SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HANDS-ON APPROACH TO SITUATION IN ALBANIA IS MOST ENCOURAGING
Press Release
SG/SM/6363
SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HANDS-ON APPROACH TO SITUATION IN ALBANIA IS MOST ENCOURAGING
19971017 In Message to Rome Ministerial Conference on Albania, Kofi Annan Says Albanians Are 'The Most Armed Citizens in Europe on a Per Capita Basis'Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Ministerial Conference on Albania, delivered by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Catherine Bertini, today in Rome:
I am pleased to convey a message to this important gathering. The Government and people of Italy merit our gratitude for hosting this conference and its preparatory process, through which the international community continues to express its solidarity with Albania at that country's time of need.
I would also like to pay tribute to all the countries that contributed troops to Operation ALBA, which successfully halted the slide to anarchy in Albania and created much-needed breathing space for recovery. This conference aims to seize that moment.
Last month, while he was in New York for the General Assembly's general debate, Prime Minister Fatos Nano briefed me on the steps his Government is taking to overcome the country's current difficulties. The Government is on the right course, focusing on the restoration of law and order and on the recovery of the economic and financial sectors. In the short time that the Government has been in office, there has been discernible progress.
In addition, thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its Albanian counterpart, the humanitarian situation has vastly improved in the past few months. The ICRC has entered the last phase of its emergency assistance, while the World Food Programme (WFP), for its part, is carrying on with its activities.
However, the political situation in Albania remains unstable and insecure. On 30 September, the six-week amnesty period for the return of stolen weapons expired with minimal compliance. Only 45,000 out of an estimated 600,000 stolen weapons were recovered, making Albanians the most armed citizens in Europe on a per capita basis.
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International assistance will continue to be an essential component in the country's recovery, but can only complement Albania's own efforts to promote reconciliation, rehabilitation and reform.
Participants at the last preparatory meeting identified a number of areas for priority action:
-- democratic normalization and the strengthening of civil society, including constitutional reform;
-- institutional reforms, such as reform of the judiciary and the development of human resources;
-- internal security, namely reestablishing the authority of the State in all parts of the country, security of movement and effective control of border points;
-- external security, namely the reorganization of the armed forces under democratic control;
-- economic stabilization;
-- effective action against pyramid schemes.
These are sound priorities. Together they constitute a comprehensive framework for moving forward.
The primary responsibility for the future of Albania remains with the Albanian people. But the United Nations and its specialized agencies stand ready to continue their assistance. The Bretton Woods institutions are actively engaged, and a pledging conference for donors is envisaged.
The international community has adopted a hands-on approach to the situation in Albania. The presence at this conference of so many Ministers and other high-level officials together with representatives of international organizations and humanitarian agencies reflects this fact and is most encouraging. I commend your strong, ongoing commitment to the cause of peace and well-being in Albania and wish you the best for a successful conference.
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