Brooklyn, New York

In the oak paneled Robert F. Furchgott Library full of manuscripts and scientific devices encased behind glass that only a scientist could appreciate, SUNY Downstate Medical Center welcomed Nobel Laureate Dr. Ferid Murad. For me, and many of my colleagues, this was a dream come true: we were about to meet a Nobel Laureate! However, this meeting held a deeper meaning and significance than just the adrenaline rush of being in the presence of this sage.

Besides our mutual love for science and medicine we shared a greater commonality: our Albanian heritage. Dr. Murad recants his humble roots by explaining “My father was a shepherd with only a fourth grade education yet he spoke seven languages and was a hard worker who came to this country to seek a better life”. Despite of our differences in age and experience, our histories paralleled each other as it does for so many first generation Americans.

His story reminded me of my parents, who also arrived on U.S. soil with no education, money, or certainty of what lay ahead of them. They just took a risk in the hopes of creating a better future for my brother and I. The case of Dr. Murad is the epitome of many American success stories. He not only became a scientist, doctor, and pharmacist, but he became one of the best. What is not so obvious, are the sacrifices and hardships that he encountered along the way while pursuing his passion of science. “In order to put food on the table for my children, I had to sell a pint of blood every so often”, describes Dr. Murad of the days gone by many years ago when he was an aspiring young scientist with many household obligations.

Benevolence is not an intention but should rather be an obligation. This notion is held near to my heart since it is not only a mere belief, but also testament to attaining my dream of becoming a doctor. Dr. Murad demonstrated this ideal by explaining to us how he helped his nephew, now a practicing surgeon in Skopje, Macedonia, complete medical school all over again in Macedonia as his Albanian medical credentials were not recognized by the Macedonian healthcare system.
In a room full of cardiology fellows Dr. Murad mentioned that he was the honorary chairman of the Albanian American Medical Society and was happy to hear the progress being made in the Balkans as well as efforts of the AAMS to foster cooperation and communication between professionals in the United States and abroad.
When asked by one audience member,

“How has your life changed since being awarded the Nobel Prize?” Dr. Murad replied, “Being awarded the Nobel Prize brought great notoriety, fame, and respect from my peers, but also has brought much unwelcome attention as well. It has left me and my name a target for people wishing to capitalize on my achievements such as finding myself on billboards falsely advertising herbal medicines and beer with out my permission. ”A legacy is not something that can be bought or found; it must be built. We all were reminded by Dr. Murad that we create our own destiny and along with that, come great professional and ethical responsibilities such as keeping our names as doctors untarnished and the field of medicine noble. After a long day spent with a morning meeting with SUNY Downstate Medical Center President, Dr. LaRosa, round table discussions with the cardiology fellows, and a talk about his research Dr. Murad concluded his day at our hospital with an informal discussion with students and residents. There he showed us a short educational video which explained his work with nitric oxide and the Nobel Prize. His final message to us before completing his visit was to “Study hard， don’t be afraid to take risks, and remain modest.”

It was not immediately certain to me at the time of which impressed me more; the fact that I had actually met a world renowned scientist or that this well accomplished man proud of his humble roots was still just as passionate about his work as a recent graduate eager to apply himself. I found it very encouraging, both professionally and personally, to have had the opportunity to meet this extraordinary Albanian-American scientist in person and to realize that he is not only an inspiration to the members of the Albanian American Medical Society, but millions around the world.

