Remarks on Local Election Monitoring

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador, Marcie B. Ries
Kick-Off of Domestic Monitoring Effort
Tirana, February 16, 2007

Local elections this Sunday, February 18th, will be a milestone in Albania’s democratic development.  These are the first elections since Albania’s Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.  Inevitably, these elections will be seen through the lens of Albania’s EU and NATO aspirations.  Elections that meet international standards will signal Albania is moving closer to these goals.

International scrutiny and judgment matters.  But it is not what safeguards the electoral process in a democratic society.

The integrity of elections in a democracy belongs in the hands of its citizens; citizens who offer themselves as candidates; who campaign for candidates and parties; citizens who cast votes. 

Citizens who volunteer as election observers have an important role too.  They choose to observe the process not because they don’t care about the results but because they understand the legitimacy of any result depends on a process that is seen by everyone as transparent and fair. 

This coalition of domestic monitors is, I believe, motivated by this sense of civic duty.  Collectively the seven organizations represented in this room have mobilized an unparalleled number of people so far and will coordinate a highly sophisticated monitoring and reporting effort on Election Day. 

This is in fact the most professional and best coordinated corps of domestic observers Albania has ever seen.  These NGOs and some 3,000 recruits have undergone hours of training and will be deployed to voting and counting centers throughout Albania.  The domestic observers will be visible to the voters in their voting and counting centers.  All of them will carry accreditation and identity badges from the Central Election Commission in plain sight.  All of them will have “observer” arm bands prominently on display. These trained observers will transmit in real time reports to Tirana as Election Day unfolds.  They will work independently of international observers. 

It’s important to note that the domestic monitoring effort is complemented by the approximately 300 international observers under the auspices of OSCE/ODHIR.

Let me just say a few words to the observers:  You have generously given your time to be trained as monitors; you will give a lot more time on Election Day! For that, I applaud your initiative and commend you on your dedication.  You embody the spirit of volunteerism and civic responsibility that is at the core of democratic society.  Keep up the good work!

For our part, the United States Government is proud to have supported this domestic monitoring effort through our USAID program.  We wish you the best of luck as you perform your civic duty this election day.