Berisha gets ex-U.S. Homeland Security chief Ridge as consultant

TIRANA, Sept. 4 – In a surprise show Monday Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that he had hired former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as a consultant to advise his government on a range of issues including NATO membership, fighting corruption and tackling organized crime. Berisha said that consulting Albania’s government was as much of a challenge as when he was appointed by U.S. President George Bush as head of the Homeland Security. Ridge, 61, met with many Albanian Cabinet ministers.
Under the agreement, Ridge will make occasional visits to Albania, but will primarily work with the government from the United States. Experts employed by Ridge will also provide advice. Berisha said that Ridge would begin work this month. Ridge was expected to sign a contract with the Albanian government but no details of the contract were made available. Ridge comes privately and a sign for that was the absence of the U.S. ambassador at the talks or the news conference. Ridge cut short his second term as Pennsylvania governor when U.S. President George W. Bush appointed him to coordinate homeland security after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was named the head of the department a year later and stepped down in February 2005.
Ridge’s main priority will be to help Albania meet its goal of joining NATO in 2008, Berisha said. Ridge has also been hired to help Albania attract U.S. investment, fight money laundering and reform its justice system. The former Pennsylvania governor will also help the country develop its agriculture and information technology sectors, Berisha said. “I believe these goals may be achieved and I am looking forward to starting to work together with you on their realization,” Ridge was quoted as saying in a statement released by Berisha’s office.
The small, predominantly Muslim, Adriatic country is one of the poorest countries in Europe and aspires to join the European Union.