OSCE to send international observers to parliamentary elections
27 March 2013 News
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has accepted the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to send observers to the upcoming May 12 2013 elections. It has been requested of the Member States of the organization to designate, within a standard observation mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), an expert team of 22 long-term observers and 220 short-term observers. The team of observers is to monitor the overall conduct of the electoral process in accordance with the commitments to the organization and other international standards, as well as with domestic legislation.
In accordance with the recent amendments to the Electoral Code, made in the light of recommendations from the OSCE, observers are to have access to all stages of the electoral process and the opportunity to attend meetings of election commissions. Observers may also obtain copies of the records of the results from polling stations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the decision of the February 28 2013 decision of the National Assembly and paragraph 1 item 18 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Electoral Code, also sent official letters of invitation to send missions to monitor the parliamentary elections to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. A preliminary fact-finding mission by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be conducted from April 4-5 2013.
At the request of these institutions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will propose to the Central Election Commission that they be registered as observers in the upcoming parliamentary elections.