TIRANA, October 25 /ATA/ -Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Gramoz Ruçi and the Chairperson of the ruling Socialist Party Parliamentary Group Taulant Balla attended the Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of the Council of Europe member states which took place in Strasbourg on 24-25 October.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Ruçi and Balla also held several meetings with heads of the Council of Europe and speakers of the participating parliaments.
During his meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejcinovic Buric, Ruçi said that despite the decision of the European Council, Albania will continue the integration reforms for the benefit of the people and the country. Albania has only one Plan A for the future and its only destination is the EU. Justice reform and vetting continue to be successful. These institutions will become operational soon and guarantee a fair, professional and integrity justice system.
Secretary-General Buric said that the Council of Europe will continue to deepen co-operation with Albania and support the country in deepening reforms and consolidating democracy.
During the meeting with President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Liliane Maury Pasquier, the Speaker of Parliament briefed the interlocutor on the progress of reforms in Albania. These reforms do not in themselves aim at integration, but the overall well-being of Albanian citizens. On her part, President Lilian Maury Pasquier praised Albania’s comprehensive progress as a worthy member of the Council of Europe, especially the reform of the judiciary and vetting, in which achievements are impressive, as well as the fight against corruption and organized crime. President Pasquier also praised the remarkable contribution of the Albanian parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly./gj.mima/ /a.g/p.s./
