Berisha OKs Gay Marriage

[7/29/2009]

 

The Prime Minister Sali Berisha said on Wednesday’s meeting of Inter Ministerial Council on Integration that once the Assembly will convene it will discuss and approve the draft law on allowing gay marriage in Albania. Berisha said that the draft law has been compiled and proposed by the civil society. Expressing his support for the new law, the Prime Minister emphasized that the law would bring to an end the discrimination of this minority group. “The law is sponsored by the civil society and despite the debates the law could attract, it is important to emphasize that discrimination is unacceptable. This right is completely legitimate in the European countries”, said Berisha. The law protection for sexual minorities is one of the conditions that Albania should accomplish before joining the big European family.

 

In related news, in February this year, Boris Ditrich one of the main European defence lawyers said that Albania should take measurement against the discrimination of the social category which is seen as essential for the European integration. The law ignited heated debates six years ago while the central agencies and interest groups were involved in discussing the new Family Code. The law has been initiated by the Albanian Group for Human Rights, chaired by Elsa Ballauri. In reference to the Prime Minister decision on Wednesday, Ballauri explained that the draft law regulates the rights of the discriminated communities, and not only of the homosexuals, but they naturally are part these groups. Ballauri said that the law is important and emphasized the fact that most European countries have approved such a law. The draft law is expected to cause a huge debate among the religious communities in Albania, who do not accept same sex marriage as a natural social behaviour. (Gazeta Shqiptare, p. 2-3; Panorama, p. 5)

:: terug