OSCE Presence and ODIHR welcome breakthrough on electoral law amendments in Albania
Ambassador Pavel Vacek, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania. (Joana Karapataqi/OSCE) Photo details
TIRANA, 30 December 2004 - The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Organization's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today welcomed the commitment by the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party to ensure the passage of amendments to the Electoral Code in January 2005 and to agree on a redrawing of electoral zones by mid-February 2005.
The joint commitment of the two parties is provided for in a Protocol, the negotiation of which was facilitated by the OSCE Presence. The Protocol was signed by Gramoz Ruci for the Socialist Party and Bamir Topi for the Democratic Party, and was witnessed by the Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Pavel Vacek. Hubert Petit, Charge d'affaires of the European Commission Delegation, was present as an observer, given the importance of electoral issues for the relations of Albania with the European Commission.
"The Presence and the ODIHR will closely follow the implementation of the Protocol and, in particular, look forward to the earliest possible adoption of the amendments to the electoral code by the Albanian Assembly in January 2005," said Ambassador Vacek. "This is necessary for an orderly preparation of the 2005 parliamentary elections in Albania".
The OSCE Presence will facilitate further substantive talks on redrawing the zone boundaries and will set up and chair an expert working group on this in early January 2005.
Both the Presence and the ODIHR expect that both Parties will participate in the work on the new zone boundaries constructively, speedily and in good faith so that the result can be submitted to the Assembly with a view to its adoption by mid-February 2005.
The joint commitment of the two parties is provided for in a Protocol, the negotiation of which was facilitated by the OSCE Presence. The Protocol was signed by Gramoz Ruci for the Socialist Party and Bamir Topi for the Democratic Party, and was witnessed by the Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Pavel Vacek. Hubert Petit, Charge d'affaires of the European Commission Delegation, was present as an observer, given the importance of electoral issues for the relations of Albania with the European Commission.
"The Presence and the ODIHR will closely follow the implementation of the Protocol and, in particular, look forward to the earliest possible adoption of the amendments to the electoral code by the Albanian Assembly in January 2005," said Ambassador Vacek. "This is necessary for an orderly preparation of the 2005 parliamentary elections in Albania".
The OSCE Presence will facilitate further substantive talks on redrawing the zone boundaries and will set up and chair an expert working group on this in early January 2005.
Both the Presence and the ODIHR expect that both Parties will participate in the work on the new zone boundaries constructively, speedily and in good faith so that the result can be submitted to the Assembly with a view to its adoption by mid-February 2005.