COPENHAGEN, 22 February 2010 – OSCE PA Special Representative on South East Europe Roberto Battelli (Slovenia) visited Tirana, Albania 14-16 February, meeting with President of Parliament Jozefina Topalli and other leading parliamentarians, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission and representatives of civil society.

Mr. Battelli reconfirmed the 2009 post-election statement delivered by Special Co-ordinator PA Vice President Grossruck (Austria) and hailed parliament and constitutional structures as the places to resolve the current political impasse in Tirana. In his talks, Mr. Battelli urged the political parties to co-operate in implementing the recommendations from the OSCE Final Report. He underlined that political disputes need to be discussed and settled in the competent institutions, in particular the parliament.

“Disagreements with the government and even deep distrust in elections do not justify blocking the work of the constitutional institutions, and the death of four Albanians should make everybody reconsider their actions,” Mr. Battelli said. He urged mutual restraint in the political rhetoric, adding that the government had a responsibility to de-escalate existing conflicts.

Accompanied by PA Special Representative in Vienna Amb. Andreas Nothelle, Mr. Battelli also received a thorough briefing by the Head of the OSCE Presence in Tirana, Amb. Eugen Wollfarth. Mr. Battelli will give a full report on his activities to the Standing Committee at the OSCE PA’s Winter Meeting on 25 February in Vienna.