For observation and monitoring of the parliamentary elections 2013/

Human Rights’ activist, Mrs. Kozeta Zavalani, together with the other observers, of IGFM Albania, is engaged in successfully fulfilling the mission of organizing, leading and managing the process of observation and monitoring of the parliamentary elections in June 2013. In the press conference held in one of the halls of Hotel Tirana International, on Saturday, April 6, 2013, she gave this press release:

PRESS RELEASE

International Society for Human Rights, Section Albania, is part of an International Human Rights Organization based in Frankfurt, Germany.

IGFM Albania is an NGO with membership from all strata of Albanian society, irrespective of their political views.

IGFM Albania was involved in the observation and monitoring of the parliamentary elections in 2009 with 217 observers, and in local elections of 2011 with more than 472 long-term observers.

We consider the elections of June 23, 2013 as crucial to democracy and Albania’s EU integration and the national government based on democratic standards and the establishment of law.

In the cadre of parliamentary elections in 2013, we are engaged with a particular interest in the work of the Central Election Commission and the two main Albanian political forces, DP and SP, to conduct free and fair elections.

We highly appreciate the great support which U.S.A., EU, OSCE, and NATO partners have given to Albania in the last two decades of transition, particularly for ensuring free and fair elections, the right counting of votes and acceptance of the elections’ result, as an essential condition for democracy and the state of law.

Our organization urges all the Albanian political parties not to see their close personal and party interests, but those which serve the welfare of the people, consolidation of democracy in Albania, and the Euro-Atlantic integration of our coutry.

The meeting of U.S. Ambassador Arvizu with the CEC members – has a tremendous impact in the spirit of understanding and awareness for relinquishing the narrow political interests and standing at the right level of their mission and the national interest’s.

IGFM Albania expresses its respect for this institution, which is working with dedication for an electoral process of the international standards.

We share our opinion, unlike some international and local organizations, and express our optimism and our firm confidence that this election process will be fair, principled and democratic.

As a part of civil society, we wish to maximally contribute to the process of monitoring and observation of the parliamentary elections in Albania, in order to fulfill the object of our mission. We aim to engage with our observers, who will monitor the electoral process in all polling stations, in the whole country.

We extend our special thanks to the U.S. of America for their great interest and concern regarding the free and fair election process in Albania and for the special fund they have awarded in disposal of the elections.

At the same time we urge the U.S.A, EU, OSCE and the civil society, to maximally contribute for the monitoring and observation of the elections, in order that they can be, fair, democratic and uncontested.

Kozeta ZAVALANI, Ramazan DERVISHI