-Ismet Lukolic, MD
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

Although year 2009 was a difficult year for the world economy and therefore also for the Albanian economy, it appears that Sigal Holding, which operates in Albania, Kosovo & Macedonia, has managed to escape the decline in markets and perform higher than expectations. SIGAL Holding which is an insurance company grew by over 21% in 2009 grew by 21 percent. At the AGM, attended by Director General, Mr Avni Ponari & also directors of departments and branches of SIGAL uniq GROUP AUSTRIA Albania (Non-Life), Life uniq SIGAL Austria Group (Life), uniq ad Skopje (Non-Life) and SIGAL uniq GROUP AUSTRIA Kosovo (Non-Life), performance in 2009 was analysed. Premiums increased by approximately €32 million. This increase has occurred in three markets of three states, in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia

According to the annual report, "SIGAL uniq Austria Group, which operates in Albania, to market non-life insurance saw a growth in premiums of 20.6%, while domestic market growth was also impressive at 9:04%. Most notable was the growth in the market of life insurance where an increase in premiums of 89.39% was witnessed. This led to an increase of 39.79% in the life assurance market. Uniq ad Skopje, in Macedonia which operates in the market of non-life insurance grew by 9.71%. Kosovo SIGAL uniq Austria Group, which operates in the market of non-life insurance for Kosovo grew by 15:56%. Meanwhile, another important indicator for 2009 was in the Company reserves, which increased by 34% compared to 2008. Damages paid by the Holding company grew by 14%, equating to €8.6 million.

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

The Minister for Economy, Trade and Energy, Mr. Dritan Prifti, said yesterday that Albania will be the country with the highest economic growth in Europe in 2010. The minister, who was attending a ceremony in Veneto bank, also attended by other members of government, business representatives, and representatives of the banking group Veneto, spoke of how Albania was the country with highest economic growth in 2009 and how it is expected to be even higher in 2010, in the region of 4 - 5%. Growth was 3% in 2009. He added 'Albania is a country that grows.'

Regarding the Veneto Bank, the Minister expressed his conviction that this banking group has arrived in Albania with the right strategy to survive and to benefit from business in Albania. Albania is a country with 17 different banks. He also highlighted that the Albanian government has pledged support for the business that this group will be build in our country.

The minister went on to say that Albania has very interesting economic sectors in which to invest, such as energy, mining, tourism etc. "I want to invite not only Albanian business, but also foreign enterprises that invest in Albania, to be more innovative, have more stable business plans and thus see profit. The banking sector is one that is doing well and can support innovation and new business development.

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES

The European Parliament has categorically expressed that the abolition of visas for Albania is a technical process and should not be confused with the political process.

In a phone interview for Albanian Times, the European Deputy of the Green Group, Marije Cornelissen, found that the progress she has seen in Albania has been very impressive and as such, the group will recommend voting in favour of lifting the visa.

Meanwhile European Deputy, Simon Bussutil of the People's Party said that they "are ready to look at the waiving of visas, but are awaiting final assessment of the European Commission for technical criteria. "We want to keep this issue at the technical level". He added that this should not be compromised by political issues.

On the other hand rapporteur for abolishing visas for Albania and Bosnia, Tanja Fajon, stressed that meeting the criteria for lifting the visa roadmap is a technical process. "There are more than 100 technical criteria that must be a qualified answer for. Technical part is important and I will not add any political criteria in this guide. There should be a separate process that strictly political, "she said.

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES

This is the picture today of Tirana’s main square which has been described by the prime minister as being in a catastrophic status.. Berisha has charged the minister of public works and transportation Sokol Olldashi with the task of getting the main square on its feet. This is the main square of the capital and it is a shame that the 10 million dollars donated for the project of Tirana’s main square renovation by the Kuwaiti government has not been done yet.

The Prime Minister delivered a harsh speech and described a very alarming situation of the square "Scanderbeg”. This step will ensure cooperation with local authorities, the Municipality of Tirana led by the socialist party leader Edi Rama. Edi Rama, the mayor of Tirana, has worked well and has developed Tirana to a whole new level, compared to the situation it was at when he was first elected. However it is clear there is a lot of work still to be done.

The local authorities received a $10 million donation by the Kuwaiti government in 2008 which was to renovate Scanderbeg square in the centre of Tirana but work has not yet begun. There have been many projects to bring Tirana to the level of other European capitals but so far those projects have only remained written down in paper.

The capital has much work to do when it comes to catching up with their European counterparts. Metro, rail line, tramway and even bus routes connecting the airport with Tirana have yet to be implemented! The population has increased by over a million in the last two decades and the infrastructure has changed alot but still most would agree, the traffic and public transport are in a disastrous status. The project for transforming the centre of Tirana which was drafted last year and the best architecture won by the French company has yet to see work starting.

The Municipality of Tirana led by the socialist party leader Edi Rama has been blaming the Prime Minister Sali Berisha for not paying for a small part of the ring road around the square. This has been given as the primary reason for the municipality of Tirana for not starting work! The article was published today in the municipality of Tirana site (http://www.tirana.gov.al/?cid=1,62,3343)

The municipality might well have that reason but they should have formally asked for the money long time ago rather then waiting for the government to give out. It is the citizens of Tirana that have elected the Mayor for the third time now but this time he has failed to commit to his promises.

Now the public works and transportation minister Sokol Olldashi, newly assigned with the task of transforming Tirana’s Scanderbeg square has seen resistance by the municipality authorities who refuse to support the minister in the start work on the square. This is only affecting the citizens of Tirana and indeed, the whole of Albania and is seen as another example of the socialist party preventing Albania from moving forward. The socialist party which has refused to enter the parliament since the June elections, has seen Albania being prevented from a free visa regime to the European Union.


Future Scanderbeg Square:

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

There has been renewed discussion surrounding the somewhat controversial plans for Italy to build a nuclear power station in Albania. Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berluscone has said that Italy will set up a nuclear power station in Albania. In an interview with Italian newspaper, Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno "Berlusconi has thrown light on the previous uncertainties concerning the possibility of establishing nuclear power plant. According to him, the plant will be established in the framework of a cooperation project in a friendly country, as is Albania. He has rejected the idea of establishing the plant in Pulia, acknowledging that the region is already energy-independent and does not need such a plant".

"My preference for setting up this plant in Albania is based on broad reflection and focus on the cooperation project with a friendly country" - he said, adding that the necessary discussions have already taken place at the technical level by the EIB (European Investment Bank). He further highlighted that the establishment of plants is something that has interested many Italians and has a keen following in the media. Further to this, Berluscone added that Italy urgently needs to find a way to reduce electricity costs, as such costs are typically 30% higher than the European average, thus decreasing the competitiveness of Italian exports. Production cannot take higher costs.


Italy's interest in the establishment of such a nuclear power plant has been clear and well expressed, however Albania's cooperation has been less-communicated in the past. Responding to media interest, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, during a recent conference referred to multiple "development scenarios around the Adriatic and the Balkan region" and confirmed that Italy has entered into talks with several countries, one of which is Albania". He went on to say that Slovenia is also under consideration.

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

Increased competition in the mobile telephony market in Albania, as a result of regulatory requirement for reduction of tariffs, has brought visible benefits to the customer. These benefits for clients of cellular companies in the country have been estimated in the region of 35 million euro by the Authority of Electronic & Postal Communication (Autoritetit ne Komunikimin Elektronik dhe Postar). Selami Xhepa has commented that mobile tariffs in Albania are now below the European average. As a result of the decrease in tariffs, AKEP has determined an increase in outgoing calls by customers from 30 to 60 minutes compared to previous years.

During the annual reporting before the commission, the head at AKEP expressed confidence that there will be further reductions in tariffs as a result of the introduction of fourth mobile operator in the country, expected within the first half of this year. Following on from this, another new service will be available to consumers, number portability, whereby a customer can change service provider whilst still maintaining their existing number. We can also expect to see 3G mobile technology, which will ultimately mean provision of broadband internet.

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES


Albanian Premier, Sali Berisha, said that next year budget is going to be concentrated on some important projects and is not going to be divided in pieces, as has been the rule in the past. Albanian Premier considered this practice as a wrong one. “Next year budget will concentrate on major projects and will not be distributed in 1800 projects, as has been the practice on the past.

