I did spend a few, busy days in Washington, which is always a beautiful city to be in, even when it rains, which it did during my recent stay.
Instead of the usual train or air shuttle, this time I decided to make the round trip via a new special bus line. It turned out to be a very comfortable 4 hour drive, at a low cost, and included a good movie along the way. I’m lucky to have good, long term friends that always host me there and also shuttled me around town in their car.
The Albanian Embassy, where I had a very cordial meeting, has not changed much. Have been in it several times in the past on a variety of occasions. It’s an old style Washingtonian mansion, with a round wooden staircase to the upper floors and fireplaces almost in every room, including the small 1st floor lobby, and well located in the fashionable North-West part of the city, in the midst of several other foreign embassies.
Having a meeting at the State Department may sounds like an intimidating affair, but I always found it to be an easy and friendly occurrence. Even with today’s increased security measures, the entire process of being admitted into this enormous complex is so clean cut, quiet and well organized, and carried out so competently, that it works like a charm. I cannot help thinking how very different similar occurrences have been in other countries I’ve dealt with. Here one is welcomed and helped at every step of the way with cordial and friendly greetings….and it goes to show that the American state employee surely knows who pays his salary!
More traveling is coming up for me, and my next news will be forthcoming again from Tirana, Albania
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A thought-provoking piece of news....
Italy's Sanpaolo IMI agrees to buy American Bank of Albania
The Associated Press
Published: October 20, 2006
TIRANA, Albania Italy's Sanpaolo IMI Group said Friday it agreed to buy American Bank of Albania in a deal that values the lender at US$156.9 million (€124.91 million).
Sanpaolo will acquire an 80 percent stake in American Bank from the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund and an option to buy the outstanding 20 percent, the Turin, Italy-based bank said in a statement.
The two parties remain in negotiations on the "necessary details to finalize the operation," and the deal remains subject to regulatory approval.
"Thanks to this operation Sanpaolo IMI strengthens its presence in Albania," Sanpaolo said in a statement. Sanpaolo bought Albanian Italian Bank in May this year.
The Albanian-American Enterprise Fund — a U.S. corporation first funded through a US$30 million (€24 million) grant from the U.S. government, the only shareholder of the bank — confirmed the agreement "in principal," according to a statement from the American Bank of Albania.
Sanpaolo IMI Group has a leading position in Italy, and after merging with Banca Intesa total assets would be €550 billion (US$691 billion), with over 6,200 domestic branches and agencies and more than 1,000 foreign branches.
The combined net income in the first six months of 2006 was €2,6 billion (US$3.2 billion), the bank statement said, adding that the group was the third-largest bank for market capitalization in the Euro zone and the fourth in lending.
"With this transaction, the American Bank of Albania brings into Albania the full power of a major international Banking Group for the continuing development, not only of the banking system, but also for the country itself," the statement said.
Last week, the AAEF said it had received offers from several financial institutions interested in American Bank.
ABA, the single largest lender in the country, serves 67,000 clients, manages US$656 million (€522 million) in assets, and employs 385 people in offices throughout Albania and Greece.
Some 17 commercial banks operate in Albania.
The Associated Press
Published: October 20, 2006
TIRANA, Albania Italy's Sanpaolo IMI Group said Friday it agreed to buy American Bank of Albania in a deal that values the lender at US$156.9 million (€124.91 million).
Sanpaolo will acquire an 80 percent stake in American Bank from the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund and an option to buy the outstanding 20 percent, the Turin, Italy-based bank said in a statement.
The two parties remain in negotiations on the "necessary details to finalize the operation," and the deal remains subject to regulatory approval.
"Thanks to this operation Sanpaolo IMI strengthens its presence in Albania," Sanpaolo said in a statement. Sanpaolo bought Albanian Italian Bank in May this year.
The Albanian-American Enterprise Fund — a U.S. corporation first funded through a US$30 million (€24 million) grant from the U.S. government, the only shareholder of the bank — confirmed the agreement "in principal," according to a statement from the American Bank of Albania.
Sanpaolo IMI Group has a leading position in Italy, and after merging with Banca Intesa total assets would be €550 billion (US$691 billion), with over 6,200 domestic branches and agencies and more than 1,000 foreign branches.
The combined net income in the first six months of 2006 was €2,6 billion (US$3.2 billion), the bank statement said, adding that the group was the third-largest bank for market capitalization in the Euro zone and the fourth in lending.
"With this transaction, the American Bank of Albania brings into Albania the full power of a major international Banking Group for the continuing development, not only of the banking system, but also for the country itself," the statement said.
Last week, the AAEF said it had received offers from several financial institutions interested in American Bank.
ABA, the single largest lender in the country, serves 67,000 clients, manages US$656 million (€522 million) in assets, and employs 385 people in offices throughout Albania and Greece.
