Albanian Foreign Minister addresses OSCE Permanent Council, says OSCE key partner for peace, stability and democracy in Western Balkans, calls for greater regional integration

VIENNA, 14 October 2011 – The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Albania, Edmond Haxhinasto, addressing the Special Session of the OSCE Permanent Council praised today the OSCE’s engagement in the Western Balkans, stressed the need for closer regional integration, and spoke about Albania’s intention to promote tolerance and non-discrimination and assist the democratic transition in the Mediterranean.

“OSCE is a key partner in the consolidation of peace, stability and democracy in the Western Balkans,” Haxhinasto said, stressing that it is in the best interest of our Governments and people to make full use of the OSCE’s field presence and its independent institutions to further national reforms.

Speaking about the internal agenda of Albania, Haxhinasto underlined the important role of the OSCE and its Presence in supporting the country’s reforms “seeking concrete ways for relevant Albanian authorities to gradually take over responsibility in the areas where the country has made tangible progress”. He mentioned positive on-going co-operation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. “The Government of Albania intends to carry out a comprehensive electoral reform that meets the recommendations of the 2009 and 2011 ODIHR reports,” the Minister said.

Haxhinasto underlined the “remarkable progress towards stability and development” the Western Balkans region has made and also noted a “positive trend” in bilateral relations. “A new page has been turned in the Western Balkans after Kosovo’s independence,” he said. “Today there is an opportunity for Serbs and Kosovo Albanians alike to shed the past behind. Things are not easy, but they are not impossible, if all the communities adopt the vision of a shared future in the European Union, rather than that of the divisive past.”

The Minister stressed the need to overcome remaining challenges in bilateral relations, in enhancing regional integration on the basis of all-inclusiveness, as well as in reinforcing European integration processes. “The region needs to make further progress in integrating within itself, with quality infrastructure, <…> removing all non-physical barriers, introducing free movement of people, as well as co-operating in combating crime, corruption and illicit trafficking,” he said.

Underlining that human dimension commitments are at the core of the security community, Haxhinasto said that “the OSCE, with its diverse mechanisms and unique expertise, must sustain the reform process undertaken by our Mediterranean partners”. “As a country that has transitioned from the most totalitarian dictatorship in Europe to democracy, Albania stands ready to assist our Mediterranean partners, the way it was itself assisted two decades ago, by sharing the expertise and offering the best practices.”

Haxhinasto reconfirmed Albania’s intention to boost engagement with the OSCE in the field of tolerance and non-discrimination and host the next high-level conference on these topics in 2013. He reiterated Albania’s readiness “to build bridges, promote trust, and foster greater understanding within the OSCE area”. “We can best achieve this goal by taking the helm of this Organization in the near future, when conditions are ripe and consensus of all participating States is at hand,” Haxhinasto said.

The Permanent Council is a key decision-making body of the 56-country OSCE. It meets weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions.