TIRANA, Jan. 20 – Albanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Edi Rama kicked off on Monday, with an official visit to Ukraine, his capacity as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Chairperson-in-Office.
In Kiev, Rama held meetings with the country’s highest authorities. He said his first visit as OSCE chairman-in-office to Ukraine was not accidental but was evidence of the great importance of dealing with the crisis in and around Ukraine, which he said “remains the most important issue on security and stability in Europe today.”
At a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko, Rama said that while discussing this issue at a different level, “what remains essential every day is the lives of people and the difficulties that all those who face live in conflict zones” and that they will be the focus of the Albanian presidency of the OSCE to guarantee “a ceasefire and a lasting ceasefire.”
Rama also visited Eastern Ukraine tomorrow to see with his own eyes the security and humanitarian situation in the conflict affected areas and the practical impact of the Special Monitoring Mission on the ground.
His next visits as OSCE chairman-in-office are expected to be in Moscow and Washington.
Albania officially took over the OSCE chairmanship on January 9, where from the office of the OSCE President in Vienna Rama stated this was a historic moment for Albania.
Afterwards, Rama spoke and presented Albania’s program and priorities to the OSCE Permanent Council, focusing on dialogue, but also the fight against crime, extremism, anti-Semitism, violence against women, tolerance, etc.
Another priority, he said, will be to promote freedom of expression and the media.
Asked whether he is ready to initiate real dialogue with Albanian opposition back home, Rama thanked journalists for the question and told them he would answer back in Tirana, as PM and head of the ruling majority, as he is now in Vienna under another context and format.
Rama, saying Albania will be engaged in promoting media freedom and encouraging free speech, was also asked about the highly-debated ‘anti-libel’ package the Albanian government passed in parliament at the end of December amid multiple protests by journalists and international media freedom organizations alike.
OSCE representatives in Albania have also spoken against the government’s anti-libel package, saying time and again it requires additional amendments to protect media freedom.
During the conference from Vienna, Rama said he has OSCE’s full support of the package that was approved by the Socialist government.
