Albanian deputy PM under investigation

Another day, another Albanian politician accused of corruption and abuse of office. This is not news anymore, it is routine Albanian politics.

Ilir Meta, Sali Berisha, Hashim Thaci and all other Albanians leaders are some of the most corrupted leaders in Balkans, together with their Serbian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian friends. What amazes me is not the fact that he is corrupted because I don’t think there is a single politicians in Balkans even Europe that it isn’t, but what amaze me is the fact that even that after he was caught on camera and broadcasted on national TV , he still think and he will get out of it. Ilir Meta should go to jail for his abuse of power and corruption. It’s a shame for him to still stay in power after this Learn a little bit from Croatia if you want to join EU.

"What amazes me is not the fact that he is corrupted because I don’t think there is a single politicians in Balkans even Europe that it isn’t, but what amaze me is the fact that even that after he was caught on camera and broadcasted on national TV , he still think and he will get out of it." (uli)

-- Which means blame ultimately falls on the socio-political system as entirely rotten instead of the individual. In a transparent system fully accountable by checks and balances, corrupt officials like him would have been tossed out months/years ago. That he can actually think there's nothing wrong and go on with his daily misdemeanors means he's just playing along with politics as usual. You're right that this stuff is endemic in almost every government in SE Europe. We also have the same symptoms at the local levels in the US - New Jersey, New York state, Chicago: former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevic, who was dismissed over corruption activities was more surprised he was singled out from the whole Chicago machine rather than show remorse for his behavior.

"The Albanian deputy PM dismissed the tape a "fabrication" and an "ugly political and moral bluff""

These guys need Enver Hoxha alive for 15 minutes. The tape is clear as it can be for anyone, we don't need his editorials. He even says, on tape, that he will fix the appeal because he appointed the judges' daughter (names her) to an embassy and it's easy. Their end is near, viva videotapes. 7% of the project, plus EUR 700,000, that was the price.

IUPM, not only routine in Albanian politics. Corruption is routine in entire Balkan politics......

It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..
(EA, 13 January 2011)

Thanks EA for confirming to me that some Albanians are beyond hope. Rama may be the son of a former communist but Berisha was a communist party member and obedient servant of Hoxha for 25 years.

Berisha-Meta is a coalition of the corrupted who are looking for each other's back after having taken millions from privatization deals. That's the main reason why they rigged the last elections to keep power otherwsie they'd all be in jail now.

''Ilir Meta, Sali Berisha, Hashim Thaci and all other Albanians leaders are some of the most corrupted leaders in Balkans, together with their Serbian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian friends.''

You forgot to mention greece and former pm karamanlis and his army of corruption ....It is true that many balkan leaders are currupt, but no one would stink as much as Ilir Meta... Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, even as a minister of energy and investment, Metovsky did a couple of ''trips'' in serbia to meet his lord Tadic...still, we balkan people are to busy with all ethnical issues, look at fyrom for instance.

I don't understand spoken Albanian, so I don't know what's on the tape. And so far I don't think anybody knows exactly what anybody shown on it means by what he says - the sum mentioned, for example, could be intended to go to the state, not individual politicians, for all we know.
(Amer, 13 January 2011)

Many of us who have completed more than 4 years of education know exactly what Meta means by "7%", his cut on a deal worth $10 million. He doesn't need to spell it out to Prifti, who's also getting a cut by the way. Also he metnions that Berisah (whom he calls Doctor) has given the go ahead.

Meta is also asking Prifti point blank to nullify two contracts signed in two other public projects as he has his own people who are bidding for these projects.

Bear in mind that this just the tip of the iceberg, what we are able to see in a 4 minute tape. Imagine what goes on behind closed doors.


So this may be a revenge move by the Socialists. If nothing else, it's a good sign that Meta declared his willingness to give up his immunity as a member of government to face the charges.
(Amer, 13 January 2011)

Yeah revenge move alright. Berisha has been in power for 10 years in the last 20 and has convicted one high level person of corruption, then opposition leader Fatos Nano, who everyone knew was corrupt anyways.

