Press release
Agreement on protocol to implement ODIHR recommendations reached in Albania
- Date:
- Place:
- TIRANA
- Source:
- OSCE Presence in Albania, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
- Fields of work:
- Elections
TIRANA, 5 April 2002 - The Chairmen of the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party of Albania have reached agreement today on a protocol addressing some of the issues on which the two parties had some difficulties in reaching an understanding. These issues concern the implementation of recommendations made by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following the Albanian Parliamentary Elections in 2001.
The Protocol was signed by Fatos Nano and Dr. Sali Berisha at 17.30 today at the Tirana headquarters of the OSCE and the Council of Europe (CoE), under the auspices of Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, and of Mr. Jorgen Grunnet, CoE Special Representative in Albania.
"The signing we have witnessed today is a very positive development for Albania. Both major political forces have committed themselves to work for the formation of a bipartisan commission to achieve electoral reform, as recommended by the election monitors last year in the ODIHR final report on the election", said Mr. Grunnet.
The signing of the protocol marks an important step forward for the progression of Albania towards implementation of the ODIHR recommendations and the reform of the electoral system, in which all Albanian political forces represented in Parliament shall be involved.
"There is much ground still to be covered", said Mr. Ahrens. "In particular, I would like to invite the other political parties, who have such an important role to play, to co-operate fully and positively in this process".
The Protocol was signed by Fatos Nano and Dr. Sali Berisha at 17.30 today at the Tirana headquarters of the OSCE and the Council of Europe (CoE), under the auspices of Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, and of Mr. Jorgen Grunnet, CoE Special Representative in Albania.
"The signing we have witnessed today is a very positive development for Albania. Both major political forces have committed themselves to work for the formation of a bipartisan commission to achieve electoral reform, as recommended by the election monitors last year in the ODIHR final report on the election", said Mr. Grunnet.
The signing of the protocol marks an important step forward for the progression of Albania towards implementation of the ODIHR recommendations and the reform of the electoral system, in which all Albanian political forces represented in Parliament shall be involved.
"There is much ground still to be covered", said Mr. Ahrens. "In particular, I would like to invite the other political parties, who have such an important role to play, to co-operate fully and positively in this process".
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