Albanian Foreign Minister praises OSCE and its role in his country at Permanent Council

VIENNA, 26 February 2004 - Albania's Foreign Minister Dr. Kastriot Islami said that his country will continue to work and co-operate with the OSCE in all areas of common concern.

"Albania has a high appraisal of the OSCE and its role," Dr. Islami said, speaking at today's session of the Permanent Council, the decision-making body of the 55-nation OSCE, in Vienna.

He called the OSCE field operations an important asset of the Organization. "Their activities are even more important," he added.

"Therefore, they ought to be functional to the reform processes of the host countries. Their role, size and activities, in line with the adopted mandates, should be constantly under evaluation in order to respond to priorities of the host county, the evolution and developments on the ground and the progress achieved."

Islami said integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures was a key priority of his Government and had the support of the widest political spectrum in Albania.

The Foreign Minister also informed the Permanent Council about the latest developments in his country.

Reforms in the energy, telecommunications, banking and the insurance sectors as well as the liberation of the economy to observe and implement the directives of the World Trade Organization, have been important steps, though progress is accompanied by an expected social cost, he said.

"We regret to observe that the alternative action in this reform process has been mainly marked by certain anti-reform attitudes which, in some instance, have not lacked demonstration of violence against institutions," he added, referring to recent demonstrations which took place in Albania.

With regard to trafficking, Dr. Islami said his Government had recently launched a large scale operation, "Iron Net", to bring about a total stop of all trafficking and prosecute the perpetrators.

"The role of the Organization [in the fight against human trafficking] is increasing," he noted. "The decisions taken last year, on the Action Plan against trafficking in Human Beings and on the establishment of the relevant OSCE mechanism, are important steps which have enjoyed the full support of my Government."