Parliamentary Assembly

It is a great pleasure and honour for me to have the opportunity to speak to you on this day, which marks the approach of the fifth anniversary of Albania’s accession to the Council of Europe. However, I wish to emphasise that co-operation with the Council – the oldest European organisation championing democracy and human rights – dates back to before 1995, as cooperation was established between the Albanian Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly in 1991.

I thank you once again for the interest shown towards my country and my government, as well as the interest shown in our democratic and institutional developments. I am grateful for the opportunity to be present here to outline our most recent developments and efforts, and our resolve to proceed.

Today, Albania – and the government I have the honour to head – is totally involved in the process of democratic transformation. The country has achieved multi-dimensional progress, the most salient achievements being respect for human rights, both civil and political; respect for the rights of minorities; cultural diversity; linguistic pluralism; and freedom and cooperation among various religious communities.

We have put in place a functioning state based on the principle of the rule of law. On that foundation lies the new constitution, which clearly defines the separation of the various powers, the independence of the judiciary, decentralisation of power at a local level, the encouragement of a private media and many other things. Significant steps have been undertaken with regard to economic recovery and build-up.

Such steps are closely linked to the stability in the country, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and an active role for our foreign policy in the framework of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, the general economic improvement of the country and the adoption and implementation of relevant legislation. These create the proper ground for the government to have clear and concrete perspectives for development.

We are committed to conducting the upcoming local elections in a free and fair manner and we will not permit such elections to create rifts and to be an excuse for division. Therefore, we are co-operating closely with the international community, particularly the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe, to find consensus on a few pending issues.

However, we note with regret that the major opposition party seems to lack such a will and defies the constitution. Its representatives have attended some of our meetings with the OSCE and the Council of Europe and we hope for their continued participation.

Law enforcement and strengthening the rule of law remain high on the agenda of my government. The fight against corruption and illegal trafficking and the strengthening of the judiciary and the police along the lines agreed upon with our international partners continues with great determination.

Recently we adopted a package of laws aimed at reforming the police force. Following the adoption last November of the law on state police, which finally marks its separation from politics, we are currently working to strengthen police co-operation among the countries of the region to increase efficacy in the fight against organised and cross-border crime. We have achieved important results and, in 1999, there was a sharp decrease in crimes committed.

With regard to corruption – still a major challenge for the entire region, Albania included — we have focused our attention on two aspects; namely the fight against corruption in the national and regional frameworks. By the latter, we mean co-operation with the countries of the region, not to mention adherence to a series of European conventions and agreements. Of course, this entails the efficient implementation of obligations stemming from those conventions.

As the chairman of the government programme against corruption, I am aware of my specific obligations and I am committed to fight to the very end against corruption. However, the fight against corruption is not a task simply for the police, the courts or the government alone. It must encompass all of society, with the government carrying a specific responsibility.

Albania’s strategic goal is to strengthen ties with the European Union and Nato, with the long-term aim of becoming a member of those organisations. We can achieve that by the consistent implementation of reforms, the modernisation of state and society and a continuing policy of reliable and predictable partnerships with the international community.

In this respect, I would like to single out the fact that, during the last few months, we have worked hard to achieve the main targets of Albania’s integration into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic structures. In our relations with the European Union, essential developments have been achieved. Late last month in Brussels, I officially handed over Albania’s status report. I hope that, by the end of this year, we will be able to start the negotiation of an association and stabilisation agreement with the EU, We are fully dedicated to honouring our commitments.

Bilateral relations with Nato have witnessed new and important developments following the Kosovo crisis. With regard to the membership action plan, we are now in the phase of consultation and we are accomplishing step by step the requirements set forth by the organisation.

The Albanian Government is fully committed to continuing reforms to the legal and judicial system. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the contribution that the Council of Europe and the European Commission have made, through the action plan, to the reform of the judiciary and the legal system in Albania. In this framework, there have been some major achievements related to the independence and efficacy of the judiciary. These will definitely help to recover its lost credibility.

The Government of Albania has focused much attention on the expansion of the progress of structural reform in the basic areas of governance. Important progress has been made in the framework of the joint action plan between Albania, the Council of Europe and the European Commission to carry out further reforms in the field of justice.

However, we are aware that democratic, economic and social prosperity is intimately linked with the entire development of the region and, in particular, with the stability and strengthening of relations with and among neighbouring countries. For that reason, Albania gave full support from the very beginning to the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, which we believe offers a new framework for the stabilisation and development of Southeastern Europe. The Stability Pact promotes democracy, economic development and security which, in the end, will enhance the integration of the countries of the region into the Euro-Atlantic structures. However, we believe that strengthening our internal policies and institutions is a prerequisite to using the opportunities offered by the Stability Pact properly. The Government of Albania believes that the active participation of the Council of Europe in the three round tables of the pact – in particular table one on democracy, and table three on human rights – is vital to the countries of the region.

