To mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, a commemorative reception was held on Tuesday 12 November, in Tirana. The event gathered representative from the Albanian authorities, independent institutions, academia, civil society, as well as the diplomatic community in the country.

The reception was addressed by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, Jutta Gützkow, and the Albanian acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affair, Gent Cakaj.

While addressing the guests, Ms Gützkow underlined that “Celebrating together the Council of Europe’s 70th anniversary confirms our common commitment to achieving the common goal which is enshrined in the Council of Europe’s statute: to promote European unity. We work together with Albanian authorities and civil society on reform of the judiciary, fighting corruption and organised crime, antidiscrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, including the empowerment of Roma, freedom of expression, good governance, and soon, education.”

Acting Minister Cakaj stressed that “… such an event is not only about commemoration of the foundation of the Council of Europe, but also an appreciation of our common journey that we have been taking into building democracy and affirming the values that keep us together … “

The event concluded a series of thematic events organised by the Council of Europe Office in Tirana in different cities of Albania, in cooperation with the French Embassy, within the framework of France’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and in partnership with relevant Albanian institutions.