We aim at concentrating in those projects giving concrete results such as the Durres – Kosova motorway from which every Albanian citizen benefits”, said Berisha. Last year and this year we build motorways and next year we will build railways and continue to improve the transport in the country. We have opened our doors for investors in the railways, said Berisha. Shame that this comes just after an American court fined the government of Albania $20 million for breaking the contract with "General Electric" for the new electric railway “Golem – Durres – Tirana – Airport”.

The contract for the new railway which would have connected the airport with the two main cities and would have increased the tourism was signed by the socialist party when they were in the government in 2005. This was then refused by the democrats after winning the elections when they came into government on that year. The railway was drafted to be completed in two years costing 75$ million dollars and would have been serving Mother Theresa airport, the capital and the main touristic area.

Albanian government has planned to privatise the railway sector in the hope of better rail transportation which at the moment is in a desperate need of investment. Next years budget is being drafted but there are doubts the government will invest in railways. The budget for next year is being drafted by the finance minister and will be published later in the year but one of the major projects is the Southern Axis project for the new motorway of “Tirana – Elbasan – Berat – Tepelene”

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

Albanian authorities have now introduced digital driving test theory in most centres. Until now Albanians have been taking the driving theory test in papers but now this is been introduced in computers in digital format. Road and Safety authority in Fier completed the operating system through which applicants for driving licenses will answer theoretical questions in front of a computer rather then writing it in a paper.

This form of testing is expected to increase the level of drivers in the country and the security in the Albanian streets. The opening ceremony for inauguration in the centre of Fier was attended by the minister of transport Sokol Olldashi who promised to equip all regional centres with this system in a short future.

"Digitizing the system in the theoretical exam for the license management of vehicles has a special importance because it eliminates small and negative elements of bribery, thus increasing significantly the quality of new drivers.

Digitizing project to test the theory for driving licenses began as a pilot project two months ago and today in Durres and Fier centres is completed and should be completed throughout the country by end of this year", - said Olldashi. The following week and is expected to inaugurohen new digital rooms for theoretical exam permits taking direction in Gjirokastra and Berat.

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

A new stretch of highway, running from the capital of Albania, Tirana, to Elbasan, further south, has been presented and is expected to be completed within two years. The first phase of this project will see a new highway stretching approximately 31km, consisting of 4 lanes, with two tunnels extending 2.3 and 2.1 miles being constructed between these two cities, with further stages planned to extend the motorway to Berat and Tepelene.

Elbasan is located on the Shkumbin River in the district of Elbasan. It is one of the largest cities in Albania with a population of around 100,000.

While the Prime Minister, Sali Berisha has acknowledged this project presents a greater cost, the benefits are clear and will significantly contribue to the development of Elbasan. This highway will decrease the journey between these cities by at least 40 minutes.

The tender procedure for the construction of Tirana-Elbasan motorway will be launched in June, deputy minister of public works Ernest Ndoka said in an interview for Albanian Times.

Earlier today, the official project of the future Tirana-Elbasan motorway was presented to the public. This is the first segment of the much talked about Southern Axis project.


Technical details from the Ministry of Transportation:

Length: 31.17km
Lanes: 4
Tunnels: 2 (2.3km and 2.1km)

Included in the project are seven overpasses, four underpasses and three intersections. Speed limit is 110/120 km/hr.

It's the first segment of the Southern Axis project, which aims to connect the capital Tirana with the southern district of Tepelena.

Southern Axis project will include several tunnels according to the prime minister. One of those segments is Berat-Tepelena, 40km.

