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21 April 1997 Doc. 7806
ADOC7806
REPORT1
on the state of emergency in Albania2
(Rapporteur: Mr René VAN DER LINDEN,
Netherlands, Group of the European People's Party)
_____
Summary
The political climate has improved since the Assembly's two missions to Tirana, 6-7 March and 4-5 April 1997. Following agreement between the political parties, a "national reconciliation government" has been formed. A European multi-national protection force for humanitarian aid has been deployed. A "target" date of 29 June 1997 for parliamentary elections has been set.
The Political Affairs Committee recommends a strong Council of Europe response to Albania's request for international assistance. It should be part of a "multi-institutional initiative", with the European Union and the OSCE. The Assembly should take part in the observation of Albania's next elections. With the European Union and the OSCE, the Council of Europe should monitor the return to normal conditions - including free movement, local government and security - in the light of which the date of elections must finally be set.
I. Draft recommendation
1. The Assembly re-affirms its support for the new government established in Albania on the basis of the "national reconciliation platform" signed by the leaders of ten political parties on 9 March 1997. It welcomes measures adopted by the National Reconciliation Government to find a political solution to the crisis, in implementation of several of the proposals in Recommendation 1316. It notes that in the interval between its missions of 6-7 March and 4-5 April 1997, the political climate in Tirana had improved.
2. The Assembly welcomes the rapid mobilisation mid-April 1997 of a 6000-strong multi-national European force for protecting humanitarian aid, as requested by the Albanian government and authorised by the UN Security Council. The deployment of this force, under Italian leadership, has had a significant psychological impact, has released resources for restoring order and thus for paving the way for fresh elections, and - above all - is relieving acute distress among the most vulnerable parts of the population.
3. The Assembly welcomes the decision of the Socialist Party to take up its seats in Parliament and on Albania's parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe.
4. The Assembly welcomes the all-party agreement on fresh elections and the President's proposal for all-party talks on a new Constitution. Constructive dialogue on this basis with all political parties is the only way forward.
5. The Assembly notes that free and fair elections will inter alia require:
i. freedom of movement and association throughout the country;
ii. access for political parties to the media on a reasonably agreed basis;
iii. the proper functioning of central, regional and local election commissions;
iv. security throughout the country and the restoration of authority to the legitimate regional and local authority structures, regularly elected in October 1996.
The "target" date of 29 June 1997 should accelerate progress in meeting these requirements, and should be reviewed in the light of progress accomplished.
6. The Assembly considers that the "citizens' committees", which have taken power illegally in parts of the country, should undertake to restore the normal functioning of regularly elected local and regional authorities, and contribute to the recovery of weapons, as pre-conditions for free and fair elections.
7. The Assembly welcomes the concerted efforts taken by Europe's international institutions, as also called for in Recommendation 1316, in the form of a "multi-institutional initiative", to which the Council of Europe is making a significant contribution:
i. the OSCE is establishing an office, and will seek to provide a "coordinating framework" for all international initiatives further to the three missions of former Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship;
ii. the European Union is establishing an advisory mission, further to the initial mission of 7 March 1997 of Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo on behalf of the EU Presidency, and to which the Western European Union (WEU) will contribute expertise;
iii. the Council of Europe will contribute, in liaison with these structures, to the preparation of elections and to requests for expertise.
These concerted efforts must be pursued, on the basis of a common political position.
8. Recalling that the Council of Europe has a statutory duty to help a Member State which seeks to surmount a severe political crisis by constitutional and democratic means, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
i. give the highest priority to monitoring developments in Albania, in close cooperation with the European Union and the OSCE;
ii. re-direct its programmes of assistance to Albania (election legislation and observation, media reform, law enforcement and respect for human rights, constitutional law), and allocate resources to them on the scale made necessary by the crisis and for optimising the concerted efforts of Europe's international institutions.
II. Draft order
1. Referring to its Recommendation .... (1997) on the state of emergency in Albania, the Assembly resolves to reply positively to the Albanian authorities' request to take part in the observation of the next parliamentary elections.
