Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 97-11-18

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

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] NANO GOVERNMENT DESERVES OUR SUPPORT - secretary

[02] CONFERENCE REQUESTING WAGE RAISE

[03] FOUR ALBANIAN MILITARY SHIPS ARRIVE FROM BRINDISI

[04] THREE KILLED IN VEHICLE-TRAIN COLLISION IN DURRES

[05] PRESS REVIEW

[06] LA CONFERENCE POUR LA POLITIQUE DES SALAIRES EXPRIME LA NECESSITE DE L'AUGMENTATION DES SALAIRES

[07] FOREIGN POLICY COMMISSION DISCUSSES KOSOVA QUESTION

[08] STUDENTS OF VLORE SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT MEIDANI

[09] STUDENT OF ACADEMY OF ORDER ARRESTED

[10] STRIKE OF ALBANIAN PRESS CONTINUES

[11] QUESTION OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES - PART OF INVESTMENT PROGRAMS OF ITALY

[12] ITALY RECONFIRMS WILL TO COOPERATE WITH ALBANIA

[13] CHIEF OF ALBANIAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF MEETS NATO DELEGATION

[14] PARLIAMENT RESOLUTE TO MAKE ALBANIA WITH DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION

[15] LEK GAINS POINTS

[16] ITALY HAS PREPARED SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR ALBANIANS' INTEGRATION

[17] COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY DELEGATION VISITS ALBANIA ON WEDNESDAY

[18] ALBANIA, TURKEY TOWARDS AN AGREEMENT ON LABOUR SECTOR

[19] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES FINANCIAL FACILITIES FOR PRESS

[20] MONIKA KRYEMADHI REELECTED DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SOCIALIST YOUTH INTERNATIONALE

[01] NANO GOVERNMENT DESERVES OUR SUPPORT - secretary

Patijn said that "together with other European colleagues appreciated the achievements of the Nano government in this short period. The engagement and seriousness to face the challenges due to the situation in Albania are the best guarantee to adopt the appropriate course for Albania's development."

He said that Nano government deserves the Netherland's support in the framework of unprejudiced support for all those governments, which observe the rules of democracy and especially respect the human rights.

Referring to Albania's situation, he added "the political parties should assume responsibility for the construction of the country and the cooperation should start from the parliament to the local government bodies."

Milo acquainted the guest with the efforts of the government to restore order, reach a wide political consensus, national reconciliation and constructive cooperation with the opposition on the drafting of a constitution.

They also focused on problems in the Balkans and Albania's relations with its neighbours especially with Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Milo said that we would like to solve the regional problems through dialogue.

Patijn described Albania's stand towards neighbours and especially former Yugoslavia as realistic and in the interest of Albanians wherever they are.

He reiterated Holland's position on exerting pressure against Belgrade to respect the rights of Albanians living in Kosova.

Patijn said that Holland will carry out the programs of cooperation for Albania's development and favours their promotion.

During his stay in the Hague, Milo attended an oath ceremony of new lawyers to the Court on war crimes in former Yugoslavia. ake/kei/ak/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] CONFERENCE REQUESTING WAGE RAISE

Official estimation of the minimum living standard and its publication by the government or INSTAT, also including in this process representatives of employers and employees as well as their specialists, was one of the most disputable issues at the National Conference "Three-parties and negotiable policy of wages", held in Tirane, yesterday.

The participants in the conference discussed a separation of social categories and pensions from the minimal wage, also including social benefits and pensions.

The three-party wage commission, one of the national labour council, should be the very forum in which the government representatives, employers and employees draft the wage reform and realise three-party agreements on income policy.

This will encourage not only the increase of the wages that do not raise inflation and are based on the concrete augmentation of production and other economic results. kei/lm/sh/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] FOUR ALBANIAN MILITARY SHIPS ARRIVE FROM BRINDISI

They will be sent to the military navy base of Bisht Palle, North of Durres early on Tuesday.

Two military motorboats, which arrived ten days ago in Durres and the newly arrived made up the contingent of six navy ships repaired in Brindisi on the basis of a respective agreement by both Defence ministries. ssh/kled/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] THREE KILLED IN VEHICLE-TRAIN COLLISION IN DURRES

The driver of a "Fuoristrada" vehicle, Klodin Kadiu, 21, violating the road traffic rules, broke down the roadblock bulk and collided with the train passing in that moment, the investigation team, which immediately rushed to the scene, reports.

