OSCE Presence in Albania and partners discuss achievements and future plans of small arms and light weapons project

The second executive committee of the project “Assisting the national authorities of the Republic of Albania to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)” was gathered in Tirana on 14 October 2022. The project is implemented by the OSCE Presence in Albania, thanks to the financial support of the European Union, Germany and France.

Members from OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit in the OSCE Secretariat, donor representatives, officials of the Ministry of Interior, Albanian State Police and other relevant partner institutions discussed project achievements and future plans.

Opening the meeting, Head of Presence, Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco, said: “The real work starts from the willingness and the concrete engagement of the government authorities to make peaceful societies. And I recognize, fully, both the engagement and the willingness of the Albanian authorities. Our role as OSCE has been and continues to be standing up to the task to contribute in taking this positive will forward, by choosing the proper way to do it. And we chose it together.”

Deputy Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari said that the fight against organized crime and the improvement of order and public security in Albania remain strategic priorities for the Government of Albania. “The support of our partners is extremely valuable in accelerating the pace of reforms that Albania has undertaken with the aim of joining the great European family as soon as possible,” he added.