UNDP Albania hosted the Cluster II Workshop on Re-profiling. The workshop aimed to discuss and strategize re-profiling efforts of UNDP Country Offices (CO) and to compare existing CO structures and profiles. Furthermore, it indented to share experiences and lessons in leading CO to change processes and train participants in the use of functional analysis tools, along with re-aligning CO programmes according to the six corporate goals. The workshop was attended by 21 participants, including staff members from UNDP Albania, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina supported by resource personnel from UNDP Headquarters. During the workshop, case studies of the Country Offices that have just gone through the reprofiling, were presented. As an outcome of the workshop, the participants returned to their respective offices with ideas and specific tools, contributing to develop future strategies on Re-profiling of their Country Offices.

Following the regional workshop on re-profiling, the UNDP Tirana office welcomed the re-profiling mission, comprising of Mr. Paolo Galli, Mr. David Eisenberg and Mrs. Ubavka Dizdarevic. This mission introduced similar case studies from other UNDP CO. They also developed a detailed assessment on the Albanian CO, including interviews with all staff members. At the end of the mission, the findings and recommendation were presented, and a detailed action plan and a final report were submitted shortly after.

WHO office in Tirana organised a workshop on the Legislative Health Reform in Albania, held on 31 May. This activity is part of the support to the Health Care Reform Process and Reorganisation of the Albanian Ministry of Health project's activities, funded by the Italian Government. The participants included Senior Technical Staff of the Italian and Albanian Ministries of Health, members of the Albanian Parliamentary Health Commission, the Diplomatic Corps and UN Agencies. The Workshop aimed to kick-start the legislative overhaul process of Albanian Health-related Legislation by identifying gaps and then formulating them in accordance with the European Union Health Laws and Directives. Meanwhile, Senior Ministry Technical Staff is expected to be trained by Italian counterparts.

“Disarmament-Stability-Development” is the slogan of the disarmament spring campaign, organised by the UNDP project "Weapon in Exchange for Development" (WED) and the Albanian NGO network “For a Disarmed and Developed Society”. About 500 students and youngsters have attended the opening of the event “Disarmament is a key factor for Albanian stability and economic growth”. This meeting appealed to decision-makers and politicians in regarding disarmament as a priority issue in the agenda. It was also a call to the public for a better future without weapons. In this framework, WED called a round table under this slogan. The meeting was held among the representatives of civil society organisations, government institutions, donors and media. It aimed to address the subject to a national public awareness program, involving the important role of women organisations and media.

UNCHR office has announced through a press release the closure of the last refugee camp remaining in Albania. The camp offered assistance, training and advocacy to 380 refugees in Tirana. UNHCR will provide the refugees with a financial assistance package for repatriation, and organise continuos assistance to the vulnerable people who are unable to repatriate.

Within the framework of South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP), a meeting of SEE country representatives was held in Tirana. The Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia, as well as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Hans Haekkerup and the Stability Pact Co-ordinator, Mr. Bodo Hombach attended. This initiative aims to support the countries' efforts towards European integration. At the same time, this meeting recorded the first official visit to Albania of a Yugoslav Foreign Minister, after the diplomatic crisis between Albanian and Yugoslavia caused by the war in Kosovo.

Following the decision for general elections in Albania to be held on 24 June, 2001, the electoral campaign of the political parties was opened. Two big rallies of the main parties, socialist and democratic, opened their respective electoral campaign on 24^th May in Tirana. Whereas the left-wing party coalition decided to run separate campaign on each own, the right-wing parties are united in a new coalition called "Union for Victory", including the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Social-Democratic Union, the National Front and Legality Party. The Social Party has encouraged a large number of independent candidates to be included in the party lists. An intensive schedule of the electoral campaign all over the country is expected during this month-long period. Media is following closely the developments in this subject.
The organisation “Friends of Albania" addressed a message to political parties and the Central Election Commission with regards to their responsibility of ensuring free and fair elections in Albania. They also urged the parties to focus on improving the living standard in the country through constructive discussions, rather than through political disputes.

The ODIHR mission in Albania will monitor the general parliamentary elections to be held on June 24, 2001, in Albania. The Head of the Mission, Mr. Nikolai Vuchanov, held a press conference to inform that 150 short-term observers are expected to observe the elections and the voting process. Meanwhile, 19 long-term observers will cover the election campaign and process, while ten others will be located in Tirana. Furthermore, Mr. Vuchanov confirmed that about 70 representatives from the Council of Europe and OSCE will be present during the election in Albania.

"Slogans" is the first Albanian movie that participated in the Cannes Film Festival 2001. Inspired by the life of the 70-s in an Albanian mountainside village, the message of the film is to fight the violence. It is a call for spiritual freedom for everyone, as stated by the film director, Mr. Gjergj Xhuvani. From the nine prizes awarded by Cannes Juries, "Slogans" received the prize of the Juniors' Jury.