Following the success of the UNDP / UNDDA Weapons in Exchange for Development Pilot Project in the district of Gramsh, the project has been extended to the districts of Elbasan and Dibra. At a ceremony held in the city of Elbasan to mark the opening day of the program, the American Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Joseph Limprecht, announced U.S. support for the initiative, through USAID, of US$1 million. The governments of Sweden, Norway and Denmark are providing additional support for the extension of the project bringing total funding to US$2.5 million. Also present at the day’s events were the President of the Republic Mr. Rexhep Meidani and UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Jan Wahlberg. The message of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures through disarmament/ increased public order was stressed in speeches at a press conference.

Events in support of Earth Day in Albania, Saturday 22 April, were funded by the UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme. Activities included events for both adults and children in Tirana, and in the historic city of Kruja, addressing the very pressing concern of environmental degradation in Albania. A music video showing scenes of Albania’s devastated natural environment was also produced and aired on several television stations throughout the country.

The new Resident Representative for the World Bank, Mr. Eugen Scantee, has assumed his duties in Tirana.

Invited by the European Parliamentarian Assembly, the Albanian Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, made a three day visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Attending the special parliamentarian session, Mr. Meta took questions from parliamentarians and met with senior personalities of the Council of Europe. On behalf of the Albanian Government, Mr. Meta signed the European Convention of Local Autonomy, the Civil Convention against Corruption and "Protocol 6" which scraps capital punishment in the Republic of Albania.

Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, met with Montenegro Foreign Minister, Branko Lukovac in Podgorica. This is the first meeting between the two governments for new bilateral cooperation. A memorandum of understanding and protocol of cooperation were signed.

Leaders and representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro, the European Union and the Council of Europe attended the interregional conference on "Albanians and their Neighbours in the New Millennium", organized by the US Institute "Projects on Ethnic Relations". Stability in Albania and Kosovo, the rights of the minorities in the region and regional economic development were the main topics of the meeting.

NATO Supreme Commander, General Wesley Clark, received the top award "Skenderbeg" from Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani. "We will continue to be in Kosovo to protect all its inhabitants" Gen. Clark said during the ceremony.

The Council of Tourism Development Policies met to analyze the investment requests in Albanian tourist areas. The requirement for tourism development is nearly 85 million dollars. These investments are planned mainly for the coastal areas. The total value of the investments passed, completed, and under consideration in the Tourism Development Committee is some 550-600 million dollars.

The Albanian Film Festival was held in Tirana from 25-27 April. A number of movies produced in the last decade were included. For the first time the Festival also welcomed film producers from regional countries. The film "Colonel Bunker" (1996), an Albanian-Polish-French co-production written and directed by acclaimed Albanian filmmaker Kujtim Çashku, won the Festival’s Cup.