6 months after Albania's accession The Council of Europe verifies Albania's commitments
Political parties meet with the CoE delegation, Lord Finsberg, member of the Political Committee, and Columberg, Chairman of the Legal Committee
The delegation of CoE rapporteurs arrived yesterday at midday at Rinas airport for a three-day fact-finding visit to Albania, during which they will examine the fulfillment of the commitments undertaken by Albania in the framework of its admission to the CoE. “We have come to monitor the commitments undertaken by Albania since it became a member of the Council of Europe, at the request of the Secretary General Mr. Daniel Tarchys,” said Lord Finsberg, member of the Political Committee of the CoE. When asked whether they thought Albania had fulfilled the commitments it undertook, he replied: “We will outline such questions after the completion of the mission, during which we will meet with representatives of political parties, government officials, human rights organizations and the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha.”
Albania secured accession to the Council of Europe on June 29, thus becoming the 36th member of the pan-European organization, founded in 1949 to protect the freedoms of democracy and human rights. “This is my fifth time here, and I am pleased that I had the opportunity to come again to Albania. Albania has made progress in the process of democracy, in the economy, and in improving living conditions,” said Mr. Columberg, vice-chairman member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, known as one of the people who were among the harshest critics of Albania's accession to the Council of Europe.
The delegation began meetings yesterday afternoon with leaders of political parties. The CoE delegation met with representatives of the Socialist Party, Namik Dokle, Kurti Islami, Ethem Ruka, and Skënder Kote.
Today there will be a meeting with representatives of the press and the media, and afterwards they will meet with the Speaker of Parliament Pjetër Arbnori and the President of the Republic Sali Berisha.
Members of the CoE Delegation, Columberg and Lord Finsberg
On pages 2-3:
The position of the Socialist Party and an interview with representatives of the Democratic Alliance Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Union for Human Rights, and the Democratic Party