Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 99-11-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] Italian singer Luco Dalla to visit Tirane on December 5

[02] Press Review

[03] Exchange rate in Tirane

[04] EBRD finances rehabilitation of Sterbleve forests

[05] Second Conference on legal reform held in Albania

[06] Independence of judiciary, possible reality - Meidani

[07] Mid-term strategy on development of Bank of Albania is approved

[08] Bank of Albania abolishes credit limit for the banks of second level

[09] President Meidani meets leading board of the American Bank in Tirane

[10] "Status of Parliament Member" with more rights and responsibilities

[11] EU and US give funds for Stability Pact

[12] Draft laws "On State Advocacy" and "System of taxes" adopted

[13] OSCE Summit starts in Istanbul

[14] PM Meta meets with President Clinton

[15] Legislation in justice is the basis for a powerful judicial state

[16] Albanian Government takes measures to overcome difficulties created by heavy rains

[01] Italian singer Luco Dalla to visit Tirane on December 5

The concert will be organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Edi Rama, and the Italian Institute of Culture.

It will be broadcast live by Radio Tirane, while the Albanian television will only have the right to record the opening greetings and three songs, for reasons of "image" and copyright.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Italian-Albanian Bank, Hotel Tirana International, Albanian Airlines and the Cultural Development Commercial Centre will sponsor the concert. /dast/lm/

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[02] Press Review

Koha Jone, independent daily,

-"Meta: Berisha's time has passed". Premier Ilir Meta yesterday responded from Turkey to opposition's charges regarding its non- participation in Anticorruption Commission. -"Investments avalanche comes from U.S". The chairman of the Albanian-U.S Fund of enterprises Domenice Scaglione declared after meeting in Tirane yesterday with SP chairman Fatos Nano that the fund he runs will make several investments in Albania. -"Storm on notaries, hundreds of irregularities ascertained". Ministry of Justice yesterday fired three notaries in Tirana, and has warned several others.

Gazeta Shqiptare, independent daily,

-"Lights, only at night". Minister of Public Economy and Privatization Zef Preci yesterday, at a question and answer session in the Parliament, declared that KESH will soon be administered by foreigners. -"Nano: U.S., facilitate investments". The chief of the majority, Fatos Nano, yesterday after the meeting with the head of Albanian - U.S. Fund, said that "Albania is open for U.S. companies that want to invest". -"Meta: Berisha to accept rules, otherwise offside". This what Premier Ilir Meta said yesterday, responding to DP accusations regarding the invitation he extended to it (DP) to participate in the Anti-corruption Commission.

Shekulli, independent daily,

"Berisha is a coward". Interview with Tirane Mayor Albert Brojka. "Lights at the mercy of rain". If rains do not continue for a long time, according to the Minister of Public Economy and Privatisation, Albania is threatened by darkness. "VEFA, court locks file". Investigations into former company "Vefa Holding" closed.

Albania, national daily,

"Sign arrests for Hajdari's killers!" "Librazhd, national road blocked for 24 hours". "250 UDB agents in state administration".

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

"Cursed Wednesday for bandits, two killed, three arrested". "Nano: A broad network of Albanian-American business". "Meta: Berisha to obey the rules of the game".

Rilindja Demokratike, daily of the Democratic Party of Albania,

"The country of darkness until the year 2000". "Berisha-Scaglione, concern about official corruption".

Republika, daily of the Republican Party of Albania,

"Secret meeting between prosecutor's office and Public Order chiefs. "Republicans react on implementation of death sentence". /so/lm/

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[03] Exchange rate in Tirane

Foreing currency exchange rates Currency Buying Selling

US$ 134,3 134,8 DM 71,9 72, 2

ITL (1000) 72 72,3 GRD (100) 42,2 42, 4 /so/lm/

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[04] EBRD finances rehabilitation of Sterbleve forests

Uncontrolled cuttings during '97 from unconscious individuals damaged some 12 thousand hectares of the forest area, causing the disappearance of the fir-wood.

Forests of Sterbleve commune, an area of 60 thousand hectares, at country scale ranks second after the forest area of Puke district. /dast/so/

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[05] Second Conference on legal reform held in Albania

The conference aims at creating an independent legal system in Albania.

The conference, to continue proceedings tomorrow, is organised by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry and the European Commission, as part of the Action Plan, signed by Albanian authorities with the CE on January 12, 1999.