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta has confirmed that Albania will cooperate with international institutions on the organ trafficking investigation. The investigation relates to allegations that ethnic Albanian fighters killed and then trafficked the organs of Serbs captured in the 1999 Kosovo conflict. The claims first arose six years ago in the memoirs of former UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, entitled 'Madame Prosecutor'

Serbian officials say up to 400 Kosovo Serbs vanished during the war, and a number of those may have been subjected to the practice in the alleged "yellow house" in Albania. Carla Del Ponte portrayed the "yellow house" as a building in Albania where organs might have been surgically removed from the victims.
Kosovo and Albania have strongly denied the allegations of organ trafficking.

Based on the evidence and testimonies of more than 130 witnesses collected by Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor, Serbia had requested an investigation to be reopened but this was rejected by officials in Tirana last year. The Council of Europe has since announced that an investigation will be opened and led by a former Swiss prosecutor, Dick Marty.

Albanian authorities believe that the allegations have no foundation and have denied the claims at all times. Outsiders have suggested that to make this issue die, Albania will need to show their cooperation and demonstrate they will work with an independent investigation team. As Albania strives to join the EU, a lack of cooperation could only serve to delay this dream for the people there.

March 03, 2010| Altin Zeqiri, ALBANIAN TIMES

Albania beat Northern Ireland 1 - 0 in a friendly match in Qemal Stafa, Tirana.
All odds were for northern Irish side to win in Tirana but the classy Albanians were unbreakable.

British newspapers predicted 2 - 0 to the Irish side but they were basing the facts of better side in the FIFA world ranking with Northern Ireland ranked at the 39th place whilst Albania on the 96th place.

The only goal of the match for Albanians came on the 28th minute. The 33 year old Ervin Skela on his 60th international cap curls home a magnificent 25-yard free-kick after George McCartney had been hauled back for a challenge on Erion Bogdani. Albania gets the goal their first-half play deserves.

In the second half Stephen Craigan headed against the bar and then fired a shot against a post with Rory Patterson almost scoring from the rebound.

The match was played on a quagmire of a playing surface and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor was called into action on 24 minutes when he tipped over a long-range dipping effort from Skela.

Substitute goalkeeper Tuffey saved a Salahi header, and also a low drive from Bakaj.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington saw his side outplayed by Albania in the friendly in Tirana.

Albania were well in control and Angolli dragged a shot wide in the 42nd minute with the defence all at sea.

Northern Ireland’s record scorer David Healy was back in the starting line-up but Sammy Clingan was a late withdrawal with a virus and was replaced by Michael O'Connor.

Albania was by far the better side in the 90 minutes and had many chances to double the scoring. A well deserved win for the home side.

Albania: Hidi, Lila, Dallku, Vangjeli, Angolli, Lala, Curri, Bulku, Duro, Skela, Bogdani. Subs: Beqaj, Cana, Kapllani, Hyka, Bakaj, Vila, Salihi.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Little, McGivern, McCartney, Craigan, O'Connor, McGinn, Davis, Healy, Lafferty, McCann. Subs: Tuffey, Carson, Kirk, Shiels, Patterson, Evans.

Referee: Elir Pilav (Sarajevo)

FIFA World Cup 1966
The first time that Albania competed for a place in the world's elite, for the 1966 World Cup in England, was in a match against Netherlands on 24 May 1964. Drawn in Group 5 with the Dutch were also Northern Ireland and Switzerland. Albania's only point in the qualification round came from a 1–1 draw at home to Northern Ireland in Tirana, which denied Northern Ireland a place in the Finals.

Rank – Team – Pts
1 – Switzerland - 9
2 - Northern Ireland – 8
3 - Netherlands – 6
4 – Albania - 1

March 03, 2010| Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES

Greek economy crisis is entering in Albania. Found unemployed in Greece emigration is returning back home increasing the numbers of unemployed in the live registers in Albania.

The crashed economy in Greece has now entered Albania and if the Greek tourism which employs 500 000 Albanians, doesn’t pick up quickly the number of unemployment in Albania could rise at all time high. Albanian government is taking all the necessary steps to accommodate those returned from Greece in the tourism sector whilst they bring the experience back home but the number entering every day is much higher then Albania can afford at this time in the tourism sector.

