TIRANA, March 26/ATA/-“You have done a good job in 2017 and your professional conduct during that electoral cycle was commendable”, stated today the OSCE Head of Presence to Albania Bernd Borchardt assessing the role of the police during elections 2017.
The ambassador was present at the event organized today at the Academy of Security where the police officers began the training course on the tasks and role of the State Police during the electoral process for the upcoming June 30 local elections.
Borchardt emphasized that the conduct of the police during that electoral cycle 2017 was commendable.
“It was here exactly two years ago and I addressed this audience for the 2017 Parliamentary Elections, encouraging the Albanian State Police to do its dutiful part in ensuring peaceful and orderly elections to be organized according to legal provisions. You have done a good job in 2017 and your professional conduct during that electoral cycle was commendable”, said he.
Likewise, the ambassador emphasized that, “Also, you have come a long way since the 2007 local elections, 12 years ago, which were a landmark in delivering professional police conduct during elections. Ever since then, all the OSCE/ODIHR final reports after the elections noted a positive role of the police during the entire election process, which we all expect you will continue to maintain.”
Further on, he said “We are, of course, this year all aware of the current political climate created in the country only three months before Election Day. The co-operation between the State Police, the Central Election Commission and the Prosecution is crucial in ensuring the public trust in the electoral process through the tackling of any kind of electoral misconduct on the part of individuals or political parties.”
“Politically motivated discourses have the potential to diminish public trust in the fundamental democratic process of organizing free and fair elections. I am sure the professional conduct of public institutions, including the Albanian State Police, can compensate in reassuring people that their vote really counts and the final results reflect the political will of the Albanian people, of the Albanian society overall”, said the ambassador.
He said he was confident that the Albanian State Police will be impartial in this very special process and will act with professionalism and dignity.
The OSCE Presence in Albania, stated the ambassador, will continue to be a strategic partner not only for this election policing training, but also in providing other technical assistance and support especially in the fight against cross-border crime and transnational threats./a.g/p.s./
