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Albania's Elections and the Challenge of Democratic Transition

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Albania's Elections and the Challenge of Democratic Transition 111th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 1st Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ALBANIA’S ELECTIONS AND THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION JUNE 4, 2009 Briefing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington: 2012 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 08:33 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 3191 Sfmt 3191 U:\WORK\060409.TXT KATIE big-LOGO.EPS Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202–225–1901 [email protected] http://www.csce.gov Legislative Branch Commissioners HOUSE SENATE ALCEE L. HASTINGS, FLORIDA, BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, MARYLAND, Co-Chairman Chairman EDWARD J. MARKEY, MASSACHUSETTS CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, CONNECTICUT LOUISE MCINTOSH SLAUGHTER, SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, RHODE ISLAND NEW YORK TOM UDALL, NEW MEXICO MIKE MCINTYRE, NORTH CAROLINA JEANNE SHAHEEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE G.K. BUTTERFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA SAM BROWNBACK, KANSAS CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, NEW JERSEY SAXBY CHAMBLISS, GEORGIA ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, ALABAMA RICHARD BURR, NORTH CAROLINA JOSEPH R. PITTS, PENNSYLVANIA ROBERT F. WICKER, MISSISSIPPI DARRELL E. ISSA, CALIFORNIA Executive Branch Commissioners VACANT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE ALEXANDER VERSHBOW, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE VACANT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (II) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 08:33 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(2) 3193 U:\WORK\060409.TXT KATIE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Helsinki process, formally titled the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, traces its origin to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in Finland on August 1, 1975, by the leaders of 33 European countries, the United States and Canada. As of January 1, 1995, the Helsinki process was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The membership of the OSCE has expanded to 56 partici- pating States, reflecting the breakup of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The OSCE Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria, where weekly meetings of the partici- pating States’ permanent representatives are held. In addition, specialized seminars and meetings are convened in various locations. Periodic consultations are held among Senior Officials, Ministers and Heads of State or Government. Although the OSCE continues to engage in standard setting in the fields of military security, economic and environmental cooperation, and human rights and humanitarian concerns, the Organization is primarily focused on initiatives designed to prevent, manage and resolve conflict within and among the participating States. The Organization deploys numerous missions and field activities located in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The website of the OSCE is: <www.osce.org>. ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance by the participating States with their OSCE commitments, with a particular emphasis on human rights. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine mem- bers from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair rotate between the Senate and House every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work. In fulfilling its mandate, the Commission gathers and disseminates relevant informa- tion to the U.S. Congress and the public by convening hearings, issuing reports that reflect the views of Members of the Commission and/or its staff, and providing details about the activities of the Helsinki process and developments in OSCE participating States. The Commission also contributes to the formulation and execution of U.S. policy regarding the OSCE, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delega- tions to OSCE meetings. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organiza- tions, and private individuals from participating States. The website of the Commission is: <www.csce.gov>. (III) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 08:33 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(3) 3194 U:\WORK\060409.TXT KATIE ALBANIA’S ELECTIONS AND THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION JUNE 4, 2009 COMMISSIONERS Page Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Co-Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe . 1 Hon. Robert B. Aderholt, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Eu- rope ............................................................................................................................................... 2 MEMBERS Hon. Eliot L. Engel (D–17) a Member of Congress from the State of New York and Co- Chair, Albania Issues Caucus ....................................................................................................2 PARTICIPANTS H.E. Aleksander Sallabanda, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United States ... 7 Elez Biberaj, Director, Eurasia Division, Voice of America ........................................................ 8 Robert Benjamin, Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, National Democratic Institute ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Jonas Rolett, Regional Director for South Central Europe, Open Society Institute ................. 17 Robert Hand, Policy Advisor, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ................ 19 APPENDICES Prepared statement of Hon. Alcee L. Hastings ............................................................................ 24 Prepared statement of Elez Biberaj ..............................................................................................25 Prepared statement of Jonas Rolett ..............................................................................................31 Written material submitted for the record by the Embassy of the Republic of Albania .......... 35 (IV) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 08:33 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 3193 Sfmt(4) 3193 U:\WORK\060409.TXT KATIE ALBANIA’S ELECTIONS AND THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION JUNE 4, 2009 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Washington, DC The briefing was held at 10:30 a.m. in room 2220, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Co-Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, moderating. Commissioners present: Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Co-Chairman, Commission on Secu- rity and Cooperation in Europe; and Hon. Robert B. Aderholt, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Member present: Hon. Eliot L. Engel (D–17) a Member of Congress from the State of New York and Co-Chair, Albania Issues Caucus. Panelists present: H.E. Aleksander Sallabanda, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United States; Elez Biberaj, Director, Eurasia Division, Voice of America; Robert Benjamin, Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, National Democratic Institute; Jonas Rolett, Regional Director for South Central Europe, Open Society Institute; and Robert Hand, Policy Advisor, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Mr. HASTINGS. If I could ask you to take your seats, it would be appreciated. As we all know, parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in Albania on June 28th, just a little over 3 weeks from today. There is concern that these elections will not meet OSCE standards. We will hear our panelists talk about these concerns and the prospects of these elections. The Helsinki Commission has been in contact with the Albanian Embassy, which has been informing us of efforts to address outstanding electoral issues. First among these problems seems to be the question of voter identification and the large number of voters who do not have a passport and have not yet received the new identification cards enabling them to vote. I won’t go into further details regarding this election; I will leave that to our panelists. I do, however, want to express regret over the fact that such election issues continue to exist and to mar Albania’s democratic credentials. Even if a last-minute rush to correct things ultimately proves successful, it will only repeat a disturbing pattern from previous elections of not taking action quickly enough to make a real difference for the next regu- larly scheduled election 4 years later. (1) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 08:33 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 3194 Sfmt 3194 U:\WORK\060409.TXT KATIE The Helsinki Commission has traditionally used upcoming elections as an oppor- tunity to take a closer look at developments in that country as a whole. The Commission has therefore asked our panelists to look not only at the elections, but also at broader trends and developments in the country, such as the development of civil society and efforts to combat corruption. I am going to abbreviate my remarks now and go to our pan- elists after asking our colleague, Mr. Aderholt, if he has any comments. Mr. ADERHOLT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is an honor to be here today for this briefing. Albania is one of those countries that has progressed so much over the last sev- eral decades and it really has changed a lot. And unfortunately—unfortunately or fortu- nately, depending how you look at it—I was not able to visit Tirana
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