The problem with corruption in Albania is not that the government has not committed to doing something about it, but that in effect it has done nothing – period!

Reference article here and here

My work experiences have exposed me sufficiently to understanding how the Albanian media works. Also the fact that I focus constantly on marketing and communication, has made me even more to want to repudiate the communication methods employed by the political parties and their media dogs. I do not distinguish nor do I discriminate against one or the other political spectrum. My concern is that of a citizen who wants for his/her right to make an informed decision – respected especially by those who are responsible to inform me! Most importantly, I do not want to be feed bull… by anyone, much less at a time when there are truly dire needs affecting me, my family, my business and the Albanian people as a whole.

But much to my concern is the fact that the Albanian people and businesses are so much at the mercy of politics which in turn affects their daily lives in more ways than what most people can control. I do want to express my outrage and indignation at the current situation and the way that politics continues to impose itself on our daily lives and well-being. Obviously we are still a long way off to the practices of true democracy and pluralism of ideas.

The challenge: what to do?

Obviously, most everyone can and do present their own outrage about the current situation that we find ourselves in. And it is important to get a good understanding of what is happening so as to make informed decisions about what you and I need to do.

So what can you and I do? These are just a few suggestions:

• do not spend your time being consumed by politically saturated media (both visual and printed);
• find other more fruitful and useful things to do with your time i.e. invest in your business, invest in your family by spending time with them, invest in your community by being a model neighbor and citizen;
• if politicians or their supporters come up to you ask them if they have kept what they promised last time, not what may be done in the future if they get elected or reelected;
• learn something new, get a book to read, don’t waste your time listening and talking about junk;
• if your friends/bodies start talking about politics, change subject!

I dare you to offer your own practical suggestions about what to do in the current and ongoing situation. I know that there are many more smart people out there who have better ideas and practical suggestions than mine. I just want to get the conversation and focused and going in the right direction….

The website is about engaging people in dialogue and raising awareness as well as producing action about major issues affecting the Albanian people and the country as a whole. The website is the online voice and face of an organization presenting issues which need to be discussed, challenged and treated in many other ways through civil and democratic means.

For me it is important that civil organizations such as this one continue to provide their input and contribution to the emancipation of our society and culture as part of a greater European community and people.

Major activity areas of concern include political, administrative, educational, diplomatic, environmental, health, human rights and the rule of law in Albania. I would encourage you to check it out and may be even provide your input into the issues being conveyed.

Here is the link: www.AlternativaCivile.com

Though I personally try to bring forth a different perspective of this Albanian reality and life, I obviously do not tend to focus on the worst aspects nor do I want to exalt the evils of our society. But obviously there are harsh realities and issues that still affect us in ways that bring about dire consequences even to our very lives!

The recent violent protest in Tirana, which was interpreted as an attempt to try and overthrow the current government was an extreme example of that harsh reality in Tirana, Albania.

Albanian democracy does not need more martyrs
I would have liked to say that I was the one to say that quote, but nevertheless its truth was harshly realized by the death of three protesters on the street. Albanian democracy is still weak and irresponsible with regard to human life and the well-being of its people. Short-sightedness and selfish gain, continue to plague most of our decision-making be it in the political, social or economic spheres of our society. But further worst is the fact that the development of democracy can be so easily thwarted by acts of violence and the loss of lives!

Use of violence for political goals
[[Show as slideshow]]I am against violence, and more so against the use of violence to further political goals of any political party. But even more so at a time when there is true suffering all around us. A time when the economy is weak and is faced with natural and political catastrophes. But I guess that old saying holds true: the people deserve their leaders! At least the leaders that they choose to follow!

It is a historical fact that the poorer social stratas of any society are often misled and misused for political reasons. And Albanian political parties have no problem resulting to violence to sustain their position, be it on the part of the opposition or the current government. The recent protest was a vivid example!

We have not learned from history
There is another saying, which says: “those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat its mistakes”. And for me the violent protest in Tirana is a sad reminder that we as Albanians have a short memory. But even sadder than that is the fact that the same people who got the country in this situation are the same people that we continue to elect and call our leaders. Thus we continue to pay the consequences of bad leadership and forget about what should matter most in terms of the long-term well-being and prosperity of the people.

I feel sick and I stand on my opinion that he should not be allowed to reenter the political and much less the academic life of this country. I’ve heard plenty of sad stories where this person has abused his position and authority and am truly disappointed by the court’s decision to acquit him of any wrong doing with regard to the scandal that was widely reported in the media about one year ago. Well, one thing is for sure, the court’s decision is obviously subjective and does not clear the dirt-level moral standing that this person represents.

My hope is that if the decision is made for him to return to the academic life, that students would rise to oppose this decision by boycotting classes and other types of peaceful and democratic forms of protest.

We just have to start saying “no” to immoral behavior and abusive conduct of such people. This is my stand on the issue.

A group of Albanian journalists and civil society activists protested on Wednesday in front of the office of Prime Minister Sali Berisha against the brutal assault of Tirana publisher Mero Baze by oil magnate Rezart Taci.

Following the symbolism of the Iraqi journalist that attacked U.S. President George W. Bush with a shoe, the protesters threw shoes at the office of the prime minister, while accusing him of being responsible for the violence against the journalist.

Baze was beaten late on Monday evening in Tirana, following a series of reports in the publisher’s media accusing the businessman of tax evasion.

According to witnesses present in the Capriccio Bar in the center of Tirana’s upscale Bllok neighborhood, Rezart Taci and his bodyguards attacked the journalist, kicking and beating him for roughly four minutes, leaving him unconscious.

