Blair starts advisory role with Albanian government

TIRANA, Oct. 3 – Albania’s new Socialist premier on Thursday said former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will assist as an adviser in Albania’s efforts to join the 28-country European Union.
Edi Rama said Thursday that Blair would be “personally, totally and voluntarily” advising the Albanian government and helping with his “extraordinary experience and political geniality.”
There were no further details on the deal between Blair and the Albanian government.
Speaking at a briefing in Tirana, Blair said “the big challenge with the government today is getting things done.”
Rama won a landslide election victory in June, defeating conservative then-Prime Minister Sali Berisha on pledges of bringing the NATO member closer to its goal of joining the European Union.
Rama’s Socialist-led leftist coalition has 84 seats in the 140-member parliament, enough to pass any law, including those asking for a qualified majority, which are normally tough ones needed in radical reforms asked from Europe.
“We want to get integrated into the EU,” said Rama Wednesday in a meeting with diplomats. “There are no illusions for me. European integration is easy to say but difficult to do.”
Blair said, “The orientation toward Europe is immensely important and personally I’d love to see this country join the family of European nations as the right and proper prospect for its future.”
Rama said he expects Blair’s assistance in contacts and lobbying with international institutions.
Blair, whose team also advised Rama for the June parliamentary elections, started his direct assistance meeting Rama with the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim while at the United Nations annual session last month.
The World Bank has agreed to open a Delivery Unit office helping in “turning priorities into results” at the government building.
Rama also said that they are holding intensive talks with the Bank of Albania, the International Monetary Fund and other international partners to find a way out from the “deep crisis” the government’s “empty budget” is in.
An international company is expected to audit the situation and another one to help manage customs and taxation.
“What we would like to do is to work with other international partners in what we call delivery, in taking the vision and the ideas and turning them into real changes and real improvements for the life of the people,” said Blair. “This prospects for the future are set before people, that the country and its government focuses on delivering the things that ordinary people need in their daily life to show improvement and progress.”
He added, “The big challenge with the government today, whether you are in UK, Albania or elsewhere in Europe, is getting things done, is taking the ideas in areas like electricity, or water, or investment, infrastructure and turning the ideas into reality on the ground so that the people can see them better than before,” he said.
Rama, who was sworn in as prime minister last month, has promised to create 300,000 jobs and reduce poverty. A recent survey shows one in seven Albanians live on less than $2 per day.
Albania is one of Europe’s poorest countries with an average salary of 36,482 leks ($361) per month.
“I am convinced that due to the extraordinary experience that Prime Minister Blair has and due to his political geniality, we shall be capable of overcoming all the obstacles working together with all Albanians to turn our vision and program into a tangible reality. That is the challenge,” said Rama.
He closed with a Blair’s saying that, “When in opposition you wake up in the morning planning what to say today. When you are in government, you can hardly sleep in the evening thinking of what to do the next day.”