Following the conclusions of 25 April 2021 parliamentary elections and the recent discussions on a new electoral reform, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco hosted a meeting Wednesday with the Heads of Missions of OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania to exchange information and co-ordinate assistance on electoral matters.

The Presence invited to the meeting the State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, who briefed the participants on the way 25 April elections were administered, preparations for the next elections, and Central Election Commission’s (CEC) needs for assistance. He thanked the OSCE and other international partners for their support, considering it a key factor for the CEC successful performance despite the very tight deadlines. Celibashi added that despite shortcomings in elections, for the first time the political parties did not address any criticism to the work of the CEC.

Both Celibashi and Del Monaco welcomed political parties’ readiness for electoral reform, and emphasized the importance of a quick finalization of the electoral reform to address the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

The participants commended the CEC for preparing and managing elections professionally in a short time, and expressed their readiness to continue supporting the CEC’s efforts to improve the future electoral processes. They also encouraged the State Election Commissioner, political parties and all other election-related stakeholders to use this momentum to start addressing the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

Ambassador Del Monaco welcomed Celibashi’s suggestion, supported by the participants, for the Presence to co-ordinate the international community’s assistance to the CEC.