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Government approves several draft-laws and decisions

      TIRANE, Dec. 17, (ATA) By R.Xhuvani
      In the Government's meeting, held today, following the
message of Premier Pandeli Majko addressed to public opinion
regarding students evacuation from the hunger strike, Council of
Ministers discussed and approved several draft-laws and
decisions.
      A packet of fiscal draft-laws, consisting of draft-laws on
axises, income tax and tax system in the Republic of Albania was
adapted. This packet is part of the fiscal policies and reforms
of the Government for 1999. This packet, which will have its
impact on the development of business, increasing state budget
incomes, fighting against contraband, has been negotiated with
International Monetary Fund and International Commerce
Organisation. This packet will be approved along with the
draft-law on state-budget.
      Council of Ministers also decided to accord immediately to
Mrs.Mirela Elezi, who had five children at a birth, an amount of
500 000 leks and a monthly assistant of 2 000 leks to any of the
children till 18-years old. This decision enters immediately on
power.
      Council of Ministers also decided that the students, having
benefited scholarships as former politically persecuted in the
previous academic years, will benefit them for all the academic
years of studies.
      Government as well decided to increase the number of the
scholarships for secondary school pupils from 800 to 900, thus
100 new scholarships for secondary schools level of education.
/lh/lola/

Georgiou: I hope military intervention to resolve Kosova crisis
will not be used

      TIRANE, Dec. 17, (ATA) - Thedossis Georgiou, current
President of Atlantic Treaty Association, told ATA that European
countries and the allies beyond the Atlantic observe every thing
happening in Albania and give Albania a great assistance to find
its proper place in Euro-Atlantic institutions.
      "I believe the presence of Greek company is welcome and
that cooperation existing with the Greek force here offers a lot
to Albanian army," said Mr.Georgiou in its position as a
representative of NATO and not of Greek government.
      He said that on the other hand, Greek armed forces, just
like those of NATO, have now a special PFP program for Albania.
Through this program Greek, as a member of NATO, also assists
Albania.
      "Presence of NATO in the crises of Bosnia and Kosova is
very important" Mr.Georgiou said stressing that NATO countries
and the allies could not be indifferent to great humanitarian
issues. "Negotiations, carried out regarding it, should keep on
and Milosevic-Holbrooke deal should not be 'broken'," he said.
      "NATO has deployed its forces in FYROM and in case
something is going to happen, they may operate as the deal of
OSCE evacuation of the people foresees. At present we are
expecting a new declaration on Kosova issue, to be issued from
the meeting of the Defence Ministers, held in Brussels,"
Mr.Georgiou added.
      "I hope and I am optimistic that we will not be obliged to
use military intervention. Great efforts to avoid such an
intervention have been carring out," current President of
Atlantic Treaty Association, Theodossis Georgiou finished.
/pas/lola/

Berisha refuses to appear to Prosecution Office

      TIRANE, Dec. 17, (ATA) By A.Haxhiu
      Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha declared on Thursday
that he refuses the warrant as a defendant by Attorney General
regarding the events of September 13-14, this year.
      "Using the legal right to respond to prosecution office, I
will refuse to appear close to this office," said Berisha to a
news conference.
      Democratic leader Berisha, considering prosecutors action
as "political revenge", stressed that he will accept to be
inquired by an independent and impartial group.
      Berisha said that he will be represented by his two lawyers
Kreshnik Spahiu and Neshat Fana.
      This is the first statement Berisha made regarding his
stand to the warrant of Attorney General, which summons DP
chairman to appear as a defendant for September events on Friday. /lola/

