Albania Recognizes the Need for Sound Laws

As someone who has visited Albania five times in the last 14 months, let me take issue with the impression of Albania given by the authors of the Opinion page article "Albania's Need for Radical Reform," July 1.

There is no doubt that the infrastructure collapsed under the xenophobic Hoxha-Alia regime. But to gauge a nation's respect for the rule of law based upon a cab driver's inconsistent fare quote would mean that half of the foreign visitors flying into New York City and Washington, D.C., could consider us in the same way.

Albanian President Sali Berisha just concluded a visit with President Bush. One of his requests was to help his fledgling democracy find legal scholars to draft laws that protect property and stimulate investment, laws that protect individual liberty and the environment. Mr. Berisha and his democratic government are the youngest cabinet in the former communist bloc and they, more than anyone recognize the need for everything. Jack Buechner, Washington, Pres., International Republican Institute

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