Oscar-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas has concluded a two-day visit  to Albania hosted by the Minister of Local Government, Mr. Arben Demeti, to call international attention to the innovative United Nations-sponsored project "Weapons in Exchange for Development." Through the Pilot Project in the central Albanian town of Gramsh, over 5,700 small arms and 100 tons of ammunition have been voluntarily surrendered by citizens in exchange for development initiatives including road rehabilitation, a town street lighting system and a radio-telephone system for all communes in the remote area.

Yesterday the star of such blockbuster films as The China Syndrome (1979), Basic Instinct (1992) and Wall Street (1987) for which he won an Academy Award, visited the central Albanian town of Gramsh, site of the successful Gramsh Pilot Project of weapons collection. There he witnessed the public destruction of weapons; inaugurated a quid pro quo development project - the rehabilitation of a road connecting the main town of Gramsh to an outlying village; and praised the people of Gramsh, "I offer my congratulations to you, the people of the district. It is a sign of courage. It is a sign of foresight. It is a sign of wisdom. The Gramsh Pilot Project can serve as a model of how the United Nations, Governments, NGOs and local citizens can work together to ensure a safer community and to make room for progress."

From Gramsh Mr. Douglas flew by helicopter to the city of Elbasan. The UN and national authorities intend to expand the project to the district of Elbasan. Mr. Douglas met with local authorities and civic groups in order to raise local and international awareness on the necessity to continue the project. He encouraged the people of Elbasan to follow the example of their neighbors, "It is in the interest of all Albanians to return to stability in order to raise the local, district and national standards of living. This is why I believe that the people of Albania and their government share the benefits of the program of Weapons in Exchange for Development." Mr. Douglas invited the international community to support and contribute financially to the extension of the project.

From Elbasan, the UN Messenger of Peace flew on to the capital Tirana where he attended two events hosted by the Minister of Culture, Mr. Edi Rama. First was the showing of a short Albanian film dealing with the weapons problem in Albania, "Funeral Business" (presented at this year’s Venice Film Festival), at the recently built Millennium Cinema. At the second event he addressed a gathering of 500 youth leaders and Embassy officials at the International Cultural Center. He stressed, "[I am here to] draw the attention of the international community to the deep commitment of the Albanian people to improving internal security and their deep need for economic and social development. I told the people of Gramsh and Elbasan that I would use my voice as Messenger of Peace to get that message across. The opportunity that the international community has is to assist in the creation of a stable, peaceful and prosperous society in the Balkans which will welcome back businesses and financial investment to promote economic and social development of the entire region."

This morning Mr. Douglas met with the President of the Republic, HE Rexhep Meidani and the Prime Minister, HE Pandeli Majko.

Mr. Douglas’s visit follows the presence in Albania on September 16-18 of the Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, to review the progress of the Gramsh Pilot Project of Weapons in Exchange for Development. The project formally began in October of 1998 with funding from the UNDP and added support from bilateral donors including Italy, Norway, UK, Belgium, Japan, Andorra and others. USG Dhanapala headed the initial UN Department for Disarmament Affairs assessment mission to Albania in June 1998 in response to a request by the Albanian government to the UN Secretary General for assistance in collecting weapons.

Gramsh was chosen as the starting point for the project due to the high concentration there of weapons in the hands of civilians. The project began with a strong public awareness campaign, and was followed by weapons collections, which were carried out several times a month from January 1999 through September 1999 in all communes. Development initiatives are currently underway, and completion of all planned works is scheduled for mid-2000.

For further information about the UNDDA / UNDP Weapons in Exchange for Development Programme, please contact:

Ms. Soknan Han Jung soknan.han.jung@undp.org

(212) 963-7714

UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, New York

Mr. Michael Cassandra

(212) 963-7714

Ms. Nora Kushti - Public Awareness and Information Officer

Tel: +355-42-51014

E-mail: nkushti@icc.al.eu.org

UNDP Albania

Tel: +355-42-33122 / 33148 / 33149