Prime Minister Meta is reviewing all the complaints from the Albanian side and has not yet signed off on the privatization of “Tirana” beer Certain sections of the Ministry of Privatization and the National Privatization Agency have pressured officials to sign against the Albanian companies

Permanent Representative of the International Monetary Fund BY DR. VOLKER TREICHEL Permanent Representative of the International Monetary Fund In a few days, the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank will begin in Prague. These meetings will be an opportunity for the Albanian delegation to discuss the activities of the Fund and the World Bank in Albania, as well as to exchange views on economic policy. But more than that, this is an occasion for Albania to make its voice heard and join the discussions on the global economy and the decisions concerning the work of the IMF and the international financial system. The word “globalization” may not appear on the formal agenda, but this topic will run through all the meetings. The rapid growth of international markets and investment has brought great progress to many countries. But capital flows are so volatile that they can expose countries to the risk of financial crises. And with some countries integrating into the global economy faster than others, the gap between rich and poor is growing ever wider. Mr. Horst Köhler, who was appointed Managing Director of the IMF in May 2000, has expressed his determination to strengthen the voice of developing countries within this institution. Since taking up his post at the IMF, he has visited Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America to hear opinions about the IMF’s role and how it should change. He will use his first annual meetings to highlight his vision for the future of the IMF, as well as to present ideas on how the IMF’s role can be expanded in advancing developing countries. If the world economy is developing at a very rapid pace. During his travels, Mr. Kohler learned that, in general, many countries agree with him that the IMF should focus much more on policies that promote economic growth and financial stability—those related to government budgets, money and credit, and the growth of financial exchange and trade. Sound policies in these areas help countries reap the benefits of globalization. (Continued on page 9)

page 3 Berisha: The elections are unacceptable

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