OSCE/ODIHR urges redoubled efforts for democratic elections
The OSCE monitors the conduct of elections in participating States. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
WARSAW, 29 May 2001 - The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE's election watchdog, today called on OSCE countries to redouble their efforts for democratic elections.
"We have observed a number of dramatically improved elections during the past months", said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann at the opening of a major OSCE meeting on elections in Warsaw. "This clearly shows that when there is the political will to hold democratic elections, rapid changes are possible. Unfortunately, in a few countries we have witnessed a trend towards increasing intolerance for fundamental freedoms and human rights, in particular during election periods. This worrying trend requires urgent political follow-up at the highest level."
ODIHR Director Stoudmann pointed out that the OSCE's election observation and assistance activities during the past ten years have contributed to the improvement of the electoral frameworks in a number of countries. "But this alone is not always sufficient: what is also needed is the political will to hold genuine, democratic elections", he added.
More than 200 international election experts, government representatives from the OSCE countries and NGOs are meeting in Warsaw on 29-31 May to explore ways to improve elections in the OSCE region.
The meeting, Europe's largest gathering of election experts, is organized by the ODIHR, the main OSCE institution dealing with election observation and assistance. Since its opening ten years ago, the ODIHR has observed more than 100 elections and referenda in the OSCE region.
Further information on the meeting is available on the ODIHR website at www.osce.org/odihr.
Press arrangements:
The results of the conference will be presented by Mircea Geoana, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Romania, and OSCE/ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann at the closing Session on Thursday, 31 May at 15:00.
Media representatives are invited to attend the closing session. Journalists are requested to bring their press passes. Interviews with participants may be available upon request. The meeting venue is: Centrum Konferencyjne MON, Zwirki i Wigury 9/13, 09-909 Warsaw, Poland.
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For further information, please contact Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, tel. +48 22 5200 600 or +48-22-4563173, mobile +48 603 683 122, Fax +48-22-5200605.
"We have observed a number of dramatically improved elections during the past months", said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann at the opening of a major OSCE meeting on elections in Warsaw. "This clearly shows that when there is the political will to hold democratic elections, rapid changes are possible. Unfortunately, in a few countries we have witnessed a trend towards increasing intolerance for fundamental freedoms and human rights, in particular during election periods. This worrying trend requires urgent political follow-up at the highest level."
ODIHR Director Stoudmann pointed out that the OSCE's election observation and assistance activities during the past ten years have contributed to the improvement of the electoral frameworks in a number of countries. "But this alone is not always sufficient: what is also needed is the political will to hold genuine, democratic elections", he added.
More than 200 international election experts, government representatives from the OSCE countries and NGOs are meeting in Warsaw on 29-31 May to explore ways to improve elections in the OSCE region.
The meeting, Europe's largest gathering of election experts, is organized by the ODIHR, the main OSCE institution dealing with election observation and assistance. Since its opening ten years ago, the ODIHR has observed more than 100 elections and referenda in the OSCE region.
Further information on the meeting is available on the ODIHR website at www.osce.org/odihr.
Press arrangements:
The results of the conference will be presented by Mircea Geoana, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Romania, and OSCE/ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann at the closing Session on Thursday, 31 May at 15:00.
Media representatives are invited to attend the closing session. Journalists are requested to bring their press passes. Interviews with participants may be available upon request. The meeting venue is: Centrum Konferencyjne MON, Zwirki i Wigury 9/13, 09-909 Warsaw, Poland.
--
For further information, please contact Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, tel. +48 22 5200 600 or +48-22-4563173, mobile +48 603 683 122, Fax +48-22-5200605.