Speech delivered by  the American Ambassador, H. E. Mr.  Mr. John L.Withers, II,  at the Intenational Conference on the ocassion of the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Institution of the People's Advocate in Albania

Tirana, December 10, 2009

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to share a few words with you at this important conference.  Mr. President, Mr. Ministers, my fellow Ambassadors and distinguished guests, it is an honor for me to be here! 

This conference commemorates a very important day in both Albania’s history and that of the world.  Globally, we are marking the 61st Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in Paris in 1948.  This declaration was a watershed moment in the history of the world, as it outlined 30 fundamental human rights that apply to all persons everywhere.  Among the 30 rights are freedoms of thought, association, religion, expression, and the right to choose one’s government through elections.  Also included are freedoms from slavery, arbitrary arrest and discrimination.  This document is the foundation for all human rights.

Here today, we are also marking another important event, that of the establishment of the Albanian People’s Advocate Institution, or Ombudsman.  This important office enjoys the respect of all Albanians and plays a central role in ensuring that the rights of all Albanians are respected and honored.  My Embassy has enjoyed extraordinarily positive collaboration with the Ombudsman office and with Mr. Dobjani, and I take it as a personal privilege to be able to congratulate him and his good work today.

As we have gathered this day to mark the anniversaries of both the Universal Declaration and the People’s Advocate, I would like to focus on one particularly important theme, and that is the independence of institutions such as the People’s Advocate.  And I am not speaking here only of the People’s Advocate, but the independence of all institutions, be they governmental, media related, or NGO.  The independence of institutions such as the People’s Advocate is critical for democratic development and essential for the health of society.  The People’s Advocate, because of its independence, is able to credibly investigate claims and report on their veracity.  Because of its independence, it can take up the cause of the weak, it can take up the cause of those in need, it can take up the cause of people seeking justice and can advocate for them.  This independence is essential; without it, the People’s Advocate would in fact be no such thing.

Similarly, other institutions are not able to function properly without their independence.  The independence of the judiciary is a fundamental pillar of democratic society and is, in fact, the bedrock upon which democratic societies are built.  An independent judiciary holds all citizens equal before the law and requires all citizens to obey the law.  No political institution can take over or intrude upon the independence of the judiciary or the functions that it was designed to uphold.  No one, absolutely no one, is above the law. 

The independence of the media is another key area.  In a democratic society, the media plays the role of the watchdog of society, and protects the public’s interest.  Media independence also ensures that public officials in the public and business persons in the private sector abide by the law and do not abuse their positions.  When media becomes just another political tool, without regard to fact or truth, it loses its independence, and the public’s interest is not protected. 

The independence of institutions is one issue that I have spoken about at length today as its importance to society cannot be underestimated.  And it is for that reason that offices such as the People’s Advocate, which operate independently, are able to make an impact in peoples’ lives and help to improve society as a whole.  I again congratulate the People’s Advocate, Mr. Dobjani, on his ten-year anniversary and commend him for his work. 

I also note the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and point out that the keys to a successful, democratic, open, European society are outlined clearly in that document.  The path outlined in the declaration is not easy by any means, and it represents an ideal to which the signatories aspire.  However, a conscious and conscientious effort toward achieving these ideals will allow Albania to achieve its full potential and move it along the path to EU integration.  It is the strength and independence of institutions like the People’s Advocate that will make those aspirations a reality in the future.

I thank you very much for your attention!