In conjunction with the Administrative Center for the Coordination of Assistance and Public
Participation (ACCAPP), the Ministry of Legislative Reform and Relations with the
Parliament  developed a program of initial, core activities to stimulate public debate and
gather public input on constitutional issues.   Various international donors and local NGOs
combined their efforts to hold a series of structured meetings organized around each of the
three basic government powers, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial1.  The final event is the
Three Powers Symposium.

Initially, NGO Forums were held in Tirana.   These NGO Forums brought together various
NGO representatives to discuss the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government.   These representatives worked in small groups using modern brainstorming
techniques to produce recommendations and identify issues requiring further discussion.

Afterward, donors and local NGOs organized Focused Discussion Groups designed to
review the issues identified in the NGO Forums and to gather more specific
recommendations and suggestions.  A combination of legal experts, NGO representatives,
government officials, and politicians attended the various Focused Discussion Groups.  The
results of the discussions were recorded and reduced to writing.

Building upon these previous meetings, the Three Powers Symposium represents the
culmination of the initial stage of activities.   The Symposium is an opportunity for Albanian
leaders involved in the constitution drafting process to hear the comments and suggestions of
Albanian and foreign experts on those issues identified by the Albanian public during the
series of public activities mentioned above.
 

During the second stage of activities, the Administrative Center for the Coordination of
Assistance and Public Participation (ACCAPP) plans to facilitate and organize a series of
activities outside of the capital city of Tirana. Various international donors, including
ABA/CEELI and the ORT Democracy Network Program, in conjunction with local NGOs,
have agreed to hold a series of Regional Discussions during the summer months.  Taking
advantage of the existing OSCE infrastructure, ACCAPP intends to organize Regional
Discussions in Shkodra, Gjirokastra, and Vlora in conjunction with existing OSCE Field
Offices.  As with the first stage, the goal will be to stimulate public debate and gather public
input on constitutional issues.

Taking the results from NGO Forums and accompanying Focused Discussion Groups, the
Regional Discussions will review the range of issues previously discussed.  Also, to the
extent there are existing draft constitutional provisions, they will be discussed as well.
These activities will focus on the participation of citizens and regional politicians.   The
discussions will be documented, and the information collected will then be presented to the
Constitutional Commission of the Parliament.