Government takes tough anti-corruption measures Privatization director dismissed

TIRANA—The Albanian government yesterday dismissed Ms. Lindita Xhillari from her post as Director General of the National Privatization Agency. Late in the evening, the government announced its decision. The reasons are not yet clear. But it is quite easy for anyone to list the possible reasons one after another. The mildest would be incompetence in promoting the auctions for the 9 enterprises that the Ministry of Public Works and Privatization recently announced. None of the 9 auctions could be held because no participants showed up. Meanwhile, the most serious reason remains the corruption observed in sales carried out over the past two years, when Xhillari was first a specialist and later director of the National Privatization Agency. The newspaper has often brought flagrant examples to its readers’ attention. Another strong reason is the failure to report scandals involving auctions and sales held some time ago, which only became public because of legal claims made by the buyers. The NPA has been unable to defend its contracts and decisions, and in a number of court cases it has caused major losses to the state treasury, from which money has been paid to reimburse the buyers. The Albanian government’s response at this point is truly commendable. Twenty-four hours earlier, the government dismissed Mr. Engjëll Çuçi from his post as director of KESH, just days after the publication of a report by the Supreme State Audit on a series of tendering procedures at the institution. Yesterday, it was the NPA director’s turn. Meanwhile, the government’s tough anti-corruption decisions are said not to stop here, but to extend throughout the state administration’s inherited, corrupt structures.

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