Speaker Lykketoft visits OSCE PA headquarters
COPENHAGEN, 24 May 2012 – Mogens Lykketoft, Speaker of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), visited the OSCE PA International Secretariat today to view the premises and to discuss the Assembly's ongoing work.
Accompanied by Soren Koushede, Advisor to the Speaker, and Pernille Deluran, Head of International Affairs in the Folketing, Speaker Lykketoft met with OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver, Deputy Secretaries General Gustavo Pallares and Tina Schoen and Administrative Director Kurt Lerras.
Serbian presidential election open and highly competitive, institutions need to be more responsive
BELGRADE, 21 May 2012 – The second round of Serbia's early presidential elections on 20 May 2012 maintained the open, highly competitive character of the first round, but provided further indications that efforts are needed to enhance the integrity of the electoral process, international observers said in a statement issued today.
Observers noted that contestants enjoyed equal opportunities for campaigning, which offered voters a distinct political choice. The media provided voters with a diversity of views, although active scrutiny of the campaign was lacking.
Parliamentary Team supports OSCE work in Moldova
CHISINAU, 18 May 2012 - The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Parliamentary Team on Moldova welcomed the resumption of the Transdniestria status negotiations and encouraged greater co-operation between Chisinau and Tiraspol today upon concluding a three-day visit to the country.
The delegation led by Walburga Habsburg Douglas (Sweden) visited Chisinau and Tiraspol 16-18 May 2012 for meetings with the newly elected President Nicolae Timofti, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca, the Moldovan delegation to the OSCE PA, as well as representatives of the international community in Chisinau.
Efthymiou, Saakashvili, Bakradze promote economic co-operation in Georgia
BATUMI, Georgia, 12 May 2012 – Regional co-operation on economic development is not only sound fiscal policy but key to peace and security, parliamentary and government leaders said today at the opening of a major economic conference in Georgia.
More than 100 parliamentarians and nearly 250 participants started their meetings Saturday morning under the theme of "Fostering Economic Co-operation and Stability in the OSCE Region". At the opening of the OSCE PA conference, Assembly President Petros Efthymiou called for a new Marshall Plan for growth, recovery and social cohesion in Europe.
Serbia's elections open and highly competitive, additional transparency needed
BELGRADE, 7 May 2012 – Serbia's parliamentary and early presidential elections on 6 May 2012 took place in an open and competitive environment but additional efforts are needed to improve the transparency of the election process and the functioning of the media, observers said in a statement issued today.
Observers noted that voters were provided with a wide degree of choice between various political options and contestants were able to campaign freely. Most electoral stakeholders expressed a high degree of confidence in the professionalism of the election administration. On election day, commissions carried out their duties professionally. Certain procedural problems were noted but no serious incidents took place.