VZCZCXRO7675
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #0251/01 0881732
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281732Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6917
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000251 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE 
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT, ICITAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PARM AL
 
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, MARCH 22-28, 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. 
 
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POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Choreography of an Interpretive Dance: Socialist Party 
Leader Edi Rama's carefully choreographed performance since the 
tragic explosion at Gerdec is a welcome demonstration of political 
maturity from the opposition.  Under pressure to slam the government 
over the gravity of the incident, Rama and other SP party officials 
have consistently criticized in a temperate manner.  While calling 
for the Prime Minister's resignation, Rama also led a Silent Protest 
of over 10,000 citizens last Friday, one of the most dignified and 
reserved events of its kind since the fall of communism, in a 
respectful tribute to those who perished at Gerdec. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The images of disaster from Gerdec, the public anger over 
this government's failure, and allegations of corruption and 
government collusion have all contributed to a climate of public 
discontent.  However, to the surprise and often anger of his party's 
leading activists, Rama has refused to take full advantage of the 
situation or ride the wave of public discontent beyond the protest 
staged last week.  Acutely aware that a show of government 
instability in the days before the NATO decision could damage 
Albania's chances for entry, Rama has apparently chosen the high 
ground, either in the interest of NATO membership or to buy his own 
party time to regroup in case the current government cannot 
withstand the Gerdec crisis.  Whatever the reason, this 
statesman-like quality is a welcome change in the opposition from 
its more divisive strategies of recent years. 
 
¶4. (U) Brotherly Nations: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan 
visited Albania March 26 during a Balkan tour that also included 
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria.  In a visit twice postponed in 
2007, Erdogan met with leaders including President Topi, Prime 
Minister Berisha, Speaker Topalli, and opposition leader Edi Rama. 
Confirming Albania's significant role in Turkish foreign policy, 
Erdogan reiterated Turkey's support for NATO membership.  Albanian 
officials reciprocated with a nod for Turkey's EU membership bid as 
well as for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 
2009-2010.  At a Turkish-Albanian Business Council meeting the two 
PMs expressed their determination to further strengthen trade and 
economic ties between their countries through a Free Trade Agreement 
signed in Tirana, which will take effect May 1.  Finally, Erdogan 
pledged support for the proposed Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) 
project for transport of natural gas from Turkey to Italy through 
Greece and Albania. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Love Economic Style: Turkey has historically been an 
important strategic and economic partner for Albania.  Good foreign 
relations with Turkey have aided in welcoming and balancing Greek 
influence in Albanian society.  Turkey was the first country to 
grant Albanians visas upon arrival, without prior interview, and 
this has made Turkey a popular tourist (particularly honeymoon) 
destination.  The country has also been a consistent and vital trade 
partner.  Trade volume rose to $347 million in 2007, up 37% from 
2006 and six times higher than in 1999.  Turkish foreign investments 
increased following the 2007 privatization of Albtelecom by the 
Turkish consortium Calik.  Today, these investments are at $630 
million compared to $35 million in 2002, throughout the 
infrastructure, mining, telecommunication, textiles, health, and 
education sectors.  If love is based on a heavy purse, it looks like 
the devotion between these two will only strengthen in the future. 
 
¶6. (U) Afraid of the Needle?: Recent events in Gerdec highlight 
another sub-standard sector in Albania: healthcare.  The number of 
injuries on March 15 overwhelmed local hospitals, which had 
inadequate space and medical resources to treat the patients.  Many 
facilities quickly ran out of basic medications and lack equipment 
to conduct proper examinations.  However, this is only the tip of 
the iceberg. 
 
¶7. (SBU) It is uniformly agreed that the healthcare system requires 
extensive and deep-rooted reform.  Government funding is currently 
inadequate to support existing public hospitals.  In smaller 
Albanian cities and villages, the problem is worse, as many clinics 
and hospitals are non-operational.  If they are open to the public, 
their hours are limited, their staff lacks proper qualifications, 
and the facility lacks suitable medical supplies and equipment, 
sometimes including basic vaccines for newborns and other medicines. 
 Because health practitioners are among the lowest paid of any 
trained professionals, the healthcare system is among the most 
corrupted of public sectors, where extraneous "fees" are demanded 
 
TIRANA 00000251  002 OF 002 
 
 
for each lab test or type of medical care above the basic costs 
covered by the state.  Those who can pay these bribes get better 
care, while those who cannot receive less attention and haphazard 
care.  Individuals who diligently pay taxes into the socialized 
medical system are treated the same as those who pay nothing - there 
are no healthcare cards to distinguish between the two groups. 
 
¶8.  (U) In response to these conditions, private clinics have sprung 
up, where care and salaries are notably better, taking the best 
doctors and nurses away from public hospitals to these clinics, 
which remain beyond the means of the average Albanian. 
 
----------------------------- 
THIS WEEK IN ARTS AND CULTURE 
----------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Palace Concerts: The President of the Republic began a new 
tradition last year through a series of Palace Concerts.  The first 
cultural initiative of its kind, its goal is to showcase talented 
Albanian and foreign musicians performing classical music for a 
selected audience.  Invitees included government officials, members 
of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and other 
Albanian art and culture personalities.  The concerts take place at 
the former Royal Palace of Albania, (the current official residence 
of President Topi, where President Bush was welcomed last year) 
adding prestige to the event. 
 
¶10. (U) The first concert introduced an Albanian violinist Suela 
Mullaj, soloist and co-founder of the well known United Europe 
Chamber Orchestra based in Milan.  She was accompanied by the 
Italian conductor, pianist and composer Massimo Palumbo.  Ms. Mullaj 
has performed in more than 150 concerts in Europe with a repertoire 
that spans from baroque to the great romantic and modern music 
concerts. 
 
¶11. (U) The series seeks to demonstrate the importance of promoting 
arts and culture, and that Albanian leaders can and must do more on 
this front.  During Albania's years of post-communist transition 
many talented artists left the country in search of better career 
opportunities.  Despite many success stories from this diaspora, 
there has been little effort to inspire the Albania public with 
these talents, a situation President Topi hopes to amend. 
 
----------------- 
QUOTE OF THE WEEK 
----------------- 
 
¶12.  (U) "The Mafia is trying to keep Albania from entering into 
NATO.  You gentlemen can save these accusations and use them as 
toilet paper." Excerpted from Prime Minister Berisha's response to 
opposition accusation in the wake of the New York Times' March 27 
front page article on arms and ammunition sales to Afghanistan. 
 
WITHERS