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               US to Voice Support for Justice Reforms in Albania

   by Pamela Dockins

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Albania where he will
   encourage the country's leaders to continue efforts to enact justice
   reforms and promote bilateral cooperation.

   During the four-hour visit to Tirana Sunday, Kerry is meeting with
   Prime Minister Edi Rama as well as the country's foreign minister and
   opposition leaders.

   Albania is part of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State
   group.  Albania is one of the Balkan nations that has contributed
   ammunition and small arms to the effort, mostly to Iraqi peshmerga and
   security forces.

   It is also a NATO ally and a candidate for accession into the European
   Union.

   "Albania has been the recipient of significant U.S. assistance to help
   with countering extremism" and judicial reforms, said a senior State
   Department official, speaking at a briefing.

   The country has also been challenged by persistent problems with crime,
   corruption and the rule of law.

   The official said Kerry would reinforce the message that Albania's
   justice reform legislation could help the country "make the case" to
   the EU for accession, and also improve the country's climate for
   investment.

   The legislation is designed to bring Albania's judicial sector more in
   line with U.S. and European norms, the official said, and create an
   entity similar to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

   The U.S. and EU provided advice to help Albania draft the provision,
   which would also create a special anti-corruption force.

   In a January interview with VOA, U.S. Ambassador to Albania Donald Lu
   urged support of the legislation.

   "The people of Albania have spoken in favor of this reform," said Lu.
   "All of Albania's international partners have said that they support
   this reform.  We call on the Albanian people to stand up for this
   reform and to hold their political leaders accountable."

   Kerry's visit to Albania wraps up a four-day visit to Europe that
   included meeting with the International Syria Support Group and
   participating in the Munich Security Conference.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-albania/3190311.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-albania/3190311.html