VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTI #0634/01 2651435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221435Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8469

UNCLAS TIRANA 000634 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE; S/GPI; S/P 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP BTIO EAID OEXC OIIP PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL SMIG
TSPL, EINV, AL 
SUBJECT:  DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT: TIRANA RESPONSE 
 
REF: A) STATE 86401 B) TIRANA 408 C) TIRANA 409 
 
¶1. Summary: Below is Post's response to ref A request concerning 
information on the Albanian diaspora. End summary. 
 
¶2. Albania is a country of approximately 3.6 million comprised of 
ethnic Albanians (95 per cent), Greeks (3 per cent) and other 
groups, such as Roma (Gypsies), Serbs, and Macedonians.  While 
Albania was isolated from the rest of the world from 1955 to 1991 
during the communist period, when communism fell, the country opened 
up and tens of thousands of Albanians living in Albania left the 
country.  One United Nations estimate states that one in five 
Albanians left the country between 1990 and 2001.  For many years, 
there have been scores of ethnic Albanians living outside Albania in 
neighboring countries, such as Macedonia, Greece and Kosovo. 
According to various sources, over one million Albanians live in 
Turkey, over 500,000 in Macedonia, 440,000 in Greece, 200,000 in 
both Italy and the UK, and more than 100,000 in both the U.S. and 
Germany, with nearly as many in Switzerland, and about 30,000 in 
Montenegro.  Albanians commonly joke that more Albanians live 
outside Albania than in it. 
 
¶3. These various groups range from newly arrived immigrants to 
individuals and families who have lived in other countries for 
decades, if not longer.  They are often recognizable in their 
various communities and have distinct political representation in 
some countries such as Macedonia.  Some of these groups at times 
have relationships with entities in Albania.  For example in 2001, 
when fighting involving an ethnic Albanian separatist movement 
erupted in neighboring Macedonia, the GOA supported greater rights 
for the Albanian minority but condemned the rebels' violent tactics. 
 There are other more formal networks such as the National Albanian 
American Council (NAAC), founded in 1996, which seeks to advocate 
for Albanians and promote cooperation, peace, and democratization in 
the Balkans.  The regional focus that NAAC has reflects the fact 
that ethnic Albanians are spread throughout the Balkan Peninsula. 
One of the programs NAAC has is the Hope Fellowship Program, which 
is conducted in conjunction with USAID.  Through this program, 
individuals from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania participate 
in study visits to the U.S. to learn more about advocacy, 
democratization and other issues.  The program targets people 
between 18-45 years old, different ethnic groups, and women in 
government institutions and/or civil society leaders.  Its website 
is www.naac.org.  Other such networks include GLOBALB and the NGO 
MJAFT!, which has a network in London.  MJAFT!'s network in London 
has less than 50 official members, however it holds events for the 
diaspora in London that attract many other ethnic Albanians. 
¶4. As Albanian families are large in size, in many cases Albanians 
abroad still have many relatives remaining in Albania, thus keeping 
ties relatively close.  In some cases the diaspora groups 
participate in politics through fundraising in their current country 
of residence.  Remittances represent the largest influx of foreign 
capital into the Albanian economy.    According to data Post has 
received, remittances amounted to 9.2 per cent of GDP in 2008, 
although for the first quarter of 2009, remittances were down eight 
per cent from 2008 to 196 million euro.  Some remittances finance 
construction and other business activities, but most are used to 
help poor families meet immediate needs.  Generally, remittances 
seem to be the largest impact that the diaspora has on Albania.  See 
refs B and C for a closer look at remittances. 
 
¶5. The diaspora community does invest in Albania, although it is 
difficult to determine the scale of investment.  Certainly Albanians 
living abroad contribute financially to help relatives start 
businesses and build homes, which also creates jobs indirectly by 
increasing demands for other products.  The future potential for 
diaspora investment should be positive, however given the investment 
climate, particularly with respect to private property, potential 
investors are often scared away by what they (correctly, in many 
cases) see as a less than ideal place to invest money. 
 
¶6. The diaspora has some contact with the GOA officially.  The GOA, 
with its Brain Gain Program, co-sponsored by the UNDP, works to 
engage the diaspora to contribute to Albania's development, by 
seeking ways to entice qualified professionals to return to Albania. 
 The program is also creating an online database in which people can 
join and formulating GOA policy toward the diaspora.  The Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also has an office of Diaspora Affairs that 
helps to coordinate policy.  A number of Albanian-Americans are also 
active in Albanian politics, with at least two serving in the 
Albanian parliament.  At least two other Albanian-Americans ran 
unsuccessfully for Parliament in the June, 2009 parliamentary 
elections.  One of those candidates currently serves as General 
Director for the state-owned electricity generator 
 
¶7. The diaspora community does not seem to contribute significantly 
in the fields of engineering, medical and educational institution 
building, conflict resolution, peace building, and health.  There 
are individuals and groups that may work in this field, however. 
Job opportunities in scientific fields are scant as is often the 
salary, making it hard for people with advanced degrees in the 
sciences to return and earn a comparable living to that in other 
countries.  In civil society and democratization, again the diaspora 
seems to play more of a financial role than an advocacy role. 
During the recent election period for example, leading politicians 
of all stripes traveled overseas to gain money and promote 
awareness. 
 
¶8. Post's POC for this issue is Michael W. Gray, Political Officer, 
email graymw3@state.gov, cell: 355-4-68-403-9059, office 
355-4-224-7285 x3166. 
 
WITHERS