UN MESSENGER OF PEACE, MICH"L DOUGLAS, CONCLUDES VISIT TO ALBANIA

Press Release
DC/2669

UN MESSENGER OF PEACE, MICHAEL DOUGLAS, CONCLUDES VISIT TO ALBANIA

NEW YORK, 19 October 1999 (Department of Disarmament Affairs) -- Oscar- winning actor and producer and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Michael Douglas, concluded a two-day visit to Albania on 11 and 12 October, hosted by the Government and the United Nations Development Programme -- UNDP-Albania to call international attention to the innovative United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs/UNDP project "Weapons in Exchange for Development". In the central Albanian town of Gramsh, over 6,700 small arms and 100 tonnes of ammunition have been voluntarily surrendered by citizens since January of this year in exchange for development initiatives including road rehabilitation, a town street lighting system and a radio-telephone system for all communes in the remote area.

On the first day of his visit, Mr. Douglas visited Gramsh, site of the successful Gramsh Pilot Project of weapons collection, where he put on red overalls and goggles to take part in a demonstration of the public destruction of several weapons. To underline the development exchange of the project, he inaugurated the rehabilitation of a road connecting the main town of Gramsh to an outlying village. He praised the people of Gramsh, "I offer my congratulations to you, the people of the district. It is a sign of courage. It is a sign of foresight. It is a sign of wisdom. The Gramsh Pilot Project can serve as a model of how the United Nations, Governments, non-governmental organizations and local citizens can work together to ensure a safer community and to make room for progress".

From Gramsh, Mr. Douglas flew by helicopter north to the city of Elbasan, where the United Nations and national authorities intend to expand the project. Mr. Douglas met with local authorities and civic groups in order to raise local and international awareness on the necessity to continue the project. He encouraged the people of Elbasan to follow the example of their neighbours, "It is in the interest of all Albanians to return to stability in order to raise the local, district and national standards of living. This is why I believe that the people of Albania and their government share the benefits of the programme of Weapons in Exchange for Development". Mr. Douglas invited the international community to support and contribute financially to the extension of the project.

From Elbasan, Mr. Douglas flew to the capital Tirana where he attended two events hosted by the Minister of Culture, Edi Rama. First was the showing of a short Albanian film dealing with the weapons problem in Albania, "Funeral Business" (presented at this year's Venice Film Festival), at the recently built Millennium Cinema. At the second event, he addressed a gathering of 500 youth leaders and Embassy officials at the International Cultural Centre. He stressed, "[I am here to] draw the attention of the international community to the deep commitment of the Albanian people to improving internal security and their deep need for economic and social development. I told the people of Gramsh and Elbasan that I would use my voice as Messenger of Peace

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to get that message across. The opportunity that the international community has is to assist in the creation of a stable, peaceful and prosperous society in the Balkans, which will welcome back businesses and financial investment to promote economic and social development of the entire region".

On Tuesday morning, Mr. Douglas met with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, and the Prime Minister, Pandeli Majko, and gave a short press conference, repeating his appeal to the international community for assistance to the project.

Mr. Douglas's visit follows the presence in Albania on 16-18 September of the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, to review the progress of the Gramsh Pilot Project. The project formally began in October 1998 with funding from UNDP and added support from bilateral donors including Italy, Norway, United Kingdom, Belgium, Japan, Andorra and others. Mr. Dhanapala headed the initial United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs assessment mission to Albania in June 1998, in response to a request by the Albanian Government to the United Nations Secretary-General for assistance in collecting weapons.

Gramsh was chosen as the starting point for the project due to the high concentration there of weapons in the hands of civilians. The project began with a strong public awareness campaign, and was followed by weapons collections, which were carried out several times a month from January 1999 through September 1999 in all communes. Development initiatives are currently underway, and completion of all planned works is scheduled for mid-2000.

For further information about the UNDDA / UNDP Weapons in Exchange for Development Programme, please contact:

Ms. Nora Cacti - Public Awareness and Information Officer for the project Tirana, Albania Tel: +355-42-51014 E-mail: nkushti@icc.al.eu.org

Jeff Brez - Public Information Officer, UNDP Albania Tel: +355-42-33122 / 33148 / 33149 E-mail: jeff.brez@undp.org

Soknan Han Jung UNDP HQ, RBEC, New York E-mail: soknan.han.jung@undp.org

Michael Cassandra (re: Messenger of Peace) Department for Disarmament Affairs New York Tel: 212-963-7714 E-mail:

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