Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It is a pleasure for us to welcome Ambassador Ahrens here today and to thank him both for his work as the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania and for the report that he has presented to us today.

Both Albania itself and the OSCE Presence in Albania deserve to be commended for the steps they have taken to increase the country's internal stability.

It is our view, however, that Albania could make a further contribution to the stability of the region by further strengthening its own internal stability. Steps to do so might include establishing firm control over Albania's borders and effectively combating organized crime, as well as the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and people.

The organized smuggling networks in Albania could be exploited by terrorist organizations, and this must be stopped before it is allowed to develop. We believe that Albania needs to take full advantage of international assistance programs in this area. We also believe that the OSCE Presence should continue to play its role in this process through its program for monitoring the borders to the North and East, in coordination with other international organizations and programs and through its work in monitoring the weapons collection program.

I would also like to take this opportunity to reinforce the absolute importance of cooperation among the political parties in the implementation of the suggestions from ODIHR's report in October 2001.

Elections manipulation at the local level, especially when coupled with multi-day run-off voting, cannot be allowed. Such problems hinder the development of democratic structures in Albania, and we believe that only through electoral reform that includes a bipartisan parliamentary commission will democratic structures in Albania solidify.

In addition to electoral reform, we would also point to the importance of judicial reform. An impartial justice system must be allowed to operate - one that is free from political pressure and corruption. Without an independent judiciary, problems with trafficking and smuggling will continue to go unpunished. These sorts of activities, coupled with the problems of generating power, are detrimental to both the economy and the stability of Albania and of the region as a whole. A truly independent judicial system is the only possible option.

The importance of multi-dimensional reform is undeniable within the OSCE. Ambassador Ahrens' report clearly shows the importance of reform in the political, electoral, judicial, and economic activities of both the Presence and the Government of Albania.

Albania has a long way to go, but it must be said that, thanks in part to the efforts and work of the OSCE Presence there, it has made great achievements to date. The United States looks forward to further discussing the developments in Albania at the 6th Annual International Conference of the Friends of Albania.

In conclusion, let me thank Ambassador Ahrens for his report, and more importantly, for the essential work of his colleagues and himself in the OSCE Presence there.