Tourism is now contracting at high with the season preparations but how long is the this going to continue is the question!? How many Albanians will come back is what everyone is asking? Will this have an effect on the 8% growth in Albanian economy that was published at the beginning of the year?

No one can answer those questions but what the government is saying that visitors entering Albania is doubling every year, this will create jobs. At the moment sector of tourism alone employs 350 000 and this will increase to 500 000.

The sector of agriculture is the second largest which employs 400 000 Albanians in Greece and this has been hit the hardest. The reason this has been hit the hardest is that Greek banks are low on capital and loans are hard to get hands on. This has caused businesses and factories shutting down and imports/exports crashing at the bottom with no money in their hands to do business. Greek banks are using the money wisely, at least that little that is left! Economist Andrea Papagalis told Albanian Times: If a loan is given in agriculture sector another is needed in the exporting that product to the consumer, there is not enough money for both! either we produce the tomato or transport the tomato!

The Greek government has announced there will be cuts in civil servants' salaries. This is to ease the financial crisis facing the country but will also mean that people will have less money to spend and this will effect every business and hit the economy even worse overall. If a couple is working in the school they will get a cut of about 10% which means 20% less income in the in the family! Well they afford to go on holidays? Will this effect tourism!? We don't have the answer to that but you can guess!

Albanians who have worked in agriculture in Greece returning back home could find it easier to get employment. Albanian banks had a growth even at the year the banking system collapsed worldwide. Albanian bank have plenty of capital for country's businesses and whilst the economy is on the growth is very easily to secure a loan at a low rate. The government has introduced the tax for unused farm land and this should create jobs for those returning from Greece and bring home the experience gained working in agriculture in Greece. The government has also introduced loans at 0% rates used for agriculture and this sector is forecast to double the product from last year.

The government of Albania has taken all the right steps but the number of Albanians working and living in Greece is 1 200 000 and if half of those returned back home Albanian unemployment registers could hit the roof!

Albania is developing and the economy is on rise. Agriculture and tourism are the two sectors on the rise contracting the double from year on year but is that enough. Albania is not well developed country and with half a million on the registers the unemployment could have an effect in the growth forecasted for 2010.




Tourism in Albania is doing all it can to promote the country, millions are being pumped in to make sure that Albania represents itself in every international forum and makes itself competitor to other Mediterranean countries. TV advertisements about “Europe’s Last Secret” and “Mediterranean Love” Albania, are promoting the country in most prestigious TV channels such as BBC, EuroNews and CNN. This will increase the number of visitors entering Albania which is making itself competitor to the neighbouring countries but will this employ everyone returning from Greece? This remain to be seen!


Albanian economy is on a growth of 5-9% year on year and this is not showing a sign of slow down. Albania was not affected in the 2008 bank crisis and it took all the mandatory steps in preventing a crash in the banking sector.

The director of Bank of Albania Adrian Fullani, declared yesterday that from today the currency of the secondary (arm) banks transferring funds outside Albania is open whilst this was stopped in 2008 caused by the unrest in the world markets and banks loosing big in shares.

Banking Crisis:
In the banking sector in Albania 38% is connected to greek banking system as the secondary banks. Whilst Greek economy is at the edge of disaster the luck of those banks in the hands of Athens! Although Tirana bank, subsidiary of Pireus bank had a growth of 6% last year it has seen job cuts in attempt of cost saving plan.

Business Crisis:
Albanian business has seen a slow down in exports to Greece. Businessman Koço Qirjako whose company exports Mermer tiles and stones to Greece has seen a decline by 40% in exports. He says he is looking into different markets to get rid of the storage he has piled up in the warehouse as he doesn’t see the end of the tunnel in the Greek market. Pallets of tiles are stock on my warehouse and there is no more room for storage but I have no choice but stop production and to pay my employees for staying home. I have 6 months worth of exports piled in my warehouses and I have no where to sell it he says. I have been contacting different markets to get rid of my storage as there is no hope in Greek market to pick anytime soon. Times are tough at the moment and the Greek imports in general have dropped by 40%.

