Title

Albanian Parliamentary Elections

Tuesday, June 18, 1996
10:00am
2255 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
United States
Official Transcript: 
PDF icon 1996.06.18 Albanian Parliamentary Elections.pdf
Moderator(s): 
Name: 
Robert Hand
Title Text: 
Policy Advisor
Body: 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses: 
Name: 
Susan Atwood
Title: 
National Democratic Institute
Name: 
Jim Swigert
Title: 
Office of South Central European Affairs in the European Bureau
Body: 
U.S. State Department
Name: 
Lublin Dilja
Title: 
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 issues: 
Good Governance and the Rule of Law
Relevant countries: 
Albania
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