[ALBSA-Info] [2001ajs] FWD: [2001del] FWD: Ambassador Limprechts Remarks at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington

[ALBANIA 2001]

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From: "ALBANIA 2001" <alb2001 at beld.net>
Reply-To: 2001del-owner at egroups.com
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 10:04:42 -0400


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From: NAACDC at aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 09:33:30 EDT

Albania:  Democracy, Prosperity, Stability
Ambassador Joseph Limprecht
October 2000

· Thank you for inviting me to join you today.  Albania is at a critical 
crossroads for consolidating its democratic progress and moving closer 
towards integration with Europe and the Trans-Atlantic community.  The 
Albanian government and people have shown tremendous political commitment to 
democratic reform from holding successful local elections to restoring a 
degree of normality to public life.  Our Embassy has responded by tempering 
travel warnings for American citizens, increasing our staff, and encouraging 
foreign investment through the establishment of an American Chamber of 
Commerce.  However, much remains to be done to strengthen electoral 
institutions, build a sustainable infrastructure, and implement 
legal-judiciary reforms that instill public - and investor - trust.   As 
such, I would like to examine the strides made and the challenges remaining 
in three areas that represent not only the pillars of the Stability Pact, but 
also priority issues for Albania - democracy, economic development, and 
security.  

· Let me begin with the significant democratic test Albania faced in the 
recent local elections.  The country took an important step forward in 
meeting international standards and joining the European mainstream.  
International observers generally agreed that despite some tension in the 
air, the elections occurred in a remarkably peaceful atmosphere.      

· The U.S. provided election observers to support the international effort, 
led by OSCE and ODIHR.  Embassy officials were deployed in voting districts 
throughout the country, and observed no serious incidents of violence or 
fraud.  I traveled with U.S. Special Advisor for Balkan Elections Robert 
Frowick and OSCE Ambassador Geert Ahrens to voting centers in Shkodra and 
Berat, as well as Tirana, on the day of the elections.  We were especially 
pleased with the great efforts made by the Albanian people to travel to 
polling stations and exercise their right to vote in a calm and congenial 
electoral atmosphere.  Police were also evident at polling stations and 
checkpoints throughout the country and generally carried out their duties 
with restraint. 

· While the respect shown for international standards helped affirm the 
democratic legitimacy of the elections, Albania still must work on some of 
the procedural shortcomings identified by international and domestic 
observers.  This process has not been easy.  We worked closely with the OSCE, 
the Central Election Commission, and the Albanian government in the run-up to 
the elections to correct technical problems with voters lists and election 
mechanics.  Although international observers came across voters who were not 
on lists or could not find their polling stations, no one has presented any 
evidence to claim widespread fraud in these elections.  Nevertheless, there 
is much to do to bring the Commission up to adequate standards for efficiency 
by next spring's national elections.

· In spite of the protests of the Democratic Party leadership against what 
they perceived as manipulation of voters lists, individual Democratic Party 
candidates ended up taking part in the second run-off.  [Will insert DP's 
participation in second round, results and Berisha's reaction] 

· We will continue to offer our support as Albania improves the technical 
aspects of the electoral process, particularly the voter lists, in 
anticipation of parliamentary elections next spring.  In order to get it 
right, a great deal remains to be done.  In the meantime, we have encouraged 
Albania to move forward with a peaceful transition of power at the local 
level, and to continue strengthening the foundation of the country's 
democratic institutions.
 
· Of course, the key to keeping Albania on its path into the democratic 
mainstream remains in ensuring sustained economic development, which is the 
next area I'd like to address.  Developing a strong, dynamic economy in 
Albania will require coordinated activity on at least three levels - 
individual, local, and national.

· First, at an individual level, people have to be willing to take risks to 
invest their savings and create enterprises and jobs.  A quick walk down any 
street in any town will reveal that Albanians are by their very nature 
entrepreneurial.  They seem to have little problem identifying a market, 
finding a product to fill it, and then discovering a way to import it so that 
they can re-sell it at a profit.  The downside is that relatively little is 
manufactured in-country.

· At the local level, cities and regions need to market their competitive 
advantages to businesses and individuals.  They should be focusing on 
attributes that set them apart from other cities and regions, including 
location on the seashore, access to a port, rich agricultural land, a 
competitive labor market, natural beauty or historic tourism potential, and 
other factors.

