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The Impact of Oil Development Activities on Environment and Sustainable Development in Fier Area, Albania

In this area, a dynamic technological activity is still exerted, which arrived to evidently influence in around environment with their wastes, making so a dangerous risk for human health and natural. That’s why; this region is classified by the UNDP among the nine hot spots in Albania. The selected surface for study is around 200km2. The oil and gas field of Fier area is considered as one of the less managed zones, because of absence and damages in land, water and air, where the throwing of the oil waste in surface has not permitted the development of pedogenic processes. It has brought the deficit of soil, and consequently the right agrarian cultivation has not been permitted. The light hydrocarbons, which disturbed the two cities, introduce toxic indications in concentration of 3-5mg/l. Among the main problems are the stream waters that have in their composition oil components, such as phenol, different hydrocarbons, tension-active matters, etc. They have years that have asphyxiated the vegetal and living beings in environment pond, as channels, etc. The soil pollution with oil in area has penetrated in the depth of 0.1-1m, as a result the grown plants in land has also absorbed the oil elements. The water pollution has touched the life cycle of the community, so we are challenge with the health problems top them. In accordance with the objectives of the paper is made possible the evaluation of pollution extension, started from the source down to the river and finally to the sea. The purpose of the article is to assess polluted level in oil field of this area and to give the respective recommendations to a sustainable development by minimizing the oil activity impacts to the environment and especially to the living being health. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p626

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The Causes of the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 and their Impact on the International Relations on the Eve of the First World War

The Balkan Wars of the 1912-1913 are the most important event in the history of the Balkan people and beyond. They are composed of a series sharp and bloody conflicts that swept Eastern Europe in the recent years. During the First Balkan War, the Ottoman Empire fought the united alliance of the Balkan states which included Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia. During the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria fought the coalition of Greece, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania and the Ottoman Empire. If we talk about the origins of the war, we must emphasize that the situation of the Balkan wars at the time and especially the situation that followed, was very alike to the conditions that existed before the Turks came to Europe. At that time, both during and after the Balkan Wars, the Christian states constantly fought against each other for hegemony in the peninsula. But in terms of international relations of the time it should be noted that since the end of XVIIIth century Paris, London, Vienna and St. Petersburg had a special operational plan for dealing with the problems in the East. For the more serious and real judgment we should also see the impact and performance of the situations and events in the Balkans, with the new changes in the geopolitics of the European continent, at least since the early nineteenth century and the credit for this goes to the European Concert (1815). DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p115

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Quality of Service in the Banking Sector

While observing the various financial institutions in our country we notice the existence of multiple varieties such as: insurance institutions, banks, institutions of social services etc. Among the financial institutions mostly used by businesses and people in general we distinguish the banks. In addition, today’s market tendencies have increased the request for financial bank services. As a result, lately the number of banks in our country has increased. This phenomenon has increased customer service, the quality of service and higher competition among banks. Under these conditions it is necessary that banks use aggressive marketing strategies in order to be successful and competitive among their own kind. Due to the increase in market competition, identifying consumer’s needs and increasing the quality of service has become a very important trend in today’s marketing world. Research has shown that good quality customer service generates better income. While trying to determine what marketing strategies give the edge, academic researchers are trying to figure out what kind of customer service works best in today’s environment so that they can improve it. Based on various studies the quality of service has a huge impact on consumer’s satisfaction and their loyalty, at the same time it is established as a result of comparison that clients do between the expectations they have for service and their perception of the quality of service rendered. (Parasuraman et al., mentioned in Caruana, 2002).The quality of service has a positive effect in the performance of a bank; as a result it gains competitive advantages due to the improvement of quality of service. As such, what clients think of a service overpasses their expectations for the same service. Caruana, 2002; Chumpitaz, 2004). Due to higher internet access in today’s world, the way businesses are managed including the banking business has changed. Consumers are expecting better quality of service, shorter transaction times and better service conditions. However, because the nature of the services, susceptibility, indivisibility, heterogeneity and the quality of services become difficult to be appreciated. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p418

