OSCE welcomes achievements of parliamentary election reform committee in Albania
Ambassador Osmo Lipponen commended the work of the Bipartisan Committee of the Albanian Assembly. (Ayhan Evrensel/OSCE) Photo details
TIRANA, 14 April 2003 - Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, has welcomed the latest steps to implement recommendations on the electoral process in the country issued by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
"We welcome the amendments agreed by the Bipartisan Committee of the Albanian Assembly, in particular relating to media coverage, the role of the police and state authorities during elections, voter lists and complaints and appeals", Ambassador Lipponen said. "By demonstrating the political will to address these issues, the committee has made significant technical improvements to the framework for elections in Albania."
"With the work of the Committee now over, we are looking forward to the smooth passage through the Assembly of these amendments", Ambassador Lipponen added.
The Head of the OSCE Presence also commended the members of the Bipartisan Committee for their important contribution to this process of electoral reform. "In particular, the professionalism displayed by the co-chairs of the committee, their tireless work and their dedication to building a consensual process on an issue fundamental to strengthening Albanian's democratic development deserve special recognition", he said.
At their last meeting on 7 April, the Bipartisan Committee agreed on amendments regarding the complaints and appeals process in the electoral framework. This step ensured that the ODIHR recommendations on the forthcoming local government elections in Albania, scheduled for October 2003, were addressed.
After the Committee's mandate expired, the OSCE Presence had continued to facilitate talks between representatives of the Socialist and Democratic parties on amendments to the electoral code governing the composition of the Central Election Commission, even though this was not one of the ODIHR's recommendations.
Although consensus was reached on many key issues related to the Election Commission, these discussions unfortunately did not produce a mutually acceptable formula for the election of the seventh member of this Commission. Ambassador Lipponen said that the OSCE Presence expected discussions between the parties on the Central Election Commission to continue until consensus could be found.
"We welcome the amendments agreed by the Bipartisan Committee of the Albanian Assembly, in particular relating to media coverage, the role of the police and state authorities during elections, voter lists and complaints and appeals", Ambassador Lipponen said. "By demonstrating the political will to address these issues, the committee has made significant technical improvements to the framework for elections in Albania."
"With the work of the Committee now over, we are looking forward to the smooth passage through the Assembly of these amendments", Ambassador Lipponen added.
The Head of the OSCE Presence also commended the members of the Bipartisan Committee for their important contribution to this process of electoral reform. "In particular, the professionalism displayed by the co-chairs of the committee, their tireless work and their dedication to building a consensual process on an issue fundamental to strengthening Albanian's democratic development deserve special recognition", he said.
At their last meeting on 7 April, the Bipartisan Committee agreed on amendments regarding the complaints and appeals process in the electoral framework. This step ensured that the ODIHR recommendations on the forthcoming local government elections in Albania, scheduled for October 2003, were addressed.
After the Committee's mandate expired, the OSCE Presence had continued to facilitate talks between representatives of the Socialist and Democratic parties on amendments to the electoral code governing the composition of the Central Election Commission, even though this was not one of the ODIHR's recommendations.
Although consensus was reached on many key issues related to the Election Commission, these discussions unfortunately did not produce a mutually acceptable formula for the election of the seventh member of this Commission. Ambassador Lipponen said that the OSCE Presence expected discussions between the parties on the Central Election Commission to continue until consensus could be found.