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OSCE/ODIHR Director calls for an inclusive discussion on changes to Albanian election process
TIRANA 18 November 2005
TIRANA, 18 November 2005 - Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, today stressed the need for Albania to take full charge of any discussion and decisions aimed at improving the country's electoral system.
Together with Jorgen Grunnet, the Head of the recently concluded OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, he was in Albania for two days following the release of the Final Election Observation Report on the election held in July.
During meetings with President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Assembly Speaker Jozefina Topalli, Central Election Commission Chairman Ilirjan Celibashi, and the Chairman of the Socialist Party, Edi Rama, the OSCE/ODIHR delegation heard comment on the conclusions and recommendations of the report, and discussed ways of further improving the electoral process.
"Albania is faced with a number of fundamental choices, which no one else can make on its behalf," said Ambassador Strohal. "These concern in particular the need to remove the possibility for distortion of the principle of proportionality. We strongly believe in Albanian ownership of such a process, which should be both politically inclusive and efficient."
The ODIHR Director welcomed the readiness of the political actors he met to undertake constructive discussions, as well as the initiative of the President to launch a roundtable discussion on this matter.
"ODIHR and the OSCE Presence in Albania are prepared to assist with technical expertise, once these fundamental choices are made," said Strohal.
He welcomed the intention of the Government to proceed with an ambitious project on improving the civil registration system, adding that such endeavour would require both a long-term commitment and sizeable resources, in order to have a fully functional system ahead of the 2009 parliamentary elections, while continuing efforts to improve the voter lists for the local government elections.
The OSCE Presence in Albania, together with the OSCE/ODIHR, is ready to support this undertaking, first in assessing the needs and drafting a realistic plan.
Together with Jorgen Grunnet, the Head of the recently concluded OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, he was in Albania for two days following the release of the Final Election Observation Report on the election held in July.
During meetings with President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Assembly Speaker Jozefina Topalli, Central Election Commission Chairman Ilirjan Celibashi, and the Chairman of the Socialist Party, Edi Rama, the OSCE/ODIHR delegation heard comment on the conclusions and recommendations of the report, and discussed ways of further improving the electoral process.
"Albania is faced with a number of fundamental choices, which no one else can make on its behalf," said Ambassador Strohal. "These concern in particular the need to remove the possibility for distortion of the principle of proportionality. We strongly believe in Albanian ownership of such a process, which should be both politically inclusive and efficient."
The ODIHR Director welcomed the readiness of the political actors he met to undertake constructive discussions, as well as the initiative of the President to launch a roundtable discussion on this matter.
"ODIHR and the OSCE Presence in Albania are prepared to assist with technical expertise, once these fundamental choices are made," said Strohal.
He welcomed the intention of the Government to proceed with an ambitious project on improving the civil registration system, adding that such endeavour would require both a long-term commitment and sizeable resources, in order to have a fully functional system ahead of the 2009 parliamentary elections, while continuing efforts to improve the voter lists for the local government elections.
The OSCE Presence in Albania, together with the OSCE/ODIHR, is ready to support this undertaking, first in assessing the needs and drafting a realistic plan.