Albania’s foreign relations need a coherent strategy unaffected by improvisation
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
TIRANA, Oct. 20 – With recent high profile visits from Qatar and Kuwait, it is clear Albania is trying foster a special relationship with Arab countries that meet very specific criteria: they are small, rich and willing to fund Albanian projects.
Albanians are and should be grateful to these foreign donors, but officials must come up with coherent strategies in foreign relations that are unaffected by improvisations and government pet projects in need of funding.
Furthermore it appears Albanian politics has not yet emerged from the syndrome of aid. It is not atypical for Albanian leaders to push for basic aid from foreign countries, saying the country needs the help because it is poor. That approach could have been justified to some extent in first two or three years of transition immediately after the collapse of the communist regime, when Albania was extremely poor, but today it might not necessarily be the best thing for the country because it does not necessarily provide the best development assistance. We are not advocating against donations, but rather for putting the money to the best use.
Albanian should ask for help with projects that generate development, not for government pet projects. In other terms, Albania needs fishing nets, not fish.
During this week’s visit by the head of state of Qatar, a major donor in infrastructure projects in Albania, it is clear Albanian officials intend to ask for more money, local experts say.
Qatar is the major funding source for the renovation project of Albania’s main Skanderbeg Square. Now, Albanian officials are hoping Qatar will also fund the construction of Albania’s new parliament building, where Albania is looking to get 40 to 100 million dollars.
It’s another question altogether whether this country even needs a new parliament building at a time of a global economic upheaval, but the money could be better used in a lot more worthy places in Albania.
Funding aside, a strong relationship with countries like Qatar and Kuwait is indeed a good idea, because Albanian diplomacy should operate at 360 degrees. But there appears to be no clear vision on how to manage foreign relations, starting with our own neighborhood, and beyond, including the Arab world.
Albania’s foreign service suffers from much the same problems all state institutions do, often the best candidates for jobs are sidelined in favor of those with the right political and family conventions. As a result foreign relations move forward lacking a coherent strategy, often guided by improvisation.
As such, Albania’s foreign policy towards the Arab world is generally unclear, beyond seeking funding. For example, though Albania has recognized Palestine, the Albanian prime minister has said Albania would not vote on its favour for full membership at the United Nations. On the same page, several Arab countries have recognized Kosovo, but many others have not despite Albania’s lobbying on this. Other interests perhaps prevail on issues such as as these, but a small country like Albania can ill afford to move forward without a proper strategy.