Reportage on Albania showed in CNN and BCC:


All eyes on tourism in Albania:
CNN:

CNN:


EuroNews:


BBC:

March 03, 2010| Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES

Plyku is a small village in the district of Fier, about three kilometres outside the city of Fier in the south west of Albania. A village first habited just before the 1800 has taken its big name from the long life of its people. The population of the village increased to 10 000 in the last few decades with 2500 houses but most of those now empty because of the immigration and only used as holiday homes in the summer. In the village only old people can be seen! When you first arrive you feel like you are in a different planet! You don’t hear babies crying, you can’t see kids running, no teenagers playing and not a young man standing in the street flirting as can be seen in most villages around. This is a particular one hence the feeling of a different planet!

Emigration has played a big role in the village of Plyku, first migrating in during communism era, from the mountains in the hope of an easy and good paid job in the industrial town of Fier. Then during democracy, the young leaving the village heading west in a hope for a better life has left the old generation behind and that factor makes the village of Plyku feeling old!

In the early 1900 there were only three tribes and about 50 houses but this number increased to 6 000 in early 1990s. It has now decreased again to less than 3 000 hit by people emigrating in the 1990s and is now only inhabited by grannies. The village is all surrounded by olive trees, flowers in the streets and very nice houses with large balconies covered by the large trees in the gardens.

District of Fier is well known for its ancient city, known as “Apollonia”, where Cicero, the famous Roman orator had studied for a small period of time.

Fier is the most important industrial city of Albania. It is build by the Gjanica tributary of the Seman River and is surrounded by reclaimed marshland. With nearby Patos town, it is the centre of the oil, bitumen and chemical industries in Albania.

District of Fier is ranked number one in Albania for the long life but this was mainly because of one village where everyone lives over hundred and the young people have migrated to Greece and Italy. Interested and curious of this fact, I went to the village of Plyku in hope of finding out what the secret is so we can share it with the world.

You are amazed when you first enter in the village of Plyku. We parked the car walking around the village you only see very old people and you don't see a kid nor a teenager in the street, makes you feel like you are in a different planet! It’s quiet on a sunny and hot Saturday afternoon walking around the village, on the balconies you see groups of old people playing and chatting with each other and staring at us, you ask yourself, is this a forgotten world!?

As we approach to the centre of village where shouting and disagreements can be heard from distance, we see few dozen old man and women. Man playing dominos and cards whilst women doing handmade clothes on the other side. The youngest there looks older then my 86 year old grandmother. We stop and take a seat in a table with a group who are talking about football.


The centre of the village is covered on olive trees, with a bar in the side and about dozen wooden tables under the shadow where the shouting disagreements makes it hard to hear the person you are talking to. We ask the waiter for two coffees and two grappa’s. A 90 year old waiter, also the owner of the bar says, the only alcohol we have here lads, is the dirty tab water from the well below, you’re welcomed to have that for free he says smiling at us whilst we both look at each other having find the first clue why people in this village grow hundred years old. We order the coffees and the free water from the well and i start talking to Rrape Bogdani who is sitting beside me. An old women born in 1912, her husband is playing dominos at another table who she says is 3 years older then her.

We ask Rrape, what is the secret of this village where everyone lives this long and where are her children and grandchildren!?


Since the communism collapsed young people have emigrated to Greece or Italy in search for a better life. With no perspective here and not having jobs in the village they have all left. Everyone here knows each other and when the first ones left the village in the 1992 migrating to Greece everyone was very sad and talking about it! They started pulling each other and now there is no one under 60 years old in the village and having a child home looks like an old fashion!