They have gotten caught red handed several times on tape and still nothing has happened. It is up to the Socilaists to do the job of the prosecutors, which speaks volumes of our "democracy". I can assure you that nothing, and I mean NOTHING will happen to Meta. Life will go on as usual in our society corrupted to the core.

@Iliri
======

Since you decided that improving relations with a neighbor earns our deputy PM an automatic "vic" behind his name, then you really should provide us with some good reasons why is it beneficial to Albanian interests to remain in a hostile relationship with Serbia...or any of our neighbors for that matter.

look at fyrom for instance.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 16:15)

Official Name: Republic of Macedonia

It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..

''It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..
(EA, 13 January 2011 15:37) ''

Theoritacally, all albanians were communists back then, E Hoxha was a dictator, who ever was against him was executed, or prosecuted at best scenario, you would either support the ''proletiariat'' line or shut the hell up, node your head and do your job in whatever position you might have been, also, of course, E Hoxha is no the only one to blame for the crimes communism did in Albania, his servants were as guilty, and many got rounded up by Hoxha , but this does not mean that Hoxha servant's son is guilty for what his father did...if we see it that way, than we are no better from communists we despise, Rama is not my favourite politician neither, although i do not consider him a communist, i consider him a grekophile, which is worse, Meta on the other side is a serbophile. Yet Rama is the least worst scenario Albania could possibly have right now, simply because greeks want a stable kosovo, it is in greece interest that balkans stays stable, a war in Kosovo is the last thing that we albanians need as well, so we practically share a common interest. Serbs on the other side, have no respect for human life and have nothing to lose,it is appearant they want another war, they would manage to get north of mitrovica and cleanse presevo valley. Even if Albania and Nato intervenes to protect Presevo Albanians, the damage would be done, thousands of innocent lives would be lost... Albania has been a stage of foreign influences during the past 20 years more than ever, it seems that greeks support Kosovo indipendece provided that Kosovo does not unite with Albania and it does not dissolve, wikileaks revealed that greeks were afraid that Kosovo albanians emigrated to south Albania in case kosovo is divided among serbia and albania and of course they fear another war would force Kosovo Albanians to emigrate south so greeks do not want that. They still hope to increase greek minority in South Albania. Bad news for greeks though. Someday, Kosovo and ALbania will unite, and a strong Albanian state will emerge in the balkans, strong enough to opose both greek and slavic influence... That's why we never hear Rama talk about Kosovo. Meta on the other hand ,unconditionaly improved relations with serbs during a critical time for serbia and its EU aspiritions. Not that serbia wants to enter EU, all Serbia wants is to improve its image and Tirana helped beograd at this point for free... For the current Albanian politicians, who are traitors by default, Kosovo is a burden, they wished Kosovo didn't exist, so they could sell what was left of Albania more dearly...thanks to God or whatever universe power, Albanian People are strongly bond among each other despite of 100 years of perpetual tragedies and separation caused by our wealthy neighbours...it was the simple people in 1999 who opened their homes for our brothers and sisters beyond the border...our politicans paniced out back then...we owe nothing to our politicians during the kosovo crisis, history won't remeber them, history will remeber simple albanian families who managed to overcome the crisis in dignity and accordance to our past traditions ... that's why for the last 10 years international community has been woking hard to throw mud on UCK and simple albanian people... the Martin's report is not aimed at Thaci, it is aimed agaisnt Albanian people aspiraitons and UCK strugle...our neighbours might buy every single of our politcians, but they will never manage to remove the Albanian conscousness, someday, a great leader like Skanderbeg will come out and in less than 25 years, he will manage to end the unification process that started 600 years ago.

"The Albanian deputy PM dismissed the tape a "fabrication" and an "ugly political and moral bluff"."

He forgot to say that this video is against all Albanians and made by a Serbo-Russian anti-independence network and he will sue everybody involved and publish a "helpers list" . Oops, sorry, it was not Thaci who spoke these words this time :)

''ook at fyrom for instance.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 16:15)

Official Name: Republic of Macedonia
(KOSO, 13 January 2011 18:39) ''

They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.