2. It instructs the Bureau to draw up a plan to this effect, in consultation with Albania's parliamentary delegation to the Assembly, in liaison with the European Parliament and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
III. Explanatory memorandum
by the Rapporteur
A. BACKGROUND
1. Following the mission of representatives of political groups which went to Albania 6-7 March 1997,3 a second mission composed of the Rapporteurs responsible for monitoring4 held follow-up talks in Tirana 4-5 April 1997. The mission was composed as follows:
AS/Pol René van der Linden Netherlands EPP
AS/Jur Dumeni Columberg Switzerland EPP
AS/NM Victor Ruffy Switzerland SOC
Secretariat: John Hartland
Francesc Ferrer
2. The programme of the mission is in Annex 'A'. It comprised talks with the leaderships of Albania's ten political parties, with Members of the National Reconciliation Government, with the Speaker of the Parliament and with State President Berisha, and with representatives of OSCE, the European Union and the diplomatic community.
3. The first mission was sent in response to the state of emergency declared in Albania on 2 March 1997. The second mission had as its purpose to make contact with the newly-appointed National Reconciliation Government and to assess the prospect for the parliamentary elections announced for June 1997. As can be seen from a comparison of the mission statements issued at the press conferences on 7 March (in Annex 'B') and on 5 April 1997, immediately hereunder, much had happened in the interval between the missions.
B. MISSION STATEMENT / PRESS RELEASE
Tirana, 5 April 1997 14 h 30
"We held, yesterday afternoon, with leaders of the main political parties, a joint 3-hour discussion on prospects for holding effective elections throughout the country before end-June or soon thereafter. The issues were security, the actual political situation, the election laws, media, international monitoring and international help with the preparations. We noted an improved atmosphere compared to our previous visit (6-7 March).
We welcome the decision of the Socialist Party to take up their seats in Parliament. We called for this in our previous resolutions and discussions. It will doubtless help for cooperation in preparing the elections.
We welcome President Berisha's commitment to constitutional order and procedures. Effective dialogue was made possible between government and opposition following the historic Agreement of 9 March 1997. Signatories to the Agreement must refrain from any actions, notably in regard to the situation in the south, which have the effect of undermining its principles. We re-affirm our proposal [Assembly Recommendation 1316] for a tripartite task force with the European Union and the OSCE.
The Council of Europe must respond to requests that the elections be well prepared and fully monitored. It must re-direct its programmes of legislative assistance to this purpose. The Parliamentary Assembly is ready to play its part in their monitoring and assessment.
Free and fair elections are a pre-condition for the democratic process. The election date must be set in the light of conditions throughout the country. Effective preparations are essential. Security will be a critical factor. International help must be given for restoring public order and for monitoring the recovery of weapons from civilians.
We welcome the establishment of the multi-national force, led by Italy, to protect the supply and distribution of humanitarian aid. Its deployment is a matter of the highest urgency. In addition to the humanitarian reasons for urgent action, the survival of democracy in Albania is at stake. Every day counts."
C. ANALYSIS
4. At the time of writing, the multi-national protection force has disembarked in Albania and the third OSCE "Vranitzky mission" is in progress (15-18 April).5 It includes representatives of the European Union, Western European Union and the Council of Europe. It exemplifies an unprecedentedly rapid focusing of concerted efforts by Europe's international institutions.6 As events continue rapidly to unfold, it seems clear that hope for Albania lies in success for these international efforts, which in turn depend on development of the dialogue between government and opposition in Tirana and then throughout the country.
5. The first and second "Vranitzky missions" were on 8 and 14 March. They led to OSCE Permanent Council decisions of 27 March, determining the establishment of an OSCE presence in Albania and a coordinating framework for the initiatives of other Organisations. On 28 March, as a consequence of these decisions, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1101. This authorized the Member States taking part in the multi-national force (for protecting humanitarian aid) to act under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Eight countries are contributing to a 6000-strong force, led by Italy. The other countries are Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, Romania, Spain and Turkey.7
6. The concept of the "Vranitzky missions" was approved by OSCE on 6 March. On 7 March, for the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo went to Tirana and issued a statement recalling the terms on which Albania was receiving EU assistance - namely, a commitment to democracy.8 He also confirmed that the EU was ready to give humanitarian aid. On 15 and 16 March in Apeldoorn, having taken note of the findings of this mission and of the first two "Vranitsky missions", the EU Council of Ministers sent an immediate high-level mission to Tirana (17-19 March) to consider with the Albanian authorities the setting-up of an EU Advisory Mission. On decision of the EU Council of 24 March, an "advance team" to explore the logistics of setting up the Advisory Mission was in Tirana from 26 March to 2 April 1997. It included OSCE, WEU and Council of Europe representatives. Through its recommendations, the parameters of a Council of Europe contribution to resolving the current crisis are becoming clearer. Since the focus of our contribution will be on the prospect of fresh elections, let us first consider the state of dialogue between government and opposition in Albania. It is this on which the prospect of elections will depend, since only through the development of constructive dialogue throughout Albania are conditions of security likely to improve.
