With its 20-year anniversary recently celebrated, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Albania’s head, Michael Weichert, spoke with Tirana Times about – the history, challenges, and objectives of the organization.
By: Anastasia Nazarko
Twenty years ago, Albania found itself in the process of a difficult post-communist transition to democracy and an open-market economy. This overhaul was so intense that those within Albania quickly sought expertise from abroad. Thus, after receiving three separate requests from various Albanian actorsةncluding Prime Minister Sali Berishaشhe Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) came to Albania.
Though the current head of FES’ office in Albania, Michael Weichert, was not in Albania at the time, he recalls the comments and notes of its leaders in the early 90s who described the initial stages of FES’ work in the country.
“In the beginning it was a matter of institution-building and fostering a democratic culture. It was difficult though, because the expectations of the people were so high. Their idea of what transition would be seemed mechanical, since they almost expected us to bring changes automatically, like a gift,” remarks Mr. Weichert.
“It was also challenging because we are not an organization that works alone; we work through our partners. At that time, however, there were not many functioning institutions on which we could rely to work with.”
By 1998, Mr. Weichert became personally involved in the initiatives in Albania.
“When people heard I was coming to Albania, they said ‘Oh, poor guy.’ They told me how backwards Albania was. Yet, the people who said this had never been here, and their comments were the result of a lot of misinformation. Sure, it is poor; but it is comparable to other developing countries,” remarks the FES Albania head.
In fact, having previously worked in other Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Serbia, Mr. Weichert believes there are more similarities than differences among the countries. Being countries in transition, they all reflected the struggles of the phase; though the ex-Yugoslavian countries inherited more advantages in terms of infrastructure.
Still, with gradual but consistent work, FES Albania was able to progress from relying solely on expertise from abroad to facilitating and training expertise within Albania and building platforms which would allow the country to help itself.
“One of the notable developments in Albania was how the people grew throughout the process and their great capacity to cope with the daily struggles such transitions brought. They had a need for survival which was accompanied by an enormous resourcefulness. Actually, in terms of growth, at least in Tirana I think it came faster than the formal structures were able to handle,” notes Mr. Weichert.
Regardless of the noticeable improvements in Albania, however, FES Albania’s head remains concerned about the high degree of parallel power structures in the countryطhich he describes as formal and informal levels which are simultaneously in competition with each other and undermining each other.
“It’s really a vicious cycle,” he comments. “The high level of informality has to do with the weak functioning of the state’s system. At the same time, however, if there were less informal structures, it would enable the formal structures to operate better and become stronger.”
The consequences of this state of affairs, adds Mr. Weichert, are critical. Competing power structures do now allow the state to function normally and result in a waste of energy and resources. Furthermore, it will negatively affect Albania’s European integration.
As evidence of this, Mr. Weichert cites Romania and Bulgaria. Both countries had similar issues; yet it wasn’t until they joined the European Union that the extent to which parallel power structures damage the state was understood. Later realizing that perhaps admitting Romania and Bulgaria was a mistake, the EU has since become stricter with regard to such issues in the countries now aspiring to join the EU.
While this dichotomy in Albania is difficult to address, the problem is compounded by the fact that Albania currently suffers from extreme political polarity. This reinforces pre-existing issues, as party politics hinder a rational reformist approach, describes the FES Albania head.
“[To help solve these problems] it is so important that segments of society create their own places of opinion, independent of political parties. They need to become relevant to state decisions and take matters into their own hands,” Mr. Weichert stresses.
“I am also concerned about the beauty of the country. There is an urgent need to protect it and not allow Albania to become a sort of garbage can for European industries. Albania cannot expect to have significant tourism without addressing this.”
Indeed, the FES Albania head expressed concern that perhaps this year’s increase in tourists was a result of mere curiosity; and, that upon visiting the country, they may not necessarily be inspired to return.
Another issue of concern to Mr. Weichert, and one which he hopes to focus on with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Albania, is the creation of opportunities for Albania’s youth.
“Albania is a young nation, which is a huge asset. It is important that this capacity is appreciated and maximized. We must look to the future and invest in education and employment so that the youth feel motivated to stay here, rather than go abroad,” remarks Mr. Weichert.
Yet despite the struggles Albania is still faced with, he also emphasizes the great progress it has achieved.
“If you take into consideration where Albania has come from in these twenty years, it is remarkable. In a way, Albania is like the villas that one so often sees here. Out of nothing, a building of many floors has arisen. The first floor is finished and provides some shelter; while the other floorsشhough unfinished and in need of workزeflect an aspiration to build a greater project.”
