Albania not immune, but not threatened from global crisis, says premier

TIRANA, Dec 4 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Albania was not immune from the effects of the global financial crisis but added that banks in the country were healthy and not presenting any risk.
Speaking at a Conference on Economic Prosperity the premier said that the effects of the global crisis were not yet seen in the tiny Balkan country, the second poorest in Europe, according to figures.
But he also added that healthy banks in the country were one of the basic reasons why it was not felt.
But he also added that the low demand in the international market in the next months may lower exports from Albania.
The country usually exports basic minerals, oil but also manufactured items like textile and shoes.
The government has not set any preventive amount of money in case of a crisis in the country.
It is also expected that remittances, about one billion Euros per year which is up to 13-14 percent of the country’s GDP, will fall as immigrants will think more of themselves and lower their assistance to their families.