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OSCE/ODIHR urges improvement to voter lists and election law well ahead of next parliamentary elections in Albania
TIRANA/WARSAW 12 March 2004
TIRANA/WARSAW, 12 March 2004 - Albanian political parties should swiftly re-start the electoral reform process to ensure improvement to voter lists and amendment of the Electoral Code in line with ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations well ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
This was the key message delivered by senior representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during a two day visit to Albania to follow-up on the ODIHR Final Report on the 2003 local government elections and discuss further reform of the legislative and administrative framework for elections.
"The recent local government elections were an improvement over previous elections, particularly in terms of complaints and appeals, campaign, media and police conduct", said Gerald Mitchell, Head of the ODIHR Election Section. "However, the performance of middle and lower level election commissions must be improved if the next parliamentary elections are to be held in compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections."
"Significant improvement of the voter lists in time for the parliamentary elections must now be a top priority and receive urgent and full attention from the authorities and political parties." said Nikolai Vulchanov, ODIHR Senior Election Adviser.
During the visit, the ODIHR delegation met with representatives of political parties represented in parliament, the Central Election Commission, advisers to the President and representatives of civil society and the international community.
The ODIHR issued its Final Report on the 2003 local government elections on 26 February and will shortly be publishing a joint assessment of the Electoral Code with the Council of Europe Venice Commission. The ODIHR stands ready to work with the authorities, political parties and civil society to further improve the legal and administrative framework for elections in Albania.
This was the key message delivered by senior representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during a two day visit to Albania to follow-up on the ODIHR Final Report on the 2003 local government elections and discuss further reform of the legislative and administrative framework for elections.
"The recent local government elections were an improvement over previous elections, particularly in terms of complaints and appeals, campaign, media and police conduct", said Gerald Mitchell, Head of the ODIHR Election Section. "However, the performance of middle and lower level election commissions must be improved if the next parliamentary elections are to be held in compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections."
"Significant improvement of the voter lists in time for the parliamentary elections must now be a top priority and receive urgent and full attention from the authorities and political parties." said Nikolai Vulchanov, ODIHR Senior Election Adviser.
During the visit, the ODIHR delegation met with representatives of political parties represented in parliament, the Central Election Commission, advisers to the President and representatives of civil society and the international community.
The ODIHR issued its Final Report on the 2003 local government elections on 26 February and will shortly be publishing a joint assessment of the Electoral Code with the Council of Europe Venice Commission. The ODIHR stands ready to work with the authorities, political parties and civil society to further improve the legal and administrative framework for elections in Albania.