Albania takes over OSCE Presidency

NEWS 01.01.202017:57
REUTERS/Florion Goga

Albania and Prime Minister Edi Rama will preside over the OSCE for a year, and Tirana says one of its main priorities will be efforts to solve the conflicts, the FoNet news agency reported on Wednesday.

Rama said that the presidency “is a historic moment for Albania, which, after being under cruel Communist regime, is honoured to have that role.”

“The presidency over the OSCE is the peak of our significant transformation,” he added.

The Albanian Presidency will cover three dimensions for the OSCE concept, Rama says.

“The efforts in solving conflicts will top our priorities since it's unacceptable that long-lasting clashes in the region covered by the OSCE still claim lives,” he added.

Rama said that one of the priorities would be the fight against corruption which, as he put it, undermined democracy and negatively influenced the prosperity and safety in the region and worldwide.

He said the OSCE would continue fighting against human trafficking and hate speech across Europe.

Tirana will formally take over the OSCE Presidency on January 9, in Vienna, when Rama will explain his priorities for 2020.