This is the news from Wednesday 2 April.

OSCE-ODIHR will monitor the May 11 elections in Albania by sending more than 300 observers. 26 of them will be long-term, and 300 others will be on the ground at polling stations on election day. Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, head of the ODIHR observation mission, said that the campaign on the ground will be monitored, as well as the financing of political parties during the campaign.

About 248 thousand emigrants will vote in the May 11 elections in a process which will be carried out by mail. State Election Commissioner Ilirian Celibashi stated today that the postage will cost the state some 9.2 million euros. Meanwhile, every voter from the diaspora must be at home to physically receive the voting package at the time it is delivered.

The Special Court has ordered the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) to start an investigation against former Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka and her husband, former Socialist Party MP Artan Gaçi. Xhaçka was accused of abuse of office a year ago in connection with the permission her husband received from the government for an investment on the southern coast.

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, said today that his country seeks the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Secretary Lammy’s statement was made at a press conference in Pristina after meeting with President Vjosa Osmani. He added that he hoped that the new Kosovo government would have a stronger commitment to dialogue with Serbia.