OSCE Chairperson's Special Envoy calls for increased efforts to resolve political impasse during visit to Tirana

TIRANA, 15 March 2010 - Overcoming the political impasse is crucial for Albania to continue making progress in implementing its ambitious reform agenda, the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Zhigalov, said today during a visit to Tirana. 

"We recognize the progress made by Albania in carrying out democratic reforms," he said. "The co-operative climate established in the past between the government and the opposition has contributed to the significant successes achieved in this area."

In welcoming the entry of the main opposition Socialist Party into the Assembly, Zhigalov expressed the hope that this would pave the way for future political debate to be conducted within a parliamentary setting.

He stressed that the OSCE stands ready to support the efforts of Albania's political parties to engage in political dialogue. "However, the responsibility to resolve the current situation ultimately lies with the national players," he said.

During the visit, all local interlocutors stressed their appreciation for OSCE's contribution to the ongoing reform progress of the country. Zhigalov expressed his strong satisfaction regarding the strong co-operation between the OSCE Presence and the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other national authorities.

Zhigalov also briefed local interlocutors on the future plans of the Kazakh Chairmanship, paying reference to the envisaged informal ministerial meeting due to take place in Almaty in the summer this year. "These meetings will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss, inter alia, a follow up to the Corfu process, the Vienna Document 1999, OSCE's engagement with Afghanistan and the substance of the OSCE summit" he said.

Zhigalov's agenda in Tirana include meetings with President Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Foreign Minister Ilir Meta and Socialist Party Chair Edi Rama.