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USIA - Vranitsky Hopeful Elections Can Improve Albanian Situation, 97-06-18
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Home Page at <http://www.usia.gov>
VRANITSKY HOPEFUL ELECTIONS CAN IMPROVE ALBANIAN SITUATION
(OSCE representative concedes task extremely complicated) (470)
By Rick Marshall
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- Franz Vranitsky, the former chancellor of Austria who is
heading the Albanian election process for the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, described for reporters here June 17 the "extremely
complicated task" the OSCE is facing in helping Albania prepare for
parliamentary elections June 29.
Vranitsky noted that "parts of the country are characterized by armed
gangs," and organizing voter lists and establishing contact with local
authorities in parts of the country "has been a tough process." For
example, he said, the OSCE is ready to print ballots for the elections, but
the Albanians have yet to give them any voting lists.
Despite conditions which have made it impossible to collect arms and
dismantle the various committees which control much of the country --
particularly in the south and northeast -- Vranitsky said that "the
Albanians have little option" but to go forward with the elections and hope
that some good will come from them.
There are factors which suggest that a positive outcome is possible. For
example, Vranitsky cited an agreement, crafted early last month, in which
all the political parties in the current governing coalition agreed to do
what they could to ensure free elections are held and access to the
national media is permitted.
Also there will be approximately 700 international observers present for
the elections, of which approximately 100 will be from the United States,
the Austrian diplomat said. The monitors will be protected by the
multi-national force, which is under Italian leadership. The force
currently numbers about 6,500, but is being beefed up for the elections, he
added.
Although the multi-national force's mandate from United Nations Security
Council expires the day before the elections, Vranitsky said he expected it
would be renewed on time.
If Albania gets through the elections with a new government and can begin
to move forward again, reconstruction efforts, such as the ones being
developed by institutions like the World Bank, can start, Vranitksy
said. But he was quick to add that building Albania up was sure to be a
long and difficult task. The country's infrastructure is "in a shambles,"
and its schools, hospitals and institutions are in dire need of
modernization. Yet Albania has potential, and there is no reason why it
cannot join the community of nations one day, he said.
Vranitsky noted that he had discussed these matters with Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright, Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering and other
U.S. officials, and that he planned to contact the United States
immediately after the elections to begin planning the reconstruction
effort. Washington has agreed to participate in the process, but has not
set any dollar figures on its involvement, he added.
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