OSCE helps Albania prepare correct voter lists

TIRANA, Sept. 9 – Following the mediation process it started in August the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) agreed Friday to help Albania prepare electoral lists that have been considered a major shortcoming in the tiny Balkan country’s recent polls. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Albanian Interior Ministry to provide expertise to help modernize the country’s civil registration and address systems. Welcoming the invitation from the Albanian authorities to address recent ODIHR recommendations, Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of ODIHR, said that “The only viable solution to Albania’s problematic voter lists is the development of a modern civil registry system based on high quality data. This cannot be done overnight. That is why ODIHR has recommended that the system is in place by the next parliamentary elections in Albania, scheduled for 2009. Work, however, needs to start now.” The OSCE Presence in Albania and the ODIHR stand ready to assist Albania in implementing all OSCE election recommendations, said a statement. Updating the voter lists has been a major source of friction among Albanian political parties. ODIHR, which monitored the 2005 general election, has said the poll marked an improvement but still fell short of international standards with incorrect voter lists being a key shortcoming with many voters listed in different places.