WASHINGTON — After Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania Lulzim Basha failed to reach an agreement on judicial reforms, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement:

“While Albania has made tremendous progress in recent years, I am deeply concerned that the country’s political leadership has been unable to reach an agreement on a judicial reform package after 18 months of negotiations. The reform package – which aims to make the judicial system more transparent, decentralized, and fair by restructuring judicial institutions and appointments –  is essential to fight corruption, which is the single biggest factor holding back Albania's progress.  

“The United States has stood side by side with Albania to improve governance and rule of law after it emerged from decades of dictatorship and isolation. As a longtime friend of Albania and representative of thousands of Albanian-American constituents, I urge the country’s political leadership to reach a consensus on a judicial reform package before Albania loses its opportunity to enter into EU membership talks this year.”