Some 17 commercial banks operate in Albania.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Italian week
During this past week everyone in NY seems to feel Italian due to the Columbus Day celebrations in a lot of places. As I was walking from one appointment to another on Monday, I had the chance to see a few floats and marching bands of the traditional parade on 5th Avenue, which lasts several hours with more than a million people involved.
The weather was perfect, the viewers, in cheerful mood, lined the entire avenue, the politicians were yelling thru bullhorns even a few Italian words, and elderly people and children alike were having a good time listening to the music, clapping hands, and waving flags.
By pure coincidence I met an Albanian acquaintance, who manages a luxury building along the avenue, and has the chance to see every parade that takes place in this city. He smilingly agreed when I expressed the idea that it would be nice one day to also see an Albanian parade, possibly on November 28/29; after all, there are enough Albanians here and many would flock in from Boston, Detroit, and neighboring areas as they do, every time, for other Albanian gatherings. During our brief chat I learned that he owns 3 condos in Florida, where he was going to spend some time this coming week. Every Albanian in the real estate business in NYC (and there are thousands in one category or another, from doormen to building owners!) are all doing very well!
On Tuesday evening I was invited to a new exhibit of paintings and sculptures by a Neapolitan artist, who just opened his own gallery in Chelsea. He has specialized on various representations and forms of the Italian "maschera” Pulcinella. For his latest sculpting he has used, as material, over 2007 kg. of aluminum, collected from different sources.
Lello Esposito, painter and sculptor
On Thursday I took an hour to attend the annual party offered by the State Governor every October 12, when he always likes to claim some Italian (Sicilian) blood running in his veins from his mother’s side. I missed most of the speeches, but was able to chat briefly with some old friends and colleagues, and sip some champagne with a taste of a variety of specialty cheeses.
an Italian jazz quartet
two ex colleagues (of ages ago!)
While in Buffalo 2 feet of snow unexpectedly fell yesterday.....New York is dressing itself in fall colors.....
and I must prepare for a business trip to Washington…..
The weather was perfect, the viewers, in cheerful mood, lined the entire avenue, the politicians were yelling thru bullhorns even a few Italian words, and elderly people and children alike were having a good time listening to the music, clapping hands, and waving flags.
By pure coincidence I met an Albanian acquaintance, who manages a luxury building along the avenue, and has the chance to see every parade that takes place in this city. He smilingly agreed when I expressed the idea that it would be nice one day to also see an Albanian parade, possibly on November 28/29; after all, there are enough Albanians here and many would flock in from Boston, Detroit, and neighboring areas as they do, every time, for other Albanian gatherings. During our brief chat I learned that he owns 3 condos in Florida, where he was going to spend some time this coming week. Every Albanian in the real estate business in NYC (and there are thousands in one category or another, from doormen to building owners!) are all doing very well!
On Tuesday evening I was invited to a new exhibit of paintings and sculptures by a Neapolitan artist, who just opened his own gallery in Chelsea. He has specialized on various representations and forms of the Italian "maschera” Pulcinella. For his latest sculpting he has used, as material, over 2007 kg. of aluminum, collected from different sources.
Lello Esposito, painter and sculptor
On Thursday I took an hour to attend the annual party offered by the State Governor every October 12, when he always likes to claim some Italian (Sicilian) blood running in his veins from his mother’s side. I missed most of the speeches, but was able to chat briefly with some old friends and colleagues, and sip some champagne with a taste of a variety of specialty cheeses.
an Italian jazz quartet
two ex colleagues (of ages ago!)While in Buffalo 2 feet of snow unexpectedly fell yesterday.....New York is dressing itself in fall colors.....
and I must prepare for a business trip to Washington…..
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Frightening moments
I was walking home about 3 hours ago, with my sight still blurred from an eye checkup, when fire engines, police cars, and sirens began to flash by while helicopters began circling above ……something very wrong was happening, as we all know here in NY when the copters hover…..and, as far as I am concerned, a very uncomfortable feeling sets in.
I had just done some food shopping and I was at an ATM machine of my local bank when a woman nearby seemed shocked by whatever was been related to her over a cell phone. The sense of fear was justified: a small plane had just crashed into a high rise in my neighborhood. As I turned into my avenue smoke was raising into the sky, and as I got in front my apartment house I saw flames raging out of some apartments, which turned out to be the 40/41 floors of a new condo building just 2 blocks away.
Large crowds were everywhere and the entire avenue was closed and occupied by all sorts of emergency vehicles with flashing lights and armed personnel at every corner in the vicinity.
The real details are still coming in through the tv coverage: it was a single engine place owned by a Yankee team player (Cory Lidle), which apparently encountered trouble while flying over the East river and was trying to get altitude, when it crashed killing the 2 place occupants and a couple on the ground. Incredibly, another couple that was in one of the apartments that was hit, was able to leave their residence unarmed.
The scene on the ground, however, as chaotic as it may have seemed, was one of “controlled pandemonium” as it was labeled by a tv reporter. I must admit that what I was able to observe in the response by our city services was impressive for timing and coordination: thumbs up for our city emergency teams!
