Olldashi and Rama in Brussels

TIRANA, Sept. 13 _ Interior Minister Sokol Olldashi and Socialist leader Edi Rama went both to Brussels this week to meet with European Union officials.
Olldashi met with European Commission vice president of freedom, internal affairs and justice Franco Fratini, who hailed the government for the fight against corruption. Fratini also said that he had asked the EU to facilitate Schenghen visa procedure for Albania citizens. Fratini said that Albanian authorities should pay special attention on reforms in police, security of documents and training of police forces that would ensure efficient fight against organized crime. Olldashi informed Fratini on the government’s successes in the crackdown against a number of criminal organizations this year.
Olldashi also went to the Netherlands where he met with the Europol head Max Peter Ratzel. Albania will sign a membership agreement in 2007.
On the same day Rama went to the EU headquarters to meet with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. He presented to Rehn all the complaints from the opposition against the government. As Rama said after the meeting the EU asks Albania to go ahead. The EU has also always told to any opposition not to boycott parliament or elections or the democratic processes.