Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to travel to Albania

VIENNA, 5 March 1997 - The Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office, former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, met today with representatives of the Danish OSCE Chairmanship.

The Chairman-in-Office asked the Personal Representative to leave for Albania at the "earliest possible hour."

It is envisaged that the Personal Representative would hold meetings with the highest authorities in Albania, representatives of opposition parties, NGOs, the media and other relevant groups.

In a statement issued in Copenhagen yesterday, the Chairman-in-Office said "there is an urgent need to stop the use of force, to reestablish stability and engage all political forces in dialogue on how to bring the country forward." Against this background, he requested the Personal Representative to propose immediate remedial action to be undertaken by the OSCE in the following areas:

• respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
• upholding the rule of law
• maintaining freedom of expression and freedom of information
• avoiding recourse to force
• dialogue between Goverment and the Opposition as well as other social forces
• constitutional and legal conditions for establishing lasting stability in Albania

The Chairman-in-Office also asked the Personal Representative to assure the Albanian authorities of the readiness of the Chairman-in-Office and OSCE institutions to "continue to assist Albania in finding her way out of the present crisis."