Albania withstood crisis because of free market values, PM says

TIRANA, June 1 – Albania withstood crisis because our economy is based more than everyone else on free market values, said Prime Minister Sali Berisha at a ceremony to mark Albania’s 10 anniversary of membership to the World Trade Organization.
Albania joined the organization 10 years ago and in present-day has a really successful balance sheet, said Berisha.
The national conference, “Albania trade policies, a support for economic development of the country” brought together cabinet ministers, ambassadors accredited to Albania, representatives of WTO.
“On the 10-th anniversary of Albania membership into the WTO I would like to express thanks for the constant help this organization has provided Albania with in the most vital field of the market economy, i.e. the free trade. No other factor, but the market freedom has the greatest influence on the free initiative of the individual,” said Berisha.
“Let us use this 10-th anniversary as a station to determine new objectives so that to enhance the market freedom, encourage the free trade and courageously remove all barriers,” added Berisha.
In a recent report covering the 2002- 2009 period, the WTO says that Albania would gain from continuing and reinforcing the process of reform, which has yielded positive results. Given the speed and extent of legislative changes, it is essential to focus on implementation and further strengthening of the judicial system.
Over the past decade, Albania has maintained an ambitious programme of economic, legal and institutional reform, largely driven by World Trade Organization membership and its desire to join the EU. In so doing, it has continued to engage in a remarkable process of transformation from a closed, centrally-planned economy to one that is liberal, market-oriented and private-sector driven, says the report.