I don't understand spoken Albanian, so I don't know what's on the tape. And so far I don't think anybody knows exactly what anybody shown on it means by what he says - the sum mentioned, for example, could be intended to go to the state, not individual politicians, for all we know.

From what I can see by scanning the Albanian press, charges and counter-charges of corruption are a regular feature of politics there. Meta just recently appeared at a news conference with two members of the Socialist Party who have left the opposition to join his smaller socialist-flavored party (which is in Sali Berisha's government). So this may be a revenge move by the Socialists. If nothing else, it's a good sign that Meta declared his willingness to give up his immunity as a member of government to face the charges.

They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 20:10)

Lovely comment from an open-minded, multiethnic-supporter peaceful European citizen.

''@Iliri
======

Since you decided that improving relations with a neighbor earns our deputy PM an automatic "vic" behind his name, then you really should provide us with some good reasons why is it beneficial to Albanian interests to remain in a hostile relationship with Serbia...or any of our neighbors for that matter.
(Ment, 13 January 2011 19:31) ''

Could not agree more, i hear you. But what Meta did as a foreign minister was not improve Albanian-Serbian relations. He merely improved Serbian image.

But are only the Democrats dirty? What about all those charges that Rama was selling construction permits?

(Amer, 14 January 2011)

I believe the allegations againts Rama are true as well, it's just that he's
probably better at hiding his traces and from what I hear only deals with a select few building magnates in Tirana.

Unfortunately our choice as Albanians is to pick the least corrupt politicians. I also believe that Rama is better suited than Berisha (the only two choices at the moment) to lead Albania towards Eruopean integration. Berisha is just an incorribigle communist with a very stron authoritarian streak whereas Rama represents the most progressive part of the Albanian society (which unfortunately is still corrupt to the core) and I must admit with some dangerous authoritarian tendencies as well.

Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, - iliri

How is that a bad thing?

''Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, - iliri

How is that a bad thing?
(Ari Gold, 15 January 2011 04:33) ''

It is not a bad thing. It would not have been a bad thing if Meta was not the a foreign minister i mean... Considering the fact that i m a suspicious person, it strikes me that as soon as Ilir Meta came to office, first thing to do was to meet Jeremic and three months later pay visit to Serbia where he met all ,starting from municipality mayors to the president of Serbia, while our foreign policy main concern is EU integration, i wonder how improving our relations with Serbia helps us with the EU integration, Serbia is not a EU country after all, the importance of political and economical relations with Serbia are practically as important as our relations with Moldavia ...in the video tape Ilir Meta says'' no big deal...7%...'' that '' no big deal 7%'' stands for 700 000 euros....even Obama would dream to earn that much money in one year.....this is outrageous, people in Albania are so tired that they do not care anymore, even protests organised by oposition are seen as another hypocrisy...now, think about it, if Meta, steals from Albanian taxpayers 700 000 euros and says it was not a big deal,i asume that Serbia had to pay him dearly in order to get such friendly statements toward Serbia in a time when Serbia was not only conducting a diplomatic offensive against Kosovo, but a propaganda campaing against Albanians in general. Jeremic has been going around the world telling that Albanians are terrorists, islamists, bad muslims (seriously, Jeremic in Egypt and Indonesia said that muslim people were good but Albanians were bad muslims), enverists, austrian collaborators during ww1, tribal society, nazi collaborators during ww2, atheists (this, in fact, is a compliment, but in some countries it is considered a really negative feature), sharia law (in muslim countries Jeremic didn't mention this, but in christan and hebrew countries he mentioned the risk of a new sharia country), separatists, ultranationalists (he mainly mentions this in Slavic countries) , provocative people , narcotrafficants, high breeding , greater albania, etc... i m starting to admire Jeremic , at least Jeremic cares for his state and spends the state money for Serbia's national interests, unlike Meta who steals it, wether we albanians like it or not, Jeremic is doing his job, despite how pathetic it might be, Meta on the other side has been abusing his job at the cost of Albanian question, i think Meta damaged Albanians far more than Jeremic ever would with his up and down visits around the globe...i hope though, that Albania and Serbia have extradition agreements, if Meta flees from Rinas within the next days, we know where to look for...

