Albania will hold parliamentary elections on July 3, President Alfred Moisiu announced on Monday, setting the date for a vote that will be closely watched by the European Union and NATO. Albania's fifth general election since the fall of communism in 1991 will pit the ruling Socialist Party of Prime Minister Fatos Nano against the Democratic Party of ex-president Sali Berisha. There have been no opinion polls on the relative strengths of the parties although informal campaigning is already under way. The EU and NATO have warned that a fair election is the only way Albania can convince them of its fitness for eventual membership. -- SP 2315 Local Time 2015 GMT