Also present at the conference was Albanian President Rexhep Meidani. /dast/lm/

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[06] Independence of judiciary, possible reality - Meidani

In his speech at the beginning of the two-day conference, Meidani assessed that independence of the judiciary is now a possible reality, as "the approval of the Constitution is an achievement, which gives hopes for a real independent judiciary."

Considering the Prosecutor's Office a significant link of the state, Meidani said that the raise of the professional level within this body is a guarantee for the fight against crime and respect for the fundamental human rights and freedoms. /dast/lm/

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[07] Mid-term strategy on development of Bank of Albania is approved

The increasing of the strategy, transparency and modernization and reconstruction of the bank is defined in the strategy of the bank for 2-3 coming years.

This bank will have as institutional reference model Central European Bank. /dast/linda/

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[08] Bank of Albania abolishes credit limit for the banks of second level

The foreseen credit limit for the banks of the second level is not fulfilled during the last two years, nevertheless the increase of the banking institutions licensed by Bank of Albania.

The credit limit in 1999 was defined to be some 8 billion leks and till the end of the year it will be fulfilled by 1,5-2 billion leks.

An increase of some 7 billion leks of credit stock for the economy on banking system is foreseen for year 2000, and 35% of it will be in leks. /dast/linda/

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[09] President Meidani meets leading board of the American Bank in Tirane

The President's press office told ATA that Meidani voiced the conviction that the American bank might play an important and supportive role in the creation of a powerful banking system in Albania.

Scaglione expressed his belief in the possibilities existing in Albania for foreign investments. "There are many chances for investments, there is a liberal and very competitive market, there is a trained younger generation and the country has a very important position as a bridge linking the East with the West," said Scaglione. /led/xh/

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[10] "Status of Parliament Member" with more rights and responsibilities

This project is drafted in total accordance with the Constitution. Referring to this project law the deputy will have the right to intervene directly to abrogate the illegal acts and activities. /led/linda/

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[11] EU and US give funds for Stability Pact

This was stated on Thursday in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Southeast Europe discussing problems of the Stability Pact, held in Istanbul under the direction of the OSCE chairman, Knut Vollebaek.

Bodo Hombach, EU special coordinator for the Stability Pact appealed to the regional countries and those concerned to coordinate their actions for the implementation of the Pact. The ministers of developed Western countries and representatives of international organisations stressed their political and financial support for the Pact. /led/xh/

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[12] Draft laws "On State Advocacy" and "System of taxes" adopted

According to the law, the state advocacy will have an advisory mechanism, which will provide legal assistance to the state administration, will organise the defence in the court, will follow the procedures of appealing and will cooperate with the administration structures on the state defence.

The plenary session also adopted the draft law "On the system of taxes in Republic of Albania."

On the basis of this draft law, the police of prisons will benefit the solidarity tax, as well. /lh/xh/

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[13] OSCE Summit starts in Istanbul

The Premier's spokesperson reported to ATA that a special importance in this framework takes the realization of Stability Pact, which will create concrete possibilities for all the regional countries.

Talks were held during the meetings even by Cofi Annan, UNO Secretary General, the Secretary General of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the American President Bill Clinton, the Russian President Boris Jelcin and other state leaders.

In this meeting were discussed issues regarding security in Europe. /led/A.A/

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[14] PM Meta meets with President Clinton

In the meeting, which was held during OSCE summit's proceedings, Clinton expressed to Meta his personal support and the support of U.S.A. for the new government and for priorities proclaimed by it.

"Within the Stability Pact, Albania should give its contribution on realization of projects in the region", said Clinton.

Meta assured Clinton that the work to achieve at any cost the building of democratic institutions in Albania and to integrate it in the European structures will be carried on. /led/A.A/

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[15] Legislation in justice is the basis for a powerful judicial state

On Thursday during the first day of the conference, were treated issues that have to do with the functioning of legal system, and fight against corruption in justice.

The Council of Europe has offered assistance for reorganization of justice and training conditions in the framework of cooperation and further coordination of the work. The conference is organized by the Justice Ministry in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the European Commission. The second conference on the legal and judiciary reform in Albania follows the conference held at the beginning of 1999 in Strasbourg. /led/A.A/

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[16] Albanian Government takes measures to overcome difficulties created by heavy rains

According to the Information department in the Council of Ministers, the participants in the meeting laid concrete tasks for the Ministry of Public Order, the Defence Ministry, that of Local Government and for some prefectures, in order that fast measures be adopted to face the situation in the most problematic zones such as Mullet (Tirane), Elbasan, Durres and a part of the northeastern zone of Albania. /lh/xh/

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