Economic assistance to Albania

Resolution 1005 (1993)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 2 July 1993 (44th Sitting) (see Doc.6859, report of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, Rapporteur: Mr Aarts). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2July 1993 (44th Sitting).

Thesaurus

1. The Assembly greatly welcomes the considerable efforts undertaken by the Albanian Government and Parliament to introduce a democratic form of government, as well as economic reforms based on the principles of a market economy.

2. At the same time, the Assembly is aware of the magnitude of the task to be accomplished by the Albanian authorities, reconstructing a country devastated by decades of extreme misallocation of resources and self-imposed isolation. Hence the vital importance of increased international aid to deal with the enormous problems of economic restructuring.

3. Contributing to the solution of these problems through international co-operation is important for the future of democratic institutions and economic development, which are closely intertwined in the former communist countries. Destabilisation in Albania would further unsettle the war-torn and conflict-ridden Balkan region.

4. Consequently, the Assembly calls on the governments of Council of Europe member states and on the European Community:

4.1 to extend any conceptual and material assistance to Albania to prevent that country becoming a destabilising factor in the Balkan region, and to mobilise the country's human resources;

4.2 to ensure that international aid, both bilateral and multilateral, continues to be provided over coming years, in order to alleviate the "transformational recession" in Albania;

4.3 to increase foreign trade with Albania - by opening their markets and offering favourable trade conditions to it - in order to secure the restructuring process of the Albanian economy;

4.4 to help in establishing modern transport and telecommunications infrastructures;

4.5 to assist in building an efficient administration at national and local level, built on unambiguous laws and a functioning judiciary;

4.6 to help in closing legal gaps in various economic and social regulations, and provide technical assistance for that purpose;

4.7 to stimulate contacts at all levels, such as exchanges between students and teachers, and to promote vocational training notably in such sectors as industry, banking, business administration and management;

4.8 to continue their efforts regarding the implementation of Recommendation 1171 (1991) on the situation of hospitals in Albania: priority needs of the Paedriatic Institute of Tirana, in particular by setting up as a matter of priority a nationwide waste and refuse removal and disposal system, particularly for hospital waste, in order to safeguard public health and avert any risk of indirect infection or contamination.

5. The Assembly encourages the Government and Parliament of Albania:

5.1 to achieve social and economic development and to create the institutional and legislative framework conditions for this purpose, in particular as they relate to democracy, human and minority rights, including freedom of religion and worship, and the social protection of vulnerable groups;

5.2 to pay particular attention to the need to establish clear legislation governing private property and business, including foreign investment; a fair and authoritative legal system; and a functioning banking and financing infrastructure and sector, fundamental to any sustained economic development;

5.3 to continue the privatisation of agriculture, not least by supporting new forms of co-operative initiatives in financing, production and marketing;

5.4 to develop the long-term tourism potential of the country in a prudent, responsible way, not least by investments in tourist and recreational facilities, while paying due attention to the need to preserve the cultural heritage and the environment;

5.5 to undertake measures designed to promote and develop the mining sector, notably by investments from various sources, which could in the longer term supplement agriculture as a corner-stone of an export-oriented growth strategy;

5.6 to maintain and strengthen pluralist society and democracy, and to ensure protection of minorities, in conformity with Council of Europe and other international standards;

5.7 to provide for the unimpeded functioning of religious institutions and to facilitate restitution of churches, monasteries, cemeteries and religious objects.

6. The Assembly calls on the Albanian Government, donor governments and multilateral institutions to manage external aid to Albania in a responsible and efficient way.