As world wide known, the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, approved with the referendum  of the year 1998, was prepared under the assistance  of the Venice Commission. Its article 181 states  “The assembly, within two to three years from the entering into force of this Constitution, issue laws on the proper regulation of several issues relating to the expropriations and confiscations taken place before the adoption of this Constitution, guided by the criteria  of article 41”

This constitutional task has not been fulfilled until now but under the assistance of the OESC presence in Tirana it  has been prepared a  draft-law recently.

This draft-law  has been backed up by the Government and  the main Albanian parliamentary groups including the main party in opposition. However, the draft-law has been   greatly opposed by  the National Association of ex-proprietors “ Property under justice” which has approached the Institution of the People`s Advocate demanding to put the Venice Commission into motion as well.

We are sending enclosed  copies of the draft-law in question as well as the complaint  lodged by the Association “Property under justice”.

In order not to have any misunderstanding  arisen, the above mentioned acts will be sent in Albanian language so that you could have them possibly translated by the Albanian translators working for the Council of Europe.  

             Thanking you for your cooperation and understanding we shall be looking forward to having your opinion and suggestions on this draft-law, at your most earliest convenience, which we, of course, will forward them afterwards  to the Albanian Assembly.

                                                        Yours sincerely

       Ermir  DOBJANI

                                                 PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE