By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has opened an election observation mission for the May 14 local elections in Albania, following an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Audrey Glover and consists of a core team of 13 experts based in Tirana and 24 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from  April 13. In addition, ODIHR plans to request OSCE 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will observe the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor the voter registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

Meetings with numerous representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

An interim report will be published to update the public and media during the course of the observation. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings will be presented at a press conference, and ODIHR will publish a final report summing up the observation and making recommendations for improvements some months after the end of the election process.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Presence in Albania operate separately and independently under their own mandates.