I dare say Prince Leka Junior will be a force in due course!
I visited Albania in '05 and was enchanted by the people and the sheer beauty of the country! It has a unique position within the Balkans and is from what I gathered trying very hard to balance 'progress' with retention of culture! I have to say, of all the countries I have visited and spent time in as a tourist/lone visitor, although I was pretty scared initially in Albania, I met nothing but kindness and support from all I came into contact with!
It is such a fascinating country, particularly as it leads the way in representation of liberalism amongst Muslims and has no issues that I detected with Christians. Albanians seem to be more interested in getting on with surviving, and hospitality and warmth are an integral part of the National Identity! I get so cross when I hear people 'slag' Albanians off, as generations have spent their entire lives trying merely to survive, and now that they can travel beyond their own boarders and welcome other nationals, most are doing all they can to try and understand and be part of the bigger picture! As a lone woman in Albania without any firm contacts, I think I may say that I saw the real issues and experienced a small dose of what the people are going through, and they certainly have my support totally! They are not all bandits, drug dealers, slave mongers and mafiosi as so many reporters like to write, all that I met in Albania were warm hearted, friendly, genuine and welcoming! Yes, the taxi drivers may try to get a few hundred lek more out of you, but my goodness doesn't the same thing happen in most poor countries.
My lasting impression of Albanians, was their sheer enthusiasm for all things western. They may have a thing about Mercedes Benz cars and Italian clothes, but beneath that they seem to believe that 'they' can show us so called 'Occidentals' what it really is to be 'cross roads' cultural! They know, because they have been through it!
With regard to Leka Junior, I gathered that many Albanians still regard Zog as the father of the country and are very proud of what 'he' achieved, but that now they do not see restoration as a way forward! I had several conversations about this particular topic and argued that if King Leka were restored, he would thereafter be beyond corruption as Head of State etc, and most of those I spoke to agreed on that, but most felt that as others that as their neighbours had continued to reject the ethos of restoration of monarchy, Albania was in no way prepared to even contemplate setting a precedent at that time! Should Prince Leka prove himself an able statesman in years to come, perhaps, he may alter the current perceptions of the people! I do think he has a very good chance to do some very positive good for his country in the long run, whatever his position!
