OSCE Presence donates solar generators to Albanian border and migration police

TIRANA, 18 October 2005 - The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Albanian Government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the donation of eight solar generators to the country's Border and Migration Police.

"These solar panels are expected to meet the minimum emergency power needs of police stations at eight Albanian border crossing points, allowing them to operate without interruption even during power cuts," Ambassador Pavel Vacek, Head of the OSCE Presence, said at the signing ceremony.

The initiative is funded by the governments of the Czech Republic and France. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Albanian Deputy Minister of Interior, Gjergj Lezhja, and Ambassador Vacek at the Hani i Hotit border crossing point in the Shkodra region.

The donation aims at improving the communication flow between the Special Operation Groups and the regional and central police authorities, as well as the working conditions and security practices at Albania's border crossing points. The project in this stage is worth 50,000 euros and is part of the Presence's programme to support Albania's Border and Migration Police.

In addition to Hani i Hotit, the Presence will install solar generators and auxiliary equipment at the border crossing points of Muriqan and Vermosh. By the end of this year, five other border sites will receive equipment.