On 23 of March 2011 The Albanian Council on Foreign Relations organized the National Conference on “Transparency on political financing in Albania”, supported by the Small Grants Program of Commission of Democracy, United States Embassy of the Republic of Albania in the framework of the project ““Elections, money and democracy; How to increase the financial transparency of Albanian political parties“.

Representatives of the National Conference ranged from experts on political financing, legal experts, MPs and members of Albanian political parties, civil society representatives, media and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania, such as Ambassador Sandor Molnari of Hungary, which presides the European Union Presidency for the first half of 2011, Mr. Matthias Zandes, OSCE Presence in Tirana, etc.

On behalf of the Albanian Council on Foreign Relations Mr. Musa Ulqini, expert and politolog made a presentation of the policy paper on “Elections, money and democracy; How to increase the financial transparency of Albanian political parties“ with findings and recommendations on the improvement of the existing legal framework to increase the transparency of political financing in Albania.

The Conference proceeded with active discussions and contributions were made by Prof. Rexhep Meidani, Former President of Albania, Mr. Oerd Bylykbashi, Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic, MPs such as Mr. Kastriot Islami from the Socialist Party, Fatbardh Kadilli from the Democratic Party, Deputy Head of the Republican Party, Mr. Arjan Madhi, Member of the Presidency of Socialist Movement for Integration, Mr. Ylli Manjani as well as Former Prime Minister Mr. Ylli Bufi.