Survey: Corruption in Albania Remains High

Tirana | 06 May 2010 |

The Albanian public's experience and perception of corruption remains extremely high, a study funded by the United States has found. Roughly 91.8 per cent of the respondents in the survey think that corruption among public officials is either “widespread” or “somewhat widespread”.

The study was conducted by the Institute for Development and Research Alternatives, IDRA, funded by USAID, the United States Agency for International Development.

According to the poll, out of 20 institutions rated by the general public in the 2010 survey, religious leaders, the president, media, military, public school teachers and NGO leaders are perceived as the least corrupt, while custom officials, tax officials, ministers, parliamentarians and doctors, on the other hand, are perceived as the most corrupt.

The survey found that overall, the Albanian public thinks that institutions are not doing enough to fight corruption.

Of the nine institutions evaluated in the survey only the media is seen as contributing to the fight against corruption, with 62.4 points on a scale of zero to 100, while all other institutions are given less than 50 points on the scale.

Religious leaders, the High Inspectorate for the Declaration and Audit of Assets, and the courts are seen as the least helpful in the fight against corruption, while overall trust in public institutions remains very low.

Only the military receive a passing grade as trustworthy out of twenty institutions rated by the repondents in the survey, while political parties were the least trusted institution.

Trust in the judicial system has declined from 2009, after having increased steadily from 2005.

In this year’s survey, only 35.9 per cent of respondents said that they trust the judicial system either “a lot” or to “some” degree, 10.7 percentage points lower than in 2009. The proportion of respondents who trust the judiciary “a little” or “not at all” remains high at 64.1 per cent.

The courts' treatment of citizens has also deteriorated from 2009 figures, with 38 per cent of those surveyed who dealt with the courts responded that they were treated “poorly” or “very poorly”.

This is 11.3 percentage points worse than in 2009. 79.7 per cent of respondents declare that it is difficult to get information from the courts; a slide of 10.2 points from 2009.

In 2010, those surveyed report to have been victimized on average in 1.31 out of 10 possible ways.

The corruption victimization index has not changed from 2009; however it is still lower than in 2005, when the reported direct experience with corruption was 1.7 ways out of 10.

The health sector still remains the most often cited for bribery. In 2010, 33.5 per cent of respondents said they had offered a bribe to a doctor or a nurse.

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Parts of the anti-missile defence shield will be situated on Albanian territory

NATO experts are to pay an official visit to Albania in order to inspect the possibilities for installation of parts of the anti-missile defence shield on Albanian territory, Sllavo Macedonian newspaper 'Nova Makedonija' reports.

The Chief of Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces Gen Maksim Malaj has confirmed the information.

“The NATO experts will make a thorough analysis of the geo-strategic factors in our country. If they decide to install elements of the anti-missile defence shield, we will give our permission,” Gen Malaj explained.

US support for Greek measures

WASHINGTON (ANA-MPA) -- US President Barack Obama expressed his satisfaction to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Sunday over what he termed the "ambitious" reforms and restructuring package announced by the Greek government the same day.

According to a White House press release here, Obama spoke by phone with Papandreou, with both leaders reportedly agreeing over the need for the urgent implementation of economic reforms.

Additionally, the US president -- who enjoys very high popularity ratings amongst the Greek public -- expressed satisfaction over the significant support, as he said, announced by Greece's fellow eurozone partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Skopie: Ali Ahmeti calls Albanians not to give in to provocations

Leader of the Democratic Union for Intergration (DSI) Ali Ahmeti declared that he does not support any scenarios that will lead to FYROM’s disintegration, the online edition of Skopian "Spic" daily reports.

In interview to BBC in Albanian, Ahmeti called the Albanians in FYROM not to give in to such provocations.

We are against any kind of violence and provocations and we call the Albanians not to give in to them, Ali Ahmeti remarked.

