[legal-professionals] OSCE Presence to release first comprehensive report on legal sector in Albania

TIRANA, 18 February 2004 – The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania,
Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, will present tomorrow the Presence's first
comprehensive report on the legal sector in Albania.

The aim of the report is to assist the Albanian authorities with the
establishment of a transparent legal system, based on good governance and
working for as well as trusted by the Albanian people.

The situation in the legal sector is better than it was a few years ago,
the report says, adding that the High Council of Justice was functioning
much better since it had a full-time vice chairman, the People's Advocate
was gaining public trust, and the Magistrates' School had led to higher
quality among new judicial appointments. However, the report stresses a
need to take measures to eliminate the suspicion of corruption in the
sector. Where in fact there is corruption, the legal system must apply
strict and uniform sanctions, the report says.

The OSCE Presence has suggested improvements with a view to increasing
transparency and eliminating distrust and corruption. Some key
recommendations focus on better inspections of notaries, improvement in
legal education, transparency in case assignment in courts and among
prosecutors, respect of court judgements by the state, examinations of
notaries and new attorneys based on skills, and enforcement of codes of
ethics throughout the profession.

The OSCE Presence will use the report to develop further projects, for
example on wider public participation in legislative drafting. It is also
hoped that the Legal Sector Report will serve as a basis for initiating
other useful projects.
Media representatives are invited to attend the presentation of the Legal
Sector Report on Thursday, 19 February, at 11 a.m., at Hotel Rogner
Europapark, Tirana.


Latest news from the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - http://www.osce.org

  OSCE PRESENCE TO RELEASE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON LEGAL
  SECTOR IN ALBANIA

  TIRANA, 18 February 2004 ­ The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania,
  Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, will present tomorrow the Presence's
  first comprehensive report on the legal sector in Albania...


For full text see: http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?ut=2&id=3868


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