7. The striking contrast between our mission of 6-7 March and the 4-5 April mission was that, on 4 April 1997, we could hold a joint meeting with the leaderships of all ten political parties instead of seeing them one-by-one. By decision of 2 April the Socialist Party had ended its boycott of Parliament9 and committed itself to support the National Reconciliation Government. This Government had been established as a result of the "national reconciliation platform" signed by the leaders of Albania's political parties on 9 March 1997. It included the prospect of fresh elections, whereas when we had last seen President Berisha on 7 March 1997 he had "...urged us not to back calls for fresh elections".10 The political climate in Tirana had completely changed. Moreover, a major crisis had just been surmounted. On 28 March, in Vlora, in clear violation of the 9 March "platform", a "national committee of public salvation" had called a gathering of representatives of "citizens' committees"11 from towns in southern Albania; it had issued a declaration denying the legitimacy of the current Parliament and Presidency and calling for the President's withdrawal on account of "crimes" and "bloodshed"; it was signed by representatives of the Socialist Party and some other political parties; although expressing support for Prime Minister Fino and the National Reconciliation Government, it clearly embodied a claim that Albania had ceased to function as a constitutional State. Ministers representing the Democratic Party in the National Reconciliation Government immediately threatened to resign. With great rapidity, Prime Minister Fino convened political party leaderships to re-affirm the "platform" of 9 March. This was done, also on 28 March, in Tirana, through a "Declaration" which added elements to the 9 March "platform", thus enhancing the Socialist Party's motivation to see the Government start working effectively. These new elements were:- re-organisation and re-staffing of the Ministry of the Interior and police commissariats; nominations to and reform of the "non-elected" structures of local government; a new politically pluralist "platform" for radio and television; a draft law to establish a commission of inquiry (with international experts) into the "pyramid" investment schemes.
8. Such was the immediate background to our meeting with political party leaderships. The great issue is whether the country can be restored to order without direct "legitimating" negotiations between, on the one hand, the National Reconciliation Government and international mediators and authorities, and - on the other - the "citizens' committees". The latter are, from their own resources, in the assessment of some experienced diplomats, in no position to tackle crime, even in its most common and widespread form of low-level small-scale banditry. This, moreover, is not confined to the south. On Saturday 5 April we had expected to meet Prime Minister Fino briefly on his return from a visit to Skodra, but armed bands had prevented him from getting there.
9. Talks with Government Ministers, Speaker Arbnori and President Berisha all had as their focus the restoration of order as a pre-condition for restoring authority to legitimate regional and local authority structures, this being in turn a pre-condition for the satisfactory preparation and conduct of fresh elections. The arrival and deployment of the multi-national protection force for humanitarian aid would release police resources for restoring order. It was hoped that the European Union would help in the re-equipment of the police. It was hoped that the Council of Europe would play a leading role in observing and monitoring the elections,12 as also with advice in revising the election laws. President Berisha also announced his intention, if the political parties agreed, of holding a referendum at the same time on a revised Draft Constitution. He now accepted that the Draft rejected in the referendum of November 1994 was inferior to Albania's current Constitutional provisions. On the basis of work already done with Council of Europe expertise, he considered that a revised Draft could rapidly be prepared.
