Former Tonny Blair advisor: If you haven't booked something yet, you should visit Albania

Like Prime Minister Edi Rama had told Boris Johnson, who, if there are criminals in London, they are your criminals, not mine. Do Americans say they're Italy's problem? I don't think so. ) He was responding to it allegedly that, according to Johnson, it threatens Albania to join the EU as one of its insincere tactics during the referendum campaign, warning that the prosperity of Albanian criminals would go from Tirana to join millions of Turks in the United Kingdom, which he had also lied about.

Just as it is true that former communist dictator Enver Hoxha was a fan of Norman Wisdom, who believed his films who knows why they were examples of class warfare; it is also true that when the English football team played in Tirana in 2001, and Wisdom was on the training ground, the cameras after David Beckham were focused on the comedy in question. When he was invited to the field in half of the game, he had a garment with a semi-Albanian/English English symbol. But, although he had become an honorary citizen of Tirana and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha issued a letter honouring him at the time he died at the age of 95, seven years ago, I still try to find his statue and meet an Albanian who mentions Wisdom in conversations without me pushing him first.

Lord Byron, on the other hand... I have been able to walk around hotels bearing his name in different parts of the country, and I have seen many pictures of him in traditional Albanian dress on restaurant walls. The poet had traveled extensively there at the beginning of the 19th century and wrote in love for the people he compared to Scottish masons in terms of agreement, appearance, and life - style, adding that the numerous mountains were similar to Scottish mountain sites in a milder climate. Of course, it should be long before the historical legacy is revised. But since we're entering August, let me give you a suggestion for someone who hasn't booked a vacation yet... Try Albania. I've recommended it to many people before, some have taken my advice into account, no one has repented.

First, even though after Brexit's low, the prices are free. Second, food and climate are midday. Today, for example, 32 degrees and a gentle breeze. Third, although no mountain in the world would be able to cross the Scottish mountains for me, Byron was right that the mountains are beautiful in Albania. Fourth, there are some intact beaches that are fantastic. The fifth, people are really nice, and, despite Britain's role in Kosovo's stance on ethnic cleansing under Milosevic's regime, they still like the British.

More important, it is a country that feels young and hopeful at a time when many in Europe probably Britain after Brex feels quite different. The communist era ended in the winter of 1990/91, a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall and has taken time to take steps that would lead towards democracy, and to develop an economy that can adapt to the rest of Europe and the world. But their energy/potentiality is obvious. It's a truly new country, with its population being among the youngest in Europe, a low life span of Enver Hoxha's age.

As for my involvement here, dating back six or seven years, Edi Rama showed how the event started at a dinner last week, where he gathered a group of former prime ministers from all over Europe -- current World Bank advisers, academics, philanthropic organisations, development experts and communications advisers -- to discuss his second mandate, providing an even greater mandate than four years ago.

It must be said that Rama is a fan of Tony Blair's Labus and politics and generally of Britain's strategic approach. But when his media secretary, Andrew Fuga, had contacted me on Facebook, and he asked me if I would accept being his adviser in the campaign, I had been kindly reluctant. He kept insisting and when I made the mistake, saying that they should meet me when they come to London a classic move that I used to tell me they were on their way.

The meeting took place, between former opposition leader Rama, Funga and me, at my home. It was impossible not to like it, but not even to be caught by Rama's ambitions for Albania and the Balkans in general. It's a country that's been interested me since the war that had happened in Kosovo, so we agreed to meet in Tirana, and see if we can't find a way to work together. I can't say it made me rich. But they are extraordinary hosts, and my experience there has enriched me more in other ways - no less emotionally and politically.

A little like David Cameron, Rama has gone through two stages to get the general majority. His first electronic campaign, under a <x0); Renaissance”, led to a deep victory for the pre-election coalition that linked him to a smaller party, the LSICE. This time, his socialist party, again fighting for a political platform and positioning New Labus.He did a lot of people for himself, running a solid campaign. The elections could not occur unless the Democratic Party threatened to boycott everything, and organise protests by placing tents outside Rama's office. Only a wise and patient manner led Rama to victory.

As part of the campaign, I was involved in mental health, and one of the first shocking experiences was to see Sali Berisha staring at the camera that covered the hearings in parliament, where he talked to Rama's mother and asked when he would admit that his son was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophret. She indicted him, but courts (which are highly corrupt, though Rama has judicial reform at the centre of his agenda) said the politicians are allowed to say what they want for each other.

Ah, corruption... It's a problem, almost like many countries. But this is being addressed, and if Rama succeeds in his plan to verify judges, a large partition line in recent elections, will be an important step forward, for more so that it is being looked closely at by international organisations supporting Albania in its development.

There is a reason that all these experts from around the world voluntarily joined Rama's second wave idea. This is very important, for the fact that Albania is a very important, historically unstable region and that it is an important leader within it. The most serious European leader, Angela Merkel, has shown great interest and has played an active role in encouraging friendly relations between Albania and Serbia. When the respective prime ministers visited each other's capital, even after the violent football match between these two countries, where Albanian fans raised a fear of Albanian symbols in the middle of Belgrade that sparked a war between two teams that resulted in interruption of the game, it was the first after sixty-eight years. The Pope has also paid a visit, and although it is a Muslim country, his bust has been raised near the prime minister's office ... I'm sorry Norman Esdom you don't have one!

As some other European country with optimism and hope, Albania wants to be part of the EU even after the preparation process for candidate status, and now for accession talks, Albania has been an important driver of the change that is visible to any visitors like me. Illegal buildings have broken down as soon as land registration has been prepared; many fortune-game nests and cannabis farms have been closed; an aggressive tax collection campaign and the prevention of electricity theft is helping boost the economy in the right direction. New hotels are flourishing with tourism market development.

When I first met Rama, the other principal adviser with her was Erion Veliaj, who looks like Justin Trudeau in sight and energy. He is now the mayor of Tirana, who is making an amazing transformation of downtown, with a pedestrian square in his heart. And for those who can't imagine life away from yoga, like me, Veliaj has opened free yoga lessons in the main park near the lake, and really a lot of people are learning there every time.

In the meantime I'm trying to convince the leader of the Great North Run (half the world's largest marathon) to organise a major race in Tirana, and the world's cycling race to take one Tour d'albane. Big mountain platforms are guaranteed.

It's still a poor country compared to our standard. There are many economic challenges ahead. But it's really a place in progress. Foreign investments are growing. There's oil and gas exploration. Several major infrastructure projects are under way. The new national stadium with 23,000 seats is rising from the ruins of the old, even when Wisdom and Beckham were there.

I advise you to go and know him. You'll end up loving him as much as I do. I promise.

It says: Alaska Campbell, translate and adapt: Periscope