OSCE Chairperson lauds Albania for progress, notes challenges ahead

TIRANA, 9 February 2009 - Albania plays a constructive regional role, but it must continue on its reform path and focus on improving its election process to achieve its Euro-Atlantic integration goals, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, said today during a one-day visit to the country.

"Albania has made tangible progress over the past 18 years, but many challenges lie ahead. Judicial reforms and the election process must meet OSCE standards," Bakoyannis said.

The Chairperson said she chose to travel to South-Eastern Europe early in the 2009 Greek OSCE Chairmanship to demonstrate that "the OSCE is in a unique position to help the region on its road to progress."

"Our 2009 OSCE Chairmanship will benefit the Western Balkans as a whole, as well as Albania specifically," she said. "For Greece, it would be a great success if by the year - the end of our Chairmanship - our neighbourhood were a more prosperous and more stable European region."

In meetings with political parties in Tirana, Bakoyannis emphasized the need to further strengthen the protection of human rights, the rule of law and the fight against corruption. She welcomed the constructive political debate that has taken place in the country.

"The positive climate of political consensus on major reforms in Albania has bolstered political stability," she said. "It is imperative to maintain this trend and continue to implement key reforms through consensus-building."

To continue its progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration, Albania needs to advance its reforms in legislation and the judiciary, as well as in areas including property, elections and administration, and it must work on parliamentary capacity-building, anti-trafficking and anti-corruption, she said.

"In pursuit of these endeavors, Albania has the firm and active support of the OSCE Presence here; a Presence that is doing vital work in a number of key fields," she said.

During her one-day visit, Bakoyannis met President Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli, as well as the Chairs of political parties represented in Parliament.