Albania's State Audit Institution must be ready when the country joins the EU. That's what this twinning project and others have been serving for, says Ms Kukula, the Polish Resident Twinning Advisor in this ADN interview. Ms Kukula speaks not only about her impressions on the performance of ALSAI staff and its head, Mr Bujar Leskaj, but also on what she has learned about the country and the Albanians in their everyday life.

Read below the interview:
-Ms Kukula, the IPA 2013 Twinning Project "Strengthening of external auditing capacities in Albania": was it a difficult or an easy job?
It is about international project management. It was an interesting job, an inspiring one. Being RTA is, among other things, about being liaison between all the stakeholders of the project, including Beneficiary, Member States and the EU Delegation. You are like a transmission belt. It is very interesting but of course can be stressful at times.
-What was the most hard-felt moment for you in this project? Was it badly needed for ALSAI? If yes, why?
ALSAI is at an important moment and I think it both needs and deserves support. Mr Leskaj's has drawn a plan of very ambitious reforms for his office. He wants ALSAI to be ready when Albania joins the EU. And to be ready then, you have to be ready before. And when you want to modernize yourself, you need to learn from others. Finally, you will go your own way because every country is different, but learning from other similar organizations makes the modernisation process quicker.
-Why do you think these 2.11 million euro of European taxpayers were spent well in this Project?
We have done a huge job together to increase Albania's external public audit capacity. ALSAI's work helps Albania spend money in a more effective and more efficient way. In a long-term it also plays a preventive role, because the government works better when they know they are going to be audited. We don't audit everyone every time, but everyone can be audited, and this makes the government deal with public money in a wiser way.
-28 long months. Sometimes you are obliged to do all things by your own. Have you had that impression sometimes?
This job has been about playing in a team. I think we have had a great one. We have been very lucky to have professional and friendly colleagues at each party of the project: in ALSAI itself, in the Polish and Croatian SAI, at the EU Delegation and CFCU.
-In project's closing event, twinning partners said it was tough job. Workload in excess for both sides. Your impression on Albanian partners: were they that overcharged?
I think so. But they are used to hard work. Hard work is Mr Leskaj's professional philosophy in my opinion, and this is the tone at the top that embraces the whole organization. The project has been very, very ambitious, and ALSAI didn't reduce the amount of its audit work. I think it was huge effort for everybody there.
-How did you find ALSAI 28 months ago? What has changed in good in this institution in the meantime? What in bad?
I think they have grown more self-confident, as they have received a lot of positive feedback from their twinning colleagues. They didn't work with average auditors from Poland, Croatia or the Netherlands. They worked with absolutely the best ones. For example to build a very good IT audit team we have decided to invite experts from Portugal and Estonia, because we knew they were among the best in Europe. ALSAI colleagues knew it and they could see they are treated like partners, not like students. I think they know now they can learn, and then do, absolutely anything they want.
-Why Polish and Croatians did a better job than, say British and Dutch with ALSAI auditors (the latter were in ALSAI in 2007 with a PHARE project), in your opinion?
I really wouldn't say so. They did a different job. As you have rightly noticed the British and Dutch colleagues carried out their project over 10 years ago. It was a different ALSAI with different needs; a different Albania, in fact. You cannot compare these two projects, then. Both British and Dutch SAIs are known for high quality of their work, for very good work ethics and also for their willingness to share their experience with others. Actually, we invited some Dutch colleagues to take part in our project as performance audit experts and they did a great job, a really impressive one. My SAI has also done things together with British colleagues recently, in another project carried out in Kosovo.
What Poland and Croatia have is probably very fresh memories of deep political and economic transformation and pre-EU membership efforts. This brings us closer to Albania's current situation.
-We've come to know you love this country. Why? What do you find attractive in Albanians? What is less attractive in them?
I love a lot of things. People are friendly, with open hearts. They are very honest as human beings in my opinion. Albanians are both very patriotic and interested in other countries and their people. Religious tolerance is absolutely unique here. You should teach others how to do it. They are proud of their identity, history and of their unique and difficult language. A sweet and really funny thing related to it has happened here to me several times. Many Albanians would tell me with pride that the Albanian language uses as many as 36 letters. When I would answer by saying the Polish language uses more than 40 letters, this would impress them really very much!
-You are in love with a dog you found in the streets in Tirana. How did it happen?
Poles are a nation of dog lovers. We have the biggest pet population per capita in the EU, as far as I know. And it is absolutely normal and very appreciated in my country to adopt a dog from a shelter. Even some of my country's Presidents, many famous actors, singers have been happy and proud to save homeless dogs or cats. So, in that sense being here, where so many dogs are homeless, often abused, was hard to me. And when I started to feed that puppy in the park, after several days I understood she felt she was mine or that I was hers. And if you remember that sentence from the Little Prince, you are responsible for those whom you have tamed...
-Indeed... What is the thing you are most proud of in this Project? Is it something unique you realized with it, in comparison with your experience in Georgia, for example?
The project in Georgia was a great experience, but there we were a junior partner. German colleagues from the German Court of Audit (Bundesrechnungshof) were in the lead. Here we have taken the main responsibility. It was a completely different experience. And a huge challenge, but you don't build ships to keep them in ports but to go to the open sea.
-Coming back 28 months ago, what are the things you would have done differently?
I would have learnt more Albanian. Definitely, I could have relied much more on myself in contacts with Albanian colleagues. It doesn't matter that most of them speak good English. I think understanding Albanian would have let me integrate with them much better.
-What would you say to a foreigner visiting Albania? Why is it worth getting to know this country?
I would say that you can really feel welcome and safe in this country. If you come for holiday, summer is sunny and hot here, the sea is warm, food is fantastic. There are both popular resorts for those who like to spend their time on the beach, as well as there are many less known places. You can hire a guide who will take you to the mountains, old villages and churches. I absolutely love your mountains.
- What would you say to an investor looking at opportunities to risk his/her capital here?
I think that what we have done in the project should increase the overall transparency and stability of this country in the long term. I think Albania should continue its reforms to join the EU as soon as possible. This will make it more attractive for investments. You must however continue to fight corruption.
-Would you come back in Albania, now that the project is over?
Of course, I am not leaving yet. I am sure Albania will be part of my life for ever and I will be coming here over and over again.
-Did you find similarities of the Albanian character with the Polish one? If yes, what are they?
Yes, many! We are both tough nations, not easy to break, though sometimes not organized well enough. Both nations are flexible and ready to improvise. People are friendly and hospitable. I think both our nations need more self-confidence. There is one big difference, though: I think Albanians can dance much, much better!
-Thank you!