Albania again reminded of corruption

TIRANA, Sep. 8 – Corruption was again the main topic that the international community (United States) reminded Albania of.
US Ambassador Alexander Arvizu said that corruption existed everywhere, including his country, but top officials were not immune to prosecution and they are not above the law.
His words were followed by those of Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha who acknowledged that Albania was suffering of corruption but he also claimed success in the fight against it.
The defense ministry was holding a regional conference on the fight against corruption. The conference titled “Against corruption – defense and security sectors” organized by the European George C. Marshall Center was held Wednesday in capital Tirana.
Arvizu said that the fight against that phenomenon should be nationwide as it is negatively affecting the people’s life and was very dangerous for the country’s security and defense.
Arvizu insisted that no one, including the president, was above the law or immune to corruption prosecution.
It is true that Albania has improved in the world ranking on corruption but that is still one of its plagues that negatively affect the whole country’s development.
The premier said that the fight against corruption was on the daily agenda and mentioned his cabinet’s efforts in that fight. He said there could be no successful reform without fighting corruption. He mentioned that having a small cabinet, a small army were some of the factors in that fight. He also mentioned the fact that 120 officials were prosecuted on corruption last year.