WASHINGTON-- Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), will hold a briefing entitled, “Albania’s Elections and the Challenge of Democratic Transition.”

The briefing will be held Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. in Longworth #1539.

The briefing will examine democratic progress made in Albania on the eve of the country’s parliamentary elections, set for June 28. The briefing will assess Albania’s overall preparedness for European integration now that it has applied for candidate status with the European Union and joined the NATO Alliance. Panelists will examine the prospects for the upcoming elections to be held in accordance with standards set by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which will be observing the election.

The following panelists are scheduled to speak:

Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Co-Chair, Albania Issues Caucus

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Elez Biberaj, Director, Eurasia Division, Voice of America

Jonas Rolett, Regional Director for South Central Europe,
Open Society Institute

Robert Benjamin, Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe,
National Democratic Institute