"Prosecution has launched an investigation against Albanian Deputy PM Ilir Meta based on a video which shows him rigging hydropower plant concession tender."

There is a good chance, Ilir Meta was just stingy and did not pay the racket he was asked for the video. His lesson: if you deal with "крыша" = bad luck and don't be stingy.

(Zoti, 13 January 2011 22:46) - But are only the Democrats dirty? What about all those charges that Rama was selling construction permits?

Actually, I've given up trying to figure out the politics and especially the legal charges - I don't have the experience to tell me who is probably lying. It seems like every post-communist society has to go through a period of public corruption - with some luck, maybe preparing for EU membership will cut it down in Albania. But of course, it's easier for me to be blandly optimistic - it's not my country. It's American corruption and/or ineptitude that make me furious.

''They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 20:10)

Lovely comment from an open-minded, multiethnic-supporter peaceful European citizen.
(Je¿ europejski, 13 January 2011 23:14) ''

Regardless wether i m open minded or a closed minded...yet still, i can not change the fact that our eastern neighbour is a fake country. They actually admit it themselves, their PM came for a visit in Tirana in 1993 and he told our jounalists that they were ''slovenes'' which means slavs, but our translator by mistake translated it as ''slovenes'' as in being Slovenes, you know, Lubjana slovenes, of course the translator corrected himself in due time, but it was kinda funny. The question, more precisely was ''So, yo claim you are the descedants of Alexander the Great?''... That country is a comedy. Who cares wether Alexander the Great was either a slav, greek or albanian anyway...he was just a homo, but with oustanding military skills. If he weren't a homo, he probably would not be so interested in military and consequently he would not be so great, and perhaps, ancient macedonia would be forgotten...all the fuss is because Alexander the Great was a homo.

Another day, another Albanian politician accused of corruption and abuse of office. This is not news anymore, it is routine Albanian politics.

It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..

"The Albanian deputy PM dismissed the tape a "fabrication" and an "ugly political and moral bluff"."

He forgot to say that this video is against all Albanians and made by a Serbo-Russian anti-independence network and he will sue everybody involved and publish a "helpers list" . Oops, sorry, it was not Thaci who spoke these words this time :)

''Ilir Meta, Sali Berisha, Hashim Thaci and all other Albanians leaders are some of the most corrupted leaders in Balkans, together with their Serbian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian friends.''

You forgot to mention greece and former pm karamanlis and his army of corruption ....It is true that many balkan leaders are currupt, but no one would stink as much as Ilir Meta... Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, even as a minister of energy and investment, Metovsky did a couple of ''trips'' in serbia to meet his lord Tadic...still, we balkan people are to busy with all ethnical issues, look at fyrom for instance.

Ilir Meta, Sali Berisha, Hashim Thaci and all other Albanians leaders are some of the most corrupted leaders in Balkans, together with their Serbian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian friends. What amazes me is not the fact that he is corrupted because I don’t think there is a single politicians in Balkans even Europe that it isn’t, but what amaze me is the fact that even that after he was caught on camera and broadcasted on national TV , he still think and he will get out of it. Ilir Meta should go to jail for his abuse of power and corruption. It’s a shame for him to still stay in power after this Learn a little bit from Croatia if you want to join EU.

''It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..
(EA, 13 January 2011 15:37) ''

