With 80 votes in favor and 22 against, the request of the DP parliamentary group for the accelerated review of the draft law regarding Donald Trump's invitation for Albania's participation in the Peace Board, an initiative of the head of the White House, was approved.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Niko Peleshi, has postponed the session by one hour, saying that the Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs should first meet, and then the draft law should be passed again in session.
During the proceedings in the Assembly, the leader of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, took the floor, noting the importance of this initiative.
Balla declared in his speech to the Assembly that today the Albanian Parliament is called to make a decision with a very special political and historical weight, which goes beyond the usual agenda and is directly related to Albania's new role in the international arena.
"Albania is not invited as an observer, but as a co-architect in building a new international mechanism for peace," Balla said, emphasizing that this development places the country from the periphery of global discussions to the center of international decision-making, Balla said, among other things.
On the opposition side, the head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party, Gazment Bardhi, took the floor, saying that, "we are in favor of Albania's membership in the Peace Board and we request authorization from the President of the Republic, in accordance with Article 84 of the Constitution, to give approval for the immediate entry into force of this draft law. This way we resolve the constitutional impasse, respect the Constitution and achieve the goal at least five times faster than you propose," said Bardhi.
The head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Balla, responding to Bardhi, said that the opposition speaks differently and behaves differently.
"I have before me a request signed by the deputy who just spoke, who proposed amendments for this violation that we have brought. Come on, we say differently, we do differently, what can we poor people do with what has happened to us with you," said Balla.
"Regarding the request, it will undoubtedly be met by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Your requests will also be reviewed," Balla continued.
He said that the opposition should leave the "theater". "First, when it comes to international engagement and participation in international organizations, the institution of the President of the Republic is involved, because within the entire relevant file you will also have the full powers or authorization of the President of the Republic, so that you know this, because perhaps it has saved you. Albania, including the Prime Minister himself, has no time to waste, but to immediately take on the duties that stem from participation in this Charter of the Peace Board", concluded Balla's reply.
The Assembly explained a day ago that, given that the participation of the Republic of Albania in the Peace Board is considered a development of particular importance for the country's foreign policy and diplomacy, the request for the approval of this draft law through an accelerated procedure is made in accordance with the provisions of Article 83, point 2, of the Constitution.
The draft law aims to ratify the agreement on the accession of the Republic of Albania, represented by Prime Minister Edi Rama, to the Charter of the Peace Board. The Council of Ministers approved, in principle, the agreement on January 21.
The Agreement aims to establish the Peace Board as an international organization, with international legal personality, for the purpose of promoting stability, restoring credible and legitimate governance, and ensuring sustainable peace in areas affected by or threatened by conflict. The Peace Board will undertake such peace-building functions in accordance with international law and in accordance with this Charter, including the development and dissemination of best practices for implementation by all states and communities seeking peace.
The plenary session was requested this afternoon by the Socialist Party parliamentary group through an official letter, for the accelerated ratification of the agreement for Albania's admission to the Peace Board.
