[legal-professionals] Albania: OSCE-facilitated agreement on witness protection signed today

TIRANA, 17 June 2003 - A memorandum of understanding on the establishment 
of a task force on witness protection has been signed today by a number of 
Albanian Ministries and international agencies operating in the country.

The memorandum provides the basis for creating and operating a Witness 
Protection Task Force that will seek to provide logistical and financial 
assistance to witnesses and assist the Albanian Government in developing 
and implementing witness protection legislation. The memorandum will be in 
effect until the proper legislative framework on witness protection is 
adopted and the activities provided for in this memorandum are performed by 
the national authorities themselves.

"Witness protection in Albania continues to be a sensitive issue", said 
Blendi Klosi, Albanian Minister of State. "Without adequate witness 
protection, it is very difficult to encourage witnesses to participate in 
the justice system and to testify. Their testimony is crucial to the fight 
against trafficking and organized crime as it is a vital piece of evidence 
necessary to proceed with prosecution".

In May 2002, an International Task Force chaired by the OSCE Presence in 
Albania was established to handle witness protection situations until a 
legislative framework was put in place. This Task Force has dealt with very 
sensitive individual cases of witness protection, involving especially 
trafficking victims in great risk of life as a result of their testimonies. 
In all these cases the co-operation with the Albanian police and the 
Prosecutor's Office has been significant. Thanks also to the co-operation 
of foreign embassies, the Task Force has been successful in relocating 
victims outside of Albania.

"Establishment of an efficient system of witness protection requires also 
the building of national structures. Thus, the involvement of the Albanian 
Government in this process is crucial and should be further expanded," said 
Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence.

The signing of the memorandum, which was facilitated by the Albanian 
Ministry of State and the OSCE Presence, took place at the office of 
Minister of State Blendi Klosi. The memorandum was signed by the Minister 
of State, the Ministries of Justice, Public Order, and Finance, as well as 
the General Prosecutor's Office, the OSCE Presence, the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) and the non-governmental organization, 
Save the Children.

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