OSCE official calls on Albanian political class not to delay justice reform

The political class in Albania should be focused on the swift implementation of the justice reform as it is crucial to the country's progress towards European Union (EU) accession, the head of OSCE presence in Albania Bernd Borchardt said Thursday.

In a TV interview, Borchardt said progress in reform could not be achieved by government alone and that the opposition should support the process too.

He saw as legitimate the decision of the Albanian opposition to protest and seek free and fair elections but highlighted that the opposition should not boycott parliamentary work.

"I am sure that the justice reform will be implemented but my appeal to the political class here is to do it as soon as possible. I should say that I am concerned that the vetting process has been blocked due to the escalation of the political debate here resulting in parliaments boycott by the opposition," Borchardt said.

In his view, it is good to protest and seek rights but protests should not delay the process of reforms.

Borchardt was also worried that money generated from narcotics cultivation and trafficking could be used during the electoral campaign. Endit