ODIHR mission checks Albania’s poll preparations

TIRANA, Jan. 17 – It seems that the Albanian authoriites have made a formal invitation to ODIHR to observe local government elections scheduled for 8 May 2011.
ODIHR, that has usually monitored elections in post-communist Albania, sent a needs assessment mission that will stay in Albania from 17 to 21 January.
The purpose of the mission was to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the elections and to recommend whether an ODIHR election-related activity is necessary and if so, what type of activity, for example an observation or assessment mission, best meets the identified needs. ODIHR will release a report with its findings and recommendation shortly after the completion of the mission. But it was not known whether they would hold a news conference at the end of their visit Friday
Members of the needs assessment mission were expected to meet with representatives of the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Interior, the National Council for Radio and Television, as well as representatives of political parties, the mass media, civil society and the international community.