Photo: H. Pustina

PS and PO candidates try a new form of protest

Statement by the Presidency of the European Union on the elections in Albania

Statement by the Presidency of the European Union on the elections in Albania elections in Albania EU calls on parties to take maximum responsibility for resuming dialogue At the conclusion of consultations, the 15 member states of the European Union, under the chairmanship of Italy, the Union’s current president, issued the following statement. 1. The EU is following with particular attention and care the development of the election campaign in Albania, given the situation that has arisen. Here is the debate concerning the regularity of the vote and the withdrawal of candidates from opposition parties. 2. Pending the final report of the OSCE and in light of the indicators presented by ODIHR, the EU considers it essential that this crucial electoral moment take place in full respect of fundamental norms and principles. 3. The EU calls on the Albanian government to do everything possible to ensure the conditions for the proper conduct of the electoral process, including the rerunning, in accordance with the electoral rules in force in Albania, of elections in the constituencies where major violations have been confirmed. 4. At the same time, the EU calls on all parties to resume dialogue with the utmost responsibility. 5. The EU emphasizes that conducting the electoral process in accordance with international democratic standards is an essential element for the further positive development of relations between the EU and Albania.

Albania was admitted yesterday to the European Forum of the Central European Initiative. This decision was taken at yesterday’s meeting of the foreign ministers of the member countries, including Austria, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, etc. The European Forum of the Central European Initiative appears not to have been influenced by Sunday’s elections in Albania in its efforts to bring our country into this initiative, which is very important for post-communist countries. Thus, the ten member states of this forum, which aims to provide impetus for regional cooperation and integration into Europe, had already intended to admit Albania, along with several other countries in the region. Continued on p. 3

Statement by the PRSH spokesperson At its meeting on May 30, the Steering Committee considered the issue of the elections and concluded that our May 28 statement, in which a political solution was proposed, is the most appropriate position for the good of the country and democracy. Repeating the elections in their entirety, under the same law and with the same structures, would lead to a repeat of May 26. The chairpersons and sec- secretaries of the commissions would again be appointed by the state administration, and the same pressures and arbitrariness would be confirmed. The people must be given the opportunity to freely establish the government they want and to put in place an advanced and stable democratic order. In our circumstances, this can be achieved only through a constitutional law. Despite the criticism of our proposal by certain public figures amid the political emotions of the day, we continue to stand by these proposals, which also remain a condition for the Republican Party’s continued participation in Parliament. For clarification, we state that the declaration does not refer to a “social” pact but to a pact with a solemn commitment to convene the Constituent Assembly and to hold elections again within the next year. We once again call on all parties to move toward a political solution. Open confrontations and the use of violence, however, will lead to uncontrollable anarchy. PRSH spokesperson Neritan Alibali

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