OSCE democratization body begins election observation mission to Albania

TIRANA/WARSAW, 13 December 2006 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened its election observation mission for the 20 January 2007 local elections in Albania.

The mission comprises 10 international experts based in Tirana and 20 long-term observers who will be deployed throughout the country. Mission members are drawn from 15 OSCE participating States.

The ODIHR will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments, other international standards for democratic elections, and national legislation. The mission will focus on the legislative framework and its implementation, the work of the election administration and government bodies, fairness of the election campaign, the media situation, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Participating States have been asked to provide some 400 short-term observers to monitor polling across Albania on 20 January. They will observe in teams of two, monitoring the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The ODIHR has observed several elections in Albania, including parliamentary elections in 2001 and 2005 and local elections in 2003.

The election observation mission operates separately from the OSCE Presence in Albania, headed by Ambassador Pavel Vacek, which will continue to carry out its regular activities under its existing mandate.