BANK OF ALBANIA SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
REGIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS AND FINANCIAL STABILITY - A CONCEPT BETWEEN NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND GLOBALIZATION

OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2006
"SHERATON" HOTEL, TIRANA

The Bank of Albania hosted from 30 to 31 October 2006, its Sixth Annual Conference titled "Regional financial markets and financial stability - A concept between national sovereignty and globalization". The Conference was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Tirana.

The conference attempted at addressing a broad range of issues related to financial stability against the backdrop of new financial trends in the region. It was organized in six panels, focusing on recent financial market developments, the role of commercial banks in financial stability, financial stability, surveillance and monetary policy issues. At the end, Governors' Roundtable was dedicated to regional cooperation in terms of financial stability.

The Conference also provided a genuine exchange of views and opinions among different stakeholders in the regional financial market (including national authorities, international banks and domestic banks) and examined the regional implications of financial developments.

In this context, governors and other high-level representatives from the central banks of South Europe and beyond, from the main commercial banks operating in the region, as well as from the relevant international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Commission participated in this event.

Mr. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, was the guest of honor and delivered the keynote dinner speech titled "Monetary and financial stability: Challenges in South-Eastern Europe" on this occasion.

Conference Program