Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA7
2008-01-04 15:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, DECEMBER 28, 2007-
how-toVZCZCXRO4855 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTI #0007 0041525 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041525Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6521 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TIRANA 000007
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI PHUM AL
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, DECEMBER 28, 2007-
JANUARY 4, 2008
UNCLAS TIRANA 000007
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI PHUM AL
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, DECEMBER 28, 2007-
JANUARY 4, 2008
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.
--------------
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
2. (U) A New Year in Albania: Albanians of all ages celebrated the
New Year in what is still the most important family holiday for
Albanians. This day, which grew to prominence during the Communist
years as all religious festivals were banned, is traditionally a
time for Albanian families to come together, gather around the table
with a large meal and stay up late to welcome the New Year.
3. (U) By custom, whole families exchange visits to greet each other
at their homes and convey best wishes for the year ahead. In a
recent break from established tradition, many young people have
taken to celebrating the event outside of their home. This was seen
most clearly in Skanderbeg Square this year, where thousands rang in
the New Year New York style - dancing and celebrating in the square
amidst fireworks and rock music.
4. (U) I'm Home!: Although hundreds of thousands of Albanians having
emigrated to western countries, an estimated ten percent return from
abroad to celebrate the New Year with family and friends. Albanian
border police processed more than 100,000 returnees at the land
crossings with Greece and the port of Durres, through long lines and
unusually cold weather. Two aspects of the return of the diaspora
don't go unnoticed: more cars and foreign currency. While the
influx of the first creates intense traffic jams and an increase in
accidents on Albanian roads, the latter strengthens the domestic
currency. The Bank of Albania estimates that remittances have
followed a rising trend over the last five years, reaching almost
1.4 billion USD in 2007. Remittances are expected to remain the
main source of income for thousands of households faced with an
ever-higher cost of living.
5. (U) Uphill Battle in the Fight to End Blood Feuds: In the wake
of a series of murders for revenge during new year's week, Albanians
were reminded of the persistent problem of blood feuds that
continues to plague life in isolated areas of the country. A local
NGO which fights the issue was interviewed recently by local media
about the problem. The organization establishes local groups
(comprised of a local village leader, school principal, and NGO
representative) to try to reconcile warring families and tracks
numbers and trends regarding the problem. According to this NGO, as
many as 1,000 families nationwide fear reprisal related to blood
revenge, although other organizations set the figure at less than
400.
6. (U) Although the concept of "blood feuds" is an ancient one,
based on Albania's original code of law and honor (the "Kanun"),the
sporadic modern application of the Kanun deviates from its original
context, degenerating from even the specific reasons that were
allowable for revenge at the height of its influence in the
sixteenth century. However, as Albanian society continues to
modernize, the government strives to demonstrate to all Albanians
that justice is best served through a strong and competent judicial
system rather than vigilante acts.
7. (U) Elvis Presley in Tirana: Hundreds of Albanians had a chance
last week to rekindle their passion for Elvis Presley's legendary
music in a highly publicized show entitled "The Las Vegas Elvis
Revival." Organized by the most successful night club in Tirana,
the concert drew a crowd of several hundred people to see the German
impersonators, fresh from a series of successful appearances across
Europe. While live Elvis impersonators are nothing new in the U.S.
and other European countries, this was the first time that such a
show performed in Albania. Proceeds from the tickets went to the
Albanian Children Foundation, an NGO headed by the wife of Prime
Minister Berisha who works to improve conditions for deprived
children. (http://www.las-vegas-elvis-revival-show.de/a bout/)
8. (U) Quote of the Week: Excerpted from Prime Minister Berisha's
address to the nation on the New Year's eve: "2007 was a good friend
to every Albanian because our major national objectives, the
independence of Kosovo and the integration of Albania into NATO and
the EU are now closer than ever."
CRISTINA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI PHUM AL
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, DECEMBER 28, 2007-
JANUARY 4, 2008
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.
--------------
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
2. (U) A New Year in Albania: Albanians of all ages celebrated the
New Year in what is still the most important family holiday for
Albanians. This day, which grew to prominence during the Communist
years as all religious festivals were banned, is traditionally a
time for Albanian families to come together, gather around the table
with a large meal and stay up late to welcome the New Year.
3. (U) By custom, whole families exchange visits to greet each other
at their homes and convey best wishes for the year ahead. In a
recent break from established tradition, many young people have
taken to celebrating the event outside of their home. This was seen
most clearly in Skanderbeg Square this year, where thousands rang in
the New Year New York style - dancing and celebrating in the square
amidst fireworks and rock music.
4. (U) I'm Home!: Although hundreds of thousands of Albanians having
emigrated to western countries, an estimated ten percent return from
abroad to celebrate the New Year with family and friends. Albanian
border police processed more than 100,000 returnees at the land
crossings with Greece and the port of Durres, through long lines and
unusually cold weather. Two aspects of the return of the diaspora
don't go unnoticed: more cars and foreign currency. While the
influx of the first creates intense traffic jams and an increase in
accidents on Albanian roads, the latter strengthens the domestic
currency. The Bank of Albania estimates that remittances have
followed a rising trend over the last five years, reaching almost
1.4 billion USD in 2007. Remittances are expected to remain the
main source of income for thousands of households faced with an
ever-higher cost of living.
5. (U) Uphill Battle in the Fight to End Blood Feuds: In the wake
of a series of murders for revenge during new year's week, Albanians
were reminded of the persistent problem of blood feuds that
continues to plague life in isolated areas of the country. A local
NGO which fights the issue was interviewed recently by local media
about the problem. The organization establishes local groups
(comprised of a local village leader, school principal, and NGO
representative) to try to reconcile warring families and tracks
numbers and trends regarding the problem. According to this NGO, as
many as 1,000 families nationwide fear reprisal related to blood
revenge, although other organizations set the figure at less than
400.
6. (U) Although the concept of "blood feuds" is an ancient one,
based on Albania's original code of law and honor (the "Kanun"),the
sporadic modern application of the Kanun deviates from its original
context, degenerating from even the specific reasons that were
allowable for revenge at the height of its influence in the
sixteenth century. However, as Albanian society continues to
modernize, the government strives to demonstrate to all Albanians
that justice is best served through a strong and competent judicial
system rather than vigilante acts.
7. (U) Elvis Presley in Tirana: Hundreds of Albanians had a chance
last week to rekindle their passion for Elvis Presley's legendary
music in a highly publicized show entitled "The Las Vegas Elvis
Revival." Organized by the most successful night club in Tirana,
the concert drew a crowd of several hundred people to see the German
impersonators, fresh from a series of successful appearances across
Europe. While live Elvis impersonators are nothing new in the U.S.
and other European countries, this was the first time that such a
show performed in Albania. Proceeds from the tickets went to the
Albanian Children Foundation, an NGO headed by the wife of Prime
Minister Berisha who works to improve conditions for deprived
children. (http://www.las-vegas-elvis-revival-show.de/a bout/)
8. (U) Quote of the Week: Excerpted from Prime Minister Berisha's
address to the nation on the New Year's eve: "2007 was a good friend
to every Albanian because our major national objectives, the
independence of Kosovo and the integration of Albania into NATO and
the EU are now closer than ever."
CRISTINA