- Up to 1,000 dollars a day — the salary of a foreign specialist - Millions of dollars in aid flow back to donor countries through technical assistance - Does Albania have specialists too? To begin with, we state that we are not against cooperation with foreign specialists. International experience is irreplaceable for a country in transition such as Albania. But in the conditions where there are qualified specialists in our administration, who are often sidelined for partisan reasons, the cost paid by the state becomes heavy. Instead of foreign expertise being used to fill real gaps, it is replacing capable local specialists. A foreign specialist is paid very high sums, up to 1,000 dollars a day, while Albanian specialists, even when they have the same professional skills, are not activated or remain on the margins. This way of governing costs Albania millions of dollars. A good part of foreign aid returns to donor countries in the form of technical assistance, payments for experts, studies, projects and other administrative expenses. Thus, the funds given for the country’s development do not always end up where they should. The question raised is simple: does Albania have specialists? Yes, it does. It has engineers, economists, agronomists, lawyers, doctors and capable administrators who can make a direct contribution to rebuilding and reforming the state. But often appointments and dismissals are not made according to merit, but according to political belief. This brings not only professional injustice, but also economic damage. When a local specialist is excluded and replaced by a foreigner paid much more, the country pays twice: it loses local expertise and spends far more money. In these conditions, governance must rely on professionalism and not on partisanship. Only in this way will foreign aid be used effectively and Albania will not continue to lose millions of dollars because of political appointments.

- The United States needs to hear Albania’s views on the war in Bosnia, Perry says – Yesterday, the United States Secretary of Defense, William Perry, arrived in our country for an official visit. He was welcomed at Rinas Airport by Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali and other military and state authorities. During his stay, Mr. Perry held talks on military cooperation between the two countries, and also expressed interest in Albania’s views regarding developments in Bosnia. According to the statements made, the United States needs to hear Albania’s position and views on the war in Bosnia. At the center of the talks were also issues related to regional security, the reform of the armed forces, and the possibilities of American assistance for modernizing the Albanian army. The visit of the American minister was assessed as an important step in strengthening Albanian-American relations.

(Continued on page 4) Recently, concern has been expressed about the fate of Albanians in Skopje and more broadly in Macedonia, where their participation in state and economic life remains limited. In this context, the question is also raised of what real share Albanians have in the budget of Macedonia and how much they benefit from it. In public discussions it has been emphasized that Albanians make a significant contribution to state revenues, but the return of these revenues in the form of investment, education, culture, infrastructure and employment is not proportionate to that contribution. The problem is not only about percentages on paper, but about concrete representation in the administration, in financial institutions and in decision-making structures. The issue remains open and requires serious political and economic treatment.

For days now, several signals have been given that the local elections are reaffirming the presence and political weight of the Socialist Party in several areas of the country. The results so far, according to initial assessments, show that the SP is retaining its electorate and in some cases expanding it. This confirmation is also seen as a response to government policies and as a sign of the dissatisfaction of part of the electorate. The organizational strength of local structures and the mobilization of supporters have influenced this result. The Socialist Party presents this as an indicator of public trust and as a basis for its further political commitments.

Shkodër On the road leading into the city, a vehicle carrying two people collided. According to preliminary data, they suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. The event attracted attention because of the circumstances surrounding it, which were widely commented on by those present. The police are investigating the causes of the accident. (Continued on page 8)

In a statement made to a group of journalists, the head of the independent teachers’ union of the Elbasan district stated that the rumors about a hunger strike are unfounded. According to him, the problems exist, but other ways will be pursued to solve them. He called for wage issues and working conditions to be addressed by the relevant bodies and stressed that teachers do not want the situation to escalate. (Continued on page 8)

In the Elbasan district, discussions continue regarding the way the privatization process is being carried out. Various sources claim that transparency is lacking and that information about the enterprises, procedures and beneficiaries is not being made known to the public. This has created doubts and dissatisfaction, especially among former employees and directly interested groups. The main demand remains that the relevant bodies make the data and criteria used public. (Continued on page 8)

Three months without social assistance Residents of the district complain that economic aid has not been distributed for three months. According to them, this delay has made life difficult for many families in need. A.A