Theoritacally, all albanians were communists back then, E Hoxha was a dictator, who ever was against him was executed, or prosecuted at best scenario, you would either support the ''proletiariat'' line or shut the hell up, node your head and do your job in whatever position you might have been, also, of course, E Hoxha is no the only one to blame for the crimes communism did in Albania, his servants were as guilty, and many got rounded up by Hoxha , but this does not mean that Hoxha servant's son is guilty for what his father did...if we see it that way, than we are no better from communists we despise, Rama is not my favourite politician neither, although i do not consider him a communist, i consider him a grekophile, which is worse, Meta on the other side is a serbophile. Yet Rama is the least worst scenario Albania could possibly have right now, simply because greeks want a stable kosovo, it is in greece interest that balkans stays stable, a war in Kosovo is the last thing that we albanians need as well, so we practically share a common interest. Serbs on the other side, have no respect for human life and have nothing to lose,it is appearant they want another war, they would manage to get north of mitrovica and cleanse presevo valley. Even if Albania and Nato intervenes to protect Presevo Albanians, the damage would be done, thousands of innocent lives would be lost... Albania has been a stage of foreign influences during the past 20 years more than ever, it seems that greeks support Kosovo indipendece provided that Kosovo does not unite with Albania and it does not dissolve, wikileaks revealed that greeks were afraid that Kosovo albanians emigrated to south Albania in case kosovo is divided among serbia and albania and of course they fear another war would force Kosovo Albanians to emigrate south so greeks do not want that. They still hope to increase greek minority in South Albania. Bad news for greeks though. Someday, Kosovo and ALbania will unite, and a strong Albanian state will emerge in the balkans, strong enough to opose both greek and slavic influence... That's why we never hear Rama talk about Kosovo. Meta on the other hand ,unconditionaly improved relations with serbs during a critical time for serbia and its EU aspiritions. Not that serbia wants to enter EU, all Serbia wants is to improve its image and Tirana helped beograd at this point for free... For the current Albanian politicians, who are traitors by default, Kosovo is a burden, they wished Kosovo didn't exist, so they could sell what was left of Albania more dearly...thanks to God or whatever universe power, Albanian People are strongly bond among each other despite of 100 years of perpetual tragedies and separation caused by our wealthy neighbours...it was the simple people in 1999 who opened their homes for our brothers and sisters beyond the border...our politicans paniced out back then...we owe nothing to our politicians during the kosovo crisis, history won't remeber them, history will remeber simple albanian families who managed to overcome the crisis in dignity and accordance to our past traditions ... that's why for the last 10 years international community has been woking hard to throw mud on UCK and simple albanian people... the Martin's report is not aimed at Thaci, it is aimed agaisnt Albanian people aspiraitons and UCK strugle...our neighbours might buy every single of our politcians, but they will never manage to remove the Albanian conscousness, someday, a great leader like Skanderbeg will come out and in less than 25 years, he will manage to end the unification process that started 600 years ago.

I don't understand spoken Albanian, so I don't know what's on the tape. And so far I don't think anybody knows exactly what anybody shown on it means by what he says - the sum mentioned, for example, could be intended to go to the state, not individual politicians, for all we know.

From what I can see by scanning the Albanian press, charges and counter-charges of corruption are a regular feature of politics there. Meta just recently appeared at a news conference with two members of the Socialist Party who have left the opposition to join his smaller socialist-flavored party (which is in Sali Berisha's government). So this may be a revenge move by the Socialists. If nothing else, it's a good sign that Meta declared his willingness to give up his immunity as a member of government to face the charges.

"The Albanian deputy PM dismissed the tape a "fabrication" and an "ugly political and moral bluff""

These guys need Enver Hoxha alive for 15 minutes. The tape is clear as it can be for anyone, we don't need his editorials. He even says, on tape, that he will fix the appeal because he appointed the judges' daughter (names her) to an embassy and it's easy. Their end is near, viva videotapes. 7% of the project, plus EUR 700,000, that was the price.

''ook at fyrom for instance.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 16:15)

Official Name: Republic of Macedonia
(KOSO, 13 January 2011 18:39) ''

They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.

They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 20:10)

Lovely comment from an open-minded, multiethnic-supporter peaceful European citizen.

''@Iliri
======

Since you decided that improving relations with a neighbor earns our deputy PM an automatic "vic" behind his name, then you really should provide us with some good reasons why is it beneficial to Albanian interests to remain in a hostile relationship with Serbia...or any of our neighbors for that matter.
(Ment, 13 January 2011 19:31) ''

Could not agree more, i hear you. But what Meta did as a foreign minister was not improve Albanian-Serbian relations. He merely improved Serbian image.

Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, - iliri

How is that a bad thing?

