TIRANA – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati told a regular session of the Parliament on Wednesday that a new bill aiming to regulate and guarantee protection of the rights and liberties of minorities in Albania had been extensively consulted with the international factors and the proposed legislation ensures respect for the rights of minorities in the country.
During the parliamentary debate on the draft-law on protection of the national minorities in the Republic of Albania, Bushati noted that the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is the responsible institution to report the matter to the international bodies.
“I would like to highlight the so-called coordination mechanism that is ensured by Albania’s adherence to the Council of Europe’s the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and it is again this institution that reflects the work done by all institutions included in the drafting process of the legislation,” Bushati said.
Bushati noted that Albanian state institutions interact with the Council of Europe’s Committee Ministers since 2007 and the Council has already expressed its opinions in compliance with the Framework Convention.
“Likewise Albania should address its obligations and commitment as part of the EU integration process,” Bushati stated.
Albania’s government has delivered to parliament a new bill which aims to regulate and protect the rights and liberties of minorities in the country.
The new legal initiative represents one of Albanian government’s commitments to address its obligations after the country’s adherence to the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, but also to meet five main priorities set out by the European Commission, including human rights.
The draft law has 22 articles agreed by some of Albania’s institutions and interest groups representing national minorities in Albania such as Greek, Macedonian, Serb, Montenegrin, and Vlach-Aromanian minorities.