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2013

Democracy in Albania: the Pace of Progress

Members

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Hon. Ben Cardin

Chairman

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

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Hon. Robert Aderholt

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

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Hon. Eliot Engel

Ranking Member

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

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Hon. Michael Turner

Chairman

U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Witnesses

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Philip T. Reeker

Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs

U.S. Department of State

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Elez Biberaj

Director, Eurasia Division

Voice of America

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Besa Shahini

Senior Analyst

European Stability Initiative

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H.E. Mr. Gilbert Galanxhi

Ambassador of Albania to the U.S.A.

Prior to 1991, Albania was ruled by one of the communist world’s most repressive regimes and was the only country in Europe refusing to participate in the Helsinki process.  In the two decades following, the country made enormous strides to become a democratic state where human rights are respected and to become an active participant in European affairs, and became a member of the NATO Alliance in 2009.

Despite this progress, Albania continues to struggle in building its democratic institutions and practices, including respect for the rule of law.  As Albania prepared for parliamentary elections in June 2013, this hearing assessed the degree to which progress has begun to fall short of expectations at home and abroad, and what could be done to accelerate the pace of further reforms related to good governance.

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Articles

Helsinki Commission Advances Human Rights, Demands f...

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By Shannon Simrell, Senior Policy Advisor Between October 2-13, 11 Helsinki Commission staff joined approximately 1,400 representatives of OSCE participating States (pS) and civil society representatives in Warsaw, Poland in an annual review of the human rights records of OSCE States. U.S. leadership highlighted demands for accountability from Russia and Belarus for their human rights […]

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Articles

United States Demonstrates Global Leadership on Ukra...

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair Lead Delegati...

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Hearings

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Press Releases

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Press Releases

U.S. Delegation to the OSCE PA presents Joint Statem...

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Press Releases

Steadfast Support for Ukraine: United States Delegat...

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commissioners Urge Austria to Deny Visas to...

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Articles

OSCE’s 2022 Ministerial Council in Lodz: Russia Isol...

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Articles

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Publications

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest July 2022

Jul 29, 2022

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Press Releases

Co-Chairman Cohen Deplores Arrest of Ilya Yashin in ...

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