Daughter in charge of prime minister’s visit in New York?

Gazeta Tema, Sept. 21, 2011

Argita Malltezi and her husband preceded Berisha’a visit in New York by at least ten days. Prime minister’s daughter flew to New York where, according to sources close to Berisha, she met with American lobbyists to arrange for a host of important meetings of her father with top American officials. It seems that the plan didn’t pan out, because Berisha met only with businesspeople and lobbyists close to him, most of whom are clients of his daughter’s legal office.

This is another illustration that Berisha is completely isolated, far more than the Kosovo delegation, who met with several American high-ranking officials.

A ridiculous visit

Being in New York to attend the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly Berisha is engaged in meetings that have no special interest for the country. He met there with Eliot Engel, the congressman, who is always ready to fly to Tirana whenever Berisha needs him, since he is known to by a big lobbyist of this government. Apparently after failing in his efforts to meet with presidents of UN member nations, he met with Prime minister of Bhutan (no one knows in Albania where Bhutan is located) and the Slovenian president, on which is very little commented.

Podesta got $700 thousand and Patton Bogs $1,5 millions

Ama News Agency reports that these are the sums paid by Albanian government for the organization of US-Albania Economic Forum a few days ago in New York. Although it is reported that most American companies boycotted this event, some companies that are known to Albanians as being “family” to Berisha such as “Gjiri Lalëzit”, “Sky petroleum”, “Tirex”, “Podesta” and “Patton” attended the forum.

It doesn’t end there! Podesta Group, Berisha’s personal advising firm in the elections, which organized the event, was paid $700 thousand. But there’s more! The second advising company, Patton Boggs, was even heavier for the Albanian taxpayers. The company was engaged to support the Albanian government and was rewarded with some $1,5 millions for the service. This company is owned by ambassador Wisner, a close friend of Berisha’s, who supports him whenever Berisha is in difficulty, despite the costs to the democracy in the country.