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ODIHR sends observers to monitor local elections in Albania
TIRANA 25 August 2000
TIRANA, 25 August 2000 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) today established an election observation mission in Albania to monitor the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 1 October.
"We believe that these elections are of particular significance as they are the first to take place under the provisions of the new 1998 Constitution and the new Electoral Code adopted on 8 May 2000", said Eugenio Polizzi, the Co-ordinator of the Election Observation Mission. "The observation also gives us an opportunity to assess the outcome of the unprecedented nationwide voter registration effort, through which the Albanian authorities have sought to address the longstanding concern of inaccurate voter lists." The decision to observe the elections followed an invitation by the Prime Minister of Albania.
In the following weeks, seven core team election experts working in the headquarters in Tirana and 16 long-term observers deployed to the regions will assess compliance of the election process with OSCE commitments and national legislation, particularly focusing on the legal framework, the work of the election commissions, the election campaign, and the media coverage of the campaign. Shortly before election day, some 150 international short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country to monitor the voting, the counting of the ballots, the delivery of polling station results, and the vote tabulation at all levels.
On the day after the election, a statement containing preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued. The Observation Mission will remain in the country to observe the second round elections on 15 October as necessary and will issue a comprehensive final report from Warsaw about one month after the completion of the mission.
The Election Observation Mission will co-ordinate the work of the international observers without interfering in the election process. It operates separately and independently from the OSCE Presence to Albania.
For additional information, please contact Eugenio Polizzi at the headquarters in Tirana, or Elsa Fenet, ODIHR Election Officer, in Warsaw (tel. +48 22 520 0600).
OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission
Hotel Tirana International - 6th floor, room 604
Tirana - Albania
Telephone: (+355 42) 23 00 12
Fax number: (+355 42) 23 25 22
"We believe that these elections are of particular significance as they are the first to take place under the provisions of the new 1998 Constitution and the new Electoral Code adopted on 8 May 2000", said Eugenio Polizzi, the Co-ordinator of the Election Observation Mission. "The observation also gives us an opportunity to assess the outcome of the unprecedented nationwide voter registration effort, through which the Albanian authorities have sought to address the longstanding concern of inaccurate voter lists." The decision to observe the elections followed an invitation by the Prime Minister of Albania.
In the following weeks, seven core team election experts working in the headquarters in Tirana and 16 long-term observers deployed to the regions will assess compliance of the election process with OSCE commitments and national legislation, particularly focusing on the legal framework, the work of the election commissions, the election campaign, and the media coverage of the campaign. Shortly before election day, some 150 international short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country to monitor the voting, the counting of the ballots, the delivery of polling station results, and the vote tabulation at all levels.
On the day after the election, a statement containing preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued. The Observation Mission will remain in the country to observe the second round elections on 15 October as necessary and will issue a comprehensive final report from Warsaw about one month after the completion of the mission.
The Election Observation Mission will co-ordinate the work of the international observers without interfering in the election process. It operates separately and independently from the OSCE Presence to Albania.
For additional information, please contact Eugenio Polizzi at the headquarters in Tirana, or Elsa Fenet, ODIHR Election Officer, in Warsaw (tel. +48 22 520 0600).
OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission
Hotel Tirana International - 6th floor, room 604
Tirana - Albania
Telephone: (+355 42) 23 00 12
Fax number: (+355 42) 23 25 22