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National Economical Integration and Urban Planning: Case Study Albania

Albania, by the end of the last century, was a very isolated country with a centralised economy, small towns, many villages and everything under the totalitarian system. Later on, during the two last decades, the country has experienced many changes. The first one together with the political change from the 'monopartitism' to the pluralism system, was the change of the economy, from being centralised into the market-based one. The other big change was the internal migration, people moved from villages to towns. Those changes have both positive and negative sides, which indicated in the ballance of the urbanization of a country and in the economy, as well. Recent theories of urbanization have emphasized that it is not an autonomous process, but must be analyzed with the main patterns of political and economical changes. Internal migration, connected with the new landscape of urbanization was developed through three stages since the fall of communism: • The first phase was dominated by the informal sector. • The second phase was characterized by consolidation and the emergence of the informal sector to the formal sector. • The third and current phase consists in strengthening the formal sector and informal regulation of development. The main objective of the third phase will be to formalize and integrate the real estate market. It is visible the transformation from informal to formal sector and such a development would affect areas of the financial system of a country. Clearly the restructuring reforms have generated economic growth. Financial sustainability is a developed system, which supports and promotes economical development and, a developed economy is connected with the stable financial sector. There is still significant room for improvement in the management of urban planning development, in particular to find a more appropriate public and private interests in land development and the use of both, private and public, property.The questions are connected with the sectors that affect the economical development of a country: • First, mention construction • The trade sector • Infrastructure • Tourism The analyses of the above topics are connected with National Economical Integration and Urban Planning. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p622

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Ways to Increase the Effectiveness of Cultural Tourism in Albania

Albania, as a result of the democratic developments, based on the market economy and on competition as well, has achieved satisfactory results in the development indicators. We are in the stage of sustainable development as an important goal, which will lead us to the parameters of a developed country. As it already known and often emphasized, sustainable development means sustained high rates, environmental and cultural monuments protection, these last as integral elements of cultural heritage. The number of cultural monuments, the level of their physical condition, of their restoration, maintenance, and valuable use of them is a responsibility not only of the governmental authorities to turn these into an added value to the national economy and local individual. Cultural heritage is an important element that expresses the identity of a nation or of a human community. It is a precious unpredictable asset almost non-renewable. This is why the care for preservation and restoration of cultural heritage elements remains a permanent task of the specialized institutions and beyond. Monuments constitute a key element of cultural heritage. Their value is of pleni-dimensional, i.e. scientific, archaeological, historical, tourist, and why not economical and beneficial.In terms of market economy, this element of national wealth takes a special importance in the approach of a sustainable economy development. Besides, it is a source that may generate incomes by developing cultural tourism, without prejudice to other important aspects. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p728

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P4.095 Young People’s Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour Regarding Reproductive Health in the Context of Tirana, Albania

BackgroundAdolescents often lack basic reproductive health RH information, knowledge, and access to health services for RH. Many have less than favourable attitudes and do not feel comfortable to discuss RH with parents or other key adults.ObjectivesTo assess RH knowledge, attitude and provider preference among adolescents of age 15 to 19 years.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Tirana Town, capital city of Albania from October 2012 to January 2013. A structured questionnaire was utilised to collect data from the sampled population.Adolescents aged between 15 to 19 years old were interviewed about their knowledge and attitudes regarding health services for RH. The data were entered into two different computers using SPSS for windows version 17.00. Descriptive analyses using t-test were employed to depict results.ResultsThe majority of adolescents knew major health services for RH and the main health service providers of RH.The major sources of information for RH were internet radio 92% and television and radio for 61% school teachers for 35.9% and parents 28% of respondents.ConclusionThe level of knowledge and attitude about health services for RH, source of information for these services and service provider centres is encouraging. However, the role of health professionals and families as the source of information for the adolescents seems to be low. This should be improved using a more integrated all stakeholders particularly adolescents’ families and health professionals who have a vital role to ensure adequate knowledge and favourable attitudes for utilisation of the RH in the locality.

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