Head of OSCE Presence in Albania meets coalition of domestic election observers

TIRANA, 27 November 2012 - The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, met today with representatives of the Domestic Observers Coalition to discuss planned activities in the run-up to the 2013 parliamentary elections.

Wollfarth commended the Coalition’s involvement in observing the preparation and conduct of elections. “I view civil society’s active participation in the electoral process as essential for increasing transparency and accountability, and therefore in building trust in the electoral system,” he said. “Domestic election observation complements international efforts in this area. Both support the same goal – that of ensuring elections are genuinely democratic and meaningful.”

He added that the OSCE Presence in Albania will continue to support civil society.

The Domestic Observers Coalition is an alliance of non-governmental and non-political organizations whose goal is the development of democracy in Albania. The coalition has been monitoring and reporting on electoral processes since 2003.