D. PROVISIONAL CONCLUSION
10. The purpose of our mission 4-5 April 1997 was to seek to assess how realistic was the prospect of fresh elections before end-June.13 The main points of our Mission Statement remain valid. Security will be a critical factor. A possible test may come with experience in the coming weeks with the distribution of humanitarian aid. Elections require free movement and freedom of association throughout the country. They require the restoration of authority to legitimate regional and local authority structures. They require the effective operation of central, regional and local election commissions. It is probable that some new legislation is required - if only to sustain consensus between the political parties in regard to the "genocide" and "verification" laws. However, any excès de zèle which leads to change in constituency boundaries - as was the case in the months preceding the May 1996 elections - is only likely to exacerbate local tensions.14 Pressure from the smaller parties currently not represented in Parliament to shift the balance between the "majoritarian" and "proportional" elements requires to be very carefully assessed. The whole point of democracy is another election in just a few years' time. It is better to change the laws after - rather than just before - an election.
11. It follows that, although political consensus on fresh elections is to be welcomed, there should be no pressure from the international community for Albania to adjust its laws in any particular direction, or to maintain a "target" date which the Government might subsequently and judiciously prefer to postpone. It is possible that there is no worse scenario for Albania than a premature election, called in poor conditions of security and giving rise to dispute about the legitimacy of an incoming Parliament and President. The best scenario is effective operation of the National Reconciliation Government, with the support of all political parties, until a date can realistically and responsibly be set. In our Mission Statement, we recorded our appreciation of President Berisha's commitment to constitutional order and procedures. We expect him to exercise his constitutional prerogatives for the election date with a sense of realism and responsibility in regard to conditions of security and the exercise of basic human rights.
12. Our expectations for the role of the Council of Europe are set forth in the Draft Recommendation, concordant with the Committee of Ministers' interim reply to Recommendation 1316 of 19 March 1997.15 This role will be played in liaison with the EU Advisory Mission to Albania (which will work within the "coordinating framework" provided by OSCE) and also in liaison with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).16 The Mission will probably have the following structure:- a "police advisory element", a section for emergency aid, a section for coordination with other EU actions and programmes, and a section for "elections and democratisation".17 In addition to making its experience available to the "police advisory element", the Council of Europe can contribute directly in four of the five areas likely to come under this section's responsibility.18 In regard to the legislative base for the elections, as also for the election environment (media reform and renewed impetus for organisation of the judiciary), the Council of Europe is in a position to contribute expertise. For a continuing needs assessment of the election infrastructure and for election monitoring, the Assembly itself should be ready to contribute. A prerequisite for such contributions will be the ability to move and observe developments throughout the country. A further mission mid-May is thus desirable.
Reporting Committee: Political Affairs Committee.
Budgetary implications for the Assembly: to be assessed.
Draft recommendation and draft order adopted unanimously by the committee on 21 April 1997.
Members of the committee: Mr Bársony (Chairman), Sir Anthony Durant (Vice-Chairman), Mr van der Linden (Vice-Chairman), Mrs Ojuland (Vice-Chairperson), MM Aloglu, Antretter, Bakke, Baumel, Mrs Belohorska, MM Belyaev, Bergqvist, Bernardini, Björck, Bloetzer, Bokov, Büchel, Bühler, Cem, Cerqueda Pascuet, Chircop, Chornovil, Deasy, Diacov, Domljan, Eörsi, Evangelisti, Galanos, Gjellerod, Gotzev, Hardy, Irmer, Iwinski, Kalus, Kaspereit, Kautto, Kuzmickas, Mme Lentz-Cornette, MM Lopez Henares, Lupu, van der Maelen, Maginas, Martínez, Masseret (alternate: M. Seitlinger), Medeiros Ferreira, Melescanu, Mota Amaral, Mühlemann, Oliynik, Pahor, Popovski, Prusak (alternate: Mr Bogomolov), Mrs Ragnarsdottir, MM Risari, Schieder, Schwimmer, Selva, Sinka, Sir Dudley Smith, Mr Spahia, Mrs Stepova, Mrs Suchocka, MM Urbain, Woltjer, Ziuganov (alternate: Mr. Zhebrovsky).
N.B. The names of those members who took part in the meeting are printed in italics.
Secretaries of the committee : Mr Hartland, Mr Kleijssen, Mr Gruden.
