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.
Armenian elections competitive and largely peaceful, but shortcomings undermined confidence in the process, observers say
YEREVAN, 7 May 2012 – Sunday's parliamentary elections in Armenia featured a vibrant and largely peaceful campaign, with overall balanced media coverage, but pressure on voters and a deficient complaints process created an unequal playing field, the international election observers said Monday.
Observers noted a campaign environment that generally respected freedoms of assembly and expression and candidates were, for the most part, able to campaign freely. But the general lack of confidence in the integrity of the process amongst political parties and the general public is an issue of great concern.
De Donnea, Mecacci lead briefings for observers in Armenia and Serbia
YEREVAN, 4 May 2012 - Francois-Xavier de Donnea, special co-ordinator to lead the OSCE observation mission in Armenia, this morning opened a full day of briefings for more than 100 parliamentarians as they prepare to deploy across Armenia for Sunday's parliamentary elections.
Matteo Mecacci, leader of the OSCE short-term observer mission to the 6 May parliamentary and early presidential elections in Serbia, began similar briefings for MPs in Belgrade.
Earlier in the week, Mecacci visited south Serbia and Novi Pazar. He met with local authorities, representatives of the local election commission, presidential and parliamentary candidates, and leaders of the Albanian and Bosniak communities to discuss developments of the pre-electoral campaign in view of the parliamentary and presidential elections.
Vice-President Picula represents OSCE PA at conflict resolution conference in Dublin
COPENHAGEN, 1 May 2012 – In Dublin on 27 April, OSCE PA Vice-President Tonino Picula represented the Assembly at the OSCE Chairmanship's Conference "Shared Future: Building and Sustaining Peace," which focused on Northern Ireland as a case study of an effectively resolved protracted conflict.
The conference was moderated by former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari with an opening address by the OSCE Chair-in-Office, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore. It included a video message from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as presentations by many of the key officials involved in the peace process, including former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Northern Ireland.