I had just done some food shopping and I was at an ATM machine of my local bank when a woman nearby seemed shocked by whatever was been related to her over a cell phone. The sense of fear was justified: a small plane had just crashed into a high rise in my neighborhood. As I turned into my avenue smoke was raising into the sky, and as I got in front my apartment house I saw flames raging out of some apartments, which turned out to be the 40/41 floors of a new condo building just 2 blocks away.
Large crowds were everywhere and the entire avenue was closed and occupied by all sorts of emergency vehicles with flashing lights and armed personnel at every corner in the vicinity.
The real details are still coming in through the tv coverage: it was a single engine place owned by a Yankee team player (Cory Lidle), which apparently encountered trouble while flying over the East river and was trying to get altitude, when it crashed killing the 2 place occupants and a couple on the ground. Incredibly, another couple that was in one of the apartments that was hit, was able to leave their residence unarmed.
The scene on the ground, however, as chaotic as it may have seemed, was one of “controlled pandemonium” as it was labeled by a tv reporter. I must admit that what I was able to observe in the response by our city services was impressive for timing and coordination: thumbs up for our city emergency teams!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Fall activities
Tempo fugit …..autumn is here, and activities are in full swing again after the summer lull.
Some days I really have to overcome a seemingly lack of energy going to my aqua aerobics classes, just thinking that the water is going to feel colder (which is so during seasonal transitions), but, after pushing, pulling, and puffing for an hour at the huge indoor pool, the feeling of warmth that engulfs the entire body is gorgeous!
The fall also brings the reopening of sessions at the UN, which clog the traffic in midtown NY for more than a week, with foreign representatives of all kind in attendance, and scurrying all over town. This yearly event becomes a traffic nightmare, which New Yorkers have learned to endure just as much as others due to the occasional visit of Heads of States or of the US President.
Some of my recent activities relating to Albania included attending a presentation by the current Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Edith Xarxhi) at the offices of Smith Barney’s in midtown Manhattan. It was an informal, but worthy of note talk, which included quite a bit of Q & A after the projection of well prepared PowerPoint slides, with interesting current statistics about Albania’s economics and future governmental plans. The obvious purpose was to attract more business investments into the country. Some literature (including flyers, cds, videos, and catalogs) was of very high quality, but unfortunately in too small quantity to satisfy all attendees.
Completely unrelated to the above events, and by pure coincidence, this past week I had the pleasure of meeting two Albanian ladies that live and work in NYC (one of them actually just a couple of blocks away from my residence). They are both very bright, well educated in the States, and successful in their established careers, respectfully in large non profit and banking organizations. I enjoyed an Albanian dinner at one’s apartment one evening, and a leisurely lunch with the other at a café, while exchanging info about our origins and life experiences. From different backgrounds and with a lot of history behind them, they have come up in the world and succeeded on their own, and I feel proud of them!
Next week my calendar is also crammed with appointments, but a couple of them are related to the other side of my family (the maternal one), which have to do with Italy. I know I’m going to enjoy them, and eventually will report on them too.
Some days I really have to overcome a seemingly lack of energy going to my aqua aerobics classes, just thinking that the water is going to feel colder (which is so during seasonal transitions), but, after pushing, pulling, and puffing for an hour at the huge indoor pool, the feeling of warmth that engulfs the entire body is gorgeous!
The fall also brings the reopening of sessions at the UN, which clog the traffic in midtown NY for more than a week, with foreign representatives of all kind in attendance, and scurrying all over town. This yearly event becomes a traffic nightmare, which New Yorkers have learned to endure just as much as others due to the occasional visit of Heads of States or of the US President.
Some of my recent activities relating to Albania included attending a presentation by the current Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Edith Xarxhi) at the offices of Smith Barney’s in midtown Manhattan. It was an informal, but worthy of note talk, which included quite a bit of Q & A after the projection of well prepared PowerPoint slides, with interesting current statistics about Albania’s economics and future governmental plans. The obvious purpose was to attract more business investments into the country. Some literature (including flyers, cds, videos, and catalogs) was of very high quality, but unfortunately in too small quantity to satisfy all attendees.
Completely unrelated to the above events, and by pure coincidence, this past week I had the pleasure of meeting two Albanian ladies that live and work in NYC (one of them actually just a couple of blocks away from my residence). They are both very bright, well educated in the States, and successful in their established careers, respectfully in large non profit and banking organizations. I enjoyed an Albanian dinner at one’s apartment one evening, and a leisurely lunch with the other at a café, while exchanging info about our origins and life experiences. From different backgrounds and with a lot of history behind them, they have come up in the world and succeeded on their own, and I feel proud of them!
Next week my calendar is also crammed with appointments, but a couple of them are related to the other side of my family (the maternal one), which have to do with Italy. I know I’m going to enjoy them, and eventually will report on them too.
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