As a result of the collision the vehicle rolled several times and took fire. Along with the driver the accident claimed the lives of Ilir Stefani, 30, and Monopol Aliko, 41, who were in the vehicle. s.sh/kled/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[05] PRESS REVIEW

President Meidani met with President Chirac on the sidelines of the Vietnam summit, the paper also says. It also carries an interview with the head of the state scrutiny commission on the figure of state officials, Nafiz Bezhani, under the title "Fate of the files." It carries a draft law proposed by Bezhani to Albanian Speaker, president of the Republic, prime minister, justice minister.

"As in every post communist country, in Albania, too, the interest for files of the past has been great. Notorious claims for former state officials on transparency of files were covered by the state corruption," the paper says under the title "Will files be opened?"

"Transparency starts in money lender companies," the paper reports in the sixth page, "Deloitte & Touche" will work with Albanian auditors," it says. "Vefa's law suit turned down by Supreme Court," the paper says.

"Increased conviction on international presence and mediation in Kosova," is the title of an article carried by Rilindja. President of the Kosova Republic Ibrahim Rugova attended a meeting of the LDK divisions," the paper says in the first page. He spoke of the situation in Kosova and the international increasing interest on a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue.

"A special topic of the meeting was the state of the cultural and historical monuments in Kosova," the paper says. The paper carries the news conference of the Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo held in Deutsche Welle under the title "Albania respects political will of Albanians in Kosova." kled/ak/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[06] LA CONFERENCE POUR LA POLITIQUE DES SALAIRES EXPRIME LA NECESSITE DE L'AUGMENTATION DES SALAIRES

L'un des points les plus discutés lors de cette conférence était le calcul officiel du minimum de vie et sa publication par le gouvernement ou par l'INSTAT, en comprenant dans ce processus les représentrants des employeurs et des employés ainsi que leurs spécialistes.

Dans une période à moyen terme, a-t-il été dit lors de la conférence, le gouvernement en coopération avec les partenaires sociaux doivent prévoir une augmentation progressive du salaire minimum en proportion avec le minimun vital.

L'o a discuté d'un détachement des catégories sociales et des pensions du salaire minimun, y comris aussi l'assistance pour le chômage et les pensions de retraite.

La commission tripartite des salaires, qui est une des commissions du Conseil national du travail, doit être le forum convenable où les représentants du gouvernement, les employeyrs et les employés élaborent la plateforme des salaires et réalisent un accord tripartite pour la politique des revenus.

Cela fera en sorte que soient encouragées les augmentations de salaires qui n'accroissent pas l'inflation et sont appuyés sur l'augmentation concrète de la production et des autres résultats économiques./kei- tt

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[07] FOREIGN POLICY COMMISSION DISCUSSES KOSOVA QUESTION

To avoid the concerns emerging from the discussion of this issue, as well as to better coordinate in the future the stand of Parliament and the Government regarding the question of Kosova and other issues, the Commission decided to invite in a meeting Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

The members of the Commission, considering dialogue as the only democratic way for the solution of the Kosova issue, which has now an international character, stressed that they should not give up in any way from the request of recognizing the right for self-determination of the Albanian people in Kosova.

The deputy chairman of this Commission was elected the SP deputy, Ilir Meta. /s.sh/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[08] STUDENTS OF VLORE SEND MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT MEIDANI

The message stresses that the association is created to defend the social-economic rights of the students and is inspired by the ideals which led the students in February 1997 to a self-denial act in the city of Vlore.

The Association calls on Mr Meidani not to spare his assistance for the students and wishes him to visit the February heroes in the nearest case, perhaps during the celebrations to mark November 28, the Day of Independence and November 29, the Liberation Day.

The Student Movement February, 1997 was legalized by the Court of Vlore on November 11, 1997 and its aim is to give animation to the life of your in the coastal city of Vlore.

Many of its leaders have been active participants in the strike of February 20, 1997 which started in the city of Vlore against the regime of Berisha.

The students of Vlore interrupted their hunger strike only on March 3, 1997, after the curfew was imposed in Albania. A part of them were forced to emigrate to Italy and after the elections many of them returned home to continue studies. ake/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[09] STUDENT OF ACADEMY OF ORDER ARRESTED

The student attends the first year in the Academy of Order and is named Natasha D. Mushkiqi, 25, from Tropoja, sources from Tirana Police Directorate reported to ATA.

Mushkiqi, dissatisfied from a grade in the lesson, threatened with the grenade the pedagogues and students who were present at that moment in the grounds of the Academy of order, the same sources report.

Police intervened after a few moments and blocked the grenade. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[10] STRIKE OF ALBANIAN PRESS CONTINUES

The government representatives have fulfilled only one of the five requests the strikers has presented in the meeting last Monday evening in which the State Minister close to the Prime Minister, Kastriot Islami and Finance Minister Arben Malaj took part.

