OSCE Ministerial Troika issues statement on Albania

VIENNA, 18 June 1997 - The OSCE Ministerial Troika, the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Switzerland and Denmark, met today in Vienna and issued the following statement:

1. On March 27 the OSCE decided to provide assistance, advice and intensive monitoring for the preparation and conduct of the Albanian elections. The Albanian authorities took upon themselves the organization of the elections.
2. At its session in Vienna on 18 June the OSCE Ministerial Troika conducted a thorough assessment of the preparation for the elections in Albania. The basis for this assessment was reports by the Personal Representative Dr. Vranitzky and Dir. Stoudmann (ODIHR).

They referred to the complex and delicate security situation and to the measures taken by the Multinational Protection Force (MPF). They welcomed the co-operative attitude of the MPF and concluded that security conditions required protection for all international observers deployed under the OSCE plan. This conclusion is in line with the findings of a separate security analysis conducted by the Chairman-in-Office. Dr. Vranitzky and Dir. Stoudmann also pointed to the important delays with respect to the organization of the elections and to inadequate conditions for the intensive monitoring the OSCE had been planning for.

At the same time their assessment was that the population as a whole attached high expectations to the election date of 29 June.

In order to ensure a credible electoral and observation process, the OSCE urges the Albanian authorities to:

• immediately provide for the remaining information which is essential for printing the ballot papers;
• set up all Zone Election Commissions and all Polling Station Committees;
• distribute all voting materials in good time; and
• agree to opening hours of the polls which would also facilitate for the OSCE to improve monitoring of the vote count;

1. Against this background the OSCE Troika strongly supports the holding of elections on 29 June. The Organization has done its utmost to assist and advise the Albanian authorities and political forces in conformity with its commitments. OSCE efforts will now be concentrated on monitoring the electoral process. For this purpose the Chairman-in-Office has appointed a special coordinator - Mme Catherine Lalumière, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe. In co-operation with Sir Russell Johnston, designated by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the same functions and Mr. Javier Ruperez, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, she will assess the elections.
2. The Troika confirmed that the time-frame for the OSCE Presence in Albania will be reviewed after the holding of elections. The Troika also confirmed the OSCE's general commitment to assist democratization efforts in Albania. Consensus among the main political forces and positive Albanian co-operation within the OSCE institutions are, however, necessary to implement this commitment. The international community expects a major effort towards the consolidation of national reconciliation after the elections. Without such reconciliation there will be no solid basis for defining the terms for international aid.