Gent Cakaj forbids diplomatic license plates

Cakaj, has said that 38 honourary consoles move with diplomatic license plates, thus gaining unjustified privileges, broadcast Indesksonline.

He said immediate measures will be taken to remove diplomatic plates and replace them with relevant ones.

Part of the Minister Cakaj's speech:

Under the developments needed to move forward with the reform and modernisation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry structures, but also the Albanian diplomatic service in general informs them that I have decided to take another necessary measure. The time has come to undo a practice as original in its absurdity as far as incompatible with existing laws in Albania, and good international practices in general.

We are a country in the world where we have a total of 48 honorary consoles dressed in diplomatic privileges because they operate with diplomatic license plates, it's generally about Albanian citizens who are completely honored to be here, renowned businessmen, different businessmen, media owners, political analysts who are in charge of Albania as honouris from different countries, almost every continent of the world, and circulates with certain diplomatic privileges in Albania and not only.

Just like ambassadors and the diplomatic body accredited in Albania. Albania once again stressed that it is perfectly honored to have these honours act here and are free access to their obligations, but they will also be more honored if their activity is corrected under the law.

I want to explain that the treatment of license consoles is regulated by state ceremonial in chapter 7 entitled Privilege and Immmunity, and at 5.8 of this material says: Consumptions of honour, regardless of citizenship exclusively for official purposes, use a vehicle that is equipped with regular national license plates and with a distinguishing ovale on the right of national license plates with HCC symbols. Meanwhile, in remarkable violations of this Law, there are 38 honourary councils equipped with CD plates that we have among us and come in and out of the borders of this country, not as ordinary Albanian citizens, not even as most government officials, but as top international diplomatic representatives.

This special privilege, completely unique in Europe, is perhaps even broader from every perspective, so it must end.

With the sad humility of this change, I am convinced that even the relevant councils will understand to me that all the people in question that the Protocol Office will immediately begin contacting them and are obliged to hand over diplomatic license plates and will immediately be equipped with the distinguishing mark HCC.

To avoid some of the current experiences where individuals have shown considerable neglect to the protocol calls after it seems that they have felt too powerful, I also inform that in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior and with the Ministry of Transport, it will be done in full efficiency to take all legal and adigative measures that targats in question come out of office and generally use.