Xhevria Kallashi sitting across the table was born in 1908 and she starts talking. She got married in 1930 and she has 8 children, 50 grandchildren and grand grandchildren. She says I only see my children in the summer when they come back from Italy only on holidays. I am alone here with my husband and every day we do community work or play cards to keep ourselves busy.

It was heart breaking at the beginning and there are times that I am very sad and down that I don’t see my children only once a year. Once you are outside the door of your house you forget about it and you see that everyone else is at the same situation so you try and keep busy. We get along very well here and that makes life easier. We are a very well organised village and we are all involved in community work, whether that is, decorating the street with flowers, taking care of the trees, cleaning the streets, or organising sport activities and celebration events where everyone can have fun and that is the secret that keeps us going.

She continues, I am 102 years old because I have never smoked and have never drunk alcohol. We eat fruits and vegetables planted in our gardens, eat meat and poultry done by us at home and i think the most important things are milk and olive oil. We only use our own olive oil for cooking and I think that is the secret. We make everything in the village, we only ever see post man who also brings us news papers, the rest of food and drink is all done in the village.

All the women here comes from different parts who are married in the village, they bring different cooking traditions and we are very passionate about cooking. We mostly bake and we have the wood bakery in the village which we use whilst the secret of a good cooking is to cook in open fire. If I bake the same dish in my gas oven at home it does not taste anywhere close to how it would taste when baked in the open fire. We never eat alone, we have few other couples over and we eat and play a game of dominos or cards.

We were invited for lunch by Nekie Bogdani where she had about 20 other invitees from the village but there was food for a wedding: she with the help of 3 other women had baked 4 pans of byrek, about dozen chickens frown in her home baked in wood fire, 5 different salads freshly made from vegetables grown in her garden, homemade white goat cheese. There was food for at least 50 people, we kept eating and chatting away all afternoon.


Eat well, be happy, don’t work hard, don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol is the secret to get you to hundred years old says Nekia.


We leave the village of Plyku with some good memories. Everyone is waving at us as we drive away and having become friends Nekia’s family, we will definitely come back again but next time we will make sure to bring the grappa with us.



The age of the ones we talked to:
Rrape Bogdani – 1912
Kasem Bogdani – 1909
Nekie Bogdani – 1915
Rabushe Kallashi – 1010
Xhevrie Kallashi – 1908

February 22, 2010 | Erind Kurti, Albanian Times

Headlines of today’s newspapers in Albania:
Here are the top stories in Albania’s main newspapers.


Gazeta Koha Shqiptare:
Macedonia removes Kosova from the map in the school texts. In the texts of the primary school books, Macedonian authorities have removed Kosova as a neighbor by only mentioning Serbia as their neighbor country in the north. “Koha Shqiptare” published that Macedonian authorities in the last two decades has created tensions between Macedonians and the Albanian population in Macedonia which count for 40% of total population.

Gazeta Shekulli:
Talks between the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the opposition Socialist Party Edi Rama continue with the mediation of the country's president. The talks aim to find common ground and resolve Albania’s political stalemate by the end of the week.

Gazeta 55:
Italian media choose Albania as must visit 2010 place. Italian media has ranked Albania in the first place for the must visit places for Europeans in 2010. It’s rich Archaeology and the cheap prices Albania is at the top of the window in every Italian holiday tour agency.


Gazeta SHQIP:
North of Albania could be hit by floods again. Authorities of the main hydro-central stations have open the gates due to the water being too high caused but the heavy rains in Macedonia and the level of water in the central stations increasing intensively.

Albanian authorities have open the gates of the hydro-central stations of Fierza, Koman and Vau i Dejes, which might contribute to more flooding in Shkoder and several villages near the Adriatic Sea.

Gazeta METROPOL:
Diplomatic passports removed from Opposition party. The government has issued a warrant to remove the diplomatic passports from the members of parliament of opposition party if they do not enter the parliament by the end of the week.