OSCE Presence supports Albanian Assembly in strengthening parliamentarians' role

TIRANA, 22 June 2007 - The OSCE Presence in Albania today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Parliament of Albania pledging continued assistance in consolidating its constitutional role as a forum for political debate and a mechanism for government oversight. The project is financed by the Netherlands.

"This agreement will contribute to further improved transparency and access of the public to the Assembly, upgrading of the infrastructure and technology of information, strengthening of the administrative capacities and enhancing of the role the Parliament of Albania in its relations with the constitutional bodies which report to and inform it," said the Speaker of the Parliament, Jozefina Topalli.

The Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Pavel Vacek, said that the Presence will continue working together with the Parliament to help strengthen the role of the institution and further build its capacity.

The project is in its second phase and will cost a total of 1.3 million euros, mainly contributed by the Dutch Embassy in Albania. The main achievements of the first phase of the project, which was also financed by the Netherlands, were the new Rules of Procedure, the increased parliamentary role in the State Budget oversight and the creation of transcripts of the plenary sittings.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sweder van Voorst tot Voorst, said that the Dutch contribution will help improve the functioning of the Parliament and further strengthen democracy in Albania.

The OSCE Presence in Albania will continue to provide expertise and assistance in line with its mandate.