OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission to monitor parliamentary elections in Albania

TIRANA, 8 May 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission in Tirana today to monitor the 28 June parliamentary elections in Albania.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry has invited the ODIHR to monitor the elections.

The mission, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom, consists of 14 international experts based in Tirana and 26 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. In addition, ODIHR will request the secondment of 400 short-term observers for election day.

The observer mission will assess the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, voter registration and identification, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, as well as the resolution of election disputes.

The ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Presence in Albania operate separately under their specific mandates.