Visit to Switzerland

In the framework of the Development and Local Decentralisation Programme (dldp), a delegation of local government representatives had a study visit in Switzerland during the period 4-8 October 2010. Part of this delegation were the Deputy Minister Mr. Ferdinand Poni, Head of the Qark Council of
Shkoder, Mr. Gjovalin Kolombi, Head of the Qark Council of Lezhë, Mr. Bardh Rica, as well as high level representatives of the qarks of Shkodër and Lezhë, technical staff, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the dldp programme.
Representatives of the associations of the local electives like the President of the Association of the Communes of Albania, Mr. Sabri Sollaku and Executive Directors of the Association of Municipalities Mr. Fatos Hodaj and that of the communes Mr. Agron Haxhimali were part of this delegation.
The goal of this visit was to get to know more closely the organisation and the main duties of a municipality in Switzerland, how they guarantee the participation, cooperation and information of the citizens, public services and their management, the governing system in Switzerland and the relations
among the federation, the cantons and the municipalities, the financial decentralization and the public-private partnership etc.
The visits were mainly concreted in the municipalities of the canton of Bern such as Bern, Köniz, Thun, Spiez, canton of Bern and in the federal parliament. The Delegation was received and had meetings in the federal parliament with Mrs. Margret Kiener Nellen, Head of the Economy Commission, in the canton of Bern with Deputy Councilor of the canton, Mrs. Christiane Aeschmann, with the Mayor of Bern (capital town of the canton of Bern and capital town of the Swiss Confederation), Mr. Alexander Tschäppät, as well as other numerous meetings at technical level.
The Delegation of the Ministry of Interior headed by Mr. Poni was received and had meetings with officials of the federal government and SDC in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among whom, with Mr. Kurt Kunz, Deputy Director of SDC, Department of Eastern Europe, Mr. Thomas Minger from the
Conference of Cantonal Governments, D. Chassot and Mrs. Claudia Buess from the Political Division of FDFA etc.
During its stay in Switzerland, the Albanian Delegation during its numerous visits and meetings had the possibility to know more closely and to exchange experiences with Swiss colleagues in terms of local government operation, and at the same time contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries even in this area where the contribution of the Swiss Confederation is visible.