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ANNEXES
A. Programme of the mission 4-5 April 1997
B. Statement of the previous mission 6-7 March 1997
C. Assembly Recommendation 1316
D. Committee of Ministers' interim reply to Recommendation 1316 [Doc. 7787]
E. OSCE Permanent Council decisions of 27 March 1997
F. UN Security Council Resolution 1101 of 28 March 1997
G. The multi-national protection force for humanitarian aid (Reuter 16 April 1997)
H. EU Presidency Declaration (Apeldoorn 15-16 March 1997)
I. EU Council statement on an Advisory Mission to Albania, 24 March 1997
J. "Platform" of Albania's Socialist Party Parliamentary Group - Tirana, 2 April 1997
K. Albanian political parties' "platform of national reconciliation" - Tirana, 9 March 1997
L. Declaration of "national committee of public salvation" - Vlora, 28 March 1997
M. Declaration of Albanian political parties - Tirana, 28 March 1997
ANNEX A
PROGRAMME OF THE MISSION 4-5 APRIL 1997
Friday afternoon 4 April
arrival at Rinas airport
briefing by Italian and French ambassadors
meeting with political party leaderships
working dinner for Albanian parliamentary delegation and opposition leaders
discussion with Dutch, French, German, Italian & Swiss ambassadors
Saturday 5 April
working breakfast with OSCE representatives & OSCE/ODIHR consultant experts
08 h 45 Foreign Minister Arjan Starova
09 h 45 Interior Minister Belul Cela & State Secretary Lush Perpali
10 h 30 Justice Minister Spartak Ngjela
11 h 30 Parliament President Pjeter Arbnori
13 h 30 State President Sali Berisha
14 h 30 press conference / press release
ANNEX B
STATEMENT OF THE PREVIOUS MISSION 6-7 MARCH 1997
TIRANA 07.03.97 - At the close of a 2-day programme of talks with government and opposition leaders, and representatives of the World Bank, the European Union and the diplomatic community in Tirana 6-7 March 1997, the COUNCIL OF EUROPE Parliamentary Assembly delegation led by René VAN DER LINDEN (Netherlands, EPP) issued this 7-point statement following a meeting with President Berisha :
1. We are deeply concerned by the violence and civil disorder in the south of the country, by the state of emergency in Albania which this has necessitated, and also by the misery caused to hundreds of thousands of families by the collapse of the "pyramid" financial savings schemes.
2. We welcome the dialogue initiated by President Berisha on 1 and 4 March 1997 with the opposition Socialist Party. We warmly welcome the Declaration of 6 March 1997 by the ruling Democratic Party and all the other political parties on the need for restoring constitutional order, for an amnesty in return for surrender of arms, and for multi-party
consensus on the choice of a new Prime Minister and on the setting-up of a national consensus government having the broadest possible support and a mandate to review the election laws. We call on the people of Albania to accept and act in accordance with this amnesty. The logic of those developments is for the Socialist Party to end its boycott of Parliament : only thus can its voice be heard and its arguments debated in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
3. In view of the political crisis to be surmounted, a new Government based on the broadest possible support must prepare a new Constitution and a new electoral law. As stated in Assembly Resolution 1095(96) : "The political parties should consider new elections after these changes in legislation".
4. As a Member State of the Council of Europe, Albania must show full respect for human rights in any recourse to force to restore order. Measures taken in derogation of Article 15 of the European Human Rights Convention must not exceed "the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation", nor be "inconsistent with (Albania's) other obligations under the rule of law". All political parties should state their condemnation of acts of criminal violence and rebellion in southern Albania, if these should persist despite the 6 March offer of an amnesty. Constraints on the media must be lifted.
5. An independent inquiry should be conducted into the scandal of the "pyramid" financial savings schemes. International experts should be part of this inquiry, in order to guarantee transparency and restore confidence, nationally and internationally.
6. A "rescue package" should be urgently designed and applied by the international financial institutions. The conditions to be negociated with the Albanian authorities should be the subject of a special hearing of the Committee on Economic Affairs & Development of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
7. The Council of Europe is ready to provide a frame for further dialogue between the political forces of Albania. It will act, together with the European Union, OSCE and the other international organisations, as a source of international advice and support
for Albania for any problems within its special areas of expertise.
