Return-Path: Received: from host.oil.ca ([206.186.236.1]) by mailin07.sul.t-online.de with esmtp id 11yndI-1b3jLUc; Fri, 17 Dec 1999 04:00:40 +0100 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by host.oil.ca (8.8.7/8.6.9) id JAA28823 for amnesty-l.list; Thu, 16 Dec 1999 09:23:41 -0500 X-Authentication-Warning: host.oil.ca: majordom set sender to owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca using -f Received: from amnesty.oil.ca (amnesty@www.amnesty.ca [206.186.236.12]) by host.oil.ca (8.8.7/8.6.9) with ESMTP id JAA28820 for ; Thu, 16 Dec 1999 09:23:39 -0500 From: amnesty@amnesty.oil.ca Received: (from amnesty@localhost) by amnesty.oil.ca (8.8.7/8.8.7) id GAA14453 for amnesty-L@oil.ca; Thu, 16 Dec 1999 06:49:55 -0500 Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 06:49:55 -0500 Message-Id: <199912161149.GAA14453@amnesty.oil.ca> To: amnesty-L@oil.ca Subject: ALBANIA: Death penalty on the way out Sender: owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca Precedence: bulk Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@host.oil.ca * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * News Service 234/99 AI INDEX: EUR 11/03/99 13 December 1999 Albania Death penalty on the way out Amnesty International welcomes the announcement on Friday by the Albanian Constitutional Court that the death penalty is incompatible with the Albanian Constitution. The organization urges the government to act quickly to amend the Criminal Code to reflect the Court’s decision and to ratify Protocol Number 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights which obliges states to abolish the death penalty in law. However, the organization is concerned at reported statements by the Albanian Chief Prosecutor that the death penalty will still apply in time of war or if war is imminent. In a letter to Prime Minister Ilir Meta, Amnesty International urged the government to remove this possibility and totally abolish the death penalty. Albania introduced a moratorium on executions in 1995 upon its entry into the Council of Europe. Courts did however continue to pass death sentences. Twenty men who were under sentence of death have had their sentences suspended. The Constitutional Court’s decision follows an opinion which was adopted by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which deemed the death penalty to be inconsistent with the Albanian Constitution. ENDS.../ Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom **************************************************************** You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed. **************************************************************** To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a message to with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact . handles only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty news services can be found at . Visit for information about Amnesty International and for other AI publications. Contact amnestyis@amnesty.org if you need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.