Marshall Center Albanian Alumni Association holds its Founding Assembly and A3 Alumni in Tirana gather for first regional alumni conference
September 18-22, 2006
On 18 September over 50 alumni gathered to formally launch the Albanian Alumni Association by electing president, Ms. Lidra Zegali (SES 2003-3), and a management board. Dr. John Rose, Director, Marshall Center and Dr. (MG ret.) Horst Schmalfeld, German Deputy Director as well as Dr. Jack Clarke, Professor and Mr. Rick Steinke, Chief, Graduate Support Office, addressed the group. The event began a week of several alumni activities. Alumni who were attending the Adriatic Charter conference entitled, ‘Countering Corruption, Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking’ met on Wednesday, 20 September with alumni for Croatia, Macedonia and Albania arriving for the first regional alumni conference held by the Marshall Center. This two-day conference, entitled, ‘Western Balkans Euro-Atlantic Integration’, gave the delegates an opportunity to hear the results of the first conference and then go on to discuss ways of implementing these suggestions through public diplomacy. Alumni representatives from Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina discussed the current situation in Southeast Europe as well as Romania and Bulgaria delegates who talked about lessons learned in both EU and NATO integration. All the participants had the opportunity to network through a series of plenary sessions, working groups and open discussions. This conference was the first in a series of alumni conferences to be held this year and in 2007.
Dr. John Rose (center) is flanked on the left by Ms. Zana Xhuka, (EP 2001-1, SES 2006-3), Deputy Minister of Defense and to the right by the newly elected President, Albanian Alumni Association, Ms. Lidra Zegali (SES 2003-3) along with the other management board members (l to r), Mr. Artur Zoto (LC 2003-4), Mr. Eugen Papandile (LPASS 2005-1), Ms. Ana Shkembi (LPASS 2005-4), Ms. Valbona Zeneli (LC 2003-2), Mr. Ylli Alushi (SES 2005-3) and COL Dhori Spirollari (EPASS 2006-4).
(r to l) COL Albert Mullai (EP 1999-4), Mr. Adhurim Hasanaj (LPASS 2005-4), Mr. Entiol Xhelilaj and LTC Vasillaq Balca (EPASS 2005-4) take time out to catch up.
Ms. Zana Xhuka ((EP 2001-1, SES 2006-3), Deputy Minister of Defense, gives the keynote address at the Western Balkans Euro-Atlantic Integration Conference.
Seated left to right are the alumni taking part in the conference as speakers and moderators: Inspector 1st Class Bosiljka Predragovic (LPASS 2005-6), Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Bulgaria; Dr. Doru Frunzulica (EP 1995-1), Romania; Ms. Vilma Temelkova (SES 2005-5) and Ms. Jela Vuletic (LPASS 2005-4).
The Macedonian alumni listen attentively to the conference speakers (l to r): Ms. Afrdita Volina (EPASS 2006-1), MAJ Straso Stojcevski (LC 2002-3), MAJ Dusko Stefanovski (LC 1998-3), Mr. Marko Spirovski (LC 2002-3, LPASS 2005-1), Ms. Ljubica Pop-Taleska (EP 2001-4) and Ms. Lidija Mileva (LC 2000-3).
