This is a picture of Saranda, a town on the southwestern coast of Albania. A visit in this former Communist country, which cut itself off from the rest of the world for a decade, between 1980 and 1990, was an eye-opener. Democracy is now back, with a Parliament, and a new Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, a former member of the Communist Party (an unsurprising fact in a country where there used to be only one party), who has faced difficulties in his fight against corruption and above all in tackling economic problems (such as the scandal of the pyramid investment schemes). Since 1990, many Albanians have emigrated around the world, creating an 800 000-strong diaspora, and sending back a lot of money, a huge source of wealth for a very poor population. Albania is looking towards the future, hoping to become a touristic destination, on a par with Greece (Saranda is situated just across the Ionian Sea, 2 nautical miles away from the island of Corfu). It took Greece thirty years to set itself up as modern economy. Albania, despite all its goodwill, its vitality and energy, will have to remain patient.
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