3 dead during Greek riots at general strike

A group of protesters tried to storm the Greek parliament

Three people died in a fire set by Greek protesters in central Athens in Marfin Popular Bank during a protest march against government austerity measures, the fire brigade said. (see the video)
“We have found three dead people in the building that is on fire,” it said in a statement.
Masked youths threw petrol bombs that set a commercial building on fire, and shouted “Murderers” and “Burn the parliament,” as the public anger overflowed at the government’s plans for painful wage and pension cutbacks.
A giant plume of dark grey smoke rose over the central Stadiou Avenue, where the bank building was burning. The fire brigade was evacuating people trapped on balconies.
Police used stun grenades and tear gas in clashes with protesters Wednesday as tens of thousands of outraged Greeks took to the streets against harsh new spending cuts aimed at saving their country from bankruptcy.
Running street battles broke out in the Greek capital, where demonstrators chanting “thieves, thieves” attempted to break through a riot police cordon guarding Parliament and chased the ceremonial guards away from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the building.

The demonstrations in Athens were some of the largest in recent years, with some estimates putting the crowd at about 60,000 people. Government officials put the number at above 25,000. Violence also broke out in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where another 20,000 people marched through the city centre, with youths smashing windows of stores and fast food restaurants.

The marches came amid a 24-hour nationwide general strike that grounded all flights to and from Greece, shut down ports, schools and government services and left hospitals working with emergency medical staff. The Acropolis and all other ancient sites were closed, while journalists also walked off the job, suspending television and radio news broadcasts. Prime Minister George Papandreou on Sunday announced draconian austerity measures, including cuts in salaries and pensions for civil servants.

K. Albanian analyst expects “new talks”

Source: FoNet, KIM radio

PRIŠTINA -- The international community is preparing for new talks “between Kosovo and Serbia”, says Veton Surroi. Veton Surroi (FoNet, file) The Kosovo Albanian journalist and analyst believes that the Western Balkans region still faces instability, and says it is Serbia who is “destabilizing Kosovo and the whole region with its policies”. “It must be emphasized that greater influence and pressure from the EU and the United States is expected, in order to open a process of secret negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia on the normalization of relations,” said Surroi. He believes that there is “no real possibility at this moment for the Western Balkans countries to join the EU before 2020, so the next ten years should be used to regulate the situation in this part of Europe”. Surroi was also quoted as saying that he believed the “catastrophic economic situation and poverty” were the main factors behind what he described as the “fragile situation in the Western Balkans countries”.

Election row spills into Albania's streets

Albania is gripped by a stand-off between the opposition Socialists (left) and Democratic Party

Thousands of opposition Socialist activists have rallied in the Albanian capital Tirana, demanding transparency in last year's general election.

The political turmoil is threatening Albania's bid to join the European Union, as the BBC's Mark Lowen reports.

Arben Ahmetaj perches on his temporary bed. With a collapsible base and thin mattress, it stands next to some 200 others, affording him little privacy. His only nourishment is bottled water; his entertainment a backgammon set.

Arben Ahmetaj is among the protesters camping in central Tirana

It is not quite the usual level of comfort enjoyed by this Socialist Party MP but, he admits, these are "drastic times".

He is one of those now on hunger strike in the centre of Tirana, camped out directly beneath the office window of Albania's Prime Minister, Sali Berisha.

The Socialist-led opposition are protesting at what they say was a stolen general election last June, when the governing Democrats, led by Mr Berisha, were returned to office with a slim majority.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8658279.stm

Macedonia Uncovers Additional Weapons Stash

Some of the seized weapons, Photo by FoNet

Macedonian police on Thursday seized a large stash of personal firearms and explosives hidden in several bunkers in the mountainous terrain near the border with Kosovo. On Friday, the police reported that they had found an additional large cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, mortars, and missiles, in the same area, as their search continues.

Unofficially local media reported that several armed and uniformed men who were guarding the weapons on Thursday opened fire on the special police forces after which they fled to Kosovo. Local A1 TV reported at least one armed man was wounded by police.

The arsenal of arms found yesterday reportedly contained many weapons, including machine guns, manual missile launchers, anti-tank mines, explosives, and detonators.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski said the police unit "Tigers" launched the operation on early Thursday following intelligence reports on stored weapons several kilometers northeast of Blace village near the Blace border crossing.

