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Books on Albania
REPUBLICAN REFERENCE
Area (sq.km)
28,748
Population
3,582,205
Capital
Tirana
Currency
Lek
President
Alfred Moisiu
Private sector
% of GDP
45%
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Update No: 089 - (30/09/04)
Albania, Bulgaria seek EU support for highway
Bulgaria and Albania on September 9th urged the European Union to back their
efforts to construct a trans-Balkan road linking Albania, Macedonia and
Bulgaria. "We will be persistent and united in raising the question for the
highway before our European partners," Bulgarian President, Georgi Parvanov,
said after meeting with his Albanian counterpart, Alfred Moisiu. The Corridor 8
highway would be one of the most important road links in the Balkans, starting
on Albania's Adriatic coast, crossing Macedonia and reaching Bulgaria's Black
Sea coast.
The European Union and international financial institutions are already helping
finance the project, but the three Balkan countries have repeatedly urged the
union to increase funding for the project, which is expected to bring economic
growth to the cash-strapped region. The route is part of a larger infrastructure
project that also includes an oil pipeline between the Black Sea and the
Adriatic coast, a gas conduit, power lines and fibre optic cables. "I have
repeatedly criticised the European Union for perceiving the trans-Balkan
corridor as just an ordinary route… in fact, it is part of the efforts to
promote trust and understanding in our region," Moisiu said.
Moisiu also called for quick settlement on the final status of UN-governed Serb
province of Kosovo, saying the Balkan countries' integration to the European
Union required "stability and integration within the region itself."
China, Albania sign seven cooperative documents
China and Albania have long been good friends. The China card was a
favourite ploy of Enver Hoxha, the former communist dictator of the country, his
small country being at the time, China's economic colony in Europe - a reversal
of Hong Kong, without the dynamism.
The two countries signed seven cooperative documents on September 13th to cement
their cooperation in the areas of the economy, education, sports, broadcasting
and television, among others. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Albanian Prime
Minister Fatos Nano attended the signing ceremony following a meeting between
the two.
The documents included economic and technological cooperation, exemption of
double taxation, and cooperation in areas of education, sports, radio
broadcasting and television, and in chambers of commerce. Nano arrived on
September 13th on an official visit to China. It was the first meeting between
the heads of the two governments in 38 years, after the two countries
established full diplomatic relations in November 1949.
Wen told Nano that China attaches great importance to its relations with Albania
and hopes to bring bilateral relations to a higher ground under the principles
of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and non-interference in each
other's internal affairs. "China is satisfied with the smooth growth of
bilateral ties as we have strengthened political trust, expanded cooperation in
economy, justice, culture, education and sports and other areas," Wen said.
The Chinese premier proposed that the two sides enhance political dialogue in
various levels and expand exchange at levels of government, parliament,
political parties and social organisations.
In addition, Wen said the two countries should upgrade the level of economic
cooperation and trade, and encourage business people to invest in the other
side. Wen also appreciated the consistent one-China policy held by the Albanian
government. Nano agreed with Wen's proposals. He said Albania hopes to expand
cooperation with China in economic cooperation and trade in particular. Albania
expects more Chinese companies to participate in the building of Albania's
transportation, energy, telecommunications, electronics and construction
sectors, he said.
The Albanian prime minister spoke highly of China's role as a permanent member
of the United Nations Security Council in promoting world and regional peace,
security and development. In addition, Nano reiterated Albanian government's
one-China policy and its support on China's reunification cause.
It all sounds as though they could once more be climbing into bed together!
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FOREIGN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Pakistan, Albania agree to deepen political, economic, defence ties
Pakistan and Albania have expressed the desire to further consolidate
political, economic, and defence cooperation. Albanian President, Alfred Moisiu,
who arrived in Islamabad recently on a three-day official visit to Pakistan,
held formal talks with the president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, at the Aiwan-i-Sadr
[President House]. Bilateral relations, regional and international issues,
particularly the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq were discussed, PTV World
reported.
President Musharraf briefed his Albanian counterpart on the state of relations
between Pakistan and India, particularly about Pakistan's commitment to a
result-oriented dialogue process with India. The president reiterated Pakistan's
support for the Albanian position in Kosovo. The Albanian president appreciated
President Musharraf's commitment to eliminate international terrorism. Both
leaders agreed that an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute was essential for
global peace and security.
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