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Albanian Foreign Minister praises OSCE Presence
Tirana, Nov. 6, 2008 (AENews) – The OSCE is best-placed to promote democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance and rule of law – all essential for security, Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha told the Organization’s Permanent Council today.
“The OSCE continues to be an essential forum for discussion, co-operation and mutual understanding which has not exhausted its potential as a valuable security provider in the vast area over which the organization spans,” said he.
OSCE has worked as an intermediary in the Albanian political landscape since the civil turmoil in 1997. Its mandate has been discussed on several occasions. Some political leaders have attempted to close its election monitoring service, while some others have considered the mission as “unnecessary”. Earlier OSCE accused the current government that wants to close it before the general elections scheduled in the summer of 2009. OSCE failed to mediate during the last political crisis in February 2007, and was effectively substituted by different embassies and the former President Mr. Alfred Moisiu.