He informed that none of the police officers were injured during the action and that they are still on the ground searching for other bunkers that could possibly be hiding weapons.

A1 TV reported that the stash was hidden in a difficult to access densely forested mountain area and guarded by several armed men who were apparently camping there.

The television also reported that one man suffering from gunshot wounds yesterday asked for medical help in the Kosovo border village of Kacanik. Due to the seriousness of his wounds he was to be transported to Pristina but he fled after hearing the news.

According to unnamed police experts from the unit for illegal firearms trade, the seized arsenal in Macedonia does not date back to the 2001 Macedonia armed conflict. The number of weapons and their origin are still to be determined.

In 2001 this region was engulfed in the armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces. The six month conflict ended the same year with the signing of the Ohrid Peace Accord that envisaged greater rights for the ethnic Albanian community in the country. Among others it envisaged proportional employment of Albanians in the security forces and the administration.

The area around Blace was considered a hiding place for the armed insurgents.

Kosovo police also uncovered a weapons cache in Kosovo on Thursday, but the two busts have not been linked.

Albanian Ambassador in Greece, Minaroli: "the case, refers to a self-accident"

After comments by the albanian media in recent days in the case of abuse of an Albanian and burned in Greece, the Albanian ambassador in Athens, Vili Minaroli in the official version of events, declaring for "Vision plus TV", that it refers to a self-accidents, no implicated the Greek citizens.

The Albanian media had reported that 35-year-old was brutally abused by some Greek youths, noting that even the body of an Albanian was going to massacre. The event happened on the island of Crete.

more see; www.vizionplus.tv

Jeremić: Kosovo cannot participate as state

1 May 2010, Source: Večernje novosti

BELGRADE -- Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić told daily Večernje novosti that Kosovo cannot be represented as a state at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo. Vuk Jeremić (FoNet archive) He said that it would be good for “all voices of the region to be heard in Sarajevo,” and that is why Serbia is working on finding a way in which the UNSC Resolution 1244 and Serbia’s principal stance on not recognizing the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo’s independence would not be compromised. “For this, the presence of UNMIK would be necessary, as well as the implementation of a clear asymmetry in the representation and participation of the state delegations of those who are not a state,” he said. He said that Belgrade is practicing “policies in full continuity with the last government,” because Kosovo cannot be a topic of partisan disputes, adding that all parties “must breathe as one” when Kosovo is in question, because that is the only chance for success........ http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=05&dd=01&nav_id=66854

May 1, Berisha: "Long live the European Albania, the Albania of NATO"

About one hour, different singers performed in the festive concert held by the Democratic Party. The concert ended quietly, while Democratic MPs expressed that the celebration was not a challenge to protest the PS, but it was just a celebrating.

Few moments ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha hailed the festive concert of his supporters for May 1. "Long live the European Albania, Albania of NATO" he said."Today we are here to enjoy than ever in our history as we celebrate as a haven to our European ideal.
I invite you to continue along our journey towards Europe's you deserve ", said PM Berisha.

According to Albanian opposition leader Edi Rama, only in Cuba of Fidel Castro and in Tirana of Sali Berisha, May 1, is celebrated as a "party day".

NATO following with concern developments in Albania

Pangallos expected to visit Tirana in the next days

Secrete Service Chief of NATO, is cut a few days in Tirana, the developments in the crisis and control of Albanian extremists, in the focus

After the visit to NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Tirana, another team of security that NATO is from several days in Albania. According to sources, after the public offer was made by the Prime Minister Sali Berisha to NATO Chief for the deployment of missile defense to nuclear Albania, NATO security team Michael Turner Evanof, is looking with concern the political crisis that has included Albania, especially the escalation of opposition protests.

But according to NATO sources concern has been the initiatives of the Albanian extremists to threaten the Greek minority in southern Albania. Events in Himare last Saturday did not pass unnoticed by NATO security team and Tirana have asked to perform duties as initiatives by NATO members to curb Albanian extremists, who run the risk to be involved in ethnic riots, in Albania.

