If Albanian deputies do not want to loose the American funds for the Administrative Court, they should adopt the respective law within this month.

In a press declaration, the US Embassy in Tirana asked the legislative power to adopt the draft that has been sent to the Albanian parliament since the beginning of 2009. On the contrary, the declaration says that “the US help for the Administrative Court’s project will not continue”.

This law is one of the six elements of the Millennium Challenge Program, which was signed in September 2008. According to the US Embassy, this law plays a vital role in helping Albania reach transparency in the judiciary system, in imposing Rule of Law and in increasing the public’s trust in the institutions.

The law foresees the creation of seven courts, which will deal with citizens’ and businesses’ disagreements over employment, taxes, pensions, property registration and compensation. Besides the fact that it has been voted three times in parliament, it has not been adopted, because it can not be approved with a simple majority.

For nearly 2 years, business representatives have continuously asked the Albanian politicians to leave their conflicts aside and to adopt the draft law, but they have not had any results.

The US Embassy’s declaration makes it clear that if they want the projects planed to be realized through the US funds to be finished, they should adopt the law within September 30, 2010. In this way, the rejection of this draft law will close all the Administrative Courts administered by USAID.