'37-th Song Festival in Radio-Television opened

      TIRANE, Dec. 17, (ATA) - '37-th Song Festival in
Radio-Television, considered as the most important artistic
event of the year, opened in the Palace of Congresses in Tirane on
Thursday evening.
      Surprise of the first evening performance was Luigj
Gurakuqi, speaker of the first festival in Radio, who presented
just those who made the first step in the stage of the Festival.
      Among the 18 songs of the first evening performance, 8
songs were sung by the new singers and the other 10 songs by the
experienced singers. Their texts reflected Albanian reality.
      In this first evening performance Italian musical band
"Ricchi e Poveri" stepped on Festival's stage for the first time
and presented their recent song.
      The contest, which will continue for 4 evenings in
succession, was presented by actor Gazmend Gjoka, accompanied by
ballerina Inis Gjoni and Miss Albania '95 Hygerta Sako.
      Winner of the Festival will be chosen by four juries,
central jury in Tirane and three district juries in Korce,
Shkoder and Gjirokaster.
/f.n/pas.lola/

Football: Saturday's matches of 15-th National Championship
-Tirane and Bylis keep leading after 14-th week-

      TIRANE, Dec. 18, (ATA) By A.Keko
      15-th week matches of the 60-th National Football
Championship, to be played on Saturday afternoon, are expected
with too much interest, because they are the last matches of the
first phase.

      Mathces and referees for this week:
      Skenderbeu    - Partizani       Ilir Kristo (Tirane)
      Dinamo        - Bylis           Alban Janku (Tirane)
      Shkumbini     - Lazi            Bujar Pregja (Tirane)
      Teuta         - Apolonia        Astrit Isufi (Shkoder)
      Tomori        - Flamurtari      Ylvi Kollari (Tirane)
      Vllaznia      - Lushnja         Luan Zylfo (Tirane)
      Besa          - Elbasani        Llesh Malota (Lezhe)
      Burreli       - Tirana          Myrteza Allkja (Elbasan)

      Standing following the 14-th week:

29 pike     Tirana, Bylis
28  "       Lushnja
24  "       Vllaznia
23  "       Partizani
22  "       Dinamo
19  "       Tomori, Shkumbini
18  "       Elbasani, Lazi
16  "       Besa, Apolonia
15  "       Skenderbeu
14  "       Flamurtari
13  "       Burreli, Teuta

/A.KE/lola/

Prizeren: Three Albanians condemned to 10 years imprisonment for
"terrorism"

      PRISHTINE, Dec. 17, (ATA) Serbian Court in Prizeren
condemned three Albanians under the charge of "cooperation for
subversive activity" and "terrorism" to 10 years imprisonment on
Tuesday.
      According to recent statistics of Serbian government some
684 Kosovars have been imprisoned under the charge of
"terrorism", while human rights organisations point out that
their number is "round 1 500 persons".
      Following the deal between Yugoslav President Milosevic and
American broker Holbrooke, Belgrade reported on a general amnesty
for "crimes regarding Kosova conflict", except for crimes against
humanity. However many Albanians remained in prison and according
to Human Rights Watch (HRW) no one has been released from this
amnesty.
      "Among prisoners there are activists of human rights,
doctors, social workers and jurists. Most of them are badly
treated," HRW stressed underlining that since July, some 5
persons died in prison, as a consequence of the violence used on
them.
/pas/lola/

Kosova: Serbia suspends publication of Albanian language
newspaper, "Bujku"

      PRISHTINE, Dec. 18, ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari
reports:
      "Bujku", daily paper in Albanian language, published since
8 years in Prishtine, did not come out today as a consequence of
an order of Serbian Ministry of Information for "violation of
information law". Journalists were not allowed to enter into
editorial office, while some Serbian authorities broke off
electricity, making impossible its publication. "Koha Ditore",
another daily paper in Albanian language, also warned to be
closed, came out today.
      Serbian Ministry of Information ultimately asked to change
editorial policy of "Bujku" newspaper in conformity with "Serbian
Information law ".
      Through a communique, published yesterday from Tanjug
agency, the Ministry accused "Bujku" and "Koha Ditore" papers of
encouraging terrorism, appealing overthrow of constitutional
order and inciting hate between ethnic communities in Kosova.
      Suspension of "Bujku" followed that of "Rilindja"
newspaper, whose publication was also prohibited on August 7,
1990 and all its property, estimated round 400 million DM, was
looted.
/P.TA/lola/

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