ANNEX C
EREC1316.WP Provisional edition
RECOMMENDATION 1316 (1997)19
on the state of emergency in Albania
________
1. With the near-total breakdown of law and order in Albania, the Council of Europe is faced by a situation without precedent in a member state.
2. The crisis, following the troubled parliamentary elections of May/June 1996, was caused by the collapse of "pyramid" investment schemes, affecting directly or indirectly up to 80% of the people and causing a loss to the national economy of up to $2 billion.
3. The Assembly notes the conclusions of its mission of inquiry (6-7 March 1997) into the state of emergency in Albania proclaimed on 2 March 1997. It welcomes the subsequent missions undertaken by the European Union and OSCE. It further welcomes the cooperation and agreement between these institutions, together with the Council of Europe, in framing a plan for Albania's recovery.
4. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers take an initiative to form a tripartite task force (Council of Europe, European Union, OSCE) to give immediate international support to the new coalition government:
i. for restoring order with due regard to Albania's continuing obligations under the European Human Rights Convention, with action under the aegis of OSCE for recovery of weapons from civilians;
ii. through urgent supplies of food and medicines and for restoration of water and electricity;
iii. for restoring the authority of the regularly elected municipal institutions in order to enable them to perform their duties;
iv. through an urgent expansion of job creation programmes;
v. through an IMF stabilisation programme and support for the national budget;
vi. through the preparation of an adequate legislative, regulatory and organisational infra-structure for parliamentary elections under the supervision of the Council of Europe and other European organisations, and with abolition or reform of the "genocide" and "verification" laws as required by Assembly Resolution 1114 (1997).
5. The Assembly further calls for:
i. an independent inquiry into the scandal of the "pyramid" investment schemes, with international expertise and immediate publication of the report in order to guarantee transparency and restore confidence, both nationally and internationally;
ii. an inquiry by the international financial institutions into the management of Albania's public finances and budget 1996-97, with publication of the report;
iii. concerted action by governments of member states in support of the Italian and Greek and other national authorities, and non-governmental organisations, in their humanitarian response to the flow of refugees;
iv. special attention by the governments concerned to establish arrangements for monitoring and preventing the traffic of arms and drugs and the movement of persons linked to organised crime;
v. a generous and urgent response to the appeals for funds launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international agencies in aid of the vulnerable population groups.
6. The Assembly calls on the Secretary General to review and adjust Council of Europe programmes, with a view to making a significant contribution to the multi-institutional assistance teams for Albania proposed by OSCE;
7. The Assembly requests the leaders of its political groups (or their representatives), with the Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee, to make further visits to Albania in support of the reconciliation process between Albania's political parties.
ANNEX D
3 April 1997 Doc. 7787
ADOC7787
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
Interim reply to Recommendation 1316 (1997)
on the state of emergency in Albania
(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 20 March 1997
at the 586th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
_____
The Committee of Ministers, sitting at Deputy level on 19 March 1997, immediately seized itself of Recommendation 1316 (1997) on the State of Emergency in Albania, adopted on the same day by the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly. It refers, in this context, to the Declaration on Albani issued on 11 March 1997 by the Chairman in Office of the Committee of Ministers, Mrs Tarja Halonen, expressing strong support for efforts under way towards national reconciliation and bringing about a political and non-violent solution to the country's present crisis. It also refers to the exchanges between the Secretary General and the Albanian Government concerning the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights in an emergency situation.
The Committee of Ministers shares with the Assembly the great sense of urgency concerning the tragic developments in Albania and the need for the international community to do its utmost to help the country to overcome chaos in the state and social structures and despair of the people.
The Committee of Ministers highly appreciates the Parliamentary Assembly's early moves to visit the country and to bring their message of solidarity and reconciliation among political forces there.
The Committee of Ministers, like the Secretary General, has been in close contact with the OSCE and the European Union concerning their missions in Albania. The Council of Europe Secretariat participated in the second mission of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Dr Vranitzky on 14 March 1997 and maintained liaison with the following mission to Tirana by the Netherlands' Presidency of the European Union.