Meanwhile, according to the latest sources, the Greek Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos is expected to visit Tirana, where he will meet with Prime Minister Berisha. Anxieties latest political crisis in the country, the EU prespective of the country, also require serious attention of the Greek Minority and Greek albanian border security, are purported to be the focus of talks Pangalos Berisha.

Albanian opposition Socialists start hunger strike

AP

TIRANA, Albania — Twenty-two opposition Socialist lawmakers and 180 supporters have launched a hunger strike to press the government to allow a partial recount of an election they claim was tainted by vote-rigging.

Tens of thousands of Socialist supporters, led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, held a protest earlier pressing for a recount.

The government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who narrowly won the June 28 general election controlling 75 of parliament's 140 seats, has called that demand illegal.

The governing Democrats plan to hold a public concert at noon Saturday for the May 1 holiday to celebrate what they describe as successful reforms aimed at Albania's EU membership.

Tens of thousands of Albanians protest in Tirana
By LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press 2010-05-01 01:01 AM
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters thronged the main square of the Albanian capital Friday, vowing to stay there until the government allows a partial recount of June election ballots following allegations of vote-rigging. Prime Minister Sali Berisha's conservatives narrowly won the June 28 general elections, but the opposition Socialists have been boycotting parliament for months, demanding the recount of ballots in several districts. The government has called that demand illegal. Berisha's Democrats and allies control 75 of parliament's 140 seats. Socialist Party spokeswoman Armela Imeraj said the rally, which also protested economic hardship blamed on the government, would continue for days. "The rally is a non-stop one until the government decides to reform or to recount the election votes," she said. The international community has pressed new NATO-member Albania to resolve the deadlock, which could hamper its efforts to joint the European Union. "Does Berisha see this? We are many. We just want a fair electoral game," said protester Ilir Tiko, one of the protesters in Tirana's vast Skenderbeg Square. Another demonstrator, Sanie Behari, said she came out onto the streets to protest poverty. "Do they understand we can't live with such high prices?" she said of the government. "Sure, they can with their salaries. We just want a better life."

Minister: Phone services restored in Kosovo

30 April 2010 | 13:41 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Telecommunications Minister Jasna Matić stated that mobile and landline phone services of Serbian providers had been restored in most of Kosovo. Matić pointed out that the Telecommunications and Information Society Ministry had asked UNMIK not to allow illegal actions of Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština, which were incurring great damage to the citizens, and Telekom Srbija and Telenor operators. “According to UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244 the telecommunications authority has been put under the jurisdiction of UNMIK. They have so far regulated this field and we wrote to them so they would keep doing it,” she said. Matić noted that the situation in Kosovo was “relatively undefined” and that Priština was was using “every opportunity to strengthen its authority”. “It’s indisputable that Kosovo is a part of Serbia's territory, that Resolution 1244 is the only document which has legal weight, and Serbia will insist on it like we have done until now,” the minister said. Authorities in Priština last weekend disabled transmitters claiming that they did not have a license to operate in Kosovo, leaving some 100,000 Serbs in central and southern parts of the province without mobile phone service. Landline phone service has been disabled in some areas south of the Ibar River.

International Community Concern over Macedonia

Skopje | 28 April 2010 |

Skopje

The Skopje Missions of the EU, NATO, OSCE and the U.S. are concerned about the latest political developments in Macedonia, and urge the country's leaders to commit to reinforced political dialogue.

In a joint press release issued by the missions on Tuesday afternoon they expressed concern that Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and the full implementation of the Ohrid Peace Accord that ended the 2001 conflict in the country might be jeopardized.

"We have taken note with concern of recent statements by political leaders and other individuals that point in the opposite direction: talk of separatism, conflict, and abandonment of the Ohrid Framework Agreement,” the release reads.

"We firmly oppose any violence or threats of violence, as this will only harm political and economic progress, and which are in sharp contradiction with the values that our institutions represent."....

