POGRADEC, DECEMBER 3, 2012    The new Pogradec District Court building was inuaguerated today by Chargė d'Affaires in Albania Henry Jardine during a ceremony attended by the Minister of Justice Eduard Halimi and the Vice Chair of the High Council of Justice, Elvis Cefa.  The extensive reconstructions, which were paid for by the Albanian government with the support of USAID, addressed longstanding infrastructure problems.  The ceremony highlighted the role the renovations will play in increasing transparency, efficiency, and accountability of the court.

As part of the USAID’s Justice Sector Strengthening Project (JuST) to increase transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the Albanian courts, USAID assisted in the design and furnishing of the public service and information area. USAID has also installed digital audio recording equipment in every courtroom and has trained the court secretaries, the judges, the IT officer and chancellor to ensure verbatim recording of court proceedings. The installation in Pogradec completes digital audio recording availability in the appellate district of Korça.  In the Pogradeci District Court, USAID has also installed a Courtroom Calendar Management application that supports the maximization of courtroom usage and greater efficiency in courtroom management.

The JuST Project, which began in October 2010, is a five-year $9 million USAID project to increase court transparency, fairness and efficiency in Albania.  In addition, the project bolsters the watchdog and anticorruption roles of civil society organizations and media and strengthens the legal profession and legal education in Albania.