The election campaign season in Albania officially started yesterday to move towards national elections on April 25. The United States welcomes the official start of the campaign and, together with local authorities and internationals, will make every effort to support the election until it is successfully concluded.

We call on all parties, leaders and voters to be fully and responsibly involved in the exercise of their rights and responsibilities. We encourage parties to present ideas and candidates that reflect respect for voters. We expect leaders to show leadership, including making sure that parties and their candidates behave in accordance with electoral laws and international standards, clearly rejecting violence and showing that they would indeed be worthy to lead, and represented Albania.

We urge voters to hold parties and candidates accountable, to consider their choices, and to vote for those parties and candidates that offer the best future for Albania - a future in partnership with the United States that pushes Albania towards full membership in the European family as a strong and prosperous democracy. Even the media has to play its role responsibly and ethically, asking tough questions on behalf of the public and seeking real answers from the candidates. We also expect civil society to play its important role throughout the electoral process. At all times, we hope that all parties, leaders and voters behave with dignity and, most importantly, with respect for this most fundamental and important exercise of democracy. The people of Albania do not deserve anything less.

As your friend and ally, the United States has made our expectations and hopes clear. We reiterate that we will hold leaders accountable. In this regard, it is entirely understandable that those currently in leading positions have the first and heaviest responsibility to act in the interests of the country. We will take appropriate action in response to those who acknowledge or incite violence, acknowledge or incite violations of electoral laws and international standards, or otherwise attempt to undermine the integrity and trust in the electoral process and its results.