For Immediate Release

National Albanian American Council
1133 20th Street NW, Suite 210
Washington DC, 20036
Tel: (202) 466-6900
Fax: (202) 466-5593
naac@naac.org
www.naac.org

NAAC Strongly Urges Election of New President in Albania

Washington, DC (July 11, 2007) - The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) strongly urges the political parties in Albania to adopt a spirit of mutual cooperation and for the Parliament to elect a new President. According to the Constitution, if the President is not elected after five rounds, general election must be held early. Early elections would represent a major step backwards for Albania’s stability and democracy. After a prolonged transition process, Albania has made considerable progress towards becoming a part of the European family. In fact, along with Croatia and Macedonia, Albania is due to become a NATO member in 2008. Early elections would undermine the tremendous work the country has done and risk its accession to NATO. NAAC calls on the government and all political parties to place the interest of the country’s future and its people above partisan politics. We urge political parties to resume their seats at the negotiating table and resolve this issue.

About NAAC

The National Albanian-American Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs. For more information on the National Albanian American Council visit us on the web at www.naac.org.