Key moments of Albania’s relations with the CoE until its full membership July 13, 1995
Created on May 5, 1949, the Council of Europe is the oldest political organization in Europe, with a focus on strengthening European cultural identity, pluralistic democracies and human rights, it aroused a lot of interest in the countries of Eastern Europe that were emerging from the Soviet orbit and overthrew communist regimes in the late 80s.
Official invitations were made to Albania from time to time to participate in the activities of the Council of Europe, but were rejected by the Albanian government for political and ideological reasons of the time. The last case of rejection before the Albanian government began to show concrete interest in establishing relations with the Council of Europe occurred in March 1990. The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of KiE Andres Bjorck sends a letter to the President of the country where he informs him that the Culture Commission and Education of this Assembly organized on April 9, 1990 at the Palace of Europe in Strasbourg the second Round Table on the contribution of young people to East-West cooperation. The participants would be parliamentarians and youth representatives. They hoped that all countries would be represented by a delegation which would reflect the political tendencies of each country. It was a good opportunity for young Albanians to contribute to a European Albania. This did not happen because Albania, according to the argument used, “..had no connection with the Council of Europe” and that “..Albania did not belong to either the East or the West”. Albania was not represented at this Round Table.
After the visit of UN Secretary-General De Kuelar to Albania in May 1990, the events of July 1990, and Albania’s efforts to join the CSCE, in September 1990, two members of the Albanian Parliament took part in the debate on cooperation and security in Europe, organized by the Assembly of the Council of Europe. In the context of this new interest of Albania in the activities of pan-European parliamentary cooperation, in February 1991 Bjorck sent a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly of Albania where he announced that in order to continue this cooperation, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should follow the legislative elections in the non-member states. of KiE, a practice also followed with other countries of the East. This was also suggested to Albania for the March 31 elections. This suggestion was accepted by the Albanian government and these elections were followed by a delegation of observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and in April 1991 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe discussed the issue of relations with Albania on the basis of the conclusions of the delegation and requested the advancement of reforms in Albania for full democratization of Albania and full respect of human rights.
In May 1991, Catherine Lalumiere, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, visits Albania. These developments were positive for the decision-making on Albania’s membership in CSBE.
In September 1991, Albania was granted the status of “fellow member” by the Commission of the Council of Europe “Democracy through Law”. In August 1991, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania officially requested the assistance of the Council of Europe for the drafting of the new Constitution of Albania through its experts and training for Albanian experts in the field.
In November 1991, KiE invited Albania to join the European Cultural Convention as the first step towards the full inclusion of Albania in this organization, and for this it offered training for experts who would deal with this process. The process began and Albania acceded to this Convention in June 1992.
After the visit to Strasbourg of the President of the Republic of Albania in May 1992, a delegation of High Officials of the Council of Europe visited Albania from November 30 to December 3, 1992 for European support for constitutional and legislative reforms of human rights in Albania.
A year later, on December 6, 1993, the Albanian government approves the opening of the Mission of the Republic of Albania to the Council of Europe.
On June 29, 1995, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and on July 13, 1995, Albania joined the Council of Europe as a full member.
Key moments of Albania’s relations with the CoE until its full membership July 13, 1995
