Albanian Parliamentary Elections
Tuesday, June 18, 1996, 4:00 am
Witnesses
Susan Atwood
National Democratic Institute
Jim Swigert
Office of South Central European Affairs in the European Bureau
U.S. State Department
Lublin Dilja
Ambassador of Albania to the United States
Robert Hand, policy advisor at the Commission, addressed what he called the "most controversial elections held in recent times in [Eastern Europe]" and described his experiences observing Albania's elections. Hand commented on the limited progress of the Albanian government since 1990 and specifically the corruption of the 1996 elections.
The witnesses - Susan Atwood from the National Democratic Institute, Jim Swigert from Office of South the State Department, and Ambassador Dilja - spoke of their personal surprise at the elections and about the general confusion that surrounded them. Jim Swigert described his role in motivating members of the OSCE to observe the elections and take interest in Albania's democratization.
Relevant Countries