US, OSCE urge voters’ participation

TIRANA, June 24 – U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers and OSCE head Robert Bosch both urged Albanians to go and vote on Sunday, considering the June 28 elections as an important test for Albania’s democracy.
Speaking in front of some election observers that are to do the parallel vote count Withers encouraged the Central Election Commission “to carry out its work in a professional, non-partisan manner.”
“It is citizens who must rise above narrow interest in the election outcome to protect a process that lies at the heart of democracy’s vitality and dynamism,” he said.
“You understand that elections that fall short of meeting international standards for free and fair elections may hinder Albania’s Euro-Atlantic prospects,” said Withers.
Withers asked “all of those voters on June 28 to exercise the most cherished of all civil rights: the right to vote. I say to those voters: Do not be afraid to vote!”
He also added that “as the newest NATO member, they must meet those standards. The fraudulent practices of the past must not happen again.”
Bosch also hailed the work of the CEC and said they would “look forward again to seeing them (police) play the same impartial and professional role on Election Day that they performed so well in the 2007 local government elections.”
All political parties, he said, should be conscious of the fact that they have a key role to play in ensuring that Sunday is an outstanding success and that the Albanian people can finally participate in elections that they deserve, ones that meet international standards.
“So no more problems, no more excuses, no more apologies for past failures. This time these elections have to work,” said Bosch.
“So may the elections of 2009 open a new chapter in the democratic development of this country.”
He also encouraged all citizens “to enjoy Sunday because Election Days – as in most democracies – are seen as ‘festivals of democracy’, meaning: cast your vote!
Let us never forget that elections are for the people and are not the personal domains of the political parties.”