Council of Europe leaders in fact-finding mission

TIRANA, July 1 – Co-rapporteurs Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, Czech Senator Tomas Jirsa and Moldovan deputy Grigore Petrencot were in Albania with a fact-finding mission regarding the political situation in the country. They met with all top politicians in the country and gave no statement at the end of the visit, only saying they were collecting information to report to the committee.
Naturally the tense political situation and the deadlock were at the center of their interest. Prime Minister Sali Berisha confirmed his government′s commitment to cooperate with the opposition.
That is not new; but the problem arises when both sides try to reconcile and sit down and talk about the future to address the recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR for the next general election of 2013.
Two reporters from the Monitoring Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe in Albania will provide their recommendations in the context of meeting the 12 criteria for receiving EU candidate status.