Albania Hails Calm Day In Macedonian Polls

TIRANA, June 16 – The Albanian Foreign Ministry, on Monday, praised the calm surrounding the second round of general elections held in neighboring Macedonia.
The ministry considered the voting process positive and a serious effort to respect democratic standards for free and fair elections.
The ministry hailed the Albanian political forces and voters for their maturity and democratic potential.
International monitors, on Monday praised, Macedonia’s peaceful election re-run, but urged reforms to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the initial June 1 parliamentary vote.
The violence and other electoral violations brought international condemnation at a time when Macedonia is trying to prove its credentials for EU and NATO membership.
The most recent voting was held in 183 polling stations affected by violence and irregularities on June 1. Macedonia has a total of 2,976 polling stations.
Ethnic Albanians make up one quarter of Macedonia’s 2.1 million people. Ethnic Albanian rebels fought a six-month insurgency in 2001. However, divisions have grown between the Democratic Union for Integration leader Ali Ahmeti and Menduh Thaci’s Democratic Party of Albanians.
Another election will be held June 29 in four polling stations where voting could not begin Sunday or was stopped due to irregularities.