Newsroom
Ambassador Ahrens urges Albania to implement anti-corruption plan
TIRANA 12 June 2002
TIRANA, 12 June 2002 - Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, urged the implementation of the revised governmental anti-corruption plan and said the General Prosecutor's office had a key role to play in the fight against corruption.
He made his first official visit to the offices of General Prosecutor Theodhor Sollaku, at which they discussed issues including the development of a legislative framework for witness protection and new initiatives for co-operation between the OSCE Presence and the General Prosecutors' Office.
Ambassador Ahrens said it was now time for action on the commitments made in the action plan.
"The General Prosecutor's Office has an important role to play in the fight against corruption in Albania," he said. "We stand ready to support this institution in its efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption."
Mr. Sollaku agreed that a functioning witness protection programme would be key to combating organized crime and trafficking. He expressed his commitment to an active role in the development of this programme.
Ambassador Ahrens concluded: "I commend Albania for all that it has done as it prepares to ratify the UN Convention Against International Organized Crime and the two protocols related to trafficking. This makes it all the more important for Albania to implement appropriate programmes in the fight against organized crime and trafficking of human beings."
He made his first official visit to the offices of General Prosecutor Theodhor Sollaku, at which they discussed issues including the development of a legislative framework for witness protection and new initiatives for co-operation between the OSCE Presence and the General Prosecutors' Office.
Ambassador Ahrens said it was now time for action on the commitments made in the action plan.
"The General Prosecutor's Office has an important role to play in the fight against corruption in Albania," he said. "We stand ready to support this institution in its efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption."
Mr. Sollaku agreed that a functioning witness protection programme would be key to combating organized crime and trafficking. He expressed his commitment to an active role in the development of this programme.
Ambassador Ahrens concluded: "I commend Albania for all that it has done as it prepares to ratify the UN Convention Against International Organized Crime and the two protocols related to trafficking. This makes it all the more important for Albania to implement appropriate programmes in the fight against organized crime and trafficking of human beings."