Present during the assault were also two other journalists; political commentator Andi Bushati and the editor-in-chief of Vizion Plus TV Arban Hasani, who later testified on the assault on the journalist.

Baze recovered in Tirana’s military hospital on Monday evening and was released in the early hours of Tuesday. He had ran a series of critical reports on his TV Show, Faktor Plus, on Vizion Plus TV accusing Rezart Taci and his company, the ARMO oil refinery of massive tax evasion.

Apart from the TV show, Baze also publishes the Tirana daily Tema, a publication that is very critical of the government.

Rezart Taci is known as one of the Tirana businessman in Prime Minister Berisha’s inner circle. His other company, Taci Oil International has spent millions of euros organising charity football matches, with the proceeds donated to a children’s charity ran by Berisha’s wife.

The businessman through a statement for the media, admitted he had been present during the assault, but denied he had participated.  Police so far have arrested two of his bodyguards and issued a warrant for Taci’s detention, but have not yet arrested him.

On Tuesday a journalism organisation, offered a 10,000 euro reward for information, leading to Taci’s arrest.

Source: BalkanInsight

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue…

Elevated levels of music noise and smoke-filled rooms are an all-year-round problem which gets worse in the colder seasons of the year.

Meanwhile, music noise levels are a ‘thorn in the flesh’ for the inhabitants of the apartment buildings around or above such places of “zombie like” entertainment!

In the past several weeks a couple of newspapers have given special attention to this issue by voicing the concerns of the inhabitants in their daily pages. The issue has gotten to the point that now the Tirana municipality and other related authorities are intervening to remedy the situation by issuing warnings and fines to those who break the rules.

On the one side, I can sympathize with the bar owners and managers who due to increased competition have to come up with ways to attract more customers, though their methods are always the same. If it’s not some band or special singer, then it’s just the DJ blasting loud music. But even for those places that may choose to keep their volume low, the surrounding sounds of other bars tend to intrude at which point the only solution would be to raise their volume as well. In this cacophony of mind-numbing sounds everyone is left deaf or close to it. But in my judgment the source of the problem lies elsewhere.

The obvious lack of entertainment venues such as theaters, galleries, etc., makes it almost inevitable for people to resolve going to such places such where the only language spoken is loud music and smoke.

From the people that I have been talking to as well as from my own opinion of this issue, I have to say that the news did not come as of a particular surprise to most. However, the fiasco of the general elections might have had something to do with the general disregard for the news. There is that sense that in a time of regular disillusionment by politicians and the government what can one more bad news do to us?

Well, for starters, there is a new sense of being left out almost to the point of direct discrimination by the European Commission. I say this, not only for Albanians, but also for Bosnia & Herzegovinians and Kosovars in particular as well.

But is this destiny, “fate”, or are we always making the wrong decisions at the wrong time?

As I bring this thought out, I purposely am reminded of the two different worldviews that dominate this region. There are those that due to their eastern cultural and religious influences from past centuries tend to view things as just ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’! However, there are an ever growing number of people who are of the conviction that ‘we decide our own destiny’ or that ‘we are responsible for it’.  Both however present a very interesting pessimistic view.

If the first view is true, then we might as well give up and just go on back to survival mode. If the second view is true, then may be our efforts are not good enough for the EC!

Though I sense that there is more truth in the later than the prior, the fact remains that we cannot afford to be overcome by a sense of pessimism, but rather should focus on getting things right on our part and pushing with the EC to bring about the desired results.

Times have changed and we as Albanians need to search out for a new ‘fate’ if you will. The new sense of discontent and perception of discrimination lets me know that we as Albanians are starting to view things differently, though very slowly, I must admit.

With regard to the success or not, of the process there is no one else better the OSCE to issue a statement or final verdict, that is why I would like to forward on to you a preliminary statement made today:

In a statement issued today, the International Election Observation Mission concluded that Albania’s election process demonstrated improvements, but also noted that violations persist.

The observers said the elections marked tangible progress with regard to the introduction of new voter registration and identification procedures, and the adoption of an improved legal framework.

But the observers also noted that these improvements were overshadowed by the politicization of technical aspects of the process and violations observed during the campaign which undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

Election day was overall calm and peaceful and the atmosphere was improved. Observers assessed the voting process slightly more positively than in previous elections, but noted procedural violations related in particular to inking procedures and widespread family voting.

The mission said it was too early to make a definite assessment, as the vote count and tabulation of results have yet to be completed.

“The country has matured, it has made progress, and many of the fears we had only some months ago have not materialized. I’m certainly happy about the progress we saw, but there is also a considerable number of issues that need to be tackled, in particular the polarized political climate,” said Wolfgang Grossruck, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short-term observer mission.

“These elections demonstrated that the Albanian people has the whole potential for building a democratic society alike that in other European countries. Now there is a huge responsibility of the authorities and main political stakeholders to work hard in order to establish confidence among the citizens for a democratic electoral process,” said Corien Jonker, Head of the delegation of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.

“Our report reveals positive but also some negative developments in the conduct of these elections. Progress has been achieved since the last parliamentary elections in 2005. However, greater efforts still need to be made by all political forces in order to meet demanding international standards,” said Bruce George, Head of the delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“The new electoral code agreed to by both main political parties introduced a number of important improvements and safeguards, in particular with regard to voter registration and identification. It is unfortunate that the high level of distrust among parties, the use of official events for campaign purposes and allegations of pressure on voters did not increase public confidence in the election process,” said Ambassador Audrey Glover, Head of the long-term election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

This is the link to the original text: Improvements in Albania’s election process, but violations persist, observers say.