Attending the meeting as representatives of the Parliament were the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Economy, Anastas Angjeli, the chairman of the Media Commission, Musa Ulqini, whereas the publishers were represented by the members of the strike commission, the editor-in-chief of Republika, Dalip Greca, the director of Albania, Ylli Rakipi and the director of Dita Information, Shpetim Nazarko.

Both sides considered the meeting as "transitional" since they had agreed only on the fact that the Government and reporters must call on the international community to give a part of the assistance for Albania to the press in this country.

"The press is in a financial crisis," strike commission representatives told a news conference on Monday, "as a result of the crisis of this year, the increase of prices, etc."

The strikers' representatives explained that the strike has only economic character and that it is neither against the Government nor in favour of the Democratic party, opposing in this way the DP chairman who had called the strike "political" a day before.

Today publishers have been worried that their strike is being exploited by the Democratic Party in its struggle against the government of Fatos Nano.

The four other requests of the strikers could not meet the consensus by the Government.

Musa Ulqini considered the Monday meeting as "constructive."

"The other meeting to be held tomorrow will reach a solution, since both sides are trying to reach a compromise, also by making mutual concessions," said Ulqini with regard to the meeting which will also be attended by deputy Prime Minister Bashkim Fino. ake/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[11] QUESTION OF ALBANIAN REFUGEES - PART OF INVESTMENT PROGRAMS OF ITALY

"All the emigrants that will return home as a result of the Re- admission and Seasonal employment Agreement must be assisted by the Italian state," Nano asked from the Italian foreign undersecretary, Piero Fassino.

Albanian Prime Minister added that Italy must attach priority to all projects for the creation of jobs in Albania, because, according to him, the practice to provide money in cash have proved inefficient.

Mr Fassino said that the Italian Government will continue all programs to assist Albanian police, army, judiciary and diplomacy.

Mr Fassino added that his government is encouraging Italian investors to come to Albania, while PM Nano assured him that the Albanian Government will create facilities for the investors.

Upon a request of PM Nano, Mr Fassino promised in the name of the Italian Government that the investigation into the Otranto event will be completed soon and confirmed the assistance of his government for the families of the victims.

The Italian foreign undersecretary highlighted the efforts of the Albanian Government for the normalization of the relations in the Balkans, which, he said, will influence in the democratization of the countries of this region. ake/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[12] ITALY RECONFIRMS WILL TO COOPERATE WITH ALBANIA

Fassino arrived in Tirana on the same day for a one-day visit.

During the meeting he was accompanied by the Italian Ambassador in Tirana, Marcello Spatafora and other functionaries of the Italian ministries, President's press and information office reports.

Fassino explained to Meidani the content of the re-admission agreement of Albanians who have emigrated in Italy during the crisis, which will be accompanied with financial assistance when they will return.

Italy will also give to the citizens returning voluntarily the priority to legally emigrate to Italy.

The Italian party will also give permits to the families of Otranto victims.

President Meidani appreciated the important role of Italy for the institutional and economic recovery of Albania, mainly during the last crisis.

He asked the agreements be studied, by mostly considering the social problem, mainly in cases of families who have lost their homes in pyramid investment schemes.

"This would avoid to the maximum the political speculations with this accord," stressed Meidani.

President Meidani also asked the Italian high ranking official acceleration of steps for opening Italian consulates in Vlore and Shkoder. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[13] CHIEF OF ALBANIAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF MEETS NATO DELEGATION

The NATO experts who are in Albania in the context of the Individual program of the Partnership 1997, Albania-NATO, were briefed of the situations that the Albanian army passed during the months of unrest.

Mr Andoni stressed the numerous efforts for the recovery of the Albanian army and the military medical service, in which assistance and cooperation with the NATO countries, like Greece and Italy, have played an important role.

Mr Andoni considered the presence of this delegation of NATO experts of health sector "as a concrete continuity of a fruitful and very important cooperation between Albania and NATO."

The leader of the NATO team, Evert G J Somer pointed out that the cooperation between the Albanian Army and NATO has been put on the right track.

He also said that the medical service of the Albanian army "will be recovered after patterns and standards of the NATO member countries."

The team is the fifth that NATO has brought to Albania within a few weeks. ake/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[14] PARLIAMENT RESOLUTE TO MAKE ALBANIA WITH DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION

Gjinushi stressed that the majority today is interested and insists in reaching a consensus with the whole Albanian political spectrum, even with the Democratic Party, to draft the constitution, although it has refused so far its participation in the parliamentary commission of the constitution, and in parliament as well, Parliament's spokesman reports.

The Finish Ambassador, along with the problem of the constitution, was interested in the role of parliament during the current processes that the country is going through, as well as in the work for the democratization of the juridical system in Albania.

