Germany to assist Albania in the lustration draft law

TIRANA, Aug 17 – Germany will offer its assistance to Albania on the drafting of the new law on lustration, according to a local newspaper.
German embassy spokeswoman Irene Eidemyller said that Marianne Birthler, a top official of the office in charge of documentations in the former East Germany, will visit Albania in October to explain the work performed by her agency and discuss the lustration law with Albanian experts.
Albania tried to pass a lustration draft law but it could not reach agreement between political parties. However, the law will again be debated during parliament’s September session.
Though Albania adopted a similar law a decade ago by not allowing former Sigurimi secret police officials and agents to seek high public posts, the new law was much debated earlier this summer.
Albania is among the few countries that have yet to make public the files of its communist-era secret police, including listings of its former employees and collaborators who now may also serve in top positions. (Tirana Times Staff)