ALBANIA: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DECLARE ALBANIA'S REFERENDUM HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT CORRECLTLY

Record ID: 565737

  • Title: ALBANIA: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DECLARE ALBANIA'S REFERENDUM HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT CORRECLTLY
  • Date: 23rd November 1998
  • Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (NOVEMBER 23, 1998) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV INTERNATIONAL OSCE OBSERVERS GIVING STATEMENT TO JOURNALISTS AFTER RESULTS OF REFERENDUM HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED SOUNDBITE [English] TANA DE ZULUETA: "The observers found that on 22nd November the voting procedures for the referendum were carried out in a correct manner, for which voters and election officials should be commended." 0.23 2. SV JOURNALISTS LISTENING 0.29 3. SOUNDBITE [English]TANA DE ZULUETA: "This jeopardised the secrecy of the vote since mere participation in the vote could be seen as a public, political act." 0.39 4. OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS MARCH TOWARDS THE CENTRAL SKANDERBEG SQUARE. 5. DEMONSTRATION 6. SV OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS MARCH TOWARDS THE CENTRAL SKANDERBEG SQUARE. 1.01 7. SV BERISHA SPEAKING 1.24 8. GV'S OF THE DEMONSTRATORS 1.26 9. GV BERISHA EMOTIONALLY ADDRESSING THE RALLY 1.36 10. GV BERISHA ON BALCONY WAVING TO CROWD 1.46 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th December 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TIRANA, ALBANIA
  • Country: Albania
  • Reuters ID: LVA17D64TW4NP7ZHRBSN8TLMGQIR
  • Story Text: International observers have declared that Albania's
    referendum on a new post-communist constitution has been
    carried out correctly.

    Their statement came amid claims from opposition Democratic
    Party leader Sali Berisha that the Socialist-led government,
    which reported an overwhelming "yes" vote for its proposal,
    had fixed the result.

    "The voting procedures for the referendum were carried
    out in a correct manner, for which voters and election
    officials should be commended," observers from four
    international organisations said in a joint statement on
    Monday (November 23).

    The observers' statement anticipated the opposition's
    rejection of the results and the observers urged dialogue
    between the polarised political parties.overnment, which
    reported an overwhelming "yes" vote for its proposal, had
    fixed the result.

    The Democrats, who urged Albanians to boycott the
    referendum, had hoped a low turnout or the rejection of the
    constitution would strengthen their demand for early
    elections.

    Shortly before the observers made their statement at a
    news conference, Berisha, a former president, led a rally of
    some 2,000 supporters in Tirana's Skanderbeg Square and called
    on them to topple the government.

    Berisha told a news conference before his rally that
    turnout had been only 38 percent.He said police rather than
    local election commission officials had signed ballot papers,
    charges the observers said they would investigate.

    Bereisha urged Albanian "freedom fighters" to stand up to
    the coalition of Prime Minister Pandeli Majko.

    "Let's get rid of the filthy animals," he said, although
    he urged his supporters to keep their protests peaceful.

    "Whoever wants to violate our votes will have to pass over
    our bodies," Berisha told the rally, which passed off
    peacefully.

    The international observers urged the Democrats, who have
    boycotted parliament for most of the last year, to play a
    constructive opposition role in Albanian politics.

    "The political forces should now resume their dialogue and
    concentrate on Albania's vital problems," their statement
    said."This could be best achieved through constructive
    cooperation between all parties, including the Democratic
    Party."
    The official referendum result was not expected until
    Tuesday, but the government said more than half of the
    electorate had voted and the constitution had been endorsed by
    the majority of voters.

    There were 1.9 million eligible voters out of a total
    population of 3.5 million.

    The European Union's Austrian presidency also said an
    overwhelming majority of Albanians appeared to have voted for
    the new constitution in a peaceful way.

    The constitution, in which international organisations
    have had significant input, provides for the separation of
    powers, the rule of law and independence for the judiciary,
    while guaranteeing human rights and the protection of
    minorities.

    Albania has made do with a package of constitutional laws
    since the first post-communist government took power in 1991.

    A previous draft constitution prepared by the Berisha
    administration was rejected in a 1994 referendum.


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