Ambassador Holland reaffirms the UK's support for Albania's
Euro-Atlantic path and welcomes the OSCE Presence's support to
Albania's parliament, law enforcement and elections.
"Thank you, Ambassador Tarran, for the work of your team over the
last 12 months and for the helpful presentation this morning.
Mr Chair, the United Kingdom and Albania have a strong bilateral
partnership. The UK continues to support Albania's Euro-Atlantic
path. This was reiterated by my Prime Minister during his Tirana
visit in May, again at the Berlin Process Summit in October, and
in Tirana last week during Special Envoy Dame Karen Pierce's
visit.
The UK notes the Final Report of the ODIHR Election Observation
Mission on Albania's parliamentary elections on 11 May, and the
conclusions that elections “were competitive and professionally
conducted but took place in a highly polarised environment and
contestants did not enjoy a level playing field”. We encourage
the Government of Albania to engage constructively to address
outstanding recommendations.
The UK welcomes the OSCE Presence's capacity building of
Albania's parliament, local governance and law enforcement, and
your support to elections. We are pleased to support your
programmes to strengthen law enforcement and prosecution
capabilities in combatting people trafficking, and to separately
support the strengthening of key judicial pillars in Albania,
including the High Inspector of Justice, the courts, and the
prosecutorial system – notably the Special Structure against
Corruption and Organized Crime.
We also welcome Albania's efforts to advance gender equality and
the Presence's active support in this.
Ambassador Tarran, you mention towards the end of your written
report the significant loss of purchasing power due to the lack
of an agreed Unified Budget, and the need to adapt the Presence's
approach by reducing programme activity or transferring ownership
to host authorities. How do you envisage a shift to a more
coordination-focused role for the OSCE Presence working in
practice?
In conclusion, I would like to thank you once again, Ambassador
Tarran, for your leadership during this reporting period, and
wish you success with the OSCE Presence's work over the coming 12
months.
Thank you, Mr Chair."
