Two stories caught my eye this morning. According to the IHT authorities here have started an investigation into a Jordanian suspected of funding terrorism. He is alleged to be an associate of Yasin al-Qadi, a Saudi who part owned Tirana's 'Twin Towers' (right) and was on both US and UN watchlists.It's good that the authorities here are acting against these people. Albanians generally are very complacent about the risks these people pose. Believing that religion is not important to Albanians, they think that there is no possibility of extremist organisations gaining a foothold here.
The second story comes from the the Southeast European Times which reports that the government plans to introduce a flat tax system from 2008. The flat tax system has been adopted by a number of former communist countries. Most significantly, from Albania's point of view, it was introduced in Macedonia earlier this year.
The efficacy of flat tax systems is debated by practitioners of the dismal science, but obviously it doesn't make any difference what the rate is if there is no efficient system to collect it. Also, one aim of the plan is to attract outside investment, but the tax rate is only one small part of the problems Albania faces in this regard - widespread corruption, weak implementation of property rights, poor infrastructure and more mean that the country will continue to struggle to attract money.
Comments
Happy Easter!
Yes, for an Albanian, only after he/she stepps out of the country can we finally understand the threat.