CEC crisis, Arvizu at the SP
21/05/2013 00:00
Protest in front of the Albanian Parliament against the new budget ends prematurely 19/11 21:20
The unchanged situation at the Central Election Commission has obliged
the main American diplomat in Tirana, Alexander Arvizu, to meet with the
Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, and the Secretary for the Electoral
Issues, Damian Gjiknuri.
For more than 40 minutes Arvizu heard propositions coming from the Socialist Party for resolving the situation. Top Channel asked Ambassador Arvizu if this solution can be achieved, on his opinion.
“A concerning issue for the United States of America, the international community and the Albanians themselves is a Central Election Commission that is fully functional. We are still frustrated by the fact that Central Election Commission is not fully constituted and is not working completely. We are still discussing with our trusted friends and partners, trying to understand if there is any chance for the parties to work together and make possible a full constitution of the Central Election Commission, so that it can be fully functional to serve to the elections. I am here with Mr.Gjiknuri, election expert, who is working hard. We are discussing with other parties too and will always do this. I am always optimistic for a solution, but I am also realistic. We listen very carefully to the declarations of the Prime Minister, of Mr.Rama and Mr.Meta, but they are nowhere close to a solution”, Arvizu declared.
To the question if Mr.Arvizu has met Prime Minister Berisha or other Democratic Party leaders about the Central Election Commission issue, the United States Ambassador declared: “We had similar contacts with the Democratic Party, but we had no specific meetings with the Prime Minister”, Arvizu declared.
CEC, Berisha: Opposition blocking process
The Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, met with the head of the ODIHR mission, Conny McCormak, and other members of the observing mission in the OSCE/ODIHR.
According to the official notification of the Prime Ministry, Berisha expressed his trust that all political parties are engaged for a free and honest electoral process.
As regards the Central Election Commission problem, Berisha declared that the Socialist Party is trying to block the electoral process by misusing its members at Central Election Commission, through a politically orchestrated resignation.
On her behalf, McCormak gave to the Prime Minister her 30-year-old experience in the election administration and with the ODIHR structure.
Top Channel
