Newsroom
OSCE Presence in Albania chairs property discussion
TIRANA 24 July 2003
TIRANA, 24 July 2003 - Issues related to property restitution and compensation should be dealt with in a fully democratic manner, said the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, at a discussion he chaired today.
Lipponen invited representatives of various associations to express their views on central issues of restitution of property and compensation and to provide data and statistics on the topic. This information will be taken into consideration during the work of the OSCE-led Technical Experts Group on Property, which gives support and advice to the Parliamentary Committees on Agriculture, Law, and Economy in their review of the existing two draft laws on property.
"It is not enough that experts work on these very complex and sensitive questions; the people also have to be able to trust that their views are being heard," said Ambassador Lipponen. "Besides, we need all the data and statistics available."
Participants included representatives of the Property with Justice Association, Albanian Farmers Association, Albanian National Association of Legitimate Owners, National Association of Persons Persecuted for Political and Economic Reasons, Seaside Association and the Forum of Environmental Associations. Further hearings will be held at a later stage.
"In dealing with such an important problem, the procedure has to be fully democratic," stressed Ambassador Lipponen. "The OSCE Presence in Albania will therefore continue to apply its policy of openness and transparency in tackling the issue of property restitution and compensation."
Currently, two draft laws on property restitution and compensation are pending at the Albanian Assembly, one submitted by the government, the other by two opposition deputies. The Albanian Assembly has requested that the OSCE Presence facilitate the finalizing of the legislation. The joint initiative of the Presence and the Assembly is aimed at ensuring the production of a comprehensive final draft law.
Lipponen invited representatives of various associations to express their views on central issues of restitution of property and compensation and to provide data and statistics on the topic. This information will be taken into consideration during the work of the OSCE-led Technical Experts Group on Property, which gives support and advice to the Parliamentary Committees on Agriculture, Law, and Economy in their review of the existing two draft laws on property.
"It is not enough that experts work on these very complex and sensitive questions; the people also have to be able to trust that their views are being heard," said Ambassador Lipponen. "Besides, we need all the data and statistics available."
Participants included representatives of the Property with Justice Association, Albanian Farmers Association, Albanian National Association of Legitimate Owners, National Association of Persons Persecuted for Political and Economic Reasons, Seaside Association and the Forum of Environmental Associations. Further hearings will be held at a later stage.
"In dealing with such an important problem, the procedure has to be fully democratic," stressed Ambassador Lipponen. "The OSCE Presence in Albania will therefore continue to apply its policy of openness and transparency in tackling the issue of property restitution and compensation."
Currently, two draft laws on property restitution and compensation are pending at the Albanian Assembly, one submitted by the government, the other by two opposition deputies. The Albanian Assembly has requested that the OSCE Presence facilitate the finalizing of the legislation. The joint initiative of the Presence and the Assembly is aimed at ensuring the production of a comprehensive final draft law.