Open Society Foundation for Albania

	8 June 2009 Coalition of local observers initiated: 2500 election reporters ready 26 May 2009 Party expenses monitoring crucial during electoral campaign 7 May 2009 Projects on facing consequences from Gerdec disaster submitted 4 May 2009 “I vote” report on the Albanian legislative activity published 21 March 2009 International Conference on challenges of the constitutional system 22 December 2008 Civil Society Law “On Legal Aid” passed by Parliament 1 November 2008 Report on Albania’s progress monitoring in the European integration process 24 October 2008 Third state budget monitoring report issued 4 September 2008 Encouragement of cooperation between local government and central institutions onwards 10 july 2008 Interim SAA monitoring report issued 4 july 2008 Transformation of “Besa” Foundation underway 27 june 2008 National conference organized on community organization issues and models 26-27 june 2008 Training seminar held with local government bodies on profits from EU funds 17 june 2008 First report on government efforts to re-build Gërdec issued 13 june 2008 Second 2008 state budget monitorin report published 10 june 2008 Regional project on visa facilitation for Western Balkans introduced 6 may 2008 Round table on transparency in education and promotion of teacher code of ethics 22 april 2008 Round table on state budget monitoring 14 april 2008 Cooperation practices between business and civil society promoted 29 march 2008 Free legal aid for the inhabitants of Gërdec 20 march 2008 Aid to individuals displaced due to Gërdec tragedy 13 march 2008 Lobbying on the law on the right to information under way 15 february 2008 Public presentation of the recommending document on the electoral reform 26 january 2008 Lobbing and advocacy on encouragement of social inclusion November 2007 Training courses on participatory governance 5 November 2007 Third report on monitoring the Assembly activity presented 2 November 2007 American University in Bulgaria evening with high school students 1 November 2007 Monitoring of commitments deriving from the SAA 18 October 2007 Survey on European Integration issues 15-19 October 2007 Team training and supplement production on European Integration 15 October 2007 International Conference on public urban spaces in Albania 12 October 2007 National conference on strategic privatizations 5 October 2007 New draft-law against discrimination proposed 15 September 2007 Dialogue required on government-proposed amendment to law on non-profit organizations 14 September 2007 Activities on the draft-law on electoral reform 3 August 2007 Students and public life 20 July 2007 Debating the law regarding publishing and the copyright 11 July 2007 Debating some amendments of the law on the right for information 10 July 2007 Presentation of the project for a sharing budget 29 June 2007 Increasing the management capacity of the municipality and involvement of citizens in the decision-taking process 25 June 2007 Amendment proposal for the law 8503 regarding the right for information 21 June 2007 The employment of students graduated abroad in the public administration 30 May 2007 Dialog civil society - government aiming at the reduction of informality 11 May 2007 Second report on the activity of Albanian Parliament is published 4 April 2007 Memorandum of the farmers for exports complying European standards 29 March 2007 Monitoring of the parliamentary process of drafts law debating 28 March 2007 The civil society is in favor of the creation of a state committee against blood feud 16 March 2007 Monitoring of the migration strategy 26 February 2007 Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding 18-20 February 2007 Parallel counting of votes 13 February 2007 The Civil Society demands the relaxation of conflictuality of the election campaign 3 February 2007 Local elections 2007 online by the MJAFT Movement 30 January 2007 Seminar on “Improving public transportation in the region of Tirana” 23 Janauary 2007 Memorandum of civil society to protect its own constitutional rights 18 January 2007 Call of the civil society for a civilized election campaign 22 December 2007 Winners announced for the “Public-private partnership” contest 19 December 2006 Workshop "Albania's Interim Agreement with the EU and its effects on the Albanian Business" 1 December 2006 Debate of the civil society about the new draft law concerning the State Police 21 November 2006 Presenting the findings of the survey “Albania and the EU – Perceptions and Realities” 18 November 2006 The Conference “Albania and Greece – Mutual perceptions” 6-10 November 2006 Seminar on the challenges of European Integration 3 November 2006 Debate about book policies in the countries of Western Balkans 3 November 2006 AUBG closes recruitment ceremony with fourth-grade students of high schools in Tirana 1 November 2006 Organization that builds school wins case against Albanian government 14 October 2006 Standards in pre-university education 10 October 2006 Presentation of the monitoring report ivote.com - January-July 2006 16 September 2006 Historical turns and the return of memory

7 May 2009

Stemming from Gerdec disaster, where due to the munition demounting a powerful explosion took place causing the death of 26 people, „Soros“ Foundation got immediately committed in the realization of four important projects, namely:

- Establishment of an information center in the workers holiday inn of the Ministry of Interior, were a wide band TV was established, the daily press was subscribed and daily vocational courses on dress-making, hygiene issues and computer, including 100 women and girls, were introduced. The play ground was also updated by adding didactic instruments for children. The Association on Psycho-Social Services of Durres was committed for realizing this project.

- Monitoring of government actions on revitalization after the Gerdec disaster was another project supported by “Soros” foundation and realized by “Mjaft”. Organizers of this project prepared a report of 400 pages focusing on perception of the damaged parties for the government-taken measures and the external assessment for the damages caused to houses. The report says that after the physical re-assessments of 100 houses, the division of remedies was made based on no criteria at all, and was subjective and totally not grounded. The independent assessment of 60 facilities shows that owners of 25 of the facilities have received Albanian Lek 19 million or 22% more than the moral damage, whereas the owners of 27 other facilities were negated 26 million lek or 30%. Also, 65% of the examined cases had not yet gained the sum set by the state commissions.

- “Soros” Foundation did also support the Free Legal Service in Tirana (TLAS) and the Women Advocacy Center that offered the free legal services for the victim families and the other damaged parties. This project was materialized in the legal service for the family members of 26 victims; court representation for inheritance issues, seeking of remuneration for the damage of life; mobile legal service in the villages affected from the tragedy and advisory service in the TLAS offices for around 40 groups of other cases damaged from the tragedy.

- The fourth project, although a 200-250 page report, was transformed into an investigative book “Gerdec disaster – causes, causers, victims”, written by the distinguished publicist Ardian Klosi. The publication contains all the events, configurations, the mixed and separated elements that led to the disaster of March 2008 in Gerdec of Vora. The book realized an independent investigation of what happened in the main plans. The publication is rich in facts, testimonies of persons included in events, facsimiles of documents, photos, etc. After the impartial listing of facts and main developments, the book contains an impartial analysis of the working causes that led to a disaster of such dimensions.

The book and the results of the projects related to Gerdec disaster were subject of a press conference held in the venues of “Soros” Foundation NGO house. Representative from the free legal service, Tirana, “Mjaft” movement familiarized the participants with the impact of these initiatives that went directly in protecting the citizens affected by the tragedy and served as support to the specialized bodies to get the investigation process to the end and to put the responsible officials before justice.