· Unfortunately, economic development promotion at the local level is 
virtually unheard of in Albania.  The time is ripe, however, to change this.  
Albania has just finished electing new mayors and city councils for its 76 
municipalities and hundreds of villages and communes.  As the Albanian 
government moves ahead with plans to decentralize power, they should be able 
to develop economic programs.  In order to assist Albania's new leaders with 
best practices in this area, my Embassy will be looking for American 
associations and businesses to share their expertise and knowledge.

· Third, at the national level, the government must create overall conditions 
that allow business to prosper.   This entails three areas:  1)  developing 
and maintaining macro-economic stability;  2) providing the infrastructure 
that allows unimpeded commerce, such as good roads, functioning railroads and 
ports, quality education, and access to credit; and 3) the rule of law - 
i.e., a functioning, independent legal system that provides investors with 
reasonable assurance that their assets will be protected, their profits may 
be repatriated, and corruption will at least be kept to manageable levels.

· The government's track record is mixed.  It deserves high marks for its 
efforts in conjunction with the IMF to achieve economic stability.  Inflation 
was zero last year and is expected to total between 2 and 3 percent this 
year.  The budget deficit is under control and tax and customs revenues are 
on target.   

· The country's infrastructure, however, remains problematic.  An erratic, 
unreliable energy system routinely throws the country into cold and darkness 
and disrupts factories, plants and shops.  Roads are still inadequate - it 
takes four hours to travel the roughly 70 miles from the Macedonian border at 
Pogradec to Tirana - and this is one of the better roads.  The port of Durres 
is hampered by inadequate facilities. 

· While the government of Albania is ultimately responsible for improving the 
infrastructure, the U.S. and the international community must continue to 
play a role in this area.    Through the South Balkan Development Initiative, 
the U.S. provided funds to conduct feasibility studies for the improvement of 
Rinas airport and development of cargo facilities at the port of Durres.  The 
GOA is investing approximately USD 5 million of US budgetary assistance to 
repair local roads.  

· The Stability Pact has also identified 7 "Quick Start" projects totaling 
USD 110 million to help Albania upgrade its infrastructure, including roads 
and water systems.   Our USAID mission is also developing an ambitious plan 
to reform and privatize the ineffective state energy company -- KESH.  The 
challenge for the Albanian government is now to manage these investments and 
ensure that the projects are implemented in a timely fashion.  

· The government has also done little to develop policies that will attract 
outside investment.  Taxes are punitive in relation to the government 
services provided, and not enough financial, tax, or infrastructure 
incentives exist for those looking to open businesses.   Albania's cheap 
labor and proximity to Western Europe are, by themselves, not enough to 
induce hard-headed investors who know that cheap labor is not limited to 
Albania. 

· Despite all the challenges Albania faces, we believe in the potential of 
the Albanian economy.    Our confidence is reflected in Embassy Tirana's 
recent work to establish an American Chamber of Commerce in Albania.  The 
chamber, or "AmCham," already has nearly 40 members and has raised 
approximately $17,000.  The AmCham will work to increase U.S.-Albanian trade 
and promote right-minded economic policies in Albania.

· In order to create an environment that is hospitable to investment, 
tourism, and economic development, Albania needs a secure and legal state - 
my final area of examination today.  During a speech I gave to a 
Parliamentary Committee on September 14, I noted that rule of law -- of which 
public order is a key part -- is a top priority for closer relations between 
Albania and its democratic partners. 
 
· Albania has made great strides in promoting domestic peace and stability.  
Since my arrival, I have observed first-hand the introduction of uniformed 
police on the streets, the installation of traffic lights, and the 
dismantling of illegal kiosks.  Albania has also been identified as a leader 
in the region for efforts to reduce the threat of small arms, marked by the 
government signing a memorandum of commitment with Assistant Secretary of 
State Eric Newsom in September to destroy over 130,000 weapons collected from 
civilians.  These are clear indications of the government's commitment and 
ability to bring a measure of normal life to the country. 

· Other initiatives taken this year, such as the reorganization of police 
into a more effective and efficient organization, will lay the basis for 
further progress in creating a professional, civilian police force.   
Likewise, the legal-judicial system has undergone an extraordinary 
transformation when compared with the situation a decade ago.  Its 
restructuring in accordance with the 1998 constitution and European standards 
-- including implementation of concrete reforms to guarantee the Judiciary 
independence from the Executive branch - is designed to help ensure a 
democratic and professional judiciary.
 
