Elections chapter closed
13/09/2011 00:00
Linda Rama: Between Family, Work and Albania’s Future 18/08 14:30
Jonathan Stonestreet, the head of the OSCE-ODIHR mission has returned to
Tirana for presenting to both parties the problems and recommendations
that were presented in the May 8th report. Same as in the final report,
Mr. Stonestreet had it difficult to give a final conclusion if the local
elections have fulfilled the standards required by EU or not.
The leading observer of OSCE-ODIHR, accompanied by election experts, Mrs. Nicolas Schmid and Richard Lapin, met with the Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edmond Haxhinasto.
“It is a pleasure to be in Albania again for presenting the final report that contains a full description regarding May 8th elections. The report includes the positive aspects and what should be improved. It is important to focus on those aspects that can bring improvements. It is important for the local elections recommendations to be seen together with the recommendations of the general elections of 2009. The essential element is the realization of elections through which the voters express their will, not for making the political battle of the parties. It is necessary to undertake the right steps within the legal frame of the elections, and for this is needed a political good will. We hope that the electoral reform will start soon. It doesn’t have to start with urgency, but it should be complete before the next elections”, he declared.
Asked by Top-Channel for a final answer if the May 8th elections had fulfilled the international standards and why the word “standard” was not even mentioned in the report, Jonathan answered by avoiding the word “standard” and using “engagement”.
“With our reports we refer to the OSCE engagements. In fact, in some parts of the report we have stated that the engagements were not fulfilled. You are right when you say that there is no final conclusion that would make the front page of a newspaper, but the conclusions are in the entire report and I think that those should be carefully read, especially the aspects where there is room for improvement and for taking concrete steps”, Stonestreet declared.
The Foreign Minister Haxhinasto expressed the need of an all-inclusive engagement, not only from the politics in the reform aimed for the electoral code.
“The recommendations that are set in the report would serve as an important plan, as a reference point for the electoral reform. We have spoken for the need of starting the electoral reform, the process and the methodology that should be used as an open and all inclusive process”, Haxhinasto declared.
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