COPENHAGEN, 9 October 2019 – OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella met this morning at the Assembly’s International Secretariat with a delegation of the Albanian Parliament’s European Integration Committee, composed by its Chair Rudina Hajdari, Deputy Chair Senida Mesi and Member Ralf Gjoni. The delegation was accompanied by the Albanian Ambassador to Denmark, Elida Petoshati, and Sidrit Minxhozi, Head of the Parliament's International Department.

Rudina Hajdari and Roberto Montella meeting in Copenhagen, 9 October 2019Discussions touched upon a number of issues, including the upcoming decision by the European Council on the start of EU accession negotiations, the latest domestic developments in Albania as well as the electoral and judicial reform processes. Moreover, special focus was conveyed to the preparations for the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship.

Secretary General Montella underlined that the upcoming Chairmanship is a responsibility and an opportunity for the country as a whole, and a process that must see the engagement and co-operation of all national stakeholders, including the Parliament. He also reiterated the strongest support of the OSCE PA to Albania and expressed the hope to further strengthen the already excellent co-operation on the occasion of the PA's expected high-level visit to the country in November.

“The OSCE needs strong leadership,” Montella said, “and I am confident that Albania will be able to drive forward the OSCE agenda in a spirit of collective responsibility and ownership.”

L-R: Ralf Gjoni, Rudina Hajdari, Roberto Montella, Senida Mesi and Sidrit MinxhoziMontella also reiterated President’s Tsereteli's and his appreciation for the roundtable on electoral reform facilitated by the OSCE Presence in Albania in late September.

He expressed hope that all sides will continue to be involved in this process, including representatives of the Government, the parliamentary and the extra-parliamentary opposition, civil society as well as national and international experts.

Today’s gathering followed a meeting between OSCE PA President George Tsereteli, Special Representative on South East Europe Mark Pritchard, and Secretary General Montella and the Albanian Delegation to the PA, headed by Ditmir Bushati, which was held on the margins on the Assembly's Autumn Meeting in Marrakech, on 6 October.