USAID Administrator urges deeper reforms in Albania

TIRANA, May 19 – Henrietta H. Fore, USAID Administrator and Director of United States Foreign Assistance, visited Albania this week urging the country to further strengthen its efforts in the reforms needed in the integration efforts.
Fore visits Albania following Albania’s invitation to join NATO at the Bucharest summit.
Fore hailed Tirana for the strong growth of the economy. But it also reminded authorities of the March 15 Gerdec explosions that took 26 lives and injured 302 persons, saying that “these explosions tragically took dozens of lives and produced tremendous financial and emotional hardships and losses for the community.”
Fore met with all top officials.
“It will be important for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to implementing judicial and electoral reforms. It will need to intensify its active anti-corruption efforts, particularly related to immunity and tougher government sanctions for lawbreakers, enforced by fair and apolitical trials and convictions,” she said at a news conference.
She also emphasized the responsibility of all Albanians to demand the end of corruption.
“Corruption impacts many facets of society, but the effects on business and investments are truly great.” (Tirana Times Staff)