O SBE: Harming Albania's Priories

Chairman of O The SEU and Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella today strongly condemned the use of violence during the protests this weekend in Tirana, as well as threats and attempts directed at O's presence head The SEU in Albania and the organisation in general.

They also called on the rule forces to show restraint.

Lajcak, Tsereteli and Greminger stressed that <x0 rights for collection and peaceful protest is a precondition for the democratic state. But strong domestic institutions, including an effective parliament, are fundamental stones of democracy and essential to political stability and the rule of law. Violence and threats against officials of international organisations are unacceptable”.

They thanked Albanian authorities for protecting O presence chief's residence The SEU and encouraged all sides to show restraint during today's protest.

Violent “protests are not substitutes for democratic political commitments. They expect every opportunity for dialogue and any opportunity to find a common language. We call on all political leaders and citizens of Albania to show responsibility, to demonstrate peacefully, as well as to act on content. The OSCE will continue to support the democratic process in Albania”, OSCE leaders say.

A crisis extension would inevitably damage Albania's domestic and external strategic priorities. The time has come to set up an internal platform for dialogue that includes all interested parties, civil society and academy, to overcome differences and work together in Albania's best interest”, they end up.