On Monday 21 Feb., UNDP sponsored a full-day Conference on Arms Collection in cooperation with the Albanian Atlantic Association. The conference brought together over 20 speakers, including the Prime Minister, Mr. Ilir Meta, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Jan Wahlberg, and other members of the Government, major opposition parties, local NGOs, media representatives, and international organizations in an unprecedented combined effort to continue the momentum of arms collection in Albania, spearheaded by the innovative UNDP/UNDDA Weapons in Exchange for Development Pilot Project. The project enjoys strong international support, and is currently being extended to two further districts, Dibra and Elbasan, following the completion of collections in Gramsh district in September ’99. Over half a million weapons and tonnes of ammunition and heavy artillery were looted from army depots during the civil unrest of 1997, following the collapse of the pyramid investment schemes.

An UNMIK Police delegation from Pristina HQ, lead by the UNMIK Deputy Police Commissioner, has today ended a two-day mission to Albania. The delegation has met with a wide range of senior Government officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps to initiate cooperation on issues related to organized crime in Kosovo and transborder crime.

The Albanian NGO "Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania" culminated a year of UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme-supported activities with the presentation of a Biodiversity Strategy for Shkodra Lake, held at Shkodra University on Thursday 17 February. The NGO made a strong call that Shkodra Lake, currently under "protected status," be proclaimed a national park in order to protect the vast biodiversity that exists there, and to promote and enhance the local economy, which depends largely on the lake. Shkodra Lake is home to over one thousand species of flora and fauna. Three of these, the Dalmatian Pelican (currently nesting on the Montenegro side of the lake), the Sturgeon, and the Pigmy Cormorant, are globally threatened.

At the 23rd Session of the Governors Council in Rome, IFAD reportedly took concrete steps to accelerate the implementation of projects aiming to develop the poor, mountainous regions of Albania. The total value offered by IFAD for these initiatives in 2000 amounts to $13.2 million in loans and $400,000 in grants, according to the state news agency, ATA.

The Ministers of Finance of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROMacedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia met in Skopje on 12 February and signed a memorandum of understanding on the Facilitation of Trade and Transport in Southeastern Europe initiative, in the context of the World Bank South-East Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI). Drafted in cooperation with the EC and the USA, and financed by the EBRD, the World Bank and other donors, the objectives are to: reduce trade and transport costs; reduce contraband and corruption at border points; improve regional ties; and increase regional trade.

Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Paskal Milo attended the third summit of heads of states of South-East European Countries (SEC), held in Bucharest on 11 and 12 February, at which the historic Charter on Good Neighborly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe was signed. In an interview with Albanian state TV upon his return, the Prime Minister hailed the Charter, stating, "in this way, our will is definitely consolidated based on European principles, mechanisms, and standards for the establishment of stability and security of this region, to prepare [currently non-member nations for the most efficacious integration into the EU and NATO]."

NATO Secretary General, Lord George Robertson, visited Albania on Friday 18 February, meeting with senior Government officials and touring NATO’s COMMZ (W) headquarters in the coastal city of Durres. Lord Robertson highlighted Albania’s close cooperation with NATO in attaining a solution to the Kosovo crisis, and reportedly assured the Government that NATO would maintain a presence in the region. Minister of Defense Mr. Luan Hajdaraga stated, "Albania regards the Partnership for Peace as a basic instrument to prepare the country and the Albanian Armed Forces to enter NATO."

U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright visited Albania on Saturday, 19 February, meeting with the President Mr. Rexhep Meidani, the Prime Minister, Mr. Ilir Meta, and addressing the Parliament. The American diplomat echoed the sentiments of Lord Robertson, declaring that the international community was grateful for Albania’s positive role in the Kosovo crisis and its participation in the Stability Pact, but that it would not accept a "Greater Albania." She expressed satisfaction that no such aim was a part of Albanian government policies. The U.S. Secretary of State urged all political parties to work towards smooth elections (UNDP, in cooperation with OSCE and IFES, is currently implementing an Electoral Assistance Project), the establishment of the rule of law, and the elimination of crime and corruption in the country, and further stressed, "…we will be with you every step of the way."

On 24 February the Albanian government and Montenegrin authorities signed an agreement to open the border crossing at Hani i Hotit, allowing the free, legal passage of persons and goods between the two countries. The authorities of Montenegro have reportedly clarified that months of border closures have been caused by the Federal government in Belgrade. The border remains open.

The Friends of Albania held a meeting, jointly chaired by the OSCE and the EU, in Vienna on 28 February. According to an OSCE press release, the FOA commended the government of Albania for the priority given to law and order and anti-corruption initiatives and institutional reform, but voiced concern with the continuing polarization of political life. Considered of highest priority are: maintaining the fight against crime; tackling corruption through institutional reform; establishing a transparent and internationally acceptable electoral framework; accelerating financial reforms to increase employment and revenue-generating opportunities; establishing improved budgetary procedures; and increasing efforts in the field of environmental protection.