Parliamentary elections were held on 26 May and 2 June 1996 (Helsinki Monitor vol.7 No. 3. 1996) and municipal elections took place on 30 October 1996 (ATA 27 Oct. 1997). In February 1997, Gezim Zilja (Democratic Party) was mayor of the city of Vlore (ATA 19 Feb. 1997). Partial elections were held on 21 June 1998 in seven municipalities and nine communes, including Vlore, "where local leaders elected in October 1996 had either been forced to flee their posts or had been killed in the unrest of early 1997." (BHHRG 2 Jul. 1998)

No information on the other candidates running in the October 1996 mayoral elections in Vlore could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). 19 February 1997. "Vlore Mayor Has not Signed Ultimatum-Resolution of Vlora Municipal Council." http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/ata/97-02-19.ata.html#08 [Accessed 11 Oct. 2000]

British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG). 2 July 1998. Albania 1998: Partial Local Elections. http://www.bhhrg.org/albania/albania1998/local.htm [Accessed 11 Oct. 2000]

Helsinki Monitor [Utrecht]. 1996. Vol. 7, No. 3. "ODIHR Report on the Parliamentary Elections in Albania, 26 May 1996 and 2 June 1996." http://www.spn.ethz.ch/static/osce/h_monit/hel96_3/doc4.htm [Accessed 11 October 2000]

IBR databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

REFWORLD

Internet sources including:

World News Connection (WNC)