IUPM, not only routine in Albanian politics. Corruption is routine in entire Balkan politics......

look at fyrom for instance.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 16:15)

Official Name: Republic of Macedonia

It is a dirty politic from the Albanian Socialist party mainly its leader Rama whose father was a devoted servant of the dictator Hoxha. Rama and its MPs to give up their parlamentary immunity to give away to the Albanian prosecution to investigate any accusation...and that means a lot..
(EA, 13 January 2011)

Thanks EA for confirming to me that some Albanians are beyond hope. Rama may be the son of a former communist but Berisha was a communist party member and obedient servant of Hoxha for 25 years.

Berisha-Meta is a coalition of the corrupted who are looking for each other's back after having taken millions from privatization deals. That's the main reason why they rigged the last elections to keep power otherwsie they'd all be in jail now.

@Iliri
======

Since you decided that improving relations with a neighbor earns our deputy PM an automatic "vic" behind his name, then you really should provide us with some good reasons why is it beneficial to Albanian interests to remain in a hostile relationship with Serbia...or any of our neighbors for that matter.

But are only the Democrats dirty? What about all those charges that Rama was selling construction permits?

(Amer, 14 January 2011)

I believe the allegations againts Rama are true as well, it's just that he's
probably better at hiding his traces and from what I hear only deals with a select few building magnates in Tirana.

Unfortunately our choice as Albanians is to pick the least corrupt politicians. I also believe that Rama is better suited than Berisha (the only two choices at the moment) to lead Albania towards Eruopean integration. Berisha is just an incorribigle communist with a very stron authoritarian streak whereas Rama represents the most progressive part of the Albanian society (which unfortunately is still corrupt to the core) and I must admit with some dangerous authoritarian tendencies as well.

"What amazes me is not the fact that he is corrupted because I don’t think there is a single politicians in Balkans even Europe that it isn’t, but what amaze me is the fact that even that after he was caught on camera and broadcasted on national TV , he still think and he will get out of it." (uli)

-- Which means blame ultimately falls on the socio-political system as entirely rotten instead of the individual. In a transparent system fully accountable by checks and balances, corrupt officials like him would have been tossed out months/years ago. That he can actually think there's nothing wrong and go on with his daily misdemeanors means he's just playing along with politics as usual. You're right that this stuff is endemic in almost every government in SE Europe. We also have the same symptoms at the local levels in the US - New Jersey, New York state, Chicago: former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevic, who was dismissed over corruption activities was more surprised he was singled out from the whole Chicago machine rather than show remorse for his behavior.

I don't understand spoken Albanian, so I don't know what's on the tape. And so far I don't think anybody knows exactly what anybody shown on it means by what he says - the sum mentioned, for example, could be intended to go to the state, not individual politicians, for all we know.
(Amer, 13 January 2011)

Many of us who have completed more than 4 years of education know exactly what Meta means by "7%", his cut on a deal worth $10 million. He doesn't need to spell it out to Prifti, who's also getting a cut by the way. Also he metnions that Berisah (whom he calls Doctor) has given the go ahead.

Meta is also asking Prifti point blank to nullify two contracts signed in two other public projects as he has his own people who are bidding for these projects.

Bear in mind that this just the tip of the iceberg, what we are able to see in a 4 minute tape. Imagine what goes on behind closed doors.


So this may be a revenge move by the Socialists. If nothing else, it's a good sign that Meta declared his willingness to give up his immunity as a member of government to face the charges.
(Amer, 13 January 2011)

Yeah revenge move alright. Berisha has been in power for 10 years in the last 20 and has convicted one high level person of corruption, then opposition leader Fatos Nano, who everyone knew was corrupt anyways.

They have gotten caught red handed several times on tape and still nothing has happened. It is up to the Socilaists to do the job of the prosecutors, which speaks volumes of our "democracy". I can assure you that nothing, and I mean NOTHING will happen to Meta. Life will go on as usual in our society corrupted to the core.

"Prosecution has launched an investigation against Albanian Deputy PM Ilir Meta based on a video which shows him rigging hydropower plant concession tender."