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/27707/

Slovenia and Italy want Albania and Bosnia to enter the “white list” of Schengen as quickly as possible

The Foreign Ministers of Slovenia and Italy - Samuel Žbogar and Franco Frattini, have sent an official letter to the Spanish Presidency of EU, urging the speeding up of the procedure for visa liberalisation for the citizens of Albanian and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radio Free Europe announced.

The message was published in the Albanian media today, quoting the Slovenian Foreign Ministry. The letter was signed by the foreign ministers of another 10 EU member states.

The present situation on the Balkans is a historic success: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

“The present situation on the Balkans is a historic success,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today following his meeting with Albanian Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilir Meta in Tirana, Macedonian TV channel "Sitel" reported.

“The situation on the Balkans is a historic success and my will is to see all countries from the region NATO members as soon as possible,” Rasmussen said. He noted that there was a significant progress in Kosovo, from a security point of view.

NATO’s Secretary General has expressed his gratitude to the Albanian authorities for their participation in the peacekeeping missions of the Alliance.

Albanian opposition to protest on April 30th for transparency on elections

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April 28, 2010 (MMD Newswire) -- On Friday, April 30th the Socialist Party led Albanian opposition is going to protest in the capital, Tirana, demanding full and thorough transparency of the parliamentary elections that took place on June 28th. The opposition is determined to persist in its protests until its constitutional right to an investigation into the elections is fulfilled.

The protest of the opposition does not aim to change the results of the election, but to achieve full transparency on said elections, as an indispensable precondition for free and fair elections in the future. In this action the opposition is supported not only by half the Albanian electorate who voted for them in the elections, but also by the thousands of Albanians who are suffering the dire economic conditions that have prevailed in the country since the elections; conditions which are a direct consequence of the abuse of public funds and finances by Prime Minister Sali Berisha for electoral purposes.

The difference between the Socialist led opposition and the governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, in the elections of June 28th amounted to a mere 1.5% of ballots cast; the narrowest difference ever in any elections in Albania. At the same time, international reports, such as by OSCE-ODHIR, underline the fact that "vote counting in a full one third of the voting centers was bad or very bad." Further evidence has surfaced in recent months of massive vote stuffing, of individuals having voted with multiple fake identity cards and of voting instead of emigrants who were not in Albania at the time of the elections.

To date the opposition has been denied its constitutional right to a full a thorough parliamentary investigation into the elections including the opening of the ballot boxes and the examination of electoral materials contained therein. Although the demand of the opposition for an investigation into the elections has been supported by many international actors including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Socialists and the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Bill Delahunt, the government has so far been intransigent in its refusal.

In the first major, three day protest on November 20th 2009, upwards of 100,000 people poured out onto the streets in the name of democracy and free and fair elections; on April 30th and beyond, the scale and the duration of the protest will dwarf any protests Albania has experienced during its 20 year long transition.

The Albanian opposition cannot compromise on its demand for transparency. Its determination is born of the belief that free and fair elections constitute a cornerstone of democracy.

* For any information, footage and images of our protests or any other type of assistance that you may require please contact:

Endri Fuga

Press & Communication Officer
Socialist Party of Albania
Tirana, Albania
endrifuga@gmail.com
00-355-672-102-020 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-672-102-020 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Maklen Misha

Press & Communication Officer,
maklenm@gmail.com
00-355-672-042-891 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-672-042-891 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Etjen Xhafaj

Press & Communication Officer
etjen.xhafaj@gmail.com
00-355-686-014-477 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00-355-686-014-477

Albania: Counterfeit euro distribution network dismantled

Albanian police busted a group for distribution of counterfeit euro, Macedonian newspaper "Vecer" announced. Two of the detainees are albanian Macedonian citizens - Djeladin Demiri and Kemal Rejepi.

Together with them were arrested Avni Hayrulahu Kosovo citizen, leader of the group and of Petri Marku from Tirana, whose cafeteria was used as a warehouse for counterfeit euros.

Counterfeit bank notes had to be put into circulation in Albania. In the cafeteria the police discovered 75,000 counterfeit euro, printed in Bulgaria and moved through FYROM to Albania.