e enjte, mars 27, 2008

Supplier Under Scrutiny on Arms for Afghans

This was on todays NY TIMES front page

ZYLE KRASNIQI 1989 - PERSHENDETJE NGA KOSOVA

Tirana explodes: Albanian families pick up pieces of their shattered lives

Albanian families are picking up the pieces of their shattered lives after the explosion of the military depot in Gërdec village, 12 km from the capital city Tirana, that left thousands of people homeless, traumatized and hurt on 15 March.

Erdogan In Albania

Albania Ammunition Depot Explosion OCHA Situation Report No.3

Albania is Europe's second largest hashish producer

Albania Leaders In Arms Trafficking Row

The row erupted after the New York Times accused Albanian officials of murky deals with United States-based AEY. The company, had its contract with the U.S. military revoked this week amid claims by the paper it was supplying decades-old ammunition to the Afghan army.

Supplier under scrutiny on aging arms for Afghans

Efraim Diveroli, was also secretly recorded in a conversation that suggested corruption in his company's purchase of more than 100 million aging rounds in Albania, according to an audio file of the conversation.

Joining Nato would lift prospects

These are momentous days for Albania. Two separate events - Kosovo's declaration of independence and the likelihood of receiving an invitation to join the Nato alliance - offer one of Europe's poorest countries an unprecedented chance of improving its long-term prospects.

Turkey backs Albania's NATO bid

After Nato the next challenge will be EU membership

The recent explosions at an ammunition depot near Tirana, serve as a reminder that Albania remains well behind much of the rest of Europe in the enforcement of health and safety standards.