The Committee of Ministers is determined to contribute to on-going preparations for a common effort of European Organisations, particularly the OSCE and the European Union, to support the efforts of the Albanian Government, established on the basis of the plan for national reconciliation agreed by all the parties. In so doing, the Committee of Ministers will particularly have in mind the political support which the Council of Europe can provide in its member State, Albania, and the specific contributions which the Council of Europe can make, on the basis of its mandate, achievements and experience, towards the restoration of democratic institutions and the consolidation and further development of law and justice.
The Committee of Ministers expresses support for the initiatives already taken by the Secretary General and his organising discussions with the OSCE and the European Union with a view to defining objectives, modalities and content of a multi-institutional mission to Tirana, whose task will be, once the necessary conditions for security and order are assured, to help the Albanian authorities to assume their responsibilities in bringing the country back to peace, stability and economic recovery.
The Council of Europe's special contribution should consist in the provision of expertise concerning the preparation for future democratic and fair elections, discussions among all the political forces on a new constitution, the creation of conditions for the functioning of independent and pluralist media, particularly in the TV sector, the efficacity and impartiality of justice and law enforcement, including legislative and administrative means to fight organised crime, corruption and money-laundering.
The Committee of Ministers will maintain close contact with the Parliamentary Assembly and keep it regularly informed of developments, so as to assure its support and, if possible, participation in these efforts, particularly as concerns elections and the Constitution.
ANNEX E
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL'S DECISIONS OF 27 MARCH 1997
ANNEX F
UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1101 OF 28 MARCH 1997
ANNEX G
THE MULTI-NATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE FOR HUMANITARIAN AID (REUTER 16 APRIL 1997)
ANNEX H
EU PRESIDENCY DECLARATION (APELDOORN 15-16 MARCH 1997)
ANNEX I
EU COUNCIL STATEMENT ON AN ADVISORY MISSION TO ALBANIA, 24 MARCH 1997
ANNEX J
"PLATFORM" OF ALBANIA'S SOCIALIST PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP - TIRANA, 2 APRIL 1997
ANNEX K
ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES' "PLATFORM FOR RECONCILIATION" - TIRANA, 9 MARCH 1997
ANNEX L
DECLARATION OF "NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SALVATION" - VLORA, 28 MARCH 1997
ANNEX M
DECLARATION OF ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES - TIRANA, 28 MARCH 1997
1 1by the Political Affairs Committee
2 2This report is complementary to the report presented to the Standing Committee of the Assembly on 19 March 1997 [Doc. 7780] leading to Recommendation 1316.
3 3 See Doc. 7780 and Recommendation 1316 of 19 March 1997
4 4Recommendation 1312 and Resolution 1114 of 29 January 1997
5 5Former Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky is acting as Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office of OSCE
6 6We called for this in Assembly Recommendation 1316. The position as of 20 March was given in the Committee of Ministers' immediate interim reply to this Recommendation (see Annex 'D').
7 7A snapshot of the position on 16 April is in Annex 'G'.
8 8Albania is reported to have received approximately US $ 577 million in aid from the European Union since 1991 - more per capita than any other post-communist country.
9 9This decision is now reflected in the composition of Albania's national delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly.
11 11Termed "rebel committees" by Democratic Party representatives in the immediate entourage of President Berisha.
12 12The Socialist Party had already voiced a preference for the OSCE. We stressed that our two Organisations, together with the European Union, would be in relations of partnership for any such operation.
13 13A "target" date of 29 June has been provisionally agreed by the political parties.
14 14For this reason, there may be a case for reverting to the laws on which the 1992 elections were held.
15 15See Annexes 'C' and 'D'
16 16From the side of the Parliamentary Assembly, the Bureau may wish to inquire into the prospect of concerted efforts for election observation, monitoring and assessment with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament.
17 17It is likely that the Head of the Advisory Mission will report both through the EU Presidency to the EU General Affairs Council and through Special Representative Vranitzky to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
18 18The fifth area is recovery of weapons - likely to be undertaken directly under the aegis of the OSCE in cooperation with the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) and the EU Advisory Mission's "police advisory element".
19 19 1. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 19 March 1997. See Doc. 7780, report of the Political Affairs Committee (Rapporteur: Mr van der Linden).