There is a good chance, Ilir Meta was just stingy and did not pay the racket he was asked for the video. His lesson: if you deal with "крыша" = bad luck and don't be stingy.

(Zoti, 13 January 2011 22:46) - But are only the Democrats dirty? What about all those charges that Rama was selling construction permits?

Actually, I've given up trying to figure out the politics and especially the legal charges - I don't have the experience to tell me who is probably lying. It seems like every post-communist society has to go through a period of public corruption - with some luck, maybe preparing for EU membership will cut it down in Albania. But of course, it's easier for me to be blandly optimistic - it's not my country. It's American corruption and/or ineptitude that make me furious.

''Since Ilir Metovic became a foreign minister, suddenly serbian-albanian relations improved, - iliri

How is that a bad thing?
(Ari Gold, 15 January 2011 04:33) ''

It is not a bad thing. It would not have been a bad thing if Meta was not the a foreign minister i mean... Considering the fact that i m a suspicious person, it strikes me that as soon as Ilir Meta came to office, first thing to do was to meet Jeremic and three months later pay visit to Serbia where he met all ,starting from municipality mayors to the president of Serbia, while our foreign policy main concern is EU integration, i wonder how improving our relations with Serbia helps us with the EU integration, Serbia is not a EU country after all, the importance of political and economical relations with Serbia are practically as important as our relations with Moldavia ...in the video tape Ilir Meta says'' no big deal...7%...'' that '' no big deal 7%'' stands for 700 000 euros....even Obama would dream to earn that much money in one year.....this is outrageous, people in Albania are so tired that they do not care anymore, even protests organised by oposition are seen as another hypocrisy...now, think about it, if Meta, steals from Albanian taxpayers 700 000 euros and says it was not a big deal,i asume that Serbia had to pay him dearly in order to get such friendly statements toward Serbia in a time when Serbia was not only conducting a diplomatic offensive against Kosovo, but a propaganda campaing against Albanians in general. Jeremic has been going around the world telling that Albanians are terrorists, islamists, bad muslims (seriously, Jeremic in Egypt and Indonesia said that muslim people were good but Albanians were bad muslims), enverists, austrian collaborators during ww1, tribal society, nazi collaborators during ww2, atheists (this, in fact, is a compliment, but in some countries it is considered a really negative feature), sharia law (in muslim countries Jeremic didn't mention this, but in christan and hebrew countries he mentioned the risk of a new sharia country), separatists, ultranationalists (he mainly mentions this in Slavic countries) , provocative people , narcotrafficants, high breeding , greater albania, etc... i m starting to admire Jeremic , at least Jeremic cares for his state and spends the state money for Serbia's national interests, unlike Meta who steals it, wether we albanians like it or not, Jeremic is doing his job, despite how pathetic it might be, Meta on the other side has been abusing his job at the cost of Albanian question, i think Meta damaged Albanians far more than Jeremic ever would with his up and down visits around the globe...i hope though, that Albania and Serbia have extradition agreements, if Meta flees from Rinas within the next days, we know where to look for...

''They might call it The Supreme Federative Empire Of Darth Veider for what i care, still can't change the fact it is a fake country. Fake people to.
(iliri, 13 January 2011 20:10)

Lovely comment from an open-minded, multiethnic-supporter peaceful European citizen.
(Je¿ europejski, 13 January 2011 23:14) ''

Regardless wether i m open minded or a closed minded...yet still, i can not change the fact that our eastern neighbour is a fake country. They actually admit it themselves, their PM came for a visit in Tirana in 1993 and he told our jounalists that they were ''slovenes'' which means slavs, but our translator by mistake translated it as ''slovenes'' as in being Slovenes, you know, Lubjana slovenes, of course the translator corrected himself in due time, but it was kinda funny. The question, more precisely was ''So, yo claim you are the descedants of Alexander the Great?''... That country is a comedy. Who cares wether Alexander the Great was either a slav, greek or albanian anyway...he was just a homo, but with oustanding military skills. If he weren't a homo, he probably would not be so interested in military and consequently he would not be so great, and perhaps, ancient macedonia would be forgotten...all the fuss is because Alexander the Great was a homo.