Vranitzky urges immediate and co-ordinated assistance for Albania

ROME, 31 July 1997 - The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for Albania, Dr. Franz Vranitzky, today re-emphasised the commitment of the international community to assist, saying, "Albania will not be left alone".

Speaking at an international conference on Albania organized by the Italian Government in Rome, Mr. Vranitzky commended the Albanian political leaders for carrying out the transfer of power in an orderly manner. He warned, however, of the importance that "the give and take between the Government and the opposition works well as an indispensable element of democracy". He said this would also serve as "a clear signal that all who have been given a political mandate by the Albanian people live up to their responsibilities."

The conference, which opened this morning with addresses by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Mr. Vranitzky, was attended by representatives of 23 countries and 15 international organizations. The aim of the conference was to keep up the international momentum in identifying immediate assistance programs for Albania. The Italian Government is scheduling another international Conference on Albania at Minister level for early Fall.

Mr. Vranitzky said that security remained "our top concern in this difficult stage of transition after the departure of the Multinational Protection Force". He said "enormous importance" should be attached to the reconstruction and training of the Police and Armed Forces. In this context, he urged the Albanian Government to accept the cooperation offered by individual countries and organizations such as NATO (Partnership for Peace) and the WEU. "Without secure roads and safe towns, it will be difficult for any international organization and individual Governments to send people to operate in Albania."

Mr. Vranitzky restated the OSCE's readiness to continue to provide the coordinating framework for programs of economic development, stabilization and security, democratization and social recovery. In this capacity, the OSCE has received and compiled proposals from international organizations and countries for immediate and long-term assistance for Albania. Mr. Vranitzky emphasized the importance of a "package approach" based on conditionality.

The OSCE will continue its active work in Albania, particularly in the fields of human rights and rule of law, democratization and civil rights, electoral assistance, media monitoring and institution building.

The final document of the conference will be available by request as of 17:00.