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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #0991/01 3201224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161224Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6406
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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