· Due to the improved security situation, the State Department in April 
updated the US travel advisory for Albania from a warning against "all travel 
to Albania" to a reasonable note of caution.  In fact, approximately two 
months ago, I met in Saranda with a group of American tourists exploring the 
Adriatic on a small cruise ship --  the first such group to visit Albania in 
at least four years.  

· The Embassy has also increased its staff dramatically from its reduced 
level of 18 months ago.  We have already resumed all our consular services, 
including processing diversity visas.  The normalization of the public order 
situation over the past year has enabled us to bring new people on and to 
give them greater leeway to travel extensively throughout the country and 
carry out their jobs.   Our presence is highly visible in Albania, and we 
have improved our knowledge and ability to analyze the situation.
 
· Although Albania has made important strides in restoring public order and 
establishing a legal framework, laws and statements are not enough.  The 
challenge lies in enforcing laws and ensuring that judgments are honored so 
that Albania builds public confidence in rule of law.  Political commitment 
and genuine follow-up must be there.  Both law enforcement and legal-judicial 
bodies need to improve their relationships with one another to arrest, 
convict and punish criminals -- the critical key to winning over public 
trust.              

· The United States foreign assistance program this year provided $32 million 
to Albania -- in per capita terms, one of the largest aid programs we have.  
Of this amount, $4 or $5 million goes directly to help Albania build 
sustainable law enforcement, legal, and developmental infrastructures through 
programs that combat criminality and prosecute and punish appropriately those 
who threaten public order.  Additional amounts indirectly support these 
objectives.

· We also work closely with other members of the Friends of Albania through 
the coordinating leadership of the OSCE.   WEU-MAPE's extensive police 
training program -- which has the capacity to train police throughout Albania 
-- works in a complementary fashion with our smaller ICITAP program, which 
provides targeted assistance to the Ministry of Public Order.

· Despite progress with the general public order situation, Albania faces a 
particularly difficult challenge in the fight against organized crime.  The 
US Government is prepared to lend a helping hand with material and technical 
assistance as well as political support.  But the larger share of 
responsibility rests on Albania. 
 
· Trafficking in narcotics, women and children, migrants, stolen cars, or 
other contraband, remain serious threats to Albania's reputation regionally 
and in Europe.  Organized crime leads to domestic problems of drug abuse and 
enriches an illicit corrupt economy at the expense of a legitimate one that 
would benefit the entire community.  Albania needs to ensure that illegal 
trafficking does not grow unchecked or stand in the way of Albania's movement 
towards a normal democratic society.
 
In conclusion, Albania must be credited with embarking on a process of 
political reform and institution-building that, if sustained, will eventually 
bring it closer to the family of democratic nations.  Nonetheless, in order 
for Albania to integrate itself within Europe, it must continue to build a 
sound economic infrastructure and a greater degree of the stability that 
characterizes the established democracies of the world.  Much has been done 
and much remains to be done.  We and the rest of the international community, 
working with the OSCE and in the framework of the Friends of Albania, must 
continue to provide not only essential material and technical support, but 
also the political involvement and support needed to ensure its 
effectiveness.  With this support, but above all, with sustained Albanian 
commitment to stability and the rule of law, Albania has the potential to 
become a full-fledged member of a democratic, stable, and prosperous Europe.  
 






--
ALBANIA 2001
Investment and Finance
Suite #417
160 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone:  781-843-1056
Telephone:  617-262-6665
Fax:  617-262-2340
E-Mail:  alb2001 at beld.net

ALBANIA 2001
Investment and Finance
Rruga Asim Vokshi
Pallati #141
Tirana, Albania
Telephone:  355-42-40842
Telephone:  355-42-39748
Fax:  355-42-39748
E-Mail:  alb2001 at icc.al.eu.org

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--
ALBANIA 2001
Investment and Finance
Suite #417
160 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone:  781-843-1056
Telephone:  617-262-6665
Fax:  617-262-2340
E-Mail:  alb2001 at beld.net

ALBANIA 2001
Investment and Finance
Rruga Asim Vokshi
Pallati #141
Tirana, Albania
Telephone:  355-42-40842
Telephone:  355-42-39748
Fax:  355-42-39748
E-Mail:  alb2001 at icc.al.eu.org

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