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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU hopes at stake in Albania poll | EU hopes at stake in Albania poll |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Albanians are voting in a general election on Sunday in what is being seen as a test of the country's democratic credentials. | |
| Brussels has called for a free and fair poll if Albania is to move further towards European Union integration. | Brussels has called for a free and fair poll if Albania is to move further towards European Union integration. |
| A range of issues have dominated the campaign, but surveys show that the economy dominates voters' concerns. | A range of issues have dominated the campaign, but surveys show that the economy dominates voters' concerns. |
| After over 45 years of isolation under Communist rule, the country's economy has slowly rebuilt itself. | After over 45 years of isolation under Communist rule, the country's economy has slowly rebuilt itself. |
| Albania hasn't been as hard hit by the global recession as many European countries, but the progress is still dramatic. | Albania hasn't been as hard hit by the global recession as many European countries, but the progress is still dramatic. |
| Polls opened at 0500GMT and will close at 1700GMT. | |
| Observers watching | Observers watching |
| After annual economic growth of over 6% in the last few years, the International Monetary Fund is projecting a drop for 2009 to between zero and 1%, caused mainly by a huge fall in exports. | After annual economic growth of over 6% in the last few years, the International Monetary Fund is projecting a drop for 2009 to between zero and 1%, caused mainly by a huge fall in exports. |
| And while the main candidates have made promises on tackling corruption, investing in infrastructure and pushing forward on the path to the European Union, the economy is dominating voters' concerns. | And while the main candidates have made promises on tackling corruption, investing in infrastructure and pushing forward on the path to the European Union, the economy is dominating voters' concerns. |
| This election will be watched keenly by the large observer mission here - the country's aspirations for EU accession are at stake if the conduct of the poll fails to meet international standards. | This election will be watched keenly by the large observer mission here - the country's aspirations for EU accession are at stake if the conduct of the poll fails to meet international standards. |