A contradiction between the ministers over the Italian company The privatization official wants to sell the Fushë-Krujë factory. Construction is getting in the way Albania between integration and isolation The Stability Pact for the Balkans has brought another debate with an economic backdrop to the table of top Albanian politics. This official favor at the highest level concerns diplomatic and official relations with Italy. Now, for the first time, a concrete project for the country's heavy industry has been put on the table, speaking for the first time about the privatization of a cement factory. Specifically, it concerns the Fushë-Krujë factory, and more precisely the ownership, with high-level officials: deputy Miran Bufi, Minister of Industry and Trade, and the government MEP, Bujar Shuli, Minister of Construction. The two ministers are now facing a legal and economic debate over a foreign enterprise that aims to buy the factory and put it back into operation. While one believes this will mean the revival of industry and increased investment, the other sees it as a clash of competences and a way to hinder the construction sector. At the center of the debate is an Italian company that has expressed interest in buying the cement factory in Fushë-Krujë. The Ministry of Industry appears determined to push the process forward, while the Ministry of Construction is expressing reservations, considering the privatization method and timing inappropriate. The clash between the two ministries has highlighted not only differences in approach, but also the lack of a unified policy for the building materials industry. If the Italian project gets the green light, the Fushë-Krujë factory could become an important production point for the domestic market. But if the objections continue, Albania risks sending another negative signal to foreign investors. In this sense, the debate over cement is more than a quarrel between two ministers: it is a test of the Albanian state’s institutional seriousness. Page 4

The Stability Pact for the Balkans has brought the conflict into the sphere of Albanian politics with Italy. Instead of producing optimism for the future, the Stability Pact for the Balkans is turning into a test case for the level of political maturity in Albania. At least, this is what is happening in relations between the Albanian government and its Italian partners, following the emergence of a project to privatize the cement factory in Fushë-Krujë. On the one hand, the Albanian side appears divided in its assessments; on the other, the Italian side is demanding institutional clarity and guarantees for the investment. This situation creates the impression of a country wavering between the desire to integrate into the European economy and the tendency to close itself off within its own internal conflicts. Page 4

Page 22 Manjani, the Greek flag on the Albanian promenade

Simitis capitulates unconditionally in Tirana On the other hand, the Greek prime minister and his cabinet have publicly stated that their stance in Tirana will be cautious and oriented toward cooperation. This statement has been interpreted differently by various political and media circles in Greece, where strong reactions against Simitis’s trip to Albania have not been lacking. His critics consider this visit a political concession to Tirana, while his supporters argue that it is a necessary step to stabilize bilateral relations. Page 13

Ballsh, the oil catches fire Oil wells are at risk due to the lack of security Page 9