Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TIRANA991
2007-11-16 12:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, NOVEMBER 9-16, 2007

Tags:  ECON PGOV PREL AL 
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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000991 

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DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, NOVEMBER 9-16, 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000991

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DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, NOVEMBER 9-16, 2007


1. (U) The following is a weekly report prepared by Embassy
Tirana's local staff to provide political and economic context and
insight into developments in Albania. These updates will supplement
post's DAR reports and reporting cables.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------


2. (U) Moving Forward on a National Identity Card: The GOA opened
the tender this week for its national ID card and electronic
passport project. A key component of electoral reform, its
necessity was clarified during 2007 local elections, which were
marred by harsh debate over voter lists and identification
documents.


3. (U) Capacity to deliver the card before the end of next year is
among the tender's top criteria, as the GOA has committed to begin
issuing identity cards and biometric passports in 2008. The ID card
project is being managed concurrently with the modernization of the
civil registry, a project funded by the GOA, EU and other
international donors (including the U.S.) and implemented with OSCE
assistance. Scheduled for completion by August 2008, this will
include digitalization of civil records and a comprehensive system
of addresses.


4. (U) Albania Expands its International Outreach: Foreign Minister
Basha announced this week that Albania will expand its diplomatic
outreach with six new embassies in India, Estonia, Norway, Portugal,
Slovenia and Pakistan. (Pakistan will have a representational
office, rather than a full embassy.) He pledged that Slovenia and
India would be up and running by the end of the year, and the others
operating by the close of 2008. The FM also announced plans to
create Albanian cultural centers in Athens, Rome, and London.
Another proposal considers attaching diplomats to the embassies of
friendly countries in locations without diplomatic representation.
Presently, Albania's Foreign Service maintains 46 diplomatic
missions abroad.


5. (U) Albania Goes Nuclear? PM Berisha's proposal to build a
nuclear power plant in Albania attracted attention from its
neighbors, who expressed a range of opinions on the possibility.
The PM confirmed that the GOA will enter exploratory discussions
with the IAEA regarding the construction of a plant. During an

Italian-Albanian business conference in Tirana, Berisha pledged to
transform Albania into a regional energy superpower capable of
exporting safe and cheap electricity.


6. (U) The proposal alarmed Greece and Montenegro but interested
Italy. Greek EU Parliamentarian Kopa voiced concern while
Montenegrin President Vujanovic noted that his government would
like more information on such a controversial proposition. In
Italy, the proposal was considered "a chance not to miss." The
issue is expected to be part of Italian PM Prodi's agenda during his
visit to Albania early next month.


7. (SBU) Officials Resign Quickly Under Corruption Cloud:
Following reciprocal allegations of corruption, General Director of
Prisons Saimir Shehri and his boss, Minister of Justice Ilir
Rusmajli, resigned in separate press conferences this week. Local
media speculate that Prime Minister Berisha requested both
resignations. This marks the first occasion that two high officials
resigned immediately over allegations of corruption. Awareness of
the problem has been consistently rising since 2005, and the PM has
kept up a steady public message that corruption will not be
tolerated. Over the last month and a half more than 30 Albanian
officials have been put under investigation for corruption.


8. (U) Competition Authority Fines Mobile Operators: Albania's two
mobile phone operators were fined this week following an
investigation into pricing. The Albanian Competition Authority
charged the operators 3.76 million (US $5.52 million) for abusing
their dominant position. As reported in the November 9 Weekly,
Albania's mobile prices are some of the highest in the region.

ARTS AND CULTURE
--------------


9. (U) This Week in the Arts: Tirana's International Cultural
Center will present its annual book fair, with participation of more
than 100 publishing houses, graphic studios and distribution
companies from Albania and beyond. Albania's National Ballet
Theater presents "Sylphide," with music by Herman Lovenskjold and
choreography by Albanian soloist Ilir Kerni.

PERSON OF THE WEEK
--------------


10. (U) "Little Henri": Little Henri was born September 30, 2007,
found abandoned in Tirana. Henri is being cared for by Angel's
Cradle, part of the Organization to Save Albania's Abandoned Babies
(OSAAB),until he is ready to go to a local group home. During a

TIRANA 00000991 002 OF 002


tour of the hospital, Ambassador Withers, accompanied by visiting
USAID Assistant Administrator Douglas Menarchik, was asked to name
the newest addition to the Cradle. The Ambassador chose Henri, for
a member of his security detail who was celebrating his wedding that
day. OSAAB, a nonprofit organization housed in Tirana's largest
maternity hospital, was begun in 1995 by expatriate and Albanian
women who wanted to provide a better start in life for Albania's
abandoned babies. Many of these women, as well as some of our
locally employed embassy staff, volunteer as caregivers at the
Cradle.

WITHERS