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CEC remains at impasse, as internationals warn they won’t play arbiter
TIRANA, May 15 – Albania’s political leaders have yet to find a solution for the Central Elections Commission, where three out of seven seats remains empty due to a political deadlock, while the leadership of a large international contingent of international observers warned that Albanians are in charge of the elections and that internationals would only observe and note how the elections were held, not play arbiter in any potential disagreements over results and election administration.

The CEC is able to carry operations with four of the seven members currently on duty, all nominated by the governing coalition, but it must have all seven members to certify the elections and to create a full sense of legitimacy.
Article Category: Cover Story
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Owning successful elections
The upcoming parliamentary elections are not a “test,” as the media and analysts often put it. They are an opportunity. They make it possible to depart from the negative practices of the past and create a new, healthier normal – one in which elections simply take place, are administered by a competent, apolitical administration and produce clear winners and losers, which accept each-other as such and then go on working together for a better country. The reality is that a dominant feature of post-communist Albania is that the election results are contested by the losers who then boycott institutions, creating a crisis that demands the involvement of the international community.
‘Art.1’ exhibition raises awareness for LGBT rights in Albania
Arts and Culture
 
EU ambassadors pose in Albanian traditional costumes
Arts and Culture
 
Mozart’s Don Giovanni comes to Albania in special version by Austrian director
Arts and Culture
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News
International community assists justice reforms
TIRANA, May 15 – The justice system in Albania – courts, prosecutors’ offices, prisons and police — has been the country’s Achilles’ heel during the last two decades. It is something always mentioned in the international reports made by different institutions. This week, there were two events to deal with justice system issues. On Monday, Albanians learned that justice assistance of 2.3 million euros from EU came to an end leaving behind capacities and laws for a more independent, transparent and efficient judiciary. The EU-funded project for the Consolidation of Albanian Justice System, concluded its 30-month mission known as EURALIUS III bringing to Albania high-level expertise from Spain and Italy
News
EU’s three laws set as electoral issue
TIRANA, May 13 - The three laws which the European Commission wants Albania to approve remain an issue in the country, even at a time when the parliament is practically dissolved and everybody is looking forward to the June 23 national elections. The Socialist Movement for Integration Party of Ilir Meta, or the SMI, called on the two main political groupings – Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party and Edi Rama’s Socialist Party — to convene parliament and pass the laws on the judiciary and the civil administration and the parliament’s procedures so that Tirana complies with the Brussels requests. They also suggested the idea of the laws being passed now but coming to power in three months, after the elections are held.
Business and Economy
Norway’s Statkraft launches construction of first Devoll HPP
TIRANA, May 13 - Two months after gaining full control of the Devoll hydropower plant, Norwegian giant Statkraft has launched works on the Banje HPP, the first hydropower plant to be constructed in the Devoll Cascade, where Albania’s biggest ever hydro energy project, worth Euro 1 billion is expected to be made operational by 2019. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Sali Berisha described the presence of Statkraft as the best invitation to Norwegian companies and those from the Scandinavian Peninsula to carefully consider investing in Albania, which has the potential to become a leader in renewable energy in the Balkan region. “Banjë HPP will be the first step in the Construction Phase of the Devoll Hydropower Project. It will integrate the existing cofferdam structure which will be raised to 180 m above sea level. The dam will be constructed as an embankment dam with an impervious clay core. Banjë HPP utilizes a head between 175 and 95 m above sea level. The power plant will use two Francis turbine units.
Business and Economy
EBRD: Albania to grow by 1.5-2% over the next two years
TIRANA, May 13 – London-based EBRD, one of top international financial institutions and one of the largest investors in the private sector in Albania, has downgraded Albania’s GDP growth forecast to 1.5 percent for 2013 down from 2 percent in its latest report last January, according to its newly released regional economic prospects report for May 2013. “Albania’s economy slowed down significantly in 2012, although growth was still higher than in other countries of the region except Kosovo. Fiscal and monetary buffers have been largely exhausted and the banking sector has a large proportion of non-performing loans and remains vulnerable to external contagion. These risks have been managed prudently so far, and good efforts have been made by the authorities to keep inflation and the fiscal deficit under control,” says the EBRD, which expects the Albanian economy to grow by 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013 year-on-year and by only 0.3 percent compared to the final quarter of the year.
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