OSCE/ODIHR welcomes Albanian election commission's initiative on independent candidates

WARSAW, 21 June 2001 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) welcomes the initiative by the Albanian Central Election Commission on the issue of independent candidates.

"We believe that this is the right step in the present situation but it must be completed before the election day," said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann. "It confirms the improvement of the Central Election Commission's professionalism and shows that this body is really independent and free from pressure from the political parties. This level of professional conduct will be critical in the days ahead," he said.

The ODIHR Director noted that the political parties' attempt to abuse the legal provisions for independent candidates violates the spirit of the election law. "When so-called independent candidates are known to have clear party affiliations, they simply cannot be independent. We therefore welcome the Central Election Commission's decision to put a stop to this practice," he added.

For further information, please contact:

Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, Spokesperson, OSCE/ODIHR, + 48-603 683 122.