SALAR VP in Albania

SALAR Vice President Carola Gunnarsson attended the 6^th General Assembly of the Albania Association of Communes (AAC) in Tirana on 18^th January 2012. Mrs. Gunnarsson’s participation came as part of SKL International’s long-standing cooperation with AAC.

Other international guests to participate in the General Assembly and associated meetings included Keith Whitmore (President, Congress of the Council of Europe), Graham Tope (Member, UK House of Lords and Committee of the Regions), Antonella Cagnolati (Director, Congress of the Council of Europe), Frederic Vallier (Secretary General, CEMR) and Ryan Knox (Project Manager, SKL International).

The General Assembly was attended by 270 Mayors with good representation for all regions of Albania. Mayors from both sides of the political spectrum were represented. 199 Mayors participated in the voting process for AAC’s Chairman, of which 47 were from the left wing, 6 independent and the remaining 146 were from the right wing. Out of 199 ballots cast, 4 were invalid, 54 went to the incumbent Sabri Sollaku, while Fatbardh Plaku (Farka Commune) was elected in with a majority of 141 votes. In addition to the Communes, the General Assembly was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Interior, as well as a host of other local partners and guests.

The new Chairman takes reigns of an Association which used the General Assembly to agree on its new strategic direction for the period 2012 – 15. Mr. Plaku will have the immediate task of calling together the 31-member Steering Committee, which will provide a clear direction to the strategic ambitions outlined by members at the General Assembly, specifically related to lobbying on key issues of concern, member service delivery and international representation.

In addition to the General Assembly, the international delegation held meetings with the Prime Minister and Ministry of Interior, where participants shared their reflections on the process of decentralisation. The group also visited the Commune of Kashar, near Tirana.