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U.S. Secretary of State Kerry visits Albania, urges more reforms

Xinhua, February 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Albania on Sunday to stimulate the country's leaders to accomplish reforms.

Kerry gave the message that Albania is on the right track with the reforms, especially as regards the fight against crime, corruption and the reinforcing of the rule of law.

On his four-hour visit, Kerry met Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition Democratic leader Lulzim Basha.

Kerry conveyed his message at the press conference held after the meeting with Rama, where he declared that "Albania is moving towards the right track, and I trust that the awareness about the laws need for the fight against corruption has been embraced by all."

"I was impressed by the drafting of the decriminalization law. I was encouraged by the justice reform and I would like to underline that this is something that politics is working hard to realize. This requires the support of every Albanian citizen. The USA is on your side, but only the Albanian citizens can pass the necessary laws and insist for their implementation," said Kerry.

Rama confirmed that the justice reform was part of the talks.

"We discussed the justice reform. We are grateful to the USA for the help given to our country and for the work offered by the U.S. experts in the technical team of the justice reform. Our joint objective is to have the constitutional amends passed by March," stated Rama.

Moreover, Rama said that he was convinced that the Parliament would pass it within March. He based this conviction also on the encouragement received by the U.S. diplomat, wrote the local media Top Channel.

In December 2015, Albanian MPs voted to remove from politics and from the state administration anyone with criminal record.

Furthermore, the Albanian parliament is discussing a major package of reforms, supported by the West, that includes a new anti-corruption unit, modeled after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The visit of a U.S Secretary of State to Albania is the first visit since November 2012, when Hillary Clinton addressed the Albanian parliament. Endit