Press Releases

Remarks by USAID Country Director Harry Birnholz, Ministry of Finance, Tirana (June 10, 2005)

Thank you. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of Albania and the team for completing and submitting the proposal for the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. This program was created to assist governments that have demonstrated a clear commitment to significant economic reform and good governance.

Based upon the results of the review of the Government's Concept Paper submitted earlier this year, Albania was invited by the Millennium Challenge Corporation to submit a proposal for a program to reduce corruption in procurement and tax administration reform.

I want to take this opportunity also to express my appreciation and the admiration for the great coordination that has taken place within the Government. I want to recognize the leadership provided by Ministers Bello and Malaj and the working group, including Vladimir Koçi, Edmond Dunga, Gazmend Kadi, and the Director of Public Procurement Behar Zeneli, and the Director of Tax Administration Ardian Kamberi, for completing this program.

We look forward to forwarding this proposal to USAID, Washington and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.