The U.S. has granted USD 15,7 million to Albania for its fight against corruption and enhancement of judiciary, Makfax reported.

In a press release the U.S. embassy in Tirana says the objectives of the agreement signed with the Albanian finance ministry are a drop in corruption, establishment of a business licensing agency, a transparent system for construction permits. The EU has urged Albania to step up its fight against corruption and streamline judiciary if it wants to join the Union, the agency reminds.

But last week the US ambassador in Tirana has voiced strong criticism for an attack launched by Albania Prime Minister Sali Berisha against the Prosecutor General Ina Rama.

"I have sometimes been told, including as recently as yesterday evening, that my concerns are based on misunderstandings of what is going on here," Withers said on Friday during a conference where Berisha was present.

"I would like to make clear to those persons that we Americans know how a democratic system works. My concerns, and the concerns of my government, are not based on misunderstandings, they are based on realities," he added.

The US and opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Sali Berisha of putting pressure on the Prosecutor General by trying to open a parliamentary investigation into a probe launched by the Prosecutor's Office against Bosnian businessman Damir Fazlic, who is a close friend of the Prime Minister.

Berisha's attack on the prosecutor general was strongly attacked by the opposition, but the prime minister remains unfazed.

"You can't put forward a motion to dismiss me, because you are castrated," he told the opposition in parliament on Thursday.

Makfax             23/10/2008