Albanian Language to be
Computerized
PRISHTINA (KosovaLive) - Head of he Education and Progress Center (EPC), Lulėzim
Shishani said today at a press conference that as of July 15 of this year the
Albanian Language and Computer project will enable this language to have its own
Computer Spelling Program. This way the Albanian language will join the family
of 50 foreign computerized languages.
The Albanian language spelling program is the result of a devoted work and
includes the dictionary of the present Albanian language, which includes The
Albanian Language Today, published in 1980, with more than 41 thousand words,
Foreign Expressions Dictionary with more than 20 thousand words, geographical
names of Albania and Kosova and more than three thousand given names.
The program will be similar to those of other languages. Microsoft will
automatically correct and underline the misspelled word and offer suggestions
for the word that the computer user is looking for. Shishani said that program
would have about 2 million forms, in compliance with the Microsoft Windows and
Microsoft Office operative program. XP Professional will enable the user to add
words. It will also make automatic corrections.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
AGREEMENT TO SHIP WATER TO ITALY COULD LEAVE ALBANIA HIGH AND DRY
TIRANA, Oct. 15 - During a recent meeting of European deputies, Prime Minister
Fatos Nano again declared his support for an agreement to send fresh drinking
water from southern Albanian to Italy via an undersea pipeline.
Those who made the agreement claim that there will be no environmental problems,
and that any potential environmental damage will be considered carefully. But
many experts think it is impossible to export such a great flow of water without
causing problems.
Under the agreement between Italy and Albania, 5.5 cubic metres of water per
second will be taken from 18 springs near the source of the Bistrica River. This
water will travel by pipeline along the Albanian coastline to Otranto in the
Vlora area, where the water will go through four one-meter-wide pipes that pass
under the sea for 85 kilometres.
The pipes will take water from a rich source, but just because there is a great
quantity of water in this zone, or elsewhere in Albania, doesn't mean there is
too much water there. This water is a component of an ancient eco-system.
Although Italian and Albanian engineers try to justify the project, many others
say that the loss of this water is sure to damage our environment. Nineteen
engineers who studied the waters in this zone have argued forcefully against the
project. Several environmental associations have joined in protesting the work.
The work is going through without a thorough study of the environmental impacts.
Even the best engineers cannot foresee the potential damage without a thorough
study.
Fatmir Xhafa, former minister of territory and tourism and one of the main
initiators of this project, has claimed that the loss of water will not cause a
problem. "According to the specialists, the project will have no negative impact
on the environmental and tourist development of the district," he has said.
"There will be no impact on the water reserves."
These statements are naive and illogical: Of course the water reserves will be
affected. Nonetheless, the government still supports the plan.
Xhafa has also enthusiastically claimed that the money from the sale of water
will be used to finance an integrated development in Sarande-Vlore district, but
it seems unlikely that there can be any development without a sufficient water
supply.
Unfortunately, former-minister Xhafa handled the process backwards: First the
sale of the water was completed, then there was a study about what our real
water needs are. It is obvious that water is very important in any project, but
right now we do not have accurate measures of our water needs. The government
wants to give our fresh water away to our friends when the water in the capital
city comes from a tainted reservoir.
Before we give water to other countries, especially through a system of pipes,
we should be clear about the quantity of our water reserves and our needs for
the long-term future, taking into consideration all human activities and the
needs of the environment.
The approval of a national water strategy and a national water reserves plan
will serve this aim.
We must remember to use our water wisely, and remember the often-repeated
warning: If there is a third world war, it will be over water.
--Xhemal Mato, Massmedia and Environment, <xhmato@icc-al.org>
Alfred Moisiu New President Alfred Moisiu took the oath. In a speech before the
Parliament, he defined the main thrust of his presidency: the consolidation of
the dialogue between the majority and the opposition, the integration of the
country within the Euro-atlantic structures and the reform of the judiciary
system. http://www.seeurope.net
Prime Minister Pandeli Majko would like to see the
construction of a new motorway linking the Port of Durres to the Kosovo border.
In order to achieve this a new tax will be created to bring together 35 million
euros per year for a project which will cost a total of 300 million euros. The
Albanian diaspora will also be requested to contribute. http://www.rferl.org