The Government of Albania has fully supported the commitments of the international community for the stabilisation of the situation in Kosovo embodied in Security Council Resolution 1244. As you are aware, some of the major challenges the international community is facing in Kosovo include the establishment of a secure environment for the return of all displaced persons, confidence building to ensure multi-ethnic cohabitation, restoration of law and order, creation of self- governing democratic institutions pending a final political settlement, and so forth.

I believe that the obstacles to the free return of refugees, regardless of their ethnic origin, and the efforts ethnically to cantonise Kosovo – in particular the latest events in Mitrovica – are diametrically opposed to the above-mentioned principles. The recent vicious circle of violence in Mitrovica is beyond doubt a consequence of the policy followed by the regime in Belgrade, which aims at destabilising and questioning all that has been achieved so far in Kosovo. Therefore, we deem it important that the international community maintain the embargo on Milosevic’s regime. Otherwise, as he is a dangerous liability, he will be reinvigorated and his grip on power will be strengthened.

The processes are as one and are inseparable, and the goals can be achieved only through a serious commitment by all countries of the region, as well as by the international organisations. Albania’s regional policy is characterised and based on the philosophy of good neighbourliness. To that end, we are co-operating closely with the governments of Greece, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Bulgaria to identify projects of mutual regional impact. We are paying particular heed to relations with the democratic forces in Montenegro.

Recently, the Albanian Parliament set up an ad hoc committee to assist in the implementation of the Stability Pact. The pact is a post-conflict healing process and therefore it should maintain a certain balance among countries in the region. It is a well-known fact that Albania inherited the worst infrastructure compared with other countries. It also bore the major brunt of the Kosovo humanitarian crisis, the consequences of which are now being felt. Hence it is vital that Albania is supported in the distribution of funds. In this respect, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the donor countries that endorsed Albania’s projects in the last financing conference in Brussels, late last month.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are of the opinion that the Council of Europe is a political organisation of general competence, which is contributing and will continue to contribute to the future consolidation of the region. The role of the Organisation in the post-conflict era in relation to other organisations consists of a series of major tasks encompassing the establishment of democratic institutions, protection of human rights, assistance to refugees and activities in the field of local democracy, the judiciary, civil society, the media and other areas. Such activities are implemented both through providing expertise and through the office of the Council of Europe in Pristina, Kosovo. In this framework, we appreciate the invaluable role that the Council of Europe is playing in the accomplishment of the tasks of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

The Government of Albania believes that the Council of Europe is vital in Southeastern Europe, in particular its contribution to the establishment of a constitutional framework, the development of a democratic culture, cultural heritage and so forth. These are the main pillars of the programme of the Organisation for stability in the region and they ensure the protection of human rights for all citizens. This contribution becomes more significant if we want to avoid future conflicts. In this context, the role of the Assembly is vital.

Alongside the consolidation of state structures, the Government of Albania has taken concrete steps to fulfil the duties set forth by various international organisations including, of course, the Council of Europe. The signing of Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which abolishes the death penalty, marks a sea-change in our legislation and, what is more, it is important for changing our mentality. Nevertheless, I want to underline the fact that it has not been easy for us to take such a step and to observe our commitment, taking into account the developments my country has been through in the past. But, in our judgment, capital punishment gives a false sense of security to the public. Worst of all, playing God in this way has no conceivable moral basis. Much remains to be done – a civilised state, to deserve its name, must uphold, not violate, the sanctity of human life.

With regard to the government’s programme and the implementation of its priorities, we have resolved to go ahead with democratic, legal, institutional and economic reforms. Permit me to express my deep appreciation for the enormous support offered by the Council of Europe and other European organisations in this regard. The accession of Albania to the Council of Europe Development Fund, the establishment of the state publication centre and of the magistrate’s school, the judicial police, support with drafting the organic law for the Ministry of Justice, the efforts to adjust Albanian legislation to make it compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights – which is in fact one of the priorities of our mutual co-operation – and the programme for democratic stability in Southeastern Europe, approved in May 1999 in Budapest, are some of the major areas of our co-operation that are bearing fruit now. This process of cooperation has enabled us to achieve the priorities set forth in our programme, thus facilitating the way to Albania’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Obviously we have a long way to go and these are long-term objectives which will require strong commitment and perseverance on our part.

Before concluding, I would like to emphasise that we are working hard to improve the image and perception that others have of Albania and to show that the Albania that we want to build is a European Albania. We are aware of the difficulties ahead of us, so we very much need the support of European and international organisations, as well as that of the most developed democracies, with the aim of consolidating state institutions, invigorating our economy and promoting cultural values. This process, for which I am convinced we will have your support, is a serious challenge to the Albanian Government and the entire country.

Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to conclude by expressing, on behalf of the government I represent, my firm conviction that the fruitful co-operation of, and contribution of your Organisation to the reconstruction of the democratic institutions in Albania will continue unfailingly in. the future. Thank you for your attention.