Situation in Albania

Resolution 970 (1991)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 21 September 1991 (13th Sitting) (see Doc. 6496, report of the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries, Rapporteur : Mr Pfuhl). Text adopted by the Assembly on 21 September 1991 (13th Sitting).

Thesaurus

1. The Assembly notes the progress achieved by the Republic of Albania on the path to democracy, in particular by holding general elections in March and April 1991, which were considered by the Assembly delegation that monitored them on the spot as ‘‘free and democratic, while not totally fair, particularly during the election campaign''.

2. It is well aware of the economic difficulties facing the country which brought about the exodus of thousands of Albanians in 1991.

3. It also considers that the fragile situation in the Balkans can only be worsened if Albania is politically isolated.

4. In this connection, it recalls that, since 20 June 1991, Albania is a participant in the CSCE and that its People's Assembly has applied for special guest status.

5. On the basis of the report presented by the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries (Doc. 6496), the Assembly :

5.1 recommends that the Bureau consider in a constructive spirit the request by the People's Assembly of Albania to obtain special guest status, after a fact-finding mission on the spot by members of the Assembly has taken place ;

5.2 believes that the Committee of Ministers should provide the Assembly with the means necessary to facilitate on the financial level the participation of an Albanian special guest delegation in its activities ;

5.3 considers that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe should continue and develop intergovernmental co-operation activities with Albania, in particular technical assistance with a view to drawing up the new constitution, achieving the major institutional reforms, training the persons responsible for the new democratic institutions, reforming the educational system and the training practices of medical staff ;

5.4 appeals to the international community, in particular the European Community and the Group of 24, to grant, as a matter of urgency, considerable humanitarian and economic assistance to Albania.