championship

Shkumbini - Partizani	2-0
Dinamo - Teuta		1-2
Skenderbeu - Tomori	2-0
Bylis - Vllaznia	2-2
La�i - Besa		1-0
Apolllonia - Burreli
Flamurtari - Tirana	1-0
Lushnja - Elbasani	2-0

Standings after Saturday's matches

Tirana		37 points
Vllaznia	35 "
Bylis, Lushnja	34 "
Shkumbini	31 "
Dinamo		29 "
Tomorri		27 "
Skenderbeu	26 "
Partizani	25 "
Flamurtari,Besa 23 "
La�i		22 "
Teuta		21 "
Elbasani	20 "
Apolonia (-1)	18 "
Burreli (-1)	17 "

The following team to play in the 20th week of soccer championship

     Partizani - Lushnja
      Elbasani - Flamurtari
        Tirana - Apolonia
       Burreli - La�i
          Besa - Bylis
      Vllaznia - Skenderbeu
        Tomori - Dinamo
         Teuta - Shkumbini

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] Five U.S. patrol ships for Albanian Army

Attending the ceremony on the occasion were the General Commander of the Armed Forces and President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and the military attaches of the U.S., France, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Romania and China.

After the force was presented by the Sea District commander of Durres, Vladimir Beja, President Meidani passed in review the effective of the sea district.

The commander of the Albanian Navy, Kudret Cela, opening the ceremony, highlighted the US aid for the consolidation of the Albanian Navy, expressing the obligation for the realisation with devotion and responsibility of the duties in service of the country's defence.

Defence Minister, Luan Hajdaraga appreciated the commitment of the command and all marine effective for the rehabilitation of the Albanian Navy and expressed his thanks to the U.S. and Italian governments for their assistance in the rehabilitation of the Albanian Navy.

The U.S. Ambassador in Tirane Marisa Lino said that the aid is granted in the context of the Partnership for Peace and the friendship between the two countries.

The patrol ships will be at the disposal of the Albanian coastal guard service. They will be used in humanitarian operations such as those for search-rescue operations in the sea, for the implementation of sea legislation (national and international) in defence of the sea space, to prevent illegal trafficking, etc. /dast/xh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] Slight changes of Albanian currency LEK during last ten days

This situation reflects also in the stability of the exchange rates of the foreign currencies against the Albanian one. A dollar against the Albanian LEK during this week marks the value from 140.6 to 142.20 lek. The greats' values are seen during the first days of the week.

The increase comes as a result of the strengthening of the dollar in the foreign exchange markets.

Although there is an increase in the foreign markets, its effect in the Albanian one was not so high as it was expected to be. Anyway the increase of the dollar value in the two first days is followed by a fall in the coming days.

The latest value is marked on Saturday, 1USD=141.6 lek.

       Date       | LEK per one USD |
-------------------------------------
 February 17     |      141.00      |
 February 18     |      140.60      |
 February 19     |      140.70      |
   -||-   20     |      140.60      |
   -||-   21     |      141.00      |
   -||-   22     |      141.50      |
   -||-   23     |      141.40      |
   -||-   24     |      142.20      |
   -||-   25     |      141.50      |
   -||-   26     |      141.60      |
-------------------------------------

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] Republican deputy urges understanding in Albania on Kosova

Sabri Godo, head of the parliamentary foreign commission and head of the Republican party Assembly, told journalists that he urged the Albanian government and political forces in the Republic of Albania and Kosova to unify attitudes in order to "compensate tendencies or inclinations aiming at polarizing world outlook and keeping the status-quo unchanged."

Godo said that the fundamental factor in achieving peace and the crucial point discussed in the second phase of Rambouillet talks in France was the presence of NATO forces in Kosova.

Any agreement achieved might not have any value without the NATO real military pressure, he said.

The Republic deputy said that he was in Rambouillet, France, as member of the Albanian delegation in peace talks on Kosova, the first phase of which ended a week ago without any final agreement. /dast/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] January-February 25: 1 billion 500 million lek cashed from Durresi custom house

The director of this Custom house Petrit Kociu told for ATA that the deficiency of 12% is due to the fall of the number of the ships in Durresi port and the delay in using the new custom code, which defines new fees. Beside these, the weather had hinted the ships' movements.

Having in mind the experience of the last year when the number of the ships was high and the annual plan was realized by 92%, this year it is predicting an increase in the goods volume, helped by the new custom code in use./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] Exports' increase in January 1999

According to the recent figures taken from the General Custom Directory the exports in January 1999 are 82% higher then the exports January 1998. The increase of 82% in the Albanian exports is mainly due to the increase by 72% of the exports of active elaboration. Meanwhile, the exports of the Albanian production increase by 28%.

There is an increase by 2% of the Albanian imports compared with the imports in the same period of the previous year. There is an increase in the imports' structure of the free imports' increase by 33%, and a fall by 8% of the taxed one.

In the structure of the free imports it is obvious the increase of the goods imported according a governmental agreement and humanitarian assistance respectively by 4.9 times and 3.6 times more.

According to the General Customs'Directory the great value of the imports compared with the exports one make the commercial deficit to remain in previous level./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] Line 110 in Tirana square do not affect in citizens'health

Although the line is provisional one, its project and fulfilment will be done according to the standards and the construction rules of the lines of this kind, it is stressed in AEC announcement for ATA./linda/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[21] Croatian parliamentary delegation to visit Albania

The five-member delegation is headed by Dr Zarko Domijan, deputy president and head of the Foreign commission of National Parliament and is expected to meet Albanian senior officials.

The delegation was expected to have separate meetings in the Albanian parliament on Sunday with the Foreign commission and other groupings of the Alliance for the State and the Democratic party.

Early on Monday, the Croatian parliamentarians will hold talks with the deputy speaker of the Albanian parliament Namik Dokle followed by the working meeting with the minister of Economic Cooperation and Trade Ermelida Meksi.

While later in the day they were expected to meet the president of Albania, Rexhep Meidani.

The last day of their visit to Tirana includes talks with the deputy prime minister and minister of government coordination Ilir Meta.

A press conference will mark the end of the visit of the Croatian delegation to Tirana, parliament's press office said to ATA on Saturday. /ypa/ak/

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

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