Gjinushi also focused on parliament's commitment to prepare a packet of laws for private and public media, and particularly on the problems in the justice system, whose final solutions are connected with the approval of the constitution. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[15] LEK GAINS POINTS

In the informal market the average exchange rate was $1 = 142,8 lek, the same like yesterday. The German currency DM was traded for 82,74. lek, gaining 0,14 points, compared with yesterday 82,6 lek.

Tuesday average exchange rates

Currency Average exchange rates

USD 142,80 lek DM 82,74 lek ITL (1000) 83,39 lek GRD (100) 51,98 lek SFR 99,72 lek

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[16] ITALY HAS PREPARED SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR ALBANIANS' INTEGRATION

"The centre of gravity of the Italian economic and social assistance for Albanians must be displaced from Italy to Albania," said the participants in the meeting.

Both sides stressed that through the agreement of seasonal employment and re-admission that they had already signed, the policies must be coordinated for the legalization of every further act for the employment of Albanians in Italy.

"Modernization of the economy and reestablishment of democratic normal conditions are the track on which Albania must follow," said Fassino.

The State Secretary Maqo Lakrori confirmed to his Italian counterpart that the Albanian Government is working to create conditions for foreign investors and for Italian investors in particular.

"Albania is an efficient priority of the Italian foreign policy," said Fassino, underlining that the 350 billion lira economic assistance by the Italian Government will be delivered during the midterm period of the development of Albania.

He said that Albania has an index in the Italian budget, approved by the Parliament. ke/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[17] COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY DELEGATION VISITS ALBANIA ON WEDNESDAY

The deputy chairman of Albania's Parliament, Namik Dokle, considers the visit of this delegation as "an integral part of the aid and support that the Council of Europe has given and gives to Albania."

The delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will hold meetings with the political forces, main leaders of the state, with press representatives, NGO-s, etc.

The interest of the Council of Europe for the developments in Albania has increased after the admission of Albania in this organization in June 1995.

The Council of Europe has sent several times its monitoring missions, who have prepared information and reports, which have become object of discussion in this Assembly.

The Council of Europe has been present in Albania in the days of crisis in 1997, until its solution with the early elections of June 29. /a.ke/kei/mt/

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[18] ALBANIA, TURKEY TOWARDS AN AGREEMENT ON LABOUR SECTOR

In the fourth ministerial conference staged in Istanbul, the Albanian minister of labour Elmaz Sherifi focused on the situation in Albania and the role played by the non govermental organizations in the field of social treatment and improvement of legislation. For this purpose soon will start a coperation in experts level in field of professinal training, employment policies, collaboration in organizing projects on public works especially in rural areas.

Both ministers expressed their readiness for the realization of this coperation with the signing of an agreement between two ministries.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[19] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES FINANCIAL FACILITIES FOR PRESS

The measures were proposed after two meetings that the State Minister, Kastriot Islami and the Finance Minister, Arben Malaj had with representatives of the Commission of Albanian publishers.

The measures cover lower customs tariffs for newspaper publishing materials, exempt of advertisments from the value-added tax, extension from 2-4 years of the elimination of income tax with the aim of reinvestments in the press, increase from 4-10 per cent of tax-free sponsoring of the press, introduction of fresh investments for the press in Albania without paying customs duties and a transparent distribution to the press of the state advertisements.

These measures were presented in a meeting that the spokesman of the Prime Minister and experts of the Ministry of Finances had with some press attaches of foreign embassies accredited in Tirane.

The solution served by the government was considered generous by diplomatic representatives who admitted that now there are seen no violations of the press freedom as it happened in the past years.

The PM spokesman asked from American, Italian, Russian and other foreign experts present in the meeting that in the context of the programs that their governments have planned for the Albanian business, priority be also attached to the assistance of the Albanian press and media.

Referring to the request of the publishers for state subsidies, the Albanian Government considers them a danger which might affect the independence of the free Albanian press. ake/kei/xh/k

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[20] MONIKA KRYEMADHI REELECTED DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SOCIALIST YOUTH INTERNATIONALE

Monika Kryemadhi, Secretary General of the Albanian Euro-Socialist Youth Forum (FRESSH), was reelected deputy president of the Internationale of the Socialist Youth in the XXII World Congress of the Socialist Youth Internationale, held from 13 down to 16 November in Lilyhammer of Norway.

Upon the proposal of the Albanian delegation, the Congress approved a resolution which condemned the constant violation of the Albanians' rights in Kosova, who made up some 90% of the population there.

The Congress condemned the non realisation of the agreement on education between Rugova and Milosevic, asking immediate opening of schools in Kosova and the University of Prishtina. /a.ke/kei/mt/k

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