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Albania Customs Chief Fired amid Revenue Drop
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 Albania\'s Prime Minister Sali Berisha has sacked the country\'s chief of customs, Perparim Dervishi, amid falling revenues from a slump in trade caused by the global financial crisis.
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Dervishi was replaced by Endrri Pema, a former specialist in the customs service with 15-years of experience. Dervishi had been the customs chief for two decades, a sector of the public administration traditionally target of corruption allegations but also prosecutions.“I have worked with integrity to improve the image of an administration, which when I first came in was perceived as corrupt,” said Dervishi in a ceremony for the presentation of the new director.Dervishi blamed his dismissal on falling revenues due to the slump in commodity prices amid the global recession.“I created an excellent customs service, working with my own model,” Dervishi said.Customs revenues have slumped in the last few months, creating problems for the centre-right government of Prime Minister Berisha, which has planned a spending spree ahead of the June 28 parliamentary elections.
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