OSCE assists in natural resources exploitation, trains police forensic skills

TIRANA, April 30 – The OSCE Presence in Albania continues to be involved in a series of projects assisting the local authorities.
One of them was an inclusive discussion with the Energy and Industry Ministry to promote the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and explain its benefits for local communities.
Albania became an EITI-compliant country in May 2013. In 2012, Foreign Ministers of the OSCE participating States recognized the importance of transparency in economic sectors, and acknowledged the EITI’s activities in this regard.
Raising awareness among authorities and businesses of the need to increase public benefits and explain the processes to the public is another aim of the event.
“All the stakeholders in natural resources-related projects have concerns and expectations that need to be discussed and addressed in a serious and constructive manner,” said Ambassador Florian Raunig, OSCE head in Albania.
In another event the OSCE and Poland’s Central Police Forensic Laboratory signed a co-operation agreement in developing the forensic capabilities of the Albanian Police, aiming at raising forensic processing standards in the fight against serious organized crime and terrorism.
They will help Albanian Forensic Science Service in enhancing evidence examination and analytical processes, done through the development of standardized sustainable training and the acquisition of equipment.
The OSCE will work closely with other international actors to help Albania establish a national DNA database and accreditation for processing and analysis, to ensure that the country meets the highest international forensic laboratory standards.