IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 155 
Urging the Government of the Republic of Albania to ensure that the par-
liamentary elections to be held on July 3, 2005, are conducted in accord-
ance with international standards for free and fair elections. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 17, 2005 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. ENGEL) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Urging the Government of the Republic of Albania to ensure 
that the parliamentary elections to be held on July 3, 
2005, are conducted in accordance with international 
standards for free and fair elections. 
Whereas the United States maintains strong and friendly re-
lations with the Republic of Albania and appreciates the 
ongoing support of the people of Albania; 
Whereas the President of Albania has called for elections to 
Albania’s parliament, known as the People’s Assembly, to 
be held on July 3, 2005; 
Whereas Albania is one of 55 participating States in the Or-
ganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE), all of which have adopted the 1990 Copenhagen
•HCON 155 IH 
Document containing specific commitments relating to 
the conduct of elections; 
Whereas these commitments, which encourage transparency, 
balance, and impartiality in an election process, have be-
come the standard by which observers determine whether 
elections have been conducted freely and fairly; 
Whereas, though improvements over time have been noted, 
the five multiparty parliamentary elections held in Alba-
nia between 1991 and 2001, as well as elections for local 
offices held between and after those years, fell short of 
the standards in the Copenhagen Document to varying 
degrees, according to OSCE and other observers; 
Whereas with OSCE and other international assistance, the 
Government of Albania has improved the country’s elec-
toral and legal framework and enhanced the capacity to 
conduct free and fair elections; 
Whereas subsequent to the calling of elections, Albania’s po-
litical parties have accepted a code of conduct regarding 
their campaign activities, undertaking to act in accord-
ance with the law, to refrain from inciting violence or ha-
tred in the election campaign, and to be transparent in 
disclosing campaign funding; and 
Whereas meeting the standards in the Copenhagen Document 
for free and fair elections is absolutely essential to Alba-
nia’s desired integration into European and Euro-Atlan-
tic institutions, including full membership in the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as to Al-
bania’s progress in addressing official corruption and 
combatting organized crime: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
•HCON 155 IH 
(1) welcomes the opportunity for the Republic 
of Albania to demonstrate its willingness and pre-
paredness to take the next steps in European and 
Euro-Atlantic integration by holding parliamentary 
elections on July 3, 2005, that meet the Organiza-
tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE) standards for free and fair elections as de-
fined in the 1990 Copenhagen Document; 
(2) firmly believes that the citizens of Albania, 
like all people, should be able to choose their own 
representatives in parliament and government in free 
and fair elections, and to hold these representatives 
accountable through elections at reasonable inter-
vals; 
(3) supports commitments by Albanian political 
parties to adhere to a basic code of conduct for cam-
paigning and urges such parties and all election offi-
cials in Albania to adhere to laws relating to the 
elections, and to conduct their activities in an impar-
tial and transparent manner, by allowing inter-
national and domestic observers to have unob-
structed access to all aspects of the election process, 
including public campaign events, candidates, news 
media, voting, and post-election tabulation of results 
and processing of election challenges and complaints;
•HCON 155 IH 
(4) supports assistance by the United States to 
help the people of Albania establish a fully free and 
open democratic system, a prosperous free market 
economy, and its rightful place in European and 
Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the North At-
lantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and 
(5) encourages the President to communicate to 
the Government of Albania, to all political parties 
and candidates, and to the people of Albania the 
high importance attached by the Government of the 
United States to this parliamentary election as a 
central factor in determining the future relationship 
between the United States and Albania. 
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